Episodes
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From Banksy to Boston: How art activism is transforming city walls and public spaces
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Banksy, the British artist who has stayed out of public view since the 1990s, is arguably the most famous and lucrative street artist in the world. A selection of his work is now on display in Cambridge as part of a traveling exhibition called “The Art of Banksy.” Exhibitors independently sourced more than 100 pieces of Banksy's outdoor and indoor artwork to include. Banksy’s artistic activism, or “artivism,” and his global influence got us thinking about Greater Boston’s art activism scene. Who are the street artists transforming our city walls and spaces? And how do they interpret issues through their art? Guests: Abigail Satinsky, curator and head of public engagement at Tufts University Art Galleries and program director of the Collective Futures Fund. Cedric Douglas, street artist and designer who has created artwork around Boston for more than two decades. He is also the founder and creative director of the Up Truck. Sneha Shrestha aka IMAGINE, a Nepali artist, educator and social entrepreneur who meshes the Nepali alphabet with the Boston graffiti scene. She is also the arts program manager at the South Asia Institute at Harvard. -
Meet two Berklee College of Music alumni nominated for the 2022 Grammy Awards
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: The 64th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is nearly here after a winter spike in COVID-19 cases forced the event to be postponed until April 3. The awards regularly recognize alumni of Berklee College of Music, Boston's musical powerhouse. This year, a whopping 34 Berklee alumni hope to hear their names read as Grammy Award winners. Two of those nominees are Arooj Aftab and Charlie Rosen. Guests: Arooj Aftab, Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist, music composer and producer. She’s been nominated for the 2022 Grammy Award categories of best new artist and best global music performance. Her latest album is Vulture Prince. Arooj has been described as a “boundary-breaking” artist who draws from jazz, Hindustani classical, folk and reggae to create a one-of-kind sound that’s caught the attention of people worldwide. Charlie Rosen, Tony-award winning composer, arranger, producer and performer. He's been nominated for the 2022 Grammy Award for best arrangement, instrumental or a cappella. He scores visual media and works in a wide variety of band performance settings, including performances in nationally recognized jazz festivals, Broadway and off-Broadway musical theater productions. He’s the band leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, a jazz and pops orchestra that reimagines video game music. -
The Huntington Theatre Company's 'The Bluest Eye' brings Toni Morrison's legacy to life
Toni Morrison — the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature — was the author of 11 novels. Her first was “The Bluest Eye,” published in 1970. Morrison died at the age of 88 in 2019. Her works, which deeply describe and embody the Black experience, have always been met with critical and commercial success. But they’ve taken on a renewed significance during our country’s current look at systemic racism and police brutality. The legacy of Toni Morrison is celebrated by The Huntington Theatre Company’s production of “The Bluest Eye,” which brings her classic debut novel to life. Steeped in the cultural environment of a rural Black community, “The Bluest Eye” is the story of Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl, who believes blue eyes would make her beautiful. GUESTS: Lydia Diamond, an award-winning, prolific playwright whose own works have been staged in theatres around the country, including here in Boston. Her play, “Stick Fly," enjoyed a Broadway run after debuting here. She is currently on the Faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Awoye Timpo, director of "The Bluest Eye." Timpo’s directing repertoire includes the plays “Ndebele Funeral” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and “Carnaval” at the National Black Theater, both produced in New York City. She will next direct a reading series of classic plays by Black playwrights. The Huntington Theatre Company's production of "The Bluest Eye" ends on March 26. -
Pop Culture Roundtable: Hollywood feeds into 'burnout culture' with workplace thrillers and series based on real-life CEO flops
Bad entrepreneurs abound on new streaming series like “The Dropout,” “WeCrashed” and “Super Pumped," feeding into our culture's fascination with doomed CEOs. Plus, our stir-crazy age seeks escapism in dark, twisted shows like the workplace thriller “Severance,” the high school drama “Euphoria,” and a slew of horror series. And Pixar’s animated “Turning Red” is led by Oscar winner Domee Shi, the first woman and first Asian woman filmmaker to direct a feature for the studio. Guests: Michael Jeffries, dean of academic affairs and professor of American studies at Wellesley College Linda Liu, lecturer of sociology at UMass Boston, who specializes in cinema, media, and cultural studies -
LGBTQ News Roundtable: A look at the rise of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Florida’s newly passed “Don’t Say Gay” law is part of the rise of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country. Plus, Massachusetts was the first state to legally recognize same-sex marriage. But it’s now the only New England state that hasn’t updated a law to give clear legal protections for LGBTQ parents. And Catwoman returns to the big screen in “The Batman," portrayed as bisexual for the first time in film. 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 The Monkey Cage at the Washington Post. -
Transhealth Northampton provides healthcare by and for the transgender community
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Just 40 percent of transgender people are "out" to all of their healthcare providers, according to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality. Many trans patients delay healthcare out of fear that their medical needs won't be met or respected. In Western Massachusetts, one rural clinic is providing healthcare that’s attracting people from all over New England. Transhealth Northampton wants to change primary care for its trans patients — and reform the healthcare industry for good measure. Not only is it the first standalone trans medical and mental health care organization in the nation but it’s the first to be led by transgender medical professionals for patients who are part of the transgender community. Guests: Dallas Ducar, founding CEO of Transhealth Northampton and a nurse practitioner. Katie Wolf, COO of Transhealth Northampton, who specializes in digital health, informatics and transgender health. -
Regional News Roundtable: American lobsters could soon be 'red-listed'
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: American lobsters could soon be “red-listed,” with consumers and restaurants banned from purchasing the crustacean. Plus, is the multi-billion-dollar sale of Rhode Island’s National Grid dead? And, New Hampshire’s House of Representatives will start to meet in person again this month, despite pleas from immunocompromised Democratic colleagues. These stories and more during our Regional News Roundtable. Guests: Arnie Arnesen, host of The Attitude with Arnie Arnesen from WNHN. Tim White, Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI. Jennette Barnes, reporter and producer for CAI. -
Under the Radar Book Club: Danielle Friedman's 'Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World'
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Few would argue that the multibillion-dollar fitness industry is driven by millions of American women who regularly run, box, climb, swim, cycle or otherwise sweat their way to good health and strength. But most of us would be surprised to know that daily exercise for women was a major cultural shift in the 20th century. Or that it took the persistence of several pioneering women to make it happen. Author Danielle Friedman shares their stories in her book, “Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World.” It’s our March selection for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” Guest: Danielle Friedman, award-winning journalist and author of “Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World.” -
Mass. Politics Profs: A review of Boston Mayor Wu's first 100 days in office
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: President Joe Biden flexes his foreign policy skills, imposing sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine. Could this boost Biden’s popularity? Plus, a review of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s first 100 days in office. And pot dispensary owners are inviting Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates inside for an up-close look at the business. It's a full hour with the Mass Politics Profs! Guests: Erin O’Brien is an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Jerold Duquette is an associate professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University. He and Erin are co-editors of the upcoming book, **The Politics of Massachusetts Exceptionalism: Reputation Meet Reality. Rob DeLeo is associate professor of public policy at Bentley University. -
Environmental Roundtable: Boston's boom in green transportation, climate change and activism
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: You’ve probably heard about the recent federal report estimating up to a foot of sea level rise by 2050, creating dangerous coastal flooding. Too much doom and gloom? Well, there’s a cohort of young activists using social media to inspire climate action. Plus, green transportation gets a boost in Massachusetts, with three free bus lanes in Boston and millions of dollars funding electric vehicle charging stations around the state. Those stories and more on our environmental roundtable. Guests: Dr. Aaron Bernstein is interim director of The Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Beth Daley is the editor and general manager at The Conversation U.S. Sam Payne, is a strategic communications manager at the Better Future Project.
