Click Here podcast becomes new tech show on IPR Saturdays

IPR News Radio launched a new weekly program on Jan. 10 that adapts the Click Here podcast for radio listeners, airing at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Hosted by Dina Temple-Raston, a journalist with long experience covering terrorism and national security, the program sets out to explain complex technologies in plain language and show how people can make technology work for them.

The first radio episode, titled "Tech in the Wild," examines three practical storylines: researchers using AI to listen to whale conversations, a viral weather forecast that underscored the continuing importance of human judgment, and reporting on how much energy smart machines require. Those topics intersect directly with local concerns in Grand Traverse County, from protecting lake and shoreline ecosystems to preparing for severe weather and monitoring household and municipal energy use.

For residents who rely on accurate forecasts for winter travel, tourism and on-water safety, the episode's focus on forecasting and human judgment highlights how technology complements — rather than replaces — experienced decision-makers. Coverage of AI applied to wildlife monitoring has local resonance for conservation groups, fisheries managers and the county's outdoor recreation economy, which depends on healthy ecosystems and biodiversity.

The program's examination of the energy demands of smart machines speaks to longer-term economic and infrastructure issues. As AI and other connected devices become more common in homes, municipal services and businesses, changes in electricity use can affect local utility planning and household bills. Clear reporting on those trade-offs can help local policymakers, business owners and residents weigh benefits against costs when adopting new technologies.

Adapting a successful podcast into a radio show aims to broaden access to that reporting. The radio format reaches listeners who do not use podcast apps, including older adults and people who prefer live broadcast schedules, and fits into weekday routines for commuters and at-home listeners. Making technical subjects approachable can increase civic engagement on technology-related policy choices at the county and city level, from emergency communications to broadband and energy resilience.

Click Here's move to radio arrives as communities nationwide confront how to integrate AI, satellite data and smart devices into everyday services. For Grand Traverse County, the series provides a locally accessible source of reporting that connects national technological trends to the practical decisions facing residents, municipal leaders and local businesses. Tune in Saturdays at 2 p.m. on IPR News Radio to hear the episodes.