Nightside With Dan Rea

For NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and have fun. Dan posed an interesting question: What is your favorite thing about the start of Springtime?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent survey conducted by Munley Law asked drivers what the angriest roadways or routes are in each state. For Massachusetts, respondents said the Zakim Bridge/1-93 North route in Boston makes them the angriest! Do you agree? What roadway or route makes you the angriest when driving?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Boston Police officer has been charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an alleged carjacker. Officer Nicholas O’Malley pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. This appears to be the first time a Boston officer has faced criminal charges for an on-duty death in decades. Larry Calderone, President of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, joined us this evening to discuss the details of the case including the police report. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Gas station owner in Quincy plans to hire violist to spread happiness for customers! Guest: Harvey Kertzman – Owner of Quincy Gas 8:15PM: Middle-of-the-night insomnia is common. 5 tips for when you’re wide awake at 3 a.m. Guest: Anahad O’Connor – Washington Post Health columnist 8:30PM: Chronic stress takes a real toll. 77% of people report physical symptoms and 73% experience mental health impacts. For many, stress isn’t just about being busy; it’s about carrying the emotional weight of life while trying to keep up. Why you should stop focusing only on your to-do list and start with a “to-be list”. Guest: Kari Wells – Reality TV Star who appeared on Bravo’s Married to Medicine, survivor of personal trauma & violent assault where she was held at gunpoint and attacked by robbers at a nail salon! – now an author. Wrote the book: From Attitude to Gratitude 8:45PM: With Boston heading into a major year of public events including the Boston Marathon, FIFA World Cup matches, 250th anniversary celebrations & others, some security experts are asking whether large gatherings face evolving threats. How security teams assess risk at events like these and what the public should realistically know amid headlines about sleeper cells and Iranian drone threats. Guest: Rory Moran - Director of Executive Protection & Threat Analysis at United Security Inc. and a former Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Boston City Council is floating legislation that would allow non-citizens, immigrants, with “legal status” but without full citizenship the right to vote in local elections. The measure was put forth by Councilor Julia Mejia. We went over the details of the measure and heard Boston residents’ thoughts on the proposed measure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Boston City Council is floating legislation that would allow non-citizens, immigrants, with “legal status” but without full citizenship the right to vote in local elections. The measure was put forth by Councilor Julia Mejia. We went over the details of the measure and heard Boston residents’ thoughts on the proposed measure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The town of Reading is speaking out about its support for auditing the State Legislature, a measure State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has been fighting for after 72% of MA voters approved the measure last Fall. The Reading Select Board is sending a letter to top Beacon Hill lawmakers, expressing its “strong support” for the will of the voters to be respected and the legislative audit to be conducted. Will we start to see more MA cities and towns follow suit? Reading Select Board Chairman Christopher Haley joined us to discuss this move by the Select Board.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: A new study suggests that toxic or difficult people in your life might make you age faster! Guest: Brea L. Perry – one of the lead researchers in the study - Professor & Associate Director of the Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences Research at Indiana University 8:15PM: Boston’s Newbury Street possibly becoming pedestrian only? Guest: Jay Willett – WBZ NewsRadio Reporter 8:30PM: President Trump is hosting a crucial summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. We discussed the importance of trade talks. Guest: Ambassador Jeff Gerrish - Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Industrial Competitiveness 8:45PM: What’s the angriest route/roadway among MA drivers? A new survey shows which U.S. roads make commuters angriest! Guest: Dan Mazella – Traffic Reporter & Operations Director for Boston’s Total Traffic & Weather Network HubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Congress is taking up the controversial “Save America Act” that addresses voter ID in the U.S. The heavily backed Republican bill would require proof of U.S. citizenship and photo identification for federal voting. Lawmakers are at odds over the bill with Republicans saying it would strengthen election security, whereas Democrats say it could prevent eligible voters from participating in elections. Where do you come down on voter ID and what is being proposed with the SAVE Act? We took listener calls and went over all the specific details of the Act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Congress is taking up the controversial “Save America Act” that addresses voter ID in the U.S. The heavily backed Republican bill would require proof of U.S. citizenship and photo identification for federal voting. Lawmakers are at odds over the bill with Republicans saying it would strengthen election security, whereas Democrats say it could prevent eligible voters from participating in elections. Where do you come down on voter ID and what is being proposed with the SAVE Act? We took listener calls and went over all the specific details of the Act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday marked 36 years since the infamous art heist at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. 13 pieces of art worth more than $500 million were stolen from the museum by thieves posing as police. To this day, none of it has been recovered and no one has been arrested. Who stole the art? What was the motive? Anthony Amore, the Director of Security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, joined us to discuss whether there are any new emerging details in the case and what working theories there are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: How safe is a commercial flight in the global airline industry? 12 years ago this month the disappearance of Malaysian Air 370 occurred where 239 disappeared on this flight never to be found again. We’ll discuss how safe we are when we fly and what incidents in the air have taken place that the public doesn’t know about. Guest: Thomas Ray - a veteran of the U.S. intelligence services, having worked in the field for two decades & author of the book: Flight 47 8:15PM: James Bond made Champagne glamorous - but the real story belongs to Lily Bollinger, the widow who ran her Champagne house during WWII, resisted Nazi control, and ultimately became the name behind Bond’s signature drink. Guest: Rebecca Rosenberg – Sonoma Valley-based champagne historian & award-winning historical novelist of the Champagne Widows series - her latest "License to Thrill: Lily Bollinger". 8:30PM: How to Avoid Sticker Shock at the Gas Pump: 6 Essential Tips Guest: John Vincent - U.S. News' Senior Editor/Vehicle Testing 8:45PM: The World Baseball Classic – U.S. loses to Venezuela! Guest: Tim Healey – Boston Globe Sports ReporterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Strait of Hormuz is a small strip of water connecting the Persian Gulf to the world’s oceans and it’s been a big problem for the world’s economy amidst the war with Iran as The Islamic Republic has blocked the region’s oil exports. On an average day about a fifth of the world’s oil sails out of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has urged NATO and other U.S. allies to assist with the Strait of Hormuz dilemma, but many nations don’t want to get involved. We discussed the latest in the ongoing war with Iran and the impacts the war poses on everyday Americans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Strait of Hormuz is a small strip of water connecting the Persian Gulf to the world’s oceans and it’s been a big problem for the world’s economy amidst the war with Iran as The Islamic Republic has blocked the region’s oil exports. On an average day about a fifth of the world’s oil sails out of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has urged NATO and other U.S. allies to assist with the Strait of Hormuz dilemma, but many nations don’t want to get involved. We discussed the latest in the ongoing war with Iran and the impacts the war poses on everyday Americans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday was the real St. Patrick’s Day, a day that honors Saint Patrick and pays homage to Irish heritage and culture. What better time to welcome Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther on the program, who recently traveled to Ireland for the first time and self-admittedly knew nothing about the country of Ireland. Chris chatted with us about his experience in Ireland, all the history to be learned there and the local connection between Ireland and Boston. Have you ever been to Ireland? What was your favorite part about visiting? If you’ve never been but wish to, what’s the biggest draw for you?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Poll: Confidence in the Supreme Court drops to a record low. Guest: C. Evan Stewart - Supreme Court historian, legal analyst and attorney 8:15PM: U.S. ranks bottom in happiness yet 79% of workers say JOY is non-negotiable for best work performance Guest: Amy Leneker - former C-suite executive, Fortune 100 leadership advisor (Costco, Microsoft, etc.), and author of Cheers to Monday: The Surprisingly Simple Method to Lead and Live with Less Stress and More 8:30PM: March is Women’s History Month. Highlighting how women are leading America’s disaster response operations… Guest: Larysa Murray - Marine Corps veteran and 17-time Team Rubicon deployment leader 8:45PM: Millions more people may need to start cholesterol-lowering medications as young as their 30s. Here’s why… Guest: Chris Clyne, MD, Cardiologist at Tufts Medical CenterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump's sons (Don Jr. & Eric) have invested in a drone company (Powerus) that has hopes of winning a drone contract with the Pentagon that would fill a hole left by the administration’s ban on new Chinese drones in the U.S. This raises concerns about a conflict of interest. Brett Velicovich, the co-founder of Powerus, when asked about a conflict of interest, said, “There’s no conflict there. Whatever they’re doing is what they’re doing. Our focus at the company has nothing to do with politics.” Some disagree...What do you think? Is Trump’s sons’ investment in a drone company eyeing a government contract, a conflict of interest?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discussed the parole of Massachusetts man, Ronald Bonnoyer, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s 18-month-old son, and putting the child’s body in a dumpster in 1989. Bonnoyer was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death. The MA Parole Board has had a series of controversial paroles lately, this being the latest. The Board cited that Bonnoyer has multiple health issues and has been sober for 32 years with minimal disciplinary reports, and the last one was over 20 years ago. With that being said, is the release still warranted?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discussed the parole of Massachusetts man, Ronald Bonnoyer, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s 18-month-old son, and putting the child’s body in a dumpster in 1989. Bonnoyer was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death. The MA Parole Board has had a series of controversial paroles lately, this being the latest. The Board cited that Bonnoyer has multiple health issues and has been sober for 32 years with minimal disciplinary reports, and the last one was over 20 years ago. With that being said, is the release still warranted?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: Thunderstorms and wet conditions Monday evening with a hint of snow possible for parts of MA. Sunshine looks to return Tuesday. Guest: AccuWeather Meteorologist – John Feerick 8:15PM: Why more of the wealthy are moving from Massachusetts to other states. Should we be concerned? Guest: Paul Karger – CFA & cofounder and managing partner of Boston-based Twin Focus, a firm that manages investment portfolios for wealthy families. 8:30PM: An update/follow-up on the MSPCA-Angell adoption event for dozens of rats following a huge surrender a couple of weeks ago. Guest: Jamie Garabedian, project manager for MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division 8:45PM: What you need to know about cyber threats from Iranian backed hackers, and how it could affect American companies. Stryker, one US company was the first attacked last week… Guest: Lisa Sotto – cyber security expert – partner with Hunton, Andrews Kurth LLP & Chair of Global Privacy and Cybersecurity PracticeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Friday the 13th, a day many believe is unlucky. Are you superstitious at all? If so, tell us about what superstitions you subscribe to!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parking scams are becoming increasingly common and can take on various forms such as fake parking citations left on windshields, fake QR codes that are placed over legitimate ones, and digital text scams. Kerry Lutz, who is an attorney, financial podcaster, systems expert, and bestselling author will join us to talk about parking scams, how parking apps turned "convenience" into mandatory digital contracts in some cases and the hidden incentives for driving ticket quotas and aggressive enforcement. Give us a call with your parking stories or concerns!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll discuss the shocking story out of Danvers, MA of a local teen, a senior at Bishop Fenwick High School, who randomly broke into a 68-year-old Danvers woman’s home in the middle of the night while she was sleeping in her bed and stabbed her to death. Essex County DA Paul Tucker said there is no connection between the teen and the deceased woman and that the teen confessed to the murder saying he, “wanted to kill someone for a long time.” DA Paul Tucker will join us this evening on NightSide to discuss this horrific story out of Danvers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: What you need to know about the 2026 South Boston St. Patrick’s Day / 250th Evacuation Day Parade happening this Sunday March 15th! Guest: Brian Yanovitch - Director of Parade Logistics for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston 8:15PM: Shipwreck investing with metals prices soaring! Discussing the recovery of gold, silver, and industrial metals from historic shipwrecks. Guest: Stefan von Imhof - CEO and co-founder of Alts.co (fellow Bostonian!) 8:30PM: Jaylen Brown opens up on NBA officiating, flopping, and his ejection: ‘I think the NBA agreed’ it was a bad call. Guest: Gary Washburn – Boston Globe Sports Reporter 8:45PM: New England Postcard Club to Host 3rd Annual Postcard Show on Saturday March 14th at the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History. Guest: Kathy Alpert - the founder and organizer of the New England Postcard ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan discussed numerous acts of violence happening this week in the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is more pressure to perform in sports than meets the eye. For former Olympic boxer and professional champion Danny O’Connor, high school wrestling, the Olympic Games, and professional boxing, all included extreme weight-cutting, starvation, dehydration, purging, even collapse. The sad part was that it was not only tolerated but normalized as preparation. Dan talked with Danny O’Connor, author of Weight Class: A Fighter’s Life-or-Death Battle with an Eating Disorder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re headed out this weekend for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston, officials warn they’ll be cracking down further this year on public and underage drinking. Police will confiscate alcohol and are urging parents to supervise their teenagers. Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn and MA State Senator Nick Collins joined Dan to discuss parade safety, especially during this time of heightened global tensions due to the war against Iran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: The U.S. News 2026 Best Cars for Families Awards is out! Find out what car might fit the bill for you and your family! Guest: Zach Doell, U.S. News’ Vehicle Testing Editor 8:15PM: The Salt Water Initiative’s 4th annual fundraising event on March 21, 2026 at Irish Brewing Boston in Norwood. Help SWI raise money to send more families living with a child with Autism on a Cape Cod Vacation! Guest: Lynne Abbott, Founder of the Salt Water Initiative 8:30PM: When you think of purchasing food, and you see it labeled “natural”, you’re probably more likely to buy it, but buyer beware! Not all foods labeled “natural” are more nutritious than their counterparts. And products listed as “healthy” may contain non-sugar sweeteners and are significantly more likely to meet the FDA’s proposed “healthy” criteria. Guest: Nathalie Lavoie, Associate Professor of Resource Economics at UMass Amherst 8:45PM: Amidst TSA staffing shortages, air traffic controller shortages, and even crew/pilot shortages, that are causing major flight cancellations, delays, and schedule reductions, comes the current shortage of aircraft mechanics! Without those, ALL flights will be grounded! At Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, employers are already lining up....and students say the shortage of workers is the biggest selling point for them. Guest: Jeff Wright, Aviation Maintenance Technology Program Chair and Professor at Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After speaking with two MA Republican gubernatorial candidates, Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy, we recapped each candidates’ stance on key issues in Massachusetts and continued to take your calls. NightSide played host to a special live in-studio conversation between Republican candidates for Massachusetts governor. This conversation was an opportunity for the candidates to make a first impression on the voters in Massachusetts and answer questions from Dan and the listeners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After speaking with two MA Republican gubernatorial candidates, Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy, we recapped each candidates’ stance on key issues in Massachusetts and continued to take your calls. NightSide played host to a special live in-studio conversation between Republican candidates for Massachusetts governor. This conversation was an opportunity for the candidates to make a first impression on the voters in Massachusetts and answer questions from Dan and the listeners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NightSide played host to a special live in-studio conversation between Republican candidates for Massachusetts governor. All three Republican candidates running: Brian Shortsleeve, Mike Kennealy and Michael Minogue were invited to join the conversation. Shortsleeve and Kennealy committed to the discussion; Minogue did not. This conversation was an opportunity for the candidates to make a first impression on the voters in Massachusetts and answer questions from Dan and the listeners. Listen in as Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy discuss the issues important to Massachusetts' voters!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NightSide played host to a special live in-studio conversation between Republican candidates for Massachusetts governor. All three Republican candidates running: Brian Shortsleeve, Mike Kennealy and Michael Minogue were invited to join the conversation. Shortsleeve and Kennealy committed to the discussion; Minogue did not. This conversation was an opportunity for the candidates to make a first impression on the voters in Massachusetts and answer questions from Dan and the listeners. Listen in as Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy discuss the issues important to Massachusetts' voters!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a result of the ongoing war with Iran and disruptions to supply chains, the prices of crude oil and natural gas have skyrocketed, causing gas prices to soar here at home. This week, Massachusetts gas prices jumped 40 cents from last week, sitting at a current average of $3.40 a gallon, compared to last week’s $2.97 a gallon. How are the current gas prices impacting your weekly budget? Are you scaling back in any way? We discussed the rising gas prices along with the latest developments in the ongoing war with Iran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a result of the ongoing war with Iran and disruptions to supply chains, the prices of crude oil and natural gas have skyrocketed, causing gas prices to soar here at home. This week, Massachusetts gas prices jumped 40 cents from last week, sitting at a current average of $3.40 a gallon, compared to last week’s $2.97 a gallon. How are the current gas prices impacting your weekly budget? Are you scaling back in any way? We discussed the rising gas prices along with the latest developments in the ongoing war with Iran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Kane, the Executive Director of the MBTA Advisory Board, joined us this evening to discuss a variety of topics concerning the MBTA, including what improvements can be made to The Ride, the latest developments on the towns that are resisting the MBTA Communities Act, the MBTA fiscal budget and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: From Upheaval to Action: What Works In Changing Higher Ed. Do the nation’s colleges have a future? Guest: Arthur Levine - President of Brandeis University and coauthor of the new book, From Upheaval to Action: What Works in Changing Higher Ed 8:15PM: Why is the Declaration of Independence so crucial to America? What battle is raging right now over the Declaration on both the left and right? Guest: Dr. John G. West – political scientist - Senior Fellow, Managing Director & Vice President of the Discovery Institute (a non-profit, non-partisan organization focused on research, education, action, and cultural renewal)-Wrote the book: ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR: The Bible, Science, and the Battle for America's Soul 8:30PM: How families can escape the diet culture trap! Why diet culture is bad for kids and why diets don’t work…How to build healthy habits in a balanced way that prioritize kids’ physical and mental health. Guest: Dr. Joey Skelton – Pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist – author of the book: Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World book out on March 17th 8:45PM: Blood donors needed in March as national blood supply recovers. Guest: Kelly Isenor - Director of Communications for Red Cross MassachusettsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran. Higher gas prices. Protesters. It all ties together and here at Nightside, we cover it all! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Mayor Wu's first term her administration ramped up their street safety agenda by implementing more bus and bike lanes and installing more speed humps in various parts of the city to slow traffic down. Now, over the last year, it appears the implementation of such road safety measures has slowed down with some residents saying road safety upgrades are still needed across the city. As spring starts to bloom, will we see more bike lanes bloom in Boston as well? What types of road safety measures or updates do you think are still needed in Boston?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discussed the case of Patrick Kelley who was just granted parole at 61 years old after spending 31 years behind bars for beating, raping, and robbing a 76-year-old Dorchester woman along with a visiting home nurse who came to the Dorchester woman’s home. He was sentenced to three concurrent life sentences back in 1995. Does the time served and rehabilitation efforts made in prison warrant his release? The MA Parole Board thinks so, do you?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discussed the case of Patrick Kelley who was just granted parole at 61 years old after spending 31 years behind bars for beating, raping, and robbing a 76-year-old Dorchester woman along with a visiting home nurse who came to the Dorchester woman’s home. He was sentenced to three concurrent life sentences back in 1995. Does the time served and rehabilitation efforts made in prison warrant his release? The MA Parole Board thinks so, do you?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of our continuing news coverage, we’ll talk about what’s behind the new Tik Tok sardine trend that has Gen Z loading up on sardines!8:05PM: The MA proposed ballot question that would do away with partisan primaries and have the two most popular candidates compete in the general election, regardless of party…Two veteran Democrats sue to block the ballot question.Guest: Chris Lisinski - Senior Reporter for the Commonwealth Beacon (formerly with the State House News Service)8:15PM: Freedom Trail Foundation Revolutionary Women Tours Return!Guest: Kara Zeiberg – tour guide & actor who portrays Thankful Rice on the Trail8:30PM: Sardine Fasts: What's behind this Gen Z TikTok trend?Guest: Paul Fulford - healthy living expert with Cynosure Lutronic8:45PM: “HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird”-Tells the story of his unlikely rise in rural Indiana in the 1970s, the time period when Bird nearly slips away from the game, the miracle of his underdog Indiana State team, how that team could never exist today.Guest: Keith O’Brien – New York Times best-selling author & writerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 20th hour of Nightside, we asked listeners to tell us about their 1st concert experience! Who did you see? What was most memorable about the concert and why? Dan also asked who was the best concert. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.