Perspectives Matter... A McCuistion Program

Perspectives Matter | Book Banning and Censorship

Host Vince Poscente,
Guest: Neal McCluskey, Director at the Cato Institute: Center for Educational Freedom and author of the book The Fractured Schoolhouse: Reexamining Education for a Free, Equal, and Harmonious Society.
The discussion focuses on the culture war in the United States surrounding banned books. While books have stood in the crossfire of political battles throughout history, today most book bans address issues related to race, gender identity, and sexuality — major flashpoints in the ongoing American issue.
As school leaders pull more books off library shelves and curriculum lists amid a fraught culture war, we explore the impact, legal landscape, and history of book censorship in schools.
Our host Vince Poscente comments, "No one system can satisfy all people with diverse values and needs."

Perspectives Matter - Brands in Crisis

In today’s world of hyper-transparency, a brand’s reputation isn’t just about what it sells—it’s about who it is. When crisis strikes, years of trust can be lost in minutes. How leaders respond can determine whether their organizations emerge stronger or fade away.
In this episode of Perspectives Matter, host Vince Poscente is joined by experts Bruce Turkel and Laura Culp to explore the high-stakes world of crisis management. From Johnson & Johnson’s textbook handling of the Tylenol crisis to Tesla’s struggles under Elon Musk’s personal spotlight, they reveal why trust, leadership, and consistent values are at the core of lasting brand credibility.
Discover:• Why leadership defines brand trust—far beyond products and services• How crisis response can build or destroy long-term loyalty• What small businesses can learn from corporate giants• The critical role of authentic apologies and clear communication
Whether you lead a global company, run a local business, or simply want to understand how reputation shapes daily decisions, this episode offers powerful insights you won’t want to miss.
 
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Perspectives Matter - The Self-Help Industry: $12 Billion and Growing

Millions are spent on self-help and self-improvement business, but is all that money and time worth it? Does it pay off? Is the promise of “You can change your life” valid?
People seek personal growth… and what’s helping them grow. Self- Improvement can be highly useful but going to legitimate sources is critical.
There are hundreds of legitimate books, websites, applications and speakers to choose from. Is there such a thing as too much self-improvement?
What’s one thing the public misunderstands about the self-help industry?
What advice would you give someone trying to discern quality advice today?
Join hosts Vince Poscente, CPAE, and Jim Cathcart, CPAE, for The Self-Help Industry: 12 Billion Dollars and Growing.

Perspectives Matter | Nonprofits at Risk

Host: Jim Falk
Guests: Clarissa Clark, Government Relations Officer North Texas Texas Food
Bank, and
Shirley Robinson, the Executive Director of the Texas Library Association
As federal budgets are being sharply reduced and agencies dismantled, the effects are rippling across the country—often in unexpected ways. In this program, we’re not here to debate whether the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, are justified.
Rather, our goal is to explore how organizations are being forced to rapidly adapt in a newlandscape—one where federal funding is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Joining us this week are representatives from two very different sectors: libraries and food banks. Let’s turn to them now to learn how they’re navigating what many are calling the “new normal.”
To hear how the North Texas Food Bank is responding we turn to Clarissa Clark, the Government Relations Officer at the North Texas Texas Food Bank, where she has been since 2023. 
Shirley Robinson is the Executive Director of the Texas Library Association, the nation’s largest state library association where she leads statewide efforts to support and advocate for libraries of all types. 
Severe cuts to government programs and federal grants are creating a ripple effect—impacting organizations and the people they serve. Whether it’s someone facing food insecurity for the first time, or a neighbor seeking tax help at their local library, the consequences are real and widespread.

Perspectives Matter | The Challenges Facing Nonprofits Today

Joining Host Jim Falk to discuss the challenges nonprofits are presently faced with, and possible solutions, is Calvert Collins-Bratton, the Chief Relationships Officer at Communities Foundation of Texas.
While most would agree that the U.S. government has grown to be too big and too expensive, the impact of the recent cuts, led largely by the DOGE, Department of Government Efficiency, is creating adverse consequences for nonprofits that are being felt both globally and nationally.
Yet, one can’t help but ask, could the NGO’s, social services, museums, and universities affected not been more proactive in anticipating the cuts and been better prepared to live without such dependence on the federal government?
Here in Dallas, the Communities Foundation of Texas has a unique vantage point as the nexus, the link between our region's charitable institutions.
While the results of a recent Harvard/Harris poll showed that three-quarters of Americans support the DOGE-led actions to reduce fraud and waste a growing number of people are expressing concern if not outright opposition to the impact these cuts are having on their libraries, parks, food banks, health care, and school programs.
Foundations and especially individuals who have traditionally been the backbone of American philanthropy are being more cautious in their giving, which may lead to changes in how and who provides services that we have perhaps taken for granted.
Join us to see how these cuts may affect you and your favorite nonprofits.
 
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Perspectives Matter | Unitary Executive Powers

Is the U.S. presidency becoming too powerful? In this episode of Perspectives Matter, host Jim Falk moderates a compelling conversation between constitutional law expert Stephen I. Vladek, J.D., and presidential historian Jeremi Suri, Ph.D., on the controversial rise of the “unitary executive” theory. Vladek explains how some legal scholars and administrations interpret Article II of the Constitution as granting the president full control over the executive branch—an idea that has gained significant traction since the 1980s. Suri pushes back, emphasizing the Founders’ intent to limit centralized power and avoid anything resembling monarchy.
Together, the guests trace the history of presidential expansion, from Lincoln’s Civil War authority to Nixon’s infamous assertion that “if the president does it, it’s not illegal,” and into the modern era, where Presidents of both parties have tested legal limits. The conversation examines how Congress has relinquished power—often out of fear, partisanship, or political incentives—and how the judiciary’s failure to check executive overreach has left vital constitutional questions unresolved. With examples ranging from impoundment of funds and regulatory control to potential abuses of the pardon power and the firing of independent officials, this episode issues a stark warning about the erosion of democratic safeguards.
Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how legal interpretation, institutional incentives, and historical precedent have shaped the modern presidency—and what might be done to restore balance among the branches of government.

Perspectives Matter - Western Tradition and the American Founding

The government of the United States traces its roots back to ancient Greece, Rome and historic philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. Considering their extraordinary influence on modern political systems and especially democracy, it couldn’t be timelier to reconnect and reconsider the early origins of our government. This is especially relevant now as increasingly we are seeing evidence of countries slipping towards authoritarianism, a risk that some fear for the United States.
Joining Host Jim Falk are:
Joseph Loconte, Ph.D., a best-selling author, educator, and presidential scholar at the New College of Florida. He is the director of The Rivendell Center in New York City, and his YouTube history channel, “History and the Human Story,” explores the cultural and political achievements of Western civilization and the American republic.
And John Meko, President of Founding Forward, a “champion of civics and American history.” Based in Valley Forge and Philadelphia, PA, Founding Forward informs and engages citizens through transformational educational experiences grounded in American history.
Join us for a timely and relevant discussion, and a great history lesson.

Perspectives Matter - The Power of the Supreme Court

In this eye-opening episode of Perspectives Matter, host Jim Falk sits down with Professor Stephen Vladek, J.D., a preeminent scholar of constitutional law and Supreme Court analyst, to unpack the evolving power and purpose of the United States Supreme Court.
From the impact of public trust and political polarization to the intricacies of the "shadow docket" and the challenge of nationwide injunctions, this conversation offers a deep dive into the ways the Court shapes—and is shaped by—our democracy.
Learn how the judiciary navigates crises, responds to unprecedented moves by political actors, and why the balance of independence and public accountability is both crucial and under threat in today’s America. If you care about democracy, checks and balances, or simply want to understand how the highest court in the land really works (and sometimes doesn’t), this episode is not to be missed.

Perspectives Matter - Free Speech: Campus Arrests and Deportations

On this episode of Perspectives Matter, host Jim Falk dives into the turbulent intersection of the First Amendment, free speech, and student rights in today’s academic landscape. Joined by renowned presidential historian Dr. Jeremi Suri (University of Texas at Austin) and acclaimed First Amendment attorney Paul Watler, the discussion explores how government actions, campus protests, and increasing political pressures are reshaping the boundaries of free expression at American universities. From threats of defunding and high-profile deportations to the chilling effects brought on by new federal policies, our guests provide expert insight into the legal, historical, and ethical issues surrounding these unprecedented challenges to academic freedom. Whether you’re a student, educator, or concerned citizen, this timely conversation explains why defending free speech on campus matters more than ever.

Perspectives Matter | Constitutional Law: Why It Matters

Explore the living document that shapes every aspect of American democracy in this enlightening episode of Perspectives Matter: “Constitutional Law—Why It Matters.” Host Jim Falk sits down with constitutional law expert Paul C. Watler to break down history, big court decisions, and the current headlines placing unprecedented pressure on the U.S. Constitution.
Learn why constitutional law is more than just the founding text, as the conversation unpacks Supreme Court interpretations, the evolution of civil rights, and the continuing debate over how the Constitution should be read—originalism versus pragmatism.
With timely context provided around landmark cases such as Marbury v. Madison, Brown v. Board of Education, and New York Times v. Sullivan, this episode offers anyone—from non-lawyers to seasoned attorneys—a practical understanding of why constitutional law directly impacts our freedom, our government’s structure, and the future of democracy.
Join us to see how history, current events, and Supreme Court opinions continue to shape the Constitution’s crucial role as the glue holding America together, especially in times of unprecedented political tension.