March marks the 60th anniversary of the release of the Beatles’ debut studio album “Please Please Me,” and die-hard fans remember where they were when they heard their first Beatles’ song. That’s the case for William & Mary Professor of Music and resident Beatles expert Tom Payne. In a course he has taught for many years, “Music of the Beatles,” Payne examines what makes the group’s music so unique and explores how one band’s music can still be influencing the works of today. This week on Watching America, he joins host and music enthusiast Dr. Alan Campbell to discuss songs from the Beatles’ initial album as well as Payne’s college course in which he tries to pass on the significance of the band’s work.

As an Air Force photographer, Stacy Pearsall traveled to over 41 countries, served in three combat tours, and earned a Bronze Star Medal—but when she returned home, that’s when the real fight began. This week on Watching America, she discusses her military career and the challenges many veterans face when transitioning back to civilian life. She shares stories of these struggles in a new PBS documentary series “After Action” that details the journeys of 21 diverse veterans from across the country. “The military taught me everything I needed to know to thrive in service, but I wasn’t given a handbook on how to become a civilian again. Simply hanging up my uniform did not mean I packed up years of conditioning, life-changing, sometimes traumatizing, experiences at the same time. I struggled to reconnect with those around me, even my family,” Pearsall said. “For those who’ve served, I hope they will discover there’s an army of people who are on the same journey home. And for those who are waiting for their veterans to find their way, this show may help illuminate the path.” https://stacypearsall.com and https://pbs.org/afteraction

Many of today’s workplaces feature 5 different generations — a factor that sometimes leads to misunderstandings and irritation due to generational differences. Dr. Alan Campbell speaks with the popular business speaker and generational expert Haydn Shaw. Hailed as a “leadership guru,” Shaw works with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and governmental agencies to help workers understand cultural differences at the office. We explore what those differences are, ways to bridge the gap, and what the future of workplaces might look like.

When was the last time something left you in awe? Maybe it was staring at the millions of stars in a vast night sky or marveling at the birth of a child. Dr. Dacher Keltner, the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, has spent years studying the biological and evolutionary origins of human emotion. His latest book, "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life," presents a radical investigation and deeply personal inquiry into the elusive emotion of awe. In this week's episode he talks with host Dr. Alan Campbell about how a season of profound grief led the scientist to re-evaluate some of his long-held ideas about life and death, the areas in which he experiences awe the most, and the ways scientists have found to study and measure a concept as elusive and complex as awe.

Throughout the 1980s, singer/songwriter Holly Knight composed anthems that became the soundtrack for millions of people’s lives. In her new book, "I Am The Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing the Hits and Rocking the MTV Eighties," Knight reveals the stars and the stories behind her mega songs, including Tina Turner’s "The Best,” “Better Be Good To Me;” Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield,” “Invincible;" Aerosmith’s “Ragdoll;” Patty Smyth's “The Warrior;” Animotion’s “Obsession,” and more. She shares with host Dr. Alan Campbell about her life and career in a male-dominated industry. http://www.hollyknight.com/

Writing as Lemony Snicket, author Daniel Handler has given countless children important life lessons about tragic accidents, conspiracies, reptiles, secret societies, doom, and malevolence. He talks to Dr. Alan Campbell about his work and career, and what to do to alleviate boredom. A charming, truly weird edition of Watching America.

Engineering professor Leidy Klotz says human beings are wired to add, not subtract. In fact, he says we're twice as disappointed to lose something as we are happy to gain something of the same value. The human aversion to subtraction can result in inferior design, unmanageable amounts of regulations, and a chaotic personal life. In this conversation with Dr. Alan Campbell, Klotz discusses his research and offers tips on how to wield the power of subtraction for the benefit of yourself and your community. https://www.leidyklotz.com/

In a culture where we are bombarded with information, and often mis-information, how do you know what’s true? Author Samuel C. Spitale’s new book offers help. "How To Win the War on Truth: An Illustrated Guide to How Mistruths Are Sold, Why They Stick, and How to Reclaim Reality" examines the use of progranda through the years by advertisers, governments, corporations, and others. His book is filled with examples of modern-day propaganda campaigns, and he examines what makes them powerful. In this conversation with Watching America’s host Dr. Alan Campbell, Spitale discusses how propaganda is manufactured and delivered directly to us, who profilts from propaganda, and how to find the truth for yourself.

Former actor and model Jason Umidi nearly lost everything after years of heavy drinking and drug addiction. In his book “Jesus + Seltzer: Stories and Meditations on Sobriety and Recovery,” he discusses how he got clean and sober after entering detox and a 12-step program. In this interview with host Dr. Alan Campbell, Jason discusses his journey to sobriety, why he returned to the faith of his childhood, and the struggles he still deals with even after overcoming his addiction. jasonumidi.com

The youngest American to ever orbit the earth—cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, believes that when we face our fears with hope and faith, extraordinary things can happen. In this week’s episode, she discusses her memoir “Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships.” Arceneaux recounts her odyssey, from her cancer diagnosis at age 10 and the year-long treatment that inspired her goal of working with pediatric cancer patients, to living through her father’s terminal cancer diagnosis, and getting her lifelong dream job at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a physician assistant. She was sure she’d finally attained the life she wanted, and then the amazing and unimaginable happened: She was invited to go to space as a St. Jude ambassador.