Watching America

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt took the world by storm as the chaplain for the 2018 Loyola Chicago Final Four men's basketball team. And last year she celebrated her 103rd birthday! Sister Jean is a religious sister of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She has spent her entire adult life working as a teacher, administrator, and volunteer -- first at elementary and grade schools in Ch...

She is perhaps one of the world’s most iconic figures. Jacqueline Kennedy captivated the nation and the rest of the world with her intelligence, beauty, and grace. But who was she before she became a household name? From her adventures abroad in Paris to her groundbreaking career as a writer and photographer in Washington, DC., join us for a journey into the life of a remarkable woman on Watching...

Dive into the mesmerizing mind of acclaimed science fiction author Bruce McAllister. McAllister’s first story, “The Faces Outside,” was published to acclaim when he was 16, earning him the label “science fiction prodigy.” Since then he has spent five decades venturing into the darkest realms of fantasy. His other books include "Kin," "Dream Baby," and "The Village Sang to the Sea: A Memoir of Magi...

It is a story that reads like one of today’s popular fiction crime novels — a 1920s village midwife known as “Auntie Suzy” had a knack for murder. And many of the women in her village were quick to adopt her murderous methods. And their dark secret remained undetected for more than 15 years. In her book “The Angel Makers: Arsenic, A Midwife, and Modern History’s Most Astonishing Murder Ring,” awar...

What was once the stuff of science fiction has become reality. Robots are being used today for everything from fixing automobiles to exploring space, and they are increasingly becoming more human-like. Well-known roboticist Dr. Dennis Hong is the inventor of a number of cutting edge robots including those that can walk, climb, dance, and even play soccer. He also invented the world’s first car tha...

Ancient stoic philosopher Seneca provided time-tested wisdom in his day. Does any of it still apply? Author and speaker David Fideler says it does - and it can help us foster true contentment. Ancient philosophy meets modern relevance as Dr. Alan Campbell speaks with Fideler about his book, “Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living.“ Fideler believes these ancient principles can e...

Author and prominent social critic Os Guinness believes there are moments in our lives that prompt us to search for a deeper meaning. Sociologist Peter Berger described these as "signals of transcendence" that awaken us to unseen realities. How do we find them? And what would happen if we were to follow where they lead? This week on Watching America, Dr. Alan Campbell explores this idea with Os as...

He went from a background singer for Elvis to singing center stage with one of the most well-known quartets in music history. Richard Sterban, bass singer for the Oak Ridge Boys, recently celebrated 50 years with the iconic group, and he has published a book about his journey, “From Elvis to Elvira: My Life On Stage.“ Dr. Alan Campbell hears about his early days with Elvis, learns about his love o...

Human trafficking, gangs, drugs — Holly Harris never expected these things to become a part of her life. But at just 19 years old, her choices led her to a prison sentence and to the realization that something had to change. Now she hopes her experiences can help others on a similar path. On this week’s episode of Watching America, Harris discusses her book “Relentless Survivor” with host Dr. Alan...

When her daughter’s life spiraled out of control, Sally Harris found her own life in a tailspin. Her daughter had been traveling down a self-destructive path since her teen years. After heavily using drugs and alcohol, her daughter became a victim of sex trafficking. There were times Sally didn’t know where she was or if she was safe. The worried mom’s methods of coping led to Sally’s own addictio...

Few people have survived the nightmare of a stem cell transplant gone sideways. Poet and professor Brad Buchanan was diagnosed with a rare form of T-cell lymphoma in February 2015, and after chemotherapy and radiation treatments, underwent a stem cell transplant at the U.C. Davis Medical Center in 2016. The transplant entailed 129 days in the hospital, a significant though temporary loss of vision...

A new documentary by local university professors examines the role of prayer in movies. From devout religious ritual to irreverent monologues played for comedy, what do these prayers say about us and about American culture? This week on Watching America we hear from Dr. Terry Lindvall, a professor at Virginia Wesleyan University. He is one of the filmmakers of the new film "Hollywood, Teach Us To...

March marks the 60th anniversary of the release of the Beatles’ debut studio album “Please Please Me,” and die-hard fans remember where they were when they heard their first Beatles’ song. That’s the case for William & Mary Professor of Music and resident Beatles expert Tom Payne. In a course he has taught for many years, “Music of the Beatles,” Payne examines what makes the group’s music so uniqu...

As an Air Force photographer, Stacy Pearsall traveled to over 41 countries, served in three combat tours, and earned a Bronze Star Medal—but when she returned home, that’s when the real fight began. This week on Watching America, she discusses her military career and the challenges many veterans face when transitioning back to civilian life. She shares stories of these struggles in a new PBS docum...

Many of today’s workplaces feature 5 different generations — a factor that sometimes leads to misunderstandings and irritation due to generational differences. Dr. Alan Campbell speaks with the popular business speaker and generational expert Haydn Shaw. Hailed as a “leadership guru,” Shaw works with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and governmental agencies to help workers understand cultural...

When was the last time something left you in awe? Maybe it was staring at the millions of stars in a vast night sky or marveling at the birth of a child. Dr. Dacher Keltner, the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, has spent years studying the biological and evolutionary origins of human emotion. His latest book, "Awe: The New Science of E...

Throughout the 1980s, singer/songwriter Holly Knight composed anthems that became the soundtrack for millions of people’s lives. In her new book, "I Am The Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing the Hits and Rocking the MTV Eighties," Knight reveals the stars and the stories behind her mega songs, including Tina Turner’s "The Best,” “Better Be Good To Me;” Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield,” “Invincibl...

Writing as Lemony Snicket, author Daniel Handler has given countless children important life lessons about tragic accidents, conspiracies, reptiles, secret societies, doom, and malevolence. He talks to Dr. Alan Campbell about his work and career, and what to do to alleviate boredom. A charming, truly weird edition of Watching America.

Engineering professor Leidy Klotz says human beings are wired to add, not subtract. In fact, he says we're twice as disappointed to lose something as we are happy to gain something of the same value. The human aversion to subtraction can result in inferior design, unmanageable amounts of regulations, and a chaotic personal life. In this conversation with Dr. Alan Campbell, Klotz discusses his rese...

In a culture where we are bombarded with information, and often mis-information, how do you know what’s true? Author Samuel C. Spitale’s new book offers help. "How To Win the War on Truth: An Illustrated Guide to How Mistruths Are Sold, Why They Stick, and How to Reclaim Reality" examines the use of progranda through the years by advertisers, governments, corporations, and others. His book is fill...

Former actor and model Jason Umidi nearly lost everything after years of heavy drinking and drug addiction. In his book “Jesus + Seltzer: Stories and Meditations on Sobriety and Recovery,” he discusses how he got clean and sober after entering detox and a 12-step program. In this interview with host Dr. Alan Campbell, Jason discusses his journey to sobriety, why he returned to the faith of his chi...

The youngest American to ever orbit the earth—cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, believes that when we face our fears with hope and faith, extraordinary things can happen. In this week’s episode, she discusses her memoir “Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships.” Arceneaux recounts her odyssey, from her cancer diagnosis at age 10 and the year-long treatment that inspired her goal of wor...

Brian McDonald is accustomed to telling other people's stories. His books have been prime sources in several television documentaries and the sole inspiration for “My Father's Gun," a full-length documentary that aired on the History Channel. In his latest work, “Five Floors Up,“ he explores the history of four generations of a firefighter family. From the days just after the horse-drawn firetruck...

Mike Rinder, one of the highest-ranking defectors from Scientology, exposes the secret inner workings of this powerful organization in his new memoir A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology. In this interview with host Dr. Alan Campbell, Rinder discusses growing up in Scientology, why he decided to leave at age 52, the backlash he faced and how he now works dilig...

Dr. Randall Bell is an economist and a sociologist who boasts the nickname "Master of Disaster." He's been a consultant for hundreds of catastrophes, include the biggest tragedies of our time: the World Trade Center attack, Sandy Hook, Hurricane Katrina, the Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test sites, the BP Oil spill, the OJ Simpson trial, the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, and "Heaven's Gate," to name a few. B...