Under the Radar with Callie Crossley

March is Women's History Month -- time to reflect on the incredible women who shaped American history, many of whom were based in Massachusetts. Often left out of portrait galleries, forgotten in walking tours or passed over when considering honorary statues, two local women leaders are finally putting their stories on display.

Dr. Toyoima Ufot is in trouble. The Harvard scholar is accused of plagiarizing. Now the middle child of Abasiama and Disciple Ufot is struggling to defend herself without losing her emotional footing. That's the core of the storyline in “Lifted,”  the seventh play of the nine-part Ufot Family Cycle. We speak with the playwright and two actors from the cast about this unique, work-in-progress production.

Immigrants get a financial boost for services like legal aid and advocacy through a new public-private partnership, frustrated lawmakers and laid-off residents wrestle with the state's unemployment system, and what makes a “gateway city”? It's our local news roundtable!

It's been a miserable slog of cold, snow and ice this winter. Spring is coming, but we're not there yet. So what better time to embrace some end-of-winter communal joy with 10 days of singing and dancing? That's the goal of Maine's first Mudfest. We speak with two of the creators of the event, happening from March 22 through March 29.

In recent awards seasons, Asian-centric films have twice dominated the Academy Awards,  with “Parasite” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once” taking home the top prizes. This year, Chloe Zhao's "Hamnet" is a Hollywood darling on the big-screen, while Asian actors like Greta Lee and Hudson Williams are shining on the small-screen. So has the roaring success of Asian and AAPI media continued? Our two experts return for a special hour-long conversation on Asian representation in media!Get your tickets now to our Bookmarked: LIVE! event at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/miasosaUTR

A Burlington, Vermont company helps topple Trump's tariffs. A Sandwich resident heads to Milan Cortina for the Paralympic Games. And Rhode Island's got a $70,000 rug problem at the state house. It's our regional news roundtable!Get your tickets now to our Bookmarked: LIVE! event at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/miasosaUTR

In the 1950's, two young women were born poor and motherless in rural Louisiana. From the cradle to adulthood, the two are bonded for life as each searches for love and belonging. “Kin,” the latest novel by author Tayari Jones, is the heartfelt and tender story of their unbreakable bond. It's our March selection for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” See Tayari Jones live at The Brattle Theatre on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m.! More information here: https://www.harvard.com/event/tayari-jones  Get your tickets now to our Bookmarked: LIVE! event at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/miasosaUTR

The Pride flag is flying over New York's Stonewall Inn once more, despite calls from the Trump administration to remove the symbol from the historic landmark. LGBTQ+ athletes are making history at this year's Winter Olympics. And remembering civil rights icon and queer rights ally, the Rev.Jesse Jackson. It's our LGBTQ+ news roundtable!Get your tickets now to our Bookmarked: LIVE! event at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/miasosaUTR

What if your favorite TV show or movie series didn't end when the credits rolled? That's at the heart of fanfiction: the social, collaborative, and imaginative community of amateur writers creating new adventures – and new love interests – from established stories and franchises. We kick off our new series, How We Love, with a conversation about the intersection of romance and fanfiction.Get your tickets now to our Bookmarked: LIVE! event at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/miasosaUTR

Massachusetts mayors brace for an ICE surge, while Boston and Worcester mayors declare city property off-limits to ICE. President Donald Trump's call for Republicans to lead an effort to nationalize elections is met with resistance, including from one of the President's strongest supporters: Texas Governor Greg Abbott. And State Auditor Diane Dizoglio amps up her campaign for an audit of the legislature–with a lawsuit and financial support from a state GOP candidate. It's a full hour of political analysis with the Mass Politics Profs!

The ICE arrest of a 5-year-old and his father in Minneapolis has amplified the fear and outrage in Latinx communities across the country and calls for immigration reform legislation from Massachusetts' Black and Latino legislators. President Donald Trump wants to open up Venezuela's oil sector to U.S. investment. Will this “Make Venezuela Great Again”? And Bad Bunny isn't the only one making history at this year's Super Bowl. It's our Latinx news roundtable!

It's been nearly four years since 15-year-old high school basketball player Preston Settles suddenly collapsed on the court, dying 22 days later. Now his parents are supporting legislation that could expand the use of AEDS -- or automated external defibrillators -- in the state, especially at gyms and sporting arenas. The proposed bill is making its way through the Massachusetts Legislature right now. 

Award season is in full swing, and now, it's the Recording Academy's turn onstage. This weekend marks the 68th Grammy Awards, with decorated stars like Kendrick Lamar, up-and-comers like Olivia Dean and global icons like Lady Gaga all vying for a chance to take home a trophy. Two music experts give us the inside scoop on this year's Grammys.

Two giants of African American History share a connection few understood … until now. Jackie Robinson, the first Black player to integrate Major League Baseball, and artist and activist Paul Robeson became opposing voices amid the anti-communist fervor of the 20th century. Author Howard Bryant reveals a never-before-told story of how their historic intersection helped shape racial progress for decades to come in his latest book, “Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America” -- our February selection for Bookmarked: The "Under the Radar" Book Club and part of our tribute to Black History Month.

It's been scientifically proven that taking time to reflect on what you're grateful for is good for your health – emotionally, mentally and physically. But in recent years, these documented benefits have been overshadowed by a huge cottage industry of wellness influencers promoting gratitude merchandise and practices. So is practicing gratitude worth the hype?

What would you do if you had all the money you needed to create your own vision of the world you want to live in? For multimillionaire Fergie Chambers, it meant building a self-described communist revolutionary base in Alford, Massachusetts. Fergie and his mission are the story in a new documentary, “All About the Money,” premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival. We speak with the film's director, Sinead O'Shea.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the federal holiday honoring The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – 40 years of community gatherings, public forums and special activities to pay tribute to the civil rights icon. And throughout most of the holiday's history, millions of Americans have commemorated the day by volunteering for civic engagement and service projects in their communities, including local efforts like Many Helping Hand 365's Cambridge MLK Day of Service and Learning.

Her maps push the boundaries of the form beyond the typical two-dimensional depictions of static, and defined spaces, centering the history, environment, and political narratives of Indigenous people in North America. Cartographer Margaret Wickens Pearce is one of 4 local 2025 MacArthur “Genius” Fellows. She joins us for our annual series, “The Genius Next Door.” 

A new report declares 2025 as one of the costliest years when it comes to climate disasters. Environmental groups are cautiously optimistic about the environmental commitments for the proposed Everett Soccer Stadium. And will YOU add shellfish harvested from Boston Harbor to your dinner table? It's our environmental news roundtable!

It's easy to mistake Jeremy Frey's baskets for fine china when you see them from afar. But up close, his intricate, tiny weaves, coupled with surprising colors, patterns and forms, elevate the ancient craft of basket-making from utility to high art. Visual artist Jeremy Frey is one of four local 2025 MacArthur “Genius” Fellows. We speak with him for our annual series, “The Genius Next Door.”

Forget about baseball and apple pie: Ice is the real cultural symbol of America. From fancy ice cubes to high-tech refrigerators and coolers and an ongoing love affair with the Zamboni, ice is literally and figuratively carved into every aspect of American lifestyles and traditions. How did it happen? Author Amy Brady traces the history in her book, “Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks – A Cool History of a Hot Commodity.”*This segment originally aired in September 2023*

Archaeologists trace the earliest clay containers to the Stone Age when people used crude stone tools to make clay pots for cooking and storage. Today's potters use special types of clay and sophisticated techniques to produce fine craft ceramics. Once crafted mostly by artists, pottery is now one of the hottest hobbies in the country. Ceramics classes are full to bursting, some kilns are running 24 hours a day and the British show, “The Great Pottery Throwdown” has millions of rabid fans. What kicked off this ceramics craze that shows no signs of slowing down?*This segment originally aired in December 2024*

A novel about a fictional school shooting, which captures the perspectives of all involved. A memoir which begins with a young person's complicated journey questioning their sexual identity. And a novella detailing a year in the life of a young Latina living in Chicago as she approaches adolescence. In many cities and states, these storylines are at the heart of best-selling, critically acclaimed books that are no longer available in local schools or public libraries, because they've been banned. In this special edition of “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club,” we're showcasing three authors who have written about subject matter targeted by organized book-banning campaigns. This episode is also part of Unbound Pages, our year-long series examining the anti-book-banning movement in America.*This episode originally aired in August 2025*

For more than three decades, PRX and GBH's "The World" engineer Mike Wilkins has created a mixtape -- now a playlist -- of holiday music full of quirky, weird and sometimes way-out-there songs. We take a listen and learn more about this year's playlist in this special hour-long all-music episode!

She wrote just six novels in her short life, but her literary influence is enormous. Jane Austen's prose and characters have enthralled millions on the page and in films and TV adaptations for decades. On this week's special episode, we cordially invite you to celebrate the life and legacy of Jane Austen in honor of her 250th birthday!

An up-and-coming director, a cast of veterans alongside actors on the verge of their big breaks, an ethereal tinkling piano score and muddy hems! The 2005 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” is one of the most loved versions of Jane Austen's work. What makes it stand out from the many adaptations that came before it? Screenwriter Deborah Moggach gives us a behind-the-scenes look into what it took to get the iconic novel onto the big screen like never before.

His admirers and supporters have long thought his artistry has been overlooked. Now, 18 years after his death, Boston artist Allan Rohan Crite is finally receiving the recognition many fans and critics agree is well-deserved, with two decades-spanning exhibitions on display. We speak about Crite's work and legacy with exhibit co-curator Ted Landsmark, and local artists and former mentees of Crite, Ekua Holmes and Johnetta Tinker.

She's travelled the globe studying the hidden politics of borders. Recently, she's turned her focus to the U.S.-Mexico border, attempting to peel back the animosity toward migrants, and why the gun and drug trade is able to skirt regulation. Cultural anthropologist Ieva Jusionyte is one of four local 2025 MacArthur “Genius” Fellows. She joins us as part of our annual series, “The Genius Next Door.” 

From heart disease to diabetes, chronic illness is the leading cause of death in the United States, and chronic disease is a major reason why the nation spends more than $4 trillion on health care every year. But a growing movement believes reexamining our relationship with food is key to both improving our health and saving money. *This segment originally aired in 2023*

Cities across the country are dotted with vacant lots — often overgrown with weeds, full of trash or surrounded by dilapidated buildings. The unused spaces are at best an eyesore. But some community groups see those empty spaces as an opportunity for food forests: vibrant, public spaces that can also feed their community. We speak with two local experts and advocates who tell us more.*This segment originally aired in 2023*

Despite more houses being built around Greater Boston, prospective homeowners can't find affordable housing. Will the restructuring of the Cannabis Control Commission correct its troubles? And the Michelin Guide awards its first Boston star. It's our local news roundtable!

Temperatures are dipping, but kitchens are heating up as we kick off the season for serious project baking and cooking for a crowd. Will you be adding Albariño -- or pumpkin spice Chardonnay -- to your Thanksgiving table? Plus, local artisan food favorites get Yankee Magazine's seal of approval as perfect stocking stuffers for any foodie. It's our food and wine roundtable!

A new report shows that NO cities in Rhode Island contain affordable housing for people living on the median income of the state. More Cape Cod and Island towns are pushing for a “seasonal communities” designation. And how a man in Vermont ended up with Jeffrey Epstein's address book – yes, THAT Jeffrey Epstein. It's our regional news roundtable!

A list of banned books may signal what to keep out of classrooms, libraries, and their own bookshelves. But for founders of banned-book clubs, it's the perfect place to find next month's read. We speak with three people, including MS NOW'S Ali Velshi, who founded their own banned-book clubs as part of Unbound Pages, our year-long series on the anti-book banning movement in America.

It's been 10 years since Obergefell vs. Hodges led to same-sex marriage  becoming law throughout the United States. Now, the Supreme Court may hear a case that could overturn that decision. A new study confirms higher rates of depression and anxiety in LGBTQ+ youth. And this year's Sexiest Man Alive is breaking the internet … and breaking barriers. It's our LGBTQ+ news roundtable!

In Angela Flournoy's new novel, "The Wilderness," four friends navigate pivotal life passages through their decades-long relationships – their bonds both sustained and tested against the backdrop of modern social and cultural events. Flournoy's intimate storytelling adds dimension to the story of these female friendships. “The Wilderness” is our November selection for Bookmarked: The "Under the Radar" Book Club.

Nearly one year ago, voters sent President Donald Trump back to the White House. Since taking office in January, President Trump and his administration have moved rapidly to enact many of his campaign promises. So what comes next? It's an hour of political analysis with the Mass Politics Profs!

Spooky cinema is at an all-time commercial peak, and in recent years, folk horror -- a subgenre of horror focusing on nature, isolation and paranoia -- has taken over the mainstream. Its frights are derived from the scariest villain of all: ourselves. But the genre isn't new. So why are these stories resonating with so many horror fans right now?

She's known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted over a year and inspired other nonviolent resistance. Her name – along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – is the most recognizable of the civil rights icons. Yet, on this 20th anniversary of her death, there are efforts to sanitize her life story and erase her legacy from public archives, schoolbooks and libraries. Two historians join us to set the record straight.

District 7, one of Boston's 9 city districts, was the most competitive race in September's preliminary election. Eleven candidates fought to represent the district and to replace former District 7 City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who resigned after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges. One of the two candidates hoping to win the job will address the district's top ongoing concerns: affordable housing, economic development and public safety. With just days to go before the November election, we're taking a closer look at District 7's political past and present history with people who know it well.

She's uncovered unexpected connections between her field of algebraic combinatorics and other areas in math and physics, making significant contributions to numerous mathematical fields and forging groundbreaking, cross-disciplinary collaborations. Theoretical mathematician Lauren K. Williams is one of four local 2025 MacArthur “Genius” Fellows. We talk with Lauren K. Williams for our annual series, “The Genius Next Door.” 

Thousands of Cabo Verdeans Americans have made their home in Greater Boston bringing with them the indigenous language of their ancestral homeland. Now through the efforts of a local retired teacher and writer, Cabo Verdean Creole has been captured in a dictionary – the formalization of a language that has been passed down primarily orally. In honor of the dictionary's official publishing, we're looking back on the conversation we had in January 2024 about the making of this dictionary and why it's so important to Cabo Verdeans in the United States and abroad.

For the generation that weathered the AIDS epidemic and fought for same-sex marriage, finding community still poses a challenge. But in Boston, LGBTQ+ seniors have the Pryde — New England's first affordable senior living community geared toward LGBTQ+ elders. A new GBH News documentary follows some of the Pryde's first residents through the facility's inaugural year. We proudly present an audio-only version of the documentary this week!Watch "Living In Pryde": https://www.youtube.com/@GBHNews

Sunday, October 5, marks the start of this year's Banned Books Week – an annual commemoration in support of free and open access to information. It's a week celebrated by authors, publishers, teachers and book lovers across the country, including librarians, many of whom are under attack as they fight for the freedom to read. That fight is the subject of a new documentary coming to Boston later this month. We speak with award-winning and Oscar-nominated director Kim Snyder and librarian Audrey Wilson-Youngblood to learn more.Listen to all the stories that are part of our year-long series on the anti-book-banning movement in America -- Unbound Pages: gbhnews.org/unboundpages

Ramon Lopez grew up on the U.S. border between Texas and Mexico, in a family of tireless working immigrants scraping to get by. Could young Ramon's talents help change the future for himself and his family? In his new coming-of-age novel, “The Border Between Us,” author Rudy Ruiz chronicles Ramon's story of heart and hope. It's our October selection for Bookmarked: The “Under the Radar “Book Club” and part of our tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month.