Boston Public Radio Podcast

We start the show full of holiday stress. So we ask listeners: how do you deal with holiday gifting stress? Or, are you like Jim who, supposedly, has everything under control this year? NAACP's Michael Curry reacts to the UnitedHealthcare shooting and resulting public discourse the healthcare system. Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses Biden’s pardons, Trump plans to scrap ICE rules that prohibit the arrest of immigrants in churches & hospitals, and more. Environmentalist Bill McKibben talks changing tactics to fight climate change over the next four years.PBS travel guru Rick Steves takes us on a 20-minute Holiday food tour across Europe, from German gingerbread markets to Roman fruit cakes, to Swiss fondue. Plus, he teaches us a new Swiss word. Then it's a Santa-themed "Am I the A-Hole?"

Today:Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on December 11, 2024.

We start the show by continuing our discussion on the poor state of healthcare in the U.S. Then, GBH News art editor Jared Bowen discusses his recent trip to the Crystal Bridges museum in Arkansas and the 2025 Golden Globe nominations. And, it's Ask the Mayor with Michelle Wu. Actor and author Marianne Leone discusses her new book "Five Dog Epiphany: How a Quintet of Badass Bichons Retrieved Our Joy." Finally, Jim wanted to talk about regifting, Margery wanted to talk about reusable bags --- so we open up the phone lines to ask about both.

Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung guest host. They start the show by asking about our obsession with the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer. Then, NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discusses journaling in the NFL and a new study showing that hockey players are more likely to develop CTE the longer they play.NBC Boston host and 'local woman' Sue O'Connell discusses the rise of Theo Von and the "Real World" experience of Trump's transportation secretary pick.Nadia Liu Spellman of Dumpling Daughter & Karen Clarke of Clarke's Cakes and Cookies are food venders at this year's Snowport Holiday Market. They bring us cakes and dumplings. We ask folks to write in with their favorite holiday cookies. CNN's John King discusses the latest national political headlines, including the likelihood that Trump's cabinet picks will be confirmed, and what's next for Kamala Harris.This holiday season lots of packages may be landing on your doorstep, leaving them at risk to "porch pirates," aka package stealers. Have you been a victim of package theft? And what have you done to thwart their efforts?  We hear from you.

Today: Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung fill in for Jim and Margery.Charlie Sennott of The GroundTruth Project and Frontline's Martin Smith update on the latest out of Syria.And, outgoing Harvard professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses DEI in retreat, and the right's original big lie -- about identity politics.

Brian McGrory, head of Boston University's journalism department, discussed Trump's Meet the Press interviewRevs Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discussed the young men leaving their churches in favor of 'masculine' Orthodox ChristianityFood policy analyst Corby Kummer on the reality behind a seeming rise in food recallsAcademic Khalil Gibran Muhammad on the retreat of DEI initiatives by higher ed institutions ahead of Trump's inauguration

Luis Espinoza and Craig Panzer are the duo behind Massachusetts’ first Latino-owned brewery – Roundhead Brewing. They stop by the library to talk Latino beer, and the state of craft beer in the state.And, Ian Coury is our guest for Live Music Friday, he’s a 22 year-old mandolin phenom carving his own path in the world of Brazilian Choro music, he joins ahead of a free show next week in Roxbury.

We open the lines to ask about the latest attempt by corporations to boost worker productivity by banning personal phones on the job. Ian Coury is our guest for Live Music Friday. He’s a 22 year-old mandolin phenom carving his own path in the world of Brazilian Choro music. Boston Medical Center's Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett talks about the science behind gender affirming care, renewed conversation around medical debt in the U.S. and physician strikes in Boston.James Bennett II discusses a Village Person’s revisionist history of the ‘Y.M.C.A.' song, plus his reflections on 2024 music and movies.Then we asked folks to weigh-in on the news that 'Y.M.C.A.' is not a gay anthem.Roundhead Brewing Company is Massachusetts’ first Latino-owned brewery. We’ll talk with co-owners Luis Espinoza and Craig Panzer about the upcoming Latino beer festival and sample some brews.We end the show with a Christmas tree potpourri. 

Today:In the 1980s, the height of the crack epidemic, Paul Joyce was a Boston police officer. He’s now out with a new book about how the department struggled during that era, and the rise in gun and gang violence. He joins to discuss his new book “It Started With the Hats” – the life experiences of Boston’s founding street gang members.And, MIT economist Jon Gruber breaks down Trump’s view on tariffs, and how changing policy would affect the global economy.

Chuck Todd on the Hunter Biden pardon & more news from the incoming Trump administration… Andrea Cabral on yesterday’s killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson.Jon Gruber explains Trump’s stance on tariffs & how varying approaches would affect the U.S. & global economies.Paul Joyce is a longtime Boston cop and author of the book “It Started With the Hats: The Life Experiences of Boston’s Founding Street Gang Members.” He joins to discuss.