The Point

This month The Point's book show topic is BIRDS. Dennis Minsky and Jill Erickson join Mindy Todd to discuss stacks of bird related books. If you have a favorite bird book, please add a comment to our list! Here's the link: Falmouth Public Library

With the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in Massachusetts and other states, there has been a lot of debate about the risks and benefits of this substance. Is marijuana addictive? Is it a gateway to opioids? Or is it a relatively harmless medicinal herb? We also discuss the effect of marijuana on the developing brain, how to recognize when teens are engaged in substance use, and supports and services for families dealing with addiction.

Are you addicted to your smartphone? Many of us certainly feel drawn to our electronic devices - and the array of information and activities they offer - in a way we feel uncomfortable admitting. And, while there's some controversy about whether or not the term "addiction" is appropriate, there is growing evidence that things like posting on Facebook can elicit the same brain response as an addictive substance. "When you scan someone's brain when they're self-disclosing, they activate the same

WCAI's Sean Corcoran hosts a roundup of local stories with journalists from across the region. Joining Sean this week are Patrick Cassidy of the Cape Cod Times; Sam Houghton of Enterprise Newspapers; Sara Brown of the Vineyard Gazette; Ed Miller of the Provincetown Banner; and Cameron Machell of the Martha's Vineyard Times. Among the stories they discuss this week: inspections reveal 11 deficiencies of varying seriousness at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station; a Mashpee toddler's death is called

What if you had the freedom TO work rather than the freedom FROM working? What kind of work would you do? Many approaching retirement age are considering a second career focused more on their passions and interests. On The Point, we talk with the founder of Encore , an organization supporting the pursuit of second careers for the greater good, and also with John Kerr, who retired from a career in public broadcasting and became a park ranger in Yellowstone.

Driving is dangerous for everyone, but statistically teens and older drivers are involved in more crashes and highway fatalities than any other age group. On The Point, we talk about the reasons why, and explore ways we can make the driving safer for everyone.

On The Point, we discuss a new book: Trauma and the Golden Lady, The Life and Death of Sylvia Plath. It explores Plath’s struggle with depression, how trauma in her early and adult life may have contributed to her suicide, and the mental health system during the 1950’s and 60’s. Our guest in the studio is clinical psychologist Bob Fournier , who specializes in suicide counseling. Mindy Todd hosts.

On The Point, we discuss the new documentary ScreenAgers that sheds light on the impact of increased screen time on the developing brain and explores coping strategies for families. Guests on the program are Shelia House , Harwich Youth Service Coordinator; Sharon Stark , Chatham Youth Services Coordinator; and Dr. Michael Abbruzzese , psychologist. There will be a screening of the film on Tuesday, March 22 nd , 6 p.m. at Monomoy High School .

We all know that we’d be healthier if we ate more fruits and vegetables. Your doctor may have suggested that. But few of us actually do anything about it. But would that change if you actually got a prescription that covered the cost of fresh, locally-grown produce? That was the question at the heart of a recent pilot project on Cape Cod, called FlavoRx. Dr. Kumara Sidhartha, a physician with the Emerald Physicians group, and Sustainable CAPE (the Center for Agricultural Preservation and

WCAI's Sean Corcoran hosts a roundup of local stories with journalists from across the region. Joining Sean this week are Patrick Cassidy of the Cape Cod Times; Sara Brown of the Vineyard Gazette; Tim Wood of the Cape Cod Chronicle; Jim DeArruda of the New Bedford Standard Times; Ann Wood of the Provincetown Banner; and Barry Stringfellow of the Martha's Vineyard Times. Among the stories they discuss this week: restaurants in Yarmouth are not pleased with a plan to publicize health inspection