The Point with Mindy Todd

If you saw Sam Bellamy on the sidewalk, you might cross to the other side of the street. He wears strange outfits. He appears eccentric, even a little bit crazy. But if you let him get close, if you ask him why he dresses and acts the way he does, you’ll realize: he might be eccentric, but he has a very good reason for it. Producer Peter Bresnan has the story. He produced it earlier this year with the Transom Story Workshop. 

In 2014 a U.S. Marine from New Bedford was convicted of killing a transgendered Filipino woman.  On The Point, we talk with social scientist Dr. Peter Kutschera about the conviction, and how it relates to U.S.-Filipino relations in the context of an expanding Chinese military presence.  Sean Corcoran hosts.

Independent producer Kolin Pope talks to his family about their belief in the unbelievable.  This piece was produced as part of the Transom Story Workshop spring 2015 session.

WCAI's Sean Corcoran hosts a roundup of local and regional news with area journalists. Guests include: Geoff Spillane of the Cape Cod Times; Nelson Sigelman of the Martha's Vineyard Times; Ed Miller of the Provincetown Banner; Tim Wood of the Cape Cod Chronicle; and Sara Brown of the Vineyard Gazette.

On The Point, we talk to Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson.  She’s the featured musician at this year’s JazzFestFalmouth.

In November 2011 the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Research vessel Atlantis was headed out to study life at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. But things didn’t go as planned. Producer Scott Christy brings us the story of an unusual 24 hours on board the research ship. This story comes to us from the Transom Story Workshop.

Historically, churches and synagogues have not been viewed as inclusive places for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people.  But that perception is beginning to change, for both religious and LGBT Communities.  On The Point, we discuss the inclusion of LGBT individuals into faith communities. Mindy Todd hosts these guests in the studio: Dr.

On The Point, a discussion of books about dogs and cats. Our book experts Jill Erickson, reference librarian at the Falmouth Public Library, and Peter Abrahams, author, delve into a great collection of works on this theme.  Mindy Todd hosts.

Here's a list of books from today's show.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, opioid related deaths in Barnstable, Dukes, Plymouth, and Bristol counties are among the highest in the state, and this isn’t an epidemic just affecting adults. Of the 209 young people (aged 15-24) who died in this state between January and June of this year, 41 were confirmed opioid related. Earlier this year Hyannis-based Duffy Health Center announced a 100-thousand-dollar federal grant to begin what’s called a medication assisted treatment program designed for 16- and 17-year-olds with opioid addiction.

A closer look at the needs of Cape and Islands veterans and some of the services and supports available to them and their families.  Mindy Todd's guests in the Woods Hole studio are: Jim Pickering, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Masonic Military Assistance Project; and Greg Quilty, Executive Director of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center.

WCAI's Sean Corcoran hosts a roundup of local and regional news with area journalists.

Are you a feminist? What does that term mean to you? In 1920 the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed, guaranteeing women the right to vote.  Ninety-six years later a woman becomes the presidential nominee of a major political party for the first time: it is a historic moment for women.

On The Point, a discussion about eating and dieting.  Psychologist Michael Abruzzese and psychiatrist Marc Whaley join host Sean Corcoran in the studio.  We also hear from listeners around our region about their experiences and questions related to diet.

The Cape and Island's slow transition into cooler weather is happening. On The Point, horticulturist Roberta Clark advises us on wrapping up the season in the garden. It's a perfect moment to dig up and divide overgrown perennials, and treat your plants to some mulch and compost. Amy Vince hosts.

WCAI's Kathryn Eident hosts a roundup of the week's top news.  Her guests include Patrick Cassidy of the Cape Cod Times, Jim DeArruda of the New Bedford Standard Times; Sara Brown of the Vineyard Gazette; Tim Wood of the Cape Cod Chronicle; Sam Houghton of the Mashpee Enterprise, Ryan Bray of the Falmouth Enterprise; Ed Miller of the Provincetown Banner; and Nelson Sigelman of Martha's Vineyard Times.

WCAI's Mindy Todd speaks with Cape Cod author Sally Cabot Gunning in our Woods Hole studios.  She's written a historical novel about the life of Thomas Jefferson’s daughter titled Monticello.

Sally Cabot Gunning will be giving a talk at 1:00 p.m. Saturday Sept. 17 as part of the Provincetown Book Festival.

We talk about a young Palestinian whose discovery of music changed his life and ultimately the lives of others.  Mindy Todd speaks to Sandy Tolan, a journalist and author whose work has reported and commented on Palestine and Israel for many years.  His latest book is Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land about an effort to build a music school in the midst of Israel’s military occupation.

A new documentary film by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Huntwatch, talks about the seal hunt in Canada, and conservationists’ efforts to ban it.  Mindy Todd’s guests in the Woods Hole studio include: Brian Davies, founder of IFAW, and one of the first to draw attention to the seal hunt; and the producers of the film Kerry Branon and Richard Moos.

On The Point, a discussion about lethal cancers: lung, esophageal, and pancreatic. We learn about options for treatments, how screening methods are being improved, and why these cancers are so lethal.

Joining Mindy Todd in the studio are Dr. Ken Caswell, a radiologist at Cape Cod HealthCare, Dr. Jeff Spillane, a thoracic surgeon with Cape Cod Healthcare, and Dr. Peter Hopewood, also a surgeon at Cape Cod Healthcare.

WCAI's Sean Corcoran hosts a roundup of local and regional news with area journalists. Guests include: George Brennan of the Cape Cod Times; Nelson Sigelman of the Martha's Vineyard Times; Ed Miller of the Provincetown Banner; Tim Wood of the Cape Cod Chronicle; Joshua Balling of the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror; Sara Brown of the Martha's Vineyard Gazette; and Jim DeArruda of the New Bedford Standard-Times.

Creativity is intrinsic to human nature, but how it manifests is unique to each individual. Jane Dreeben explores the different ways people create and the paths they took to get there. Her new book is The Urge to Create: 50 Vineyard Portraits.  The subjects were chosen for the persistence and passion they bring to their work.  Mindy Todd speaks to Jane Dreeben in our Woods Hole studios.

The Nantucket Project is a yearly event to exchange challenging ideas, build relationships, and share insights to help build a better tomorrow.  The founders of the Nantucket Project, Kate Brosnan and Tom Scott, discuss this year’s lineup of speakers and presentations with Mindy Todd.

Mindy Todd sits down with best-selling author Jacquelyn Mitchard to discuss her new book Two If By Sea.  Mitchard is a professor of creative writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts and a contributing editor for More magazine.   She lives in Brewster. 

Author and writer Jennifer Trainer Thompson joins Mindy Todd to discuss her new book Fresh Fish.  It’s described as a “fearless guide to grilling, shucking, searing, and roasting seafood."

Host Mindy Todd takes The Point on the road to visit author and grillmaster Steven Raichlen’s kitchen on Chappaquiddick Island.  He cooks up some of his favorite recipes from his latest book, Project Smoke.  He even shares some tasty smoked ice cream! (Hint: Mindy loves it.)