

Say More
The Boston Globe
Big ideas and big debates, explained through intimate conversations with the compelling personalities who shape them. AI and biotech. Higher education and health care. Climate and sustainability. Politics and the media. Culture and culture wars. Hosted by Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 19, 2024 • 27min
Health Insurance Anger is Boiling Over
The murder of a healthcare CEO has led to an overdue conversation about health insurance in the US. The reaction to the news is revealing a visceral anger about the unfairness and dysfunction of how we pay for healthcare. What makes our system so frustrating for people? And what are the solutions? On Say More this week, host Shirley Leung turns to Casey Ross, an investigative reporter with Stat News and Dr. Vikas Saini, a cardiologist who runs the Lown Institute here in Massachusetts. Email us at saymore@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 12, 2024 • 28min
The Reporter Behind the Shelby Hewitt Story
Usually it’s easy to tell a con artist’s motivations. Some do it for money, power or access. Some, however, do it for reasons hard to understand. The Boston Globe recently exposed an incomprehensible con: a 33-year old-woman who posed as a destitute teenage high school student. Her name is Shelby Hewitt. She enrolled in public high school under different names and created the identities of two social workers to legitimize a fake harrowing backstory. But last year it all came crashing down, leaving more questions than answers. Boston Globe reporter Patricia Wen talked to dozens of people who knew Shelby and were affected by her crimes. In this episode, Say More guest host Jazmin Aguilera sits down with Patricia to talk about what this story reveals about Boston institutions and systemic failure. Email us at saymore@globe.com. To read Patricia Wen’s original reporting, follow these links: The secret lives of Shelby Hewitt, 32-year-old high school imposter‘I lied to you about something big’: Confessions of Shelby Hewitt, high school imposterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 5, 2024 • 23min
Josh Foer Wants Us to be Curious about Everything
If there is one thing to know about writer and entrepreneur Josh Foer: he wants to learn EVERYTHING. Tying his projects together is an endless curiosity about our world. On this episode of Say More, editorial page editor Jim Dao journeys to Somerville to visit one of Josh’s projects: Lehrhaus, the world’s first Jewish tavern and house of learning. They discuss modern Jewish life and one of Josh’s other ventures, the Atlas Obscura project and his latest book about the weirdest wildlife on the planet. Email us at saymore@globe.com. Josh’s new book is called Atlas Obscura Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 2, 2024 • 30min
BONUS: WBUR's The Common: A vibe check on Boston nightlife
This week on Say More, we share a podcast episode from our friends at Boston’s NPR station WBUR. Find new episodes of The Common here, hosted by Darryl C. MurphyLast spring, the City of Boston welcomed its inaugural Director of Nightlife Economy, Corean Reynolds. You might have heard some people refer to her as the “night czar,” though that’s not her official title. Now that she’s been in her position for a year, we wanted to catch up with her about some of the initiatives her office is working on, as well as challenges to improving nightlife in the city.You'll also hear producer Frannie Monahan hit the streets to ask Bostonians about their thoughts on the city's nightlife scene, and their suggestions for improving it for everyone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 21, 2024 • 31min
Connie Chung Has More to Say
Until recently, Connie Chung didn’t realize what her TV career meant to millions of Asian Americans who saw her on the nightly news. While they watched her breaking barriers, she was focused on being the best possible journalist she could be: camping out for high-profile interviews and delivering scoops. Now, Connie is coming to terms with her legacy. She talks to Shirley about her new memoir “Connie.” She opens up about the mistreatment she faced in the news business, including by CBS co-anchor Dan Rather, and she talks about her miraculous path to motherhood. Email us at saymore@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 14, 2024 • 27min
Should Democrats be Freaking Out? A Boston Globe roundtable.
After a big election, it’s easy to point to all the things the winners did right and the losers did wrong. But where does the Democratic Party go from here? Globe writers James Pindell and Adrian Walker say there’s hope for Democrats in the future, but they need to find a way to reconnect with their voters. Shirley asks why more Black voters were drawn to Trump, whether a woman can ever be elected president in America, and what national trends might mean for the political landscape in Massachusetts. Email us at saymore@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 7, 2024 • 24min
What The Election Was About. Globe Opinion Has Thoughts.
Whether you like it or not, America made a clear choice in the 2024 presidential election. Donald Trump won decisively, and Kamala Harris fell short. What exactly happened? On Say More, Shirley Leung talks to Globe Opinion writers Joan Vennochi and Carine Hajjar about national results. They also discuss how New England is shifting right like the rest of the country. Email us at saymore@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 31, 2024 • 25min
He Bought the Celtics to Win a Championship or Die Trying
If you ask Celtics lead owner Wyc Grousbeck why he wanted to buy a sports team, he has a hard time explaining why. Isn’t it just obvious? If you love your hometown team and you love to compete, what could be better? When he and his family engineered the purchase of the Celtics in 2002, Wyc vowed to “win Banner 17 or I will die trying.” The Celtics recently raised Banner 18, and he and his family are ready to sell the team. Shirley talks to Wyc about how to build a championship team and his legacy as the owner of the storied franchise. Email us at saymore@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 24, 2024 • 29min
Dan Shaughnessy on the Best Sports Story Ever Told
If you ask Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy the best story he’s ever covered, the answer is easy: the 2004 Red Sox. After 86 years of losing, the team finally won the World Series - with a dramatic comeback over their rivals the New York Yankees. Dan was there for every game, and even played a role in reversing the curse when he wrote a scathing column that fired up the team. On the 20th anniversary of the historic win, Shirley talks to Dan about what makes Boston such a great sports town, and asks whether the city’s fans have changed since 2004. Are we spoiled? Email us at saymore@globe.com. The principal owner of the Red Sox, John Henry, is also the owner of The Boston Globe, and his wife, Linda, is the CEO.Next, listen to THE CURSE BREAKERS, a play-by-play retelling of the 2004 Red Sox victory, from the Globe newsroom. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 17, 2024 • 31min
Protests, Arrests, and a Free Speech Crisis on Campus
Campus newspapers are not just a way to train a next generation of reporters and editors; they also provide great real time reporting about what’s going on in the hearts and minds of young people. The most controversial story on campus this past year has been protests against the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East. On Say More, Shirley talks to three student journalists from Northeastern, Emerson, and Harvard about covering the protests and the free speech crisis unfolding on campus. Email us at saymore@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.