Under the Radar with Callie Crossley

For some of us, September 11th, 2001 still rings clear in our minds, even 20 years after the attacks. But newer generations have little to no memory of that tragic day — either having been too young to remember, or not yet born.  Under The Radar  is marking the upcoming 20th anniversary of 9/11 by reflecting on how Gen-Zers recognize an event that they learn about in history books. How does genera...

This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday August 24th that he was enacting a student loan forgiveness plan; erasing $10,000 for borrowers who make under $125,000 a year and an extra $10,000 for Pell Grant recipients. How will this impact the midterms? And will the GOP take control of congress? And for local news, the Mass Politics Profs discuss...

This week on  Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: We're talking all things historical fiction in this special August edition of “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” We explore the world of books described as historical fiction — imagined stories based on real-life events and people, combining the best of history and novels. GUESTS: Jabari Asim  is the author of seven books for adults inc...

Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz is now a Hall of Famer, cementing the legacy of Latinos in major league baseball. Plus, a new Latino media start-up plans to buy 18 right-leaning Spanish speaking radio stations — a potential media transformation that’s riled up conservative lawmakers. And Black and Latino teachers will collect $835 million through a New York discrimination lawsuit. Those stories...

This week on  Under the Radar: New England Confectionery Company, or Necco, was the oldest continuously running candy company in the country up until its closure in 2018. The company, which was based in Revere, Massachusetts, produced Clark Bars, Mary Janes, Candy Buttons, Sky Bars, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Sweethearts, and — most notably — Necco Wafers. The New England Confectionery Company shaped t...

This week on  Under the Radar : An unprecedented heatwave has swept Europe into a sweltering, deadly public health crisis. Here in the United States, President Joe Biden is soon expected to declare a climate emergency after he's spent months trying — and failing — to push his climate agenda through Capitol Hill. And  a new survey  shows that extreme weather disasters are taking a toll on Americans...

This week on  Under the Radar: There will be plenty of traditional music, food, dance troupes and parade floats at this weekend’s  Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts,  back for its 55th annual celebration. The three-day event kicks off on Friday, July 29 at Franklin Park. The fourth-largest Puerto Rican festival in the nation honors the history of the largest Latino group in the state. GUESTS:...

Immediately after the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn  Roe v. Wade,  LGBTQ rights advocates sounded the alarm, saying the conservative court “won’t stop at  Roe.”  At least one justice — Clarence Thomas — has confirmed their fears, with his statement that the high court  “should reconsider”  its decision on  Obergefell v. Hodges , which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Meanwhile, vandals...

This week on  Under the Radar: How is it possible that the bones of a champion racehorse were not too long ago consigned to the dusty attic of the Smithsonian? A horse whose stellar career and long pedigree were little known outside some racing circles? These real-life details intrigued bestselling author Geraldine Brooks. leading her to craft a fictional tale based on the documented history of th...

This week on  Under the Radar: You might know that Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to abolish slavery, but you probably haven’t heard how a Black man named Quock Walker was instrumental in making that happen. Back in 1754, the state census counted 4,500 enslaved people in Massachusetts. Walker, born to enslaved Black people, was one of them. He self-emancipated at 28 years old. His...

This week on  Under the Radar: Harvard pubilshed its “ Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery ” report back in April, which detailed the institution's clear, historical ties to slavery. That included enslaved individuals on campus, funding from enslavers and dozens of faculty — including past Harvard presidents — who were enslavers themselves. This was back in the 18th century, but the commercial aspec...

This week on  Under the Radar: The Boston-based Roxbury International Film Festival, or RoxFilm, is back for its 24th annual event. Festival organizers are once again offering a hybrid structure, allowing attendees to view screenings both online and in-person. All of the films spotlighted by the Roxbury Film Festival are curated to display the cinematic excellence of film professionals of color. T...

This week on  Under the Radar: The country's recent racial reckoning has sparked a renewed interest in Juneteenth — nearly every state in the country recognizes the holiday, and this year many employers gave staffers the day off. But there is alarm that broader embrace of the holiday has sparked the worst kind of exploitive marketing and promotion. Local observances, however, are lifting up the me...

When authors and directors invite audiences into an imagined world, they know that food can’t be left off the table. And fans are feasting on a delicious genre: pop culture cookbooks. Recipes and imaginary narratives combine to bring cuisines from fictional universes to real life. A sprinkling of books from this genre have been around for decades. But in the past few years, demand from fandoms has...

Ten years ago, we talked with fantasy food blogger Chelsea Monroe-Cassel about creating recipes inspired by the book and HBO series Game of Thrones. We’ll listen back to our original conversation and then reconnect to hear about how she’s turned her fantasy fandom into a full-time career. Guest: Chelsea Monroe-Cassel  is the author of “A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companio...

It seems we're all ready for a full-on embrace of summer after two years of cautious living because of COVID-19. People are ready to enjoy all the wonders of the season: diving into the ocean, feeling sand under their toes at the beach, taking lazy naps in the hammock, and slowly swinging on the porch — not to mention long, uninterrupted hours of reading. Summer readers, grab your book bags! Three...

Roxbury artist Napoleon Jones-Henderson’s life’s work has been dedicated to ‘’the beauty of Black culture.” More than 50 years ago, he joined with members of the Chicago art collective AfriCOBRA, committed to using their art to empower Black communities. But it was during his decades-long career in Boston where Jones-Henderson flourished, creating his African inspired mixed media pieces. Now his c...

We're kicking off the official start of summer savoring refreshing new food and wine trends. We’re talking flower syrups galore: think violets, roses and lilacs that add a floral twist to drinks. Plus, wine made smoky by California wildfires has been tough to sell. But winemakers are embracing inventive ways to ensure nothing goes to waste. At the same time, wine lovers are drinking less red wine,...

This week on  Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Boston-based pediatrician Mark Vonnegut has seen a lot during his 40 years practicing medicine. His latest book, “ The Heart of Caring: A Life in Pediatrics ,” is both a love letter to the profession and a critical look at the problems plaguing the healthcare industry. What’s the state of healthcare in America today, and how can it improve?

This week on  Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: The pandemic has accelerated the systemic problems elders face, like caregiver burnout, nursing home shutdowns and worsening isolation. Not to mention the ever-increasing price tag that comes with such care. But inspired by global models and local successes, innovative solutions are on the rise. During May,  Older Americans Month , we're giving a...

This week on  Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : Too Good To Go  is an app that connects consumers with surplus food from local eateries that would otherwise be tossed, and sells it at a steeply discounted price. The app launched in Boston at the start of the pandemic, with a mission to reduce food waste and improve sustainability. GUESTS: Claire Oliverson, U.S. head of marketing for Too Good...

This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: COVID-19 might make all the headlines, but another crisis is afoot: loneliness. Pandemic-times have only exacerbated chronic loneliness by creating a world of isolation and social distancing. Can ecovillages — a unique model fostering community and connection — be one answer? Ecovillage cohousing communities have been popular in Europe for decades...

This week on  Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Cape Cod townspeople are united in vocal opposition to a proposed new machine gun range. Plus, do Rhode Islanders care if political candidates are practically brand-new residents in The Ocean State? And a New Hampshire bill would throw away the ballots of voters who fail to provide IDs within 10 days of an election. These stories and more during...

This week on  Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : Cole Chen is the odd duck in a family at a loss to understand him. Friends don’t get him, either. The 23-year-old is searching for connection and success but lacks the tools to achieve either. Author Quincy Carroll’s “ Unwelcome " tells the story of the privileged Cole whose world view is shaped by his inability to grasp the reality of his life....

This week on  Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Many of the settlers who headed West in the 1840s ended up in the treeless prairie then known as the Nebraska Territory. They planted trees for shade protection, and to slow crop erosion. Their success inspired Nebraska Territory Secretary and self- proclaimed tree enthusiast J. Sterling Morton to propose a tree-planting holiday. One million tree...