Under the Radar with Callie Crossley

Roxbury, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain residents continue to be angry about the construction of White Stadium, and they let city officials know in a heated public meeting with a few choice expletives. New zoning rules for Chinatown will protect its historic buildings, while promoting small-business development. And how community TreeKeepers are trying to cool down one of the hottest cities in the...

A work-distracted wife hiding secrets, a fatal accident, and an experimental therapy combine to upend the lives of a young couple. What happens next puts them on a path for a second chance at a new life together. But is it too late? “The Romance Revival” is the latest novel by bestselling romance writing co-authors Christina Lauren. This sweet and spicy love story with a sci-fi twist  is our July...

It’s the original food of America – the fruits, fish, and meat foraged, hunted and preserved by Native Americans for thousands of years before the colonists arrived on New England shores. We unpack the history and culture of Indigenous food – the first American farm-to-table culinary approach – and its connection to New England's Yankee cuisine as part of our celebration of America's 250th anniver...

Does it really matter if there is a significant age gap between adult partners in romantic relationships? The number of couples living out the ‘age is only a number’ mantra is on the rise, and their reality is increasingly reflected in novels, films, and music =We dive into the world of age-gap romances with relationship expert Susan Winter and clinician and sex therapist Dr. Lee Kinsey as part of...

A double-barrel attack on Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, as billionaires and their spouses AND super PACs back longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins. Three New England states pass on President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair And looking for a fixer-upper? Cape Cod’s historic bridges are up for adoption! It’s our regional news roundtable!

The years have flown by for Abasiama Ufot -- the once student-immigrant is now an octogenarian. At 80, she still reigns as the matriarch of the Nigerian-American family, but she is also content to live a quiet, reflective life alone in Worcester, Massachusetts. That’s where we find Abasiama in the eighth of the nine-part Ufot Family cycle of plays: ” In Old Age.” Playwright Mfoniso Udofiya and act...

While a handful of states are “rebranding” June as anti-Pride Month, some big brands are doubling down on their support. Colorado pushes back on so-called conversion therapy with new protective laws. And parents of transgender kids take on the Department of Justice to stop its efforts to obtain their children’s medical records. It’s our LGBTQ+ news roundtable!

About 60 percent of Gen Z is thinking about forgoing a traditional college degree to become electricians, carpenters, plumbers, or other skilled tradespeople. Even so, the trades are still considered a “boys club,” with women, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ people as the minority in the industry. Now, a local initiative is trying to create a space for them to network professionally and build community. We...

It’s the "Under the Radar" annual summer reading special! Three of our Greater Boston librarians are back with their recommendations, offering plenty of choices for the season – including thrillers, biographies, young adult stories, romance and mysteries. Get ready to add a LOT of new picks to your to-be-read list! For the full reading lists from Callie Crossley, Robin Brenner, Veronica Koven-Mata...

Cranberries have been a staple of Indigenous culture in North America for hundreds of years – and not just as food. Soon, European settlers also found the benefits of the berry, which would eventually become the state fruit of Massachusetts. These days, cranberries hold a special place on our Thanksgiving tables, but also in everyday baked goods, granolas and, of course, as a delicious, tart juice...

One has a tall ship, some rowers, a fishing boat … and a giant lobster crashing through the water in Boston Harbor, defending a goal from an incoming soccer ball. The other features a blend of Celtic punk, classic rock, boy-band beats and classical scoring – some of the musical styles defining Boston. The colorful images and innovative sound remix featured in the Boston World Cup poster and sonic...

*This episode addresses the existence of sex and sexual health.* In last month's installment of "How We Love," we dove deep into the world of ethical nonmonogamy and polyamory. For this special episode of "Under the Radar," we meet Justin, Debbie and Alex: three people in a legal domestic partnership, which is only recognized in certain towns in Massachusetts. They live together with their childre...

President Donald Trump’s endorsement resulted in primary victories for loyalists and a political poison pill for dissenters, critics are calling out Massachusetts lawmakers who are making thousands of dollars on top of their base salaries through committee appointments and reflecting on the massive impact and legacy of the late Representative Barney Frank: It’s a full hour of political analysis wi...

There is no national museum of AAPI history in Washington, D.C. But last year, Rhode Island became home to a one-of-a-kind AAPI History Museum, right in the heart of Providence. We learn more about the mission of the museum – and how visitors have responded – from its founder and executive director, and a New England scholar.

144 tiles, often green and white in color, always clicking and clacking throughout the strategic, four-person game. It’s been around since the 1800s, and it crossed the biggest ocean in the world to arrive here in America, where decades later, it’s become a phenomenon. Mahjong is taking over social clubs, senior centers, kitchen tables and even breweries around the country – and here in Boston. Tw...

Some of President Trump’s most loyal Cuban followers are starting to backslide. Hispanic candidates are winning seats in local elections at an unprecedented rate. And Alex Cora is out as the manager of the Red Sox. What’s the reaction from local Latinos? It’s our Latinx news roundtable! RSVP to our FREE event at Molly's Bookstore in Allston with author Tara Menon! https://bit.ly/utrtaramenon

Mother’s Day is a holiday not easily ignored. Though it is not the most popular holiday, it is one of the most commercially successful, with the ubiquitous marketing of flowers, cards, restaurants and jewelry. But for the millions of Americans who are motherless, it’s a sharp reminder of their loss. What is the meaning of Mother’s Day for those who no longer have mothers? And how can they honor me...

Two new drugs offer hope in the fight against pancreatic cancer, how communities around the country are pushing back on proposed data centers and after more than two decades, the Cape Cod herring run is back in action. It’s our inaugural science and tech news roundtable! RSVP to our FREE event at Molly's Bookstore in Allston with author Tara Menon! https://bit.ly/utrtaramenon

Her funny and frank books for kids, tweens, teens and young adults have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide, resulting in a loyal, multigenerational fandom. So how did Judy Blume, a mother and homemaker, become one of the most successful and beloved children’s authors in history? Author Mark Oppenheimer chronicles her life and career in his new biography, “Judy Blume.” It’s our May selectio...

“As American as apple pie” — it’s a phrase that’s come to be known as something quintessentially American, symbolic of tradition and patriotism. The irony is that apples are not actually native to America at all! Though they’ve become a symbol of the United States, apples originate far from North America. We trace Apple’s tasty history from Asia to America and westward as part of our celebration o...

Romantic relationships are full of joy, but they’re also prone to complexities and challenges. What happens when you add multiple partners or nonmonogamy to the mix? We dive into the world of polyamory and ethical nonmonogamy as part of our yearlong series, "How We Love." RSVP to our FREE event at Molly's Bookstore in Allston with author Tara Menon! https://bit.ly/utrtaramenon

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its new class of inductees, including Phil Collins, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan. April is Jazz Appreciation Month! And the new Michael Jackson biopic hits theaters soon. Will audiences flock to see it despite the controversies surrounding the late legendary artist? It's our pop culture roundtable!

All year round, Boston is home to dozens of run clubs: social organizations where athletes of all levels can come to connect with friends, raise money for charitable causes, and improve their physical and mental health. From addiction recovery to LGBTQ+ representation to after-school exercise programs, there’s a group for everybody — even if you prefer walking. We speak to three members of local r...

President Donald Trump may be staunchly against renewable energy sources, but a new poll shows a majority of his supporters want to expand solar energy in the U.S. Winter woes in ski zones: How will record-low snowfall impact the West this summer? Plus, warmer waters and acidity rates in the Gulf of Maine may affect the future of New England’s lobster industry. It’s our environmental news roundtab...

Author J.R. Thornton’s latest novel “Lucien“ explores the college friendship of scholarship student Chris and high society, wealthy Lucien -- roommates who become fast friends. But Lucien soon holds the upper hand in the relationship, leading Chris to push aside his values and even engage in criminal acts. In this dark academic thriller, “Lucien” explores male friendship, the power of manipulation...