Perspective Podcast - May 27th, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

Joplin Digs Through Rubble.

The deadly tornado that has destroyed Joplin, Missouri, has left residents there to pick up the pieces.  How do you move on and rebuild after losing everything?  ABC's Diane Sawyer met some of those residents as they picked through the rubble.  

Storm Chasers.

As the deadly weather moved across the mid-west and south, warning sirens sounded and local residents were told to take shelter.  But for one group of people, the sounds and sights of the storm encouraged them to go outdoors and get even closer.  ABC's Matt Gutman took a ride with a group of storm chasers.

Tornadoes by the Numbers.

There have been more than 500 deaths from tornadoes so far in the U.S. this year, making it the deadliest year for tornadoes since 1953.  For these super storms by the numbers, we turn to ABC's John Donvan.  

Area 51.

Sin City markets itself on the ability to keep secrets, but Las Vegas has nothing on the slice of Nevada known as Area 51.  For decades the government kept such a tight lid on the place, many people assumed they must be hiding UFOs.  So when a sensational new book claimed to have the real story, based on the newly declassified lives of the men who worked there, we jumped on the chance to meet the author and her sources.  But what we found disturbed us in ways we could never imagine.  ABC's Bill Weir explains.  

Casey Anthony Trial.

The lawyer for Casey Anthony claims the young Florida mom reacted to her toddler's death by doing, "what she's been doing all her life, hiding her pain".  This week multiple witnesses at her murder trial testified that if she felt any pain, she hid it really well.  ABC's Ashleigh Banfield has the details.  

Oprah:  End of an Era.

After 25 years, Oprah Winfrey ended her daytime talk show and so it was a moment for taking stock. What has Oprah just completed?  How did she do it?  And why do so many people care?  ABC's Barbara Walters and Cynthia McFadden take a look at Oprah's legacy.

Jerry Bruckheimer.

Imagine being in charge of a creative project with a $225 million budget behind it and realizing that just as it was nearing completion, that what you had created was a total stinker.  Well, that is what producer Jerry Bruckheimer says happened with "Pirates of the Caribbean 2", the 2006 sequel from Walt Disney, which is the parent company of ABC News.  So how did they fix it?  ABC's Chris Connelly found out.

Host:  Cheri Preston

Producer:  Jason Wesalo

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Perspective Podcast - May 20th, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

What evidence does the prosecution have on Dominique Strauss-Kahn?  That is the question at the center of the case in which the former IMF Chief is charged with multiple first degree felonies, including committing a criminal sex act and attempted rape.  A Manhattan grand jury decided that there is enough evidence in this case for the charges to go forward.  So what is the nature of that evidence?  ABC's Terry Moran takes a look.

Arnold's World.

On the verge of being elected governor of California in 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger found himself answering charges in "The Los Angeles Times" that had accused him of sexually harassing multiple women.  At the time he had said, "Many of the things that are in there are not true, and then other things may be true, and in case they are, that's why I want to apologize."  now almost eight years later, Schwarzenegger's apologizing again, for other things no one imagined.  ABC's David Wright explains.

John Huntsman Interview.

John Huntsman is the former Republican governor of Utah.  He is a motorcycle loving Mormon, who served as ambassador to China for President Obama.  Now he is gearing up for a challenge to the president, and ABC's George Stephanopoulos caught up with him during his first campaign trip to New Hampshire.

HCG Diet.

Pregnancy is not typically associated with weight loss.  Many women struggle to shed the so-called "baby weight" after giving birth.  But proponents of an increasingly popular diet known as HCG draw the completely opposite connection.  Pregnancy hormones, they say, surpress the appetite and cause the body to get rid of fat.  ABC's Juju Chang had a chance to check into those claims.  

Gayle King.

This week Oprah Winfrey was in the news yet again, as some of the most famous people in the world turned out to celebrate the end of her extraordinary reign as the queen of television.  But one woman in the crowd could claim a distinction no one else could, Oprah's "best friend".  Gayle King may be the most famous "best friend" in the world, but she is not resting on anyone else's laurels.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden found out that she is a hard-charging woman who is determined to live her best life.

SkyMall.

What is it about being 36,000 feet in the sky that makes you want to buy a chocolate fondue fountain?  Thin air, boredom, or that third bloody-mary perhaps.  Whatever your personal motivation may be, some credit belongs to the folks who put together the SkyMall catalog, for almost two million captive readers a day.  In the past couple of decades it has exploded into a slice of American commerce, too successful and too bizarre for ABC's Bill Weir to ignore.  

Host: Cheri Preston

Producer: Jason Wesalo

Download or stream this episode of the Perspective Podcast

Perspective Podcast - May 13th, 2011

 In this edition of Perspective...

The Hidden Costs of High Gas.

This week the CEO's of the five largest oil companies faced Congressional outrage over gas prices, tax breaks and high profits, but dusted themselves off, unscathed.  This only adds to increasing frustrations around the nation about the rising costs at the pump.  The worst part of about the high gas prices you see everywhere, may be the prices you do not see.  The hidden costs for things like shipping, that increase what you pay for everything from flowers to food.  ABC's Neal Karlinsky explains.

Pawn Queens.

Consider the staggering loss of personal wealth in the U.S. since the crash two and a half years ago. Despite the recent recovery, almost $8 trillion is gone from our retirement savings, checking accounts and home values. About $25,000 for every man, woman and child in this country. Meanwhile, the official unemployment figure is bad enough at 9%, but if you add in those who have given up looking or who are working part time, the rate climbs past 15%. That is more than 24 million people.  We had a chance to meet two women who came up with a highly original solution to the crunch. They decided to take advantage of a booming market for used household goods. A market that has boosted sales of the nation's biggest pawn companies, 45% alone. ABC's Vicki Mabrey reports.

Who is Ron Paul?

The race for the White House in 2012 is heating up. Firebrand Texas Congressman Ron Paul has been gearing up for another run making his decision to public on Friday.  ABC's Jonathan Karl tells us about a candidate who has no qualms at all about courting controversy to advance his principles. 

Ron Paul Interview.

ABC's George Stephanopoulos had a chance to speak with the presidential candidate, Representative Ron Paul, right after he made his announcement from Manchester, New Hampshire.

Child Prodigies.

It is the kind of incredible talent that is as fascinating as it is perplexing.  Child prodigies are sometimes dismissed by skeptics as merely having above-average gifts honed through relentless parental pressure and hours spent practicing.  Yet, in some cases very young children exhibit amazing gifts that seem to express something more, some type of divine touch.  So which is it?  ABC's John Berman tried to find out.  

Marriage & Politics.

We are inclined to call them a quintessential American couple, because of their story.  One was an immigrant, the other part of a political dynasty.  It seemed that their pairing could only happen here, yet the latest twist in the marriage of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Schriver is very ordinary. Here is ABC's John Donvan.  

Shania Twain.

She was the first country star to achieve major crossover success in the world of pop music.  Five time Grammy award winner Shania Twain's 1997 album "Come on Over" is the best-selling album of all time by a female musician.  She sold more than 75 million albums worldwide, but she has not released an album of new material since 2002.  In the last several years, she seemed to retreat from public life entirely, until now.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden had a chance to sit down with Shania Twain.  

Host: Cheri Preston

Producer: Jason Wesalo

Download or stream this episode of the Perspective Podcast