Falling Behind: Where have all the men gone?

Falling Behind: Where have all the men gone?

Author: WBUR August 28, 2025 Duration: 45:55
After decades of decline, male teachers now make up less than a quarter of the public-school teaching force. What’s driving men away, and what would it take to bring them back? On Point’s weeklong series exploring boys and education continues. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Each weekday, On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti cuts through the noise of the 24-hour news cycle to bring clarity and depth to the stories that matter. Produced by WBUR, this daily news podcast is built on the conviction that understanding requires more than headlines. Meghna Chakrabarti guides conversations that dig into the roots of current events, connecting today’s debates to historical context and the broader human experience. You’ll hear thoughtful interviews with experts, journalists, and people directly affected by the issues, all aimed at answering the pressing questions that often go unasked. The approach is rigorous but accessible, tackling complex subjects-from politics and science to culture and ethics-without shying away from nuance. It’s a space where multiple perspectives are examined, not just presented, fostering a more complete picture of our world. Tuning in feels less like being talked at and more like being part of a necessary, informed discussion. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by fragmented news sources, this podcast offers a reliable, substantive hour of analysis that respects the listener’s intelligence and curiosity. The result is a consistently engaging program that doesn’t just report what’s happening, but explains why it matters.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
Podcast Episodes
The 'how' behind the sub-two hour marathon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:58
History was made in this year’s London marathon when two runners broke the iconic two-hour barrier. Was it the shoes? The nutrition? The training? These specific elite athletes? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On…
Why you’re thinking about the Supreme Court in the wrong way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:15
Political partisanship is one way to measure how the Supreme Court justices think about how their rulings affect the nation. SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur says another, she believes more important way, has to do with the…
The Jackpod: Sock puppets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:51
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on “the unedifying spectacle of self abasement” from the Moscow show trial of the 1930s, to present-day confirmation hearings for Trump nominees. *** Thank you for listening. Help power…
Inside the life of a 'degenerate' sports gambler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:22
More than half of men under 50 in the U.S. have an open online sports book. Public health experts warn it's easier than ever to get addicted to gambling. Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins spent a year exploring the wor…
Who's a 'domestic terrorist' in Donald Trump's America? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:16
President Trump is directing the Justice Department to treat beliefs like "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, or anti-Christianity" akin to domestic terrorism. Can the president criminalize beliefs? *** Thank you for lis…
Why California wants folic acid in its corn tortillas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:56
In 1998, the FDA required folic acid be added to breads and pastas but not corn masa, a staple in Latino communities. Folic acid is known to prevent neural tube birth defects. So, states like California and Alabama are n…
Why the tech world is ‘tokenmaxxing’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:35
There’s a new word floating around Silicon Valley and the AI world: 'tokenmaxxing.' It means consuming as many units of AI as possible and often racking up multibillion dollar bills. What’s driving this behavior? *** Tha…
Why America isn't ready for the AI revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:38
Dean Ball was a top adviser on AI for the Trump White House. He authored its AI policy. But now he says the way the Trump administration is strong-arming tech companies is a foundational threat to the nation. *** Thank y…
A word about this week’s Jackpod [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03
Senior editor Dorey Scheimer has a message about this week’s Jackpod and a special ‘behind the scenes’ episode of On Point. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint