We’re about to enter 2026, but before we do, let’s reflect on this past year. This week, we’re taking a deep dive into...well, The Deep Dive. Here’s what you loved the most in our newsletter this year. Thank you for reading. Happy New Year! See you then.
Yours in media,
Elizabeth He, Visual Communications Editor
P.S. For the full printable primetime schedule, visit gbh.org/explore
Top Ten Deep Dive Reader Favorites
1. Book Recommendations (articles)
Books were your top hits without a doubt — summer, fall, and winter lists, and our banned book lists. Here’s a recap for you bookworms:
- 10 GBH Staff Share Their Summer Reading Picks
- GBH Staff’s Eight Book Recommendations for Fall (with Program Pairings)
- 12 Winter Book Recommendations from GBH Staff
- Looking For a New Read? Try One of These Frequently Banned Books
2. Discover Massachusetts...One Scoop at a Time (article)
Here’s a throwback from one of our summer issues that you liked. Where’s the best ice cream in the Bay State? It’s a hotly debated topic. Check out the list and plan ahead, summer will be here before you know it.
3. Escaping a Volcano’s Deadly Pyroclastic Flow (7 min clip)
You were interested in our Pompeii edition. In this clip, volcanologist professor Chris Jackson reveals the power of the deadly pyroclastic flow that had swept through Pompeii, killing everything in its path. Take another look.
4. Can You Still Smell Boston’s Great Molasses Flood? (1 min clip)
A deadly flood of molasses almost sounds like a joke. But for Boston’s North End, it was very serious. Can you sniff the history?
5. All Creatures Great and Small, Season Five Preview (30 sec clip)
You were excited for Season Five...and now Season Six is on its way! Mark your calendars to catch the season premiere on Sunday, January 11.
Here’s a sneak peek for what’s to come in Season Six.
6. Boston in the Early 1900s (image gallery)
What did Boston look like in the early 1900s? And how much has it changed? Find out with this interactive gallery.
7. James Herriot (Alf Wight)’s Real World War II Experience (article)
Discover the fascinating facts and surprising timeline of the All Creatures Great and Small author’s WWII experience. Here’s a piece of history from one of your favorite shows.
8. Things People Forget To Clean the Most (article & 2 min audio)
Cleaning experts share their top house cleaning hacks and tips. Save this one for when spring comes around.
9. Patience Series Preview (30 sec video)
Patience Evans is an autistic woman who helps the York police with their investigations. If you haven’t watched this show yet, here’s another chance!
10. Premiere of This Old House (1 min clip)
And a mega throwback: Here’s footage from the 1979 premiere of This Old House, produced at GBH. See what the series looked like from the start.
Your Favorite Recipe from 2025
Superfood Minestrone (recipe)
In Season Three of Homemade Live!, nutritionist Joy Bauer joins chef Joel Gamoran to prepare this feel-good dish. Stock up on essential nutrients!
You can find other recipes from our shows here.
Off Topic
- Check out another recap from this year. Watch 2025’s 10 most-streamed new FRONTLINE documentaries. (article)
- It’s time for another All Creatures Great and Small pub quiz! Can you beat Nicholas Ralph in a round of Season Five trivia? Find out now! (2 min short)
- Journalists at GBH News have been reflecting on the headlines that defined the year, the people we met, and what stories we’ll continue to follow in the year ahead. Read/listen to “2025 in review: The biggest stories from Boston and around Massachusetts.” (article)
