Boston Public Radio Podcast

Buoyed by inflation, “buy now, pay later” companies have gained popularity in America, claiming to offer help for people trying to manage finances in tough times. Their easy-to-use apps and virtual credit cards often don’t charge interest. But Corby Kummer tells Boston Public Radio the fact that people are using them — effectively going into debt — to buy groceries, is a symptom of a weak safety net. “There needs to be better SNAP there needs to be better nutrition assistance, there needs to be better income support for people who have to think about putting their groceries on layaway.” Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd talked about the latest political headlines, including the special master situation in the Mar-a-Lago raid case, and his thoughts on the upcoming midterms elections. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we asked listeners about how they feel about the rhetoric around the “end of COVID.” Andrea Cabral shared her thoughts on the latest on the Mar-a-Lago case, and the outcomes of the Mass. Primaries on Tuesday. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety, and former CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Corby Kummer discussed the rise in pay-later apps in grocery shopping, Governor of California Gavin Newsom’s new legislation on fast food worker minimum wage, the merits of blindfolded dining, and new girl scout cookies. 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. Andy Ihnatko talked about the updates that will come with the newly announced iPhone, new chargers that can be used for several totally different devices, and a new app which allows users to identify birds using only their song. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Jon Gruber explained the economic impacts of the growing labor movement. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act. His latest book is “Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream.” We ended the show by talking about the breaking news of the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II’s, death.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about yesterday’s primary election results. Neil deGrasse Tyson shared his upcoming lecture “The Search for Life in the Universe” at the Wilbur Theatre on Sept. 29. deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist and the author of the best-selling “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry,” among other books. He is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, where he has served since 1996. deGrasse Tyson’s new book coming out later this month is “Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization.” Geoff Diehl discussed his primary win for the Republican nominee for governor of Massachusetts, and the policy changes he would make regarding drivers’ licenses for undocumented immigrants, abortion, and more. Diehl is running for governor on the Republican ticket and will face Attorney General Maura Healey in November. Juliette Kayyem updated us on the latest news from the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s possession of classified documents. Kayyem is the 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. Her new book is: “The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters.” Bill McKibben talked about eastern Europe’s adoption of heat pumps in response to gas shortages related to the war in Ukraine. McKibben is the co-founder of 350 DOT ORG and founder of Third Act Dot Org. He has a newsletter on Substack titled “The Crucial Years.” He’s also got a new, serialized book titled, “The Other Cheek: An Epic Nonviolent Yarn.” We then asked listeners how the back-to-school season is going. Brian O’Donovan shared his recent cancer diagnosis, and explained how he’s finding hope. O’Donovan is the host of “A Celtic Sojourn” at GBH.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by hearing from candidates in contested races in the Mass. primaries.  Trenni Casey talked about the controversy surrounding Boston’s recent LIV Golf Tournament and Serena Williams’ final match at the US Open. Casey is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose shared her thoughts on the latest in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago raid, and shared some insight into voter participation and the ACLU’s work ahead of Mass. Primary Day. Rose is the executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Lee Pelton discussed the importance of voting in local elections, the plight of care workers in Mass., and how student loan forgiveness fits into the problematic landscape of equity in higher education. Pelton is the president and CEO of The Boston Foundation. Then, we continued to hear from candidates, and took calls from listeners about their voting experiences on Primary Day. John King talked about the latest political headlines, including his take on the latest with former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-lago document investigation and the recent streak of wins for President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress ahead of the midterms. King is CNN's chief national correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We ended the show by hearing from more candidates.

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years: Imani Perry talks about parenthood and how Black parents talk to their children about race. Perry is a professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. Her latest book is "Breathe: A Letter To My Sons.” Neal Thompson tells stories from the Kennedy family, tracing the political family’s lineage from Ireland to the United States. Thompson’s new book is “The First Kennedys: The Humble Roots of an American Dynasty.” Roger Bennett shares his experience growing up in Liverpool, and why he relates more to the U.S. than his home country of England. Bennett is the co-host of The Men In Blazers podcast and NBC show. His memoir is “(Re)Born in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to His Chosen Home.” Fiona Hill previews her memoir, “There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century.” Hill served as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs in former President Donald Trump's administration from 2017 to 2019, and was a witness in Trump’s first impeachment hearing. Howard Bryant discusses his book, "The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism." Bryant is a columnist and commentator for ESPN. First Lady of Iceland Eliza Reid previews her book, “Secrets Of The Sprakkar: Iceland's Extraordinary Women And How They Are Changing The World,” and explained why Iceland is leading the globe in gender equity. Reid is the First Lady of Iceland. Kellie Carter Jackson and Leah Wright Rigueur share insights on all things Oprah, from their podcast “Oprademics.” Jackson is an associate professor in the department of Africana studies at Wellesley College. Rigueur is an associate professor of history at Johns Hopkins. They host the “Oprahdemics” podcast from Radiotopia. Daniel Leader discusses his latest book, "Living Bread." Leader is a pioneer in the American baking world.

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years. Elle Simone Scott shares tips on how to make the perfect food board for hosting. Scott is Executive Editor and Inclusion Leader at America’s Test Kitchen. She is also founder of the mentoring organization SheChef. Her recently released book is “Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings.” Joanne Chang talks about her latest book inspired by her baking journals, “Pastry Love: A Baker’s Journal of Favorite Recipes.” Chang is a James Beard Award–winning pastry chef and owner of the Cambridge bakery and cafe Flour. Billy Collins shares some of his poetry ahead of his June 16 appearance at 2Life Communities’ annual gala. Collins was appointed U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001-2003, and New York State Poet Laureate from 2004-2006. His numerous collections include “Nine Horses: Poems, The Trouble with Poetry,” “Ballistics,” “Horoscopes for the Dead,” “Aimless Love” and “The Rain in Portugal.” Dan Shaughnessy tells anecdotes from his latest book about covering the Celtics during the Larry Bird era. Shaughnessy is a sports writer at the Boston Globe. His new book is “Wish It Lasted Forever: Life With The Larry Bird Celtics.” Christopher Kimball previews his latest cookbook “Vegetables,” sharing his favorite ways to bring vegetables to the center of the plate. Kimball co-founded America’s Test Kitchen, and now runs Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street in Boston. His latest cookbook is “Vegetables.” Rosa Brooks discusses her new book, “Tangled Up In Blue: Policing The American City,” and describes her experiences as a reserve police officer in Washington, D.C. Brooks was a Pentagon official in former President Barack Obama's administration and is currently a professor of law and policy at Georgetown Law. Dylan Thuras tells stories of strange food from around the world, including psychedelic honey, the anti-masterbatory origins of graham crackers and the great molasses flood in Boston in 1919. Thuras is the co-founder and creative director of Atlas Obscura, and the co-author of the New York Times bestseller “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders.” His latest book is “Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide,” co-authored with Cecily Wong. Susan Orlean previews her latest book about animals, including the history of the movie “Free Willy,” her relationship with turkeys and her Valentine’s Day spent with a lion. Orlean is a staff writer for the New Yorker and an author. Her latest book is “On Animals.”

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years. We begin today’s on-tape show by revisiting the secretary of state candidates’ debate on Greater Boston. Journalist and naturalist Sy Montgomery joins us for "The Afternoon Zoo,” focusing on how songbirds find their mates. Author Tim O’Brien explains how he redefined himself through parenthood via a collection of letters to his sons in "Dad's Maybe Book." Anchor Anthony Everett joins us to reflect on the 40th anniversary of WCVB Channel 5’s nightly news magazine, “Chronicle.” Washington Post columnist Tamar Haspel shares her trials and errors in gardening, foraging, and hunting through her book, “To Boldly Grow.” Journalist Ronan Farrow discusses his investigation into Harvey Weinstein, as recounted in his book, “Catch and Kill." Harvard biologist Daniel Lieberman educates us on the importance of staying active through his book, “Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding.”

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years: We begin today’s on-tape show by revisiting the state auditor candidates’ debate on Greater Boston, with Democratic candidates – State senator Diana DiZoglio and transportation advocate, Chris Dempsey. Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins talk about their PBS series, “The Great Muslim American Road Trip.” ESPN’s Howard Bryant discusses the life and legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell. We replay a 2018 conversation with author Salman Rushdie on his modern day Don Quixote, “Quichotte.” Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker shares his experiences making new friends as an adult in his memoir, “We Need to Hang Out: A Memoir of Making Friends." Behavioral economist Michael Norton shares his latest research on friendship and human behavior.

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years. We begin today’s on-tape show by revisiting Greater Boston’s lieutenant governor debate, with state senator Eric Lesser, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and State Rep Tami Gouveia vying for the #2 office in the state. Boston Globe reporter Chris Muther and food critic Devra First talk about the hidden gems of Cape Cod. Charlie Warzel join us to talk about his book, “Out of Office.” Journalist Spencer Buell and noise researcher Erica Walker discuss noise levels in Boston. Malcolm Gladwell shares his book, “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know.” Writer Lindy West talks about her book, “The Witches Are Coming.” Lizzie Post shares her book on cannabis etiquette, "Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis, from Dispensaries to Dinner Parties."

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years. We begin with Greater Boston’s debate featuring the Democratic candidates for Massachusetts attorney general. It was the first televised debate between former state prosecutor Quentin Palfrey, labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan and Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell – all vying to replace Maura Healey. Ben Shattuck talks about about following the hikes of Henry David Thoreau in “Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau.” Howard Bryant discusses his book, "The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism."