The Breakroom gang is back to discuss the recent government shutdown, the addictiveness of Facebook, and why some people don’t trust the government. We’ll also say goodbye to Elton John on stage, debate whether it’s time for kids to pay rent, and decide if Trump-bashing is counterproductive. Joining us this week are Hector Fernandez, Falguni Sheth, Greg Williams, and Natalie Pawelski.

Fifty years ago, babies in the U.S. were three times more likely to die before reaching a first birthday. And the problems driving infant and maternal mortality were even worse in rural areas. Diane Cantor set out to be part of a change. She left college in the early 1970s to work for a federal program providing prenatal care to women in North Georgia. Her experiences inspired a novel called “ When Nighttime Shadows Fall .” Diane Cantor lives in Savannah. We talk to her ahead of an appearance at

Southern rock band Drive-by Truckers was co-founded by friends Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley in 1996. They still call Athens home, and they're planning a series of shows next month at the 40 Watt. We talk with Hood about the group’s latest record “American Band,” and his role as a musician in a politically tumultuous time. Atlanta band Little Tybee first came together in 2009. The group blends folksy lyrics with intricate musical arrangements. Their self-titled fourth album came out in 2016,

A documentary showing at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival tells the story of singer and dancer Sammy Davis, Jr. The film is called “ Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me .” Davis wore many hats: World War II veteran, Civil Rights activist, and singer/dancer member of the fabled Rat Pack. We revisited a conversation with his daughter, Tracey Davis. A few years ago, she released a book called " Sammy Davis Jr.: A Personal Journey With My Father ." It's based on conversations the two had as he

Getting the flu is at best unpleasant. At worst, it can kill you. Seven more Georgians died from the flu this month, bringing this season’s statewide death toll to twelve. And many more people end up in the hospital. The term flu shot is heard and used all the time, but not well understood. We broke it down with Emory University professor Robert Bednarczyk. Most sports are all about teamwork. But underwater hockey takes collaboration to new heights. Or depths, I should say, since all the action

Last week, the Coca-Cola Company unveiled an ambitious plan to recycle a bottle or can for every drink it sells. It’s the latest move by the Atlanta-based soda giant to address environmental concerns tied to its production. Will this plan work? We talk with environmental historian Bart Elmore, author of the book, “Citizen Coke: The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism.” Thousands of marchers convened in Atlanta this past weekend to mark the one-year anniversary of the Women’s March. This year movement

Many Georgia neighborhoods are stranded in food deserts, where fresh edibles are few and far between. One potential remedy is urban farming. Across the state, farmers and community leaders grow food in the neighborhoods that need it most. And it’s getting easier than ever to start growing if you want to make a difference. We talk about this with Rashid Nuri , Urban Agriculturalist and Founder of the Truly Living Well Center. We also talk with Danny Glover, Founder and CEO of One South Community

This past weekend marked one year since President Trump’s inauguration. It was also the first anniversary of the record-breaking Women’s March. The 2017 march likely included more than 3 million people . That’s about one-and-a-half percent of the entire US population. This weekend’s marches saw more than a million people participate, and organizers are working to broaden the movement's scope and inclusivity . We talked to Nora Benavidez, attorney and cofounder of the Georgia Alliance for Social

Last week, the Coca-Cola Company unveiled an ambitious plan to recycle a bottle or can for every drink it sells by 2030 . It is the latest move by the Atlanta-based soda giant to address environmental concerns tied to its production. Will this plan work? We talked with environmental historian Bart Elmore , author of the book, “ Citizen Coke: The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism .”

The ongoing Atlanta bribery scandal brought a sentencing last week. Adam Smith, former chief procurement officer for Atlanta, got more than two years in jail . We talked about the bribery scandal with Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Scott Trubey .