Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett begins the show by taking questions from listeners about booster shots, rapid tests and more. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the state of testing in the U.S., after President Joe Biden announced a plan to reimburse citizens for their purchase of tests. Richard Blanco reads his favorite “aubade” poems -- about lovers departing at dawn --- including “Aubade with Burning City” by Ocean Vuong and “Ghosting Aubade” by Amie Whittemore. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss the persistence of racial harassment in schools, and religious communities that support abortion rights. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African

Today on Boston Public Radio: Superintendent Brenda Cassellius answers questions from listeners about the state of schools, including the teacher shortage and wait lists for Boston’s exam schools. Cassellius is the superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Then, we ask listeners about the Omicron variant and how the pandemic is playing out in schools, including hearing from Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy. Makinde Ogunnaike and Josh Sariñana talk about how they turn physics and neuroscience into art and poetry, and the intersection of physics and religious faith. Ogunnaike is a PhD candidate in physics at MIT, where he researches quantum systems and the new states of matter they can create. He also runs the Harvard-MIT chapter of the National Society of Black Physicists. Sariñana is a fine art photographer, a writer and neuroscience marketing professional. He’s also the director of “The Poetry of Science.” Corby Kummer weighs in on who has intellectual property claims to a recipe

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd weighs in on yesterday’s Supreme Court deliberations over abortion and the status of Build Back Better. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the Supreme Court arguments over abortion yesterday. Andrea Cabral continues the conversation about the Supreme Court’s stance on abortion, and the school shooting in Michigan and prosecutors’ hopes to charge the shooter’s parents for their son gaining access to the gun. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville talks about how the shortage of teachers is affecting substitute teachers, and how schools can work to combat the teacher shortage. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement that he would not be seeking reelection. Dr. Cheryl Hamlin talks about her experience working at the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, which is central to the Supreme Court case that could overturn Roe v. Wade. Dr. Hamlin is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, and she called into us from Jackson, Mississippi, where she’s on rotation at the last operating abortion clinic in the state. Art Caplan shares the latest news surrounding the Omicron COVID-19 variant, and weighs in on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s entrance into the Pennsylvania Senate race. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Juliette Kayyem discusses the shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, and shares how smaller stores across the U.S. are hoarding products due to supply chain issues ahead of holiday shopping. Kayyem is an analyst f

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners whether they have picked up new health habits during the pandemic. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the potential impact of the Omicron variant on the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and Turkish Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter Freedom celebrating his new U.S. citizenship by changing his last name to Freedom. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Shirley Leung discusses the ramifications of the state legislature failing to allocate billions of American Rescue Plan Act funding before going on recess. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Senator Ed Markey shares his work with senate democrats to reach consensus on the social infrastructure package, and emphasizes the need for filibuster reform to pass voting rights legislation. Markey is a senator of Massachusetts. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the Build Back Better p

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about how they are reacting to the latest news about the Omicron variant. Michelle Singletary gives tips on how to budget for the holiday and avoid scams during the shopping season. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column "The Color of Money" provides insight into the world of personal finance. Christopher Muther talks about the latest locations of Getaway House, a Cambridge-based startup of tiny homes offered for vacation rental, and weighs in on ABBA’s latest album in 40 years, Voyage. Muther is a Boston Globe travel columnist and travel writer. Gov. Charlie Baker discusses why testing is not more widely available across the state, his efforts to create a single QR code showing proof of vaccination and his dissatisfaction with the state legislature’s delay in spending the American Rescue Plan Act money. Baker is the governor of Massachusetts.  Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G.

Today on Boston Public Radio we’re on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations. Susan Orlean previews her latest book about animals, including the history of the movie “Free Willy,” her relationship with turkeys and her Valentine’s Day spent with a lion. Orlean is a staff writer for the New Yorker, and an author; her latest book is “On Animals.” Joanne Chang talks about her latest book inspired by her baking journals, “Pastry Love: A Baker’s Journal of Favorite Recipes.” Chang is a James Beard award–winning pastry chef. Richard Blanco reads fall-themed poetry, including “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost, “The Blower of Leaves” by January Gill O’Neil, “November 2: Día de los muertos” by Alberto Ríos and “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” by James Wright. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. Howard Mansfield previews his latest book, "Chasing Eden: A Book of Seekers,

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan begins the show by updating listeners on the latest in the pandemic, including why cases are on the rise in some parts of the country and how to have a safe Thanksgiving. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the division of medical ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Then, we ask listeners their safety plans going into Thanksgiving as cases rise. Ali Noorani shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s immigration policy, and updates listeners on the status of the evacuation from Afghanistan. Noorani is the president and chief executive officer of the National Immigration Forum. His forthcoming book is “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Corby Kummer talks about how climate change could make food less nutritious and how New Mexican chiles made it to space. Kummer is the executive director of the food and society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at

The galaxy’s first space-grown New Mexican hatch chile peppers have been harvested from the International Space Station (ISS). Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio in studio Wednesday to discuss the space-grown chiles, and what these chiles could mean for the future of indoor farming. NASA employees brought 48 chile seeds aboard a spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for growth on the ISS. This past October —- the end of New Mexico’s hatch chile season — the ISS crew harvested 7 mature hatch chiles. ISS crewmembers celebrated the growth of the peppers by throwing a taco party. “It's been very good for the mental health and psychology of the people in the space station, no doubt, to tender these plants and smell the leaves and smell the green,” Kummer said. The hatch chile seeds used in the ISS gardens were NuMex Española Improved, a hatch chile variety known for its early-maturity and medium-heat profile. The seeds were planted in an “oven-sized growth chamber” on

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show asking listeners their thoughts on the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, and whether it’s time for something different. Trenni Kusnierek updates listeners on the latest headlines in sports, including Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter criticizing Michael Jordan and LeBron James, and Patriots General Manager Bill Belichick sharing his favorite Thanksgiving food. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Mayor Michelle Wu answers questions from constituents in her first ever Ask the Mayor, including about her environmental platform, vaccine requirements and Mass. and Cass. Wu is mayor of Boston. Dan Shaughnessy tells anecdotes from his latest book about covering the Celtics during the Larry Bird era. Shaughnessy is a sports writer at the Boston Globe. His new book is “Wish It Lasted Forever: Life With The Larry Bird Celtics.” John King previews the latest political headlines, including the status of

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne talks about the status of Build Back Better, President Joe Biden’s medical report and whether he is eyeing a run for a second presidential term. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country." Then, we ask listeners about their media diets, following a PEW survey showing how some types of news consumption have declined. Michael Curry weighs in on the latest COVID-19 numbers and the recent availability of booster shots for all adults. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. Katie Caster and Kim Parker discuss burnout among teachers of color, and what needs to change for the teacher force to better repre

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on the state of the pandemic, including the need for a universal digital vaccine card, and whether he’s comfortable giving out handshakes and hugs. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Then, we ask listeners about their comfort with handshakes, as Norway urges its citizens to avoid the greeting. Callie Crossley unpacks the exoneration of two of the men incarcerated for assassinating Malcolm X, and the latest in the trial of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan, for shooting Ahmaud Arbery. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Andy Ihnatko talks about Apple’s new repair program, which gives users access to parts and manuals to repair their own iPhones, and how the airdrop feature is interfering in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Sue O’Connel

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd begins the show with the latest news from Washington D.C., including the latest from the Jan. 6 committee, and a House vote to censure Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona for sharing an altered anime video of him killing Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their Thanksgiving plans as COVID cases rise. Andrea Cabral discusses the latest in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, including Judge Bruce Schroeder dismissing the gun charge against Rittenhouse. She also talks about the state of marijuana legalization at the federal level. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville updates listeners on the latest news from schools, including how schools are doing when it comes to COVID-19, and the lates

The Subway tuna sandwich saga continues: Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss new claims in a lawsuit against the sandwich chain that its tuna subs don’t contain tuna at all. “This is one of the best stories ever,” he said. “Everybody wants to test Subway tuna sandwiches and find out what’s in it.” Earlier this year, the New York Times sent out samples of Subway tuna sandwiches to a laboratory, only to find that “no amplifiable tuna DNA was present” and the species couldn’t be identified. Subway has repeatedly denied the allegations. Corby Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Spencer Buell and Erica Walker talk about the rise of noise complaints in Boston, and what -- and if -- residents and politicians should do about it. Spencer Buell is a staff writer for Boston Magazine. Erica Walker is a noise researcher who founded Noise and the City. She is an assistant professor of epidemiology at Brown. Then, we asked listeners their experiences with noise in the city. Juliette Kayyem updates listeners on the latest in the Jan. 6 committee investigation, including Steve Bannon’s contempt charge. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Corby Kummer discusses the pros and cons of emerging grocery delivery services that promise groceries in 15 minutes, which have arrived in New York City. Kummer is the executive director of the food and society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor a

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners their reactions to the latest slew of racist incidents at local schools. Trenni Kusnierek discusses New York Marathon runners coming to the aid of a competitor who had a heart attack during the race, and family members meddling in the lives of professional athletes. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Then, we broadcast the live swearing in of Boston’s newest mayor Michelle Wu, and ask listeners for their reactions to history in the making, as Wu becomes the first woman and first person of color elected as mayor of the city. Farah Stockman talks about how class divides manifest themselves culturally and politically in the United States, and why higher class, well educated communities struggle to understand and represent the majority of Americans. Farah Stockman is a member of the New York Times editorial board, and a Pulitzer prize winning reporter. Her latest book is “A

Today on Boston Public Radio: Ella McDonald and Maya Mudgal begin the show by sharing their reactions to the COP26 climate summit and their thoughts on mayor-elect Michelle Wu’s climate platform. McDonald is a senior at Tufts University, and communications director at Act on Mass, a non-profit working towards more transparency at the state house. Mudgal is a senior at Northeastern University, and organized for Wu during the campaign. They both have been involved with Sunrise Movement’s Boston chapter. Then, we ask listeners how best they think society should tackle climate change. Charlie Sennott discusses his thoughts on the outcome of the COP26 climate summit, and the state of the Taliban today. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Dan Adams reflects on five years of marijuana legalization, and what still needs to happen to make legalization just and equitable. Dan Adams is cannabis reporter for Boston Globe and author of the “This Week in Weed” email newslet

Today on Boston Public Radio: Shirley Leung talks about what GE’s split will mean for Massachusetts, and Tito Jackson’s seven-story cannabis venture near Faneuil Hall. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Then, we ask listeners about if the latest surge in COVID-19 cases is changing their behavior at this point in the pandemic. Bill McKibben reports back from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, and why the summit did not rise to his hopes without a strong climate agenda passed from the U.S. McKibben is co-founder of 350.org and the author of numerous books about climate change. His latest book is “Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?” Andy Ihnatko updates listeners on the latest news from the tech industry, including new accessibility tools in development for speech-impaired smartphone users, and smartphone features that allow users to designate people to access their data when they die. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd weighs in on the blowback from Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers lying about his vaccination status, and updates listeners on the latest political headlines, including 13 House Republicans voting for the infrastructure bill. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the floundering state of bipartisanship, and how -- or if -- we should work to bring the country together. Andrea Cabral provides updates on the latest in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and mob members starting podcasts. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Former Army Captain Erik Edstrom shares his experiences in the military, including how he helped get his interpreter out of Afghanistan, and where he thinks the government has gone wrong when it comes to the milita

Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to explain why outdoor dining could destroy neighborhoods, following a recent New York Times article on issues with outdoor dining sheds in the Lower East Side. Small business owners in the neighborhood have lodged complaints about high noise levels, increasing rat populations, and trash generated from restaurants’ outdoor dining sheds, claiming that the area has become “unlivable.” “It's other businesses that are trying to keep alive next to [outdoor dining sheds] now,” Kummer said. “I hope that Boston will do a better job of responding to complaints. [Small businesses] are on margins as thin as a lot of the restaurants.” While outdoor dining has served as a boon for restaurants throughout the pandemic, Kummer notes that long-term solutions for both restaurants and local businesses must be found. “Cambridge, for example, has been so ahead of other cities in terms of bike-friendly lanes and pedestrian zones,” Kummer said. “I th