Episodes
-
The plant-based food movement is having a moment
A booming variety of plant-based options are now available at grocery stores, restaurants and even fast-food chains. Bloggers, celebrities and chefs are reinventing their menus and recipes to make veggies the delicious stars of the meal. And the plant-based movement is no longer just for the privileged as affordable products have helped attract people with modest incomes. What's more, ordinary Americans are also touting other reasons to go plant-based: health, animal welfare and sustainability. Guests: Bryan Timko, CEO of Life Alive Cafe, which have served organic and plant-based meals in the Boston area since the early 2000s. Alicia Romano, a registered dietitian at Tufts Medical Center, author, nutrition consultant and fitness instructor. -
Food and wine trends in 2022: vegan lobster rolls, Haitian hot chocolate, best budget wine
Ready to sip and savor? We hope you’ve brought your appetite! It’s a new year, and there’s an abundance of new food and wine trends that will be served up in 2022. It’s our food and wine roundtable! Guests: Jonathon Alsop, founder and executive director of the Boston Wine School and author of “The Wine Lover’s Devotional.” Amy Traverso, food editor at Yankee Magazine, co-host of GBH’s “Weekends With Yankee” and author of “The Apple Lover’s Cookbook.” Products discussed during the show: Plant-based pastas: ZENB, chickpea pasta Winter Raclette Haitian hot chocolate made here in Boston Mochi donuts 2017 Fior di Vino Chianti Classico Riserva ($6.99 at Trader Joe’s) -
Sack O' Songs: Our annual review of quirky holiday songs
This week on Under the Radar: It’s our annual spinning of holiday tunes with our own Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’s The World. All this hour, GBH’s intrepid holiday music collector shares his new finds of old songs that are quirky, weird and sometimes way out there. These are not the traditional carols you'll hear from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or even new favorites like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Nope, for his annual collection of songs you never heard, Mike has once again rescued vinyl one-hit wonders from the forgotten bins of overlooked B-sides, and highlighted a few new tunes that might become classics. This season, for his 32nd year of jinglebell melodies, Mike’s collection goes back to basics — sort of. This is Mike’s musical holiday gift bag, “Sack O' Songs,” a Yuletopia recording. Stream the full "Sack O' Songs" playlist here: https://soundcloud.com/seenthat/sackosongs2021 -
With a business model centered on diversity, Boston’s biggest hotel in decades is now open
This week on Under The Radar: Seven years ago, the Massachusetts Port Authority shook up the local real estate world. Plans for a new hotel on public land, overseen by the agency, would be the biggest to open in Boston since the mid-80s. But the agency's thumbs up for developers hinged on the inclusion of companies owned by women and people of color working as leaders on the project. Dubbed the “Massport Model," the inclusion clause helped forge new relationships beyond the project. The Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport opened in September to rave reviews. The $550 million complex has 1,054 rooms, seven dining options and glorious views of the Boston city skyline. The gleaming luxury hotel marks something bigger than just a building: a lucrative business model that centers diversity. GUESTS: Duane Jackson, managing member of Alinea Capital Partners and former member of Massachusetts Port Authority’s Board of Directors, who pushed for the “Massport Model” policy. Richard Taylor, chairman of the Taylor-Smith Companies, where he manages multiple real estate business entities, and director of the Center for Real Estate at Suffolk University. Mikyoung Kim, landscape architect and owner of the firm Mikyoung Kim Design in Boston. -
The Genius Next Door: Historian and professor Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on anti-racism
This week on Under The Radar: The MacArthur Foundation released the names of its Class of 2021 “Genius” Fellows this October. They join an exclusive group of previous Fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. American historian, professor and author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is one of three local awardees, part of our series, “The Genius Next Door.” Dr. Kendi is America’s leading anti-racist scholar. A best-selling author and founder of Boston University’s Center for Anti-Racist Research, Dr. Kendi has helped push forward discussion about anti-Black racism. -
The legacy of Occupy Boston, ten years later
The 1% and a billionaire tax are mainstream concepts today — but they weren't always so well-known. Back in 2011, Occupy protesters promoted these fringe ideas. The populist socio-political movement sprang up from the streets in Boston and elsewhere before becoming a massive international happening. Occupy’s message about social and economic inequality changed how many Americans think and talk about economic inequality today. Ten years ago, the protestors who flocked to Occupy Boston were considered a threat when they took over Dewey Square. Hundreds gathered to become a part of the activist community which included functioning space with clothing and kitchen tents, media and even a library. But just two and half months later after it opened, it was gone. Still, many argue Occupy Boston’s short-lived existence has had long-term impact. On this tenth anniversary, local Occupy participants assess the movement’s successes and shortcomings. GUESTS: Jimi Two Feathers is a community organizer and founding member of Dance New England, Earth Drum Council and Concord Neighborhood Network. He was involved in the People of Color Working Group in Dewey Square. Myrna Morales is a librarian and director of leadership development and partnerships for the Massachusetts Coalition of Domestic Workers. She was involved in the Audre Lorde to Howard Zinn Library in Dewey Square. -
Under the Radar Book Club: Alex Bernstein's 'Miserable Holiday Stories'
“Bah humbug!” Scrooge’s familiar retort to Christmas enthusiasts doesn’t begin to describe Alex Bernstein’s take on the holidays. In his new book, “Miserable Holiday Stories: 20 Festive Failures That Are Worse than Yours!” the author and humorist envisions a fictional world of offbeat characters caught up in the hurly-burly of a holiday season gone off the rails. In Bernstein’s homage to the scrooges and grinches among us, all is not merry and bright. “Miserable Holiday Stories” is the latest in his series of 'Miserable' books. The series also includes "Miserable Adventure Stories," which won the 2018 Best Indie Book Award, and "Miserable Love Stories." His work has appeared in McSweeney’s NewPopLit, The Rumpus and numerous other publications. -
The Genius Next Door: Physician-economist Marcella Alsan on racial discrimination in medicine
This week on Under the Radar: Harvard professor Dr. Marcella Alsan is a physician-economist and a member of the 2021 MacArthur “Genius Fellows” — one of three who are local. We talk with Dr. Alsan for our series, “The Genius Next Door.” She researches the effects of racial discrimination and the resulting mistrust of the medical field for historically marginalized populations. GUEST: Dr. Marcella Alsan is a member of the 2021 MacArthur Genius Fellows, and a professor of public policy at the Kennedy School at Harvard University. Her research focuses on health disparities as a result of racial discrimination and mistrust. -
The Father of Music Festivals: The life and legacy of pioneer George Wein
This week on Under the Radar: George Wein, jazz promoter, musician and producer, died in September at the age of 95. The music impresario with local roots is best known for founding the annual summer Newport Jazz Festival. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Wein played piano and jazz as a child. Early on in his producer career, he opened the Storyville jazz club in Boston and in 1954 founded the Newport Jazz Festival, creating a blueprint for all subsequent music festivals around the world. Wein used the festival as a platform to boost careers and industry respect for musicians, such as Miles Davis and Duke Ellington, as well as a tool for social justice, promoting a diverse lineup of artists and appealing to racially mixed audiences. GUESTS: Eric Jackson, jazz radio personality and host of "Eric in the Evening" on GBH Radio. Jay Sweet, executive producer of the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival. Sue Auclair, president of Sue Auclair Promotions, a Boston-based PR and marketing firm servicing the arts, entertainment, and media industries. -
Environmental Roundtable: Mass. residents inhaled polluted air for 50 days in 2020
Today on Under The Radar: Breathe in… and out… Easy? Not so much for Massachusetts residents, who inhaled 50 days of polluted air in 2020. Plus, with fall foliage comes piles of dead leaves and the ubiquitous leaf-blowers — environmentally conscientious consumers may want to rethink their use. And, we’re zeroing in on important takeaways from the UN Climate Change Conference this month. It’s our Environmental Roundtable! GUESTS: 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. Dr. Aaron Bernstein, 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.
