Week of Wonder: Volcanologist Tamsin Mather on her 'adventures in volcanoland'

Week of Wonder: Volcanologist Tamsin Mather on her 'adventures in volcanoland'

Author: WBUR July 17, 2025 Duration: 46:35
What's it like standing on the slopes of an active, erupting volcano? Volcanologist Tamsin Mather takes us on her journey to some of the world's biggest volcanoes. *** 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
Should SNAP pay for junk food? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:07
A dozen states are banning people from buying sodas and some sugary snacks using federal food assistance. The effort is part of the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Will the re…
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Duration: 44:13
The U.S. Congress cut federal funding for public media, shuttering the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. What does that mean for the future of local news across the country? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On…
How should American colleges measure merit? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:09
The Trump Administration ordered universities to turn over data to prove they're not considering race in admissions. But education expert Richard Kahlenberg argues that for college admissions to look at merit fairly, the…
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Duration: 44:15
A recent study shows that people using AI to write for them experience some negative cognitive effects. Why? Because there's something special about what writing does in your brain. *** Thank you for listening. Help powe…
Is there a better way to manage grizzly bears? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:57
The U.S. House will consider whether grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park should be taken off the endangered species list. How delisting would impact grizzly bears and the people living near them. *** Th…
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Duration: 39:03
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on a wild idea from the '90s that could offer young Americans greater financial security, and how it would benefit Democrats to publicly embrace bold ideas like it. *** Thank you for lis…
What the U.S.-EU trade deal means for you [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:48
After months of wrangling, the U.S. and the EU have reached a trade agreement. The EU made big compromises, like a 15% tariff on most EU exports. How will the deal affect Americans? *** Thank you for listening. Help powe…
What are 'cool roofs,' and how do they work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:57
Summers are getting hotter every year. When it comes to adapting to a hotter planet, in the United States, it's cities that are taking the lead. In Atlanta, they've passed a nation-leading "cool roof ordinance." *** Than…
The state of America's judiciary with Judge J. Michael Luttig [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:35
The retired conservative federal judge says a war against the judiciary in America has been waged by "a tyrannical wannabe king." *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveo…
Famine in Gaza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:33
Food security levels in the Gaza Strip have reached their most dire levels since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began. Humanitarian experts say immediate action is needed to save hundreds of thousands of people fr…