Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Charlie Sennott tells the story of the Goodrich family, who lost their son in the 9/11 and went on to build a girls school in Afghanistan, which has since been taken over by the Taliban. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Art Caplan weighs in on President Joe Biden’s latest plan to fight COVID-19, which involves a federal rule requiring vaccines or weekly testing for all businesses with 100 or more employees. 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. Then, we talk with listeners about their impressions of Biden’s new vaccine mandate. Andrea Cabral talks about a lawsuit filed Thursday by the Justice Department against the state of Texas, aiming to invalidate the new abortion restrictions. She also weighs in on Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s insistence that he will not retire. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Juliette Kayyem discusses the impact of COVID-19 and climate change-induced natural disasters on the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Sue O’Connell weighs in on this week’s Boston Mayoral debates and their potential effect on the race. She also talks about the recent loss of Michael K. Williams, who played Omar on “The Wire.” O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. Andy Ihnatko talks about new developments in surveillance technology, including front door cameras and Ray Bans that record video straight to Facebook. He also discusses decisions by GoDaddy.com and Reddit to shut down threads aiming to bring lawsuits against people getting abortions in the wake of the recent Texas law. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Then, we talk with listeners about their thoughts on the Ray Bans sunglasses with recording capacity.

Today on Boston Public Radio: First, we talk with listeners about the school bus driver shortage on back to school day. Denise Dilanni previews the new series from GBH, “The Future of Work,” about the current transformation of the American workforce brought by automation, the gig economy and COVID-19. The show airs on GBH2 on Sept. 15, the PBS Video app and the PBS Voices YouTube Channel. Dilanni is an executive producer at GBH and the series’ creator. Ambassador Philippe Etienne talks about the effect of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Europe, and the impact of our nation’s withdrawal from Afghanistan on European peace efforts in the mid-east country. He also talks about America’s relationship with France under President Joe Biden, and the success of his country’s vaccine “health pass” system. Etienne is the French ambassador to the United States. Paul Reville discusses the return of Mass. students to classrooms amid the Delta variant and fights over mask mandates, vaccines and school bus shortages. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Lynne Sacks, is “Collaborative Action for Equity and Opportunity: A Practical Guide for School and Community Leaders.” Then, we continue our conversation with listeners about going back to school during the pandemic. Jon Gruber talks about the connection between a lack of abortion rights and worse lifetime outcomes, in the wake of the new Texas law. Gruber teaches economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream." In light of Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung's recent piece about the plight of hotel workers, we open phone lines to ask listeners their thoughts on hotel companies recommending guests forgo daily room cleanings at the expense of staff.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan talks about the Supreme Court’s upholding of the new Texas abortion law and an Ohio judge protecting hospital patients from the latest controversial and off-label COVID-19 treatment — the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin. He also weighs in on conflicting attitudes surrounding vaccine booster shots. 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. Then, we hear listeners’ opinions on boycotting business that have not spoken out against the new Texas abortion law. Andrew Bacevich weighs in on who should take responsibility for the crisis in Afghanistan, the United States’ standing in the world 20 years after 9/11 and what service to the country should look like. Bacevich is the President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University and author of "The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory.” State Rep. Mike Connolly discusses his bill looking into reversing the state’s Happy Hour ban, which he hopes could help restaurants bounce back from COVID-19. Connolly represents the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ 26th Middlesex district, which comprises East Cambridge and East Somerville. Laura Sullivan shares insights from her reporting on the Red Cross’ work in Haiti, and how the organization only built six homes in the country after raising half a billion dollars following the 2010 earthquake. She also talks about how to best support people in Haiti by donating to local organizations. Sullivan is an investigative correspondent for NPR who reported extensively on the Red Cross in 2015. Shirley Leung gives an update on the latest business headlines, including business leaders’ opinions on the mayor’s race, and a 50 million dollar donation from the Manning family to the UMass system. She also discusses how requesting housekeeping at hotels can keep staff employed. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a GBH contributor. Then, we talk with listeners about the current coin shortage and the challenges of parking and paying for laundry.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We kick things off by opening phone lines to talk with listeners about the state of the pandemic moving into fall of 2021. Trenni Kusnierek discusses the latest news on COVID-19 in the world of sports, including a recent outbreak within the Boston Red Sox. She also touches on news of tennis champion Naomi Osaka’s indefinite exit from the sport. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose weighs in on the broader, grim constitutional implications of Texas’ new abortion law. She also discusses the Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Michael Curry talks about COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, and whether state leaders are doing enough to get residents vaccinated and quell the spread of the Delta variant. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and chair of the board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Michael Kirk discusses the legacy of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and America's response ahead of the 20-year anniversary, in a conversation sparked by his new FRONTLINE documentary, “America After 9/11.” John King calls in for his weekly round-up of national headlines, with a focus on President Biden’s comments about climate change infrastructure and the state of his $3.5 trillion ‘human infrastructure’ bill in Congress. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We close out Tuesday’s show by talking with listeners about new research into how the foods we eat impact our lifespan.

Today on Boston Public Radio we’re on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from the not too distant past: Bishop Michael Curry joins us to preach the power of love in dark times, in a conversation sparked by his new book "Love Is The Way: Holding Onto Hope In Troubling Times.” Curry is the current presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. Bill Buford discusses differences between attitudes around restaurant dining in France and the U.S., in a conversation about his new book, "Dirt: Adventures In Lyon As A Chef In Training, Father, And Sleuth Looking For The Secret Of French Cooking." Buford is an author and journalist. Alan Alda talks about the joy of creating his new interview podcast, and his trip to the New England Aquarium with BPR contributor Sy Montgomery. Alda is an actor, and hosts the podcast "Clear + Vivid With Alan Alda." Rick Steves shares his memories of his first visit to Afghanistan in 1978 and what travel may look like with the rise of the Delta variant. Steves is an author, television and radio host and the owner of the Rick Steves' Europe tour group. You can catch his television show, "Rick Steves’ Europe," weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on GBH 2 and his radio show, “Travel With Rick Steves,” Sundays at 4 p.m. on GBH.

Boston Public Radio is on tape today, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from the not too distant past. Sebastian Junger speaks about his latest book, “Freedom,” which looks at the meaning of freedom in its many iterations. Junger is a journalist, author and filmmaker. Michelle Singletary discusses her latest book, “What To Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide.” Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column "The Color of Money" provides insight into the world of personal finance. Michael Moss previews his new book and explained how some drug addiction experts are shifting their attention to food addiction. Moss is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. His latest book is “Hooked: Food, Free Will And How The Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions.” Dr. Marcia Chatelain discusses the historic role McDonald’s plays in the Black community and the origins of Black capitalism. Dr. Chatelain is a professor of history in African American studies at Georgetown University. She’s the author of “Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America,” which won a Pulitzer Prize this year for history.

Today on Boston Public Radio we’re on tape, replaying some of our favorite conversations with a focus on author interviews: Don Lemon tells stories from his book, “This Is The Fire: What I Say To My Friends About Racism." Lemon anchors “CNN Tonight with Don Lemon,” airing weeknights at 10 p.m. He’s also a #1 bestselling New York Times author.  Chasten Buttigieg discusses his memoir, “I Have Something to Tell You,” and the challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities in the U.S. Buttigieg is a teacher and the husband of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Sy Montgomery dives into the world of hummingbirds with her latest book, “The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty And Renewal On Wings.” Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. David Byrne talks about the film adaptation of his tour, "American Utopia," and his accompanying illustrated book. Byrne is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, and founding member of the Talking Heads. Nancy Schön discusses her recent work and the mysteries behind the decoration of her iconic “Make Way For Ducklings” sculpture in Boston’s Public Garden. Schön is a sculpture artist, and her latest book is “Ducks on Parade!” Derek DelGaudio weighs in on the roles identity and illusion play in his work, along with the thought process behind his film "In & Of Itself." DelGaudio is a writer and artist. His latest book is “Amoralman: A True Story And Other Lies,” and his film, "In & Of Itself," is on Hulu. Gish Jen highlights differences between individualistic and collectivistic cultures in her new book, "The Girl At The Baggage Claim: Explaining the East-West Culture Gap." Jen is a novelist and nonfiction writer. Meredith Goldstein previews her YA book, “Things That Grow,” and talks about the state of romance and relationships during the pandemic. Goldstein is an advice columnist and features writer for the Boston Globe. Her advice column, Love Letters, is a daily dispatch of wisdom for the lovelorn that has been running for more than a decade. She also hosts the Love Letters podcast. Richard Blanco reads Chen Chen’s poem “Poem in Noisy Mouthfuls”, Ocean Vuong’s poem “Kissing in Vietnamese” and Li-Young Lee’s poem “I Ask My Mother to Sing.” Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America.

Boston Public Radio is on tape today, bringing you BPR’s cookbook – conversations with some of our favorite chefs from over the years. 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. Bren Smith shares different ways to eat kelp in his book “Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate Change.” Smith is a former commercial fisherman and executive director of the non-profit GreenWave, focused on regenerative farming in water ecosystems. Jacques Pépin and Shorey Wesen discuss cooking together as grandfather and granddaughter as part of their latest collaboration, the cookbook “A Grandfather’s Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey.” Pépin is a chef, author and PBS contributor. Wesen is his granddaughter and cookbook collaborator. Dolores Huerta talks about why her work as a labor leader for farm workers’ rights remains as relevant today as it was in the 1960s, and about coining the phrase “Sí, se puede.” Huerta is an activist and co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association alongside Cesar Chaves. Nathan Myhrvold dives into the world of bread baking with his latest cookbook, a 50 pound, six-volume series titled “Modernist Bread, The Art and Science.” Myhrvold is a Microsoft executive turned experimental chef and founder of The Cooking Lab. Marcus Samuelsson highlights Ethiopian, Swedish and other international cuisines in talking about his PBS show “No Passport Required.” Samuelsson is a global restaurateur, chef and TV host. Andrew Li and Irene Li share food and tips from their latest cookbook, which they wrote with their sister Margaret Li: “Double Awesome Chinese Food: Irresistible and Totally Achievable Recipes from Our Chinese-American Kitchen.” Andrew Li and Irene Li are co-founders of the restaurant Mei Mei, along with their sister Margaret Li. Christopher Kimball previews his latest Milk Street cookbook, “Tuesday Nights Mediterranean: 125 Simple Weeknight Recipes from the World's Healthiest Cuisine.” Kimball is the founder of Milk Street, a food media company which produces Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Magazine. He’s also the host of Milk Street Radio and Milk Street TV.

Today’s Boston Public Radio is on tape. We’re bringing you the ultimate book club — back-to-back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers: Kevin Young shares from his collection of poetry, “Brown.” Young is the poetry editor of The New Yorker and the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Ann Patchett discusses the autobiographical elements of her book “Commonwealth,” and makes a pitch to all readers to shop at local, independent bookstores. Patchett is an author and the owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tenn.  Sy Montgomery explores animal intelligence and what people can learn from animals. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is “The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings.” David Duchovny talks about his book, “Miss Subways: A Novel.” Duchovny is an actor and writer, and recently appeared in the Netflix series “The Chair.” Elizabeth Gilbert discusses her book “Big Magic,” a self-help book about tapping into creativity. Gilbert is a journalist and writer — her other books include “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Committed.” T.C. Boyle drops in on the dropout culture with his novel “Outside Looking In,” which is based on the LSD research of Timothy Lear. Boyle is a novelist and short story writer. Lizzie Post weighs in on cannabis culture in her new book, “Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis, From Dispensaries to Dinner Parties.” Post is a writer, co-director of The Emily Post Institute and great-great-granddaughter of etiquette writer Emily Post. Sebastian Smee talks about his book “The Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art.” Smee is an art critic for The Washington Post.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Charlie Sennott talks about the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, and ISIS-K’s attacks on the Kabul airport and a nearby hotel that killed as many as 170 people and injured at least 200. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Then, we talk with listeners about the recent attacks in Afghanistan, and President Joe Biden’s handling of the evacuation. Dr. Daniela Lamas discusses the toll of COVID-19 on hospitals, and how TV medical dramas can provide opportunities to educate viewers about the world of medicine. Lamas is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, a pulmonary and critical-care physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a co-producer on the TV medical drama “The Resident.” Andy Ihnatko sheds light on the role of social media in the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, including new security measures Facebook and Twitter have taken to increase security and protect Afghans. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Marin Alsop and Tracy K. Smith talk about the Global Ode to Joy Project, celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday. Smith reads part of her new lyrics for “Ode to Joy,” and Alsop talks about her experiences as a woman in orchestral conducting. Smith is a former U.S. Poet Laureate. Alsop is a conductor, violinist and creator of the Global Ode to Joy Project. Callie Crossley weighs in on the controversy surrounding “Jeopardy!” after Mike Richards stepped down from hosting, and critiques the hypocrisy of conservative media outlets spreading anti-mask and anti-vaccine views while requiring masking and vaccinations for employees. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Michelle Caldeira and John Huet tell listeners about Boston Uncornered, a new initiative aimed at helping gang members go back to school. They also speak about the organization’s public art exhibit featuring portraits of former gang members, business leaders, and Boston’s mayoral candidates. Caldeira is the co-founder of Boston Uncornered. Huet is a renowned celebrity photographer best known for his portraits of professional athletes.