Boston Public Radio Podcast

For this week's media analysis segment “Press Play," BU Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media Studies Joan Donovan discusses how mainstream media headlines fail to capture the real story, and how the White House is losing control over Epstein conspiracy theories.Then, it's Live Music Friday with Boston-based rapper and music coach RedShaydez, who is leading a new artist development program called Music Jumpstart. She joins alongside rapper and producer JoiBeatz.Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner on the rule of law under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the latest out of the supreme court, and what's up with Alan Dershowitz on Martha's Vineyard.We talk with Rhode Island filmmaker Stephen Smith, an arctic expedition leader, and Brown University polar oceanographer Chris Horvat about their documentary “Beneath the Polar Sun,” ahead of its airing on GBH 44.

Chuck Todd on latest political headlinesAndrea Cabral weighs in on Jim Acosta “interviewing” an AI avatar of a Parkland shooting survivorPaul Reville on private school vouchers, high absenteeism in Mass. classrooms, the bill on banning cell phones in classrooms, and moreDr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel on the impacts of cuts to Medicaid, ICE getting a hold of Medicaid data, and some of his recent columns for the Atlantic and New York Times

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen gives his arts and culture reviews around the region – from Christine Baranski in Newport and more.On the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin traces the steps that have weakened the legislation over time…right up to Texas' planned gerrymandered maps.State Auditor Diana DiZoglio still hasn't audited the legislature, like voters approved back in November. She joins us to talk about what (or who) is standing in her way. We talk with two MassGeneral trauma prevention experts about how to stay safe on the roads and in the water before kids head back to school: Toby Raybould, the trauma prevention & outreach program manager, and Dr. Michael Flaherty, a pediatric critical care physician in the pediatric intensive care unit. 

CNN's John King with the latest political headlines from Washington. ACLU of Mass Carol Rose on an update on their first birthright citizenship case in federal appeals courtLydia Coverdale-Perez and Whitney Edwards, two of the women behind Watch With Us Boston, the group that just purchased rights to open a Boston franchise of The Sports Bra, a sports bar dedicated to women's sports. NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey on the deal to bring the Connecticut Sun to Boston

NBC10 Boston's Sue O'Connell guest hosts with Jim. NAACP's Michael Curry on how Trump is replacing "woke" with his own version of diversity, plus a mini-lesson on the history of white supremacy, in today's context. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung on whether Mayor Wu has paid enough attention to the city center and the Connecticut Sun WNBA team potentially moving to Boston.Boston Medical Center's Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett on the return of the presidential fitness test, CVS and Mass General Brigham expanding primary care in Mass., and what's needed to actually expand IVF access. Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer on the vodka-energy drink mix up, how food stamp cuts could hurt local grocers, and where to find the best ice cream in the state. 

GBH's Callie Crossley and The Bay State Banner's Yawu Miller join for this week's round of Press Play media analysis. They discuss media coverage of Epstein developments, an incident where two Boston Globe reporters were attacked at Mass & Cass., WEEI host Mike Felger's outsized influence in Boston media and what Margaret Sullivan has dubbed  “the media capitulation index.”John Davidson once hosted of shows like Hollywood Squares and That's Incredible!, and served as Johnny Carson's go-to fill-in host on The Tonight Show. Now, he's celebrating an encore season of shows at his Club Sandwich in Sandwich, New Hampshire. He joins for Live Music Friday and talks about a life in show business, songwriting and falling in love late in life.NBC10 Boston's local woman Sue O'Connell discusses 50 years of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, efforts to put President Trump on Mount Rushmore, and other assorted news of the day.Olga Cherevko is a UN aid worker in Gaza. She joins to talk about what she's seeing on the ground as the humanitarian crisis worsens.Meredith Goldstein recounts some of her latest and greatest Love Letters advice columns, and gives her take on the Coldplay jumbotron scandal.

Dan Primack, business editor with Axios, talks about the state of the Fed, Trump tariffs and global trade.Andrea Cabral on DOJ chair Tulsi Gabbard winning over Trump with claims about Obama engaging in criminal conspiracy.James Jacoby joins to talk about his latest film for FRONTLINE, “Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran.”

Today:Naturalist Sy Montgomery zooms in to discuss her trip with producer Zoe Mathews to a puffin colony in Maine.And, Marty Martinez is the new CEO and President of United Way of Massachusetts Bay. He joins to discuss the nonprofit and social services.

GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses AI-fueled video games and the mayoral forum on the arts.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the latest on the gunman in New York, tsunami warnings after last night's earthquake, and new FEMA grants set to go out to states to build migrant detention facilities.Marty Martinez, President and CEO of United Way of Massachusetts Bay, joins to discuss the challenges facing community-based nonprofits right now. Martinez, who formerly served as Boston's health chief, also discusses the state of public health.Naturalist and author Sy Montgomery recounts her trip to see a thriving puffin population in Maine with BPR senior producer Zoe Mathews. Plus, Sy talks about elephants communicating with humans and a pair of coyotes living in Central Park.

Congresswoman Katherine Clark discusses what she's called “six months of chaos under Republican leadership,” the Democratic strategy to get the Epstein files released, and the future of an unpopular party.NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey on the New York City gunman who apparently targeted NFL offices; the Fenway Aramark concession strike; and the MLB's newest star affectionately known as "Big Dumper."Lee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discusses the latest in higher education deals with the Trump administration, and announces a new food equity program from the Boston Foundation.Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses World Central Kitchen's operations in Gaza, and he remembers his friend, the late Tom Lehrer. 

Today:Retired federal Judge Nancy Gertner discusses a Department of Justice gone rogue, as top department officials suggest ignoring court orders.And, Michael Curry of the Mass League of Community Health Centers and NAACP discusses the impacts of conservative attacks on diversity.

Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner on a growing number of whistleblowers claiming top DOJ officials said the department could ignore numerous court orders. Is this the new normal under President Trump, and what does it say about our courts' ability to check the powers of the executive? Former Boston Globe editor, now head of BU Journalism, Brian McGrory on more news of Steward Health CEO Ralph de la Torre – a bankruptcy case alleges he and other executives defrauded the company of over $200 million, leading to the hospital chain's collapse. We get Brian's take on that and other media news.Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther explains how a drop in international tourists — namely proud Canadians boycotting Trump policies — is hurting the U.S. economy. And we'll get his no-holds-barred review on live music at Logan airport. Mass League of Community Health Centers' CEO Michael Curry discusses how the tragic nursing home fire in Fall River is prompting a closer look at how the state regulates those facilities. Plus, he talks about the public health impacts of Trump's war on DEI. 

Today:We'll start with Live Music Friday, from Irish folk band Solas performing for us ahead of the Lowell Folk Festival.And, Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss joins us with MIT economist Jon Gruber – making the case for new cities -- as in, we need to build a lot of housing, and quickly, if we're going to get ourselves out of the housing crisis. 

Local woman, coyote wrangler and NBC10 Boston's Sue O'Connell guest hosts with Jim.Julie Millican, Vice President of Media Matters, joins for this week's edition of Press Play media analysis. Irish folk band Solas performs ahead of this weekend's Lowell Folk Festival. We also talk with festival founders Seamus Eagan and Winnie Hogan, plus executive director Lee Viliesis.GBH's Callie Crossley discusses a protest on Nantucket against Vice President JD Vance, WBZ layoffs, Trump's latest push to prevent “woke AI," new Obama conspiracy theories and reflections on the death of Hulk Hogan and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Rep. Jake Auchincloss and MIT economist Jon Gruber join to talk about their recent essay called “The Case for New Cities."

Today:Omer Bartov is the Dean's Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. He joins us to discuss his view that Israel's ongoing actions in Gaza constitute genocide.Then GBH CEO Susan Goldberg stops by studio 3 to update us on the impacts of losing federal funding. 

BPR Full Show 7/24: The Towel Wasting Family

Today:Market Basket executives Tom Gordon and Joe Schmidt join Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library to discuss their firings, in the wake of speaking out against the company's latest. And, husband-and-wife owners of La Saison bakery,  Soheil Fathi & Sarah Moridpour discuss their journey from Tehran to the Boston area.

GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses the Labubu craze and 200 years of American Art on display at the PEM.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses Israel's expanded attacks in central Gaza, the growing daily deaths at food and humanitarian sites operated by the IDF, and France's media organization calling for the removal of its freelancers who remain in Gaza, citing starvation.Market Basket employees -- Joe Schmidt and Tom Gordon -- were fired hours after Schmidt appeared on our show yesterday. We check back in with them on the latest in the Market Basket family feud. Ariel Foxman is the VP of brand and experience for the Boston Seaport and Brandon Cardet-Hernandez is a Boston School Committee and member of the Mass council for Latino Empowerment. They are married, and join for our "How Do You Two Know Each Other?" segment.Soheil Fathi and Sarah Moridpour of La Saison Bakery join to discuss their journey from Tehran to Boston.

Today:“The Garden Lady” herself, C.L. Fornari, joins to discuss her program on GBH and CAI.And, Joe Schmidt and Paul Quigley have each worked at Market Basket for decades; they're currently suspended in the wake of turmoil in the board room over leadership at the company. They join to discuss.

CNN chief national correspondent John King on the latest national political news.C.L. Fornari, the garden lady, joins to discuss her Saturday afternoon CAI/GBH broadcast ... and takes listener questions about plants and gardening.Joe Schmidt, Tom Gordon, and Paul Quigley are Market Basket supervisors suspended by the company in the wake of CEO Artie T Demoulas being placed on leave. They were suspended over allegations they have been engaging in "disruptive behavior within the company."Sports authority Trenni Casey discusses the WNBA entering in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with players, and the NFL's female coaching surge.

Today: Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung fill in for Jim and Margery.We talk with NBC10 commentator Sue O'Connell about President Trump's new lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over new reporting on his connections with Jeffrey Epstein.And, Princeton's Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses the latest in higher education, as Harvard takes the Trump administration to court over federal funding.

Boston Globe's Shirley Leung and former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral sub in the host seats for Jim and Margery. Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans talks about how Hispanic and Latino communities are adapting to the Trump administration's immigration policies, and ICE's latest push to build migrant tent camps.  Local woman Sue O'Connell discusses inner-party GOP debate over the Epstein files, Stephen Colbert's cancellation and the Astronomer CEO caught on the Coldplay concern 'kiss cam.'Boston Medical Center's Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses local hits to Medicaid from Trump's massive spending bill, plusnew evidence on the harms of vaping. Princeton University's Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses how claims of anti-semitism are being used to undercut DEI in higher-ed, and why Black Americans are continuing to boycott big-box retailers.

NBC10 Boston's Sue O'Connell and former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral guest host for Jim and Margery.GBH's Callie Crossley and The Bay State Banner's Yawu Miller join for our weekly "Press Play" media analysis segment to talk about the PBS/NPR clawback, the WSJ Jeffrey Epstein report and other media news of the day.Boston Landmarks Orchestra just launched their annual series of free summer concerts at the Hatch Shell and throughout Boston. We talk with music director Chris Wilkinson and principal clarinet Rane Moore, plus enjoy a live music performance. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans reacts to this year's Emmy Nominations, Colbert's cancellation and The Bear season four. Jeffrey Thielman & Nazia Jamal join to discuss how Trump policies are impacting immigration here in New England. Jeff is the Executive Director of the International Institute of New England, Nazia is an educator and refugee who arrived from Afghanistan in 2024.

Catherine D'Amato and Andrew Morehouse on food stability in the commonwealth. Catherine heads the Greater Boston Food Bank, Andrew is Executive Director of the Food Bank of Western MassachusettsAndrea Cabral on the Jeffrey Epstein files and federal officials charging a Karen Read grand juror with criminal contempt for allegedly leaking information about the trial.Shirley Leung on her reporting on an influx of chain restaurants in ChinatownMara Dolan and Jen O'Brien are two attorneys joining to discuss their role in an ongoing strike for higher pay that's left thousands of defendants without representation.May Pang is the former partner of Beatle John Lennon, who dates the musician over an 18-month period that's come to be known as his “lost weekend.” She's touring the country with photos she captured during that era, and she's appearing this weekend at Bridge Gallery in Cambridge. 

Today:May Pang dated John Lennon in her early 20s, and has the photos to prove it. She joins us to discuss her new pop-up art installation, featuring photos of their time together, in Cambridge, titled The Lost Weekend: The Photography of May Pang.And, public bar advocates in Massachusetts get paid less than in surrounding states to represent indigent clients. They've been on strike for better pay since late May, and some people charged with violent crimes are being released because their court proceedings can't continue without representation. We talk with two of the striking lawyers: Mara Dolan and Jennifer O'Brien.

National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses millions of undocumented immigrants no longer eligible for bond hearings, according to ICE. Plus, the misinformation/psychological warfare at play in the Israel-Iran war.Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Mass, discusses a federal court certifying a nationwide class action protecting babies from Trump's birthright citizenship order, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson speaking out.Ken Casey, Dropkick Murphys frontman, joins to discuss their new album "For the People," and his repeated warnings that the Trump administration is engaging in a class war.David Folkenflik, NPR media correspondent, on the rescission efforts in Washington to pull funding for foreign aid and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Farmers Michael Montuori of Allandale Farm and Danielle Andrews of The Food Project join to discuss urban farming, connecting communities to their food sources, and impacts of federal funding cuts to food benefits.

Today:Ken Casey, co-founder of the Dropkick Murphys, zooms into the show to discuss their new album "For the People" and the band's decades-long history of showing up and speaking out.And, NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik joins for a quick update on the efforts to claw back millions from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

BPR Full Show 7/15: Fall River Mayor & The Fire

Today:In Fall River, we're still learning about all that went wrong in the assisted living-factility fire that left nine dead over the weekend. Dozens were injured.  We begin the show with Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan on the latest.And, Ed Kelly, President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, calls in – as firefighters in Fall River say they didn't have the resources to adequately respond.

Today: Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung fill in for Jim and Margery.MIT economist Jon Gruber discusses the impacts of Trump's spending bill: massive tax cuts for the wealthy, funded by kicking poor people off of health care.And, Michael Curry joins us remotely from the national NAACP Convention. Curry sits on the NAACP's national board of directors.

Michael Curry of the Mass League of Community Health Centers and NAACP zooms in from the NAACP convention in Charlotte, North Carolina to discuss this year's convention, themed "The Fierce Urgency of Now."Then, MIT economist Jon Gruber breaks down the healthcare impacts of Trump's spending bill.Food policy analyst Corby Kummer explains the impact of tariffs on coffee in Brazil, and how another caffeinated plant, the U.S.-native yaupon, may be getting a boost.The Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G Price III join for All Rev'd Up. They discuss a new IRS rule on political endorsements and Pope Leo's thoughts on AI.

GBH political reporter Adam Reilly and Wall Street Journal columnist Callum Borchers join for Press Play media analysis. They talk about blowback to a NYTimes report on Zohran Mamdani's college application, CBS' 60 Minutes settlement and more.Debo Ray is our guest for Live Music Friday. She's a Grammy-nominated singer who released her debut self-titled album earlier this year. She joins alongside drummer, manager, and husband Jerry Velona ahead of a free show next week at Long Live Roxbury. PBS travel guru Rick Steves talks about summer travel to Europe and traveling abroad as an American under Trump 2.0.NBC10 Boston's Sue O'Connell discusses Trump openly criticizing Putin, 50 years of Live Aid and TSA lifting their rule about taking your shoes off during security checks.

Today:Grammy-nominated artist Debo Ray joins for Live Music Friday, ahead of her performance at this weekend's Charles River Jazz Fest, and a free show at Long Live Beerworks in Roxbury.And the face of PBS travel programming, Rick Steves, joins to discuss the benefits of stepping outside your cultural comfort zone.

Today: Juliette Kayyem fills in for Jim Braude.She and Margery speak with former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral about the screen adaptation deal Karen Read has signed with her attorney, weeks after her acquittal.

Chuck Todd, host of the Chuck Toddcast, on political headlines. Andrea Cabral on Epstein files and proposed legislation to ban ICE from wearing face masks in Mass.  Paul Reville  on this latest Harvard subpoena and ongoing animosity between Harvard and Trump. Paul will also cover how the GOP spending bill impacts education, and $100 million in federal funding withheld from Mass. schools.Odie Henderson talks summer movies. This week he'll cover the new ‘Superman' reboot, ‘Sorry, Baby,' and this latest entry into the Jurassic World franchise. He'll also talk 20 years of Brokeback Mountain. 

Attorney General Andrea Campbell joins 11-12 for Ask the AG.GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses a Ming Fay exhibit at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Moonwalkers experience narrated by Tom Hanks and F1 The Movie.Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses Zohran Mamdani's idea for municipal-owned grocery stores and the MAHA movement's battle against food dyes.Naturalist Sy Montgomery talks to us about orcas who take lessons from cats and sharing their prey with humans.

NBC Sports' Trenni Casey on Wimbledon 2025 and her recent 160 mile fundraising run for MS. Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope discusses the towns in America working to protect their 'dark sky reserve' from light pollution; and battles in the federal government over NASA's budget.Brett Smiley, mayor of Providence RI, joins to discuss his city.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins for Ask The Mayor, from 1-2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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