The Point

Robert Wyatt, Highfield Hall music director, talks to Mindy about songs of the season.

All about the science of paradigms, and the philosophy of American physicist and historian Thomas Kuhn.

A look at the week's top news.

Rose Resnick, Vice President of Development Solutions of New England, Mike Brogiolio Executive Director of The Cape Cod Foundation and Lynn Mason-Small from the Rogers and Gray Foundation talk about philanthropy.

The tragedy in Newtown CT last week in which 20 children and 6 adults were gunned down in an elementary school has sparked national debate about gun control, increased security measures and how American culture might have influenced these events. Another aspect of this discussion is the prevalence of mental illness in the perpetrators of mass murders. Psychologist Michael Abruzzese and Psychiatrist Marc Whaley talk about mass murder, how to speak to children about these events and whether society’s lack of knowledge or understanding of mental health issues has contributed to the problem.

Musician and songwriter Kathy Moser talks about the similarities in the processes of songwriting and recovery, and how sobriety and creativity go hand in hand.

John Bullard, Regional Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, shares what he learned on a recent listening tour of New England and talks about bridging the gap between fishermen and regulators.

Ornithologist Vernon Laux brings us up to date on the latest bird news.

Actress and author Karan Kondazian talks about her novel The Whip, based on the life of Charley Parkhurst, a 19th century stage coach driver who lived his life as a woman.

The mission of Massachusetts Community Colleges’ is to serve the needs of their individual regions. This means providing the appropriate coursework, training and skills students require now, while looking ahead to be prepared for how community needs will evolve in the future. Dr. John Sbraga President of Bristol Community College and Dr. John Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College talk about what our community colleges offer, some innovative public-private partnerships they’ve created and what changes they see in the coming years.

Nathan Wilson talks about citizen science, mushrooms, and the Encyclopedia of Life

A look at some of the week's top news.

Author Victoria Hopewell talks about her book Grade A Baby Eggs.

Elspeth Hay, Local Food Report host, and Dave Masch, author of Cooking the Catch, talk about traditional holiday foods and share some of their holiday dinner disasters.

Living Lab: A study of flame-retardant chemicals by the Silent Spring Institute.

A look at some of the week's top news.

Nantucket resident and author Peter Brace talks about his book Nantucket: A Natural History.

Jill Erickson, Reference Librarian at Falmouth Public Library and Melanie Lauwers, Books Editor at the Cape Cod Times discuss holiday books.

In the 1960’s Michael Rockland served as assistant cultural attaché in Madrid. He talks about his memoir An American Diplomat in Franco Spain, which includes stories about accompanying Martin Luther King Jr. and Ted Kennedy during their visits to Madrid and what happened when the US accidentally dropped 4 hydrogen bombs on coastal Spain.

Three quarters of all volcanic activity on Earth happens on the sea floor. That has ramifications for everything from evolution to climate change. But the science of undersea volcanoes is relatively young.

Author Nicholas Basbanes talks about book collectors past and present in his new book A Gentle Madness.

Barnstable school district teachers and author Mick Carlon talks about his novel Travels with Louis, and his efforts to introduce people to jazz music through fiction.

For some the Thanksgiving holiday entails eating a large meal with family whose company you may or may not enjoy. The thankful part is often an afterthought. Research shows that being thankful and expressing gratitude is something that makes us not only happier but healthier. Psychologist Michael Abruzzese and Psychiatrist Marc Whales talk about the positive physical and psychological effects of being thankful.

Our region has many dichotomies- we’re a resort community with multi-million dollar beach front properties, but we also have issues of poverty, a lack of affordable housing and a fragile environment. Rose Resnick, Vice President of Development Solutions of New England and Mike Brogiolio Executive Director of The Cape Cod Foundation talk about some of the challenges for our regional non-profits and new strategies to better leverage charitable giving for the needs of our community.

When it comes to environmental impacts, what you eat is as important as what you drive. David Freudberg, host of Human Kind, talks about his new documentary The Diet-Climate Connection and shares tips on eating for personal and planetary health.

A look at some of the week's top news.

With the passage of the federal Affordable Care Act, and new state cost containment measures, Massachusetts health care will undergo some changes. Jim Purcell former CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Rhode Island and David Rehm, President of Hope Health talk about these reforms and how they are impacting the health care we receive.

The holiday season presents a great opportunity for family discussions about topics that are sometimes difficult or sensitive. Bob Mauterstock, author of "Can We Talk? A Financial Guide for Baby Boomers Assisting Their Elderly Parents" and Janie Culbert, a family mediator join us. We’ll talk about how to get family conversations started and why they are important.

We listen to Senior Reporter Sean Corcoran's series on ticks, "Tiny Predators."

Living Lab: all about pteropods (sometimes called sea butterflies) and ocean acidification. Heather Goldstone's guest is Woods Hole Oceanographic assistant scientist Gareth Lawson.