Boston Public Radio Podcast

Latest Episodes:

BPR Full Show: We're Not Out of the Woods Yet Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

We start the show by talking with listeners about the CDC’s warning of a possible fourth wave of COVID-19.

Trenni Kusnierek talks about Boston Pride’s National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) title win, and New Hampshire’s Tuckerman Inferno pentathlon. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor.

Michael Curry discusses the current state of the vaccine equity gap in Massachusetts, arguing for more resources for community-based organizations. He also talks about his experience being bused into Charlestown as a child. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee.

Christopher Muther updates us on the state of hotels during the pandemic, and Iceland’s new rule requiring international visitors to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a previous COVID-19 infection. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe.

Lee Pelton and Roger Brown share their thoughts on running colleges during a pandemic, and what they think the future of higher ed could look like. Pelton, after serving as president of Emerson since 2011, will be joining the Boston Foundation in June as their next president and CEO. Brown has served as the president of Berklee College of Music since 2004, and will be stepping down this year.

John King weighs in on President Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office, the challenges facing voting rights and the fate of the filibuster. King is CNN’s Chief National Politics Correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m.

We wrap up the show by asking listeners whether they’ve bought into camping fever.

BPR Full Show: Stuck in a Rut Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

Charlie Sennott talks about the cargo ship Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal, and Brazil’s COVID-19 crisis. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project.

Next, we ask listeners if they thought Dr. Deborah Birx and other members of former President Trump’s White House were complicit in COVID-19 deaths.

E.J. Dionne updates us on the latest political headlines, from voting restrictions in Georgia to hopes for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure agenda. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.”

Shirley Leung speaks about her recent Boston Globe column, where she wrote about Asian parents giving “the talk” to their children on how to deal with racism. She also discusses the pandemic’s impact on the hotel industry, explaining that it might take years for hotels to recover economically. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe.

Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price share their thoughts on the Catholic Church’s opposition to a U.S. suicide hotline due to its support of LGBT+ people. They also talk about evangelist Franklin Graham’s promotion of the COVID-19 vaccine, causing outrage among some Evangelical Christians. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast.

Walter Isaacson previews his new book, “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.” Isaacson is a professor of American history at Tulane University, the host of the podcast “Trailblazers,” and a host on “Amanpour and Company.” His latest book is “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.”

We end the show by talking with listeners on whether they felt stuck — just like the Ever Given ship in the Suez Canal — during the pandemic.

BPR Full Show: Reading the Room Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

We’re on tape today, bringing you the ultimate BPR book club with back-to-back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers.

Some of today’s highlights are featured below:

Kevin Young discusses his latest collection of poetry, BROWN. Young is the poetry editor of the New Yorker and the Andrew W. Mellon director of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Ann Patchett talks about her book “Commonwealth,” and as owner of Parnassus Books, argues for all readers to shop at local, independent bookstores.

T.C. Boyle drops in on the dropout culture with his novel “Outside Looking In,” which is based on the research of Timothy Leary.

BPR Full Show: Reformation Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, previewing President Joe Biden’s Thursday press conference and sharing his thoughts on whether the U.S. could soon have stronger gun reform laws. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press” on NBC, host of “Meet the Press Daily" on MSNBC, and the Political Director for NBC News.

Next, we open the phone lines, asking listeners whether they’re resigned to living in a country where mass shootings happen regularly.

Andrea Cabral discusses the Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case that could expand the scope of the Second Amendment. She also shares her thoughts on the debate over gun reform laws and filibuster rules in Congress. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend.

Jared Bowen highlights Asian artists whose work is on display in the Boston area, from Shen Wei to Andy Li. He also talks about the Huntington Theatre’s renovation project. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio.

Then, we aired live audio from President Biden’s afternoon press conference.

BPR Full Show: School of Thought Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

Art Caplan weighs in on whether Massachusetts could mandate vaccines for public sector employees like prison guards and state police. He also talks about AstraZeneca’s recent PR blunders. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine.

Ali Noorani updates us on the latest immigration headlines, including the increase in unaccompanied migrant children crossing the U.S-Mexico border. Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.”

Gov. Charlie Baker talks about vaccine equity in Massachusetts, calling for an increased supply of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a way to remedy vaccine distribution issues. He also addresses concerns over state police and other public sector employees who are hesitant to get vaccinated.

Next, we open the phone lines, asking listeners what they think about Massachusetts schools reopening.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren discusses the rise in violence against Asian Americans, and explains why the government should invest more money into childcare and environmentally-friendly infrastructure. She also weighs in on the debate over the filibuster.

We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about pandemic weight gain.

BPR Full Show: Let's All Go to the Lobby Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

We start the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners for their thoughts on Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s historic appointment as the first Black person and first woman to serve as mayor of Boston.

Trenni Kusnierek shares her thoughts on gender inequity in the NCAA, and the popularity of Loyola University Chicago’s Sister Jean. She also discusses the barring of foreign spectators from the Tokyo Olympics. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor.

Alec MacGillis explains how Amazon is contributing to regional inequality and an increasing wealth gap. He also discusses his new book, “Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America.” MacGillis is a senior reporter for ProPublica, where he covers politics and government. His latest book is “Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America.”

Next, we ask listeners whether they thought vaccines should be mandatory.

Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price weigh in on students and scholars’ calls for Harvard to give reparations for slavery. They also talk about the fetishization and sexualization of Asian women in the context of the Atlanta massage parlor shootings. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast.

We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about the reopening of movie theater chains across the U.S.

BPR Full Show: Escape Plan Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

We begin the show by asking listeners what they thought about Massachusetts reopening as COVID-19 infections rise again.

Michelle Singletary explains why you shouldn’t wait to file on the new tax filing deadline of May 17, and what the Child Tax Credit looks like for the 2021 tax season. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column, "The Color of Money," provides insight into the world of personal finance.

Brian McGrory talks about the Supreme Court’s agreement to hear the death penalty case of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev. He also shares his thoughts on the legacy of Mayor Marty Walsh. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe

Next, we opened the phone lines to talk with listeners about Zoom Escaper.

Attorney General Maura Healey discusses vaccine rollout across the state, and her proposal to update and clearly define Massachusetts’ hate crime laws. As always, she responds to listeners’ questions and comments for Ask the AG. Healey is Massachusetts' attorney general.

BPR Full Show: A Spring in Our Steps Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

We begin the show by asking listeners how they’re responding to vaccine hesitancy.

Sue O’Connell shares her thoughts on the Vatican’s decree on same-sex marriage, and Jared Kushner’s book plans. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief.

Emily Rooney talks about the resignation of incoming Teen Vogue editor in chief Alexi McCammond after anti-Asian tweets she wrote as a teenager resurfaced. She also previews this week’s Beat the Press. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m.

Corby Kummer updates us on the latest headlines at the intersection of food policy and food culture, from Boston restaurants reopening for outdoor dining to Massachusetts restaurant workers becoming eligible for vaccination. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Dr. Michelle Morse discusses her research into how COVID-19 has exacerbated racial inequality, explaining how reparations for slavery would have mitigated COVID-19 transmissions and fatalities in Black American communities. Dr. Morse is the Deputy Commissioner for the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness and Chief Medical Officer at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Dr. Morse previously worked at Harvard Medical School.

We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about the surge in plant sales during the pandemic.

Corby Kummer: Should Outdoor Dining Be A Permanent Fixture In Boston? Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

Boston’s outdoor dining program, which launched last spring to help restaurants survive amid the coronavirus pandemic, will soon be back in action. Starting on March 22nd, most restaurants in the city will be able to offer outdoor dining to patrons until Dec. 1st. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about whether outdoor dining should become a permanent fixture in the city.

Other cities have programs in place that allow restaurants to expand into communal outdoor dining blocks, Kummer noted.

“Washington D.C. has the ‘Streatery’ program and New York City has ‘Open Streets: Restaurants,’ so I think it’s great, and that this is like Europe and the way life is supposed to be with dining outdoors,” he said.

Kummer hopes that restaurateurs and staff enjoy the outdoor dining option too.

“I hope it’s worth it to them to have the operations, and to have bought the equipment and street furniture to make these outdoor set-ups,” he said. “I think it has made life just significantly better, and with any luck, it adds seats, so it would be a permanent revenue adding generation mechanism.”

Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.

BPR Full Show: No Excuses Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

Today on Boston Public Radio:

Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from debates over repealing the filibuster to the link between former President Donald Trump’s comments on COVID-19 and violence against Asian Americans. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press” on NBC, host of “Meet the Press Daily" on MSNBC, and the Political Director for NBC News.

Next, we open the phone lines to talk with listeners about the rise of violence against Asian Americans.

Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on New York District Attorney Cy Vance’s investigation into former President Trump’s taxes, and weighs in on Massachusetts’ compassionate release law. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend.

We ask listeners what they’ll use as an excuse to get out of obligations once the pandemic ends.

Andy Ihnatko explains the environmental impact of bitcoin and streaming services. He also discusses craft printing company Cricut’s decision to back off of a retroactive subscription fee for device owners. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com.

Shirley Leung discusses the rise in violence against Asian Americans, and shared her thoughts on the spa and massage parlor killings in Georgia. She also talks about Gov. Charlie Baker’s declining approval rates. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe.

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