Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking about our fascination with scandal in the British royal family – and how it distracts us from the fraying of democracy. EJ Dionne weighed in on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s contentious election for House Speaker last week, and pro-Bolsonaro riots in Brazil’s Capital with claims of election fraud. Dionne is a columnist for the Washington Post. He’s also a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is “100% Democracy: The Case For Universal Voting.” Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson shared their hopes on what Gov. Maura Healey should prioritize in Mass. transit, from safety at the MBTA to strengthening the state’s roads and bridges. Aloisi is a former transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board, and a contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is the executive director of the Livable Streets Alliance. Drs. Allison Bryant and Nicole Smith explained how a local doula program is trying to combat maternal mortality disparities. Dr. Bryant is a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Mass General Hospital and is Senior Medical Director for Health Equity Quality and Patient Experience. Dr. Smith is a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III shared their thoughts on how Congressmembers’ religions don’t reflect the diverse religions in modern America, and a controversial firing of a professor who showed art of the Prophet Muhammed in a college course. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Price is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, and the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together they host GBH’s “All Rev’d Up” podcast. Richard Blanco shared a few poems from “Let Me Say This: A Dolly Parton Poetry Anthology,” and discussed Dolly Parton’s avid fanbase. Blanco is the fifth Presidential Inaugural Poet in U.S. history and the first Poet Laureate of Miami-Dade County. His latest collection is “How To Love A Country.” We ended the show by talking with listeners about the latest COVID surge.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about the two-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, and current dysfunction in Congress. Lyndia Downie weighed in on Gov. Maura Healey’s plans to support the homeless through supportive housing. Downie is the president and executive director for the Pine Street Inn. Callie Crossley talked about Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin’s collapse under cardiac arrest earlier this week during the Bills-Bengals NFL game. Crossley is the host of “Under the Radar,” which you can catch Sunday nights on 89-7 at 6 p.m. She’s also the host of “Basic Black,” which airs Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Her “Callie Commentaries” can be heard on Mondays for GBH’s “Morning Edition. Andrea Cabral shared her thoughts on how Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell may handle an appeal against the dismissal of criminal charges for leaders of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, where at least 76 veterans died from COVID-19. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety. Sue O’Connell talked about what Gov. Healey’s historic win means for the LGBTQ+ community. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. Sean Smith and Summer McCall talked about the 20th anniversary of the Boston Celtic Music Festival at Club Passim. Musicians Maura Shawn Scanlin, Eamon Sefton, Simon Lace, Conor Hearn, and Adam Hendey performed in the first Live Music Friday at the Boston Public Library of 2023. Smith and McCall are organizers of the Boston Celtic Music Festival at Club Passim. The festival runs from Jan. 12-15. We ended the show by asking listeners what could convince them to switch to an electric vehicle.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC’s Chuck Todd zoomed in to discuss Republican Kevin McCarthy’s repeated failures to secure the support of his party to become the next Speaker of the House. He also discussed how the concessions McCarthy’s made to rally support could affect his ability to control legislative debates if he is voted in. Chuck Todd is the Moderator of Meet the Press, host of Meet the Press Daily on MSNBC, and the Political Director for NBC news. Then we took our listener’s calls about how they feel regarding the ability of this Congress to effectively legislate for the next two years in the wake of the Republican’s inability to choose a leader. Then we broke programming and broadcast President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is expanding the government's efforts to deport immigrants who cross the U.S. southern border illegally Following President Biden's remarks, Boston Globe Business Columnist Shirley Leung came on to discuss her interviews with local reporters Janet Wu and Alison King on their long and storied careers in local media. She also discussed some of her recent columns of efforts to mitigate homelessness in the city. Then Rebekah Gewirtz, the president of Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, came on to discuss the state’s new Behavioral Health Hotline. The new service connects callers with social workers who then directly connect people to mental health and substance use medical providers. GBH News Political Reporter Adam Reilly came into the studio and political reporter Katie Lannan called in from the statehouse to discuss the historic inauguration of Governor Maura Healey, the first woman and openly gay person to be elected as Governor of Massachusetts. The two discussed some of the focus of Healey's speech, including housing, income equality and climate change.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Ayanna Pressley discussed her priorities for 2023 with a Republican majority in the House of Representatives, and shared her thoughts on Tuesday’s failed House Speaker vote. Congresswoman Pressley represents Massachusetts’ 7th district. Then, we opened the phone lines, talking with listeners about the turbulent start to this year’s Congressional session. Marcela García weighed in on how more immigration could help America’s growing economic problems, and concerns over user security on TikTok. García is an associate editor and columnist for the Boston Globe. Former State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz discussed the latest news from Beacon Hill. Chang-Díaz is a former State Senator for Mass. and a former public school teacher. She was the first Latina and first Asian-American State Senator in Mass. history. Jared Bowen talked about the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” and the American adaptation of “A Man Called Otto.” Bowen is GBH News’ executive arts editor. He hosts “Open Studio with Jared Bowen” on GBH 2. Sy Montgomery joined us for this month’s edition of “The Afternoon Zoo,” focusing on the rescue of frozen bats in Texas and the neurobiological connections between horses and humans. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist, author and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is “The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty.” We ended the show by talking with listeners about their coyote woes.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking listeners whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic for the year to come. Trenni Casey updated us on the status of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, who collapsed mid-game on Monday under cardiac arrest. She also shared her thoughts on broader safety concerns in the world of sports, from lacrosse to hockey. Casey is an anchor and reporter with NBC Sports Boston, and a BPR contributor. Juliette Kayyem weighed in on a recent attack in New York, where a man from Maine attacked police officers in Times Square with a machete. She also dissected Republican Rep. George Santos' various lies, and shared how a potential re-opening of a criminal investigation into his past by Brazilian officials could complicate his time in Congress. 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. Gina McCarthy discussed the future of climate action in the U.S., and concerns over the Earth’s dwindling resources in the midst of climate change. McCarthy served as the first ever White House national climate advisor, serving President Joe Biden, the EPA administrator under President Obama and is co-chair of Governor-elect Maura Healey’s climate change transition policy committee. Nancy Gertner shared her thoughts on the final Jan. 6 committee hearing. Gertner is a retired federal judge, a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School, and a BPR regular. Corby Kummer talked about the rise of drive-throughs, ghost kitchens, and delivery apps over the course of the pandemic, as well as The Cheesecake Factory’s enduring legacy. 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. We ended the show by talking with listeners about America’s fascination with The Cheesecake Factory.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about the many lies and controversies of Republican Rep.-elect George Santos. Michael Curry shared his thoughts on Gov. Charlie Baker’s legacy, and Massachusetts’ new Behavioral Health Help Line. 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. He serves on Governor-elect Maura Healey’s transition team, and Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell’s transition team. Charlie Sennott discussed the life and death of Pope Benedict, and the passing of legendary journalist Barbara Walters. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and editor-in-chief of the Ground Truth Project. Kara Baskin talked about societal judgment for mothers foregoing breastfeeding, and managing your emotions as a parent. Baskin writes about food and parenting for Boston Globe. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III shared their thoughts on Pope Benedict’s religious doctrine and controversial handling of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Price is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, and the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together they host the “All Rev’d Up” podcast. Imari Paris Jeffries talked about the upcoming unveiling of Boston’s “The Embrace,” a sculpture memorializing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, and the Civil Rights movement. Jeffries is the executive director of Embrace Boston. The MLK “Embrace” monument will be unveiled on Friday, Jan. 13, on the Boston Common. We ended the show by asking listeners about their New Year’s resolutions.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about the future of Twitter and TikTok, as the social media platforms face increasing scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers. Jeremy Siegel and Sonja Tengblad explained how the development of Logan Airport destroyed a Frederick Law Olmsted park, and shared how East Boston residents face negative health impacts as a result. Siegel is a co-host on GBH’s Morning Edition. Tengblad is a coordinator with the group Mothers Out Front – East Boston. Andrea Cabral discussed changes to mental healthcare for those incarcerated in Mass. correctional facilities. Cabral is the former sheriff of Suffolk County and former secretary of public safety here in the Commonwealth. Andy Ihnatko talked about increasing scrutiny of TikTok by members of Congress. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger. Shirley Leung shared her thoughts on Mayor Michelle Wu’s distant relationship with Boston’s business community, and supportive housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Sy Montgomery joined us for this month’s edition of “The Afternoon Zoo,” sharing the story of 190-year-old Jonathan the Tortoise. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist, author and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is “The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty.” We ended the show by talking with listeners about outdoor holiday decorations and rising electric costs.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking our listener's if they've continued to follow the news from Ukraine as Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy prepared to meet U.S. President Joe Biden. Arthur Caplan came on to discuss a study which found that residents living in conservative parts of the country were more likely to experience higher levels of illness and death related to COVID-19. He also discussed how conservative policies on immigration is affecting staffing levels at nursing homes. Arthur 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. Juliete Kayyem discussed how the Supreme Court has temporarily upheld a Trump-era policy known as Title 42. The immigration policy allows the federal governemnt to deport undocumented immigrants based on public health grounds. 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. Chris Muther came on to rank airlines based on the customer experience. He also explained why he believes Arizona is the premier Christmas destination. Muther is a travel writer for the Boston Globe. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson discussed Gov.-elect Maura Healey's approach to replacing the general manager of the MBTA, and how food delivery drivers are clogging Boston streets. Aloisi is a former transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets Alliance. Rachel Miller Munzer and Rachel Sundet joined to talk about Jewish cuisine on the fourth night of Hanukkah. Munzer is an owner and the CRO of Mamaleh’s, a local delicatessen with three locations in the Boston area: in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, Brookline’s Washington Square and downtown Boston. Sundet is an owner and the pastry chef at Mameleh’s. We ended the show by taking our listener's calls to hear about what holiday traditions they are embracing ahead of this weekend.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about yesterday’s Jan. 6 committee hearing, focusing on criminal referrals for former President Donald Trump. Jenny Slate and Ben Shattuck talked about the Golden Globes nomination for “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” and the legacy of Henry David Thoreau. Slate is a comedian, an alum of shows like “Parks and Rec,” “Saturday Night Live,” and the filmmaker behind “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.” Shattuck is a writer, the author of “Six Walks in the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau,” and co-owner of Davoll’s General Store in South Dartmouth. Governor-elect and Attorney General Maura Healey discussed her focus on keeping innovation in Mass. competitive, and prioritizing climate policy in order to meet the state’s climate goals. She also answered listeners’ questions during “Ask the Governor-elect.” Jared Bowen shared his thoughts on Damien Chazelle’s film “Babylon,” and the Front Porch Arts Collective’s play “Chicken & Biscuits.” Bowen is GBH News’ executive arts editor. Tiffani Faison talked about the recent opening of Tenderoni’s in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Faison is a James Beard Award-nominated chef, restaurateur, and TV personality. Her new restaurant, Tenderoni’s, opened in Fenway last month. EJ Dionne updated us on the Jan. 6 committee’s criminal referrals for former President Donald Trump. Dionne is a columnist for the Washington Post. He’s also a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, and his latest book is “100% Democracy: The Case For Universal Voting.” We ended the show by talking with listeners about everything Christmas-related – and…filmmaker James Cameron scientifically confirming that Jack would have died on the life raft even if Rose had simply moved over in “Titanic.”

We opened the show by taking our listeners’ calls about the final public hearing held by the January 6th Committee. The Congressional panel voted to ask the Department of Justice to charge former President Donald Trump with crimes related to the attack on the Capitol. NBC Sports Reporter Trenni Casey discussed the dramatic conclusion to the World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina beat France via penalty kicks. She then contrasted that victory with the utter debacle of the final play between the Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Casey is an anchor and reporter with NBC Sports Boston, and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Charlie Sennott talked about the latest developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He also discussed the return of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and how his far-right leaning government under his control will likely derail any form of peace talks between Palestine and Israel. Sennott is the founder and editor-in-chief of the GroundTruth Project and a GBH News Analyst. Rick Steeves discussed his latest trip to Italy, offered tips on pulling off the perfect roadside bathroom trip while on a guided tour, and revealed what training he gives to travel guides across the globe. Steves is an author, television and radio host, and the owner of “Rick Steves' Europe” tour group. You can catch "Rick Steves’ Europe" weeknights at 7:30 on GBH 2, and his radio show “Travel With Rick Steves” Sundays at 4:00 on GBH. Then we ended the show by broadcasting a livestream of the January 6th Committee hearing. The panel voted to refer criminal charges against Donald Trump to the Department of Justice.