Charlotte Talks on WFAE

The Catholic Church finds itself at a crossroads with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI last week. Now, Church leaders are looking ahead to a Papal Conclave and the selection of a new pope, and while they do, onlookers worldwide are speculating on the future of the Catholic Church amidst controversy and changes in leadership, while looking at the ancient organization's history and traditions. We'll talk about the history of Papal Conclaves and the many ways that this one will be different and how it could affect the future of Catholics everywhere, when Charlotte Talks.

There are important moments in the development of any large city. Charlotte's history goes back to the fortuitous intersection of two trading paths that later became Trade and Tryon Streets. But there is another critical moment in the development of our region and it is forever tied to a tent city on the outskirts of town during the first World War. Camp Greene was not here long but its story, and the story of the town that became a city around it has been a nearly three decade long quest for Jack Dillard. Mr. Dillard has studied the history of the camp since the early '80’s and he recently made a documentary chronicling the camp's history. We'll learn more about this pivotal time in our region, when Charlotte Talks.

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra... those erectile dysfunction commercials that air while you're watching sitcoms aren’t just awkward and uncomfortable, according to a new study, they are breaking rules too. Those rules, designed by the pharmaceutical industry itself, are meant to ensure the campaigns educate consumers and avoid targeting audiences for which the message is not age appropriate - like children. But the study out of UNC Charlotte says that 'Big Pharma's' efforts to self-regulate are "an industry-sponsored ruse" with the intention to deflect criticism and block any new Federal regulations. We'll talk with the researchers about direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical marketing - about the effectiveness and the ethics behind the ads. Sex, Lies and Television, when Charlotte Talks.

Frances Fox Piven stirs things up and she is just fine with that. The professor, writer and activist has been studying the nature of poverty and inequality for decades and she is an outspoken advocate for radical change in our country. National pundits of all political stripes have praised or decried her work but Dr. Piven unabashedly declares that the current growth of poverty and inequality is undermining our American democracy. She says there are historic solutions to this inequality and she will share them with us when Charlotte Talks.

Charlotte air travel has been on the minds of many in recent weeks as US Airways and American Airlines merge and while North Carolina politicians push for Charlotte Douglas International Airport to be operated by an airport authority rather than as a city department. We'll talk about how the US Airways/ American merger might affect US Airways 3rd largest hub and travelers who come through Charlotte, and discuss how the idea of an airport authority may or may not change how the airport is run and whether any of it will affect the average Charlottean, when Charlotte Talks.

Part One: Southern Spring Home And Garden Show. Earlier this month, the groundhog told us that spring is on its way, but if there were any question about that, the approach of the annual Southern Spring Home and Garden Show in Charlotte would have confirm that spring is almost here. We'll be joined by Joan Zimmerman, co-founder of Southern Shows, the company that puts on the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show, along with son David who is the president of that company to talk about why consumer shows are still so popular with attendees, and about the difference between consumer shows and retail stores, not only for the consumer but for the vendors. And we'll also be joined by one of the headlining garden expert who will give us some tidbits to get us ready for spring planting.

Cuban timba band Tiempo Libre is coming to town, to perform with the Charlotte Symphony this weekend. The three-time Grammy-nominated group whose name literally means "free time," mixes their classical music training with Afro- Cuban rhythms and timba music. They bring audiences their unique style in jazz clubs and dance venues, but are equally comfortable in symphonic concert halls. We'll talk about the group members' Cuban beginnings, and their role in keeping timba music alive outside Cuba and introducing it to new audiences, when Charlotte Talks.

  Our guest today suggests that our problems in Washington can be fixed by adapting our democracy to new information technology. John McGinnis, former Justice Department official in both Reagan and HW Bush Administrations, is now a law professor and author of a book that argues better decisions can be made about government policies when citizens are able to access information to bet on the consequences of specific decisions. We'll talk about Accelerating Democracy: Transforming Governance through Technology.

The nominees have been announced, the red carpet is being unrolled and it's almost time for that annual movie love-fest known as the Academy Awards. We've tracked our intrepid film critics down, dragged them out of dark cinemas and into the studio to discuss their Oscar predictions. We'll talk about who's in, who's out and what they expect to see when Oscar makes his appearance. Join us for an award winning edition on Charlotte Talks.

The murders of school children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut have re-ignited the gun control debate. In last week’s State of the Union, the president gave an emotional plea for gun legislation. Proponents are ready to move but opponents of gun control don’t seem to want to budge. Is there room for compromise? Can we both protect a citizens’ right to own and bear firearms and the right of others to feel safe? We examine both sides when Charlotte Talks.