Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We started off the show by asking listeners how they are responding to the devastating news of the shooting in Nashville. NBC's Sports Reporter/Anchor Trenni Casey is back and will discuss the ticking clock for Bill Belichick and the March Madness final four field. GBH's Jennifer McKim shares her latest investigative story on a Shattuck hospital surgeon sued at least 20 times for medical malpractice. James Beard award Semifinalist and co-owner of Cicada Coffee Bar Vinh Le joins to share more about his Cambridge shop. He discuss Vietnamese food while Jim and Margery try the famous Vietnamese iced coffee. GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen discusses the Italian mayor inviting the Florida principal ousted for showing sixth-graders the statue of David and the controversy over the song “Rainbowland” by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses the implications in Boston of SVB’s failure and more. Are Crocs really that comfortable and stylish? We wrapped up the show by asking listeners to tell us if support the Croc popularity.

Hosts Jim and Margery held a Political Weekend in Review at the top of the show to cover weekend news that caught their eyes and might’ve caught yours. Then, we opened the lines to take calls and texts from listeners to join the conversation. Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio joined to discuss her attempt to audit the legislature and her response to Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano rejecting the audit. Inaugural poet Richard Blanco joined to discuss the connection between poetry and civic engagement, how to be a “poet statesman” – he’s just received the National Humanities Medal from the White House earlier this month. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discussed the rise in antisemitic incidents in Mass last year, and a report that nearly half of LGBTQ Americans are young and claim no religion. Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein discussed some of her latest columns, including on Somerville approving an antidiscrimination ordinance to protect people in polyamorous relationships. We ended the show inspired by a piece from the Washington Post. We asked listeners where they put their kitchen goods. Do tomatoes belong in the fridge? What about ketchup?

Today on Boston Public Radio: A principal at Tallahassee Classical School is being forced out after showing sixth grade students Michelangelo’s David without the consent of parents. This isn’t the first time Florida’s made headlines from overly restrictive stunts. We asked listeners if they’re concerned about schools around the country following in Florida’s footsteps. Andy Ihnatko talks about all things AI including chatbots. He unpacks why all of this is the big deal that it is. Callie Crossley discusses Trump’s civil rape case, Chris Curtis’ suspension at WEEI, layoffs at NPR that occurred this week, and the development/future of Nubian Square.   Sue O’Connell on the Giselle Bundchen tell-all in Vanity Fair and Tom Brady’s poetic social media response… she’ll also talk about California lawmakers pushing to make Meta pay newspapers for content on their site, expansion of so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation in Florida and the Tallahassee principal ousted over a small feature of Michelangelo’s David. Andrea Campbell for “Ask the AG” talks about programs for the little ones, what she’s doing to enforce multifamily housing laws around MBTA stations, sports betting, Tori’s piece on the Plymouth ICE facility, and more.

We started the show by asking listeners about the future of public beaches. Are private landowners buying up coastline and how can towns protect public beach access?  Chuck Todd gave us the latest out of Washington, including what’s going on with the potential Trump indictment. Andrea Cabral discussed local law & order headlines. This week it’s the anti-vax former cop who has been following Mayor Wu around in a car. There was also the story of worker exploitation by the owner of Stash’s Pizza, some MIT students who rescued a stolen dog and the Trump supporters who are likening his arrest to the crucifixion of Christ. Marcela Garcia weighed in on some of her latest pieces. She talked TikTok bans, teen mental health and Haitian migrants in need of local sponsors. Nancy Gertner brought her judicial background to the Trump indictment story. She also talked about a free speech case involving Jack Daniels and a parody chew-toy, plus the latest in the Fox v. Dominion suit. NPR television reviewer Eric Deggans discussed Succession’s return, Yellowjackets, Lucky Hank, Ted Lasso season 3 and what he makes of the rotating cast of Daily Show hosts. We closed out the show to get listeners feedback on the World Happiness Report. The U.S. ranked 15th. Do listeners agree with this ranking? How do they think the U.S. could bump up happiness?

Two animal rights activists charged with stealing two chickens from a truck headed for slaughter have just been acquitted, drawing attention to the cruelty of factory farming in America. According to Vox, the chickens — worth $8.16 each — were both severely ill and struggled to stand: One of the chickens (Ethan) died four days after the rescue, while the other (Jax) recovered after intensive veterinary care and now lives on a farm sanctuary. “Of course they wanted this to be publicized they set it up they wanted to be arrested and they wanted it to be brought to trial,” said Kummer. “It’s great, what the discovery led to in the trial. For example these animals were too sick to be slaughtered, they had bacteria in their systems that could’ve led to human illness.” Corby Kummer is 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

Sports betting is now legal in Massachusetts. We opened the phones to hear listener opinions. Are they concerned about the occasional gambler sliding to addict, or are they all-in on the potential to win big? Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a company setting up shop in Massachusetts to offer full body scans powered by AI, and how Boston scientists are getting closer to growing human eggs in a lab. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the potential Trump indictment and new reporting out of Uvalde that police feared the shooter’s “battle rifle.” Roger Berkowitz join Jim and Margery in the studio to talk about his new business Roger’s Fish Co., which launched earlier this month. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed the growth of Upham’s Corner, the sale of real estate in Newton forcing the closure of a Catholic school and how some Asian students in Boston Public Schools feel like an afterthought. Food policy writer Corby Kummer discussed the development of an American aperitif and Lunchables making their way from grocery stores into public school lunch offerings. We ended the show by asking listeners whether their town has a "Buy Nothing" group. Are they prolific "buy nothing-ers" and what’s their most interesting find?

The UN climate change report was released on Monday and we opened the lines to get listener’s reactions to impending climate disasters. NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter Trenni Casey continues to cover March Madness and the slippery slope of placing online bets. Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, discusses various transparency issues in the state, including Healey's pledge to be the most transparent governor, and a Supreme Judicial Court ruling in favor of the right to be rude at public meetings. Arlo Guthrie, folk singer-songwriter, joins via zoom ahead of an event at the Shubert Center April 1. GBH's Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen discusses Don Quixote at the Boston Ballet, and the Gardner celebrates the 33 year anniversary of their heist by closing down over the weekend because of a climate protest. CNN chief national correspondent John King joins via zoom for a politics segment. We closed the show with the discussion of the city’s proposal of the ban of nips. We wanted to know if our listeners are pro nip or pro ban on the little bottles.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to ask listeners what their thoughts are surrounding the impending indictment of Former President Donald Trump. A national/local politics panel with Charlie Chieppo of Pioneer Institute and Michael Curry of Mass League of Community Health Centers & NAACP national board A transit panel with former transportation secretary Jim Aloisi & executive director of Livable Streets Stacy Thompson A discussion of the American banking system with Frontline correspondent James Jacoby, on their latest film “Age of Easy Money” All Rev’d Up on BPR, with Revs Irene Monroe and Emmett Price joined us again. Travel guru Rick Steves joins to discussed European travel in 2023, and specifically how the Netherlands is grappling with climate change. We wrapped up our show with discussion of expensive concert tickets and how the live music experience is slowly becoming exclusive to the affluent.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to ask listeners what their thoughts were on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision’s right to be rude at public meetings. Marty Baron joins us in person to talk about the state of journalism and the legacy behind him. Baron to be editor of the Globe before switching over to lead the Washington Post. He's in town wrapping up a two day fellowship award ceremony at Brandeis and has a book due out in October. Environmentalist Bill McKibben is back to discuss Biden’s approval of the Willow Project, and other climate change headlines. Comedian Fortune Feimster is touring her latest show, “Live Laugh Love!” She’ll be stopping by the Wilbur tonight and tomorrow. Callie Crossley is on to talk about SCOTUS oversight (and lack of it), a lawsuit involving Amazon stores and the collection of face data, “Naatu Naatu” winning best song at the Oscars, and debate over the best fast-food fish sandwich. Folks from Boston’s Metropolitan Chorale and the Celtic outfit Fellswater are joining for a St. Patrick’s-y Live Music Friday, ahead of a joint performance tomorrow night at the JFK Presidential Library. We ended the show by asking listeners if they’re guilty of the Irish goodbye.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Are you a TikTok addict? We opened the lines to ask listeners about their thoughts on the proposed ban on TikTok in the United States. Chuck Todd is for his weekly Washington roundup. Andrea Cabral discuses the fired Boston Police Department officers, plus Biden’s executive order on guns, how Boston’s preparing against white supremacists at the St. Patrick’s Day parade, and the story of an African serval cat who was found with Cocaine in it's system at a traffic stop. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley will join to talk about a letter she’s sending to the FDA about the health risks of hair relaxers. She’ll also talk about the SVB collapse and whether we need to bring back banking regulations, student loan debt relief and more. Shirley Leung will talk mobile sports betting, MBTA/housing law enforcement, SVB closure’s impact on Boston and other business headlines. Jacqueline Novak is a standup comedian and storyteller who’s been on Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. She's here before her upcoming show at The Wilbur. We ended the show by sharing the announcement that the French Bulldog has become the most popular dog according to the American Kennel Club. We asked listeners to share their favorite dog breed.