Boston Public Radio Podcast

We're on tape today, replaying some of our favorite conversations: Mark Leibovich, chief national correspondent for The New York Times Magazine, discussed his book "Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times." Anand Giridharadas joined BPR to talk about his book "Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World." Comedian and podcaster Hari Kondabolu talked about his documentary, The Problem With Apu. Journalist, author and animal behaviorist Sy Montgomery joined Jim and Margery for another edition of the Afternoon Zoo. Comedian, actor and screenwriter Ike Barinholtz discussed his film, The Oath.

We're on tape today, replaying some of our favorite conversations: Ron Chernow joins Jim and Margery to talk about his biography, “Grant.” Harvard Business School's Michael Norton discusses his latest research, which looks at what is more valuable to people, saving money or saving time. Author Karl Ove Knaussgard discusses his book, “Autumn.” Patti Smith discusses why she considers herself a writer above all her other talents. It’s the subject of her memoir “Devotion (Why I Write).” Salman Rushdie discusses his novel, “The Golden House.” Sy Montgomery and Elizabeth Marshall Thomas discuss their book “Tamed and Untamed: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind.”

For this episode of Boston Public Radio, hour one was live, with Ascend CEO Andrea Cabral and WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen filling in for Jim and Margery: NBC Sports Boston anchor and reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed how former NBA player Dwayne Wade has been using his platform to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ rights. Corby Kummer discussed why there is a generational difference in tipping in restaurants. 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. Patrick Swanson, the artistic director of the Christmas Revels, previewed some songs the group are performing at the Sanders Theater through Dec. 29. Then, we replayed some of our favorite holiday interviews: Rob Kapilow, the composer, conductor, and music commentator, broke down what makes Irving Berlin’s White Christmas great. Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart challenged Jim and Margery to a speed read of The Night Before Christmas. Jared Bowen led a special cinema classic challenge, and we asked him why Frank Capra’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” still holds up. We opened the lines and ask you about the best and worst holiday music. We wrapped things up by asking you when it’s time to come clean with your kids about Santa Claus.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jennifer Nassour and Steve Kerrigan joined us for a politics roundtable. Nassour is a former Chair of the MassGOP and COO of ReflectUS, and Kerrigan is President and co-founder of the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, and former CEO of the DNC. TV writer Bob Thompson reviewed Eddy Murphy’s return to SNL, FX’s “A Christmas Carol”, and the bevy of options for online Yule log viewing. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a new test to diagnose Alzheimer’s, and a Wayne State University study on society’s attitudes surrounding infidelity. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price III, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed an editorial in Christianity Today calling for the removal of President Trump, and a 16 year prison sentence for a man who burned an LGBT flag. Attorney General Maura Healey stopped by the Boston Public Radio studio for our monthly “Ask the AG” series.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to hear about your favorite holiday traditions.  Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat The Press, joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh joined for our monthly edition of “Ask The Mayor.” He discussed updates to the Trust Act, new space-saver rules for the winter, and his views on Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s push to decriminalize prostitution.  Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung discussed a Waltham holding company adding a female director to its all-male boardroom, and why she thinks Gov. Charlie Baker ought to put his plans to sell Hynes Convention Center on pause.  Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed a smartphone app to help parents find Black Santas, and holiday movies to watch if you’re avoiding the Hallmark channel.   David Waters and Brian Hillmer from Community Servings joined us for a year-end news quiz. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Joe Kennedy called in to discuss yesterday’s impeachment vote, and his thoughts on the value of the electoral college.  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed yesterday's impeachment vote and a recent interview with Harvey Weinstein in the New York Post.  Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker joined us for our monthly “Ask the Governor” segment.  Harvard law professor Martha Minow discussed her new book “When Should Law Forgive?” Christopher Kimball, founder of Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, discussed his new book, “Milk Street: The New Rules: Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook" We opened our lines to callers to hear about your unusual and bizarre holiday recipes.  

Today on Boston Public Radio: We aired live audio from the House impeachment debate and discussed the proceedings with callers. 

Food writer Corby Kummer took Boston Public Radio behind the scenes of his end-of-year list of the best cookbooks on Tuesday. The list appears in The Atlantic and is a diverse collection of food literature. "I tried for cultural variety, I tried for something that's educational, and I tried for something we don't know, I don't know, in addition to the cook book literature," he said. "The ones I picked were stuff I didn't know about, and was so excited to learn." Kummer described one of his selections, "Jubilee: Recipes From Two Centuries of African American Cooking" by Toni Tipton-Martin, as more than a cookbook, but a piece of "deep scholarship." "She decided to do a beautiful out and out picture book," he said. "The whole book was delayed two years because of her insistence that the food stylists and photographers be African American. It's been so hard for them to break into the publishing biz and food styling biz. It took a long time, the publisher was willing to wait, they did it, and it's a gorgeous book." 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: We opened lines to talk with callers about how impeachment is impacting your holiday cheer.  NBC Sports Boston Reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed SpyGate 2.0 for the Patriots, and an intersex runner’s struggle to compete in the face of regulatory pushback.  MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed his latest research on how we choose our health plans, and the bigger question of whether average people have too much freedom over their healthcare plans.  Atlantic food writer Corby Kummer discussed his list of the best cookbooks of 2019, and a virtual reality dining experience in New York City.  Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville discussed how Massachusetts might pay for its enormous $1.5 Billion education funding bill, and a California lawsuit alleging that SAT and ACT scores unjustly favor wealthier students.  CNN’s John King discussed the House's upcoming impeachment vote, along with other political headlines.  Gold Dust Orphans founder Ryan Landry called in to promote the last weekend of his troupe’s production of “Christmas on Uranus."

Today on Boston Public Radio: Political columnist Jennifer Braceras and Suffolk University’s John Nucci discussed impeachment’s impact on the 2020 presidential race and questions of safety at the MBTA, as part of their politics roundup. WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed Boris Johnson’s election win, the recession of democracy, and some key takeaways from the Afghanistan Papers published in last week's Washington Post. TV writer Bob Thompson reviewed "Moonlight Sonata,” “Work in Progress,” and discussed controversies over a recent Hallmark ad. We opened lines to callers to hear your thoughts on Hallmark pulling their ad featuring a same-sex couple.  Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, and President Trump’s executive order on Judaism and anti-semitism.  Tech writer Andy Ihnatko gave some last-minute digital gift ideas for the holiday season, and discussed privacy concerns around the smart speaker industry.  Jonathan Alsop, founder of the Boston Wine School, discussed holiday wines and champagnes.