
Boston Public Radio Podcast
Join hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan for a smart local conversation with leaders and thinkers shaping Boston and New England. We feature our favorite conversation from each show. To hear the full show, please visit wgbhnews.org/bpr To share your opinion, email bpr@wgbh.org or call or text 877-301-8970 during the live broadcast from 11AM-2PM Monday through Friday.
Latest episodes

Sep 18, 2024 • 27min
Best Of BPR 9/18: A BPR Busing Panel
Today:We talk with two people who were bused in the city of Boston -- a decision 50 years ago with lasting impacts -- Michael Curry, later head of the Boston NAACP, and Kim Janey, who would go on to become the city’s first Black, first female Mayor. Joining them in conversation is Ted Landsmark, whose image came to define the moment by way of the Pulitzer Prize winning photo “The Soiling of Old Glory.” He’s now a distinguished professor at Northeastern.

Sep 18, 2024 • 2h 33min
BPR Full Show 9/18: Liverwurst Ep. 2
We opened the show to get your thoughts on the threats of and actual violence this election season.GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses the return of Boston Film Fest and "Laughs in Spanish" at Speakeasy Stage.National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses leaders around the world reacting to the potential for election violence in America and Israel's attack on Hezbollah.We host a busing panel with former mayor Kim Janey and NAACP's Michael Curry - who were both bused as children - and Northeastern Professor Ted Landsmark.The ACLU of MA executive director Carol Rose discusses the Massachusetts Election Action Plan, abortion on the ballot across the country, and the potential for SCOTUS to pick our next president.Finally, we (Jim) lament the loss of Boars Head liverwurst.

Sep 17, 2024 • 40min
Best Of BPR 9/17: AG Campbell On Harris' Mentorship And Addressing Hate In Schools
Today:Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell joins Jim and Margery at the BPL on September 17, 2024.

Sep 17, 2024 • 2h 36min
BPR Full Show 9/17: Attorney General Q&A
Attorney General Andrea Campbell answered questions from listeners. NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter Trenni Casey discussed Caitlin Clark's 35 point game. Media maven Sue O'Connell takes a look at Trump's misinformation campaign beyond the rhetoric around Haitian migrants in OhioCNN's John King on the latest political headlinesWe opened the lines to discuss heading back into the office

Sep 16, 2024 • 37min
Best Of BPR 9/16: From Laura Loomer's Lips To Trump's Ears & Fewer Black Students At College
Today:Boston University Journalism Department Chair Brian McGrory discusses the second attempt on Trump's life and Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses how the end of race-based admissions changed college campuses this year.

Sep 16, 2024 • 2h 33min
BPR Full Show 9/16: Monday Clutter
After another apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump yesterday, we opened up the phone and text lines to hear from parents of how they're talking to kids about political violence this election. Brian McGrory of BU's Journalism department discusses the Globe's Spotlight coverage on Steward Healthcare. Plus, various political stories on Laura Loomer and Harris' ABC interview.Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discusses Mexico's independence day and the violent rhetoric around immigration espoused by Trump.Evan Horowitz of Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis breaks down this year's ballot questions facing Mass voters this November.Khalil Gibran Muhammad of Harvard Kennedy School takes a look at this year's college admissions, after the end of affirmative action.

Sep 13, 2024 • 2h 32min
BPR Full Show 9/13: Honda Civics
Is our country in a civics education crisis? We got your thoughts. Fabiola Mendez & Elsa Mosquera are our guests for Live Music Friday this week, ahead of the free Fiesta en la Plaza taking place throughout Latinx Heritage Month in Boston. Ela is the co-founder of Agora Cultural Architects, who organized the festival. Fabiola is an award-winning cuatro player.Boston Globe reporters Jessica Bartlett & Mark Arsenault talk about their latest Spotlight reporting on Ralph de la Torre and the collapse of Steward Health Care.Transportation secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt joins for her first-ever interview on BPR. She talks about ongoing projects for MassDOT like the East-West Coast Rail, Cape Cod Bridges, the Allston Multimodal project and more. Then we read your texts on the court case between an estranged couple fighting over who gets to keep the $70,000 diamond engagement ring. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner joins us from her "she-shed" in the woods and reacts to new GOP efforts to block mail-in ballots in swing states, a New York appeals court rejecting two new attempts by Trump to lift his gag order in his hush money case. And, she has thoughts on the engagement ring case. Then we opened the phone lines to debate the merits and pitfalls of kids getting cut during sport tryouts.

Sep 12, 2024 • 36min
Best Of BPR 9/12: So ... Are We Better Off Than We Were Four Years Ago?
MIT Economist Jon Gruber breaks down each candidate's economic plans and concepts, and former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral offers her debate reactions.

Sep 12, 2024 • 2h 33min
BPR Full Show 9/12: Handshakes Are Over
Chuck Todd joined for his weekly D.C. roundup, focusing on Tuesday’s debateThen we opened the lines to discuss the dying art of the handshake... if it is dying?Andrea Cabral on debate fact-checkingPaul Reville on how to optimize free community college in Mass.Jon Gruber offered an expert’s perspective on Trump vs. Harris as it relates to the economyAITA for charging guests for my wedding? We opened the lines to discuss

Sep 11, 2024 • 34min
Best Of BPR 9/11: Trump Praises Dictators & Harris Gives Him A "Mollywhopping"
Today:National security analyst Juliette Kayyem and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discuss last night's debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump.