Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the potential return of happy hour. Jenifer McKim shares the latest installment of the investigative series “Unseen,” explaining how dating apps like Grindr perpetuate the abuse, assault, and trafficking of underage boys. McKim is an investigative reporter with the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. Andrea Cabral discusses the criminal charges against former State Police Captain James Coughlin and his wife, Leslie, after teenager Alonzo J. Polk IV drowned at a high school graduation party hosted by the couple. She also shares her thoughts on the Biden administration legal team deciding that incarcerated individuals released from prison over COVID-19 concerns must return post-pandemic. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Bruce Marks talks about the current state of housing in Massachusetts, and the upcoming expiration of the federal eviction moratorium. Marks is the CEO and founder of NACA, the nation’s largest Housing and Urban Development-certified nonprofit.   Paul Reville weighs in on recommendations that kids wear masks in schools regardless of vaccination status, and the Boston School Committee’s approval of changes to the exam school admission process. 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 Elaine Weiss, is: "Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools And Communities Help Students Overcome The Disadvantages Of Poverty.” Andy Ihnatko talks about the FTC voting unanimously to enforce the right to repair, and shares his thoughts on the team behind the Anthony Bourdain documentary “Roadrunner” deepfaking the late writer’s voice. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. We wrap up the show by asking listeners if we can no longer have a carefree summer due to COVID-19 and extreme weather related to climate change.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the Child Tax Credit. Dr. Joseph Cooper explains the history of protest at the Olympics, following the International Olympic Committee urging athletes to remain politically neutral during the Tokyo games. Dr. Cooper is the inaugural J. Keith Motley Endowed Chair for Sport Leadership and Administration at UMass Boston. Juliette Kayyem discusses former President Donald Trump’s recent statement on the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks, and the end to recovery efforts at the Champlain South Towers. 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. Art Caplan weighs in on the return of mask mandates as COVID-19 cases rise nationwide, and misinformation surrounding vaccines on social media. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Brandi Castellano and Emelia Povero talk about the decision to offer employees a “day of kindness” after dealing with hostile customers, and share how their business survived the pandemic. Castellano is the co-owner of the farm-to-table restaurant, Apt Cape Cod. Povero is the front-of-house restaurant manager. Brian McGrory highlights the latest headlines from the Globe, focusing on Jack Thomas’ essay on his terminal cancer diagnosis and the status of Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s investigation into former Boston Police Union head Patrick Rose. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of the Boston Globe. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what pre-pandemic artifacts they’ve found upon returning to the office.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the show by talking with listeners about the return of mask mandates. Christopher Muther talks about the Winthrop High School students behaving badly on American Airlines Flight 893. He also discusses the opening of the ‘Quin House, and the LGBTQ+ history behind Rehoboth Beach. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe. Trenni Kusnierek shares the COVID-19 restrictions she’s encountered thus far in Tokyo in advance of the Olympic games. She also talks about the backlash against Naomi Osaka, who recently opened up about her mental health struggles. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Barbara Roessner discusses the founding of The New Bedford Light, and shares her thoughts on the state of local news coverage. Roessner is the founding editor of The New Bedford Light. Jonathan Martinis explains the history and laws behind conservatorships, calling for states to adopt laws on supported decision-making (SDM). Martinis is Senior Director for Law and Policy with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.  John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from investigations into the Jan. 6 Capitol riots to rising COVID-19 cases. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We wrap up the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on Blue Origins’ launch into space.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about the rising death toll of unvaccinated Americans, and whether it’s time for mandatory vaccines. Michael Curry explains how communities of color were disparately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and shares his thoughts on mandating vaccines. 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 the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Corby Kummer talks about the introduction of lab-grown foie gras, and the growing number of fine dining establishments eliminating meat from their menus. He also touches on non-compete agreements in the fast food industry. Kummer is the 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. Rick Steves discusses catastrophic flooding in Germany, and measures to slow the effects of climate change in Europe. He also shares his experience visiting a working-class Helsinki sauna, calling for tourists to incorporate more local spots into their travels. 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. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III share their thoughts on the treatment of Black academics in higher education across the U.S., focusing on the outcry following Price’s dismissal from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. They also talk about the NFL’s decision to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before each game in the 2021-2022 season. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is the founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Then, we ask listeners if they’ve switched to a plant-based diet. Profs. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt weigh in on the state of democracy following restrictions on voting rights. They also talk about their recent Atlantic piece, “The Biggest Threat to Democracy is the GOP Stealing the Next Election.”Levitsky is the Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University. Ziblatt is the Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Harvard University. They’re the authors of “How Democracies Die”. They’re currently working on a follow-up of their book.

Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Monday, sharing his thoughts on lab-grown foie gras after Paris-based start-up Gourmey raised $10 million from investors to produce foie gras from cell cultures. While many lab-grown meats lack the texture of their natural counterparts, Kummer says that foie gras is especially suited for cell-cultures due to its “soft and squishy” texture. “There’s a big challenge of growing out these cells, and culturing it is trying to get anything like the texture of muscles, sinew, fat, gnawing off the bone,” Kummer said. “That [meat texture] is so many years off.” Animal rights groups have long criticized the foie gras production process, with many farmers choosing to force-feed grains to geese through feeding tubes. The New York City Council passed legislation to ban the sale of foie gras in 2019, joining California, Britain, Finland, Norway, and Israel in adopting strict foie gras laws. Kummer says that the introduction of lab-grown foie gras is a step in the right direction. “It’s a great first product to try to win customer acceptance and general regulator approval,” he said. Corby 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: Rep. Jake Auchincloss discusses the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, and updated us on the status of Congress’ infrastructure bill. He also talks about the evacuation of Afghan citizens who aided the U.S. Rep. Auchincloss is the Democratic congressman representing Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. Next, we talk with listeners about shared streets programs. Callie Crossley weighs in on Cornel West’s resignation from Harvard University after being denied tenure, and shares the history of the all-Black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. She also previews this weekend’s edition of Under the Radar. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Sy Montgomery explains how to humanely kill a lobster following the U.K.’s potential ban on boiling lobsters alive. She also updates us on the latest news regarding the disease spreading among songbirds in the U.S. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings." Sue O’Connell talks about the dissolution of Boston Pride after allegations of racism, and shares the latest updates from Britney Spears’ conservatorship hearings. 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. Next, we ask listeners whether they would be comfortable renting someone’s private pool, following the popularity of the swimming pool rental app Swimply. Iris Krasnow explains the importance of summer camp, and how her experiences at Camp Agawak shaped her literary career. Iris Krasnow’s latest book is Camp Girls: Fireside Lessons on Friendship, Courage, and Loyalty.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Natalie Rodriguez shares her experience opening a restaurant before the start of the pandemic, and explains how her business survived the COVID-19 crisis. Rodriguez is the chef and owner of Nuestra, an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant in Worcester.  Then, we talk with listeners about an increase in customers behaving badly at restaurants. Andrea Cabral discusses the Justice Department’s report that the FBI failed in their handling of sexual abuse claims against Larry Nassar, allowing him to abuse more girls and women. She also talks about the approval of an unarmed crisis-response team in Lynn. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Andy Ihnatko talks about racial bias in facial recognition software, and the numerous cases in which police have used facial recognition software to wrongly arrest individuals. He also explains the various tech provisions in President Joe Biden’s recent Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Attorney General Maura Healey discusses the state’s settlement with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, and the Spotlight investigation into the Baker administration’s handling of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. She also answers listeners’ calls.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they felt about the shift to remote working. Jonathan Gruber explains how Los Angeles Angels player Shohei Ohtani is breaking the economic rule of comparative advantage. 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, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream." Juliette Kayyem discusses the decision to ban in-person spectators from the Tokyo Olympics as COVID-19 cases rise in Japan. She also talks about the evacuation of Afghan refugees after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. 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. Bina Venkataraman shares recent editorials from The Boston Globe, covering topics such as transparency in the Massachusetts Statehouse to the investigation into the Baker administration’s response to the COVID-19 crisis at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Venkataraman is the editorial page editor at The Boston Globe. Her latest book is “The Optimist's Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age.” Ben Downing talks about his run for governor of Massachusetts, and talked about how growing up in Pittsfield influenced his campaign. He also shares his thoughts on the Baker administration’s handling of COVID-19 deaths at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Downing is running for governor on the Democratic ticket. Art Caplan weighs in on Montana’s vaccine discrimination law, and calls for mandatory vaccines. He also talks about a Texas abortion law that offers a $10,000 minimum bounty for citizens to turn in abortion providers thought to be in violation of the state’s so-called “heartbeat ban.” Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. We end the show by asking listeners whether the Emmys have lost their status as a cultural touchstone.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by talking with listeners about this month becoming the third rainiest July in Massachusetts on record. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the racist attacks against Black athletes on England’s national football team, and COVID-19 restrictions at the Tokyo Olympics. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose and Kade Crockford discuss the state of voting rights following the Supreme Court’s ruling on two Arizona voting laws. They also weigh in on the use of facial recognition software, calling for stronger legislation against facial recognition technology. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Crockford is the Technology for Liberty program director at the ACLU of Massachusetts Corby Kummer shares his thoughts on McDonald’s decision to increase their starting pay to a range of $11-17, and a survey of chain restaurants that found that Dunkin’, Chipotle, and Sonic have the lowest employee satisfaction rates. Kummer is the 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. James Jacoby and Anya Bourg explain how the U.S. Federal Reserve’s influence on the country’s wealth gap, and talk about fears over an impending economic crash. Jacoby is the writer, producer and correspondent for  FRONTLINE's “The Power of the Fed.” Bourg is the documentary's writer and producer.  John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from the Texas Democrats who left the state to block a GOP voting bill to the prospects of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We wrap up the show by asking listeners if they were ready to give up their regional loyalty to Dunkin’ in favor of Starbucks.

The Atlantic’s Corby Kummer returned to Boston Public Radio on Tuesday, weighing in on a recent survey by analysts at the investment bank UBS, which found workers at the popular breakfast-to-go chain Dunkin’ Donuts near the bottom in terms of employee retention.  Kummer called the survey “all over the map,” but said most of the chains that fared best tended to be full-service restaurants, like Texas Roadhouse and Longhorn Steakhouse. “The closer they are to actual full-service, the higher the satisfaction rate,” he said. “I would assume that means higher tips and lower turnover.”  In contrast, he said the environment at Dunkin’ Donuts is “all transactional,” and said the automated nature of the chain could be a key reason why the study found employees leaving at higher rates. During the discussion, Kummer also touched on a raise in minimum wage for McDonald’s workers, low interest in vaccine mandates at restaurants, and a recent article in the New York Times about masks becoming social signifiers. Corby 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.