Provocative stories and authentic voices from around Boston.
Are standardized tests making a comeback in higher education?
Radio Boston digs into some higher education institutions' decisions to bring back the SAT and ACT requirements for college applications.
2/26/2024 • 16 minutes, 39 seconds
SparkFM's founder on starting the digital radio station during a pandemic
Boston's online radio station SparkFM was founded just under four years ago, and so much has happened since then including a global pandemic. Founder and CEO Danielle Johnson joins us to talk about how it started and how it's going.
2/26/2024 • 21 minutes, 20 seconds
The Celtics are back atop the NBA — and they might be better than ever
Radio Boston wanted to ask the question again: Can the Celtics go all the way this time?
2/26/2024 • 9 minutes, 20 seconds
After Milton referendum, housing advocates sift through optimism and pessimism
Radio Boston talks with Salim Furth, a Milton native who now works as a Senior Research Fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, and Ed Lyons, a Republican activist and political writer.
2/23/2024 • 13 minutes, 15 seconds
What the search for Bigfoot in Massachusetts can teach us about ourselves
Author and professor John O'Connor, joins us to discuss his new book: "The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster." He centers Massachusetts in the book, he tells us why.
2/23/2024 • 13 minutes, 30 seconds
Pressley 'encouraged' by latest round of student debt relief but wants broader action
Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joins Radio Boston to talk about Steward Health, pharmacies closing in her district, student loan forgiveness, and marking Black History Month.
2/23/2024 • 20 minutes, 10 seconds
In 'John Proctor is the Villain,' teens challenge an accepted truth
Radio Boston sat down with Huntington Theatre Artistic Director Loretta Greco, and actor Haley Wong to talk about the making of "John Proctor is the Villain."
2/22/2024 • 15 minutes, 19 seconds
It's time for taxes. Here's what you need to know
Radio Boston dug into what you need to know for tax season this year.
2/22/2024 • 10 minutes
The Massachusetts GOP is mired in turmoil and debt. It's part of something bigger
The Massachusetts GOP's troubles mirror the turmoil churning in the party's national committee, and the Republican apparatuses in swing states like Michigan and Arizona.
2/22/2024 • 20 minutes, 36 seconds
2023 was tough for Boston's tech industry. Will 2024 be better?
Radio Boston recaps a rough year for Boston's tech industry and what the future holds with Boston Globe reporter Aaron Pressman.
2/22/2024 • 11 minutes, 4 seconds
Donna Summer's estate takes on Kanye West in copyright battle
Peter Karol of the Center for Intellectual Property at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Bhamati Viswanathan of New England Law and historian Dart Adams join Radio Boston to discuss the history and legal complexities of sampling.
2/21/2024 • 19 minutes, 22 seconds
Sandwich celebrates 150th birthday of children's author Thornton Burgess
We learn more about the life and legacy of author and conservationist Thornton Burgess.
2/21/2024 • 12 minutes, 8 seconds
Learning about political writer Maria K. Stewart and other Black figures in Boston's history
Boston Globe senior opinion writer and columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr joins us to share more about the life and impact of Maria K. Stewart, the first Black female published political writer. Then, Boston historian and journalist Dart Adams joins us to share more about Black leaders and landmarks in Boston's history that need recognition.
2/21/2024 • 15 minutes, 33 seconds
Boston could face revenue shortfalls from empty office buildings
Radio Boston talks about a new report detailing potential tax revenue shortfalls due to office buildings remaining empty after the pandemic.
2/20/2024 • 14 minutes, 49 seconds
New day program for migrants opens in Chelsea
Amidst an overflowing emergency shelter system in Massachusetts, the nonprofit La Colaborativa is opening a state-funded day program in Chelsea for newly arrived migrants.
2/20/2024 • 6 minutes, 43 seconds
‘The Dynasty’ pulls back the curtain on the New England Patriots
The Apple+ documentary series “The Dynasty” takes viewers behind the scenes of the Patriots’ 20-year run of excellence and provides new insights into the chief characters of the drama. Jeff Benedict, author of the book by the same name that inspired the series, and Michael Holley, NBC Sports Boston host and author, joined Radio Boston to discuss the show.
2/20/2024 • 14 minutes, 14 seconds
Rep. Stephen Lynch on the latest with Steward Health and its financial struggles
Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch joins Radio Boston to give the latest on the financial challenges at Steward Health. Plus, WBUR's Deb Becker and Priyanka Dayal McCluskey provide analysis.
2/16/2024 • 22 minutes, 38 seconds
Milton voters rejected a multifamily zoning proposal. What happens next?
Milton's "no" vote this week puts the ball in the court of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who's repeatedly threatened legal action against municipalities that reject new housing in line with the MBTA Communities Act. So, what happens next? Radio Boston asks former state Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.
2/16/2024 • 9 minutes, 51 seconds
Anita Hill headlines Boston Conservatory Orchestra's Black History Month show
Dr. Anita Hill joined Radio Boston to talk about her long career of advocacy and her upcoming performance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
2/16/2024 • 14 minutes, 59 seconds
Annual orchid show mixes living plants with sculptures of flowers made from plastic bags
Two thousand flowers are in bloom right now at the New England Botanic Garden's annual orchid show. But tucked among the living plants are dozens of sculptures of orchids made from single-use plastic bags.The exhibition is called "Patterns in Bloom" and it's the brainchild of New England artist Molly Gambardella.
2/15/2024 • 5 minutes, 39 seconds
Boston is best in the world at biotech. Beijing wants to do it better
Amidst growing biotechnology competition between the U.S. and China, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party visited biotech labs in Boston this week.
2/15/2024 • 29 minutes, 56 seconds
COVID isolation guidelines may soon change. What does this mean for Mass.?
Radio Boston talks about some potentially big changes to COVID isolation guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2/14/2024 • 7 minutes, 18 seconds
Local organizers strive to galvanize Black voters ahead of a pivotal election year
Ahead of a national election season in 2024, community organizations are trying to get out the word to local Black voters to make their voices heard.
2/14/2024 • 16 minutes, 24 seconds
Celebrating different kinds of love this Valentine's Day
"The Jar is a 21st-century model to help people create, catalyze and deepen meaningful relationships with people who are like them and not like them," founder Ben-Aharon said. "It allows people to show up fully as themselves."
2/13/2024 • 7 minutes, 54 seconds
All eyes on Milton for high-stakes housing vote
Lisa Alexander of Boston College Law School, Andrew Brinker of the Boston Globe and Chris Dempsey of the city planning firm Speck Dempsey join Radio Boston to discuss an upcoming referendum in Milton over whether to comply with the MBTA Communities Act.
2/13/2024 • 24 minutes, 50 seconds
Celebrating 200 years of dinosaurs — and how local scientists helped change paleontology
Radio Boston celebrates the bicentennial of dinosaurs and how much New England has contributed to the study of paleontology with two scientists.
2/13/2024 • 14 minutes, 1 second
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch on how he's changed over time and what's still left to do in office
We get to know Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch, from his time as an iron worker and lawyer, to how he's changed in the nearly 30 years he's been in elected office. Plus, how a cheeseburger may have saved his life. Seriously!
2/12/2024 • 27 minutes, 46 seconds
Cape Cod has a wastewater problem. Here's what low- and high-tech solutions look like
WBUR climate correspondent Barbara Moran joins Radio Boston to explain what's causing wastewater to enter Cape Cod's bays and estuaries and what some enterprising residents are doing about it.
2/12/2024 • 13 minutes, 24 seconds
Educators weigh in on a new vision for Boston Public Schools
Radio Boston hears from Jessica Tang, president of the Boston Teachers Union, and Aparna Lakshmi, history teacher at the O’Bryant School in Roxbury, about the city plan for Boston Public Schools and their own vision for a re-imagined BPS.
2/9/2024 • 17 minutes, 53 seconds
Need to unpack your relationship to money? A financial therapist weighs in
Jenae Murphy, a licensed financial therapist and the founder of Financial Therapy LLC in Brockton, joins Radio Boston with tips on how to improve your relationship to money.
2/9/2024 • 13 minutes, 32 seconds
Outdoor dining will return to some — but not all — Boston streets this spring
Once again this year, restaurants in the North End will largely be left out of Boston's outdoor dining program.
2/8/2024 • 9 minutes, 42 seconds
Mass. officials want the state to be a climate tech hub for the world. Can they pull it off?
The Greater Boston area already has major hubs of biotechnology and life sciences. Now Gov. Maura Healey wants to make the commonwealth a climate tech lab for the world. A local tech reporter joins Radio Boston to discuss.
2/8/2024 • 14 minutes, 27 seconds
City of Boston celebrates 'Year of the Dragon' this Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year starts Saturday, and according to the Chinese zodiac system, it's the year of the dragon. We talk with two people about what Lunar New Year means to them.
2/8/2024 • 13 minutes, 16 seconds
State officials and support groups work to aid veterans amid high suicide rates
Radio Boston spoke with two military veterans about how to reduce rates of suicide among veterans and what Beacon Hill could do to help.
2/7/2024 • 18 minutes, 44 seconds
With Steward in dire straits, future of Mass. hospitals is uncertain
Financial trouble at the for-profit company Steward Health Care System has cast uncertainty on the future of several Massachusetts hospitals.
2/7/2024 • 11 minutes, 5 seconds
Learning more about the Boston Black Panther Party through one photograph
We learn more about a new exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts called "Comrade Sisters," documenting the work of the Black Panther Party. WBUR's Ari Gray joins us to share more.
2/7/2024 • 11 minutes, 47 seconds
A look at efforts to beef up libraries in Mass. prisons and jails
Radio Boston takes a look at the state of libraries in Massachusetts jails and prisons.
2/6/2024 • 17 minutes, 23 seconds
Jerod Mayo is embracing his history-making place as Patriots' first Black head coach
Radio Boston talks about Jerod Mayo's history-making role as the New England Patriots' first-ever Black head coach.
2/6/2024 • 15 minutes, 30 seconds
Harvard class teaches literature through Taylor Swift's songwriting
Harvard professor Stephanie Burt joins Radio Boston to discuss what it's like teaching students about great literary works from the past through Taylor Swift's songwriting.
2/5/2024 • 15 minutes, 30 seconds
Mass. Legislature aims to strengthen gun laws with new bills
WBUR state politics reporter Walter Wuthmann joins Radio Boston to break down the state's proposed new gun bills.
2/5/2024 • 11 minutes, 18 seconds
Checking in on the state's emergency shelter system
WBUR's Gabrielle Emanuel shares the story of one family living in one of the state's overflow shelter sites. Then, we find out more about the latest overflow shelter site that opened in Roxbury on Wednesday from WBUR's Paula Moura.
2/5/2024 • 20 minutes, 6 seconds
Composer Rob Kapilow on the magic of Tchaikovsky
Musician, author, and composer Rob Kapilow will unpack Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings" with local chamber orchestra A Far Cry tomorrow at the New England Conservatory this weekend. It's part of the Celebrity Series of Boston.
2/2/2024 • 14 minutes, 12 seconds
'A lot of light': One year after the unimaginable, Tyler Lawrence's mother reflects on the life of her son
Tyler Lawrence, a 13-year-old from Norwood, was shot and killed near his grandparents' home in Mattapan on Jan. 29, 2023. He was sweet, loving, forgiving and kind, said his mother. She still feels like she is waiting for him to come home.
2/2/2024 • 32 minutes, 53 seconds
How two organizations in Lynn are working to support youth
Nonprofits LifeScene and Roca Inc. help kids focus on their futures, build skills and where necessary, avoid the cycle of violence. Representatives from the organizations join Radio Boston to discuss their work and the impact it is having right now.
2/1/2024 • 17 minutes, 12 seconds
How to find the 'winter hexagon' in the night sky
Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope, drops by Radio Boston to tell you how to find some of the brightest stars in our galaxy this winter.
2/1/2024 • 13 minutes, 18 seconds
Mass. GOP chair says party will back Trump if he is the nominee
Radio Boston talks with Jennifer Nassour, former head of the Massachusetts Republican Party, and current state GOP chair Amy Carnevale about the future of their party.
2/1/2024 • 16 minutes, 19 seconds
Chef Tiffani Faison on local James Beard semifinalists and planning your Super Bowl (or Taylor Swift) party
Celebrity Chef Tiffani Faison joins us to talk about how to make the best Super Bowl food in a pinch and her thoughts on local James Beard award semifinalists.
1/31/2024 • 13 minutes, 18 seconds
Peering off the edge of the MBTA's fiscal cliff
Disappointing fare revenues, a pile of debt and the end of federal pandemic relief money have pushed the MBTA to the financial limit. How did we get here, and what happens next?
1/31/2024 • 21 minutes, 11 seconds
In Newton, nine days of a bitter teachers strike take their toll
Radio Boston talks with WBUR senior education reporter Carrie Jung, as well as Mary Walsh, executive director of student support initiative City Connects at Boston College, about the impact of the ongoing teacher strike in Newton.
1/31/2024 • 12 minutes, 22 seconds
Wu pushes back on state plan to use Roxbury recreational complex as overflow shelter
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu expressed disappointment over a the state's proposal to use the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex in Roxbury as an overflow shelter site during a Monday appearance on WBUR's Radio Boston. The year-round recreation center would be used to give migrant and unhoused families a place to sleep overnight, out of the cold.
1/29/2024 • 47 minutes, 5 seconds
Gov. Healey focuses on education, housing and transportation in budget proposal
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey joins Radio Boston to dive deep into her budget proposal for the next fiscal year. Her priorities include education, transportation, and housing.
1/26/2024 • 46 minutes, 39 seconds
Gov. Healey's budget proposal: big needs, tight finances
Gov. Healey unveiled her new state budget plan Wednesday. She's proposing increased spending on childcare and transportation infrastructure, while juggling tax revenue challenges.
1/25/2024 • 8 minutes, 43 seconds
Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey on what the U.S. can learn from Boston's built environment
Jeff Speck, the noted urban planner and author of the book "Walkable City," and Chris Dempsey, former Massachusetts Assistant Secretary of Transportation, join Radio Boston to discuss their plan to make communities more healthy, happy and walkable.
1/25/2024 • 12 minutes, 57 seconds
Migrants sleep in Logan Airport amid emergency shelter shortage
Radio Boston digs into how migrants are surviving as they wait for shelter and what the state is doing to mitigate the growing crisis this year and beyond.
1/25/2024 • 13 minutes, 45 seconds
This weekend, a high-stakes hockey 'Battle of Comm. Ave.'
This weekend, the rival Boston University and Boston College men's hockey teams, ranked first and second in the country, respectively, will clash in a pair of games nicknamed the "Battle of Comm. Ave."
1/25/2024 • 11 minutes, 48 seconds
Recapping the New Hampshire primary and what's next in the race
WBUR political correspondent Anthony Brooks joins Radio Boston to recap Tuesday night's presidential primaries in New Hampshire.
1/24/2024 • 11 minutes, 28 seconds
Newton teachers strike stretches into fourth day
Teachers in Newton are on strike for the fourth day. Their fight with the city over the terms of a new contract are a microcosm of tensions playing out between unions and municipalities across the commonwealth.
1/24/2024 • 9 minutes, 34 seconds
The key to perfect pancakes? Make them with family, says Chef Joe Gatto
1/24/2024 • 11 minutes, 25 seconds
Volunteer hosts help Massachusetts battle migrant shelter shortage one home at a time
Radio Boston speaks with the Immigrant Support Alliance about its efforts to house migrants as the state's emergency shelter remains at-capacity.
1/24/2024 • 14 minutes, 5 seconds
What's at stake in New Hampshire?
WBUR political correspondent Anthony Brooks joins Radio Boston from New Hampshire, where voters are casting ballots in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary
1/23/2024 • 7 minutes, 48 seconds
Boston Police Commissioner talks change in the department, and what it means for the city
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox joins us to discuss changes and reform in the Boston Police Department. Then, we get analysis from WBUR's Deborah Becker and Yawu Miller, formerly of the Bay State Banner.
1/23/2024 • 39 minutes, 39 seconds
Local teacher, filmmaker to spotlight inner cities school systems in latest documentary
Local teacher and filmmaker Noube Rateau hopes to spotlight local struggles and triumphs in urban schools for his latest documentary.
1/22/2024 • 13 minutes, 27 seconds
New study finds benefits to METCO. But the program faces an uncertain future
Kids who participate in the METCO busing program, designed in the 1960s to desegregate Boston Public Schools, score better on state tests and are more likely to attend college than peers not in the program, according to a new study. But could funding uncertainty threaten the popular program's future?
1/22/2024 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
Annual cookbook features recipes and stories from immigrant students at Lowell High School
For the past six years, teacher Jessica Lander of Lowell High School has worked with immigrant students in her U.S. History 2 seminar to write a cookbook. Each student brings a recipe from home. We hear from Lander, along with two students, about this year's book and what their dishes mean to them.
1/22/2024 • 17 minutes
Boston Palestine Film Festival offers glimpse into Palestinian life before war
The Boston Palestine Film Festival is marking its 17th run this weekend. We're joined by Michael Maria, director of programming for the Palestine Film Festival, and Erin Trahan, arts reporter, critic, and educator specializing in independent film.
1/19/2024 • 14 minutes, 14 seconds
Privacy and public interest collide in legal battle over names in sex ring case
The names of alleged clients of a high-end sex ring remain anonymous, more than two months after authorities uncovered the ring's operations in Watertown and Cambridge.
And now, a delay in court proceedings is casting doubt on when—and if— we may ever find out who the alleged buyers are.
1/19/2024 • 16 minutes, 14 seconds
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern on finding compromise to avoid a government shutdown
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, of Massachusetts, joins Radio Boston to discuss efforts this week to avoid a government shutdown and how he hopes to find compromise with lawmakers across the aisle.
1/19/2024 • 15 minutes, 58 seconds
Boston's The Theater Offensive names new executive director
This month, The Theater Offensive named Giselle Byrd as their executive director, claiming her as the first Black trans woman to lead a regional theater in the country. Radio Boston speaks with Byrd about the role and her vision for the theater company.
1/18/2024 • 16 minutes, 26 seconds
Bristol County Sheriff talks providing addiction medication to those who are incarcerated
Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux is pushing for reform in prison. Heroux joins Radio Boston to talk about latest effort is expanding a program providing addiction medication. Then, WBUR's Deb Becker joins us for analysis.
1/18/2024 • 18 minutes
Mass. program aims to rehabilitate, not incarcerate, youth offenders
Radio Boston delves into a youth diversion program that gives young people support instead of putting them into the juvenile detention system.
1/18/2024 • 12 minutes, 17 seconds
Previewing Healey's first State of the Commonwealth address
Ed Lyons, Massachusetts Republican activist and political writer, and Gary Daffin, Executive Director, Multicultural AIDS Coalition and Co-Chair Massachusetts LGBTQ Political Caucus, join us to preview Governor Maura Healey's first State of the Commonwealth address.
1/17/2024 • 13 minutes, 56 seconds
What canceled boosts to cash assistance programs means for low-income recipients
A planned 10% hike to cash assistance programs for low-income parents, as well as elderly and disabled people, is on the chopping block as part of mid-fiscal year state budget cuts.
1/17/2024 • 16 minutes
Inside the T's Tuesday morning collapse
A smoking electrical cable at Downtown Crossing station snarled service on the MBTA's Red and Orange Lines Tuesday. That, with much of the Green Line already shut down for repairs, left commuters twisting in the wind.
1/17/2024 • 12 minutes, 44 seconds
Boston’s Dray Drinks wants to help you go dry for January
Radio Boston tried out some drinks with Pat Dooling, owner of the non-alcoholic bottle shop Dray Drinks.
1/16/2024 • 14 minutes, 50 seconds
Digging into Mayor Wu's plan to make it easier to build in Boston
Could Mayor Michelle Wu's new Squares and Streets plan help ease the city's housing shortage?
1/16/2024 • 17 minutes, 28 seconds
It's owl season in Massachusetts. Here's how to spot them
WBUR's Hanna Ali joins us to talk all things owls, including how people can see and hear them this month through Mass Audubon's 'Owl Prowls.'
1/16/2024 • 9 minutes, 49 seconds
Reflecting on what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would think of the world in 2024
In a special hour of Radio Boston, we mark Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by looking ahead to 2024: what's on our minds, what needs to happen, and what should happen in the coming year.
1/15/2024 • 46 minutes, 21 seconds
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: 'Very concerned about expanding war' in the Middle East
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins Radio Boston to discuss U.S. strikes in Yemen, her conditions for providing aid in Israel, avoiding a government shutdown on Capitol Hill and efforts to bring more federal funding to the commonwealth.
1/12/2024 • 20 minutes, 50 seconds
Can Bostonians learn to love the T?
The MBTA is undergoing major repairs this year, with a stated goal of eliminating subway slow zones by the end of 2024. But is it too late to convince Bostonians that public transit is the way of the future?
1/11/2024 • 13 minutes, 8 seconds
Mass. Senate President outlines her priorities for 2024
Massachusetts Senate President Karen lays out an ambitious agenda for 2024. Then, WBUR's Walter Wuthmann provides analysis on what he's expecting from Beacon Hill this year.
1/11/2024 • 19 minutes, 3 seconds
New England's Bill Belichick era ends as the coach parts ways with Patriots
We talk about what's next for Bill Belichick and the Patriots after the two sides mutually parted ways Thursday.
1/11/2024 • 15 minutes, 46 seconds
Nine-year-old Brockton actress gets big break in 'Good Burger 2'
Alexis Turner and her mother, Antoinette Toney, join Radio Boston to talk about Alexis' role in the new movie "Good Burger 2".
1/10/2024 • 9 minutes, 31 seconds
Why Massachusetts Buick dealers are backing away from electric vehicles
Boston Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray breaks down the hesitance among some Massachusetts car dealers to go all-in on EVs.
1/10/2024 • 12 minutes, 27 seconds
Affordable housing development in Boston faces a key obstacle: cost
WBUR reporter Simón Rios' latest story explores a planned affordable housing development above a library in the West End that's expected to cost more than $800,000 per unit to build.
1/10/2024 • 18 minutes, 13 seconds
Massachusetts tightens its belt
Gov. Maura Healey is cutting spending to help make up for six straight months of lower-than-expected tax collections.
1/9/2024 • 15 minutes, 24 seconds
Previewing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's second State of the City address
WBUR's Walter Wuthmann and former Boston Mayor Kim Janey join Radio Boston to preview Tuesday night's State of the City address. We dive into what they're expecting to hear and what's at stake.
1/9/2024 • 11 minutes, 50 seconds
'American Born Chinese' turns 18 this year. We look at how the graphic novel still resonates today
"American Born Chinese" came out nearly 20 years ago, but it's messages still resonate with many readers, including in Massachusetts. We speak with a 10th grader who won a local contest for a letter he wrote to author Gene Luen Yang about the story. Then, we hear from Gene and Boston University's Joel Christian Gill.
1/9/2024 • 18 minutes, 47 seconds
Boston's newly re-opened archaeology lab connects the past with the present
The city of Boston has collected more than 1 million artifacts through its Archaeology Program over the past 40 years. Here's a look at some of those artifacts, including the oldest artifact ever found to date in Boston.
1/8/2024 • 45 minutes, 16 seconds
Reflecting back on what Jan. 6 could mean for this year's presidential election
1/5/2024 • 8 minutes, 43 seconds
The move to strike Trump's name from the Massachusetts primary ballot
A challenge brought by former attorney general candidate Shannon Liss-Riordan, along with law firm Free Speech for the People, cites the 14th Amendment and seeks to remove Donald Trump from ballots in Massachusetts.
1/5/2024 • 21 minutes, 54 seconds
Could Sunday be Bill Belichick's last ride with the New England Patriots?
Radio Boston previews what could be Bill Belichick's last game as coach of the New England Patriots.
1/5/2024 • 16 minutes, 28 seconds
New institute could revolutionize Kendall Square, Boston's place in AI industry
Radio Boston digs into how the Boston Dynamics AI Institute hopes to use a $400 million investment to turn Kendall Square into a global hub where robotics and AI meet.
1/4/2024 • 6 minutes, 26 seconds
Dozens to read 'Moby Dick' for 25 hours straight in annual New Bedford tradition
This weekend, book enthusiasts will take part in the 28th annual Moby Dick Marathon. Over 25 hours, they'll take turns reading the celebrated Herman Melville novel either virtually and in person.
1/4/2024 • 13 minutes, 38 seconds
Ruthzee Louijeune, Boston City Council's first Haitian-American president, outlines priorities
The second-term Boston City councilor was sworn in as council president this week and pledges to run a more civil council.
1/4/2024 • 16 minutes, 55 seconds
State's fiscal outlook murky as tax cuts take effect
Expenses are piling up on Beacon Hill amid a string of disappointing tax revenue reports.
1/4/2024 • 9 minutes, 21 seconds
What Harvard President Claudine Gay's resignation means for higher education
Radio Boston discusses Harvard President Claudine Gay’s resignation. The university’s first Black president was accused of plagiarism and an inadequate response to allegations of antisemitism on campus. After a pressure campaign from activists, donors and Republican lawmakers, Gay resigned.
1/3/2024 • 23 minutes, 28 seconds
What to expect in business and labor in Massachusetts in 2024
Radio Boston reflects back on Massachusetts' business and labor in 2023 and looks ahead at important trends in 2024.
1/3/2024 • 46 minutes, 11 seconds
What history tells us about what to expect in Mass. and beyond in 2024
A panel of local historians join Radio Boston to look back on 2023 and tell us what lessons they want taken into 2024.
1/3/2024 • 45 minutes, 10 seconds
Unpacking Claudine Gay's brief, embattled time as Harvard's president
WBUR education reporter Max Larkin and Claire Yuan, associate managing editor of the Harvard Crimson, the school's student-run newspaper, join Radio Boston to discuss the recent swirl of controversies that prompted Claudine Gay to resign from her post as Harvard University president.
1/3/2024 • 23 minutes, 44 seconds
Is this Boston movie a new Christmas classic?
Radio Boston discusses the Oscar-buzzy new film "The Holdovers" with film critic Ty Burr.
12/22/2023 • 15 minutes, 23 seconds
Unique holiday traditions can create community across religions and cultures
Radio Boston hosted a multicultural holiday celebration with three special guests to learn about how unique holiday traditions can bridge divides between people from different backgrounds.
12/22/2023 • 17 minutes, 17 seconds
Uncertainty for Mass. shelter system heading into the holidays
Radio Boston tracks two stories from Massachusetts' struggling emergency shelter system.
12/22/2023 • 14 minutes, 14 seconds
Holiday treats and essential baking tips from two local chefs
Just in time for the holidays, two chefs open up their recipe books to Radio Boston to share must-bake cookie recipes.
12/22/2023 • 8 minutes, 7 seconds
MBTA chief Eng tells Radio Boston the transit system's culture is improving
It's been a little over a month since MBTA General Manager and CEO Phil Eng launched an elaborate repair blitz for Boston's crumbling subway system. Eng joins Radio Boston for a progress report.
12/21/2023 • 38 minutes, 43 seconds
What is higher education's place in today's political climate?
Helen Drinan, former president of Simmons University in Boston and current president of Cabrini University in Pennsylvania, and Harleen Singh, Director of the Women's Studies Research Center and Senior Associate Provost for Faculty and Global Affairs at Brandeis University, join the show to talk about the present and future of higher learning.
12/20/2023 • 20 minutes, 38 seconds
New book 'Within Reason' asks us to take a more thoughtful approach to public health
Dr. Sandro Galea, an epidemiologist, professor and dean of Boston University's School of Public Health, asks what we've learned from COVID-19 in his new book "Within Reason: A Liberal Public Health for an Illiberal Time." Galea joins Radio Boston to discuss.
12/20/2023 • 22 minutes, 21 seconds
New Bedford guitarist Quinn Sullivan brings the blues
Guitarist extraordinaire and New Bedford native Quinn Sullivan brings a taste of the blues to Radio Boston.
12/20/2023 • 17 minutes, 52 seconds
Making arancini from scratch with chef Joe Gatto
Radio Boston makes arancini, fried rice balls originating from Siciliy, with chef Joe Gatto.
12/19/2023 • 13 minutes, 16 seconds
Mayor Wu is optimistic about the future of Boston Public Schools
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says she's approaching the new calendar year feeling hope about the future of Boston Public Schools. During an interview on Radio Boston Monday, she credited BPS superintendent Mary Skipper for much of her optimism.
12/18/2023 • 46 minutes, 34 seconds
On the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, who gets called a 'patriot'?
Wellesley College's Kellie Carter Jackson explores the legacy of the Boston Tea Party through the idea of who gets called a rebel and who gets called a revolutionary.
12/15/2023 • 12 minutes, 8 seconds
On the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, who gets called a 'patriot'?
Wellesley College's Kellie Carter Jackson explores the legacy of the Boston Tea Party through the idea of who gets called a rebel and who gets called a revolutionary.
12/15/2023 • 12 minutes, 8 seconds
How a doll named Polly Sumner witnessed the Boston Tea Party
Polly Sumner is a doll that's been on display at Boston's Old State House since 1919. Before that, the lore goes, Polly was on one of the ships that held the tea party tea.
12/15/2023 • 9 minutes, 37 seconds
How a doll named Polly Sumner witnessed the Boston Tea Party
Polly Sumner is a doll that's been on display at Boston's Old State House since 1919. Before that, the lore goes, Polly was on one of the ships that held the tea party tea.
12/15/2023 • 9 minutes, 37 seconds
A look at the history and legacy of the Boston Tea Party
On Friday, Massachusetts launched official events marking the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. We talk about this watershed moment of Boston, and American, history and its legacy.
12/15/2023 • 20 minutes, 37 seconds
A look at the history and legacy of the Boston Tea Party
On Friday, Massachusetts launched official events marking the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. We talk about this watershed moment of Boston, and American, history and its legacy.
12/15/2023 • 20 minutes, 37 seconds
Rep. Seth Moulton on the latest in the Middle East, Ukraine
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton join Radio Boston from Capitol Hill, where military aid for Ukraine is tied up in negotiations over next steps at America's southern border.
12/14/2023 • 22 minutes, 17 seconds
Massachusetts' electric vehicle push is stuck in the mud. Charging stations are part of the reason
Boston Globe reporter Aaron Pressman joins the show to discuss how a lack of charging stations is contributing to the slow electric vehicle transition.
12/14/2023 • 11 minutes, 47 seconds
Boston's 'Black Nativity' celebrates 53 years of Christmas joy
Boston's production of the Langton Hughes' classic "Black Nativity" closes this weekend. Barry Gaither, director of the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, and Adult Choral Director Milton Wright join Radio Boston to reflect on the show, which is celebrating its 53rd year.
12/14/2023 • 13 minutes, 14 seconds
How one expert believes we can do philanthropy right this season
Makeeba McCreary, president of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund and co-author of a WBUR Cognoscenti piece about equitable and sustainable giving, joins Radio Boston to talk about how to give better this holiday season.
12/14/2023 • 15 minutes, 10 seconds
How 2 local textiles artists teach peace and community through mending workshops
Rev. Laura Everett and Vernee Wilkinson teach classes on sewing and the history of textiles in New England under the name of "Mending Church." Radio Boston speaks to the pair to learn why they feel the act of mending teaches participants in visible and invisible ways.
12/14/2023 • 11 minutes, 28 seconds
A conversation with Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler
Radio Boston sits down with Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutweiler to discuss pandemic recovery, chronic absenteeism, and other pressing education issues.
12/13/2023 • 9 minutes, 14 seconds
How one mother is fighting against opioid deaths by allowing people to use drugs at her home
WBUR's Martha Bebinger joins us to talk about a mother who allows people she knows and trusts to use drugs at her home. It’s an informal version of the controversial overdose prevention centers, also known as supervised consumption sites, where trained staff supervise people using drugs.
12/13/2023 • 23 minutes, 50 seconds
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu endorses Haley for 2024 GOP nominee
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu appeared alongside former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley at a campaign stop Tuesday night to announce his support for Haley's bid for the Republican Presidential nomination. WBUR political correspondent Anthony Brooks joins Radio Boston to discuss.
12/13/2023 • 10 minutes, 24 seconds
As NoHo Hank in 'Barry,' Winchester native Anthony Carrigan has carved out space for himself in Hollywood
Actor Anthony Carrigan plays the tender, lethal, fashionable Chechen mobster NoHo Hank in the HBO hit series "Barry." He joins Radio Boston to reflect on his roots and career.
12/13/2023 • 13 minutes, 14 seconds
How to keep COVID, flu and RSV at bay during the holidays
Dr. Sabrina Assoumou of Boston Medical Center and Dr. Shira Doron of Tufts Medical Center join the show to give us the latest on our least favorite holiday tradition: respiratory viruses.
12/12/2023 • 11 minutes, 11 seconds
Harvard says it's sticking with Claudine Gay. What's next for the university?
WBUR education reporter Max Larkin joins the show discuss to the news that Harvard will keep Claudine Gay as its president.
12/12/2023 • 9 minutes, 14 seconds
Headaches and hope for T riders as system repairs forge ahead
Radio Boston breaks down the ongoing T system repair with the Boston Globe's Taylor Dolven, and Brian Kane of the MBTA Advisory Board.
12/12/2023 • 13 minutes, 45 seconds
Comedian Gary Gulman on his childhood in Peabody, upcoming special
Radio Boston talks with stand-up comic Gary Gulman. Gulman's new comedy special, "Born on 3rd Base," is available to stream on Max Dec. 21.
12/12/2023 • 12 minutes, 43 seconds
‘Murder in Boston’ documentary sheds light on the Charles Stuart case that set city aflame
Adrian Walker of the Boston Globe and Boston historian and journalist Dart Adams joined Radio Boston to reflect on the 1989 Charles Stuart case.
12/11/2023 • 18 minutes, 44 seconds
Harvard President Claudine Gay receives anger and support after congressional hearing
Harvard President Claudine Gay enters this week in a midst of a firestorm, after testimony on Capitol Hill last week about antisemitism and free speech riled some members of the University's community.
12/11/2023 • 7 minutes, 26 seconds
For the first time, the gender wage gap in Greater Boston shrank. But the racial wage gap continued to grow
According to a report released this week from the Boston Women's Workforce Council, the gender wage gap in Greater Boston shrank, while the racial wage gap grew. We talk about why, and what to do next.
12/8/2023 • 15 minutes, 36 seconds
A conversation with Toni Lynn Washington, Boston's 'Queen of Soul and Blues'
Radio Boston talks with singer Toni Lynn Washington and WBUR arts contributor Noah Schaffer ahead of a celebration of Washington's career at Regent Theatre in Arlington.
12/8/2023 • 11 minutes, 41 seconds
How to shop locally and sustainably for the holidays
Radio Boston talks with Boston Globe senior opinion writer and fashion designer Kimberly Atkins Stohr, who authored a new series arguing that that the textile industry is broken — but we can do our part to make fashion more sustainable and equitable.
12/7/2023 • 10 minutes, 58 seconds
Gov. Healey talks about what her new economic development plan means for the state
"I've said for a long time now, the greatest challenge facing our state really is housing and a lack of housing that people can afford," said Healey on WBUR's Radio Boston Thursday.
12/7/2023 • 35 minutes, 21 seconds
Why misinformation expert Joan Donovan filed a whistleblower complaint against Harvard
Radio Boston talks with Joan Donovan, the misinformation scholar who claims Harvard University stopped supporting her work at the same time the school received a donation from Facebook's founder.
12/6/2023 • 10 minutes, 23 seconds
Why we keep sending out holiday letters — no matter how stressful it is
Laura McTaggart, contributor for WBUR's Cognoscenti, and local comedian Bethany Van Delft joined Radio Boston to talk about their traditions of sending holiday cards and letters.
12/6/2023 • 10 minutes, 51 seconds
After weeks of uncertainty, Beacon Hill green-lights extra money for shelter system
After weeks of back-and-forth, state lawmakers passed a supplemental budget on Monday. Gov. Maura Healey signed it as soon as it landed on her desk.
12/5/2023 • 11 minutes, 29 seconds
Banners in Roxbury's Grove Hall honor Black women leaders, past and present
More than 200 banners are now hung around Roxbury honoring Black women leaders in the city. Radio Boston is joined by Ed Gaskin is the executive director of Grove Hall Main Streets, which is hosting the project, and Priscilla Douglas, who is on a banner as the was the state's first Black woman cabinet secretary.
12/5/2023 • 10 minutes, 2 seconds
Checking in on Mass. and Cass a month after the tent sweep
WBUR senior correspondent Deborah Becker joins Radio Boston to discuss what happens to people who come to "Mass. and Cass" for addiction services after the city cleared tent encampments.
12/5/2023 • 9 minutes, 19 seconds
Rep. Lori Trahan takes place in key Democratic Caucus position ahead of 2024 election
Radio Boston talks with Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan, who will co-chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Commission at a critical time ahead of the 2024 election.
12/4/2023 • 13 minutes, 53 seconds
Your favorite classic Christmas music might have New England ties
Radio Boston revisits its 2021 conversation with Joe Bennett, a professor and musicologist at Berklee School of Music, about some local Christmas classics that we've come to love over the years.
12/4/2023 • 9 minutes, 20 seconds
How 'Boston Ball' changed the way basketball is played
Clayton Trutor, author of the book "Boston Ball," joined Radio Boston to talk about how a revival of fast, scrappy basketball in 1980s Boston helped change the way basketball is played today.
12/4/2023 • 5 minutes, 57 seconds
What state lawmakers are debating as they try to pass a supplemental budget
Chris Van Buskirk of the Boston Herald joins us from the State House to talk about what's at stake as lawmakers try to come to a consensus on a nearly $3 billion supplemental budget. Raises for 100,000 state employees and critical funding for the state's family shelter system hang in the balance.
12/1/2023 • 10 minutes, 9 seconds
Members of this prison debate league are scoring wins on and off the stage
Radio Boston talks with Daniel Throop and George Vicente of the National Prison Debate League. The two men were part of a team of formerly incarcerated people who recently debated against university students at a competition in Maryland and won.
12/1/2023 • 14 minutes, 47 seconds
Wu on the latest at 'Mass. and Cass,' her transportation goals and Boston's winter plans
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins Radio Boston to discuss the latest at the area known as "Mass. and Cass," her transportation goals for 2024 and the city's winter plans.
11/30/2023 • 30 minutes, 41 seconds
When will you be able to visit a cannabis café in Massachusetts?
Radio Boston talks with Cannabis Control Commission Bruce Stebbins about where cannabis cafés stand today.
11/29/2023 • 7 minutes, 18 seconds
Sen. Warren calls for two-state solution for Israel and Gaza
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is calling for peace between Israel and Hamas, but stopped short of calling for a permanent ceasefire. Instead, Warren said peace means a political solution, a so-called two-state solution.
11/29/2023 • 16 minutes, 55 seconds
Kendall Square was almost a central hub for NASA — until the plan fell apart
Boston Globe reporter Scott Kirsner joins Radio Boton to talk about the unrealized promise of Kendall Square as a key NASA hub and what it could've meant for the region.
11/29/2023 • 6 minutes, 41 seconds
Conductor Keith Lockhart reflects on 50 years of Holiday Pops and previews what's to come
Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart joins Radio Boston to preview this year's Holiday Pops. The annual holiday tradition turns 50 this year and we look back on what five decades of the Holiday Pops means for the city and the region.
11/29/2023 • 12 minutes, 35 seconds
What happened to the New England Patriots?
After this Sunday's loss, the Patriots, once one of football's greatest dynasties, is now the third-worst team in the league. And it looks like Bill Belichick's time could soon be up in Foxborough.
11/29/2023 • 7 minutes, 18 seconds
How to take care of your mental health during the holiday season
For many, the holidays are a time of fun and hope. But for others, the holiday season is a low point. Being in a region where the sun sets by 5 p.m. until late January doesn't help.
11/29/2023 • 10 minutes, 43 seconds
In Newton, a bitter battle over multifamily houses
In Newton, where median home value surpasses $1.5 million, city leaders are in the midst of a contentious fight over how to comply with a state law that requires zoning for more dense housing near MBTA stops.
11/27/2023 • 17 minutes, 15 seconds
Rep. Andy Vargas talks the importance of multifamily zoning amid debate in MBTA communities
Rep. Andy Vargas talks about the MBTA Communities Act, the landmark housing law he championed, and how the debate around the law is playing out in communities.
11/27/2023 • 13 minutes, 8 seconds
Mass. Historical Society podcast explores momentous and bizarre objects from history
The Massachusetts Historical Society preserves hundreds of objects from the commonwealth's history. Some of those items and their pasts are the subject of a podcast from the organization called "The Object of History."
11/27/2023 • 12 minutes, 14 seconds
Why the OpenAI drama matters in Massachusetts
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is back at his post, less than a week after the company's board fired him. The chaos is sending shockwaves through the tech industry, and it could have real implications for Greater Boston and beyond.
11/27/2023 • 18 minutes, 38 seconds
Hidden North Shore history as told through Marblehead's signature rum and molasses cookie
Joe Frogger cookies have been featured on the menu at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
11/22/2023 • 11 minutes, 30 seconds
How some families and providers are centering love when helping those suffering from addiction
Overdose deaths reached an all-time high in the state last year. This has experts and loved-ones alike scrambling for new approaches. We hear about one that centers support, rather than tough love.
11/22/2023 • 16 minutes, 27 seconds
Play at Old South Meeting House details Phillis Wheatley's life in Boston in 1773
Phillis Wheatley's first published work of poems was among the cargo of the ship that rebels board the night of the Boston Tea Party. Her quest to the books back is the subject of a play on now at Old South Meeting House.
11/22/2023 • 13 minutes, 39 seconds
The MBTA's $24.5 billion maintenance problem
A new assessment from the MBTA estimates that it would cost $24.5 billion to bring the T into a state of good repair. We peel back the layers of that eye-popping number with former Massachusetts Assistant Secretary of Transportation Chris Dempsey.
11/22/2023 • 20 minutes, 59 seconds
What Boston's chefs and restaurateurs cook for Thanksgiving
It's time for a Radio Boston Friendsgiving! Local chefs and restauranteurs share with us what they eat on Thanksgiving.
11/20/2023 • 46 minutes, 8 seconds
Reflecting on 20 years of marriage equality in Massachusetts
On the 20th anniversary of the Goodridge decision, we talk with Hillary Goodridge, one of the lead plaintiffs in the court case that created marriage equality in Massachusetts, as well as Margaret Marshall, the former Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court chief justice who wrote the opinion in the Goodridge case.
11/17/2023 • 48 minutes, 24 seconds
New novel shows the journey of a women who sues her Boston publisher for back wages
Author Virginia Pye joins us to talk about the history of publishing and women in Boston during the 19th century in her new book "The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann."
11/16/2023 • 13 minutes, 27 seconds
How workplaces are grappling with diversity, equity and inclusion in a post-affirmative action world
Boston Globe reporter Aaron Pressman and a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strategist Lawrence Alexander talk about diversity in workplaces, especially in Boston's tech industry.
11/16/2023 • 12 minutes, 13 seconds
Here are some ways to brave the cold and get outside
Winter is a season when the swirling snow drift seems to be sending mixed messages: Beware the biting wind! Look how pretty it is out here! What to do?
11/16/2023 • 13 minutes, 38 seconds
Inside the scramble to find migrant families a place to sleep
Now that the state has reached its self-imposed cap on families in the shelter system, newly arrived migrants are running out of places to stay.
11/16/2023 • 6 minutes, 56 seconds
Winter is coming. Here's how to apply for heating assistance
WBUR's Miriam Wasser, and Mary Knittle, of the Worcester Community Action Council, explain what we can expect from energy prices this winter, and how to apply for heating assistance if you need it.
11/15/2023 • 13 minutes, 32 seconds
How the war in Israel and Gaza is reverberating on college campuses
WBUR education reporter Max Larkin joins Radio Boston to talk about how the Israel-Hamas war is reverberating on college campuses.
11/15/2023 • 17 minutes, 21 seconds
How two local companies are joining forces to feed Haitian migrants in Massachusetts
Radio Boston checks in with Nathalie Lecorps, the owner and head chef at Gourmet Kreyol, about her mission to feed Haitian migrants in Massachusetts.
11/15/2023 • 17 minutes, 2 seconds
Stressed about cooking Thanksgiving dinner? Here are tips to make the day manageable, and fun
Thanksgiving is next week, and things can get pretty stressful. Chef Joe Gatto joins us to share tips on how to make the holiday more fun, and manageable.
11/14/2023 • 15 minutes, 28 seconds
What's next for the rent control movement in Massachusetts
The effort to put rent control on the ballot next fall failed after advocates couldn't get enough signatures. We speak with state Rep. Mike Connolly and Boston Globe reporter Catherine Carlock about what could be next for the campaign.
11/14/2023 • 17 minutes, 14 seconds
100 years ago, the first Black performer sang at the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Tomorrow will mark 100 years since tenor soloist Roland Hayes sang at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was the first time a Black performer at appeared in front of the BSO. We learn more about his legacy and what it means for classical music today.
11/14/2023 • 14 minutes, 28 seconds
The latest on Massachusetts' emergency family shelter system
Thursday, the number of households in the state emergency shelter system hit a new cap of 7,500 families set by Gov. Maura Healey. Radio Boston hears the latest from WBUR's Gabrielle Emanuel, plus learns what the need for housing looks like now from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Catholic Charities.
11/13/2023 • 19 minutes, 35 seconds
Monica Tibbits-Nutt permanently appointed MassDOT secretary
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has a new leader, from inside its ranks. Monica Tibbits-Nutt has officially been appointed to the position, after nearly two months serving as the department’s interim secretary and chief executive.
11/13/2023 • 14 minutes, 2 seconds
How Massachusetts plays a part in America's 'Gun Machine'
Radio Boston talks with the host and producer of the WBUR podcast "The Gun Machine" about Massachusetts' past, present and future with gun culture.
11/13/2023 • 13 minutes, 7 seconds
MBTA unveils plan to eliminate all T slow zones
MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng announced a plan Thursday to shut down various parts of the T for a total of 188 days through the next year, with the stated goal of eliminating all slow zones across the system.
11/9/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Recapping the third Republican presidential primary debate
Five candidates pitched themselves to voters in the third Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday night ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Did New Englanders hear anything that could sway their vote?
11/9/2023 • 5 minutes, 55 seconds
Two friends seek to bridge the divide between Israelis and Palestinians with love
Radio Boston spoke with an Israeli man and Palestinian woman from Greater Boston about how their friendship models what they hope to see in a divided world.
11/9/2023 • 20 minutes, 32 seconds
Election recap: Wu allies win big and state Republican party shows signs of life
All three of the candidates Boston Mayor Michelle Wu endorsed for open City Council posts won seats yesterday. Plus, Republicans flipped a state Senate seat in central Massachusetts that had previously been held by a Democrat.
11/8/2023 • 12 minutes, 57 seconds
New research uncovers a pseudonym potentially used by author Louisa May Alcott
Radio Boston learns more about new research that links author Louisa May Alcott with more than a dozen titles written under a potentially previously undiscovered pseudonym.
11/8/2023 • 13 minutes, 7 seconds
A look the history of clemency in Mass. and how Gov. Healey is using it now
We explore the history of clemency in Massachusetts, and how Governor Maura Healey is tackling it in her administration.
11/8/2023 • 20 minutes, 54 seconds
PAC money showers Massachusetts elections
We take a look at the dynamics underpinning today's municipal elections across the commonwealth.
11/8/2023 • 14 minutes, 58 seconds
Local company's AI-generated employee raises ethical questions
Radio Boston spoke with a local company that created a fake AI profile on LinkedIn and the Boston Globe reporter who discovered and wrote about it the ethics of creating AI employees and what the future of the workforce holds.
11/7/2023 • 17 minutes, 31 seconds
How to protect yourself from the 'tripledemic' of COVID-19, flu and RSV this winter
Radio Boston talks with two Boston infectious disease doctors about how to stay safe from COVID-19, RSV and the flu this fall and winter.
11/6/2023 • 15 minutes, 49 seconds
Voters will give Boston's embattled City Council a remodel Tuesday
Infighting, resentment, and legal trouble have besieged Boston's city council over the past year and a half. Now, the council is getting a makeover. Four district seats, as well as one at-large post, are open and up for grabs in Tuesday's municipal elections.
11/6/2023 • 15 minutes, 47 seconds
Boston public health director talks about what's next at 'Mass. and Cass'
Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, joins Radio Boston to talk about what's next at 'Mass. and Cass' now that encampments have been removed and how her office plans to support those who used to live there.
11/6/2023 • 15 minutes, 3 seconds
Rep. Jim McGovern on what leadership needs to look like in Congress right now
Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern joins Radio Boston to talk about a looming government shutdown and whether compromise is possible in the House to avoid one. Plus, his calls for a ceasefire in Israel and what needs to happen next in the Middle East.
11/3/2023 • 19 minutes, 1 second
Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling looms over students of color during college application season
Radio Boston talks with a local high school student and two college advisors about the experience of students of color applying to college amid new affirmative action rules.
11/3/2023 • 13 minutes, 25 seconds
Looking at the legacy of former Gov. Michael Dukakis on his 90th birthday
Former three-term Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis turns 90 Friday. Radio Boston takes a look at his legacy in the commonwealth, from strong investments in children and the MBTA, to the signing of the so called "right-to-shelter" law in 1983.
11/3/2023 • 14 minutes, 31 seconds
Healey scores a court victory, plan to cap family shelter capacity will proceed
A state court's decision yesterday will allow Governor Healey to proceed with her plan to implement a waitlist for family shelter. WBUR senior health and science reporter Gabrielle Emanuel joins Radio Boston to discuss.
11/2/2023 • 12 minutes, 6 seconds
New Bedford is booming. But who's benefiting?
WBUR reporters Simon Rios and Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez bring their reporting on New Bedford's housing and transportation developments to Radio Boston.
11/2/2023 • 13 minutes, 56 seconds
Breaking down Massachusetts’ lawsuit against Meta
Boston Globe reporter Aaron Pressman joins the show for a new Tech Talk on Massachusetts' lawsuit against social media giant Meta.
11/2/2023 • 10 minutes, 57 seconds
Medway family crosses from Gaza into Egypt after weeks of tense waiting
Radio Boston checks in with WBUR senior correspondent Deborah Becker, who's been in touch with a Massachusetts family that crossed the border from Gaza into Egypt after being stuck on the strip since Oct. 7.
11/2/2023 • 8 minutes, 39 seconds
Mass. secretary of veterans' services wants to rebuild trust in veteran care
Dr. Jon Santiago, secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans’ Services, joins Radio Boston to discuss his priorities ahead of Veteran's Day.
11/1/2023 • 15 minutes, 40 seconds
Can Boston’s Seaport district be saved from the rising sea?
Radio Boston spoke with Boston Globe reporter David Abel about his film “Inundation District,” which explores the future of the Seaport district and what's at stake as sea levels rise.
11/1/2023 • 10 minutes, 48 seconds
Gov. Healey announces overhaul of executive clemency guidelines
Her office said these guidelines "explicitly outline" for the first time how a governor will deploy executive clemency as a tool to "address unfairness and systemic bias in the criminal justice system."
10/31/2023 • 46 minutes, 50 seconds
Exhibit looks at how to restore justice to those accused during the Salem Witch Trials
Radio Boston learns more about the new exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum called: "The Salem Witch Trials: Restoring Justice." It explores the trials and their aftermath through court documents and physical objects owned by those accused and the accusers.
10/30/2023 • 15 minutes, 22 seconds
Lewiston community looks to heal after death of suspected shooter
Radio Boston hears the latest on the Lewiston, Maine shootings with Boston Globe reporter Samantha Gross and looks ahead to the healing process with two grief counselors.
10/30/2023 • 18 minutes, 22 seconds
Two historic homes in Plymouth are up for sale, complete with potential paranormal roommates
Plymouth's 31 and 35 North St. are on the market. But there's also rumors that the homes are haunted. Radio Boston learns about the history of the buildings and how rumored paranormal activity may impact the buying and selling of houses in Massachusetts.
10/30/2023 • 13 minutes, 12 seconds
In Maine, a manhunt continues and a community waits in apprehension
Radio Boston checks in on Lewiston, Maine, where police are hunting for Robert Card, the suspect in the mass shootings Wednesday that killed 18 people.
10/27/2023 • 17 minutes, 31 seconds
Local comedians discuss how to laugh in times of crisis
Radio Boston talks with local comedians, Ken Reid and Bethany Van Delft, after a difficult few weeks of news.
10/27/2023 • 12 minutes, 35 seconds
Drew Faust explores creating 'Necessary Trouble' in new memoir
Historian and former Harvard President Drew Faust joined Radio Boston to talk about her new book, "Necessary Trouble".
10/27/2023 • 16 minutes, 57 seconds
Rep. Lori Trahan reacts to election of new House speaker
Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan joins Radio Boston from Washington, D.C., where Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson was elected Speaker of the House on Wednesday.
10/26/2023 • 15 minutes, 32 seconds
A look at what's next for those living in tents and encampments near 'Mass. and Cass'
Tent encampments at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard can now be taken down by law enforcement, provided that people living there have been offered an alternative shelter space. On Wednesday, the Boston City Council approved the new rule, which was introduced by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu this summer.
10/26/2023 • 16 minutes, 12 seconds
Massachusetts native talks about lockdown experience at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine
Anntonia Taylor, a Lynnfield, Massachusetts native and senior at Bates College, joins Radio Boston from the school's campus, which is reeling in the wake of yesterday's mass shooting.
10/26/2023 • 8 minutes, 6 seconds
The state's emergency shelter system creeps toward capacity
Massachusetts' family shelter system is expected to reach 7,500 families by next week. At that point, Gov. Healey says, the state will no longer guarantee shelter for qualifying families.
10/26/2023 • 8 minutes, 10 seconds
Only a fraction of people eligible for paid family and medical leave program have accessed it
It's been a little under three years since the state's paid family and medical leave program took effect, but only a fraction of people have used it. We talk about why and how the state wants to get the word out more about it with WBUR senior business reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka.
10/25/2023 • 10 minutes, 27 seconds
A guide to the 2023 Boston Celtics for the casual fan
Radio Boston puts together a little field guide on what (and who) to watch for with the Boston Celtics this season.
10/25/2023 • 15 minutes, 32 seconds
What Boston's 400-year history can tell us about today
Author Daniel Dain joins Radio Boston to discuss his new book "A History of Boston."
10/25/2023 • 13 minutes, 51 seconds
How some older adults are finding new careers and passions later in life
WBUR's Anthony Brooks joins Radio Boston to talk about his reporting on how older adults are finding new careers, passions and directions after the age of 50.
10/24/2023 • 15 minutes, 26 seconds
New children's book 'Masked Hero' ties family history, public health and cultural pride together
Radio Boston spoke with Dr. Shan Woo Liu about the new children's book she wrote with her daughter, "Masked Hero."
10/24/2023 • 9 minutes, 10 seconds
Local program provides free housing to those traveling to Mass. for medical care
A local program called Hospitality Homes looks to offset the high costs of traveling to Mass. for healthcare by connect those visiting with free housing provided by volunteer hosts. We hear from a host and a visitor, as well as the head of the program about how it works.
10/24/2023 • 16 minutes, 20 seconds
What former slave quarters in Roxbury could teach us about Boston's history
The city uncovered the remains of slave quarters on the grounds of the Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury last year. The city archaeologist believes it one of the only known quarters of enslaved people remaining in New England.
10/23/2023 • 15 minutes, 43 seconds
As more school districts look to ban cell phones in classrooms, some local students embrace the change
Three local high schoolers, from three different school districts, join Radio Boston to talk about the benefits, and downsides, of limiting cell phone use in school. WBUR's Carrie Jung also joins us to discuss the broader push to ban cell phones in classrooms.
10/23/2023 • 18 minutes
Boston Public Schools are doubling down on fully inclusive special education
Radio Boston digs into Boston Public Schools' heavy emphasis on fully inclusive classrooms to help students with special needs.
10/23/2023 • 12 minutes, 42 seconds
Breaking down Healey's multibillion-dollar housing bond bill
The plan released this week would more broadly legalize certain types of housing construction, and funnel more than $1.5 billion to state public housing.
10/20/2023 • 11 minutes, 25 seconds
The Green Line Extension was built defective, and top officials knew about it
Yesterday, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng announced that miles of track on the less-than-one-year-old Green Line Extension were built too narrow. They'll need significant, labor-intensive repair.
The most shocking part: leaders at the T knew about the problems since April of 2021
10/20/2023 • 19 minutes, 17 seconds
A local chaplain reflects on the last two weeks of conflict in the Middle East
Radio Boston continues the conversation about the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza with local faith leaders with a local Muslim chaplain.
10/20/2023 • 16 minutes, 29 seconds
New project brings the thoughts of famous women in history to life
This year marks two decades since the Boston Women's Memorial was installed. It features statues of Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Lucy Stone. On Saturday, a new phase of the memorial will launch, allowing visitors to scan a QR code and hear the words written by the three women read out loud by three local women leaders.
10/19/2023 • 17 minutes, 40 seconds
Pharma companies want to change drug price negotiation rules. Should the government oblige?
Boston Globe reporter Rob Weisman joins Radio Boston to talk about the newest struggle over drug prices.
10/19/2023 • 9 minutes, 59 seconds
Rep. Moulton calls Israeli government's treatment of civilians in Gaza 'troubling'
Moulton did not call for an Israeli ceasefire, but said that the U.S. needs to "carefully calibrate" the support it is providing for Israel to make sure it isn't counterproductive or in violation of human rights.
10/19/2023 • 19 minutes, 28 seconds
Mayor Wu talks 'Mass. and Cass,' housing migrants and supporting local Israelis and Palestinians
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins us to talk about the latest at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, the state's decision to cap the number of migrant and homeless families it can house, how she's supporting local Israeli and Palestinian communities, and more.
10/18/2023 • 47 minutes, 1 second
Healey is capping the state's shelter capacity. What does that means for families in need?
This week, Gov. Healey announced that the state will cap the the number of families served by Massachusetts' shelter system at 7,500. Jeff Thielman, president of the International Institute of New England, and WBUR reporter Gabrielle Emanuel join Radio Boston to talk about the news.
10/17/2023 • 18 minutes, 29 seconds
Chef Joe Gatto makes cake pops as Halloween approaches
It's officially spooky season. To help satisfy our sweet tooth while we wait to trick or treat, we make cake pops on from scratch with Chef Joe Gatto.
10/17/2023 • 13 minutes, 15 seconds
Cuatrista Fabiola Méndez's music reflects journey of acceptance and cultural pride
Cuatrista Fabiola Méndez joined Radio Boston to talk about her pioneering style in Puerto Rican's national instrument and how it connects her to the Boston community.
10/17/2023 • 15 minutes, 59 seconds
Meet the 2023 Makers: 10 up and coming artists of color from Massachusetts
Radio Boston speaks with WBUR's Ari Gray and Amelia Mason about this year's Makers, 1 artists of color making waves in the state. Plus, we hear from two of the Makers: Kimaya Diggs and Szu-Chieh Yun.
10/16/2023 • 14 minutes, 1 second
Tensions continue at Harvard after a letter from student groups blamed Israel for Hamas attacks
WBUR education reporter Max Larkin joins Radio Boston to talk about tensions at Harvard University following a letter signed by student groups last weekend that argued Israel was to blame for the Hamas attacks.
10/16/2023 • 10 minutes, 11 seconds
African-born students shine as agents of change in documentary 'Brief Tender Light'
Radio Boston interviews Arthur Musah, director of "Brief Tender Light," about the journeys of five African-born MIT students, including himself, who were driven to study in the U.S. and create change at home.
10/16/2023 • 15 minutes, 21 seconds
Setting family rules around Halloween candy can get sticky
Radio Boston talks with local writers and parents Quiana Agbai and Jennie Weiner about the traditions and rules around Halloween candy in their households.
10/13/2023 • 11 minutes, 26 seconds
Presidential candidates gear up for New Hampshire primary amid tumult
WBUR senior political correspondent Anthony Brooks and Politico's Lisa Kashinsky join Radio Boston from the campaign trail in New Hampshire.
10/13/2023 • 17 minutes, 27 seconds
New exhibit looks at how Boston's skyline has changed over the decades
A new exhibit at the Boston Athenaeum showcases images of Boston taken 30 years apart by photographers Berenice Abbott and Irene Shwachman. Radio Boston spoke with assistant curator Lauren Graves about the photographers.
10/13/2023 • 17 minutes, 53 seconds
The MBTA wrestles with transparency
The MBTA hadd a handful of wins this week, but continues its struggle with its own opaqueness, evidenced by a podcast episode posted by the agency featuring General Manager Phillip Eng that was removed from the Internet earlier this month.
10/12/2023 • 31 minutes, 35 seconds
Bill Belichick has become the villain for Patriots fans. Is his time up?
Radio Boston dives into whether Patriots coach Bill Belichick has finally lost his fastball.
10/12/2023 • 15 minutes, 41 seconds
Master pumpkin carver brings spectacular jack-o'-lanterns to life
Radio Boston hosts a master pumpkin carver to give listeners some tips for Halloween.
10/11/2023 • 13 minutes, 3 seconds
How the war in Israel is reverberating across faiths in Greater Boston
Rev. Burns Stanfield, chair of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, a nonpartisan multi-faith membership organization, joins us to reflect on the war in Israel and Gaza.
10/11/2023 • 7 minutes, 13 seconds
Rep. Jake Auchincloss on war in Israel, House speaker suspense
Democratic Congressman Jake Auchincloss joins Radio Boston from Washington, D.C. as House Republicans meet behind closed doors to pick their candidate for House speaker.
10/11/2023 • 26 minutes, 26 seconds
Congressman Seth Moulton on conflict in Israel, House Speaker uncertainty
We talk with Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton as war brews abroad and uncertainty churns in the U.S. House.
10/10/2023 • 21 minutes, 56 seconds
Local paleontologist talks Massachusetts' prehistoric past
Radio Boston talks all things dinosaurs and prehistory with Eugenia Gold, an assistant biology professor at Suffolk University.
10/10/2023 • 13 minutes, 59 seconds
A local rabbi reacts to violence in Israel and Gaza
Radio Boston talks with rabbi Joel Sisenwine of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley about the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine as the death toll continues to grow.
10/10/2023 • 11 minutes, 27 seconds
New Ken Burns film explores the life and legacy of the American Buffalo
Filmmaker Ken Burns joins Radio Boston to discuss his new film "The American Buffalo" which explores the life and legacy of the country's national mammal. The film tells the story of the role of the Buffalo in Indigenous life, its systemic destruction at the hands of white Europeans and the eventual efforts to save the animal from extinction.
10/10/2023 • 27 minutes, 31 seconds
Rep. Pressley on Massachusetts delegation's united front amid congressional turmoil
Radio Boston talks about the upheaval on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.
10/6/2023 • 29 minutes, 49 seconds
A look at the controversy over new funding for a Boston police intelligence center
Supporters of the funding for the Boston Regional Intelligence Center, including Mayor Michelle Wu, say the center is a key policing tool that's undergone reforms to address concerns about discrimination. Opponents, including all five Black and Latino Boston city councilors, say the BRIC still engages in racial profiling.
10/6/2023 • 17 minutes, 28 seconds
Massachusetts' tax reform bill is now law. How big of a boost is it?
Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka joined Radio Boston to talk about the state's new tax cuts.
10/5/2023 • 7 minutes, 58 seconds
Mass. Cannabis Control Commission wrestles with internal and external challenges
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is under an unwelcome microscope, as drama between suspended Commission chair Shannon O'Brien and state treasurer Deb Goldberg overshadows the work of regulating a $5 billion industry.
10/5/2023 • 11 minutes, 42 seconds
An Arlington news site is using ChatGPT for its coverage. Should we be worried?
Radio Boston's latest Tech Talk focuses on an Arlington news site that relies on ChatGPT.
10/5/2023 • 9 minutes, 7 seconds
Healey announces move aimed at spurring offshore wind in New England
An agreement announced this morning by Governor Healey will allow Massachusetts. Connecticut, and Rhode Island to work together to procure offshore wind energy.
10/4/2023 • 9 minutes, 3 seconds
How Rep. Katherine Clark whipped the Democratic votes to oust McCarthy as speaker
Radio Boston talks with WBUR senior political reporter Anthony Brooks about the role Massachusetts representatives played in the historic ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as from his position as speaker of the House.
10/4/2023 • 4 minutes, 18 seconds
A conversation with Boston University's next president, Dr. Melissa Gilliam
Dr. Melissa Gilliam will be the next President of Boston University, the school announced Wednesday morning. WBUR's Radio Boston talks with Dr. Gilliam about what calls her to higher education leadership and the challenges she'll face when she starts the new role on July 1, 2024.
10/4/2023 • 8 minutes, 26 seconds
What Massachusetts' new tax proposal means for Healey's competitiveness goals
WBUR's Radio Boston tackles Massachusetts' new tax relief package.
10/3/2023 • 10 minutes, 12 seconds
Belle Isle Marsh is the last marsh standing against climate change in Boston Harbor
Radio Boston talks with the organization Friends of Belle Isle Marsh about the importance of the marsh in Boston Harbor's fight against climate change.
10/3/2023 • 8 minutes, 14 seconds
How a local nonprofit is supporting — and shaping — state and national gun control efforts
We talk with Gregg Croteau and Jose Pizzini of Lowell-based violence prevention group UTEC about gun violence prevention on a state and national level.
10/2/2023 • 10 minutes, 13 seconds
Breaking down the spending bill that averted a government shutdown
We talk with U.S. Rep. from Massachusetts Jake Auchincloss, as well as former Congressman Mike Capuano and WBUR reporter Walt Wuthmann.
10/2/2023 • 18 minutes, 47 seconds
Sen. Elizabeth Warren on local impacts of a possible government shutdown
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins us to talk about what a possible government shutdown could mean for Massachusetts.
9/29/2023 • 12 minutes, 23 seconds
A look inside the $1.6 billion development plan around Fenway Park
What happens when an entire city— an entire region, even — claims a century-old patch of grass as its backyard? The answer is dividing Red Sox fans and residents.
9/29/2023 • 18 minutes, 55 seconds
Rep. Jim McGovern on what a government shutdown would mean for Massachusetts
WBUR's Radio Boston talks with Rep. Jim McGovern about WIC, the federal food assistance program for moms and young kids that could quickly run out of money if Congress misses its end-of-month deadline for a budget deal.
9/28/2023 • 12 minutes, 34 seconds
Joel Christian Gill on the local independent comic scene, and where Boston artists fit in
Joel Christian Gill joins us for our monthly deep dive into all things comics with a look at the upcoming Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo happening in Boston this weekend.
9/28/2023 • 10 minutes, 8 seconds
'Healing Dakota' spotlights local man's work helping dogs recover from PTSD
James Lamonte joins WBUR's Radio Boston to talk about his work helping dogs recover from PTSD and how it can be used to recognize PTSD in humans.
9/28/2023 • 7 minutes, 41 seconds
The latest on why the T is so off track
The MBTA's less-than-one-year-old Green Line Extension is in serious disrepair. Meanwhile, federal regulators are tightening the leash on track work in the name of worker safety.
9/28/2023 • 29 minutes, 51 seconds
What to know about Isabella Stewart Gardner, the woman behind one of Boston's most celebrated museums
Thousands walk through her home-turned-museum every year, but do we really know who Isabella Stewart Gardner was? A fresh look at her life reveals that we may be remembering her for the wrong things.
9/26/2023 • 14 minutes, 41 seconds
A look at the movement to bus Boston's students before the court order to desegregate
We hear from Michael Curry, president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of the national board of directors for the NAACP, and and Lyda Peters, long-time Boston educator and civil rights activist, about the creation and legacy of the METCO program.
9/26/2023 • 32 minutes
Mayor Wu talks MBTA, youth and proposed funding for controversial police unit
Mayor Wu joined WBUR's Radio Boston to talk about her sense of urgency with MBTA system improvements, how Boston's school buses are running in the new school year, recent incidences of youth violence and why she is proposing funding for a police unit she once campaigned against.
9/25/2023 • 47 minutes, 2 seconds
What we learned from the WBUR and ProPublica investigation into Mass. subsidized housing
A new WBUR and ProPublica investigation found a surprising number of state-owned affordable housing units are vacant.
9/21/2023 • 14 minutes, 49 seconds
A musical trip from swing to psychedelic with Mehmet Ali Sanlikol
We speak with Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, a professor of music history & musicology at the New England Conservatory, about his latest record, "Turkish Hipster: Tales from Swing to Psychedelic."
9/21/2023 • 23 minutes
Gov. Maura Healey on the MBTA, the influx of migrants, taxes and housing
Gov. Maura Healey joins the show to talk the MBTA, migrants, taxes and more.
9/20/2023 • 46 minutes, 12 seconds
State senator says Massachusetts parentage laws need an update
State Sen. Julian Cyr joins Radio Boston to talk about the Massachusetts Parentage Act.
9/19/2023 • 13 minutes, 41 seconds
Making omelets without eggs from scratch with Chef Joe Gatto
Chef Joe Gatto cooks up some omelets with us. The twist? We won't be using eggs!
9/19/2023 • 16 minutes, 40 seconds
Exploring busing in Boston through one mother-daughter relationship
Local bestselling author Dennis Lehane has spent a lifetime reflecting on busing, too, whether he meant to or not, and he wrote his latest book "Small Mercies," about it. We revisit that conversation with Lehane as part of WBUR's Field Guide to Boston.
9/19/2023 • 16 minutes, 38 seconds
Wu takes aim at Boston's zoning code, setting the stage for a potentially tedious but consequential reform battle
Boston homeowners have notoriously sharp elbows for keeping new developments -- especially big apartment buildings -- out of their neighborhoods. For decades, they've been aided by a uniquely complex zoning code that Mayor Michelle Wu now seeks to overhaul.
9/18/2023 • 16 minutes, 6 seconds
The Government Center garage demolition is interrupting downtown Green Line service for nearly a month
Beginning Monday, the long-delayed demolition of the Government Center garage will force the Green Line to stop running between Government Center and North Station.
9/18/2023 • 16 minutes, 8 seconds
The Red Sox fired Chaim Bloom, but their problems might not be all his fault
The Sox fired president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom last week as the team tries to stave off another last-place finish in the American League East. But are the Sox's struggles all on him?
9/18/2023 • 13 minutes, 54 seconds
Boston police commissioner on recent violence in the city, and what's next at 'Mass. and Cass'
A year into the job as Boston police commissioner, Michael Cox has witnessed violence in the city and a new proposal for addressing tent encampments at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. Today, he's on the show to share his view on the role of policing in Boston.
9/15/2023 • 46 minutes, 14 seconds
Congresswoman Katherine Clark on motherhood and why she got into politics
U.S. House Minority Whip and Democratic Congresswoman Katherine Clark talks about growing up at her grandmother's kitchen table, motherhood and why she got into politics.
9/14/2023 • 28 minutes, 12 seconds
How confident are Mass. business leaders about the state economy
A panel of local business leaders discuss what could be next for the state's economy and workforce.
9/14/2023 • 19 minutes, 5 seconds
How Greater Boston college campuses are preparing to live with COVID-19
Dr. Davidson Hamer from Boston University joins the show to talk about how college campuses are dealing with COVID-19 this year.
9/13/2023 • 13 minutes, 29 seconds
WBUR's new Field Guide breaks down all things Boston
Whether you're trying to settle into Boston or are a long-time resident looking for new ways to embrace the city, our Field Guide to Boston has something for you.
9/13/2023 • 7 minutes, 23 seconds
Arroyo, Lara voted out of Boston's City Council by wide margins
Scandal-plagued Boston City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Kendra Lara will lose their seats after preliminary elections Tuesday saw each finish in third place in their respective districts.
9/13/2023 • 17 minutes, 15 seconds
Why is the T so slow? A new report offers insight
A new independent report commissioned by the MBTA finds track staff were underqualified and accumulated a massive backlog as the subway's state of repair deteriorated last winter. We discuss what this means for commuters.
9/12/2023 • 28 minutes, 17 seconds
A closer look at the National Guard's involvement at Mass. family shelters
Gov. Maura Healey has activated up to 250 members of the National Guard to help with homeless families, many of whom are migrants, placed in hotels. We talk with mission commander Lt. Col. Patrick Donnelly about the Guard's preparations, and what it means to serve and protect potentially traumatized families.
9/12/2023 • 18 minutes, 40 seconds
A primer on preliminary municipal elections in Boston
WBUR's Walter Wuthmann and the Dorchester Reporter's Gintautas Dumcius break down the electoral race ahead of voting day.
9/12/2023 • 15 minutes, 48 seconds
Elizabeth Warren has no time for 'cheaters'
In our latest round of chats with the Massachusetts congressional delegation, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren talks about her upbringing, why "cheaters" make her so angry and the pattern of shrinking opportunity for America's middle class.
9/11/2023 • 30 minutes, 49 seconds
Poet Robert Pinsky and musician Mino Cinélu on 'Proverbs of Limbo'
"Proverbs of Limbo" is the third installment in Robert Pinsky's PoemJazz series, which combines elements of poetry and jazz.
9/8/2023 • 15 minutes, 32 seconds
Combatting light pollution on Nantucket
We talk with WBUR climate and environment reporter Paula Moura to learn how a Nantucket nonprofit is trying to preserve the night sky.
9/8/2023 • 15 minutes, 33 seconds
How Massachusetts schools are beating the heat to start the year
Heat indexes of nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit have complicated back-to-school plans across Massachusetts, though some districts— like Boston— are forging ahead.
9/8/2023 • 16 minutes, 21 seconds
What does Tom Brady's return to Foxborough mean to New England?
Yahoo sports columnist Shalise Manza Young talks about Tom Brady's return to Foxborough for a special celebration.
9/7/2023 • 14 minutes, 14 seconds
Chef Tiffani Faison on drag brunches, and the new spiked drinks from Dunkin'
Celebrity chef Tiffani Faison joins us to try Dunkin's spiked drinks and more.
9/7/2023 • 13 minutes, 40 seconds
Rent control is one step closer to the ballot
There's a long, uncertain road ahead for backers of the controversial petition.
9/7/2023 • 19 minutes, 48 seconds
What it means to treat AI like human
A roundtable of technology experts discuss how artificial intelligence is forcing a reckoning of what it means to be human, and how to approach future uses and regulations.
9/6/2023 • 46 minutes, 43 seconds
What artificial intelligence could mean for art, content and race
A panel of local experts joins us to discuss how AI could impact the use and monetization of art and content, as well as the potential challenges it poses for ownership and racial bias.
8/31/2023 • 47 minutes, 5 seconds
Exploring the 'beyond normal' New England summers
Climate change is impacting summers in New England. We discuss the implications this has for our health and our future.
8/31/2023 • 16 minutes, 24 seconds
Boston Public Schools look ahead to a fully staffed bus team
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Boston's public schools are fully staffed with bus drivers. How did Boston manage that, while many other school districts remain short on drivers?
8/31/2023 • 15 minutes, 5 seconds
What can be done for 'Mass. and Cass' now and in the future
Boston's City Council is set to take up Mayor Michelle Wu's ordinance that would give police greater ability to remove tents and tarps from the area around Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. We look at what comes next for the area that has become entrenched in homelessness, drug problems and violence.
8/29/2023 • 15 minutes, 39 seconds
Mass. Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca is stepping down. What's next for MassDOT?
Fiandaca is leaving her post as the top official at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in September. The abrupt resignation comes as the agency wrestles with long-term highway and public transit issues. Brian Kane, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, discusses what's next for the transportation agency and its leadership.
8/29/2023 • 17 minutes, 17 seconds
A look at the efforts to end human trafficking at 'Mass. and Cass'
Boston HEAT, or Human Exploitation and Trafficking, has been working at "Mass. and Cass" for years, trying to get women out of exploitation. It's a collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit. We hear more about the efforts from HEAT's clinical director, and a peer advocate.
8/29/2023 • 13 minutes, 36 seconds
Framingham students return to class this week. How will it go with the ongoing bus driver shortage?
Wednesday is the first day of school in Framingham, and they don't have enough school bus drivers to meet demand.
8/29/2023 • 13 minutes, 34 seconds
Why Maia Kobabe's book 'Gender Queer' was the most 'challenged' book in the country
For the last few months, Radio Boston has been talking about banned books as part of our series on the impact of comics on our wider world. Maia Kobabe's "Gender Queer" is the most banned book in the country. We hear directly from Kobabe about the graphic novel.
8/28/2023 • 20 minutes, 18 seconds
A local group wants to build a LGBTQ-focused library and community space in Boston
We speak with two founders of a group looking to build a new brick and mortar LGBTQ-focused library and sober community space in Boston.
8/28/2023 • 12 minutes, 56 seconds
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on what's next for those living at 'Mass. and Cass'
On Friday morning, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced new protocols for cleaning up the streets around "Mass. and Cass" and helping those living in the area, which has seen increased drug use and violence, access needed social services.
8/25/2023 • 46 minutes, 10 seconds
How the T fits into — and threatens — Massachusetts' housing goals
Greater Boston communities like the North Shore city of Lynn are betting big on dense new housing built around transit stops. What happens when the T underperforms — or disappears?
8/24/2023 • 33 minutes, 57 seconds
Boston-based company using airplane wastewater to predict next pandemic
Radio Boston explores Boston-based Gingko Bioworks' new initiative to track COVID using airplane wastewater treatments.
8/24/2023 • 12 minutes, 18 seconds
Local Gen Z politicians pushing to become leaders of today
Three local Gen Z politicians under age 20 disagree they're too young to run for mayor or city council, and that's exactly what they're doing.
8/24/2023 • 26 minutes, 25 seconds
In-state tuition for undocumented students could impact more than just graduation rates
In-state tuition and financial aid at any of the state's public colleges is now available to undocumented students. A high school senior talks about what that means for her and her future. Plus, more on how this new program fits into the wider picture of immigrant rights in Massachusetts.
8/24/2023 • 19 minutes, 52 seconds
Medical abortion care now available on Cape Cod and in parts of southeastern Mass.
For the first time in 15 years, Cape Cod residents will have access to abortion care in their region. We speak with the agency providing that service, Health Imperatives, about what abortion care could mean for the area, and those who need it.
8/22/2023 • 12 minutes, 10 seconds
How Devin McCourty helped the Pats come together around a cause
The former Patriots' captain shares how the team came out on the side of justice. Plus, he discusses head coach Bill Belichick's commitment to player safety, even if that means losing a game — a streak that took root amid the NFL's controversial approach to resuming regular season games in 2020.
8/22/2023 • 23 minutes, 9 seconds
Local chefs throw down to see who has best barbecue in Boston
Radio Boston hosts its first ever live Chef Throwdown at WBUR's CitySpace.
8/21/2023 • 46 minutes, 14 seconds
Standoff over MBTA Communities Law heats up. Plus, public housing progresses in Charlestown
We go beneath the headlines and recap a busy past few weeks in Boston-area housing news with Boston Globe real estate reporter Catherine Carlock and Marc Draisen of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
8/18/2023 • 24 minutes, 6 seconds
Here's what we know about the first women voters in Boston over 100 years later
Aug. 18 marks 103 years since women were legally allowed to vote nationwide. In Boston, women lined up from all neighborhoods to exercise that right. Now those records from that 1920 presidential election are being digitized in a searchable database. We learn more about the Mary Eliza Mahoney Project, including about some of the women who cast their ballots.
8/18/2023 • 22 minutes, 57 seconds
The data behind Boston's summer learning programs
In Boston and beyond, summer learning programs aim to help kids hit the ground running when they return to school. Do they work?
8/17/2023 • 14 minutes, 23 seconds
Blind and visually impaired students take on summer learning beyond the classroom
Each summer, Perkins School for the Blind hosts summer programs for children and young adults who are blind and visually impaired. We hear what summer learning means for those students and how it prepares them to live more independently.
8/17/2023 • 17 minutes, 40 seconds
Students spend summer days learning to sail a replica of a nearly 100-year-old ship
This summer, a group of Boston Public Schools students spent two weeks learning how to sail a nearly 100-year-old sword fishing ship. It's all part of an effort in the city to make summer learning count beyond academics.
8/17/2023 • 14 minutes, 53 seconds
COVID is spiking again in Boston. Local doctors tell us what that means
COVID infections are on the rise, but how concerned should we be? Is it just a blip on the radar screen or a sign of things to come?
8/16/2023 • 22 minutes, 9 seconds
2 Bruins retirements signal change in Boston hockey. Plus, the Patriots glimpse an exciting future
Plus, the Patriots, who just played the first preseason game, show glimpses of exciting future.
8/16/2023 • 12 minutes, 5 seconds
Mass. group creates spaces for autistic people to be authentic
Many autistic people say they face societal pressure to adhere to neurotypical standards, but a group in Massachusetts is working to make it safe for them to be themselves.
8/16/2023 • 13 minutes, 1 second
Community college leaders praise state investment in free education for older, nursing students
Massachusetts will fund free community college for students 25 or over and nursing students beginning this fall. That's thanks to a $50-million allocation in the state budget recently signed by Gov. Maura Healey. We talk to three community college leaders about the initiative, and what it could mean for their institutions.
8/15/2023 • 19 minutes, 21 seconds
Natick couple's eBay nightmare showcases dark side of tech world
Boston Globe reporter Aaron Pressman talks AI and a true crime tech story unfolding in Natick.
8/15/2023 • 12 minutes, 1 second
Could Boston College get caught up in college football's conference churn?
A flurry of moves — many announced this summer — will shuffle several high-profile college athletics programs out of old conferences, and into new ones.
8/15/2023 • 15 minutes, 13 seconds
Free school meals are here to stay in Massachusetts
The new state budget signed by the Governor locks in funding for free breakfast and lunch for all public school students.
8/14/2023 • 15 minutes, 28 seconds
What the new state budget means for the future of transit
The budget recently signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes hundreds of millions of dollars in transit funding from the so-called millionaire's tax.
8/14/2023 • 31 minutes, 7 seconds
On the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, local artists remember Boston's place in the music's history
The moment that kicked off hip-hop took place in the Bronx 50 years ago. Less known, however, is the role Boston played in those early years.
8/11/2023 • 48 minutes, 4 seconds
Brockton's A.J. Dybantsa on training with Lebron James, and what's next in his basketball career
At just 16 years old, Brockton's A.J. Dybantsa is attracting the attention of NBA superstars, including LeBron James. He's touted as one of the best prep basketball players in the nation. We speak with A.J. and his father Ace about basketball, and what's next.
8/7/2023 • 22 minutes, 23 seconds
Boston Pride hockey captain and local teacher Jillian Dempsey on her passion for hockey and the classroom
The future of the Boston Pride women's hockey team is uncertain right now, after the team was sold earlier this summer. Jillian Dempsey is the Pride's captain. She's also an elementary school teacher in Winthrop. We hear from her about what's next on and off the ice.
8/7/2023 • 23 minutes, 22 seconds
From summer violence to the NAACP convention: the week in review with local journalist Yawu Miller
Local journalist Yawu Miller, recently of the Bay State Banner, joins us to dig into this week's headlines, from the recent spate of summer violence, to the success of this year's NAACP convention in Boston.
8/4/2023 • 16 minutes, 27 seconds
Chattermark Distillers puts the spirit(s) in Charlestown
What's the difference between whiskey and bourbon? How do you distill a gin? What cocktails are perfect for the summertime? Chattermark Distillers come to Radio Boston to deliver the scoop on all things spirits.
8/4/2023 • 13 minutes, 14 seconds
Should Boston fans count on the Red Sox and Patriots being this season's underdogs?
Local sports reporters discuss whether or not fans should believe in the Red Sox and Patriots as dark-horse teams this season.
8/4/2023 • 14 minutes, 43 seconds
Why some Massachusetts families spend years on subsidized housing waitlists
Section 8 and other subsidized housing programs are notoriously tricky to navigate.
8/3/2023 • 14 minutes, 1 second
How two local organizations are working to create community and provide more nutritious food options in the region
We speak with Daily Table and the soon-to-be-opened Dorchester Food Co-op about how they're bringing food and community to the region.
8/3/2023 • 17 minutes, 47 seconds
Local comedians Ken Reid and Bethany Van Delft talk 'Barbenheimer' and more
8/3/2023 • 14 minutes, 51 seconds
A new mutual bank focuses on developing the region's agricultural ecosystem
We take a look at a newly opened bank in New Hampshire called Walden Mutual that's focused on building the region's agricultural ecosystem one deposit and investment at a time.
8/2/2023 • 12 minutes, 22 seconds
Gov. Healey discusses the $56.2 billion budget on her desk
Governor Healey joins us for our monthly check-in.
8/2/2023 • 34 minutes, 20 seconds
Getting to know MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng
We sit down for our first conversation with Phillip Eng.
8/1/2023 • 46 minutes, 31 seconds
Wu defends plan to move the O'Bryant school to West Roxbury
Amid pushback against the relocation of the O'Bryant school from Roxbury to West Roxbury, Mayor Michelle Wu said district leaders have explored other potential campuses, but they come with their own challenges.
7/31/2023 • 46 minutes, 35 seconds
New data suggests wealth is king in college admissions
We discuss the findings with Natasha Warikoo of Tufts University.
7/28/2023 • 16 minutes, 5 seconds
'The Mural Master' tells story of Boston through eyes of Rob Gibbs
New documentary "The Mural Master" is out to tell the story of Robb Gibbs, aka ProBlaK, a muralist who has been styling Boston's streets since 1991.
7/28/2023 • 14 minutes, 47 seconds
How a statewide association of school equity leaders is working to build inclusion in classrooms and communities
Manuel Fernandez, chief equity officer at Cambridge Public Schools, and Renee Heywood, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Brockton Public Schools, join us to talk about the Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders, of which they're both members.
7/28/2023 • 15 minutes
Trying food from two local non-profits ahead of the annual Lowell Folk Festival
Myra Liwanag, of Iskwelahang Pilipino of Boston, and Delphine Acha of Acha's Foundation, join us with food and stories ahead of this weekend's Lowell Folk Festival, where they will be vending their meals for the community.
7/27/2023 • 15 minutes, 4 seconds
Who's most harmed by heatwaves in Boston?
A new study indicates neighborhoods like Dorchester and Roxbury are most adversely affected by temperature spikes.
7/27/2023 • 17 minutes, 35 seconds
Jaylen Brown's big contract, Patrice Bergeron's retirement headline busy Boston sports week
7/26/2023 • 15 minutes, 52 seconds
Understanding how relationships between parents and kids inform mental health
7/26/2023 • 15 minutes, 35 seconds
Mayor Wu's affordable housing plan picks up steam
7/26/2023 • 16 minutes, 16 seconds
John Borders tells you what's to come at NAACP's National Convention
7/25/2023 • 13 minutes, 56 seconds
Chef Joe Gatto shows us how to make sopes for the summer
Chef Joe Gatto joins us monthly to make delicious food From Scratch. Today, he shows us how to make a pulled chicken sope with a fresh pico de gallo.
7/25/2023 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
Dog days of summer on Beacon Hill
The legislature is nearly a month past due on a budget agreement.
7/25/2023 • 17 minutes, 32 seconds
Learning what makes a tasty tequila and mezcal from a local bar that specializes in it
For Pescador in Kenmore Square, tequila and mezcal is big business. General Manager Allan Tidd joins us to taste test some tequila, and talk about what makes the spirit special.
7/24/2023 • 15 minutes, 44 seconds
Getting around as a non-English speaker in Boston
The new state law legalizing licenses for undocumented people is a key piece of advocates' hopes to help more people in Greater Boston access transportation.
We listen to Boston's first official mixtape with two of its creators
John Borders IV and Chimel "DJ ReaL P" Idiokitas are the co-executive producers of the "Dear Summer" mixtape.
7/21/2023 • 15 minutes, 42 seconds
Can Bostonians agree on how to make their streets safer?
A four-year-old was killed by a hit-and-run driver this week. It was a heartbreaking reminder that street safety is a key part of wellbeing and quality of life for Bostonians.
7/21/2023 • 31 minutes, 26 seconds
Closing of local sports desks brings future of industry into question
Radio Boston spoke with two journalists about why local sports journalism matters to our community.
7/20/2023 • 22 minutes, 59 seconds
Getting to know Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern
We're continuing to get to know our Congressional delegation, including who they are and why they serve. We recently visited the former chair of the House Rules Committee at his district office in Worcester for a tour, and a formal conversation.
7/20/2023 • 23 minutes, 13 seconds
The MBTA vs. the MBTA
Can the T get out of its own way?
7/19/2023 • 30 minutes, 13 seconds
Reinventing Boston after dark: 'Night czar' Corean Reynolds shares what a vibrant and inclusive nightlife economy means to her
Corean Reynolds, director of nightlife economy for the city of Boston, joins us to talk about her priority list for making Beantown more vibrant, inclusive, and safe after dark.
7/19/2023 • 15 minutes, 41 seconds
One family's journey from Haiti to Massachusetts. Plus, how three non-profits are supporting the local Haitian community right now.
A look at Haiti, from those settling here in Massachusetts, to unrest in the country itself. We check-in with three local non-profits on what aid looks like right now, and what could be done to support the community in the future.
7/18/2023 • 35 minutes, 16 seconds
What the journey of the Titanic's only Black passenger tells us about mobility and racism today
Wellesley assistant professor Kellie Carter Jackson joins us for our monthly look at culture and history. Today, she brings us the story of the only Black passenger on the Titanic and what it tells us about travel, mobility, and racism today.
7/18/2023 • 11 minutes, 8 seconds
A potent, emerging drug complicates the fight against overdose deaths in Massachusetts
Xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer that can cause gaping wounds, is working its way into Massachusetts' drug supply.
7/17/2023 • 9 minutes, 19 seconds
Local artist teams up with Jamie Lee Curtis in new horror comic about climate change
New comic book by Jamie Lee Curtis talks about the horrors of climate change with pictures drawn by artist Karl Stevens.
7/17/2023 • 24 minutes, 4 seconds
Christmas Tree Shops is shuttering all locations. We're feeling some kind of way about it.
We talk it through with local pop culture whisperer Ken Reid.
7/17/2023 • 8 minutes, 11 seconds
Sen. Elizabeth Warren talks about Biden's new student loan forgiveness plans and data privacy
Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins the show to discuss the latest news, including reports of data privacy concerns regarding tax preparation companies.
7/14/2023 • 13 minutes, 28 seconds
DCF faces scrutiny after recent failures to protect children
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families has been under scrutiny lately, particularly for how it handled the case involving Harmony Montgomery, who was killed at the age of 5.
7/14/2023 • 19 minutes, 11 seconds
Why you might have to stay on the sand at Massachusetts beaches this weekend
Radio Boston talks about dozens of beach closures and great white shark shark sightings along the Massachusetts coast.
7/14/2023 • 13 minutes, 55 seconds
Influx of migrants to Massachusetts puts pressure on the shelter system
We take stock of what all this means for those seeking shelter and support, and those trying to provide it.
7/13/2023 • 21 minutes, 9 seconds
How Boston is cornering the market on developing quantum technology
Radio Boston's "Tech Talk" explains how Boston is becoming a hub for developing quantum technology.
7/13/2023 • 13 minutes, 14 seconds
New book tells the history of the 'Great Fire' of 1846 in Nantucket
Today marks 177 years since a fire destroyed a third of Nantucket. That fire is the subject of a new book called "Daughters of Nantucket." Author Julie Gerstenblatt joins us to tell about it.
7/13/2023 • 11 minutes, 59 seconds
Legacy admissions under scrutiny at Harvard after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action
Radio Boston talks with members of the Harvard Black Students Association and Lawyers for Civil Rights.
7/12/2023 • 17 minutes, 19 seconds
Wu offers tax breaks for developers who convert empty downtown offices into housing
Could the new incentives make a dent in Boston's housing crisis?
7/12/2023 • 13 minutes, 50 seconds
NAACP Boston president talks affirmative action and hosting the group's national convention
Boston's NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan has been active in recent weeks responding to the Supreme Court's decision to gut affirmative action. But she also has a pretty big event to plan: this month's NAACP National Convention here in Boston.
7/12/2023 • 15 minutes, 34 seconds
Red Sox looking to pull off another surprise in 2023
7/11/2023 • 13 minutes, 9 seconds
How to fix the T
A turnaround at the MBTA will require billions in spending. Where's that money coming from?
7/11/2023 • 33 minutes, 40 seconds
Inside a class preparing tomorrow's teachers to navigate tough conversations with parents
Lesley University's Lisa Fiore, who designed the class, joins us.
7/10/2023 • 13 minutes
New 'green bank' wants to combat climate change through affordable housing projects
A new program wants to fund green building projects with state and federal monies. We learn more about the Commonwealth's new green bank and what impact it could have in helping the state reach its climate goals.
7/10/2023 • 16 minutes, 10 seconds
'Food, We Need To Talk.' But why?
7/10/2023 • 17 minutes, 10 seconds
Roxbury's Oompa on her evolution as an artist and a human
We get to know Roxbury rapper Oompa, from her evolution as a person and her pursuit of national stardom, to what she wants from the city of Boston to better support artists like her.
7/7/2023 • 24 minutes, 30 seconds
Untangling a messy Boston City Council
Scandal, resentment and uncertainty descend on City Hall just as election season heats up.
7/7/2023 • 23 minutes, 10 seconds
How easily could AI create the next pandemic?
In a new study, an MIT professor explains how an AI chatbot could design a deadly pathogen.
7/6/2023 • 14 minutes, 3 seconds
As the Sumner Tunnel closes, Boston turns to the T
Boston is counting on the regional transit system to help commuters navigate the shutdown of the Sumner Tunnel. Can it rise to the occasion?
7/6/2023 • 32 minutes, 14 seconds
How growing up in Malden influenced Sen. Ed Markey's path to politics
Get to know Massachusetts' congressional delegation beyond their talking points in our ongoing series. Up next: U.S. Sen. Ed Markey. He tells us about his childhood, his early rise in politics, and what he's thinking about now, policy-wise, in Washington D.C.
7/5/2023 • 27 minutes, 5 seconds
Congressman Seth Moulton is a dad and a veteran. Here's how he sees the world
Congressman Seth Moulton represents the state's 6th congressional district. He sat down with us as part of our continuing conversations with members of the state's congressional delegation to get to know them more, beyond the talking points. Moulton talks about mental health, being a dad, playing the organ, and how being a veteran impacts how he sees the world.
7/5/2023 • 20 minutes, 44 seconds
Massachusetts reacts to the Supreme Court's ruling on student loan forgiveness
We share listeners' thoughts on the Supreme Court's ruling that rejects President Biden's plan to erase hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt.
7/3/2023 • 15 minutes, 25 seconds
A look at efforts to combat climate change by eating less meat at local hospitals and universities
We look at efforts to combat climate change at local universities and hospitals by encouraging staff to eat less meat.
7/3/2023 • 8 minutes, 58 seconds
Laughing at the news of the day with two Boston comedians
6/30/2023 • 13 minutes, 6 seconds
Boston group wants to create an inclusive space for fans of Formula 1 racing
We speak with two local women who have created a Formula 1 online and in-person community meant to cater to fans of all interests and levels of knowledge.
6/30/2023 • 13 minutes, 32 seconds
Affirmative action is overturned. What's next for Mass. universities?
Universities across the country will have to look for ways to ensure diversity and a sense of belonging on campuses.
6/30/2023 • 20 minutes, 19 seconds
Tiffani Faison on climate and food, Pride month, and the new season of 'The Bear'
Celebrity Chef Tiffani Faison joins us in studio for our monthly conversation on everything from climate and food, to Pride, to the new season of 'The Bear.'
6/29/2023 • 14 minutes, 12 seconds
Robotics companies eyeing construction for next expansion
6/29/2023 • 12 minutes, 47 seconds
Rep. Katherine Clark reacts to U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action
6/29/2023 • 19 minutes, 35 seconds
The T and the tunnel
The Sumner Tunnel is closing for nearly two months, beginning in early July, to allow for repairs.
6/28/2023 • 32 minutes, 44 seconds
Celtics make 'hard' decision to trade fan-favorite Marcus Smart to boost title chances
6/28/2023 • 14 minutes, 19 seconds
New report shows a state tax meant for community projects is being underutilized for affordable housing
A new report from the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University in conjunction with the Greater Boston Real Estate Board found that more than a third of communities using Community Preservation Act funds aren't meeting an existing requirement around spending on housing initiatives.
6/27/2023 • 15 minutes, 21 seconds
When a family loses a loved one to opioids, who helps pay for burial services?
4/7/2023 • 16 minutes, 8 seconds
A deeper look at allegations that Boston-area businesses are exploiting undocumented workers
Plus, we chat with the Boston-based Rasa String Quartet.
4/7/2023 • 48 minutes, 9 seconds
Where folk and classical music collide, with the Boston-based Rasa String Quartet
4/7/2023 • 15 minutes, 2 seconds
What recent local cases of alleged abuse of immigrants tell us about workplace protections in Massachusetts
We dive Beneath the Headlines on two recent cases of alleged abuse of immigrant and migrant workers, and explore what they can tell us about workplace protections for all.
4/7/2023 • 16 minutes, 34 seconds
New fiction book aims to present a more full picture of Isabella Stewart Gardner
How do you want to be remembered? When it comes to Isabella Stewart Gardner, the question can be complicated. A new fictional account of her story, aims to present her more fully. We talk more about that account with Emily Franklin, author of the new book
4/6/2023 • 15 minutes, 37 seconds
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood look at environmental justice in Boston
Can the city's climate change mitigation efforts achieve equity?
4/6/2023 • 18 minutes, 42 seconds
After recent patent dispute, what's next for the Commonwealth's iRobot and Sharkninja?
4/6/2023 • 12 minutes, 26 seconds
How climate change impacts vulnerable communities: a Boston perspective
Plus, author Emily Franklin's take on the fascinating life of Isabella Stewart Gardner.
4/6/2023 • 47 minutes, 3 seconds
Looking at ways to increase equity in healthcare in Massachusetts
A new bill introduced this session on Beacon Hill wants to improve how the state tracks health equity in order to help find solutions for increasing it. We take a look at the bill and at the state of healthcare in the Commonwealth.
4/5/2023 • 13 minutes, 26 seconds
New exhibit will examine the lasting legacy of the Great Boston Fire of 1872
It burned for 12 hours and destroyed nearly 800 buildings. But 151 years later, the Great Boston Fire of 1872 is just a memory for many Bostonians. A new exhibit at the Boston Athenaeum aims to examine its legacy.
4/5/2023 • 16 minutes, 56 seconds
Exploring efforts by the 'Health Equity Compact' group to improve health care across Mass.
Plus, remembering the Great Boston Fire of 1872.
4/5/2023 • 30 minutes, 34 seconds
Marking 100 years of the Mambo Kings with Berklee College of Music
We celebrate the lives of mambo legends Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez with two local mambo and salsa icons. Berklee College of Music is marking the kings this Thursday with "The Mambo Kings: 100 Years."
4/4/2023 • 12 minutes, 26 seconds
Affordable housing in Boston is complicated. Roxbury shows us why
Plus celebrating 100 years of the Mambo Kings with Berklee College of Music.
4/4/2023 • 32 minutes, 11 seconds
Lessons from a Boston neighborhood where more than half of housing is designated affordable
We check in on Roxbury.
4/4/2023 • 19 minutes, 45 seconds
It's tax time again. We answer your questions
Plus, what a chemical fire in Braintree tells us about emergency response. Also, we dive into intellectual property law.
4/3/2023 • 30 minutes, 58 seconds
What a chemical fire in Braintree tells us about how Mass. responds to regional emergencies
In February, a chemical fire took hold in Braintree, at New England's largest hazardous waste disposal center. No one was injured, but the incident revealed existing faults in how communities respond to emergencies. We learn more about those faults and what it could mean for the future.
4/3/2023 • 9 minutes, 16 seconds
An intellectual property law expert on Warhol, whiskey, and the Red Sox
The Supreme Court is set to more sharply define the lines that govern parody and artistic appropriation.
4/3/2023 • 10 minutes, 45 seconds
What to expect during tax season in Massachusetts
The tax deadline is April 18, 2023. We discuss the basics of filing and what to expect in your returns.
4/3/2023 • 10 minutes, 39 seconds
Dear Phillip Eng: Diving deep on what challenges the T's new GM may face going forward
Plus, reviewing the latest headlines with our two resident comedians
3/31/2023 • 30 minutes, 37 seconds
Dear Phillip Eng? What do you want the new head of the MBTA to know?
We speak directly to the new General Manager of the T.
3/31/2023 • 20 minutes, 27 seconds
Two Boston comedians weigh in on the news of the week
Our two resident comedians get funny with the latest headlines.
3/31/2023 • 9 minutes, 57 seconds
An uncertain Red Sox season begins
We talk with Boston Globe sportswriter Alex Speier.
3/30/2023 • 10 minutes, 26 seconds
Can you afford to retire in Massachusetts?
3/30/2023 • 9 minutes, 32 seconds
Why aging affordably in Greater Boston is out of reach for many
Plus, we'll get a Red Sox preview for opening day.
3/30/2023 • 31 minutes, 27 seconds
Exploring female comic characters and how they've changed over the decades
Heroes are everywhere. But in comics, they're usually buff guys that race faster than a speeding something. So what about female heroes? We talk about female super heros, characters, and the women who draw them in this month's Comic Culture.
3/30/2023 • 11 minutes, 16 seconds
A girl and her loom: the feminist re-telling of Arachne the weaver
Author Rebecca Caprara joins us to talk about her new book SPIN, which re-tells the classic myth of Arachne the weaver through a new lens, and for younger audiences.
3/29/2023 • 10 minutes, 53 seconds
How educators hope a new form will improve special education in Mass.
3/29/2023 • 11 minutes, 35 seconds
Remembering Mel King, and his legacy in Boston
We remember prominent Boston civil rights activist and politician Mel King with Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston chapter of the NAACP.
3/29/2023 • 8 minutes, 35 seconds
Remembering Mel King, Boston civil rights activist and politician
Plus, a paperwork change could have big implications for specialized education plans in Massachusetts schools.
3/29/2023 • 31 minutes, 14 seconds
As spring weather flirts with Boston, let's talk about your garden
Our gardening expert Patrick Parent joins to answer your questions.
3/28/2023 • 11 minutes, 48 seconds
Newly unearthed recordings offer glimpse into Aaron Hernandez's final days
3/28/2023 • 47 minutes, 51 seconds
New phone recordings deepen the mystery surrounding Aaron Hernandez's suicide
WBUR reporters Todd Wallack and Beth Healy unearthed the tapes.
3/28/2023 • 19 minutes, 18 seconds
I'm a crepe, I'm a weird-dough: Making crepes with Chef Joe Gatto
Chef Joe Gatto joins us for our regular cooking conversation. This month, we're making crepes. Gatto is a private chef, culinary instructor, and host of the cooking show "From Scratch" on Pluto TV.
3/28/2023 • 16 minutes, 33 seconds
Mayor Michelle Wu on the MBTA, police and education in Boston
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins us for our monthly conversation. Today, we'll discuss a range of topics, including education, transportation and policing in Boston.
3/27/2023 • 34 minutes, 57 seconds
Getting to know Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Congresswoman Trahan joins for a wide-ranging conversation on her life, her work and the things that inspire her political efforts.
3/24/2023 • 23 minutes, 18 seconds
Honoring indigenous communities in Gloucester and the North Shore
3/24/2023 • 12 minutes, 22 seconds
Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the needs for the economy and the U.S. banking system
Plus, Senator Warren discusses how to keep Massachusetts competitive for federal funds.
3/24/2023 • 12 minutes, 4 seconds
Sen. Elizabeth Warren on banking, inflation and the U.S. economy
Plus, we sit down with Representative Lori Trahan for a wide-ranging conversation on her work and her life.
3/24/2023 • 48 minutes, 1 second
Artificial intelligence makes another leap, now into services for the visually impaired
3/23/2023 • 12 minutes, 25 seconds
Remembering renowned saxophonist Wayne Shorter with two Boston jazz legends
We remember jazz legend Wayne Shorter with with Danilo Perez, founder and artistic director of the Global Jazz Institute at Berklee, and a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet. And drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, the founder and artistic director of Berklee's Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice.
3/23/2023 • 18 minutes, 27 seconds
Open AI's new partnership with 'Be My Eyes' aims to help the visually impared
Plus we explore why Boston does not give Malcolm X the same recognition as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact renowned saxophonist Wayne Shorter had on jazz music.
3/23/2023 • 47 minutes, 24 seconds
Malcolm X's life and legacy in Roxbury, and what that means for Boston
We learn about Malcolm X's history and life in Roxbury, and why that legacy isn't more widely known.
3/23/2023 • 16 minutes, 31 seconds
A new docuseries on the Libertarians moving to New Hampshire
The final episode of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of New Hampshire" just aired. We speak with the creators about the movement.
3/22/2023 • 19 minutes, 56 seconds
Gov. Maura Healey on the MBTA, her budget and making Massachusetts more competitive
Plus, a new series looks at New Hampshire's Free State Project and what it could mean for the granite state.
3/22/2023 • 47 minutes, 38 seconds
Mass. Gov. Maura Healey talks about the T, her budget, and sports
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey joins us for her monthly checking. We dig into everything from the MBTA, to her budget, to her predictions for March Madness.
3/22/2023 • 27 minutes, 30 seconds
From The Newsroom: The fight over involuntary outpatient mental health treatment
3/21/2023 • 15 minutes, 49 seconds
The 'Experience America' tour is bringing dozens of foreign ambassadors to Boston
United States Ambassador and Chief of Protocol Rufus Gifford joins us ahead of the tour to talk about what to expect.
3/21/2023 • 15 minutes, 52 seconds
New proposal on Beacon Hill would change who can order involuntary outpatient mental health treatment
Plus, a conversation with a Gloucester native about her experience playing the lead in Broadway's "Into the Woods."
3/21/2023 • 48 minutes, 3 seconds
A Gloucester native takes the stage in the touring production of 'Into the Woods'
Katy Geraghty plays Little Red.
3/21/2023 • 11 minutes, 38 seconds
State Ed Secretary Patrick Tutwiler on the future of Mass. schools
3/20/2023 • 23 minutes, 12 seconds
Looking ahead to what's next for live music in Greater Boston
We take stock of the future of live music in Greater Boston for artists and audiences.
3/20/2023 • 24 minutes, 47 seconds
Massachusetts' new education secretary on his wide-ranging role
Plus, with so many venues closing, we check in on the state of live music in the commonwealth.
3/20/2023 • 48 minutes, 8 seconds
Three women of color leading higher ed institutions in Massachusetts on their work and the future
3/17/2023 • 28 minutes, 34 seconds
Local makers of 'Boston Strangler' film talk about the journalists who made the name famous
As Hulu's "The Boston Strangler" makes its debut, we speak with local writer and director Matt Ruskin and actor Chris Cooper about their film.
3/17/2023 • 17 minutes, 42 seconds
Black women leaders in higher education on serving a broad range of students in the commonwealth
We speak with Rev. Debora Jackson of Worcester Polytechnical Institue, Lynn Perry Wooten of Simmons College, and Jackie Jenkins-Scott, of Roxbury Community College
3/17/2023 • 46 minutes, 58 seconds
Online sports betting is in Massachusetts. What's that mean for young people?
3/16/2023 • 15 minutes, 49 seconds
New approaches to solving the Massachusetts homelessness crisis
Howard Koh and Maggie Sullivan work with the Initiative on Health and Homelessness at Harvard's Chan School of Public Health. They join us to discuss new approaches to this persistent issue.
3/16/2023 • 16 minutes, 57 seconds
Mass. congressman pushes bill that would restore benefits to Black World War II veterans
Plus, lawmakers are proposing tighter regulations on banks after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
3/16/2023 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
After bank failures, Mass. lawmakers propose solutions
In addition, concerns grow around young and underage sports gamblers and experts discuss new ways to improve homelessness in the city.
3/16/2023 • 47 minutes, 20 seconds
How the failure of Silicon Valley Bank impacts the Commonwealth
We dig into the local impacts of the Silicon Valley Bank failure and bailout, and what it could mean for small businesses and affordable housing.
3/15/2023 • 15 minutes, 48 seconds
Mass. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio on auditing Beacon Hill lawmakers
Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio joins us to talk about her plans in office, including auditing the MBTA and the state legislature. Then, WBUR's Steve Brown gives analysis on the plans.
3/15/2023 • 16 minutes, 22 seconds
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio discusses her plans to probe the Mass. Legislature
Plus, how the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is affecting Massachusetts.
3/15/2023 • 47 minutes, 38 seconds
Inspiration and representation at the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Thomas Wilkins and singer Barbara Walker discuss their work with the historic ensemble.
3/15/2023 • 15 minutes, 18 seconds
Why isn't the MBTA living up to its potential?
Plus, local best-selling author William Landay joins us to discuss his newest book.
3/14/2023 • 47 minutes, 45 seconds
What we lose when MBTA trains run slow
3/14/2023 • 33 minutes, 34 seconds
Local author's new book set in Greater Boston
We discuss Landay's new book, "All That I Own I Carry with Me," which came out on March 7th.
3/14/2023 • 13 minutes, 53 seconds
Northeastern's Women's Hockey makes the Frozen Four once again
For the third time in three years, the Huskies are headed to the semifinals.
3/13/2023 • 9 minutes, 22 seconds
The Celtics and Bruins are rocketing towards the playoffs
But both teams have faced some adversity of late.
3/13/2023 • 21 minutes, 7 seconds
What's next for the Bay State Banner as it changes hands for the first time in nearly 60 years
Plus, we check in on local and regional sports.
3/13/2023 • 45 minutes, 35 seconds
The new owners of the Bay State Banner look to the future
Ronald Mitchell, publisher and editor and André Stark, chief operating officer and production manager join us.
3/13/2023 • 17 minutes, 6 seconds
COVID-19 in Massachusetts, three years in
What have we learned?
3/13/2023 • 27 minutes, 53 seconds
Bridging the gap between art and mental health through graphic medicine
Suzy Becker is a local author, illustrator and cartoonist for The New Yorker, and she stumbled upon a new genre: graphic medicine
3/10/2023 • 19 minutes, 13 seconds
The COVID-19 pandemic, three years on
Plus, the intersection of art and medicine with New Yorker cartoonist Suzy Becker.
3/10/2023 • 47 minutes, 24 seconds
New State Auditor Diana DiZoglio wants a review of the legislature
But does she have the authroity?
3/9/2023 • 8 minutes, 47 seconds
Digital copyrights in the age of e-readers
Plus, we follow up on the Massachusetts' "right to repair" vehicle law.
3/9/2023 • 12 minutes, 2 seconds
Boston's new director of tourism, sports and entertainment on what the city needs now
John Borders IV joins to answer audience questions, and to talk about his hopes for the new role.
3/9/2023 • 14 minutes, 16 seconds
Boston's new director of sports and tourism joins the show
And in our latest Tech Talk, digital copyrights, and following up on the state's 'right to repair' law.
3/9/2023 • 47 minutes, 9 seconds
Explaining a recent spate of wildlife deaths, and how to address the issue
Plus, we head to the courts to play some pickleball.
3/8/2023 • 47 minutes, 53 seconds
Rat poisons are killing birds in and around Boston
3/8/2023 • 8 minutes, 57 seconds
Inside Harvard Divinity School's class on Black identity and spirituality
3/7/2023 • 20 minutes, 22 seconds
Exploring race and spirituality in a Harvard Divinity School course
Plus, a conversation about the future of Faneuil Hall.
3/7/2023 • 47 minutes, 45 seconds
What the fight over a Worcester charter school could mean for Massachusetts
Plus, the forgotten history of Cambridge's Confectioner's Row, and a conversation with a player on the undefeated New England Revolution.
3/6/2023 • 47 minutes, 35 seconds
A new charter school raises questions about the state approval process
WBUR education reporter Max Larkin joins us to discuss.
3/6/2023 • 9 minutes, 55 seconds
Increased SNAP benefits end for families facing food insecurity
Plus, we talk with women who own breweries in our latest installment of "Brewed in Mass."
3/3/2023 • 47 minutes, 44 seconds
It's Mass Beer Week and two local women-owned breweries take part
Twisted Fate and Redemption Rock Brewing Co.'s join to talk suds and community.
3/3/2023 • 16 minutes, 42 seconds
Chef Tiffani Faison on women who have inspired her in the kitchen, and beyond
Boston celebrity chef Tiffani Faison joins us for our monthly conversation. This time, we're talking about powerful women in her life, in the culinary world and beyond.
3/3/2023 • 13 minutes, 10 seconds
Seeking solutions to food insecurity, as federal food benefits end
Congressman Jim McGovern (D MA-2) joins us to discuss federal solutions to food insecurity.
3/3/2023 • 17 minutes, 51 seconds
Celtics get back on track, and the Bruins keep rolling
The Celtics get back on track, the Bruins keep rolling, and some big changes are coming to baseball. We'll dig into it all with WMUR sports reporter Jonathan Marshall and WBUR's Chris Citorik.
3/2/2023 • 16 minutes, 3 seconds
Looking deeper at Mayor Wu's rent control proposal
Plus, our regular sports roundup segment.
3/2/2023 • 48 minutes, 26 seconds
Can rent control help fix Boston's housing problems?
Housing costs in the city are high, and supply is scarce.
3/2/2023 • 19 minutes, 48 seconds
The new chair of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association talks challenges and opportunities
Christine Schuster is the new chair of the MHA, and president and CEO of Emerson Health.
3/2/2023 • 12 minutes, 35 seconds
How newsletters can provide the news and stories you need, no matter what's happening in your day
We take a look at how newsletters can deliver news and stories differently with Meagan McGinnes, assistant managing editor for newsletters, and Nik DeCosta-Klipa, newsletter editor, both with WBUR.
3/1/2023 • 16 minutes, 37 seconds
A new book chronicles the fight for gender equity at MIT in the 1990s
3/1/2023 • 12 minutes, 57 seconds
Digging into Gov. Healey's $750 million tax plan
Plus, a new book revisits a fight for workplace equity at MIT.
3/1/2023 • 47 minutes, 35 seconds
Breaking down Gov. Healey's tax reform proposal
Governor Maura Healey unveiled a $742 million tax reform proposal this week. We'll discuss the plan and what it means for residents with Evan Horowitz, executive director at the Center for State Policy Analysis and Marie-Frances Rivera, president of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
3/1/2023 • 17 minutes, 39 seconds
After a coaching upheaval, what's next for the Celtics?
ESPN's Howard Bryant joins us to talk about the state of the Celtics coaching.
2/28/2023 • 12 minutes, 12 seconds
New Massachusetts GOP chair Amy Carnevale looks to rebuild the party from the ground up
Just one month on the job, newly elected MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said she's encouraged by the future, but is still sorting out the financial predicaments of the party.
2/28/2023 • 20 minutes, 17 seconds
From Scratch: Joe Gatto does dumplings
Joe Gatto, chef, culinary instructor and host of "From Scratch" on Pluto TV is back to make some more delicious food right in Studio 2! This month, we're making dumplings.
2/28/2023 • 15 minutes, 27 seconds
How the new chair plans to build back the Massachusetts GOP
Plus, Chef Joe Gatto is back with another edition of "From Scratch." This time, we're making dumplings.
2/28/2023 • 48 minutes, 14 seconds
Mayor Michelle Wu joins Radio Boston to talk rent control, the state of schools, transit and more
Today, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins us for the entire hour.