Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today:Amherst College humanities professor Ilan Stavans discusses the Florida detention center dubbed Alligator Alcatraz by the right.And, CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers, Michael Curry, discusses impacts to local healthcare under the latest national budget.

NAACP & Mass League of Community Health Centers' Michael Curry discusses the national budget and its impact to healthcare in Massachusetts. Plus, the global impacts of cutting USAID.Boston University Journalism Chair Brian McGrory discusses the Boston Globe's fact-check of the Boston mayoral race the growing death toll in Texas from devastating floods, all while key weather service roles were vacant.Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discusses the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in South Florida — the implications of the media adopting this name and the conditions at the facility. Nick Quah, podcast critic at Vulture, shares his best podcasts of 2025 so far.

Today:Economist Juliet Schor discusses her new book "Four Days a Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter."Paul Dama is the restaurant manager at Suya Joint, a Nigerian restaurant in Boston. He escaped Boko Haram's torture, sought asylum in the United States in 2019 and is authorized to work here legally. Earlier this month, Dama was taken into ICE custody, while on his way to church on Father's Day. Cecilia Lizotte, his sister, and the chef and owner at Suya Joint, discusses his situation.

Anand Giridharadas, political commentator behind The Ink newsletter, discusses Zohran Mamdani bringing democratic socialism back into the conversation.Economist Juliet Schor discusses her new book Four Days a Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter.Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther discusses the Godfrey Hotel making a top 10 list, and his picks for travel when he really wants to escape.Cecilia Lizotte, chef and owner of Suya Joint, joins to discuss the ICE detainment of her brother Paul, manager at the restaurant.Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner joins for a SCOTUS end-of-term roundup.

Eric Deggans joins for Press Play. Eric is the TV critic for NPR and the Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University. He discusses Trump's threat to sue CNN and the New York Times and other media stories from this week.For Live Music Friday we talk with Charles River Jazz Festival founder Seba Molnar and two other organizers about the free festival and a new era for emerging jazz artists in Boston. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner joins briefly to talk about today’s SCOTUS decisions on birthright citizenship and the ACA's preventative care mandate.Environmentalist Bill McKibben talks about provisions in Trump’s spending bill that stand to worsen the climate crisis, and how inaction is making our summers hotter. Media maven Sue O’Connell (NBC10 Boston) joins for a reflection on the Karen Read trial, Trump’s use of swearwords this week, Jeff Bezos' Venetian wedding and more.

Today:The Charles River Jazz Festival occurs July 12 at the Herter Park Amphitheater on Soldier’s Field Road. More info and and to reserve a free ticket go to BostonJazzFoundation.org. Festival founder Seba Molnar joinswith foundation co-founder Moriah Phillips, and vice-chair Jess Curin. They all perform.And, retired federal judge Nancy Gertner reviews the Supreme Court's end-of-term rulings released today, including limiting orders blocking the Trump administration's birthright citizenship ban.

Today:U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley zooms in on the three-year anniversary of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and a brand new Supreme Court ruling giving states the power to cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood.And, Joe Knowles of the Family Health Project joins with Roxbury mother Dalia to discuss the benefits of offering direct cash payments to new mothers -- Knowles' initiative provides $400 every month for the first three years of a child's life to local mothers.

BPR Full Show 6/26: Why Are You In My Pool?

Governor Maura Healey joins for Ask the Governor.GBH News executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses the Boston Public Art Triennial, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and the fate of Iran's architectural treasures with escalation of war.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the emerging details of the U.S. strike on Iran and the proposed "Golden Dome"  US-wide missile defense system.Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein discusses some of her recent columns and podcast episodes including how to deal with a partner's moodiness and the role of artificial intelligence in dating.

CNN's John King on the latest national political headlines.Jim O'Connell + Derek Winbush join to discuss 40 years of Boston Health Care for the Homeless.Jordina Shanks of Fenway Health and civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo join to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on gender affirming care for trans youth.Senator Ed Markey discusses attacks to public media, and the latest national headlines.Brittany Jasnoff, executive editor of Boston magazine, joins with Jason Santos — chef/owner at Citrus & Salt — and Lydia Shire — chef/partner at Scampo ... both are winners of the Best of Boston 2025 list this year.

Today:Senator Ed Markey joins, with reaction to Iran and the latest on recission for PBS and NPR. Then we’ll get reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision last week to uphold a ban on gender affirming care in Tennessee, giving states broad powers to ban or regulate transgender medical care for minors.We talk with Jordina Shanks, CEO of Fenway Health – the largest provider of trans health care in New England – and trans rights activist, Harvard’s Alejandra Caraballo. 

Today:Congressman Seth Moulton is holding two truths at once – acknowledging the threat of Iran getting nuclear capabilities, and decrying the Trump administration’s actions over the weekend – and is calling for diplomacy, now.And, Boston Globe education reporter Christopher Huffaker, Commonwealth Beacon executive editor Michael Jonas and the Superintendent of Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School Heidi Riccio discuss the changes coming to admissions for vocational schools in the state.

Congressman Seth Moulton joins us to discuss Trump's weekend bombing campaign in Iran. Then we open the phone lines to get listener reactions to escalating violence in the Middle East.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses the latest with the Celtics' sale, and takes a look at the Commonwealth Fund, which was established in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. Heidi Riccio, superintendent of Essex North Shore Technical & Agricultural School, Michael Jonas of the CommonWealth Beacon and Chris Huffaker of the Boston Globe join for a discussion on vocational technical school admissions.Princeton’s Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses the Trump administration’s latest efforts to strangle higher education, and what the president’s so-called “historic” deal with Harvard University could actually entail.

Today:Alba Musik joins live at the Boston Public Library to perform guitar and flamenco dancing, ahead of a show this week at Long Live Roxbury.And, President Trump campaigned on being a champion of the working class. How’s he doing so far for labor? We ask David Weil, who served in the department of labor in the Obama White House. 

Ron Mitchell, publisher of the Bay State Banner, and Joan Vennochi, opinion columnist at the Boston Globe, join for Press Play — our weekly media analysis segment. ALBA Musik join for Live Music Friday, ahead of a performance at Long Live Roxbury, with Spanish guitar and flamenco dancing.David Weil, visiting professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, served in the department of labor under Barack Obama from 2014-2017. He joins to discuss Trump's labor policy.General manager of the MBTA Phil Eng joins for "Ask the GM" to answer questions about repairs, slow zones, funding and more.

Today:NBC10 commentator Sue O'Connell and former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral discuss the Karen Read trial, and her acquittal.And, a Juneteenth panel with Boston’s first black mayor, Kim Janey, educator and lawyer Ted Landsmark, and Michael Curry of the NAACP and Mass League of Community Health Centers. 

NBC Boston's Sue O’Connell and former Suffolk County sheriff Andrea Cabral discuss the Karen Read verdict.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem explains the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, plus the debate around whether the U.S. should be involved. To celebrate Juneteenth, former Boston Mayor Kim Janey, the NAACP’s Michael Curry and Northeastern University’s Ted Landsmark join for a discussion about racial equity and what progress looks like in the era of Trump.Black puppeteers leading a creative residency at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline join ahead of a showcase performance tomorrow. We talk with Ash Winkfield, Tanya Nixon-Silberg and Charlotte Lily Gaspard, who perform some live puppetry for us in Studio 3. Today's Am I the A-Hole is about a husband who could care less about the artfulness of his dinner preparation.

A call-in segment asking listeners: If Democrats need the working class to win big, do they need to drop the purity tests and some hardlines on social issues?Ken Burns zooms in on the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill to talk about the American Revolution, 250 years, and speak out in defense of public media.Ken Rapoport, CEO of Azuluna Foods & Christopher Grallert CEO of Green City Growers, join for a panel on urban farming.Trenni Casey discusses the Sox trading Raphael DeversGBH's Susan Goldberg on the funding threats to public media.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins for the final hour of the show for Ask The Mayor. 

Today:Lucy Wightman joins Jim and Margery ahead of this week's release of her memoir, "Princess Cheyenne: My Life as Boston's Most Famous Stripper."And, a new report shows Massachusetts is backsliding on some aspects of juvenile justice reform. We speak with Lisa Thurau and Kristen Wheeler of Cambridge-based nonprofit Strategies for Youth.

We start the show by asking listeners about a weekend of demonstrations, including 'No King' rallies and the military parade. Anand Giridharadas, political commentator, discusses the shut-down of protests Saturday in LA, Trump's military parade and the political violence in Minnesota.Lucy Wightman discusses her new memoir "Princess Cheyenne: My Life as Boston's Most Famous Stripper."Lisa Thurau and Kristen Wheeler of Strategies for Youth, a Cambridge-based nonprofit, discuss the increase in pretrial detention for youths last year that are the result of law enforcement's decision to arrest young people for misdemeanors. The Revs Irene Monroe and Emmett Price join for All Rev'd Up x BPR, discussing the clergy who played a pivotal role 250 years ago in the American Revolution and how they are navigating us through political turbulence today.