Episodes
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Three local librarians share their top summer reading picks
Summer 2023 is upon us, and we're ready to bury our faces in a book we can’t wait to read. As bestselling author Stephen King notes, “books are a uniquely portable magic,” and they're often on the move during the summer months: jammed into jean pockets, lining beach towels, and stacked up on vacation bedside tables. For our annual summer reading special, three local librarians return with their curated lists from 2023’s best offerings — from thrillers to young adult novels, to romance and science fiction. “The book opens right here in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1910, where Agnes Carter, a wealthy donor to a university, which is presumably Harvard, hires a naturalist and glassblowing phenom from Bohemia to create a collection of glass botanical models,” said Susannah Borysthen-Tkacz, senior librarian at the Cambridge Public Library, about one of her summer reading favorites, Glassworks by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith. “Meanwhile, Agnes is struggling with her own suffocating marriage and becomes increasingly enmeshed in this glass artist's life. … And the common thread through all of it is glass. And it sort of is a metaphor for the delicate structure of the family. We see their families shatter and sort of rebuild itself over and over again.” Robin Brenner, teen librarian at the Public Library of Brookline, chose Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song by Austin Paramore in part because it is written for younger teens: “It plays on the idea of making a deal with the Crossroads Devil, for music, which is something I've always enjoyed as a trope and certainly comes from true jazz mythology and jazz history. And in this case, it's a young man who is trying to prove that he wants to be a musician and, specifically, playing piano, but cannot afford his own keyboard and is kind of desperate to prove to his dad, who's very disapproving of the idea of this as a career. And he reconnects with an old friend from the neighborhood and ends up making a deal that he doesn't realize he's making with this very shady store owner who gives him a keyboard for free. Of course, there is a different price for it.” “There's a king, he has three sons, he sends them out on various, completely ridiculous quests," said Veronica Koven-Matasy, reader services librarian at the Boston Public Library, about one of her recommendations, White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link. “And the youngest son finds himself at the house of a white cat who mysteriously can talk. And all of her servants are cats, and they mysteriously produce all the things that he needs to succeed in his quest. … He is supposed to bring back a bride. And he says, ‘Oh, I don't really want to bring back a wife.’ And the white cat says, ‘Oh, you bring me.’ And he has to prove his faith in her by cutting off her head when she tells him to. And then immediately a beautiful woman springs out. And, you know, it’s the perfect woman. And obviously he's the superior son who brought back the superior bride. And he gets to be the king. … You enjoy being surprised by stories as well as well as just really enjoying the beautiful prose that's carrying you through. I really recommend [this], I was shocked many times.” GUESTS Susannah Borysthen-Tkacz, senior librarian at the Cambridge Public Library Robin Brenner, teen librarian at the Public Library of Brookline Veronica Koven-Matasy, reader services librarian at the Boston Public Library -
Why 37,369 flags will wave in the Boston Common this Memorial Day
For over a decade, hundreds of volunteers have convened on the Boston Common to plant tens of thousands of flags in the leadup to Memorial Day. This year, 37,369 have been placed in the park, each one representing a service member from Massachusetts who gave their life since the Revolutionary War. The Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund created the event in 2010. The group "got together to say, what can we do to have this living memorial where we can demonstrate a very outward facing response to recognizing the service and sacrifice of our fallen heroes," Brig. Gen. Jack Hammond told Under the Radar. "And so this is one of the best ways to do it on Memorial Day weekend ... hundreds of thousands of people will walk through there over the next few days and really see that visual support that we're providing in that commitment to our military families." For surviving family members, the flag-planting is much more than just a symbolic act, it's also a moment of remembrance and celebration. "My husband Brett loved a good ceremony," said Rhonda Garvin Conaway, spouse of a fallen Massachusetts service member. "And now here I am today, saying my husband's name. ... Thinking about that is very powerful and helped me put my pain somewhere to remember that I'm not alone. And for all the pain that I may have, another family also shares in that. And that unites us and bonds us in a way that reminds us of our humanity." GUESTS Jack Hammond, retired Brigadier General and executive director of Home Base, a nonprofit dedicated to veteran care, co-organizer of the Memorial Day Boston Common Flag Garden Rhonda Garvin Conaway, spouse of a fallen Massachusetts service member -
Retirement? As if! Why some aren't saving because of an uncertain future
Why bother saving for retirement when the world is ending? The climate change crisis, sky-high inflation and political turmoil are driving some young people to spend for today instead of saving up for an uncertain future. A recent survey found that nearly 75% of Gen Zers prefer higher quality of life than extra money in savings. Another revealed that 55% of people ages 18-35 have put saving for retirement on the back burner. Gen Z is also amassing credit card debt faster than any other age group. "The younger we are, the more likely we are to be present-focused, versus future-focused, and the more likely we are to have, quite frankly, destructive beliefs around money," Brad Klontz, a financial psychologist, told Under the Radar. Tremendous debt also helps explain this trend, according to local financial consultant, Kimberly Zimmerman Rand. "Here in the Boston area where we have high housing costs and many people are entering the workforce with high student loans, there's more of an orientation towards today and less of an orientation towards tomorrow," she said. Concern over climate change may also be fueling a more carefree relationship with money, and dire reports can validate those fears. Are young people simply responding rationally to turbulent times? Klontz says this apocalyptic anxiety is common through the generations. "I can only imagine what it must have been like to be living through World War II or the Great Depression, World War I, back when the Spanish flu pandemic was happening," he said. "I mean, I feel like there's just been a long history of feeling like the world is going to end during my life. ... You can enjoy today — and you should — but you should also be planning and saving for the future." GUESTS Brad Klontz, financial psychologist and Managing Principal of Your Mental Wealth Advisors Kimberly Zimmerman Rand, principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions LLC -
'Join or Die' argues the fate of America depends on joining a club
“Join or Die.” It’s the urgent title of a new documentary about “America’s civic unraveling,” as the filmmakers describe it, arguing that the country’s long decline in community connections is undermining America's democracy. The film centers around the research of Robert Putnam, the retired Harvard social scientist, whose book “Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Communities,” arguably changed America's understanding of the importance of community. "There are two different kinds of consequences of our social connections, or of the absence of social connections. One set has to do with how being a loner affects us personally," said Robert Putnam. "The title of the film 'Join or Die,' refers to that set of consequences, because it's quite clear. And I made this [point] originally in Bowling Alone while I was writing it 25 years ago. But it's now become even clearer. Your chances of dying over the next year are cut in half by joining one group, cut in three quarters by joining two groups. In other words, there are major physical and many other effects on you personally, if you become isolated." Now, decades since "Bowling Alone" was published filmmakers take another look at the decline in social connections and how a loneliness epidemic has contributed to the decline. "It was an opportunity to zoom out a little bit, and not just cover the symptoms, but really look at what are these root causes," said Rebecca Davis, co-director and co-producer of Join or Die."I also felt in the news we were doing a lot of stories about 'this is bad, this is bad,' but not nearly enough about what can we do and where we can look for hope." GUESTS Robert D. Putnam, former Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, author of 15 books including Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, and The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again Rebecca Davis, co-director and co-producer of Join or Die -
Cape Cod's proposed machine gun range in the cross hairs of new EPA report
The long controversial push for a proposed machine gun range on Cape Cod might be struck down by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The range would reduce the amount of time it takes soldiers at Joint Base Cape Cod to complete their training, says the Massachusetts Army National Guard — they currently have to travel hours to perform required small arms training. But the EPA's latest report suggests local resident's drinking water could be jeopardized if the eight-lane, $11.5 million range is built. "The biggest concern by far is for the Cape's water supply," said Steve Junker, managing editor of news at CAI. "It supplies water for more than 200,000 year round residents. And it's already compromised and it's compromised by this very same military base... They'll be firing more than a million bullets per year, which they feel is almost certain to further compromise that aquifer that goes under the base." And Rhode Island officials are texting residents in high risk areas urging them to carry Narcan — also known as naloxone — a medicine that quickly reverses an overdose. There were at least 860 overdose deaths in Rhode Island from 2021-2022, but this April, state officials sent texts offering free Narcan to residents in the Providence area, and they recieved a significant response: "The prior year, they had zero requests for naloxone. As soon as they sent out that text message, within a week, they get 166 requests for naloxone," Tim White, managing editor for WPRI, told Under the Radar. "Of course, they can't count how many lives that may have potentially saved. But, you know, naloxone does just that, it reverses the effects of an opioid overdose... And unfortunately, in Rhode Island, at least, the data from 2022, which is still being put together, is on track to to match the number of overdose deaths that we saw in 2021, which was the deadliest year on record." Plus, Republican opposition forced the take down of a historical marker honoring a New Hampshire labor leader and feminist organizer just weeks after it was unveiled. "She was a feminist who advocated for workers rights, for freedom of speech," said Arnie Arnesen, host of “The Attitude with Arnie Arnesen” on WNHN. "She became a leader in the Communist Party, believing that capitalism was at the root of inequality. I wonder where she got that from. But she loved America. 'It could be paradise on earth if it belonged to the people, but not to a small owning class,' that's a quote from her. No one can take my love of country away from me. But the same GOP is in love, too, with a hater of democracy, a sexual abuser, a liar, a man obsessed with revenge. So thinking about the decision of the Republican governor and his executive councilors to remove the marker, maybe that rebel girl is still a rebel and someone to be feared." It’s our Regional News Roundtable. GUESTS Arnie Arnesen, host of “The Attitude with Arnie Arnesen” on WNHN Tim White, investigative reporter and managing editor for WPRI Steve Junker, managing editor of news at CAI, the Cape, Coast and Islands affiliate of GBH -
Is Gen-Z trading pharmaceuticals for supplements?
Herbs, supplements, yoga, and massage therapy are some of the ways people use home remedies to improve their health instead of the typical doctor’s prescription. But these holistic health practices have become a popular alternative medicine industry with professionals that promote preventative medicine. These practices are not new and have been around, in some form, for hundreds of years. "I think that there are more and more people embracing the need for both sides because the medical system can’t sustain its ability to help people in all ways," said Liz Elia, owner of Whole Minded Health, "it really is a disease care system, and there’s so much chronic disease and chronic pain that this advanced medical care system can't address, so I think there is more and more of a need for us to work together." But the pandemic changed how we all understand healthcare. For some Americans, the last three years have seen an increase in people rethinking traditional medicine, and Gen-Z especially appears to be moving toward holistic health with implications for our entire healthcare system. "A lot of the Gen-Z's that come into our office, they just say 'Hey, I've been to my doctor and they aren't really giving me the answers that I need,' so, they have to start searching at a younger and younger age to even find what's going on with [them]," said Dr. Blake Vickers, a chiropractic doctor and functional neurologist at The Wellness Way in Raleigh, N.C. GUESTS Liz Elia, owner of Whole Minded Health, a holistic health practice in Massacusetts. Dr. Blake Vickers, a chiropractic doctor and functional neurologist at The Wellness Way in Raleigh, N.C., a national holistic health practice. -
New climate report reveals many Massachusetts homes are vulnerable to flooding
A new report finds Massachusetts storms have grown in frequency and severity since the early 1900s. The number of intense, two-day storms has increased by 74% — and that means many homes are becoming more vulnerable to flooding. "The first thing that comes to my mind is the health implication of this," said Dr. Gaurab Basu, co-director of the Center for Health Equity Education and Advocacy at Cambridge Health Alliance. "Concern about water damage in homes that could cause mold, which of course will cause people to have serious allergies. We want our homes to be safe and protected, and so the idea that climate could impact the health of our children within our home is concerning." And across New England, where many of the country’s oldest buildings are located, some cities have begun preparing for the worst of climate change — by picking up historic buildings and moving them. "Look, we're going to make choices. Maybe it's not so important to save a [particular] historic house -- but maybe to save another one," said Beth Daley, editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S. "I think the emphasis should really be on changing FEMA and flood insurance laws... These kind of incentives need to be geared toward retreat or relocation." But a United Nations panel says we can still keep the worst effects of climate change at bay, if industrialized countries can cooperate in cutting global greenhouse gasses in half by 2030. Cabell Eames, political director of Better Future Project, told Under the Radar that Massachusetts is making significant progress against climate change: "We have the first Climate Chief in Massachusetts and I know she is working diligently with the state of Massachusetts... There's just so much good will out there and there's so much opportunity to build relationship with one another and build community, and I think that when we do that everything else will just fall into place." A panel of experts discuss these stories and more for our Environmental News Roundtable. GUESTS Dr. Gaurab Basu, physician, co-director of the Center for Health Equity Education and Advocacy at Cambridge Health Alliance, and Health Equity Fellow at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Beth Daley, editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S. Cabell Eames, political director of Better Future Project, a Massachusetts-based grassroots climate action organization -
'Welcome to the Circus of Baseball' author pitches the minor leagues as America's true pastime
1994 was a notable year in American sports. The New York Rangers took home the Stanley Cup, Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan was violently attacked on the ice (the culprit later identified as an associate of competing skater Tonya Harding), and Major League Baseball’s World Series was canceled. But over with the minor league team, the Asheville Tourists in North Carolina, a young Ryan McGee was living his best life. “My dream then was to be a radio play-by-play guy," McGee said. "In the Carolinas, I'm the guy that would go as a teenager and sit in my father's car and twist the AM radio dial, just looking for teams…Unfortunately, my accent is what it is. And in 1994, everyone was supposed to sound like Tom Brokaw. And that's not what I sounded like. But I did land an internship with the Tourists, with the hope of perhaps maybe becoming the voice of the Asheville Tourists.” McGee jumped at the chance to work for $100 a week as an intern for the team. A budding sports journalist, McGee was already an ardent baseball fan, with a special passion for baseball’s minor leagues. Today, he's a well-known writer for ESPN, but his new book recounts his harrowing and hilarious experiences that summer — including some that almost cut his career short. Pulling out the tarp to cover the field on rainy days was especially perilous, he says: “When you go to a game at Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium and they pull the tarp, they have dozens of people pulling this giant, heavy, rain-proof cover for the entire ballpark infield. And when you have dozens of people, it's beautiful, right? Well, at a minor league ball park, sometimes we had four people to do this while we were in a downpour. And as a result, sometimes the tarp pull turned into more of a tarp drag," McGee said. "There was one time, as I held on to this nylon handle loop of this tarp, the wind got up underneath the tarp. And in my mind, I went about 150 feet up in the air. The reality is that that puff of air probably put me about six or seven feet up in the air, but my feet left the ground… But the good news is I was young and made out of rubber, so when I landed on the ground, I was not hurt very badly. Now I’d go to the hospital.” McGee's new book “Welcome to the Circus of Baseball: A Story of the Perfect Summer at the Perfect Ballpark at the Perfect Time” is our May selection for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” GUEST Ryan McGee, senior writer for ESPN the Magazine, co-host of the Marty and McGee show for ESPN Radio and the SEC sports network. -
What will the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency mean for the future of COVID care?
The national COVID-19 public health emergency is coming to an end on May 11, and it’s taking with it access to free COVID tests and vaccines. The emergency has been in place since January 2020 and has been renewed several times over the last three years. Its end is not only symbolic; it also might mean a drastically different level of care for COVID patients within hospitals. "I wouldn't say we are in a post-pandemic phase. We are in a much better phase than we were before, but for me the death rate is still far too high," said Abdullah Shihipar, a writer and public health researcher at Brown University School of Public Health. From mandatory mask requirements in care facilities to nationwide data collection, the standards of COVID care with which we have become well-acquainted might be gone by next week. "For many families, COVID-19 is still wreaking havoc in their families," said Dr. Atiya Martin, CEO and founder of All Aces Inc. and former Chief Resilience Officer for the city of Boston. "You still have high infection rates and deaths within working class and communities of color, including undocumented residents or immigrant communities, and so you have this dymanic of the current infection rate being a lot lower than before but still disproportionately impacting these communities." Some medical professionals think this is as good a time as any to end the emergency status while others are worried about what it might mean for their patients, specifically those who are uninsured. "The decision isn't is today the day to stop wearing masks in the hospital, the decision is whether you implement masks forever as the new normal or whether you make them optional... It is a really difficult decision and it really depends on individual values," said Dr. Shira Doron, an infectious disease specialist physician, Chief Infection Control Officer for Tufts Medicine Health System, and the hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center. GUESTS: Dr. Shira Doron, an infectious disease specialist physician, Chief Infection Control Officer for Tufts Medicine Health System, and the hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center. Abdullah Shihipar, a writer and public health researcher at Brown University School of Public Health. Dr. Atiya Martin, CEO and founder of All Aces Inc., a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute, and former Chief Resilience Officer for the city of Boston. -
From slams to sidewalks, poetry is alive in Greater Boston
While April may be the cruelest month, it’s an exciting time for poetry. From Jamaica Plain to Cambridge, the Boston area is flush with open mics and poetry slams — and over the last few years, it seems like poetry has been winning the hearts and minds of young and old alike. A study found the amount of young people reading poetry almost doubled from 2012-2017, traffic to sites such as Poets.org surged 25% during the beginning of the pandemic, and hundreds of new independent bookstores have opened across the country in recent years. Poets like Rupi Kaur have over four and a half million followers on Instagram, and there have been moments where poetry has exploded in pop culture, including when Amanda Gorman read her poem, “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration. "The music of poetry is back. And the performance aspects of poetry are back. And the public aspects of poetry are back," says Elisa New, professor of American Literature at Harvard University. "I think those three things, together, really encapsulate why there's this renewed enthusiasm and excitement about poetry. It's been lifted off the page and out of solitary experience and brought back into the body and back into public." In Cambridge, poetry has been lifted off the page and stamped directly into the ground. Since 2015, the annual Cambridge Sidewalk Poetry Contest has been soliciting poems from residents and choosing five winners — the victorious poems are stamped into fresh concrete throughout the city. This year 336 poems were submitted, although not all the submissions met the guidelines. That's an increase from the 252 submitted last year. The contest was paused in 2021 due to the pandemic. When asked what she hopes happens when someone stumbles across a poem on the sidewalk, Lillian Hsu, director of Public Art for Cambridge Arts, said: "That they pause. Maybe wonder. Read it. Share it. Keep in mind that location in front of that school or library, there's a poem there. And come back again because many people are walking the same route every day. I think the sidewalk is not just a surface, but it's a whole space... it's a social space, an economic space, a cultural space, and so I think the impact is across time." GUESTS Amanda Shea, Boston-based multidisciplinary artist, educator and publicist Lillian Hsu, director of Public Art at Cambridge Arts Elisa New, Powell M. Cabot professor of American Literature at Harvard University, director and host of PBS's Poetry in America, and director of the Center for Public Humanities at Arizona State University
