Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about the debate between in person and remote learning as Omicron surges. Michael Curry updates listeners on how community health centers are responding to Omicron, and the state of schools as cases rise. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 vaccine advisory group. He’s also a member of the national NAACP board of directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. Trenni Kusnierek talks about a U.S. speedskater giving her winter olympics spot to a teammate, and the Yankees promoting Rachel Balkovec to manager of their minor league Tampa team, becoming the first woman working as full-time manager of a major league affiliated team. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Ali Noorani discusses why President Joe Biden hasn’t been able to take action on former President D

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about whether they’re continuing to be cautious as COVID-19 cases rise. E.J. Dionne previews what’s in store for the Democratic Party in 2022, and talks about the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Dr. Renee Crichlow discusses COVID-19 rates across Mass., and the burnout healthcare providers are facing as the world nears its third year of the pandemic. Crichlow is the Chief Medical Officer at Codman Square Health Center and the Vice Chair of Health Equity at the Boston University Department of Family Medicine. Next, we ask listeners for their tips and tricks on finding COVID-19 rapid tests. Dr. Irene Bosch shares her story of creating a COVID-19 rapid test in the early weeks of the pandemic, only to face red-ta

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners their favorite snow day activities. Shirley Leung updates listeners on the state of Mass. and Cass, and which New England businesses continue to donate to election-denying politicians a year after Jan. 6. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Callie Crossley talks about the death of Sidney Poitier, the first Black man to win the Oscar for best actor, bomb threats at HBCUs and a Black-owned startup incubator based in Roxbury. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Andy Ihnatko discusses Winnie the Pooh’s freedom from copyright and updates from the world of car technology and foldable laptops. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Tracy Chang weighs in on vaccine requirements for restaurants and the state of the food industry. Chang is the chef and owner of Cambridge’s PAGU, as well as the co-founder of two non-profits: Off Their Plate, which empower

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd reflects on the one year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, and reacts to President Joe Biden’s speech marking the violent event. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their reflections on the anniversary of Jan. 6. Andrea Cabral weighs in on the outcome of the Elizabeth Holmes trial, in which Holmes was convicted of fraud for her company Theranos, which failed to deliver on its promises of a blood test with the prick of a finger. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville updates listeners on the latest in the chaos of back to school plans amid Omicron, and the future of standardized testing after Harvard waived its requirement until 2026. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard Un

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michelle Singletary gives financial advice for the new year, including navigating the buy now pay later trend, the state of inflation and overdraft fees. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column “The Color of Money” provides insight into the world of personal finance. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the buy now pay later trend and other financial plans. Juliette Kayyem discusses the chaos on I-95 which closed this week due to snow in Virginia, and the latest on the Jan. 6 investigation one year after the insurrection. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Lauren Kennedy talks about Omicron’s strain on child care and early education workers during the latest surge, and the work her group does to provide access to testing. Lauren Kennedy is co-founder

On Tuesday’s Boston Public Radio, food writer Corby Kummer said he’s hoping more companies follow in the heels of coffee behemoth Starbucks, which is now requiring proof-of-vaccination for its hundreds of thousands of U.S. employees. Workers who opt out of vaccines will have to submit weekly tests, conducted at the employee’s expense.  “This is an example of a big company saying ‘we’ve had it, we just have to get vaccinated, this is the wave of the future – no more pussyfooting around,’ and I think it’s great,” Kummer told hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan.  He did, however, raise concerns that public perception of Starbucks as a “liberal” corporation might dissuade business leaders on the conservative side of the political spectrum to shirk responsibility for getting employees vaccinated against COVID-19.  “I think that we all wish that it wasn’t a seeming political litmus test,” he lamented. “‘Oh, Starbucks must be Democratic, they must be liberal!’” Kummer went on to list Tyson Foods as an instance of

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they’re faring as students, teachers and parents figure out back to school plans amid Omicron spread. Trenni Kusnierek talks about Antonio Brown walking off the field mid-game and getting fired from the Buccaneers, and a hockey fan saving an NHL staffer from cancer by spotting a mole from the stands. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose discusses the ACLU’s national and local priorities in 2022, including work on voting rights, police reform and facial recognition software. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. A.C. Thompson previews his documentary on the Jan. 6 insurrection, and weighs in on the state of far-right extremism in the U.S. Thompson is a senior reporter at ProPublica and a FRONTLINE correspondent. His documentary, “American Insurrection,” airs at 10 p.m. eastern on PBS and will be available to stream on Frontline’s websit

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by checking in with listeners about how they’re doing as Omicron spreads in the new year. Mike Deehan updates listeners on the state of the governor’s race, including potential Democratic and Republican candidates, after Governor Charlie Baker announced he will not be running for reelection. Deehan covers the statehouse for GBH News. Charlie Sennott discusses the latest international news, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s funeral and the state of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson talk about Mayor Michelle Wu’s transit agenda, including free fare pilot programs, and the problems with parking in the city. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets. The Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss Tutu

In the last episode of Boston Public Radio in 2021, we're bringing you some of our favorite chefs from recent months. Joanne Chang talks about her latest book inspired by her baking journals, “Pastry Love: A Baker’s Journal of Favorite Recipes.” Chang is a James Beard Award–winning pastry chef. Bren Smith shares different ways to eat kelp in his book “Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate Change.” Smith is a former commercial fisherman and executive director of the non-profit GreenWave, focused on regenerative farming in water ecosystems. Jacques Pépin and Shorey Wesen discuss cooking together as grandfather and granddaughter as part of their latest collaboration, the cookbook “A Grandfather’s Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey.” Pépin is a chef, author and PBS contributor. Wesen is his granddaughter and cookbook collaborator. Dolores Huerta talks about why her work as a labor leader for farm workers’ rights remains as relevant today as it was in the 1960s, and about coining t

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent months. Dylan Thuras tells stories of strange food from around the world, including psychedelic honey, the anti-masterbatory origins of graham crackers and the great molasses flood in Boston in 1919. Thuras is the co-founder and creative director of Atlas Obscura, and the co-author of the New York Times bestseller “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders.” His latest book is “Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide.” It was co-authored with Cecily Wong. Daniel Leader discusses his latest book, "Living Bread." Leader is a pioneer in the American baking world. Arthur Brooks explains how charitable giving can help a person find happiness, and other tips on the search for fulfillment. He is the William Henry Bloomberg professor of the practice of public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, a professor of management practice at the Harvard Business School, the happiness corresp

Today’s Boston Public Radio is on tape. We’re bringing you the ultimate book club — back-to-back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers: Kevin Young shares from his collection of poetry, “Brown.” Young is the poetry editor of The New Yorker and the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Ann Patchett discusses the autobiographical elements of her book “Commonwealth,” and makes a pitch to all readers to shop at local, independent bookstores. Patchett is an author and the owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tenn.  Sy Montgomery offers up details about her newly-released book: an illustrated children’s version of her memoir, “How to Be a Good Creature.” Montgomery is a naturalist, journalist and frequent Boston Public Radio contributor. David Duchovny talks about his book, “Miss Subways: A Novel.” Duchovny is an actor and writer, and recently appeared in the Netflix series “The Chair.” Elizabeth Gilbert discusses her

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent months: Sebastian Junger speaks about his latest book, “Freedom,” which looks at the meaning of freedom in its many iterations. Junger is a journalist, author and filmmaker. Sy Montgomery returns for our monthly edition of “Afternoon Zoo.” She talks about her sympathy for the humpback whale who nearly swallowed a lobster fisherman off of Cape Cod, stand-up fathers of the animal kingdom, and the dogs who are learning to talk to their owners. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hummingbird’s Gift: Wonder, Beauty and Renewal on Wings."  Michelle Singletary discusses her latest book, “What To Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide.” Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column "The Color of Money" provides insight into the world of personal finance. Michael Moss previews his new book and e

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years: Imani Perry talks about parenthood, and how Black parents talk to their children about race. Perry is a professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. Her latest book is "Breathe: A Letter To My Sons.” Richard Blanco reads his favorite “aubade” poems — about lovers departing at dawn — including “Aubade with Burning City” by Ocean Vuong and “Ghosting Aubade” by Amie Whittemore. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various sociopolitical issues that shadow America. Lizzie Post weighs in on cannabis culture in her new book, “Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis, From Dispensaries to Dinner Parties.” Post is a writer, co-director of The Emily Post Institute and great-great-granddaughter of etiquette writer Emily Post. Christopher Kimball previews his latest cookbook “Vegetables,” sharing his favorite way

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent months: Don Lemon tells stories from his book, “This Is The Fire: What I Say To My Friends About Racism." Lemon anchors “CNN Tonight with Don Lemon,” airing weeknights at 10 p.m. He’s also a #1 bestselling New York Times author. Chasten Buttigieg discusses his memoir, “I Have Something to Tell You,” and the challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities in the U.S. Buttigieg is a teacher and the husband of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Sy Montgomery dives into the world of hummingbirds with her latest book, “The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty And Renewal On Wings.” Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. David Byrne talks about the film adaptation of his tour, “American Utopia,” and his accompanying illustrated book. Byrne is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, and founding member of the Talking Heads. Nancy Schön discusses her recent work and the mysteries behind the

Today on Boston Public Radio: Senator Elizabeth Warren talks about her experience with COVID-19 and the state of Build Back Better and voting rights. Warren is senator of Massachusetts. Then, we ask listeners for their last minute gift suggestions. Tori Bedford updates listeners on the latest slew of unionization pushes, including among Kellogg’s workers, Starbucks baristas and local Somerville coffeeshop workers. Bedford covers Boston’s neighborhoods, including Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan for GBH News. Andrea Cabral weighs in on the trial of ex-police officer Kim Potter, who fatally shot Duante Wright in a traffic stop. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Andy Ihnatko gives tips on how to prevent iPhone delivery theft, and his favorite tech gifts for the holidays. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Shirley Leung discusses the racist backlash facing Ma

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan updates listeners on all things Omicron and the growing mental health crisis as the pandemic continues. Caplan is director of the division of medical ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Then, we ask listeners their social norms around tipping and if the pandemic has changed their tipping practices. Gov. Charlie Baker talks about his new COVID-19 plans as the Omicron variant spreads, including activating the national guard to support hospitals and the status of an app that would verify vaccination. He also weighs in on Mayor Michelle Wu’s rent stabilization plans and the Statehouse voting on allocating the ARPA funding. Baker is governor of Massachusetts. Then, we ask listeners their reactions to the latest news on Omicron and new pandemic regulations and precautions. Mayor Michelle Wu takes questions from listeners on her new vaccine requirements in the city, her transportation goals and the status of free COVID-19 test kit distribution. Wu is ma

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners their reactions to Mayor Michelle Wu’s announcement yesterday of new vaccine requirements in restaurants, theaters and other venues. Trenni Kusnierek weighs in on Wu’s decision to exempt athletes from her new vaccine mandates, and Patriots Manager Bill Belichick apologizing after a curt post-game press conference Saturday. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Ali Noorani talks about what the first few days of the Remain in Mexico policy resuming means for immigrants and advocates. Noorani is the president and chief executive officer of the National Immigration Forum. His forthcoming book is “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Charlie Warzel explains how the pandemic has affected the state of work, and how to make remote work better in a hybrid world. Charlie Warzel is a contributing writer at the Atlantic and the author of Galaxy Brain, a news

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michael Curry talks about the status of the pandemic as the Omicron variant spreads throughout the country, and his reactions to West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin rejecting President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 vaccine advisory group. He’s also a member of the national NAACP board of directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. Then, we ask listeners their reactions to Manchin curtailing efforts to pass Build Back Better. Corby Kummer discusses the potential for an egg shortage as regulations for farmers change, and how to best enjoy oysters. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Jennifer McKim and Philip Martin share insights from their latest i

Today on Boston Public Radio: Arthur Brooks explains the role of charitable giving in finding happiness and other tips on the search for fulfillment. He’s the William Henry Bloomberg professor of the practice of public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, a professor of management practice at the Harvard Business School, the happiness correspondent at The Atlantic and host of the podcast series How to Build a Happy Life. Callie Crossley discusses the legacy of feminist theorist and activist bell hooks, who died this week at 69. She also talks about City Councilor Lydia Edwards’ primary win in the special state Senate race, and concerns that former President Barack Obama’s presidential library may gentrify part of Chicago. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Rick Steves shares stories from different Christmas traditions across Europe. Steves is an author, television and radio host and the owner of the Rick Steves’ Europe tour group. You can catch his television show, “Rick Steves’ Eur

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates listeners on the latest from Washington D.C., including Republicans’ outlook on COVID-19 and the state of voting rights legislation. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Andrea Cabral discusses an upcoming movie about the Boston strangler, and the state of democracy in the U.S. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville critiques a South Dakota “dash for cash” event that had teachers on their hands and knees grabbing money for their classrooms. He also talks about parents serving as substitute teachers amid a teacher shortage and the future of learning pods. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book