Best Ideastream Public Media Podcasts (2025)

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Homelessness is rising. Safety nets providing medical respite face an uncertain future 49:51

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17h ago49:51

49:51

We'll talk to a national advocate and a leader from Cleveland's Joseph & Mary's Home about the challenges people experiencing homelessness face, and the organizations serving them.By Ideastream Public Media

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Pros and cons of tariffs for Northeast Ohio business owners 51:12

1d ago51:12

51:12

Not all tariffs are created equally. Northeast Ohio business owners and an economics professor discuss the pros and cons of tariffs in the region.By Ideastream Public Media

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Akron targets displaced federal workers in new initiative to rebuild public sector workforce 51:03

3d ago51:03

51:03

Akron recently became the third city nationwide to join Work for America's "Spotlight City" initiative, a program aimed to hire displaced federal workers for jobs in local government.By Ideastream Public Media

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Property tax reforms dominate in the Ohio Statehouse | Reporters Roundtable 48:31

7d ago48:31

48:31

This week, the Ohio House passed two property-tax related bills. Supporters say the bills will provide more than $2 billion in tax relief over the next three years and say the measures are the most significant property tax reform in decades. But according to others, the bills won't help all Ohio property owners and claim the bills do not go far eno…

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Incumbent Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb shares his vision for a second term 49:12

8d ago49:12

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Bibb is running against community activist Laverne Gore who declined to participate in a candidate interview.By Ideastream Public Media

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Advocates celebrate benefits of afterschool programs despite uncertain funding 49:56

9d ago49:56

49:56

Millions of K-12 students participate in afterschool and out-of-school-time programs nationwide. But, according to the DC-based advocacy group Afterschool Alliance, for every 1 student enrolled in a program, five more are waiting to be able to join. The Alliance spotlights the work and achievements of afterschool and out of school time programs, wh…

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From tariffs to data centers, Ohio's farming industry is facing challenges 50:50

10d ago50:50

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The agriculture industry in Ohio is dealing with issues like an aging population, trade war over produce and big corporations wanting to buy up valuable farmland.By Ideastream Public Media

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Historians explore Northeast Ohio's haunted destinations, film enthusiasts discuss horror movies 50:39

11d ago50:39

50:39

Just in time for Halloween, local historians chat about Northeast Ohio's many creepy corners, and cinephiles discuss their favorite horror films.By Ideastream Public Media

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Haslam Sports Group and Cleveland reach $100M stadium settlement | Reporters Roundtable 48:44

14d ago48:44

48:44

After a yearlong battle, the city of Cleveland and the Haslam Sports Group announced a deal this week in which the city ends its objections to the Browns move to Brook Park. The city will get $100 million over 15 years from the team, money to raze the existing stadium and to help Cleveland revitalize the lakefront without the Browns. The city dropp…

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University Hospitals urologist shares how to avoid getting painful kidney stones 51:43

15d ago51:43

51:43

Kidney stones are a common ailment that affect 1 in 10 people in their lifetime.By Ideastream Public Media

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Cuyahoga County judges discuss rise in domestic violence deaths 52:43

16d ago52:43

52:43

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network recently reported a 37% increase year-over-year in domestic violence-related fatalities. Franklin and Cuyahoga counties lead with the most documented cases.By Ideastream Public Media

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CSU, Ideastream leaders address controversy over switch from student-run WCSB to JazzNEO 51:10

17d ago51:10

51:10

The two organizations entered into an operating agreement on Oct. 3 to switch the format of 89.3 WCSB to the new terrestrial home of Ideastream's 24/7 jazz service. The decision and communication to students has been criticized by fans of WCSB.By Ideastream Public Media

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U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown discusses ongoing federal shutdown 51:28

18d ago51:28

51:28

We'll discuss the latest impact of the shutdown on Northeast Ohioans with the congressmember and policy experts.By Ideastream Public Media

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Gov. DeWine temporarily bans sale of intoxicating hemp products | Reporters Roundtable 54:30

21d ago54:30

54:30

Gov. Mike DeWine took executive action this week to temporarily ban the sale of "intoxicating hemp" products in the state. DeWine said the products represent a consumer product emergency. The order bans the sale of unregulated products that contain THC derived from hemp including candies and drinks. THC is the psychoactive compound found in the can…

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As government shutdown drags on, Northeast Ohio is starting to feel ripple effects 51:00

22d ago51:00

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Local federal workers could miss paychecks and area organizations could see funding cuts because of the standoff in Washington D.C.By Ideastream Public Media

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Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District says proposal would fix combined-sewer overflow at Edgewater 50:21

23d ago50:21

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Over the summer, Edgewater Beach had to be closed to swimmers three times due to a discharge of untreated water and sewage into the lake after heavy rains. The release at the Edgewater outfall—a huge pipe at the back of the beach—happens when storm runoff and rain overwhelm the system. Cleveland’s system is a combined one where stormwater and sewag…

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Experts address online misinformation over seed oils, fad diets and other nutrition claims 51:56

24d ago51:56

51:56

By Ideastream Public Media

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Ohio lawmakers introduce anti-abortion bills, despite recent amendment protecting it 50:48

25d ago50:48

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By Ideastream Public Media

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East Cleveland mayor pushes back on state receivership plan | Reporters Roundtable 49:41

28d ago49:41

49:41

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber this week formally requested the state attorney general begin legal proceedings to appoint a receiver to oversee the finances of East Cleveland. A new state law approved as part of the last budget, and which went into effect Tuesday, allowed the move. East Cleveland is pushing back, accusing the state of cutting off local g…

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Weight loss drugs are now being prescribed to teens struggling with obesity 51:47

29d ago51:47

51:47

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in five children in America has obesity. One new solution might be GLP-1 weight loss drugs.By Ideastream Public Media

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Southeast Side Stories preserves Union-Miles, Lee-Harvard and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods' history 50:13

30d ago50:13

50:13

Last fall, the NuPoint Community Development Corporation (formerly the Union-Miles Development Corporation) launched a neighborhood history project called Southeast Side Stories. The idea is to document the stories of the Union-Miles, Mt. Pleasant and Lee-Harvard neighborhoods and those in between as well. Using a mix of first-person interviews and…

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Animal shelters and humane societies in Northeast Ohio are sounding alarm 49:28

1M ago49:28

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Shelters say that lives are at risk as overcrowding has persisted since the pandemic. They say they're out of space and out of time to help animals in their care, especially dogs.By Ideastream Public Media

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Students, health officials distribute free harm reduction supplies to Portage County community members 49:32

1M ago49:32

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The harm reduction approach aims to reduce the negative impact of substance use disorder. In Portage County, health officials and Kent State University community members are working toward shared goals by distributing tools such as Naloxone.By Ideastream Public Media

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Cleveland City Council and mayor's administration clash over public records downloaded by aide| Reporters Roundtable 50:06

1M ago50:06

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A clash erupted this week between Mayor Justin Bibb's administration and Cleveland City Council, led by its president, Blaine Griffin. A council aide downloaded thousands of unredacted documents from a public records database, one he was allowed to access. The administration says some of those documents contained sensitive information, such as addr…

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Case Western Reserve University honors immigration advocate with top ethics prize 51:20

1M ago51:20

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The university's Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence will award Oscar Chacón with the 2025 Inamori Ethics Prize for his work in human rights and immigration justice.By Ideastream Public Media

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Northeast Ohio experts discuss changes to vaccine recommendations 51:18

1M ago51:18

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An advisory committee for the Centers for Disease Control made changes to vaccine recommendations in a meeting last week that was described in media reports as tense and chaotic. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP changed advice on COVID vaccines to a "shared decision-making model." It also changed its recommendation regarding…

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Northeast Ohio experts say snoring and fatigue may signal sleep apnea. GLP-1s could help 52:26

1M ago52:26

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Zepbound for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Local experts discuss other advances in treatment, including nerve stimulation devices placed under the skin.By Ideastream Public Media

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Gov. DeWine says no plans to call National Guard to Cleveland | Reporters Roundtable 51:31

1M ago51:31

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Northeast Ohio Congressman Max Miller, a Republican from Bay Village said in an opinion piece in the "Washington Times" that his constituents are afraid to come into the city because of crime. He wants the National Guard to deploy to Cleveland as it has done in Washington, D.C. and is being considered for other cities such as Chicago. But Gov. Mike…

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Employers continue to navigate how to discipline employees over social media posts 51:04

1M ago51:04

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The shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked a new debate over how employees are allowed to post on social media, and what repercussions should be.By Ideastream Public Media

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Canton For All People is working to turn empty lots and rundown buildings into homes 51:07

1M ago51:07

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Canton For All People, started its work in 2021 with a goal of improving the rental and home ownership landscape for the city's lower- and middle-income families. The group is getting both regional and national attention for its work. We will begin Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas” with a conversation with the executive director of Canton For All People…

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In DigitalC refresh, nonprofit expands internet access for Clevelanders, moves model to Detroit 51:27

2M ago51:27

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DigitalC, a Cleveland-based nonprofit is expanding its internet access services to 450 public housing households across the Forest Park, Brewster Homes and Diggs Homes neighborhoods in Detroit.By Ideastream Public Media

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Tech leaders look to nuclear power to help solve rising power demand 50:54

2M ago50:54

50:54

Artificial intelligence is accelerating the need to develop more energy systems, as new data centers that require a lot of electricity are being built in Ohio and the Midwest. We'll discuss whether nuclear power could be a viable alternative energy source.By Ideastream Public Media

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Ohio lawmakers prepare to draw new congressional map| Reporters Roundtable 51:24

2M ago51:24

51:24

A bipartisan committee of Ohio lawmakers will begin work on a new congressional map for the midterm elections, meeting on Sept. 22 with an end-of-October deadline for a map to pass with bipartisan support. But is bipartisanship even remotely possible? This week Democrats unveiled their own redrawn map, one that would give Republicans a slight advan…

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Global Cleveland's Welcoming Week celebrates Northeast Ohio's immigrant community 38:50

2M ago38:50

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Global Cleveland, a local nonprofit organization, hosts its annual Welcoming Week beginning Sept. 12. This year's events include an International Job and Resource Fair and a panel conversation on Sub-National Diplomacy.By Ideastream Public Media

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Analysis: September 2025 Cuyahoga County primary results 35:06

2M ago35:06

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Voters in Cleveland Heights overwhelmingly approved a recall of Mayor Kahlil Seren--the first person directly elected to hold the job of mayor in that city. We'll talk about the recall vote as well as several other results from the September primary in Cuyahoga County. The primary winnows ward and mayoral races down to two candidates who advance to…

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A bevy of scientists push back against Trump administration's climate change report 39:03

2M ago39:03

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A local professor from Case Western Reserve University is one of dozens of scientists who are pushing back against a Department of Energy report.By Ideastream Public Media

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Local history campaign chronicles long road to desegregation in Cleveland schools 36:47

2M ago36:47

36:47

Relay Cleveland, a public history campaign, takes its name from Cleveland’s historic “relay” policy — a system that split school days into half-day sessions in overcrowded, predominantly Black schools.By Ideastream Public Media

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Cleveland airport director opposed to Browns stadium plan | Reporters Roundtable 51:16

2M ago51:16

51:16

Cleveland's director of airports talked to the media this week about his opposition to the Browns new stadium complex, which is planned for land near the city-owned Hopkins International Airport. Bryant Francis told reporters that he has not changed his mind about safety concerns he believes the new stadium, because its height encroaches 58 feet in…

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Clinical trials and political will could mark new landscape for psychedelics 51:52

2M ago51:52

51:52

Psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and ketamine are being tested to treat disorders like PTSD and anxiety.By Ideastream Public Media

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How Northeast Ohio organizations are protecting victims of human trafficking 51:38

2M ago51:38

51:38

Human trafficking may seem like a problem that only happens in places far away, but in reality, it happens here in Ohio. According to the United Nations' International Labour Organization, human trafficking impacts more than 27 million people worldwide. And though there's no reliable estimate of human trafficking in the U.S., according to the U.S. …

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Reflecting on Ohio’s role in World War II and preserving the memories of veterans 51:13

2M ago51:13

51:13

We'll talk about the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the role Ohioans played in the fight against fascism.By Ideastream Public Media

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Downtown Cleveland chase that killed bystander raises questions | Reporters Roundtable 51:26

2M ago51:26

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A bystander was killed last weekend when a suspect being chased by Cuyahoga County Sheriff's deputies crashed into her car at St. Clair and Addison Avenue. It's raising anew questions about police chase policy and the sheriff’s downtown safety patrol. Sharday Elder, 37, was killed. She was the mother of two. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office for…

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Museums and American history are new targets for President Trump 52:38

2M ago52:38

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President Trump has taken aim at the Smithsonian Institution and with it, how America tells the story of itself, warts and all.By Ideastream Public Media

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College of Wooster discuss academic freedom in new series amid changing political landscape 49:52

2M ago49:52

49:52

The "Democracy and Academic Freedom: A Forum" series kicks off on the College of Wooster's campus on Sept 3.By Ideastream Public Media

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What comes next for South Euclid and Steubenville after colleges shut down? 51:25

2M ago51:25

51:25

In Ohio, financial problems eventually led to the closure of two institutions: Notre Dame College in South Euclid and Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville. Both shut their doors last year permanently. Coming up we will talk about what happens when a college shuts its doors. What about the students, faculty and vibrancy of the surroundi…

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Sound of Ideas Community Tour: The Future of Shaker Lakes 1:33:51

2M ago1:33:51

1:33:51

The latest "Sound of Ideas: Community Tour" examined the possible future of Lower Shaker Lake, after the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District recommended it be drained to prevent flooding.By Ideastream Public Media

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Construction permit denied for new Browns stadium over airport concerns | Reporters Roundtable 50:51

2M ago50:51

50:51

We learned more this week about the latest hurdle for the Browns' plans to build and move to a new covered stadium in Brook Park beginning in 2029. The Ohio Department of Transportation this month denied a construction permit for the stadium after Cleveland's top airport official said the current design would "permanently and negatively impact" the…

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Trump administration cuts "Solar for All" program, impacting lower-income families in Ohio 51:52

2M ago51:52

51:52

The "Solar for All" program was designed to help low-income households by lowering pollution and utility costs in underserved communities. It funded initiatives across the country to expand access to rooftop solar panels, community solar farms and battery storage systems.By Ideastream Public Media

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Analysis: How will Sherrod Brown's run for Senate impact the Ohio political landscape? 52:56

2M ago52:56

52:56

Sherrod Brown announced this week his intention to challenge Jon Husted next November in a bid to return to the U.S. Senate. Now that Brown has clarified his political ambitions, how does that affect other potential races?By Ideastream Public Media

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Northeast Ohio organizations hope to turn food waste into 'food rescue' 52:04

2M ago52:04

52:04

Food waste is estimated to be about 30 to 40% of the food supply, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture.By Ideastream Public Media