Charlotte Talks on WFAE

Most of us try to at least somewhat manage our intake of sweets during the holiday season when so much of it is available but what about those who must watch their sugar intake year-round? We've covered food issues such as lactose intolerance, allergies and gluten intolerance before and now we turn our food show focus on those with diabetes. We'll look at the root causes of this condition, how food affects it and great alternative recipes for diabetics to use. We'll also take another look at gluten free cooking as well. It’'s a sugar free edition of Charlotte Talks.

We look at the debate over the looming fiscal cliff. Charlotte has long been seen as a financial hub in America so we'll turn to some of our own local experts to find out exactly what the fiscal cliff is, what the debate is all about, the likely outcome and what impact any deal may have on us all. We examine the fiscal cliff in detail, when Charlotte Talks.

When we think of climate change, we often think the consequences are far off. But doctors and scientists believe it is harming our health now and it will only get worse. Some of the climate's harmful effects to our health can be obvious - extreme weather events and increased temperatures. But many are less so, think asthma and allergies, even food and water borne diseases, on up to cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer. How does climate impact our health and what can we do about it? We'll talk with people involved in educating the public about the risks of the changing climate to our health, including from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We'll meet one of the leaders of an organization using an innovative strategy to fight global poverty. Jon Mitchell of CARE USA says that the technology that we take for granted in America, like cell phones, can be used to help end poverty in developing countries. We'll talk about the process of getting technology into the hands of the world's poorest communities and how this will help them better their situation and more, when Charlotte Talks.

We have discussed global warming and how we can reduce our carbon footprint several times on this show but we generally focused on the debate about whether climate change is real and man-made. Our guest today, film director Peter Byck, decided to forget the debate. He simply traveled the country to meet people who were actively reducing their carbon footprint whether they believed in global warming or not. These people just think it’'s smarter to use less energy or to create it more efficiently. Byck sees these innovators and entrepreneurs as part of “Carbon Nation” and he made a film by the same name. He'’ll join us when Charlotte Talks.

Dr. James Tabor from UNC Charlotte has spent much time researching and writing about the historical Jesus, looking back at ancient documents and artifacts to piece together details about his life. It makes sense that after his work on the historical Jesus, Dr. Tabor would turn to Paul, a man who never met Jesus, but one who is credited with shaping Christianity as we know it today. We’ll be joined by James Tabor to talk about his findings, laid out in his new book Paul and Jesus - about Paul’s influence in Christianity and in human history as a whole, Christianity before Paul, and much more.

Last month the Charlotte Observer, in conjunction with Q City Metro, published an article outlining the findings of a report that was supposed to be secret. It was a report commissioned with taxpayer dollars that was aimed at exploring the management structure and efficiency of the Department of Social Services in Mecklenburg County. Some of the findings were alarming but other issues are in play. How can such studies be secret? Who may have leaked the information and, most importantly, what is the state of the county’s social services department. We’ll meet with an author of the article as well as experts who can help us understand the challenge of protecting children in need.

There is a storied part of Southern Culture that some revere and others ridicule: debutante society. The holiday season is also one of debutante balls where young women of the upper crust make their debut as legitimate members of grown-up society. The practice dates back to earlier times and - despite the changes wrought by modern times - continues. A closer look at why debutante society was important in the past and why it continues when Charlotte Talks.