Category: Podcasts

Radford Local Recently Named a National WomenHeart Champion

Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States. But with certain health incidents–such as cardiac arrests–being commonly associated with the male population, a group of female volunteers have stepped up to spread awareness and educate fellow women. Lucinda McDermott Piro, a Radford resident, was recently named a WomenHeart Champion with The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

Alternative Transportation Campus: Students’ Take

by Jonah Saacke and Brooke Van Beuren–

According to a university official, there is a possibility Virginia Tech could move to an alternative transportation campus in the future. This would mean that there would be no cars on campus, leaving the bus, scooters, walking, and skateboards as the only way to get to campus. Virginia Tech already encourages people to try a car-free lifestyle.

Parking is a hot topic on Virginia Tech’s campus, with many students and staff saying there is not enough. Therefore, taking away all parking is bound to create an even bigger conflict. However, many also argue that taking away cars is eco-friendly, safer, and a solution to Virginia Tech’s parking problem.

Students outside Turner Dining Hall shared their opinions with The News Feed if they believe Virginia Tech should become an alternative transportation campus or not.

SPORTS: Rise of women’s college basketball, stagnation of WNBA

by Duncan Weigand and Eden Kaplan–

Women’s sports are on the rise and one sport that is no stranger to the rise in popularity is college basketball. Viewership has absolutely soared since the tournament last year. The tournament produced record number viewership and it seems like it’s only becoming more popular. 

However, with the rise in popularity of women’s college basketball the numbers for the Women’s National Basketball Association have remained stagnant. Game 4 of the WNBA finals only drew in 889,000 fans in comparison to the 10 million viewers that Iowa and LSU brought in for their March Madness finals appearance. 

But why, if the popularity of women’s sports are on the rise do the WNBA numbers remain low. Is the WNBA failing to capitalize on an untapped market? Why hasn’t the success in the college game transferred over to the WNBA? Newsfeed reporters Duncan Weigand, and Eden Kaplan talk about this disparity.

SCI/TECH: Complexities of Vaping

by Ava Dorn, Eden Kaplan –

Vaping has become increasingly popular in recent years, but what do we really know about it? This podcast explores the science, technology, and risks of vaping, and provides a balanced perspective on this complex topic. News Feed Reporter Eden Kaplan shares a personal experience to the topic. This podcast demonstrates the real health risks that come along with vaping. Whether you’re a current smoker, a concerned parent, or someone who’s just curious about vaping, this podcast will explore how vaping works, the health effects, and the marketing tactics that led to the younger demographic obtaining the addiction.

The catalyst for this podcast topic was the FDA’s recent ban on menthol pods. Here is an article discussing the recent ban. We discussed how even with the FDA’s efforts there are still room for appeals from these large companies. Only time will tell what the future has in store for vaping. For now, the technology and science of it all is still evolving every day. The Real Cost has made it their mission to inform young teens and adults on the health effects of vaping. Their website has a lot of extensive and accurate information regarding vaping, the long term effects and also resources on how to quit.

POLITICS: Voting in local elections

by Alycia Baker, Colleen Henneberry-

In this episode, The News Feed podcasters Alycia Baker and Colleen Henneberry discuss why it’s important for people, especially young voters, to vote in the upcoming local elections.

Local elections are just around the corner on November 7: a date that not all registered voters feel is that important, but could evidently change their lives. In fact, just last year only 50% of registered voters in Virginia voted in their local elections. This can be due to a myriad of reasons, but not knowing who the candidates are is a simple excuse for something that can be easily solved with one quick internet search.

For Virginia Tech students, it’s even easier. Multiple faculty members and professors in the political field are available to help students make an informed vote and understand the policies being voted on in this upcoming election.