Boston Public Radio Podcast

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?

Governor Maura Healey joins for Ask the Governor.GBH News executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses the Boston Public Art Triennial, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and the fate of Iran's architectural treasures with escalation of war.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the emerging details of the U.S. strike on Iran and the proposed "Golden Dome"  US-wide missile defense system.Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein discusses some of her recent columns and podcast episodes including how to deal with a partner's moodiness and the role of artificial intelligence in dating.

CNN's John King on the latest national political headlines.Jim O'Connell + Derek Winbush join to discuss 40 years of Boston Health Care for the Homeless.Jordina Shanks of Fenway Health and civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo join to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on gender affirming care for trans youth.Senator Ed Markey discusses attacks to public media, and the latest national headlines.Brittany Jasnoff, executive editor of Boston magazine, joins with Jason Santos — chef/owner at Citrus & Salt — and Lydia Shire — chef/partner at Scampo ... both are winners of the Best of Boston 2025 list this year.

Today:Senator Ed Markey joins, with reaction to Iran and the latest on recission for PBS and NPR. Then we'll get reaction to the Supreme Court's decision last week to uphold a ban on gender affirming care in Tennessee, giving states broad powers to ban or regulate transgender medical care for minors.We talk with Jordina Shanks, CEO of Fenway Health – the largest provider of trans health care in New England – and trans rights activist, Harvard's Alejandra Caraballo. 

Today:Congressman Seth Moulton is holding two truths at once – acknowledging the threat of Iran getting nuclear capabilities, and decrying the Trump administration's actions over the weekend – and is calling for diplomacy, now.And, Boston Globe education reporter Christopher Huffaker, Commonwealth Beacon executive editor Michael Jonas and the Superintendent of Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School Heidi Riccio discuss the changes coming to admissions for vocational schools in the state.

Congressman Seth Moulton joins us to discuss Trump's weekend bombing campaign in Iran. Then we open the phone lines to get listener reactions to escalating violence in the Middle East.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses the latest with the Celtics' sale, and takes a look at the Commonwealth Fund, which was established in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. Heidi Riccio, superintendent of Essex North Shore Technical & Agricultural School, Michael Jonas of the CommonWealth Beacon and Chris Huffaker of the Boston Globe join for a discussion on vocational technical school admissions.Princeton's Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses the Trump administration's latest efforts to strangle higher education, and what the president's so-called “historic” deal with Harvard University could actually entail.

Today:Alba Musik joins live at the Boston Public Library to perform guitar and flamenco dancing, ahead of a show this week at Long Live Roxbury.And, President Trump campaigned on being a champion of the working class. How's he doing so far for labor? We ask David Weil, who served in the department of labor in the Obama White House. 

Ron Mitchell, publisher of the Bay State Banner, and Joan Vennochi, opinion columnist at the Boston Globe, join for Press Play — our weekly media analysis segment. ALBA Musik join for Live Music Friday, ahead of a performance at Long Live Roxbury, with Spanish guitar and flamenco dancing.David Weil, visiting professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, served in the department of labor under Barack Obama from 2014-2017. He joins to discuss Trump's labor policy.General manager of the MBTA Phil Eng joins for "Ask the GM" to answer questions about repairs, slow zones, funding and more.

Today:NBC10 commentator Sue O'Connell and former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral discuss the Karen Read trial, and her acquittal.And, a Juneteenth panel with Boston's first black mayor, Kim Janey, educator and lawyer Ted Landsmark, and Michael Curry of the NAACP and Mass League of Community Health Centers. 

NBC Boston's Sue O'Connell and former Suffolk County sheriff Andrea Cabral discuss the Karen Read verdict.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem explains the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, plus the debate around whether the U.S. should be involved. To celebrate Juneteenth, former Boston Mayor Kim Janey, the NAACP's Michael Curry and Northeastern University's Ted Landsmark join for a discussion about racial equity and what progress looks like in the era of Trump.Black puppeteers leading a creative residency at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline join ahead of a showcase performance tomorrow. We talk with Ash Winkfield, Tanya Nixon-Silberg and Charlotte Lily Gaspard, who perform some live puppetry for us in Studio 3. Today's Am I the A-Hole is about a husband who could care less about the artfulness of his dinner preparation.

A call-in segment asking listeners: If Democrats need the working class to win big, do they need to drop the purity tests and some hardlines on social issues?Ken Burns zooms in on the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill to talk about the American Revolution, 250 years, and speak out in defense of public media.Ken Rapoport, CEO of Azuluna Foods & Christopher Grallert CEO of Green City Growers, join for a panel on urban farming.Trenni Casey discusses the Sox trading Raphael DeversGBH's Susan Goldberg on the funding threats to public media.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins for the final hour of the show for Ask The Mayor. 

BPR Full Show 6/16: What Happens After No Kings Day?

Today:Lucy Wightman joins Jim and Margery ahead of this week's release of her memoir, "Princess Cheyenne: My Life as Boston's Most Famous Stripper."And, a new report shows Massachusetts is backsliding on some aspects of juvenile justice reform. We speak with Lisa Thurau and Kristen Wheeler of Cambridge-based nonprofit Strategies for Youth.

We start the show by asking listeners about a weekend of demonstrations, including 'No King' rallies and the military parade. Anand Giridharadas, political commentator, discusses the shut-down of protests Saturday in LA, Trump's military parade and the political violence in Minnesota.Lucy Wightman discusses her new memoir "Princess Cheyenne: My Life as Boston's Most Famous Stripper."Lisa Thurau and Kristen Wheeler of Strategies for Youth, a Cambridge-based nonprofit, discuss the increase in pretrial detention for youths last year that are the result of law enforcement's decision to arrest young people for misdemeanors. The Revs Irene Monroe and Emmett Price join for All Rev'd Up x BPR, discussing the clergy who played a pivotal role 250 years ago in the American Revolution and how they are navigating us through political turbulence today.

Joan Donovan on misinformation in the digital age, she'll talk about media coverage of the LA protests and discerning real news accounts from AI slop. BAMS Fest returns to Franklin park on June 28th, with a whole slate of sister events during June. We'll talk with founder Catherine T. Morris, with a Live Music Friday performance from Boston reggae band Roots Alley Collective.Boston Pride for the People holds their annual Pride parade tomorrow, we'll talk about goings-on and the state of the world for queer folks with BP4TP president Adrianna Boulin & Gary Daffin – who sits on the event leadership committee in addition to leading Boston's Multicultural AIDS Coalition.

Today:Joan Donovan, founder of the Critical Internet Studies Institute & Boston University Assistant Professor of Journalism and emerging media studies, joins for a discussion on artificial intelligence, media manipulation, and telling truth from fiction.Boston Pride For The People President Adrianna Bolin and development & parade co-chair, Gary Daffin – he's also President of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition -- join ahead of Saturday's parade in Boston.

Chuck Todd on the premiere of his new show “Sunday Night with Chuck Todd,” where he interviewed Steve Bannon.Andrea Cabral on Weinstein verdict.Michael Curry on RFK/vaccine misinformation. Corby Kummer on pricy Boston dining

Today:Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses the new "dirty dozen" list of grocery store items laden with pesticides.And, Michael Curry, head of the Mass League of Community Health Centers, discusses a new proposal for the shuttered Carney Hospital in Dorchester to be repurposed as a training facility for nurses.

BPR Full Show 6/11: Protesting Feels Different

Today: A new report shows how, throughout its history, Massachusetts failed thousands of disabled residents living in institutions, and then tried to cover their tracks with bureaucratic stonewalling decades later.GBH's Megan Smith joins alongside Alex Green, vice-chair of the commission behind this report. And, naturalist Sy Montgomery is back to talk about axolotls, as researchers at Northeastern look into whether humans could ever tap into their secrets around limb regeneration.

BPR Full Show 6/10: Fact From Fiction

Today:Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett of the Boston Medical Center joins to discuss the latest medical headlines.And, ahead of this year's Embrace Ideas Festival, we talk with Embrace Boston CEO Imari Paris Jeffries. Plus, joining Imari both at the festival – and today's show – Giselle Byrd. She's the first Black trans woman to lead a regional theatre company in the United States at Boston's The Theater Offensive. 

BPR Full Show 6/9: National Guard In Los Angeles

Today:Trump deployed the national guard in California, without the consent of Governor Gavin Newsom. We talk through the existential questions of presidential authority with retired federal judge Nancy Gertner. Plus, her suspicions about the government's new charges of human trafficking against a man they wrongly deported, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.And, journalist Adam Chandler argues in his new book “99% Perspiration” that the American Dream equating hard work with success has turned out to be more of an American fantasy.

WSJ Callum Borchers & GBH Adam Reilly for Press Play this week. They'll discuss the latest efforts to defund PBS & NPR. The Light in the Piazza is the latest musical at the Huntington Theatre Company. We'll hear performances from leads Sarah-Anne Martinez and Josh Grosso for this week's edition of Live Music Friday.Dan Primack, business editor at Axios, joins to talk about steel tariffs, the latest re: the GOP megabill.Parke Wilde, Julia Hansen, and Peter Watson were arrested last year protesting the expansion of Hanscom airfield. Their cases are winding their way through court now, they join to talk about the case.

Today:Last year, climate activists Parke Wilde, Julia Hansen, and Peter Watson were arrested protesting the proposed expansion of Bedford's Hanscom Field – the second busiest airport in New England, behind Logan. They join to discuss the importance of civil disobedience, and standing up for the climate.And, Live Music Friday with the lead love interests of Huntington Theatre Company's production of 'The Light in the Piazza' - Sarah-Anne Martinez and Josh Grosso.

BPR Full Show 6/5: Are We Protesting Enough?

Today:Ahead of Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice holiday, we talk with the Palestinian owners of two local bakeries: Abdulla Awad of Yafa Bakery in Somerville and Sami Herbawi of Andala Coffee House in Cambridge. And, we talk with two the leaders of two New Hampshire-based aid groups for Ukraine: Alan Himmer of the Ukraine Crisis Aid Group, and Susan Mathison of the New Hampshire-based Common Man for Ukraine. 

BPR Full Show 6/4: Palestinian Cafe Owners on Eid

Today:Carol Rose, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, discusses the impacts of federal immigration actions in the state -- including the detainment of an 18 year old.Lee Pelton, president and CEO of the Boston Foundation, former president of Emerson College, discusses the state of higher education.