Episodes
-
How we teach race and racial justice to children
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Jan. 16 is the 37th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday to acknowledge the legacy of the civil rights leader. The reverend was a key leader in the transformative social justive movement which challenged a racially segregated America, and pushed the coutnry toward a more just future. Understanding the complex history of race and racism in the United States and King's role in the civil rights movement is critical — but how do we explain the concepts to young kids? Two experts who specialize in breaking down difficult concepts for children discuss why it is such crucial work. Guests: Carole Boston Weatherford, award-winning children's book author and English professor at Fayetteville State university Tanya Nixon-Silberg, director and founder of Little Uprisings, an organization in Boston that teaches children and adults about racial justice Note: Bonnie Duncan of The Gottabees voiced Trevor The Elephant in this episode. Tanya Nixon-Silberg is performing at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on Monday, Jan. 16. -
Mass Politics Profs: How will a new crop of lawmakers reshape Massachusetts?
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Massachusetts inaugurated a historic slate of top leaders with Maura Healey as governor and Kim Driscoll as lieutenant governor. Some believe Driscoll could reshape the traditionally low-key role. Meanwhile, in the U.S. House, days of chaos surrounded Republican Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become speaker — what does this discord mean for governing in the new Congress? And as the state Legislature wrapped up its last session, lawmakers tried to push through a slew of bills, including one aimed at addressing the widespread thefts of catalytic converters. That and more during our full hour with the Mass Politics Profs. Find more of their analysis on their blog. GUESTS Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston Jerold Duquette, associate professor of political science and director of the public administration degree program at Central Connecticut State University Shannon Jenkins, associate dean of the college of arts and sciences at UMass Dartmouth and a professor of political science -
Encore: Local residents embrace communal living with a sustainable twist
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: COVID-19 might make all the headlines, but another crisis is afoot: loneliness. Pandemic-times have only exacerbated chronic loneliness by creating a world of isolation and social distancing. Can ecovillages — a unique model fostering community and connection — be one answer? Ecovillage cohousing communities have been popular in Europe for decades, but interest here in the United States is ramping up. These communities are designed to integrate sustainability into all aspects of community living, and to create strong bonds between neighbors who all collaborate in the decision-making for the group. Residents of three local communities share their communal experiences and why, post-pandemic, there is even more interest in this model of living. Plus, even as inflation rises, Americans continue to shop. But what if you could find the goods you need without paying a cent? That's the idea behind the Buy Nothing Project, an app and collection of hyperlocal Facebook groups where users can give away and receive items and services with their neighbors — all for free. Founded in 2013, the Buy Nothing Project has spread internationally, offering an alternative to shopping for items like furniture, clothing and appliances. Here in Massachusetts, active Buy Nothing users are building community and finding an array of unique offerings. GUESTS Dave Shevett, resident and one of the founders of Mosaic Commons, a cohousing neighborhood, part of the Sawyer Hill Ecovillage in Berlin, Massachusetts. Sarah Heile, resident of Camelot Cohousing, also part of the Sawyer Hill Ecovillage in Berlin, Massachusetts. Steve Chiasson, resident of Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage in Belfast, Maine. Fern Spierer, founding member of the Pioneer Valley Buy Nothing Facebook group. She lives in Western Massachusetts, where she's an active member of Amherst Buy Nothing. David Baker, former administrator of the Halifax/Hanson Buy Nothing Facebook group. He's now active on the Buy Nothing app. -
Mr. Mike's Merry Mix: Our annual review of quirky holiday songs
This week on Under the Radar: It’s our annual spinning of holiday tunes with Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World. Wilkins shares his new picks of old songs that are quirky, weird and sometimes way out there — not the traditional carols from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or even new traditional favorites like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Wilkins' compilation of songs-you-never-heard-of include the vinyl one-hit-wonders he rescued from the forgotten bins of overlooked B-sides, and a few newer tunes that might become classics. This season, for his 33rd year of Jingle bell melodies, Mike honors his mixtape history with “Mr. Mike's Merry Mix 2022,” a Yuletopia recording. Stream his full playlist here: https://soundcloud.com/seenthat/mikemas2022 Guests Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World. -
Mr. Mike's Merry Mix: Our annual review of quirky holiday songs
This week on Under the Radar: It’s our annual spinning of holiday tunes with Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World. Wilkins shares his new picks of old songs that are quirky, weird and sometimes way out there — not the traditional carols from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or even new traditional favorites like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Wilkins' compilation of songs-you-never-heard-of include the vinyl one-hit-wonders he rescued from the forgotten bins of overlooked B-sides, and a few newer tunes that might become classics. This season, for his 33rd year of Jingle bell melodies, Mike honors his mixtape history with “Mr. Mike's Merry Mix 2022,” a Yuletopia recording. Stream his full playlist here: https://soundcloud.com/seenthat/mikemas2022 Guests Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World -
Local News Roundtable: Green Line ready for its big debut, but letting more teens vote may stall
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: After four years of work, the Green Line extension will finally open for service on Monday. Plus, Boston City Council approved a petition to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections, but the state Legislature has the final say. And a local photographer showcases residents in Dorchester. Guests: Sue O’Connell, political commentator and analyst for NECN, NBC10 Boston and co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News Gin Dumcius, managing editor at the Dorchester Reporter Mike Deehan, co-writer of the Boston Axios Newsletter -
Food and Wine Roundtable: From fruitcake to wine bars, what to sample this holiday season
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: It's time to indulge in our favorite holiday comfort foods and toast the season with glasses of good cheer. This year, nostalgia is on the table with a return of the fruitcake, and Boston is finally embracing wine bars. Plus, our food and wine contributors offer gift ideas for the foodies and wine lovers on your list. Guests Amy Traverso, senior food editor at Yankee Magazine, cohost of GBH’s Weekends with Yankee and author of “The Apple Lover’s Cookbook” Jonathon Alsop, founder and executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of “The Wine Lover’s Devotional” -
The Geniuses Next Door: We chat with the Massachusetts MacArthur Genius awardees
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Last month, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2022 “Genius” grant fellows — 25 recipients across academia, the arts, and sciences all of whom have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. In our series, “The Genius Next Door,” we gathered three of the awardees who work and teach here in Massachusetts. And, the daughter of one of New York’s most prominent rabbis has a secret that only her best friend knows. Plus, a successful website designer dreams of her own Jewish food show. Both of them are temporarily stymied by the reappearance of young loves gone wrong. Their stories are the heart of two new romance novels set during Hanukkah, the annual festival of lights. Romance novelists Stacey Agdern and Jean Meltzer are the authors of “Love and Latkes” and “The Matzah Ball” our December selections for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” Guests: Danna Freedman is a chemistry professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an associate editor for the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Melanie Matchett Wood is a mathematics professor at Harvard University studying pure math and number theory. Loretta Ross is a reproductive justice and human rights activist, as well as a professor at Smith College. Stacey Agdern is the author of four Hannukkah romance novels; her latest is “Love and Latkes.” The former award-winning bookseller has both reviewed and given talks on the romance genre. She also writes a romance/hockey for an anthology series called Connected Stories. And has written for HEA Happily Ever After, USA Today’s online romance blog, and Romantic Times magazine. Jean Meltzer is the author of two romances; The Matzah Ball is her first. She studied dramatic writing at New York University’s Tisch. The Emmy award-winning former TV writer spent five years in rabbinical school before she started writing romance novels. “The Matzah Ball” will soon be a movie. -
It's a full hour of pop culture cookbooks!
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: We’re bringing you an encore chock-full of fictional-turned-real recipes and the masterminds behind them in honor of the release of the Black Panther sequel. When authors and directors invite audiences into an imagined world, they know that food can’t be left off the table. And fans are feasting on a delicious genre: pop culture cookbooks. Recipes and imaginary narratives combine to bring cuisines from fictional universes to real life. A sprinkling of books from this genre have been around for decades. But in the past few years, demand from fandoms has grown, and publishers are all too willing to satiate their hunger. Plus, we have another cookbook encore for you, dear Under the Radar listener. First, we dove into the culinary world of Wakanda; now it's time to look back at some other fictional worlds. Ten years ago, we talked with fantasy food blogger Chelsea Monroe-Cassel about creating recipes inspired by the book and HBO series Game of Thrones. We’ll listen back to our original conversation and then reconnect to hear about how she’s turned her fantasy fandom into a full-time career. Guest: Chelsea Monroe-Cassel is the author of “A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook,” “World of Warcraft: The Official Cookbook,” “Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook” and many more! Her latest, “The Star Trek Cookbook” will hit the shelves in September and is available to order online Nyanyika Banda, Malawian-American chef, writer, entrepreneur, and author of the newly released Marvel’s Black Panther: The Official Wakanda Cookbook. Nyanyika is based in Amherst, Mass. -
The Me Too movement five years later
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Five years ago, Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual assaults kicked off an international movement of survivors called #MeToo. The movement is based on a phrase coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006. It launched a reckoning for harassment and assault in the workplace and beyond; helping to hold powerful people accountable. Weinstein was convicted in 2020 and is now facing a second trial in Los Angeles. We are reflecting on the Me Too movement and it's impact over the last five years. If you or someone you know has suffered harassment or abuse, you can find resources at Jane Doe Inc. And, Fabiola Mendez graduated from Berklee College of Music IN 2017. Today the singer/songwriter works as a cuatro player, and a composer for animated children’s shows, including Alma’s Way and Work It Out Wombats on PBS Kids and Mecha Builders, a series on HBO Max produced by Sesame Street. Mendez is also an artist in residence with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. Mendez joined us to share her love of the cuatro and tells us which of her songs is her favorite to perform. Guests: Fabiola Mendez is an afro latino cuatro player, singer.songwriter, and composer for animated kids shows. Stacy Malone is executive director of the Victim Rights Law Center and member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. Diana Mancera is director of membership and programs at Jane Doe, Inc..
