Latest Episodes
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Where's The Bathroom?
On today’s podcast: Jeremy Siegel guest hosts! First, we dive into Anime Boston with chair Omega Au and researcher Mel Stanfill, exploring the world of fandoms. Then we take a look at Boston’s public restrooms and discuss accessibility with Max Grinnell. We’ll also preview Red Sox opening day with GBH reporter Craig LeMoult. And finally, astrophysicist Anjali Tripathi joins us to guide us through April’s night sky. -
What Does an Ant's Organs Look Like?
We’re learning about the wild world of ants, and a new research project documenting the morphology of over 2,000 ant specimens. Helping us along is Evan Economo, a researcher with the University of Maryland. And more animal news, there's new research into how horses make their “whinny” sound, and it turns out they’re creating two different tones simultaneously. We’ll get insights from Élodie Briefer with the University of Copenhagen.Plus, Edgar talks with Peter Girguis, a Harvard Professor of Organic and Evolutionary Biology, about his work curating an exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History titled "Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination.” -
What's So Funny?
First up, we’re learning the latest on the launch of Artemis II with Andrea Leinfelder, a space reporter with the Houston Chronicle – on site in Florida!Then, we'll investigate whether we can turn the ocean into one big CO2-absorbing sponge. Adam Subhas is a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who last year led a major study around ocean geo-engineering. He’ll join alongside Kristin Kleisner with the Environmental Defense Fund. And lastly, we explore the psychology of why we laugh with Harvard psychologist Natalie Dattilo. -
Got Goat?
We explore the short and long-term economic consequences of going to war – with Iran or otherwise – with MIT Economics Chair Jon Gruber.Plus listeners' linguistic curiosity questions are answered by Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette, hosts of the podcast & radio show “A Way With Words.” And it's time for "The Secret Ingredient" with James-beard winning chef Irene Li. This week Irene joins us with Tamika Francis, founder of the global cuisine-focused pop-up Food & Folklore. We’ll look at goat meat as an under-utilized and climate-conscious source of protein. -
How Do You Get a Dog Out of a Sinkhole?
We get a crash course into the science around DNA testing – and how data can be misconstrued – from Boston Globe reporter David Scharfenberg. Edgar meets Sarah Walsh, librarian by day and Abigail Adams impersonator by night, ahead of an America 250 event happening at the Buttonwoods Museum. The event commemorates Adams' “remember the ladies” letter to her husband John. Tessie Velesig is the 11-year old yellow lab who made international headlines last week after falling into a 12-foot sinkhole in her Falmouth yard. Edgar speaks with owner David Velesig about the dramatic rescue, and what constitutes a feel-good story in 2026. -
North Shore: Who's Got the Best Beef?
We dig into a new book with a provocative title, To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right. Edgar talks with author Christopher Mathias and disinformation expert Joan Donovan, ahead of their panel discussion this weekend at Boston University’s Power of Narrative Conference.And, we learn quantum computing is all about. Wall Street Journal reporter Peter Champelli helps us understand how this technology is about to shape our digital lives. Plus, move over March Madness. On the North Shore, it’s Beef Madness! Andy Ferg shares his search for the ultimate North Shore beef sandwich. -
What Stops An Asteroid From Smashing Into Earth?
Asteroids careening toward Earth – not ideal. MIT Professors Julien de Wit, Richard Binzel, and research scientist Artem Burdanov explain how their work will help prevent it from happening.And, calling balls and strikes with GBH reporter Esteban Bustillos. He explains how baseball’s new ABS system allows certain players to challenge calls they don’t like. Plus, our the best of a classic genre, baseball movies. Edgar talks with writer Noah Gittell in this interview from our archives. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
How Was the "Codfather" Caught?
The GBH podcast Catching the Codfather tells the story of Carlos Raphael, a fishing tycoon whose empire ended with his arrest in an elaborate sting operation. Podcast creator Ian Coss takes us behind the scenes of how the series was reported and produced.And, the science of smell. Neurologists Bob Datta and Mark Albers explore how our sense of smell can be used to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s and other diseases. Plus, we enter the World of Words with Peter Sokolowski, an editor for Merriam-Webster. He talks us through the most-searched words this month and, no surprise, many of them connect to the wear in Iran.---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
Who's In Charge of Outer Space?
Outer space is vast, but it’s not a lawless frontier. Ely Sandler is a Harvard fellow behind a report calling for updates to rules and guidelines around space diplomacy. He explains the changes he thinks are useful for the 1967 space treaty.Gal Tziperman-Lotan returns with four things to know for Tuesday, March 24th. Plus, a raucous good time with pogo stick legend James Roumeliotis of Tewksbury. He holds the Guinness World Record for more consecutive pogo-stick hops, a record that took 11 hours to set! Joining the fun is Will Weiner, producer of Pogopalooza. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
What Makes Finland So Happy?
Year after year, Finland gets crowned the “happiest” country on the planet. But if we dig into the methodology of the survey, does the result hold up? We talk about the World Happiness Report with Jon Krosnik, a professor at Stanford and an expert in survey methodology. And, Bob Crawford plays bass in the Avvett Brothers, but he’s also a historian, podcaster & author of the new book America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick. He joins for our Monday America 250 coverage. Plus, when a specific situation begs to have one word that encapsulates it, like “the last bit of dessert you’re too polite to take” or “people who are more than acquaintances but less than friends.” We talk to Barbara Wallraff, writer of the Boston Globe column, May I Have A Word. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.
