Boston Public Radio Podcast cover image

Boston Public Radio Podcast

Latest episodes

undefined
Jun 23, 2025 • 2h 34min

BPR Full Show 6/23: Most Improved Camper

Congressman Seth Moulton joins us to discuss Trump's weekend bombing campaign in Iran. Then we open the phone lines to get listener reactions to escalating violence in the Middle East.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses the latest with the Celtics' sale, and takes a look at the Commonwealth Fund, which was established in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. Heidi Riccio, superintendent of Essex North Shore Technical & Agricultural School, Michael Jonas of the CommonWealth Beacon and Chris Huffaker of the Boston Globe join for a discussion on vocational technical school admissions.Princeton’s Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses the Trump administration’s latest efforts to strangle higher education, and what the president’s so-called “historic” deal with Harvard University could actually entail.
undefined
Jun 20, 2025 • 39min

Best Of BPR 6/20: Live Music With Alba Musik & Trump's Broken Working Class Promises

Today:Alba Musik joins live at the Boston Public Library to perform guitar and flamenco dancing, ahead of a show this week at Long Live Roxbury.And, President Trump campaigned on being a champion of the working class. How’s he doing so far for labor? We ask David Weil, who served in the department of labor in the Obama White House. 
undefined
Jun 20, 2025 • 2h 33min

BPR Full Show 6/20: Ask The MBTA GM, With Phil Eng

Ron Mitchell, publisher of the Bay State Banner, and Joan Vennochi, opinion columnist at the Boston Globe, join for Press Play — our weekly media analysis segment. ALBA Musik join for Live Music Friday, ahead of a performance at Long Live Roxbury, with Spanish guitar and flamenco dancing.David Weil, visiting professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, served in the department of labor under Barack Obama from 2014-2017. He joins to discuss Trump's labor policy.General manager of the MBTA Phil Eng joins for "Ask the GM" to answer questions about repairs, slow zones, funding and more.
undefined
Jun 19, 2025 • 2h 34min

BPR Full Show 6/19: Happy Juneteenth + The Karen Read Verdict

NBC Boston's Sue O’Connell and former Suffolk County sheriff Andrea Cabral discuss the Karen Read verdict.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem explains the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, plus the debate around whether the U.S. should be involved. To celebrate Juneteenth, former Boston Mayor Kim Janey, the NAACP’s Michael Curry and Northeastern University’s Ted Landsmark join for a discussion about racial equity and what progress looks like in the era of Trump.Black puppeteers leading a creative residency at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline join ahead of a showcase performance tomorrow. We talk with Ash Winkfield, Tanya Nixon-Silberg and Charlotte Lily Gaspard, who perform some live puppetry for us in Studio 3. Today's Am I the A-Hole is about a husband who could care less about the artfulness of his dinner preparation.
undefined
Jun 19, 2025 • 38min

Best Of BPR 6/19: On Karen Read's Acquittal & Sowing Juneteenth Seeds For A Bountiful Harvest

Today:NBC10 commentator Sue O'Connell and former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral discuss the Karen Read trial, and her acquittal.And, a Juneteenth panel with Boston’s first black mayor, Kim Janey, educator and lawyer Ted Landsmark, and Michael Curry of the NAACP and Mass League of Community Health Centers. 
undefined
Jun 17, 2025 • 2h 41min

BPR Full Show 6/17: Copley Square Will Be Greener

A call-in segment asking listeners: If Democrats need the working class to win big, do they need to drop the purity tests and some hardlines on social issues?Ken Burns zooms in on the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill to talk about the American Revolution, 250 years, and speak out in defense of public media.Ken Rapoport, CEO of Azuluna Foods & Christopher Grallert CEO of Green City Growers, join for a panel on urban farming.Trenni Casey discusses the Sox trading Raphael DeversGBH's Susan Goldberg on the funding threats to public media.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins for the final hour of the show for Ask The Mayor. 
undefined
Jun 16, 2025 • 39min

Best Of BPR 6/13: 'My Life As Boston's Most Famous Stripper' & Massachusetts Is Backsliding On Youth Justice Reform

Today:Lucy Wightman joins Jim and Margery ahead of this week's release of her memoir, "Princess Cheyenne: My Life as Boston's Most Famous Stripper."And, a new report shows Massachusetts is backsliding on some aspects of juvenile justice reform. We speak with Lisa Thurau and Kristen Wheeler of Cambridge-based nonprofit Strategies for Youth.
undefined
Jun 16, 2025 • 2h 33min

BPR Full Show 6/16: No Kings, Just Princesses

We start the show by asking listeners about a weekend of demonstrations, including 'No King' rallies and the military parade. Anand Giridharadas, political commentator, discusses the shut-down of protests Saturday in LA, Trump's military parade and the political violence in Minnesota.Lucy Wightman discusses her new memoir "Princess Cheyenne: My Life as Boston's Most Famous Stripper."Lisa Thurau and Kristen Wheeler of Strategies for Youth, a Cambridge-based nonprofit, discuss the increase in pretrial detention for youths last year that are the result of law enforcement's decision to arrest young people for misdemeanors. The Revs Irene Monroe and Emmett Price join for All Rev'd Up x BPR, discussing the clergy who played a pivotal role 250 years ago in the American Revolution and how they are navigating us through political turbulence today.
undefined
Jun 13, 2025 • 2h 40min

BPR Full Show 6/13: Papa's Time To Shine

Joan Donovan on misinformation in the digital age, she’ll talk about media coverage of the LA protests and discerning real news accounts from AI slop. BAMS Fest returns to Franklin park on June 28th, with a whole slate of sister events during June. We’ll talk with founder Catherine T. Morris, with a Live Music Friday performance from Boston reggae band Roots Alley Collective.Boston Pride for the People holds their annual Pride parade tomorrow, we’ll talk about goings-on and the state of the world for queer folks with BP4TP president Adrianna Boulin & Gary Daffin – who sits on the event leadership committee in addition to leading Boston’s Multicultural AIDS Coalition.
undefined
Jun 13, 2025 • 39min

Best Of BPR 6/13: Joan Donovan On Combating AI Misinformation & Boston Pride For The People

Today:Joan Donovan, founder of the Critical Internet Studies Institute & Boston University Assistant Professor of Journalism and emerging media studies, joins for a discussion on artificial intelligence, media manipulation, and telling truth from fiction.Boston Pride For The People President Adrianna Bolin and development & parade co-chair, Gary Daffin – he’s also President of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition -- join ahead of Saturday's parade in Boston.

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app