Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show by hearing from listeners about how they're preparing for the extreme cold weather expected this weekend. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discussed the Biden administration decision to lift the public health emergency for COVID-19 in May. She is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed a legislative push for pay transparency in Massachusetts. Cheryl Straughter, chef and co-owner of the Nubian Square restaurant Soleil, discussed her plans to expand into Boston Public Market, and how the business fared during the pandemic. Sue O'Connell discussed new guidelines from the FDA for gay and bisexual men wishing to donate blood, and the House ousting Rep. Ilhan Omar from her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee for her statements about Israel. O’Connell is co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. Members of Castle of our Skins, a Boston-based concert and educational series devoted to celebrating Black Artistry through music, joined at the Boston Public Library. Ashleigh Gordon, artistic executive director and co-founder; Samantha Ege, UK-based pianist who collaborated on their new album; musical selections performed by violinists Gabriela Diaz and Matthew Vera, violist Gordon, and cellist Francesca McNeeley. We ended the show with a listener call-in segment about how often to wash jeans.

Food policy writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss the ethical considerations behind lab-grown meat for people who consider themselves vegetarians — whether for animal welfare or environmental reasons — off of an article in Mother Jones: “My Vegetarian Dilemma: Tasting Lab-Grown Meat From Live Animals” “This cultured meat is taken from a live animal … and then grown out in a medium,” said Kummer. “Here’s a dirty little secret, almost invariably the medium is fetal bovine serum, FBS, which is taken from dead cows and calves. They never talk about the growing medium.” 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

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC political director Chuck Todd discussed House speaker and Republican representative Kevin McCarthy's recent meeting with President Joe Biden over the debt ceiling, and other national political news. We opened the lines to hear from listeners about a trend away from so-called helicopter parenting, due to parental burnout and a change in ideology. Andrea Cabral discussed 20-year-old Sayed Faisal's death at the hands of Cambridge police. Cabral is former secretary of public safety for Massachusetts and Suffolk County sheriff. Paul Reville discussed whether to bring police back to Boston Public Schools in response to increased violence on school grounds, and the latest on teacher strikes in Massachusetts. Reville is Massachusetts’ former secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed artificial intelligence technology's ability to recall images on command, and the Department of Justice's antitrust suit against Google. We re-aired a conversation with comedian and author Jessi Klein about her book "I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood." We ended the show by opening the lines for another parenting call-in segment: Is it actually a sign of intelligence that your young kid is foul-mouthed?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to get listener reactions to Tom Brady announcing his retirement from football. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a new report in JAMA about greed in the US healthcare system, our worsening health outcomes, and new FDA guidelines on who can give blood. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the police killing of Tyre Nichols, and the progression of Trump's legal case in Manhattan. Michael Kirk, director of Frontline's latest film "Putin and the Presidents," discussed the film's examination of Russian President Vladimir Putin's quest for Russian dominance through the lens of multiple American presidencies. Food policy writer Corby Kummer discussed the much anticipated Comfort Kitchen opening in Boston, inflation drawing a new generation of bakers to the bread machine, and the legacy of Four Loko. Naturalist and author Sy Montgomery discussed animals genetically modifying themselves to adapt to life in the city, and wildlife advocates urging regulators to do more to protect cephalopods given their intelligence. We opened the lines to hear from listeners about how often they shower.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show with a call-in session to ask our listeners how they feel about the official launch of legal sports betting in Massachusetts. On Tuesday morning the state’s three casinos — Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston — began accepting bets on a wide range of competitive sports. The law doesn’t allow betting on high school sports, local college teams and e-sports. Trenni Casey joined to talk about the upcoming Super Bowl showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, allegations that Harvard’s women’s hockey coach created an abusive and toxic locker room environment and the opportunity for a professional women’s soccer team to once again play in Boston. Trenni Casey is an anchor and reporter with NBC Sports Boston and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Gov. Maura Healey came down to the Boston Public Library for an in-person edition of “Ask the Governor,” fielding questions from the audience and Jim and Margery. During the segment, Healey said she would not offer a position on whether public employees should have the right to strike in reference to the teachers’ work stoppage in Woburn. She also said that she supports the city of Boston having a seat on the MBTA’s Control Board, a priority for Mayor Michelle Wu. Jared Bowen came on to discuss the Japanese prints at the Worcester Art Museum, “The Art of Burning” at the Huntington and why White Lotus’ season two theme song is playing at the club. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took questions in the latest edition of “Ask the Mayor” from the Boston Public Library. She discussed the lack of affordable practice spaces for artists and musicians and said that her administration is directing federal pandemic funding towards expanding artist space in Boston. She also addressed the challenges that weather fluctuations present to maintaining safe and pothole-free streets. Wu also talked about the challenges of finding reliable bus transportation for Boston Public School students. Wu is the mayor of Boston.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show by taking our listeners’ calls to ask how they felt about the widespread broadcast of the video depicting Memphis police officers violently beating Tyre Nichols. We also asked listeners about whether the police reforms implemented following George Floyd have had any meaningful impact. Then GBH news analyst Charlie Sennott came on to discuss the political brinkmanship between the U.S. and Germany that led to both countries giving tanks to Ukraine. He also predicted that the war will continue for months because the Russian government has been effective in generating support for the invasion by misrepresenting how successful its military has been on the ground. Charlie Sennott is the founder of The GroundTruth Project and is a GBH News Analyst. Michael Curry, the CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers, discussed the limitations of police reform efforts following the release of the body cam footage showing officers violently attacking Tyre Nichols. Curry argued that there is too much deference and trust in police departments among the public and media. He also argued in support of continuing to diversify police forces, saying that impact will take time to materialize. Michael Curry is the President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he chairs the board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Mass Teachers Association president Max Page discussed the push among teachers unions to change a Massachusetts law that bans public employees from going on strike. He also discussed the ongoing teacher strike in Woburn as educators there push for better wages for paraprofessionals and smaller class sizes. Page also discussed the potential impact of the Fair Share Amendment, a ballot question that passed this fall which changed the state Constitution mandating an additional 4 percent tax on earnings more than 1 million dollars and earmarking that revenue for transportation and education. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discussed the limitations of police reform and the need for change in police training around the perceptions and stereotypes of young black men. The Reverends also discussed a statement released by Patrick Clancy, the father of the three children who were killed by their mother during a bout of postpartum psychosis, which asked for forgiveness for his wife. The Revs also discussed Pope Francis’s comments that homosexuality is a sin but not a crime. Reverend Irene Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Emmett G. Price III is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. V, formerly known as Eve Ensler, discussed her new book “Reckoning” and the 25th anniversary of "V Day", which is a day dedicated to ending violence against all women, trans women and non-binary people. We ended the show with a call-in session asking our listeners how they feel about dining out alone.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Sen. Elizabeth Warren spoke about a looming political battle in Congress over whether to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, the state of child care in the Commonwealth, and what she made of the recent Ticketmaster antitrust Congressional hearing. We opened phone and text lines to talk with listeners about their experiences with child care in Massachusetts. Hon. Nancy Gertner discussed the Memphis police killing of Tyre Nichols, reports of discord among the Supreme Court justices, and questions of whether there ought to be more oversight of the Judicial Branch. Callie Crossley offered her own perspective on the killing of Nichols, as well as racist remarks made about former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao by former President Donald Trump, and Springfield-native Ruth Carter getting an Oscar nod for her constume design work on “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Sue O’Connell offered her perspective on the latest conversy with Rep. George Santos, and the difference between dressing in drag and being a formal “drag queen.” She also spoke on growing transphobia in the U.K., and why she thinks a recent M&M’s re-brand is yet another marketing ploy. O’Connell is co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. Sue O'Connell on BPR | Jan. 27, 2023 Victoria Kichuk is the founder and owner of Cocoa Beantown, a Boston-based chocolate tour and tasting company. She joined for a tasting of some high-quality chocolate brands based in Massachusetts. We closed out the show with listeners, getting your thoughts on bugs & and bug-eating.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC political director Chuck Todd joined to discuss the latest national politics. Then we opened the lines to discuss new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending immediate intervention as early as two years old to combat childhood obesity. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s first state-of-the-city address, and the mayor’s pledge to overhaul the Boston Planning and Development Agency. 93-year-old Holocaust survivor David Schaecter discussed the process to have his life story recorded for a holographic video display at the planned Boston Holocaust Museum, slated to open in 2025. Museum co-founder Jody Kipnis and Michael Berenbaum, holocaust scholar and museum designer, discussed the plans for the museum. Boston Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert discussed the shows he’s watching this winter, and Netflix’s impending crackdown on account sharing. Chef Irene Li from Mei Mei joined to give Jim and Margery a dumpling-making lesson, in celebration of the Lunar New Year, and discussed Mei Mei’s reopening as a dumpling factory and café in South Boston. We closed the show talking with listeners about sleepovers.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show with a call-in segment to ask our listeners about their experience with Ticketmaster and price-gouging related to live concerts. This comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee interviewed the CEO of Ticketmaster about the company’s failure to handle the demand for Taylor Swift tickets in November and the rise of exorbitant prices on secondary markets. Then medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the integration of AI systems like chatGPT into the medical field and the limitations of the technology therein. He also explained the FDA’s new regulations for lowering the amount of acceptable lead levels in baby food. He explained the the FDA is overwhelmed and suggested that the federal government create a separate entity to monitor food safety. Art Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. National Security Expert Juliette Kayyemm came on to discuss the revelation that Vice President Mike Pence also had classified documents in house. She also questioned the priorities of Senators as they focus in on Ticketmaster and monopolies in the live entertainment industry as the country continues to suffer from a gun violence epidemic. Juliette Kayyem is former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland-security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Then we had a call in segment with Larry Chretien of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance where he answered people’s questions about how to transition into using heat pumps in the home as well as how to obtain tax credits for buying electric vehicles. Jared Bowen discussed his favorite movies nominated for this year’s Oscars. Jared Bowen is GBH’s Executive Arts Editor and host of the TV series Open Studio, which you can catch Friday nights, right here on GBH 2. Food policy writer Corby Kummer discussed the death of the corporate cafeteria as companies struggle to rebuild office culture. He also discussed how trendy diets distract people from the key to losing weight: calorie management. 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. Then we ended the show by having a call-in segment based on our conversation with Corby Kummer, asking our listeners what types of diets have worked for them and whether your weight does, or should, matter?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show by asking our listeners about the two recent mass shootings in California and why they think this country still hasn’t addressed this epidemic of gun violence. Then Trenni Casey of NBC Sports Boston discussed how Red Sox fans booed the team’s ownership at their Winter Weekend event, marking the unofficial start of the 20-23 seasons. Fans booed owner John Henry because of frustration over ticket prices and how the team let its star shortstop Xander Bogaerts sign with the San Diego Padres. She also discussed how young quarterbacks are now leading the NFL, with all four teams left in the playoffs are led by a QB in their 20s. Trenni is an anchor and reporter with NBC Sports Boston, and a BPR contributor. Boston Globe Columnist Marcela Garcia discussed the decision by Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to ban state agencies from using the term Latinx. She also discussed the disparity in media coverage between the disappearance of Ana Walshe and Reina Morales Rojas, a Salvadoran woman from East Boston who’s been missing since Thanksgiving. She ended by criticizing Republicans for planning to try to remove the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alexander Mayorkas Then GBH News deputy investigate editor Jenifer McKim and Amy Farrell, director of the School of Criminology at Northeastern University, came on to discuss McKim’s reporting on how restaurants exploit undocumented immigrants. Farrell also explained that undocumented workers often arrive in the U.S. owing thousands to smugglers and are then forced into a type of indentured servitude. Then Billy Costa, host of WGBH’s High School Quiz Show, came on to discuss the new season and the return of a live audience to the studio. Costa barely survived a news quiz BPR prepared for him and then turned the tables on Margery and Jared with his own grilling. CNN’s chief national correspondent John King joined us remotely to discuss the breaking news that classified documents were also discovered in former Vice President Mike Pence’s home. King also gave his predictions on how Republicans are using the debt ceiling limit as leverage to force cuts on social spending programs. Then we ended the show by asking our listeners to share their stories about the difference between themselves and their siblings. This follows a Washington Post article explaining that siblings may not be as similar genetically as previously thought.