Boston Public Radio Podcast

Attorney General Andrea Campbell joined for “Ask The AG.” She answered questions on right to repair laws, LGBTQ+ retail merchandise, reducing police violence and an update on the library pigeon. NBC Sports Boston Anchor/Reporter Trenni Casey discussed a Belgian shot putter-turned-hurdler and a new study on the role of cumulative impacts and CTE. Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett of Boston Medical Center discussed the latest on Ozempic: pill trials, shortages, what it says about the healthcare system and her take as a medical doctor. Jim Aloisi, former transportation secretary, and Stacy Thompson, executive director of Livable Streets, gave us a primer on the looming Sumner Tunnel closure and New York City’s congestion pricing plan. PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs executive director Leah Clapman joined with two students. They shared their work reporting on the Boston Renegades and the Hyde Square Task Force. We opened the phone lines to continue our bus lane debate. Margery thinks it’s okay to drive in bus-only lanes when no bus is around. Are you with her?

Best of BPR 6/26: A Chaotic 36 Hours in Russia, Explained & The Rise of Lab-Grown Meat

Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and former Gov. Jane Swift joined for a politics panel. Then, we opened the phone lines to ask listeners whether they think companies are losing productivity by letting employees work remotely on Mondays. Steven Pifer, former ambassador to Ukraine & senior fellow at Brookings, explained the Wagner Group rebellion in Russia and Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Jared Bowen joined for an arts segment: Guadalupe Maravilla at the ICA, Evita at the A.R.T. and free admissions at the Harvard Art Museums. Michael Curry discussed the closure of a maternity ward in Leominster and a new report that ranks Massachusetts as best in the nation for its overall healthcare system. Corby Kummer discussed cell-cultivated chicken being approved for sale in the U.S. and the restaurants trying to use other people’s food waste in their own menus. We continued the lab meat discussion and asked listeners to call in: would they eat “cell-cultured” meat for environmental or ethical reasons?

Best Of BPR: Enterprising Teens Call Out Stop & Shop; Sue O'Connell Becomes A Pigeon Wrangler 6/23/23

Days after the Titanic submersible, the Coast Guard announced yesterday that the passengers suffered a “catastrophic implosion”. We opened the lines to see how listeners are reacting. Eliot Fisk and Zaira Meneses performed for live music Friday ahead of their Boston Guitar Fest. Sue O’Connell offered her thoughts on the Titan implosion, the Musk/Zuckerberg cage match and more. Lisa Simmons, Hank Shocklee and John Oluwole ADEkoje discussed the Roxbury International Film Festival. Lisa is the festival director, and John and Hank’s latest film YE! is playing at the festival. Andy Ihnatko talked about the new Apple VR goggles, plus drama unfolding on the social media platform Reddit. Euniss Yoyo and Dereck Medina are members of the Hyde Square Task Force, the group of teenagers who found that Stop and Shop charges 18% more for groceries in a predominantly BIPOC part of Boston compared with a branch in Dedham. They joined alongside Ken Tangvik, senior manager of organizing and engagement for HSTF. It’s Summer… or is it? We asked listeners about their beach rituals with a focus on whether music should be played out loud.

Best of BPR 6/22: Addiction Recovery's 13th Step & Thousands In Mass. Prisons Waiting For Vital Education

It’ been one year since Roe v. Wade was overturned. We asked listeners how they felt the impacts over the past year. Chris Burrell and Kenneth Gumes join to discuss the current state of education in Massachusetts prisons, based on Chris' latest reporting. Andrea Cabral delves into various topics, including Hunter Biden, the Federal Trade Commission's investigation into Amazon, and more. Lauren Chooljian, a reporter for NHPR, has faced significant harassment due to her coverage of sexual abuse perpetrated by Eric Spofford. She'll share insights from her reporting. Shirley Leung takes a moment to reflect on the Dobbs ruling's impact over the past year and explores the concept of the "urban doom loop." Additionally, she highlights a new lawsuit against restaurateur Tiffani Faison and presents a proposal for supportive housing. In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of JFK's "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" speech, Shepard Fairey has been commissioned to create a portrait of JFK for the JFK Library. Shepard will join the conversation via Zoom from Lisbon. Our show closed by talking about the new phone-free Finnish Island. Do you shut off your phone on vacation? Or are you doomed to take selfies?

Best of BPR: AAPI Representation In Local Politics & The Cost Of Love

The lost Titanic submarine has dominated the headlines this week. Why are we so obsessed? And what does it say about us that the story of a ship carrying 700 migrants that sank off the coast of Greece gets largely ignored? Medical ethicist Art Caplan shed light the Harvard Medical School Morgue incident. Nina Liang, Quincy city councilor, and Coco Alinsug, Lynn city councilor joined to share their respective achievements in local government as Asian Americans. Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein dove into the pressures of summer wedding season and shared the latest from the Love Letters podcast. A performance by Renaissance Men vocal ensemble and Kairos Dance Theater in anticipation of their upcoming show, Folktales Fables and Feasts. Finally, we opened the phone lines to continue the discussion on the costs of dating. Are you going to dinner? Who picks up the check?

Headlines are flooded with news of the missing Titanic tourist submersible. We opened the lines to see if listeners would take a big risk into the depths of the ocean if they had the means to do so. Gerry Condon & Helen Jaccard of the Golden Rule sailboat joined to tell us more about the project of Veterans for Peace. They advocate for nuclear disarmament. Lee Pelton, president of The Boston Foundation, discussed the anticipated SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action as a former college leader and its impacts on nonprofits; and a new report that several cities in Mass have disregarded the state’s affordable housing requirement. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined for Ask The Mayor where she answered questions from listeners. She addressed the car accident she was in, home rule petitions and more. Do you have a go-to toilet in Boston? Do we need more public restrooms in the city? We asked listeners to text or call to share their thoughts.