
Boston Public Radio Podcast
Join hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan for a smart local conversation with leaders and thinkers shaping Boston and New England. We feature our favorite conversation from each show. To hear the full show, please visit wgbhnews.org/bpr To share your opinion, email bpr@wgbh.org or call or text 877-301-8970 during the live broadcast from 11AM-2PM Monday through Friday.
Latest episodes

Mar 26, 2025 • 28min
Best Of BPR 3/26: ICE's Collective Punishment In Boston & Who Needs Media Literacy Anyway?
Today:Immigration officials announced the arrests of nearly 400 people around Boston this week, as well as the detention of a Turkish Tufts student. We speak with GBH reporter Sarah Betancourt, immigration attorney Julio Henriquez, and senior vice president of the International Institute of New England Xan Weber.And, we bring you snippets from the Congressional hearing into NPR and PBS; featuring some insights into editorial decision-making from U.S. Rep. James Comer.

Mar 25, 2025 • 2h 38min
BPR Full Show 3/25: World Figure Skating Championships
Trenni Casey discusses the livestock competitions going viral thanks to one girl's intense stareDoug Zeghibe, executive director of the Skating Club of Boston joins with Olympic skater Ashley Wagner to discuss the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the Garden this week.Kelly Beatty of Sky and Telescope discusses the earthly return of Suni Williams and Butch WilmoreMarcelo Suarez-Orozco, Chancellor of UMB on Trump administration attacks on higher education.

Mar 25, 2025 • 38min
Best Of BPR 3/25: World Figure Skating Championships & Astronaut Sunita Williams' Recovery After 288 Days In Space
Today: The U.S. will play host to the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, coming to TD Garden this week. We talk about the art and physicality behind the sport – and the tragic loss of friends and colleagues in that DC plane crash – with the Skating Club of Boston’s Doug Zeghibe and Olympic skater Ashley Wagner.And, Sky and Telescope senior editor Kelly Beatty discusses the impacts of Sunita Williams' extended stay in space.

Mar 24, 2025 • 37min
Best Of BPR 3/24: Lamentations Of An Aztec Philosopher-King & Can Ozempic Treat All Manner Of Addiction?
Today: Amherst College's Ilan Stavans discusses his new book "Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems" - a re-telling of an Aztec king's writings, translated directly from the indigenous language.And, Nicholas Reville, CEO of the nonprofit Center for Addiction Science, Policy & Research argues there’s potential for GLP-1 drugs to revolutionize addiction treatment.

Mar 24, 2025 • 2h 33min
BPR Full Show 3/24: Jim Threatens To Sell His Tesla
Boston University journalism department head Brian McGrory discusses the release of the 'John' names in the brothel case, the CIA-related disclosures from JFK files and how media coverage of COVID-19 may have damaged people's trust in institutions.Amherst College's Ilan Stavans discusses his new book "Lamentations of Neahualcoyotl: Nahuatl Poems" and how Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum is handling Trump.Nicholas Reville, CEO and co-founder of CASPR (Center for Addiction Science, Policy & Research) discusses how GLP-1s and other weight-loss products can also be effective for treating addiction.Richard Davey, head of MassPort, discusses the agency's expansion of climate and environmental staffing and raising fees on rideshares to Logan Airport.

Mar 21, 2025 • 41min
Best Of BPR 3/21: Judge Gertner Rings Democracy Alarm Bells & The Zahili Zamora Trio
Today:Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner rings alarm bells on Trump's attack of the American legal system, comparing his intimidation and consolidation of power to that of Hungary's Viktor Orban.And, Cuban-born jazz pianist Zahili Zamora joins for Live Music Friday, at the Boston Public Library.

Mar 21, 2025 • 2h 32min
BPR Full Show 3/21: Acts of Kindness
Live Music Friday with Cuban-born jazz pianist and Berklee professor Zahili Zamora. She's performing next Thursday at Long Live Roxbury Brewing Company. NBC Boston commentator Sue O’Connell discusses the latest news on the Karen Read trial, including blogger "Turtleboy" pleading not guilty to witness intimidation charges. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner reacts to Justice Roberts’ rebuke of Trump on the issue of judicial impeachment, and more on Trump ignoring judicial orders. Our 'Press Play' media segment with GBH's Adam Reilly and Callie Crossley on the media's coverage of the Trump administration and coverage of the Boston mayoral race.

Mar 20, 2025 • 40min
Best Of BPR 3/20: Mahmoud Khalil's First Amendment Case & Tesla's Market Slump
Today:Columbia’s Mahmoud Khalil is being held in Louisiana, awaiting his fate after the federal government targeted him for his pro-Palestine advocacy – We speak with one of the members of his legal team, the head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Donna Lieberman.Dan Primack is the business editor at Axios. He discusses the latest on interest rates and the fed – holding steady at least for now -- and the fate of Tesla.

Mar 20, 2025 • 2h 30min
BPR Full Show 3/20: Are we unhappier than ever?
Political analyst Chuck Todd returns for his weekly D.C. news roundupFormer secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral weighs in on the deportation of RI doctor Rasha Alawieh. She also discusses the Trump administration's attempts to bypass the judiciary.Dan Primack, business editor over at Axios, talks about the Fed's latest decision to keep interest rates steady because of ongoing economic uncertainty.Donna Lieberman leads the New York Civil Liberties Union. She joins us to talk about her role defending detained Colombia University student and green card-holder Mahmoud Khalil.

Mar 19, 2025 • 2h 38min
BPR Full Show 3/19: Pump the Brakes? Boston’s Bike Lane Dilemma
BPR Full Show 3/19: Pump the Brakes? Boston’s Bike Lane Dilemma