Under the Radar with Callie Crossley

Of the 53 million Catholics in America, about 3 million are African American. The history of Black Catholics in the United States spans from colonization and enslavement to Black parishes founded by the church during the Jim Crow era. And throughout that history, Black Catholic communities have found ways to make the oldest form of Christianity their own. In honor of Easter, we examine Black Catho...

The "I Dream A World" Youth Choral Showcase is bringing together three groups of talented young local singers to perform a variety of pieces centering the work of Langston Hughes and Boston’s own Phillis Wheatley, the first published African-American poet. The performance includes the world premiere of a composition by B.E. Boykin performed by all three choirs combined. We speak with Boykin, the s...

A Pittsfield manufacturer has more than $5 million in contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State leaders and activists are urging the company to reconsider more collaborations with ICE. Hampshire College is at risk of losing its accreditation due to financial issues and declining enrollment. Does the institution have a future? And this year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark...

This spring – it’s lavender over matcha! Cabbage, cinnamon rolls and grandmacore are trending in kitchens this year. And move over rose – it’s “blouge” wine’s time to shine! It's our food and wine roundtable!

Last month, we kicked off our new "How We Love" series with a conversation about romance fanfiction. But what's it like to go from fanfic to the New York Times best-seller list? In this podcast-exclusive interview, Callie speaks with Christina Lauren (Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings), authors of celebrated romance novels like "The Unhoneymooners," "The True Love Experiment," "Love and Other Wo...

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 produ...

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...

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...

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 Loves...

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...

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 legis...

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 histo...

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...

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 dec...

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 d...

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, inc...

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.”