Vinyl chloride, Champion cheesemaker, Teenage girl mental health

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time
A woman in a white coat and hat sniffs a piece of cheese.
Tammy Alderman Miller with Colony Brands sniffs a Swiss style cheese Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, during the U.S. Championship Cheese Competition at the Resch Center Complex in Green Bay, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

A plastics engineer explains why and how we use the chemical vinyl chloride, which spilled in a train derailment in Ohio. Then, we talk to the Wisconsin native who won the 2023 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest. Later, a doctor helps us better understand new CDC data showing worse mental health outcomes for teenage girls.

Featured in this Show

  • Why we use vinyl chloride, the chemical that spilled in an Ohio train derailment

    The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio spilled a toxic chemical called vinyl chloride, which is used in the production of many plastics. We learn more about what the chemical is and how commonly it’s used.

  • US Championship cheesemaker with Wisconsin roots

    What does it take to make the world’s best cheese? We talk to the winner of the 2023 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest, who spent most of his life in Wisconsin before moving to a new dairy operation in Connecticut last year.

  • The mental well-being of adolescent girls

    New data from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention details record-high levels of sadness, violence, and risk of suicide for teenage girls. We talk to a health expert about what’s behind the numbers and what we can do to help.

    You can always contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and always available.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Sarah Hopefl Technical Director
  • Lorin Cox Producer
  • Lee Rayburn Producer
  • Alex Jordan Guest
  • Eric Schmid Guest
  • Dr. Allie Hurst Guest

Related Stories