Boston Public Radio Podcast

On today's pre-taped episode of  Boston Public Radio:   Jim and Margery talked to New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik about his latest book, "A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism."  Harvard Business School behavioral economist Michael Norton looked at the pathology of the “ask braggart,” the person whose sole motivation behind asking you a question is to tell you about them...

On today's pre-taped episode of  Boston Public Radio : New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe discussed his latest book, "Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland." Cartoonist Roz Chast and humorist Patricia Marx discussed their latest collaboration, "Why Don't You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It? A Mother's Suggestions." Comedian Jay Pharaoh joined us to ta...

On today's pre-taped episode of  Boston Public Radio: Jim And Margery talked to New York Times Magazine staff writer and lecturer at Yale Law School, Emily Bazelon whose latest book, "Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration," looks at the causes of Mass Incarceration Environmentalist and journalist Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org, discussed his...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about the problem with relying on a quick COVID-19 vaccine, and his worries about this year’s flu season.  MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed healthcare options for people who’ve lost coverage after losing their jobs, and responded to caller questions.  Ahead of Gov. Baker’s press conference, we opened lines to talk with listeners a...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the widespread use of illegal fireworks in Massachusetts, and hear your thoughts on how and whether to address the issue.  NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek gave her take on Cam Newton, the prospective new Patriots quarterback, and talked about why she doesn’t expect fans will be able to attend bas...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett talked about how Massachusetts is faring in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and responded to questions from listeners. We opened lines to talk about Whole Food’s ban on employees wearing Black Matter masks.  Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung talked about the treatment of workers at Boston's Four Sea...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: Media maven Sue O’Connell talked about the new tell-all book about the Trump family from the president’s niece, and the decision by the Dixie Chicks to change their name to the Chicks.  We opened lines to her listeners' thoughts on the president’s response to the ongoing pandemic.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Friday press conference.  Boston Mayor M...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about the rise of coronavirus cases throughout the U.S., and how it’s impacting the president’s poll numbers.  We opened lines to talk with listeners about the rise of COVID-19 across the nation, and hear your thoughts on the state’s reopening.  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral...

Three months into the coronavirus pandemic, it’s time to face the hard truth: now is not the best time for America’s buffets.  With cases of COVID-19 continuing to rise across the country, the buffet’s communal eating factor has made it unlikely that people will want to return any time soon. Food writer Corby Kummer, however, says that might not be the worst thing in the world.  The award-winning...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: WGBH News reporter Adam Reilly discussed new polling from WGBH, in partnership with the Boston Globe, MassLive, State House News Service, and Suffolk University, about the attitudes of Mass. residents towards police reform and the state’s reopening. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the findings from the newly released polling. Rep. Joe Kennedy called...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference.  We opened lines to talk with listeners about your experiences with racism in the classroom. Mass. AG Maura Healey called in for our monthly edition of “Ask the AG." FRONTLINE producer and director Tom Jennings discussed his latest documentary, “Opioids, Inc.” CNN’s John King talked about Tuesday...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: are you ready for Massachusetts to enter the next phase of reopening?  TV expert Bob Thompson talked about the Juneteenth special of “Sherman’s Showcase,” and broke down the best and the worst of what’s on TV. WGBH News analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed the recent UN resolution on systemic racism, and Amer...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: CNN analyst and national security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the Supreme Court’s ruling on DACA, and why she thinks Trump’s Tulsa rally could get cancelled.  Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the Supreme Court’s ruling on LGBT discrimination in the workplace, and commemorated the passing of Jean Kennedy Smith.  Beat the Press  host Emily Rooney discussed Sen....

Today on  Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the political ramifications of former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s new book, and the president’s upcoming indoor rally in Tulsa, Okla. We opened lines to talk with listeners about the rise of COVID-19 in states outside of New England. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cab...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: why do you think it’s taken so long for white America to denounce racism? MIT economist Jon Gruber talked about the value in repurposing generic drugs to treat COVID-19, and the politics around cure and vaccines developments.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference.  Medical ethicist Art Caplan discu...

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask listeners: are you ready to come out of your coronavirus cocoon? NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek talked about why she doesn’t expect to see baseball in 2020, and a new coalition of NBA players raising questions about the league's reopening plan. FRONTLINE reporter Martin Smith discussed his latest documentary on the coronavirus p...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about the police killing of Rayshard Brooks, and the significance of his death in the context of ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.  Massachusetts Director of Transportation Chris Dempsey talked about the return of drivers to Mass. roads, and why he’d like to see Gov. Baker ride the MBTA amid coronavirus worries. We reopened l...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: Media maven Sue O’Connell talked about J.K. Rowling’s controversial stance on transgender issues, and the commencement address to a Kansas college from Ivanka Trump.  We opened lines to talk with listeners about everything that’s going on around police reform, coronavirus, and election 2020. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Friday press conference.  Tech...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about President Trump’s scheduled rally in Tulsa, Okla. on Juneteenth, and whether Democrats will be able to win back the Senate in the November election.  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed concerns around U.S. voting protections, and what Black Lives Matter protesters...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on defunding the police.  Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed whether left-leaning media was hypocritical in criticizing anti-lockdown protests, and talked about pro-life opposition to a COVID-19 vaccine made using stem cells.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the bullish legacy of AG Bill Barr, and Se...

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Wednesday about food magazine Bon Appetit's recently exposed structural racism. "The Me Too movement came for sexism, and now the moment is coming for racism," he said. "The editor of Bon Appetit, Adam Rapoport, was discovered in an old photo dressed up in Puerto Rican bling, and his assistant said [Rapoport] liked the picture so much tha...

Today on Boston Public Radio: We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference. Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell called in to talk about the reforms she’d like to see Boston make to its policing system. We opened lines to ask: what changes would you like to see when it comes to police reform? Former Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick discussed his experience dealing with racism in...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask: do you have reservations about returning to normal, now that Gov. Baker has moved Mass. into phase two of reopening?  MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed the state of the U.S. economy, why the rising stock market isn’t indicative of overall economic growth, and responded to questions from listeners.  WGBH News analyst and GroundTruth Projec...

Today on  Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about the Black Lives Matter protests, and whether they’re creating a false sense of security with regard to the ongoing pandemic.  Media maven Sue O’Connell talked about the president’s photo-op stunt in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, and whether she thinks it’ll have an impact on Trump supporters come November.  Beat th...

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio *on Friday about undocumented restaurant workers who are unable to get a stimulus check or file for unemployment. "We need to figure out how to protect undocumented workers and how to get them the kind of social safety nets that they're completely locked out from, even though in order to work, they pay taxes," he said. "They pay umemployment ta...