
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

May 2, 2025 • 2h 41min
BPR Full Show 5/2: Trumps Wants To End Federal Funding For NPR
Skylark is a multi Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble here for this week’s Live Music Friday. Shirley Leung on her recent episode of “Say More” where she speaks – for the first time publicly – about her experience with cancer. Evan Dalton & Nathan Senner are two birding experts, we’ll put their skills to the test, discuss how climate change impacts bird populations, as well as the threats to science funding.Matt Gertz for Press Play; we peak behind the curtain of the Fox News universe on tariffs, and get an update on the latest with Paramount/60 Minutes.

May 1, 2025 • 2h 37min
BPR Full Show 5/01: Holding The Line
Maria Ressa is the CEO and co-founder of the Filipino news service Rappler. In 2021 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to a free press, reporting on dictator Rodrigo Duterte. Amy Spitalnik is CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. She’ll discuss antisemitism in America and those who argue it’s being politicized by the far-right. Jessica Tang is President of AFT Massachusetts, she joins ahead of an appearance at a May Day rally on Boston Common. Jelani Cobb is Dean of the Colombia Journalism School and writer for the New Yorker. He talks about Columbia in Trump’s crosshairs and journalism’s role holding Trump 2.0 to account.

May 1, 2025 • 41min
Best Of BPR 5/01: 'This Is The Moment' To Fight For Democracy & May Day In Boston
Today:Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist, author of "How to Stand Up to a Dictator," discusses standing against authoritarianism and confronting disinformation. Her message is clear: the future of American Democracy depends on the willingness of Americans to fight for it.And, president of American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts Jessica Tang joins to discuss today's international day of action for the labor movement, amid widespread attacks on laborers, educators, and civil society more broadly from the Trump administration.

Apr 30, 2025 • 38min
Best Of BPR 4/30: 'Alaska's Vanishing Native Villages' & Even Pigeons Know The Difference Between Monet And Manet
Today:Patty Talahongva discusses her new film for Frontline, documenting climate devastation in Alaska for native communities; and the cultural impacts of forced relocation, first at direct hands of the American government, and now at the hands of its inability to deal with climate change.Then, it’s our favorite Hancock NH resident, author and naturalist Sy Montgomery on boozy chimps caught on camera getting loaded off of fermented breadfruit.

Apr 30, 2025 • 2h 36min
BPR Full Show 4/30: Trading Politics For Popcorn
GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses an Edvard Munch exhibit at the Harvard Art Museum and Francis Ford Coppola at a 'Megalopolis' showing at the Coolidge Corner Theater.Patty Tahalongva is director, producer and writer of PBS Frontline's latest film "Alaska's Vanishing Native Villages." She joins via zoom to discuss the film, which follows the immediate impacts of climate change on indigenous communities forced to relocate.Naturalist and author Sy Montgomery talks about crows with math skills, booze-fueled feasts for wild chimps and the Cape Ann woodpecker.Former Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral on the Justice Department halting funds for victims of hate crimes and child abuse, and a new report from Harvard University report on antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.

Apr 29, 2025 • 26min
Best Of BPR 4/29: The Lawyers Defending American Democracy
Today:Lawyers Defending American Democracy Executive Director Lauren Stiller Rikleen and former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbargar discuss attacks on the American legal system, and what their group is doing to hold bad actors to account.

Apr 29, 2025 • 2h 33min
BPR Full Show 4/29: National Climate Denial
NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discusses the Bill Belichick CBS interview, the NFL draft and someone who heckled Jarren Duran over his disclosure of suicidality.Lauren Rikleen and Scott Harshbargar of Lawyers Defending American Democracy join to discuss their efforts to defend the rule of law. Harshbargar is the co-founder and Rikleen is executive director.Sisters Vanessa and Casey White of Jaju Pierogi join at the BPL to discuss their growing pierogi business and their Shark Tank appearance, which airs on May 2.CNN's John King zooms in to discuss how Trump supporters are feeling about the first 100 days and the leftward turn in Canada's election.

Apr 28, 2025 • 39min
Best Of BPR 4/28: Liz Walker On Leaving No One Alone & A Year In Kharkiv As The War Rages On
Today:Legendary Boston broadcaster Liz Walker joins us in Studio 3 to talk about her memoir and experience building community for decades, “No One Left Alone”.And, president of the Boston chapter of the Ukraine Congress committee, Vsevolod Petriv joins with Brian Nolen, founder of New Hampshire-based aid group NH4Ukraine, who has just returned to the states after a year-long stint in Kharkiv.

Apr 28, 2025 • 2h 41min
BPR Full Show 4/28: The Polls Are Going Down
Evan Horowitz of Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis discusses the economy as it relates to Trump's unpredictability and the Massachusetts' ability to plan for spending.Ilan Stavans of Amherst discusses the religious solidarity of Pope Francis and the surge of nationalism in Mexico amid Trump threats.Rev. Liz Walker discusses her memoir "No One Left Alone"A Ukraine panel with Vsevolod Petriv, president of the Boston chapter of the Ukraine Congress Committee, and Brian Nolen, New Hampshire man who founded an aid group and has spent the past year in Kharkiv delivering aid directly to the front lines.

Apr 28, 2025 • 2h 41min
BPR Full Show 4/25: The Karen Read Trial
Paul Willis is a Boston-based rapper and educator who’s spent his career in nonprofits helping youth through hip hop & the arts. His latest project is “Hip Hop Leadership,” a combination album / book / teaching curriculum about what hip hop can teach about leadership. Andera Cabral on the Wisconsin Judge who was arrested. Shirley Leung on nonprofit 826 Boston rejecting $250k in federal grants to maintain their DEI programs. Ken Zuckerman from the national mustard museum & chef Wil Gilson join to promote a liverwurst festival happening Sunday at First Street Market called “Best of the Wurst.”Adam Reilly & Sue O’Connell are our guest for this week’s edition of our media analysis segment Press Play. Main story this week is CBS News & the 60 Minutes chief resigning over editorial pressures.