Episodes
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Is hybrid work now a permanent fixture in America?
You can count on traffic gridlock on most Tuesdays in Greater Boston as thousands of workers make their way into offices in the city. After the pandemic forced many workers to be remote, and then company leaders pushed for a return to the office, many have now seemed to settle on an in-between: hybrid work. Recent research confirms that employees consider hybrid to be the modern workplace, giving both flexibility and job satisfaction. The evidence also shows people care enough about hybrid work policies that some have quit jobs when their employers push for a five-day-a-week traditional work environment. After three years of post-pandemic turmoil, is hybrid work now a permanent fixture in America? GUESTS: Bryan Hancock, global leader of McKinsey & Company’s talent management practice Dena Upton, head of people at Dandy and former chief people officer at Drift, both which have embraced the remote work style -
Cranberry Day celebrates an age-old Wampanoag tradition on Noepe aka Martha's Vineyard
For over 10,000 years, members of the Wampanoag tribe have lived in Aquinnah and throughout the island known as Noepe, also known as Martha’s Vineyard. Traditionally a fishing and agriculture community, tribe members also harvest acres of wild cranberry bogs each year that grow on their land. Cranberry Day — the annual harvesting of the fruit — has been a centuries-long celebration passed down by the elders as part of the Aquinnah Wampanoag’s rich history. "I would say it's probably my favorite holiday, and so I was shaped by that," Jannette Vanderhoop, member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, told GBH's Under the Radar. "If someone came by and there wasn't enough food, everyone just got a little less. And I thought that was really beautiful and indicative of our community and how we take care of each other." The treasured tradition serves as a way to commemorate Indigenous People’s Day, says Jordan Clark, assistant director of Harvard University’s Native American Program. "When you think about Massachusetts, when you think about the areas around Boston and the Cape and the Islands, Native people have been living on it for tens of thousands of years," Clark said. "Oftentimes a lot of the founding ideology, a lot of the founding philosophy that we think of as 'American,' is often directly taken from Native communities. But again, that's not part of our national narrative. And so, Indigenous People's Day plays a role in taking a pause and asking, kind of, the larger community to maybe refocus and recenter and reimagine kind of how they see the world and their relationship to it." GUESTS Jannette Vanderhoop, member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, board member of the Aquinnah Cultural Center and author of "Cranberry Day: A Wampanoag Harvest Celebration" Jordan Clark, assistant director of Harvard University’s Native American Program, and a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah -
NPR's Aisha Harris argues pop culture is much more than just entertainment
As an observant young girl and a curious tween, Aisha Harris, co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, was deeply immersed in pop culture. Her early fandom led her to a career as a cultural critic whose hot takes, pithy observations and deep dives into cultural shifts are broadly admired. But Harris says it's not as easy as it looks: "I always feel like I'm not doing enough, but, you know, in part because it's my job and also because even when I'm watching or reading or consuming any sort of art or media, if it's not for work, I'm still in the back of my mind thinking of, okay, perhaps down the line, this could be something that I touch on years later or months later. ... I'm kind of a hoarder when it comes to both books and notes, and I think that's kind of what helps me stay as up and as absorbed as I can, in addition to all the things that I'm doing for my actual job on a day to day basis." Harris has captured her adventures in pop culture in her first book, “Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me.” GUEST Aisha Harris, co-host and reporter for NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, author of “Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me” -
Why many Latino nonprofits struggle to make ends meet
Latinos make up one of Massachusetts' largest ethnic groups, and the last few years has seen significant growth in the widely diverse Latino communities with roots in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. While Latino workers are considered by many to be the backbone of the local economy, they are disproportionately low wage workers. "There still are very real challenges around poverty rates that are really disturbing," said Dr. Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute. But she said there are signs of improvement: "For second generation Latinos, we are seeing more positive outcomes. So, we do have some hope there for the next generation." For many residents, Latino nonprofits have helped fill in the gaps providing vital services to local Latino communities. And yet, many Latino nonprofits in Massachusetts also struggle to make ends meet — one 2020 report says less than 2% of philanthropic dollars are being directly invested in Latino-based organizations, and nearly 100 new nonprofit organizations would need to be created to fill the current gaps in services to the Latino population. "Our volunteers can only volunteer for so long," Lina Cañon, director of finance operations and development for Chica Project, told Under the Radar. "And so if you're not paying the women that are in the organization equitable wages and being competitive with the market and allowing them to live in Boston, which we all know is expensive, then how are you actually going to sustain that program?" Some experts see solutions in policy, and one thing Tomás Gonzalez, director of community and advocacy for Amplify Latinx, wants passed is a bill that would, "allow for the creation of a micro business development center, which would hope to grant $50,000 grants to folks if they hire individuals from the community, returning citizens, those coming off transition assistance, those that are local to to the establishment, so that you can give that business owner the room that they need. Because typically our small business owners ... typically aren't the places that banks give money to." During this Hispanic Heritage Month, Under the Radar looks at the roadblocks to philanthropic funding and the efforts to increase access. GUESTS Dr. Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston Lina Cañon, director of finance operations and development for Chica Project Tomás Gonzalez, director of community and advocacy for Amplify Latinx -
Is New Hampshire old news? Why many Republican presidential hopefuls are prioritizing Iowa
Traditionally, New Hampshire is the proving ground for presidential hopefuls, with most spending major time and money in the Granite State. But many 2024 Republican presidential candidates — so far — are bypassing New Hampshire on their way to Iowa. "It's more expensive to run in New Hampshire than it is in Iowa. It's definitely a bit of a mistake in terms of trying to capture 2024," Erin O'Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston, told Under the Radar. "But Republicans know, to beat Trump, they're betting down on the idea you have to 'out-Trump' him or 'out-conservative' him, and you're more likely to be able to do that in Iowa." Plus, Republican Senator Mitt Romney announced he will retire at the end of his term, saying it's time for the "next generation" of leaders. The former Massachusetts Governor's remarks re-energized the debate about the age of elected officials. "I don't want to say that any particular individual ... should retire," said Luis Jiménez, director of the international relations major at UMass Boston. "But the question we should be talking about is, why is it that people stay in Congress that long? Why is it that people stay in politics that long? And a big reason why has to do with the way that we're doing politics these days and the power of incumbency, the power of money and so on." And the U.S. Senate has gone “business casual." A change in dress code means one Democratic Senator can officially ditch his suit and tie for a hoodie. Jerold Duquette, professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University, argues "this is sort of a gift in terms of authenticity. These people want conformity. ... Politically, a dress code in the Senate as an issue is to the great advantage of those rebelling against the establishment tie, or whatever the case may be." Those stories and more during our full hour with the Mass Politics Profs. GUESTS Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston Jerold Duquette, professor of political science and director of the Public Policy and Management Program at Central Connecticut State University Luis Jiménez, associate professor of political science and director of the international relations major at UMass Boston -
America has a unique obsession with ice, and it all started in Boston
How did we move from suffering in the heat with room-temperature drinks to ice-harvesting capitalists and fanatical ice consumers? America’s journey to ice obsession started right here in Boston with the enterprising Frederic Tudor, who envisioned something seemingly preposterous: bringing ice to the tropics. The Tudors were one of the wealthiest families in Massachusetts. The family had servants who harvested large blocks of ice out of the lake on their estate, and an ice house to store that ice underground, where it could stay cool year-round. "For about four centuries or so, the planet Earth was a lot colder than it is now ... lakes and rivers froze much deeper than they do now. So people could carve large blocks of ice out of those bodies of water for use in their everyday lives, such as cooking or medicine, what have you," Amy Brady, author of the book “Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks — A Cool History of a Hot Commodity,” explained on GBH's Under the Radar. Frederic Tudor, in his early twenties, decided to try selling those ice blocks to people who lived in warm climates, where ice didn't form naturally. He determined that if he could make it to Cuba, he'd be a made man. But he was eventually successful in convincing people to use ice. Frederic even turned several port cities in the Southern U.S. into what he called "ice cities," and inspired a number of copycat entrepreneurs. "Out West, the natural ice harvesting industry really took off quickly until about the 1860s, when the Civil War cut off the Southern ice supply from the North due to the wartime embargoes," Brady explained. "And so it was shortly after that, that mechanically made ice became popular, with ice-making plants cropping up along the south." Even if the war hadn't occurred, Brady believes the natural ice industry would have met a similar fate. "Lakes and rivers are the homes of many organic beings: the fish, of course, the plants and the microorganisms that live in there. And all of that was true in the 19th century, just as it's true now. And people would ingest that. ... So it wasn't uncommon for people to get very, very sick," she said. GUEST Amy Brady, executive director and publisher of Orion Magazine, coeditor of "The World as We Knew It: Dispatches from a Changing Climate," and author of "Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—A Cool History of a Hot Commodity” -
Anti-LGBTQ sentiment is reflected in legislatures, and violence, across the country
Across the country, anti-LGBTQ violence is on the rise. Just recently, a California business owner was killed for displaying a Pride flag. "This is a tragic example of where someone was trying to be supportive and send a message of love and safety and then became targeted by the very hate that is used against so many," Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of BAGLY, told Under the Radar. "I think it's a reminder of how dangerous the situation has become with the increased rhetoric. ... And it's emboldening people, and all of us are being threatened in different ways." The current climate is also reflected in at least 142 bills introduced across the U.S. this year that aim to restrict gender-affirming healthcare. But some advocates are pushing back. Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, said these legal battles are about more than the law: "It's about people's lives. It's about families who now have to consider whether or not they have to uproot their lives and move to another state to provide their child with the health care that they need. And it's about medical providers who are facing the loss of their licenses and criminal penalties for doing their oath, which is to provide and care for their patients." Advocates say an increasing number of LGBTQ+ people are moving to Massachusetts, specifically, in part because of the state's legal protections. "I fled Ohio for the same reason. It just was not comfortable being queer in Ohio," said E.J. Graff, managing editor of Good Authority. "But especially those families that have trans kids, I don't see how they can stay where they are with their children always under threat." It's our LGBTQ News Roundtable. GUESTS Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, or BAGLY Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD E.J. Graff, journalist, author and managing editor of Good Authority, an independent blog publishing insights from political science -
Despite winning championships, women's sports in Boston don't get the attention they deserve
What Boston sports team won five national championships in the last six years? Hint: it wasn’t the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins. The answer: the Boston Renegades, a women's football team. While the local women’s teams that have been winning championship after championship, they've received much less fanfare than their male counterparts at Fenway or Gillette Stadium. "Sports aren't inherently male, but in so many spaces we've come to accept them as such," said Rev. Laura Everett, author of the blog, Boston Women’s Sports. "We have national and world champions playing locally, but they're not getting the coverage they deserve. Whereas so often women's sports teams are expected to prove that they're worthy, when the men's teams are just presumed that they are." But soccer fans may have reason to rejoice — a bid to bring a new national women’s soccer team to Boston could materialize in coming years. Some experts hope it could be the catalyst for local women's teams to finally get the respect and higher profile they have earned. "It's exciting to think that women's pro soccer will be back, hopefully, in Boston and exciting because it's a sport and a league, the NWSL, that's really on the rise. It will be great to have Boston be part of that women's sports conversation nationally." GUESTS Shira Springer, sports journalist and lecturer in Managerial Communication at MIT Reverend Laura Everett, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, author of the blog, Boston Women’s Sports -
From kelp burgers to biofuel, some see a bright future for seaweed
Oceans, rivers and lakes are chockful of thousands of underwater plants and algae collectively described as seaweed. Demand for seaweed — kelp, specifically — has exploded as scientists have confirmed its dietary benefits and its potential as a tool in the fight against climate change. "Seaweeds have a variety of nutrients and minerals and anti-inflammatory properties that you just can't get from typical land plants," Scott Lindell, research specialist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, told Under the Radar. "Food processing companies are finding ways to integrate seaweed, kelp in particular, into products that Americans are familiar with. There are kelp burgers out there which are vegan and some of the best vegetarian burgers I've ever had." There are now seaweed farms from Alaska to Massachusetts, including Duxbury Sugar Kelp of Duxbury, Mass. Owner-operator, John Lovett, said one reason he got into the business was to explore the environmental impacts of kelp: "I really wanted to... be on the forefront of learning about [kelp], to be able to innovate some of the systems that we use to grow it and really to help other farmers understand the impact that they, too, can have on the environment." From food to biofuel and everything in between, some experts believe this billion-year-old algae is the wave of the future. A new exhibit about seaweed aims to capture part of that excitement. "One of the biggest things that I hope people walk away from the exhibition thinking about is that seaweed is a lot more than they may have known," Naomi Slipp, chief curator at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and curator of "A Singularly Marine & Fabulous Produce: the Cultures of Seaweed". "One of the fun things about having the exhibit up has been engaging in these conversations around contemporary applications for seaweed and its potential for the future." GUESTS Scott Lindell, research specialist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution John Lovett, owner-operator of Duxbury Sugar Kelp Naomi Slipp, chief curator at the New Bedford Whaling Museum -
The power of mentorship for at-risk youth
Editor's note: This segment originally broadcast on January 27, 2023. In 1949, a small organization formed in Boston. Ten fatherless boys were paired with adult volunteers to help them navigate their lives. More than 70 years later, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts serves young boys and girls and connects more than 3,600 children with mentors each year. We discuss the importance of strong social webs, how the pandemic frayed them and the power of mentoring with the leader of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and a tight-knit duo that continues to grow together. GUESTS Mark O’Donnell, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts Karen Rodriguez, volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts Rosela Moreta, Karen’s 10-year-old mentee
