Nightside With Dan Rea

Over the weekend, on Saturday specifically, New England residents from Massachusetts down to Rhode Island and up to New Hampshire heard a loud sonic boom across the region when a meteor passed through our atmosphere. Did you hear it? Where were you? Dan Rea heard it and thought a tree fell on his house! We wanted to hear about your experience as well!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, on Saturday specifically, New England residents from Massachusetts down to Rhode Island and up to New Hampshire heard a loud sonic boom across the region when a meteor passed through our atmosphere. Did you hear it? Where were you? Dan Rea heard it and thought a tree fell on his house! We spoke with Boston Globe meteorologist Ken Mahan and James Ryan, professor emeritus of physics and a researcher at the Space Science Center at the University of New Hampshire, all about the meteor explosion! We heard from listeners all about their experiences!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Micah Q. Jones is a U.S. Army Veteran, attorney, father, and husband running for U.S. Congress to represent MA’s 6th District. Jones is running unopposed on the Republican side, for Rep. Seth Moulton’s open seat, as Moulton is running for U.S. Senate. Jones joined us on NightSide to discuss his campaign, the issues he’s ready to tackle if elected!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Radio Veteran Jordan Rich Among 2026 MBA Hall Of Fame Honorees! Guest: Jordan Rich – Longtime WBZ NewsRadio Talk Host 8:15PM: Gen X is quietly driving the new cannabis boom… Guest: Shane Leonard - an addiction expert and heads up Into Action Recovery Centers 8:30PM: Nantucket Comedy Festival Marks 20 Years - Announcing Global Expansion of Free Youth Education Program. Guest: Kevin Flynn - award-winning comedian, actor, producer, writer, and host, launched the Nantucket Comedy Festival as an annual fundraiser in the summer of 2006, transforming a local effort into a year-round program that continues to support students on Nantucket and beyond. 8:45PM: Sharon Timlin Memorial Event-A Race to Cure ALS – Coming up Saturday June 13th. Guest: Mike Timlin – Former Red Sox Relief Pitcher 4x World Series Champ (2x Red Sox – 2x Toronto Blue Jays)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and fun. On the coat tails of the previous hour, Dan wanted to share stories about what was the craziest, and/or most dangerous thing you've ever done? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do the risks far outweigh the benefits? We periodically see local news stories about a missing hiker in the woods or a local resident who got lost or worst-case scenario, died while hiking in the woods of NH, Maine, or MA. The last local story we saw was roughly a month ago of a West Roxbury man who was found dead 5 miles from his car up in Franconia Notch NH after seemingly getting lost hiking and unable to find his way back. With that being said, we ask, what’s so great about hiking? Some say it's the views that are worth it or immersing yourself in nature...can't you take in the views from a nice drive through the mountains on a main road? Or how about a walk through a local garden or park, isn't that immersing yourself in nature?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, the MA Senate voted to turn over records sought by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio as part of her audit of the chamber. However, the 33-6 vote does not mean the Senate "concedes". In a resolution note responding to the Supreme Judicial Court's order, while they voted to turn over requested documents, they “do not concede” to an audit, saying if senators believe it’s unconstitutional, that the chamber could still object to an audit from DiZoglio’s office in the “present or future.” While this is a small victory for DiZoglio, her legislative battle is still not over. In addition, this weekend the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s 2026 Nominating Convention begins. It will be held in Worcester at the DCU Center on Friday and Saturday, May 29th and 30th. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is expected to attend as are other members of the State Legislature that Diana has been "battling" with...Were there fireworks? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Gas prices have fallen for 7 days straight. The national average has dropped 13 cents since its peak of the Iran conflict, with six states now averaging below $4. Guest: Rey "R.T." Trevino - Runs Pecos Country Energy, a privately owned oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Fort Worth. 8:15PM: Worst Red Sox Offense in Decades? Guest: Chad Finn – Boston Globe Sports Reporter 8:30PM: New colon/rectal cancer screening recommendations from the American Cancer Society. Guest: Dr. Lilian Chen – Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Tufts Medical Center 8:45PM: Weekend Weather will be a stark contrast compared to hot summerlike temps earlier this week…! Weekend washout: Heavy rain and cold air headed for New England Guest: Ken Mahan – Boston Globe MeteorologistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the release of her new book, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, Former First Lady Jill Biden shares her thoughts about her husband, President Joe Biden’s concerning 2024 debate performance in which he was stumbling over his words and at times hard to follow. First Lady Biden says she was “frightened” seeing him struggle, thinking he was having a stroke and questioned at one point if he had been drugged. At the time, following the 2024 debate, Jill publicly spoke to Pres. Biden and his supporters live, commending him for his “great job” but now she appears to be singing a different tune…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the release of her new book, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, Former First Lady Jill Biden shares her thoughts about her husband, President Joe Biden’s concerning 2024 debate performance in which he was stumbling over his words and at times hard to follow. First Lady Biden says she was “frightened” seeing him struggle, thinking he was having a stroke and questioned at one point if he had been drugged. At the time, following the 2024 debate, Jill publicly spoke to Pres. Biden and his supporters live, commending him for his “great job” but now she appears to be singing a different tune…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The town of Rutland, Massachusetts is cancelling their 4th of July festivities this year. There were original concerns that the decision to cancel was over funding availability or in response to some community viewpoints. However, in a joint statement, the Rutland Fire & Police Department, the Rutland 4th of July Committee, and the Town of Rutland said the decision was strictly made because of public safety concerns, citing staffing shortages. We discussed the challenge that the town of Rutland is facing over their 4th of July celebration during a big year, where America is celebrating its 250th anniversary. Worcester County Sheriff Lou Evangelidis checked in to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Mass State Lottery’s Megabucks jackpot is now up to $18.95 Million! It’s the third largest jackpot in the game’s history, and the largest jackpot since 1986! The next drawing is Sat. May 30th. Guest: Mark Bracken - Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery 8:15PM: The Government Bailout Prevention Act. Guest: Thomas Aiello - Vice President of Government Affairs for National Taxpayers Union 8:30PM: Boston-Area Mom Turned Stage IV Cancer Diagnosis Into National Nonprofit Supporting Thousands.-WeGotThis.Org has upcoming fundraiser - their 5th Annual Golf Tournament - Monday June 8th 2026 at the Indian Ridge Golf Club in Andover Guest: Elissa Kalver - Stage IV metastatic breast cancer survivor & founder of the non-profit WeGotThis.org – it’s been 5 years since her diagnosis. 8:45PM: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is fast outpacing containment efforts in the region as questions and concerns mount in the U.S. What is the risk status for the U.S. and should we be concerned? Guest: Rayne Guest - infection prevention specialist, and founder and CEO of ArrowClean (a cleaning company)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is politics ruining relationships in your life? How so? A recent study done by PNAS Nexus found that 37% of Americans reported losing a relationship with a friend, family member, romantic partner, or coworker because of political differences. That’s roughly four in ten adults who say politics ended a relationship in their life. We continued the topic and asked you how politics have impacted the relationships in your life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is politics ruining relationships in your life? How so? A recent study done by PNAS Nexus found that 37% of Americans reported losing a relationship with a friend, family member, romantic partner, or coworker because of political differences. That’s roughly four in ten adults who say politics ended a relationship in their life. Aaron Perlut, author of “The Death of Compromise,” who authored a book on this very topic, joined us on NightSide as we asked you how politics have impacted the relationships in your life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new bill is being proposed in Massachusetts by MAPLE, the MA Association for Professional Law Enforcement. The law would require applicants to the state’s police forces complete 60 college semester credits in a criminal justice, police science, or other degree approved by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). Currently, officers are required to have a high school diploma or GED. Do you think the proposed law is a good idea? Why or why not? Dennis Galvin, MAPLE President & a retired state police major, joined us to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: The 43rd annual Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl to support lifesaving cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Tuesday, June 2 through Thursday, June 4 from 12 to 8 p.m. at a new location - 88 Seaport Boulevard in Boston’s Seaport District. Guest: Caitlin Fink - Vice President of the Jimmy Fund 8:15PM: Massachusetts rideshare drivers become first in U.S. to unionize. Guest: Mike Deehan – Axios Boston Reporter 8:30PM: The latest Boston Red Sox sports news. Guest: Dan Watkins – WBZ NewsRadio Anchor 8:45PM: Every year 2 million kids are bitten by a dog, with 1 million being a family pet that often kids either squeeze or don't know how to interact with…Local children’s book author wrote a new book, “Pet Safety with Lola & Sophie” to help children learn safe, positive interactions with pets while also encouraging kindness and empathy toward animals. Guest: Christine Devane – Children’s Book Author & former teacher, Mom of 3 and advocate of rescue dogsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As U.S. motorists face some of the highest gas prices in years, with the national average already at $4.56 per gallon and forecast to average $4.80 between Memorial Day and Labor Day, we ask you, are you changing your summer travel plans? How so? Are you taking smaller day trips or doing a staycation rather than one big extended vacation somewhere? Listeners checked in with their thoughts and plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As U.S. motorists face some of the highest gas prices in years, with the national average already at $4.56 per gallon and forecast to average $4.80 between Memorial Day and Labor Day, we ask you, are you changing your summer travel plans? How so? Are you taking smaller day trips or doing a staycation rather than one big extended vacation somewhere? Listeners checked in with their thoughts and plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you like her or dislike her, Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has had quite a popularity streak in state politics and in local media for her ongoing and outspoken legal battle to audit the State Legislature. The Auditor has transcended party lines and gathered a unique support group in her quest to challenge political insiders in her own party over an issue 72% of MA voters tasked her with. Diana checked in to react to a Boston Globe article that was released Tuesday, characterizing her legislative audit as “divisive.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: MA bill proposes that aspiring police officers receive the equivalent of an associate’s degree before they can be sworn in. Guest: Colleen Cronin – Boston Herald Reporter 8:15PM: NASCAR racer and superstar Kyle Busch recently died of sepsis at the age of 41 shocking the world. What exactly is sepsis and what causes it? Guest: Dr. TJ Faugno (pronounced: pronounced: FOG-no) - Critical Care Intensivist at Tufts Medical Center 8:30PM: New data/survey shows nearly half of hiring managers will train AI instead of hiring 2026 college grads…what do these findings mean for the Class of 2026 and what can young workers do about it? Guest: Julia Toothacre - Chief Career Strategist at ResumeTemplates.com - spent more than a decade coaching college students and early-career professionals 8:45PM: This week’s weather forecast after a long rainy Memorial Day Weekend… Guest: Jon Feerick – AccuWeather MeteorologistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bradley Jay Filled In On NightSide with Dan Rea Those home-delivered meals are certainly a lifesaver in a pinch, but if you’re someone who relies on them regularly, due to a heavy work schedule or lack of cooking skills, they can quickly become mundane. We talked about simple cooking at home with Marc Sheehan, the executive chef and co-owner of Northern Spy restaurant in Canton, MA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bradley Jay Filled In On NightSide with Dan Rea Those home-delivered meals are certainly a lifesaver in a pinch, but if you’re someone who relies on them regularly, due to a heavy work schedule or lack of cooking skills, they can quickly become mundane. We talked about simple cooking at home with Marc Sheehan, the executive chef and co-owner of Northern Spy restaurant in Canton, MA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bradley Jay Filled In On NightSide with Dan Rea Modern cars are computers on wheels. They’re tracking everything from where you go to how much you weigh. They can tell if you speed, brake too hard, or pick your nose! Unfortunately, with all this new tech comes higher and higher auto prices. Is it still possible to buy a $5,000 car, and if so, where would you even find one? Automotive expert Craig Fitzgerald joined Bradley to discuss an array of auto-related topics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bradley Jay Filled In On NightSide with Dan Rea Modern cars are computers on wheels. They’re tracking everything from where you go to how much you weigh. They can tell if you speed, brake too hard, or pick your nose! Unfortunately, with all this new tech comes higher and higher auto prices. Is it still possible to buy a $5,000 car, and if so, where would you even find one? Automotive expert Craig Fitzgerald joined Bradley to discuss an array of auto-related topics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner recently passed away. Whether you liked Ted or not, many people believe he carried a certain "swagger" or charisma about him. He had this magnetic energy that just drew people in. We asked the listeners which other public figures have or had a certain charm or "swagger" about them, and why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democratic National Committee’s 2024 election "autopsy" was just released. The report looks at what Democrats believe went wrong with losing that election. We broke down the key takeaways from the report and discussed what new strategies or changes the Democrats are looking at or should be looking at for the next election cycle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn joined the show to discuss a variety of issues concerning Boston. Some topics of interest included: the shrinking values of commercial properties in Boston that are impacting taxes for residents, the turf war over who will control the streets around South Station for the FIFA World Cup when a high number of residents and visitors will be using the train to get to the games, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Patriots offseason reset under Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye’s development, training camp battles, and expectations for 2026. Guest: Chris Price – Boston Globe Sports Reporter 8:15PM: For Memorial Day weekend, Military Friends Foundation’s “Field of Heroes” tribute will be placed in front of Swampscott Town Hall to honor Massachusetts servicemembers who gave their lives in service to the nation. Massachusetts Bridges Will Shine Gold for Fallen Service Members on Memorial Day. Guest: Sarah Sweeney - Executive Director of the Military Friends Foundation and Army wife 8:30PM: Healing Childhood Trauma - Research found that positive childhood experiences can help counteract the negative impact of childhood trauma and can help keep these kids on the right path as they become adults. Guest: Dr. Bob Sege – Pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center & Director of the HOPE National Resource Center located within the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine at Tufts Medicine-Just published new paper/research on childhood trauma & positive childhood experiences counteracting the negative impact of childhood trauma: Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Health and Economic Outcomes | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics 8:45PM: Post Card Show happening at the Boston 2026 World Expo this Memorial Day Weekend. Guest: Kathy Alpert – Founder of The New England Post Card Club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal prosecutors charged 15 people in what the U.S. Department of Justice is describing as a sweeping $90 million fraud investigation tied to Minnesota’s Medicaid and social services programs. The alleged fraud happened across seven publicly funded programs including autism services, housing stabilization, and disability support programs. The DOJ is calling one of the schemes the largest autism services fraud scheme they have ever charged, charging two Minnesota autism therapy providers for submitting $46.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicaid. We broke down this massive fraud investigation out of Minnesota!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal prosecutors charged 15 people in what the U.S. Department of Justice is describing as a sweeping $90 million fraud investigation tied to Minnesota’s Medicaid and social services programs. The alleged fraud happened across seven publicly funded programs including autism services, housing stabilization, and disability support programs. The DOJ is calling one of the schemes the largest autism services fraud scheme they have ever charged, charging two Minnesota autism therapy providers for submitting $46.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicaid. We broke down this massive fraud investigation out of Minnesota!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cambridge City Council voted Monday to end the city’s use of ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system that has drawn criticism from residents and councilors over privacy concerns and potential data sharing with federal authorities. The city will remove and disable ShotSpotter devices across Cambridge within 90 days. We talked about the pros and cons of this detection system, how valuable it might be to law enforcement, how it's used, and more. How would you feel about having a gunshot detection system such as ShotSpotter used in your community?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Boston Globe Reporter Emily Sweeney (a regular guest on NightSide) on her newfound “fame” after taking her reporting to social media and going viral for her Boston accent. Guest: Emily Sweeney – Boston Globe Reporter 8:15PM: With Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, these are some timely, practical safety tips for parents and grandparents to help keep kids safe all season long. Guest: Dr. Alexy Arauz Boudreau – Primary Care Physician with Mass General Brigham 8:30PM: A New Survey by The Harris Poll Highlights the Rising Issue of Misinformation in Science and Health…Survey of over 2,000 US adults reveals a profound “Misinformation Paradox” around science that cuts at the heart of American life… Guest: Matthias Berninger - Bayer’s Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety 8:45PM: How the U.S. Senate is taking legislative steps to prevent government shutdowns from happening ever again… Guest: Kurt Couchman - Senior Fiscal Policy Fellow at Americans for ProsperitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan had a wild experience with the lightning storm on Tuesday. He wanted to know if it was bad in your area, and where could he get a good lightning rod?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benny Sharoni, the Consul General of Israel to New England, will join us this evening on NightSide to discuss the latest in the war with Iran as the U.S. enters its 7th week of ceasefire with Iran. Where does Israel stand in the ongoing conflict with Lebanon? We'll discussed it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discussed another case of a Massachusetts incarcerated individual who was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole when they were 17, a juvenile back in 1995, who is now seeking parole since their conviction occurred before the current law that bans life without parole sentences for people under 21. Gerard McCra III, now known as Kuluwn Asar, murdered his family 33 years ago after his parents told him he was not allowed to have his girlfriend sleep over the house...Asar was originally sentenced to 3 counts of first-degree murder, three life sentences without the possibility of parole. As Dan broke down this case, we asked the audience, does this individual deserve to be paroled? Has he shown rehabilitative progress? Does it matter?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: The American Academy of Pediatrics finds kids of all ages K-12 need regular recess for physical and mental health. First new guidance in 13 years about this unstructured time at school and how it needs to be protected. Guest: Dr. Charles Hannum, MD, General Pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center 8:15PM: Boston 2026 World Expo offers 8 days of free, first-class fun for all ages. Happening May 23-30, 2026 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.- Sponsored by the United States Postal Service, Boston 2026 will play host to all sorts of collectors, former collectors and folks interested in history, geography and art. With over 1,000 fascinating displays and 300+ presentations on all sorts of topics (many of them provided by the Smithsonian Institution). Guest: Lloyd de Vries - former ABC/CBS/NPR Writer/Producer - President of two of the stamp collecting organizations participating in this show, the Writers Unit and the American First Day Cover Society. Both have meetings and seminars at the show. 8:30PM: Red Sox inconsistency, clubhouse dynamics, trade deadline outlook, and front-office scrutiny. Guest: Peter Abraham – Boston Globe sportswriter and columnist 8:45PM: Women’s football finally gets its Olympic spotlight & Women’s flag football could become an NCAA sport… Guest: Andra Douglas - former national champion in rugby and quarterback in women’s tackle football, she later became a creative executive at Atlantic Records—and for nearly two decades owned the two-time national champion New York Sharks women’s pro football team, She also wrote a book that just came out: Changing Cadence: Friendship, Football and the Art of TransitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After about 5 weeks of combat between the U.S. and Iran that started on February 28th when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, killing its supreme leader and targeting military and government infrastructure, we now are coming to the end of a 6th week of ceasefire with Iran. The ceasefire has been going on longer than the actual war, raising the question, what is President Trump’s strategy here? We’ve yet to see a deal or really any military offense against Iran despite the President’s threats that if Iran doesn’t come to a peace deal, the U.S. will come down on Iran with more strikes and bigger bombs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll that was released Tuesday by Polity Research Consulting, commissioned by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, asks Massachusetts voters about the most important issues facing the state today. And in this hour, it was your turn to share with Dan what you think the most important issue facing Massachusetts is. What would bring you to the polls to vote? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll that was released Tuesday by Polity Research Consulting, commissioned by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, asks Massachusetts voters about the most important issues facing the state today. The poll reveals that the top two issues for residents are the cost of living and affordable housing. In addition, when asked if they think Massachusetts is generally headed in the right direction, or heading off on the wrong track, 45% believe the state is heading off the wrong track. That percentage has gone up over the last couple of years from 29% in 2023. What do you think are the most important issues facing MA? Polity Research Consulting CEO Ernie Paicopolos joined us to discuss the poll results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: New Statewide poll commissioned by Retailers Assoc. of MA asks MA registered voters the most important issues facing MA. Results indicate voters are laser-focused on the “pocketbook” issues they have to face every day such as the “cost of living” & “cost of housing”. Guest: Jon Hurst - President & CEO of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts 8:15PM: Turning Corners – Tom McCann’s memoir. It brings alive the places of his past, from his Brooklyn upbringing to his Boston life, and the people he knew along the way, from close friendships with Katharine Hepburn and Bill Russell to memorable encounters with Lauren Bacall and Robert De Niro. Guest: Tom McCann – writer, filmmaker, producer - 92 years old – just published a memoir filled with fascinating stories from his life. Big player with United Fruit back in the day and went on to start Commonwealth Films in Boston for decades. 8:30PM: Legendary NBC Reporter Reveals Assassination Threats During His Investigation/Coverage into the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Guest: Marvin Kalb - Award-winning former NBC News diplomatic correspondent/reporter 8:45PM: Tales From the Wildcats: 90-year history of Wilmington High School Football. Guest: Jamie Pote – longtime sportswriter in Greater Boston – worked for the Eagle Tribune, Lowell Sun, Boston Herald – now the Salem NewsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bradley Jay filled in on NightSide: Schlitz beer will be no longer...One of America's oldest beers that "made Milwaukee famous" will no longer be produced after over 175 years of production. Pabst Brewing Co., the beer parent company, said they have seen the “continued increases in our costs to store and ship certain products and have had to make the tough choice to place Schlitz Premium on hiatus." Do you have a favorite beer that if discontinued you'd be devastated? Maybe it's Schlitz...whatever it is, listeners checked in with their beer of choice as we discussed beer culture and iconic beer brands of today and yesteryear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In your opinion, what is the best venue to see a show/concert in New England? Or beyond? To kick off the topic, Matt Smith, Managing Director of Club Passim in Cambridge joined Bradley for a segment before we opened it up to the audience on their go to concert venues/where they saw the best live performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.