You Need To Listen

A new Pew Research survey https://www.deseret.com/business/2025/07/07/americans-wont-pay-for-news/ says only 1% of people will pay for a news service that requires a payment up front. Is this creating a news and information desert or are people finding other ways to get their “news”? Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi take on the real question on this week’s edition of the You Need to Listen Podcast. Are news consumers turning off legacy media and turning on to alternative news sources? Brey and Scaffidi are the hosts of Point Taken, which airs 10-12, Monday to Friday on 620WTMJ.

The hosts dive into a world without Trump, questioning what lies ahead for the Republican Party. They reflect on the evolution of political identity and the need for unity amidst disconnection. The potential decline in socio-economic conditions draws parallels to the Great Depression, raising concerns about wealth inequality. Their discussion also touches on the importance of prioritizing societal investments over profit and the lasting effects of globalization. Lastly, they examine the uncertainty of political predictions and the media's role in shaping perceptions.

This discussion dives into the complicated nature of empathy amidst politics, questioning whether it's a weakness or a strength. The hosts tackle controversial views within evangelical circles that label empathy as a sin and emphasize its necessity in fostering kindness, especially in healthcare. They also explore the balance of empathy and self-care, the role of empathy in education, and the complexities of conservatism today. Personal anecdotes and light-hearted banter make the topic both relatable and thought-provoking.

An estimated 80% of US television viewers watch Reality TV shows, with 65% of us engaging with these shows online. What’s the impact of this viewership on our culture and on our understanding of what is, and more significantly, what isn’t important in our daily lives? You Need to Listen’s Kristen Brey and Steve Scaffidi explore the underbelly of Reality TV, from our incessant desire to see the worst of human behavior to our absolute fascination with the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. Exploding the myths, and the popularity, of Reality TV on Episode 10 of You Need to Listen! Steve Scaffidi and Kristen Brey are also the hosts of Point Taken on 620WTMJ, which airs from 10-12 weekdays.

Recent studies show that Americans have fewer close friends than they used to, and many psychologists correlate that decline to growing concerns over mental health and physical well -being. META CEO Mark Zuckerberg has an idea on how to fix that problem, and it's designed to make it easier for people to establish friend relationships using artificial intelligence. Zuckerberg told podcaster Dwarkesh Patel recently, "As the personalization loop kicks in and the AI starts to get to know you better and better, that will just be really compelling." But who should regulate and administer the rise of platforms and technology designed to link humans and artificial intelligence? And what are the consequences for the future when an individual's sole connection to the world consists of chatbots and A.I.? Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi explore the world of artificial intelligence and relationships on Episode 9 of the You Need to Listen Podcast. Brey and Scaffidi are also the hosts of Point Taken, which airs weekdays, 10-12, on 620WTMJ in Milwaukee.

The hosts dive into the emotional aftermath of the Pope's passing, shaking up the Catholic landscape. They reflect on their personal faith journeys and the evolving perceptions of religious values, especially among parents. Financial priorities of the Church raise eyebrows, prompting questions about its wealth. A lively discussion on papal elections reveals the whimsical side of choosing a new leader, while themes of inclusivity and interfaith connections emerge, highlighting the need for a modern approach to spirituality.

Onlyfans is a subscription-based, social media platform primarily known for its user-provided content. 98% of the content on the site is sexually explicit, with 305 million subscribers across the globe. On this week's episode of the You Need to Listen Podcast, Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi look at the changing landscape of social media, and public perceptions and acceptance around Onlyfans sexual content, and its link to the pornography industry. From sex workers to selling sexual content for money, YNTL takes on the rise and the power of Onlyfans, its role in social media, and its impact on our culture. Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi are the hosts of Point Taken on 620WTMJ, heard Monday through Friday, from 10 AM - 12 PM.

Should parents be held responsible for the deaths of their children when the circumstances involve withholding life-saving medical treatment or exposing them to unlocked, loaded firearms in the house? Recently in Texas, the parents of a child who died from measles told an anti-vaccine group that they wouldn't recommend the vaccine to other families, after the death of their own child. In Michigan, a couple is serving a 10-15 year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter, for their role in their son's killing of four students at his high school. Their conviction was the first of its kind in the nation. A new Netflix series, Adolescence, explores what happens in a family after a horrific murder, how it relates to the issues of male isolation and violence, and the roles that parents play in their children's lives. What are the limits to parental responsibility and where is the line when it comes to criminal prosecution? In Episode 6 of the You Need to Listen Podcast, Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi explore the perils of parenting in the age of unrestricted access to social media and the internet and the rise of school shootings, in a country where individual freedoms often seem to trump common sense.

Is all politics personal? The phrase has its origins in the feminist and civil rights movements of the late 1960's, connecting personal experience with societal and political agendas. In today's hyper-partisan and incredibly polarized political environment, how much weight do political policies and parties have on the daily lives of all of us? Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi take on the challenge of sorting out the complexities of politics - and the personal - on Episode 5 of the You Need to Listen Podcast. Kristin Brey is the host of Spanning the State, 1 -3 p.m., Monday through Friday on Newsradio 620WTMJ. Steve Scaffidi is the host of the Political Power Hour, 9 - 10 a.m., Monday through Friday on Newsradio 620WTMJ.

There are currently about 750 Billionaires in the U.S., with 10 working in the new Trump administration. One of those ten is Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, who is currently overseeing the office of D.O.G.E., Department of Government Efficiency. On Episode 4 of the You Need to Listen Podcast, Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi take on the subject of wealth, power and influence, and what responsibilities or obligations the richest among us have. Kristin offers up a “wealth tax” proposal that Steve finds “just a little bit crazy”. With their usual razor sharp wit and a ready supply of humor, the two take on the question, Are Billionaires Bad? Kristin Brey is the host of Spanning the State on 620WTMJ, 1- 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Steve is the host of the Political Power Hour on 620WTMJ, 9 – 10 a.m., Monday through Friday.