The Point

The words we use and our pronunciation varies regionally across our country. Josh Katz , graphics editor at the New York Times , uses linguistics data and a map of the US to illustrate where those differences arise. In an interview o n The Poin t, Katz talks with host Mindy Todd about the intersections of language, culture and geography, and his new book titled Speaking American .

Biochemist Keri Colabroy thinks we could all be better cooks and healthier eaters, if we just learned a little bit of chemistry. That's why she teaches a kitchen chemistry course and a writing class about coffee (yeah, that's a thing) at Muhlenberg College. Want the secret to perfectly bright green green beans? Or a smooth, no-strings-attached cheese sauce? Ever wonder if wild-caught fish is more nutritious than farm-raised? Or which vitamins survive cooking? Colabroy has answers. (Wild-caught

WCAI's Sean Corcoran hosts a roundup of local news stories with several area journalists. His guests this week include Cindy McCormick of the Cape Cod Times; Sam Houghton of the Mashpee Enterprise and Enterprise Newspapers; Sara Brown of the Martha's Vineyard Gazette; Tim Wood of the Cape Cod Chronicle; Jim DeArruda of the New Bedford Standard Times; Joshua Balling of the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror; Ed Miller of the Provincetown Banner; and Bill Chaisson of the Martha's Vineyard Gazette.

It was 1981 when Michael Ward and Mark Halberstadt fell in love. Three years later Mark was diagnosed with AIDS and he and Michael became the first clients of Boston’s AIDS action Committee. Michael Ward ’s new memoir The Sea is Quiet Tonight is a love story set against a backdrop of fear, uncertainty, heartbreak, and ultimately hope. Michael Ward joins Mindy Todd on The Point for this interview.

On The Point , we hear what epitaphs and gravestones can tell us about the deceased and the period in which they died. Mindy Todd interviews Donna Walcovy , Superintendent of Oak Grove Cemetery , in Falmouth.

Humor and laughter can help us accept and cope with the realities of life. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress, boost the immune system and increase the release of endorphins… so why not laugh? Die Laughing, Killer Jokes for Newly Old Folks is a new book that can help us laugh about getting older and being mortal. The author William Novak joins Mindy Todd on The Point.

On The Point, a discussion about the psychology of death and dying. Mindy Todd sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Marc Whaley, psychologist Dr. Michael Abbruzzese, and Ann Geagan, director of bereavement at HopeHealth, to talk about various aspects of this difficult topic.

Rituals around death is the topic on The Point. We discuss some of the ways in which the living remember, celebrate, and immortalize the dead. Guests on the program are Reverend Deb Warner, pastor at the Church of the Messiah in Woods Hole; Rabbi David Freelund from the Cape Cod Synagogue in Hyannis; and Jan Buhrman, who's family chose a home funeral for their mother. Mindy Todd hosts. Here's a link for information on home funerals in Massachusetts.

There has been a growing recognition in recent years that patients near the end of life need a different kind of care – treatment that focuses on controlling symptoms, like pain and anxiety, rather than attempting to cure a disease. Most doctors and nurses aren’t trained to handle this transition and, until recently, haven’t had the information and tools necessary to do it well. That is changing. Researchers are beginning to probe the effectiveness of common interventions, often finding they don

For most of American history, when a loved one died, family members cared for the body of the deceased at home before burial. It wasn’t until the Civil War that people started embalming soldiers’ bodies for the long train trips home. Soon after, funeral homes started offering embalming services, and an industry was born. Now, there’s a movement to bring after-death care back home.The motivations driving such interest are varied. Some people find it more personal, more meaningful. Others want to