Boston Public Radio Podcast

The Harvard Medical School morgue manager was arrested this week for stealing and selling human body parts. We opened up the phone lines to get general reactions and talk about donating bodies to science. Shirley Leung reflected on the state of hybrid and in-person workplaces in Boston and beyond. She’ll also touched on Scott Kirsner’s recent Mass. moonshot ideas published in the Globe, the decline of downtown convenience stores and the demise of the Instant Pot. Gov. Maura Healey joined for “Ask the Governor,” 12-1pm. She answered questions about rent control and affordable housing, recent pardons, climate goals, the new green bank, the MBTA, and more… Cambridge Symphony Orchestra is staging a performance of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet tomorrow, with live ballet from former Boston Ballet dancers and students from Tony Williams’ Boston City Youth Ballet. We heard from conductor Cynthia Woods & choreographer Gino Di Marco, plus husband and wife duo Ruth and Bill Whitney. Ruth plays Juliet, Bill plays tuba in the orchestra. They also treated us to some live ballet to accompany the music. Sunday is Father’s Day. We opened the phone lines for a potpourri discussion on dads.

Best Of BPR: 'In The Whale' & Expanding Local LGBT Business

MA has the third highest rental costs in the country. Is renting broken in greater Boston? How are you making it work, and have you resorted to rental bidding wars? Renters and brokers called into the show. Chuck Todd joined us to weigh-in on Trump's indictment, plus shared what's next after he steps away from Meet the Press in the fall. Andrea Cabral discussed the investigation into RI officials for their conduct on a trip to Philadelphia. Also, lottery drama on the South Shore, reflections on the Wu car crash situation and the creepy Harvard morgue manager scandal. David Abel is premiering his film "In The Whale" this Friday at the Provincetown Film Festival. It centers on the story of Michael Packard, the man scooped up by a humpback whale off the coast of Cape Cod in June of 2021. David and Michael joined Grace Moreno and Isa Wang joined for a conversation about capitalism and entrepreneurship in the LGBT space. Grace is Executive Director of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Isa is the founder of Gamut Pins, makers of cute pronoun pins. Nativity Preparatory School offers free tuition and support for low income boys in Boston. This graduation season, we talked with President Brian Maher, Principal Gadisa Goso and two newly-graduated 8th graders. People love their air fryers. Why? Air-fryer fans called in.

If prosecutors say they’ll drop charges on the condition Trump never holds public office again…would you be ok with that? Or, are you not convinced he’d take a deal in the first place? We opened the phone lines to hear from listeners. Carol Rose of ACLU Massachusetts discussed the limits on media in the courtroom for Trump’s arraignment, the Supreme Court ruling on redistricting/Voting Rights Act, and the ACLU’s new campaign on location data privacy. Art Caplan discussed fraudsters duping vulnerable & homeless people into signing up for healthcare plans they can’t afford, and the continued discussion over widespread use of Ozempic for weight loss. Juliette Kayyem analyzed the Trump arraignment, gave insight on some Nazi demonstrations outside Disney, and talked about the four Colombian children found alive in the jungle weeks after their plane crashed. GBH News Arts editor Jared Bowen discussed a Dutch painting taken by Nazis during WWII that is now promised to the MFA; and, he previewed which Boston-area art museums that are commemorating Juneteenth. Sy Montgomery discussed the Arlington/Lexington bear, vengeful orcas and octopuses changing their brains to adjust to climate change. Then, we had listener’s weigh in on shaving habits. Are more men shaving their pits?

First, we opened up the phone lines to hear from you about reactions to some anti-pride backlash at a Burlington middle school. We opened the Trenni Casey, anchor/reporter for NBC Sports Boston, discussed Lionel Messi turning down a lucrative deal with the Saudi league to join MLS, and more on the PGA/LIV merger. Ibram X. Kendi, director of Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research, and illustrator Joel Christian Gill joined via zoom to discuss their graphic novel adaptation of Kendi’s book “Stamped From The Beginning”. Kevin O’Connor of This Old House discussed his new show “Team Rubicon”. Sue O’Connell joined remotely from Florida having just returned from the courthouse where Trump is expected to be arraigned today. We ended the show with calls from listeners on about all-things-Trump ahead of his arraignment.

Today: We opened the lines to get listener reactions on the unsealed indictment of former president Donald Trump. Michael Curry discussed the gene-based therapies transforming treatments for sickle cell disease. Curry is CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. Imari Paris Jeffries, executive director of Embrace Boston, discussed this weekend’s Embrace Ideas Festival along with chef Krayla Brice, who’s participating in a chef’s panel during the festival. ProPublica reporter A.C. Thompson discussed his latest film investigating big truck crashes for Frontline, titled “America’s Dangerous Trucks,” which airs Tuesday night. Reverends Irene Monroe & Emmett Price discussed the impacts of AI in religion — Is your priest using ChatGPT to build their sermons? Comedian John Early joined ahead of a show at the Wilbur Theatre this week.

Former President Trump has been indicted for a second time. The seven counts against him include conspiracy to obstruct and willful retention of documents and false statements. Listeners called and texted in to share their reactions. We have Adrianna Boulin from the newly-formed Boston Pride For The People & Chastity Bowick former executive director of the Transgender Emergency Fund. Rick Steves is in town for his show with the Pops, he'll make an appearance. Sue O’Connell is part of the Speak Now original series where staff members of NBC Boston Stations and Telemundo share stories of LGBTQ+ pride. She'll also touch on The Ultimatum's new queer season. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner will take a deep dive into news of Trump's indictment. Mary Gauthier joins for Live Music Friday ahead of a show at Club Passim.

E.J. Dionne from the Washington Post joined to discuss last night’s townhall with Mike Pence and other D.C. headlines. Then we opened the phone lines to check in on the Canadian wildfire smoke blanketing the North East. How are people coping with the air quality hazards? Andrea Cabral explained George Santos’ mystery bail guarantors, the arraignment of Charlestown resident Matthew Nilo on serial rape charges, the possibility of new charges for President Trump and other legal headlines. Steve Curwood hosts PRX’s Living on Earth. He joined us in advance of his conversation with David Leonard at the BPL to talk about climate change. Carolyn Beeler from The World is currently stationed in Ukraine. She joined us from Kyiv via Zoom to talk about her work, what she’s seeing, and the environmental devastation that’s playing out as a byproduct of the war. Economist Jon Gruber is back from sabbatical, a few weeks before he officially becomes chair of M.I.T’s department of economics. He offered his thoughts on the debt ceiling and why he thinks we need to do away with it. Plus, his shared a story of a monkey encounter from his time abroad. We ended the show to hear from listeners about U.F.O.s. Do you believe in UFOs? And if you don’t, does the latest account from a former intelligence official have you thinking?

PGA Golf has merged with LIV Golf. We asked listeners about their reactions and if the saying “money is the root of evil” is true. French Ambassador to the US Laurent Bili joined ahead of a meeting with Mayor Wu. He also attended the BIO International Convention this week. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed Merck suing the US government to stop the Medicare drug price negotiation program in the Inflation Reduction Act and more. Thais Rocha is co-owner of Dani’s Queer Bar, and co-founder of LGBTQ Nightlife Events in Boston. She discussed the efforts to get Dani’s, a space for sapphic, trans, and non-binary people, launched. Globe’s Shirley Leung discussed her column on bus-only lanes in Seaport & more globe coverage on Boston suburbs working to meet the MBTA/housing law requirements. How has your name shaped you or others around you? We heard from listeners including a Bob and someone named Leaf to hear what they had to say. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discussed the James Beard Award winners, including Chef Sherry Pocknett, and BPS putting “seaweed-ish meatballs” on the menu.

NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter Trenni Casey discussed the French Open and updates on Harvard’s investigation into their former women’s hockey coach. We opened the phones to hear about new bike lanes in West Roxbury and Boston’s jaywalking reputation. Who are the streets for? And what do listeners think about adding more bike lanes and other traffic slowing measures? Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther discussed his recent columns that highlight safe places for queer travelers in 2023, and a profile of Kennebunk, Maine (not to be confused with Kennebunkport). National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed All State and State Farm insurance companies announcing they will not sell new coverage to homeowners in California, citing worsening climate conditions. Kayyem also discussed a meeting between Trump’s lawyers meeting and the DOJ regarding the classified documents case. How much PDA (public displays of affection) is too much? We took calls and texts from listeners. Then, CNN chief national correspondent John King joined via zoom for the latest political headlines. Guster performed for Live Music Tuesday, ahead of a Wednesday show with the Boston Pops.