Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners what their “third place” – a place to go besides home and work – was throughout the pandemic. Trenni Kusnierek talks about Tiger Woods’ return to the Masters Tournament, and this year’s March Madness winners. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston. She's also a BPR contributor. Lee Pelton discusses guaranteed basic income programs, the possibility of reparations in Boston and the Boston Foundation’s new strategic vision. Pelton is the president and CEO of The Boston Foundation. Corby Kummer weighs in on Route 1 icon Kowloon downsizing, debates over outdoor dining in the North End and the role of lard in cooking. Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy. Carol Rose shares her thoughts on Attorney General Merrick Garland’s approach to the Jan. 6 committee and the statehouse’s report on the use of facial recognition.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on office friendships as people return to work after so much time working remotely. Tetiana Litus and Vsevolod Petriv share their efforts to support their home country of Ukraine from abroad, and why they think the U.S. should do more to support refugees. Petriv is president of the Boston branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Litus is a 24-year-old Ukrainian who just moved to the U.S. a few months ago. Callie Crossley discusses President Joe Biden finally signing an anti-lynching bill into law after nearly 100 years of attempts, and Steph and Ayesha Curry’s latest venture into 150 little libraries in under-resourced parts of Oakland, California. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Andy Ihnatko explains developments at the EU to reign in big tech companies, and Facebook’s partnership with GOP consultants to generate bad press for TikTok. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at

Today on Boston Public Radio: Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden joined us to discuss the investigation into the deadly parking garage collapse downtown, and his new Firearm Rapid Indictment program focused on illegal gun seizures. He also shined light on his approach to cases by exiting former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, and pushback from his DA opponent Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo that he doesn’t support Rollins’s policies, such as not prosecuting lower level offenses.  We asked listeners whether they agreed with a WalletHub study that found that Massachusetts ranked as the 43rd most stressed state in the country. Paul Reville discussed MIT being an outlier by bringing back the ACT and SAT standardized tests and the correlation between race, wealth, and testing performance.  Reville is the former Massachusetts Secretary of Education and a professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-autho

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by opening the phone lines, asking listeners whether the public has lost its focus on the mounting evidence of former President Donald Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks. Trenni Kusnierek talked about the Boston Pride’s second-straight Isobel Cup win, and the U.S. Embassy finding WNBA player Brittney Griner in “good condition” as she is detained in Russia. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston. She's also a BPR contributor. Then, we talked with listeners about returning to civil discourse in an age of vitriol. Lylah Alphonse shared the latest news from Rhode Island, from the backlash against the finalists for the state’s new license plates to the Providence College men’s basketball team’s winning streak. Alphonse is the Rhode Island editor for the Boston Globe, where she leads a team covering and exploring the Ocean State. Jared Bowen talked about “Freestyle Love Supreme,” an improv rap and hip-hop show at the Emerson Colo

On Monday’s “Boston Public Radio,” food writer Corby Kummer made a boldest assertion when he declared the city’s outdoor dining as “better than Paris.” Kummer, a senior editor for The Atlantic, admitted the take was likely to spark controversy. His reasoning? That “people in Boston are nicer, and they make the entire experience pleasanter.” “It’s just better to be in Boston in general” he added. The subject was broached during a back-and-forth on the question of $7,500 outdoor dining fees for restaurant owners in Boston’s North End. Kummer said he understood the reasoning for the fees, but wasn’t sure North End restaurant owners alone ought to foot the bill. “The city of Boston should say ‘[here are] exactly the problems we ran into. Here are possible solutions. Here’s what the money can go towards to remedy all of this, and have you got better ideas’ – rather than just coming out with what looks like a penalty if you happen to be in the North End.” Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Societ

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on whether Justice Clarence Thomas should face consequences due to his wife Ginni Thomas’ alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Art Caplan talked about the “slap heard around the world” and Will Smith’s reaction to Chris Rock’s dig at his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, at the Academy Awards as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership, and Ukraine's humanitarian crisis as the country runs out of medical supplies. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Ken Burns explained why he chose Benjamin Franklin as the focus of his latest documentary, diving into Franklin’s early life, as well as his impact as a scientist and an inventor. Burns is an award-winning documentarian. Corby Kummer discussed the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine – known as Europe’s bread basket – could have on global food supplies. He also updated us on the latest n

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners whether they’re excited – or furious – over the return to the office. Shirley Leung talks about the life and legacy of former Fidelity Investments CEO Edward “Ned” Johnson III, and the North End restaurateurs fighting against $7,500 participation fees for outdoor dining. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Callie Crossley discusses Ginni Thomas’ texts connecting her to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, and shares her thoughts on the Senate’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Tiffani Faison and Irene Li join us to talk about the James Beard Awards, and how their businesses have fared over the course of the pandemic. Faison is an award-winning chef and the woman behind Sweet Cheeks, Orfano, Fool’s Errand, and the recently-opened Tenderoni’s, Dive Bar, and Bubble Bath at High Street Place. She’s also a judge on Food Network’s “Chopped,” and a com

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd shares his reactions to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings, the latest on Ukraine and other news from D.C. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners whether or not they think former President Donald Trump is truly above the law, after senior Manhattan prosecutor Mark F. Pomerantz resigned following the DA’s decision to stop pursuing an indictment of Trump. Andrea Cabral reacts to the decision to not prosecute former President Donald Trump, and breaks down her frustration with the GOP’s questioning during Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville discusses whether the Northampton principal should be suspended for calling her students “asshats,” and the range of challenges

As Americans try to curb their methane emissions from coal mining and oil and natural gas systems, changes may come to the kitchen as well. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Monday to talk about induction cooking as an alternative to gas stoves. Induction cooking uses electric currents to directly heat pots and pans through magnetic induction. Instead of using thermal conduction, such as a gas or electric element transferring heat from a burner to a pot or pan, induction heats the cooking vessel itself almost instantly. Melissa Clark of The New York Times makes the case to get rid of gas stoves. A lot of new buildings don’t have gas hookups and 75 percent of methane emissions from gas stoves occur when the stove is off. In addition to the environmental benefits, Kummer has other reasons he thinks induction cooking is a good option. “This doesn't smell, it's much cleaner, it's incredibly easy to just take a sponge to because it's a flat glass cooking surface,” he said. Ku

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners their thoughts on the start of the Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Trenni Kusnierek talks about new information about the 2019 shooting of retired Red Sox player David Ortiz, and number 15-seed Saint Peters pulling off an upset over no. 2-seed Kentucky during March Madness last weekend. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston. She's also a Boston Public Radio contributor. EJ Dionne weighs in on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership, and the state of childcare. Dionne is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. His latest book is “Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country.” Corby Kummer shares tips on how to make and buy Ukrainian food while supporting Ukraine, and potential concerns about lab-grown meat. Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic a

Today on Boston Public Radio: Senator Elizabeth Warren takes questions from callers about the upcoming Senate vote on capping the price of insulin at $35 and on sanctions against Russian Oligarchs. Warren is Senator of Massachusetts. The Lorelei Ensemble sings parts from their upcoming show. Corrine Byrne, Dianna Grabowski, Stephanie Kacoyanis, Michele Kennedy, Sophie Michaux, Arwen Myers, Clara Osowski and Sonja Tengblad are singers in the Cambridge-based Lorelei Ensemble. Beth Willer is the group’s artist director, and Kevin Payne is the group’s lute player. The full ensemble’s tour titled “This Tyrant, Love,” will perform Friday night at the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge. Callie Crossley talks about the House passing the CROWN Act, which would ban race-based hair discrimination, and why people procrastinate by scrolling on Zillow. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Lisa Fischer previews her upcoming shows in Boston this weekend, and discusses the legacy of her ca

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd reacts to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Congress yesterday and other political news. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners whether they think the 9-5 schedule should end as the pandemic forces shifts in the future of work. Andrea Cabral weighs in on fraud charges against the Violence in Boston Founder and CEO Monica Cannon Grant and a federal investigation into former Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Jared Bowen previews the newest in the arts, including the work of South African artist Zanele Muholi and photography by painter Barkley H. Hendricks at the Rose Art Museum in Waltham. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusse

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congressman Seth Moulton calls on the U.S. to do more to support Ukraine, short of a U.S. enforced no-fly zone, and shares other reactions to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Congress this morning. Moulton represents Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional district. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on Zelensky’s speech and U.S. actions in Ukraine. Art Caplan weighs in on the ethics of the West refraining from direct involvement in Ukraine and the 988 mental health crisis helpline. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Juliette Kayyem talks about the Russian anti-war protester who waved a sign on Russian TV and UPS failing to make ferry reservations for its trucks on Nantucket. Kayyem was formerly an assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, now the faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard’s

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on whether they support a no-fly zone over Ukraine as Russia continues its invasion. Trenni Kusnierek discusses Naomi Osaka battling hecklers at Indian Wells last weekend and the latest on basketball player Brittney Griner detained in Russia. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston. She's also a Boston Public Radio contributor. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett answers listener calls on the threat of long COVID, the difference between natural immunity and vaccine immunity to the virus and the 988 mental health hotline. Gergen Barnett teaches in the family medicine department at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Mayor Michelle Wu takes audience questions on her climate change agenda, the state of Boston Public Schools, the need for mental health resources and funding and more.  Wu is Mayor of Boston.

The seaweed and kelp farm industry could become one of the largest sustainable maritime food industries — provided that enough people buy in. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Monday to weigh in on the future of seaweed and kelp farms. “There are so many advocates for it who say you do don't need any additional resources that don’t cause pollution, like fish farms in the open water due from excrement from fish that are all penned up,” Kummer said. “You can farm seaweed [and] kelp.” Kummer noted that Alaska already has “a strong cultural tradition of eating” seaweed and kelp. The Alaska Sea Grant, a federal-state program that funds marine and coastal research at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, has recipes for bull kelp salsa and kelp seasoning. But it might be harder to convince the rest of the nation to make seaweed and kelp a regular part of their diet, Kummer notes. “The question is getting people to buy it and need it,” he said. “It's going to take a lot longer f

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking to listeners about the jobs they’ve regretted quitting, following Tom Brady’s announcement that he would be returning to football. Jim Aloisi and Monica Tibbits-Nutt discuss the state of the T, as the MBTA heads towards an impending fiscal cliff. Aloisi is former transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Tibbits-Nutt is executive director of the 128 Business Council, and formerly served on the MBTA’s fiscal control board and the MassDOT board of directors. Corby Kummer explains how seaweed farming could be the future of sustainable farming – if regulatory hurdles decrease. He also talks about the legacy of meat in America. Kummer is 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. Brian O’Donovan and Keith Murphy preview the St. Patrick'

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners if Americans would have the same courage as Ukrainians if Russia invaded. Jenifer McKim and Vanessa Rosa talk about a recent investigative report into receiverships in Springfield, which has led to some people losing their homes. McKim is a senior investigative reporter at the GBH News center for investigative reporting. Rosa is an Assistant Professor of Latina/o Studies at Mount Holyoke, where she studies racism and urban inequality in cities. Callie Crossley discusses what’s at stake with inaccuracies in the 2020 census and the history of a World War Two unit made up completely of Black women receiving posthumous Congressional medals. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Katherine Tallman updates listeners on the latest with Coolidge Corner Theatre, and how the movie theater industry is managing two years into the pandemic. Tallman is the CEO and Executive Director of the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline. Shirley L

It’s been two years since Governor Charlie Baker declared a COVID state of emergency in Massachusetts. To mark the occasion, In It Together brought back some old friends of the show to reflect on the pandemic and where we go from here. Arun Rath speaks with Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Cassandra Pierre, Franciscan Children’s Hospital behavioral health director Dr. Fatima Watt, La Colaborativa executive director Gladys Vega, and local comedian Lamont Price, as well as GBH reporters Craig LeMoult and Meg Woolhouse.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates listeners on the latest in politics, including President Joe Biden’s response to Ukraine and the disagreement between the U.S. and Poland over fighter jets. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their latest opinions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Jon Gruber breaks down the economics of sanctions and how they’re going so far in an attempt to stop Russia. Gruber was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is “Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream.” Andrea Cabral talks about the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to overturn an overly harsh sentence, and the Quincy post office manager arrested for selling confiscated cocaine. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safe

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on loosening pandemic restrictions around the country. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on Florida breaking with CDC recommendations that healthy kids should still get vaccinated. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Audrey Schulman and Zeyneb Magavi talk about the fight for cleaner energy in New England, and the challenges ahead in breaking away from fossil fuels. Schulman and Magavi are co-directors of the Cambridge nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET). Ali Noorani explains how the Ukrainian refugee crisis is an opportunity for the U.S. to affirm the country’s commitment to human rights, and talks about his forthcoming book, “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. Yuriy Matsarsk