Episodes
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Boston Public Radio: Pre-Game
Today on Boston Public Radio: We asked our listeners their thoughts on everything related to the upcoming Super Bowl, from the first legal bets on the big game in Massachusetts to the price of Super Bowl snacks and beyond. Cara Solomon, founder of the nonprofit Everyday Boston, and Ronnie Elliot, the Transformational Prison Project’s Youthful Offender Coordinator, discussed their fifth annual “Love Your Wicked Awesome Neighbor Challenge,” a chance for Bostonians to connect with those in their community via supportive homemade cards. Under the Radar and Basic Black host Callie Crossley joined the team to talk about Mayor Wu’s Reparations Task Force, and how the city can take inspiration from existing reparations and racial justice programs both here in the Commonwealth—such as that at Harvard—and across the country. Sue O’Connell broke down major headlines ranging from President Biden’s State of the Union address from this past Tuesday to allegations that abuses against LGBTQ+ users have increased since Elon Musk took over the company to Netflix cracking down on password sharing. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, as well as a reporter for NBC LX and NECN. Boston-based band Mile Twelve discussed and performed tracks from their newest album, “Close Enough to Here,” as part of Live Music Friday. For our final listener call-in segment, we asked our listeners to weigh in on how they’re reacting to and coping with the unseasonably warm winter weather. We ended the show by hearing from Winter Walk executive director Ari Barbanell about this weekend’s event. -
Boston Public Radio Full Show: SOTU
Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show by opening the lines to hear our listeners’ reaction to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address. Then Art Caplan discussed the shortage of primary care physicians in Massachusetts. He also talked about Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s plan to try to wipe the medical debt of state residents and a proposal in Florida that would require high school athletes to submit menstrual records to schools to prove their sex. Art Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Then National Security Expert Juliette Kayyem came on to discuss the criminal charges filed against Lindsay Clancy, a Duxbury woman accused of strangling her three children to death. Her lawyer argues she is not guilty because of temporary insanity caused by post-partum psychosis. She also commented on President Biden’s State of the Union Address and how Biden handled the Chinese spy balloon that hovered over the U.S. last week. Juliette Kayyem is the former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland-security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. GBH News Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen discussed “Made in China 2.0” through ArtsEmerson, the El Pasado Mío/Cooper Gallery at Harvard’s Hutchins Center, Re/Framing the View at New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.” Michael Curry of the Mass League of Community Health Centers discussed the police reform elements of President Biden's State of the Union speech. He also talked about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's reparations task force and the resistance the body faces from the public. Then we ended the show by asking our listeners what their favorite unhealthy food is after we read that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi eats a hotdog every day for lunch. -
BPR Full Show 2/7/23: Peep Show
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened phone and text lines to ask listeners about their relationship with work commutes, and if they enjoy getting a moment’s rest before and after the workday. Trenni Casey discussed a new study finding evidence of CTE in 92 percent of NFL players, and a story about a Connecticut Whole Foods worker who holds the title of most Mount Everest ascents by a woman. Carol Rose spoke on Massachusetts debuting an abortion resource hotline, as well as a pending lawsuit out of Texas that would ban abortion pills nationwide. Lee Pelton discussed scrutiny of Memphis police in the aftermath of Trye Nichols’ death, and why he’s not concerned with public criticism of the Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King memorial on Boston Common. Corby Kummer reflected on the passing of Bob Born, credited with bringing marshmallow Peeps to the masses. John King gave his two cents on rumors that Labor Secretary and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will become Executive Director of the NHL Players’ Association. He also spoke on President Biden’s coming State of the Union Address. We closed the show by re-opening phone and text lines to discuss listener gripes with America’s transition away from cash. -
BPR Full Show: A Political Rematch Nobody Wants
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to hear from listeners about a new Washington Post/ABC poll that shows voters unenthused about the prospects of a Biden/Trump rematch in 2024. Jesse Mermell and Jennifer Nassour joined for a political panel, and discussed the DNC voting to move the first primary to South Carolina, and how the Massachusetts Republican party might move forward without Jim Lyons. Mermell is founder and president of deWit Impact Group, and a former Democratic candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. Nassour is the founder of the Pocketbook Project, former chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party and a former candidate for Boston City Council. Cathy Judd-Stein, Gaming Commission chair, joined to discuss the start of sports betting in Massachusetts. Bradley Campbell, Conservation Law Foundation president and CEO, joined to discuss various environmental headlines, including Gov. Healey’s climate plans. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discussed the evolution of the National Prayer Breakfast. Jessie Colbert and Dr. Leena Mittal joined to discuss maternal mental health and perinatal mood disorders. Jessie Colbert is Founder and Executive Director of the Mass PPD Fund. Dr. Leena Mittal, is Medical Director of the Equity, Substance Use and Community Partnerships at MCPAP for Moms, Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of the Division of Women’s Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. We ended the show by hearing from listeners about the best way to bail on a date that isn't going well, on the heels of a survey that found people generally take 51 minutes to make up their minds and come up with an excuse to leave. -
BPR Full Show: The Unwashed
Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show by hearing from listeners about how they're preparing for the extreme cold weather expected this weekend. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discussed the Biden administration decision to lift the public health emergency for COVID-19 in May. She is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed a legislative push for pay transparency in Massachusetts. Cheryl Straughter, chef and co-owner of the Nubian Square restaurant Soleil, discussed her plans to expand into Boston Public Market, and how the business fared during the pandemic. Sue O'Connell discussed new guidelines from the FDA for gay and bisexual men wishing to donate blood, and the House ousting Rep. Ilhan Omar from her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee for her statements about Israel. O’Connell is co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. Members of Castle of our Skins, a Boston-based concert and educational series devoted to celebrating Black Artistry through music, joined at the Boston Public Library. Ashleigh Gordon, artistic executive director and co-founder; Samantha Ege, UK-based pianist who collaborated on their new album; musical selections performed by violinists Gabriela Diaz and Matthew Vera, violist Gordon, and cellist Francesca McNeeley. We ended the show with a listener call-in segment about how often to wash jeans. -
Corby Kummer: Is Lab-grown Meat Vegetarian-Friendly?
Food policy writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss the ethical considerations behind lab-grown meat for people who consider themselves vegetarians — whether for animal welfare or environmental reasons — off of an article in Mother Jones: “My Vegetarian Dilemma: Tasting Lab-Grown Meat From Live Animals” “This cultured meat is taken from a live animal … and then grown out in a medium,” said Kummer. “Here’s a dirty little secret, almost invariably the medium is fetal bovine serum, FBS, which is taken from dead cows and calves. They never talk about the growing medium.” Corby Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy -
BPR Full Show: Are The Parents Alright?
Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC political director Chuck Todd discussed House speaker and Republican representative Kevin McCarthy's recent meeting with President Joe Biden over the debt ceiling, and other national political news. We opened the lines to hear from listeners about a trend away from so-called helicopter parenting, due to parental burnout and a change in ideology. Andrea Cabral discussed 20-year-old Sayed Faisal's death at the hands of Cambridge police. Cabral is former secretary of public safety for Massachusetts and Suffolk County sheriff. Paul Reville discussed whether to bring police back to Boston Public Schools in response to increased violence on school grounds, and the latest on teacher strikes in Massachusetts. Reville is Massachusetts’ former secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed artificial intelligence technology's ability to recall images on command, and the Department of Justice's antitrust suit against Google. We re-aired a conversation with comedian and author Jessi Klein about her book "I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood." We ended the show by opening the lines for another parenting call-in segment: Is it actually a sign of intelligence that your young kid is foul-mouthed? -
BPR Full Show: Bits and Pits
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to get listener reactions to Tom Brady announcing his retirement from football. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a new report in JAMA about greed in the US healthcare system, our worsening health outcomes, and new FDA guidelines on who can give blood. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the police killing of Tyre Nichols, and the progression of Trump's legal case in Manhattan. Michael Kirk, director of Frontline's latest film "Putin and the Presidents," discussed the film's examination of Russian President Vladimir Putin's quest for Russian dominance through the lens of multiple American presidencies. Food policy writer Corby Kummer discussed the much anticipated Comfort Kitchen opening in Boston, inflation drawing a new generation of bakers to the bread machine, and the legacy of Four Loko. Naturalist and author Sy Montgomery discussed animals genetically modifying themselves to adapt to life in the city, and wildlife advocates urging regulators to do more to protect cephalopods given their intelligence. We opened the lines to hear from listeners about how often they shower. -
BPR Full Show: The Bet Is On
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show with a call-in session to ask our listeners how they feel about the official launch of legal sports betting in Massachusetts. On Tuesday morning the state’s three casinos — Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston — began accepting bets on a wide range of competitive sports. The law doesn’t allow betting on high school sports, local college teams and e-sports. Trenni Casey joined to talk about the upcoming Super Bowl showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, allegations that Harvard’s women’s hockey coach created an abusive and toxic locker room environment and the opportunity for a professional women’s soccer team to once again play in Boston. Trenni Casey is an anchor and reporter with NBC Sports Boston and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Gov. Maura Healey came down to the Boston Public Library for an in-person edition of “Ask the Governor,” fielding questions from the audience and Jim and Margery. During the segment, Healey said she would not offer a position on whether public employees should have the right to strike in reference to the teachers’ work stoppage in Woburn. She also said that she supports the city of Boston having a seat on the MBTA’s Control Board, a priority for Mayor Michelle Wu. Jared Bowen came on to discuss the Japanese prints at the Worcester Art Museum, “The Art of Burning” at the Huntington and why White Lotus’ season two theme song is playing at the club. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took questions in the latest edition of “Ask the Mayor” from the Boston Public Library. She discussed the lack of affordable practice spaces for artists and musicians and said that her administration is directing federal pandemic funding towards expanding artist space in Boston. She also addressed the challenges that weather fluctuations present to maintaining safe and pothole-free streets. Wu also talked about the challenges of finding reliable bus transportation for Boston Public School students. Wu is the mayor of Boston. -
BPR Full Show: Tyre Nichols' Killing Renews Calls For Justice, Police Reform
Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show by taking our listeners’ calls to ask how they felt about the widespread broadcast of the video depicting Memphis police officers violently beating Tyre Nichols. We also asked listeners about whether the police reforms implemented following George Floyd have had any meaningful impact. Then GBH news analyst Charlie Sennott came on to discuss the political brinkmanship between the U.S. and Germany that led to both countries giving tanks to Ukraine. He also predicted that the war will continue for months because the Russian government has been effective in generating support for the invasion by misrepresenting how successful its military has been on the ground. Charlie Sennott is the founder of The GroundTruth Project and is a GBH News Analyst. Michael Curry, the CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers, discussed the limitations of police reform efforts following the release of the body cam footage showing officers violently attacking Tyre Nichols. Curry argued that there is too much deference and trust in police departments among the public and media. He also argued in support of continuing to diversify police forces, saying that impact will take time to materialize. Michael Curry is the President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he chairs the board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Mass Teachers Association president Max Page discussed the push among teachers unions to change a Massachusetts law that bans public employees from going on strike. He also discussed the ongoing teacher strike in Woburn as educators there push for better wages for paraprofessionals and smaller class sizes. Page also discussed the potential impact of the Fair Share Amendment, a ballot question that passed this fall which changed the state Constitution mandating an additional 4 percent tax on earnings more than 1 million dollars and earmarking that revenue for transportation and education. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discussed the limitations of police reform and the need for change in police training around the perceptions and stereotypes of young black men. The Reverends also discussed a statement released by Patrick Clancy, the father of the three children who were killed by their mother during a bout of postpartum psychosis, which asked for forgiveness for his wife. The Revs also discussed Pope Francis’s comments that homosexuality is a sin but not a crime. Reverend Irene Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Emmett G. Price III is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. V, formerly known as Eve Ensler, discussed her new book “Reckoning” and the 25th anniversary of "V Day", which is a day dedicated to ending violence against all women, trans women and non-binary people. We ended the show with a call-in session asking our listeners how they feel about dining out alone.
