//podcastplus.net/feed/podcast~2ccd4d6266dcb908f33426f823061b6d46f76f6c8126fcd9d17387b96999f888 A podcast focusing on the social and political trends shaping our future. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:38:43 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Claudia_Rowe1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11754279&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F  There are over 400,000 children in foster care in America, costing the state and federal government over $30 billion a year.  So, is the system working?  It’s hard to say the system is failing, but perhaps it’s more accurate to say that adults all along the way–from the biological families to a host of caregivers–are … Read More Read More Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:26:41 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Claudia_Rowe1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11754279&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Mark_Schneider1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11545528&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F  Most of what we hear lately about higher education relates to the legal battles between the Trump Administration and Harvard, the nation’s oldest university.  And while prior to this the leading issue in the news was student debt and overall affordability of college, there are a number of issues that have come to the fore.  … Read More Read More Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:34:47 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Mark_Schneider1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11545528&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Kelly_Ramsey1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11742514&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F   We like to imagine that we are safe and immune from much of what we see on the news.  In the case of wildfires, people on the east coast might see it as a west coast phenomenon.  Yet, there have been such fires in New Jersey and the Carolinas recently.  Even those living outside … Read More Read More Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:44:16 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Kelly_Ramsey1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11742514&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Elizabeth_Melampy1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11738174&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F As a dog parent, I bristle at doggie dress-ups at the local pet supply store, yet I still eat meat.  Call me a hypocrite.  I accept the critique.  And yet when it comes to animals, there is a stratification as to how we treat them and the title of a book published a few years … Read More Read More Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:06:02 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Elizabeth_Melampy1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11738174&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Matt_Simcik1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11730145&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F  Let’s start with the basics.  What are ‘forever chemicals?’  And so this podcast begins with Professor Matt Simcik, an environmental chemist from the University of Minnesota, trying to explain to me, a layman, what they are.  They have been in the news lately and there are now efforts around the country to limit their use … Read More Read More Wed, 10 Sep 2025 20:47:20 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Matt_Simcik1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11730145&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Chris_Berdik1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11726156&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F  Pneumatic drilling from building sites.  The dull roar of planes overhead.  Your fellow worker’s phone conversations in an otherwise silent office.  The suburban drone of lawn mowers and blowers.  Noise seems to be everywhere, and it can disrupt our sleep, ratchet up our stress, destroy our concentration–yet it’s a problem we shrug off once the … Read More Read More Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:27:24 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Chris_Berdik1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11726156&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/David_Daley1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11212154&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F While both parties have long histories with gerrymandering Congressional districts for partisan advantage, it’s fair to say Republicans have taken it to a new low by interrupting the every ten -year process, based on the census, and doing it at halftime of this cycle.  In the process, they are encouraging Democrats to do the same.  … Read More Read More Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:18:40 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/David_Daley1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11212154&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Lura_Forcum1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11717203&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F  When political discussions take place, they are often focused on how Democrats or Republicans, conservatives versus liberals or red in relation to blue look at an issue.  They leave out a component of the electorate which grows in number and importance year after year–the independent or unaffiliated voter.  In fact, if you really analyze the … Read More Read More Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:31:34 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Lura_Forcum1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11717203&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Roger_Noll1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11714937&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F  Can your star quarterback on a powerhouse Division 1 football program get paid as it stands today?  After the recent $2.8 billion settlement in House v. NCAA, which enables universities to directly pay college athletes for their athletic participation, the answer is yes.  First came the NIL ruling in which college players could get paid … Read More Read More Sat, 30 Aug 2025 22:19:30 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Roger_Noll1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11714937&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Josh_Silver1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11710520&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F The U.S. Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)in 1977 with the key objective of ending redlining, the decades-old practice of neighborhood discrimination by banks against African Americans and others based on race and income.  The race-based rejection of loans to creditworthy residents of redlined neighborhoods delayed the American dream of homeownership for generations.  Our … Read More Read More Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:04:21 +0000 https://media.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/mc.blubrry.com/america_trendscom/Josh_Silver1234.mp3?awCollectionId=417202&awEpisodeId=11710520&aw_0_azn.pgenre=Society+%26+Culture&aw_0_1st.ri=blubrry&aw_0_azn.pcountry=US&aw_0_azn.planguage=en&cat_exclude=IAB1-8%2CIAB1-9%2CIAB7-41%2CIAB8-5%2CIAB8-18%2CIAB11-4%2CIAB23%2CIAB24%2CIAB25%2CIAB26&aw_0_cnt.rss=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americatrendspodcast.com%2Ffeed%2Fpodcast%2F