Boston Public Radio Podcast

Massachusetts is considering new regulations for elderly home care. We talk with Mass League of Community Health Center’s Michael Curry about that, and the latest on rising health insurance costs as Affordable Care Act subsidies sunset. 

Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer breaks down the rising costs of pantry staples bananas and even… pasta. Plus, he’ll tell us why Bostonians pay some of the highest prices in the country for their daily caffeine fix. 

Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses her argument for stable housing and why it's vital for keeping pe...

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 After an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week, the Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan. We check in with Fariba, an Afghan refugee with US citizenship, about what that means for her community. And, we talk with Alexandra Weber of the International Institute of New England about the impact on refugee communities.

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Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon of the War on Cars podcast join to discuss their new book "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile"

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Javier Marin is executive chairman of El Planeta, the leading Spanish-language newspaper in Massachusetts. He discusses his new book "Live From America: How Latino TV Conquered the U.S.”

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National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the chaotic few days of peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.

Former secretary of public safety, Andrea Cabral, discusses how federal immigration forces are misusing "less lethal" weapons against protesters.

Harvard's national security expert Juliette Kayyem on the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia deal, plus Congressman Mark Kelly under Pentagon investigation for his involvement in a video from Democratic lawmakers calling on troops to defy illegal orders.

Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear discuss their new book "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile."

Playwright Ryan Landry previews this year's Gold Dust Orphans holiday show.

Boston Globe business columnist...

CNN's John King zooms in for the latest national political headlines

Trenni Casey discusses Killington's independent era for skiing in the Northeast

Abdallah Fayyad, Globe ideas writer, joins via zoom to discuss his latest pieces

Congressman Jim McGovern calls into the show on the annual March for the Food Bank of Western Mass. 

Javier Marin, executive chairman of El Planeta, joins in person to discuss his new book:  “Live From America: How Latino TV Conquered the U.S.”

Paul Reville, former education secretary, discusses the federal influence in our education systems — from efforts to dismantle the Education Department to Harvard Vocational School.

Oscar-winning documentarian Mstyslav Chernov on his latest FRONTLINE PBS film "2000 Meters to Andriivka" that captures the Ukraine-Russia war from the point of view of frontline fighters.

Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III join for All Rev'd Up on BPR. They discuss how the multiethnic faith community of New Bedford is faring amid immigration attacks. 

Giselle Byrd reflects on her appointment to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of...

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Ukrainian journalist and Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov presents his latest film “2000 Meters to Andriivka” tomorrow night on PBS. It offers a vantage point of war rarely seen in non-fiction films: a first-hand look at the toll of war on the frontline soldiers.

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Singer-songwriters Haley Reardon and Judit Neddermann perform tonight at City Winery in Boston. They perform for us at the library accompanied by Pau and Arnau Figueres.

And, Harvard Lecturer and vice-chair of the Massachusetts Commission on State Institutions, Alex Green, discusses new legislation that would allow families and researchers access to records involving people with disabilities who lived in state institutions.

Jinx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme return to preview their “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” tour, which stops at the Wang Theater on Nov. 22nd

Lyndia Downie & Judge Kathleen Coffey join for a Thanksgiving check-in. Coffey is the founder & retired judge for the Homeless Court, which helps low-level offenders clear their records in order to get their life back on track. Lyndia of course is Executive Director of the Pine Street Inn.

Hayley Reardon & Judit Neddermann are our guests for Live Music Friday, ahead of a show tonight at City Winery Boston. Reardon is a Marblehead native, Judit is v...

Chuck Todd discusses the latest national politics

Jonathan Van Ness zooms in ahead of their stop in Boston on their "Hot and Healed" tour

Alejandra Caraballo, lawyer, clinical instructor at Harvard's cyberlaw clinic, and trans rights activist, joins to discuss the attacks on transgender people from the federal government this year

Kelly Beatty of Sky & Telescope and Mario Motta discuss light pollution in Massachusetts. Mario Motta is a retired cardiologist and specialist on the medical effects of lights on humans

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Jonathan Van Ness of Netflix's 'Queer Eye' fame joins ahead of a stop on their "Hot and Healed" tour in Boston this weekend.

Then, civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo discusses attacks on trans people in today's political climate, and the fallout at Harvard -- where she is a clinical instructor of cyberlaw -- over the school's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

BPR Full Show 11/19: Yo-Yo Ma Gets A Smug Mug!

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Cellist Yo Yo Ma previews his sold out Celebrity Series of Boston performance is this Friday at Symphony Hall: “We the People: Celebrating Our Shared Humanity.” It will be simulcast free of charge at more than 20 venues across the state, from Cape Cod to North Adams. For more information, go to CelebritySeries.Org

BPR Full Show 11/18: Ask The Mayor November Edition

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Rickey McGee was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the shooting death of a convenience store clerk who was killed during a robbery in the Fenway. For 28 years, McGee maintained his innocence. Behind bars, he co-founded the Harriet Tubman Project in 2021, which brings together incarcerated people fighting wrongful convictions.

In October he was released from prison, and thanks to McGee’s own advocacy and the Innocence Program at the Public Defender’s Office, prosecutors officially dropped the murder case after new evidence weakened the testimony of the prosecution's main witness. McGee joined Jim...

BPR Full Show 11/17: Trump Economic Storm

The Boston Globe's Nancy Barnes and Shirley Leung join for “Press Play" media analysis. The talk about AI in journalism, new polls about Americans' trust in media, and the 2025 Globe Summit. 

GBH's Callie Crossley discusses a bill on book banning, new lousy polling numbers for President Trump and Cheryl Hines' new memoir.

Shelter Music Boston performs for Live Music Friday. They’re celebrating 15 years of performing in local homeless shelters. We talk with founder Julie Levin, founding violist Rebecca Strauss and managing director Carrie Eldridge-Dickson

NBC10 Boston's Sue O’Connell recaps her trip to Cana...

BPR Full Show 11/13: Government Shutdown Has Ended

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses Norman Rockwell's family speaking out against the Trump administration for warping his legacy and Serj Tankian's exhibit at the Armenian Museum in Watertown.

Comedian and actor Tom Papa joins ahead of a show on his "Grateful Bread" tour.

Boston Ballet executive director Ming Min Hui and artistic director Mikko Nissinen discuss their current production of 'Jewels' and their original production of The Nutcracker.

NBC10 Boston's Sue O'Connell joins remotely from Nova Scotia, where Mayor Wu has traveled to pick up Boston's Christmas tree.

National security...

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The Trump family is raking it in on the crypto-currency market. We talk to Axios Boston business editor Dan Primack about all the ways the Trump family is using the presidency to grow their personal wealth. 

Then, Congressman Jake Auchincloss discusses the government shutdown, the Democratic party's future, and Veterans Day.  

BPR Full Show 11/11: Service In The Age Of Trump

We start the show by getting your reactions to the Senate Democrats who agreed to help Republicans re-open the government. 

President Trump just gave a pardon to former Mr. Four Seasons Landscaping himself, Rudy Giuliani – along with dozens others – for charges related to trying to overthrow the free and fair 2020 election. We discuss that and more with Brian McGrory, former editor of the Boston Globe and current head of Journalism at Boston University. 

As the senate makes progress on ending the shutdown, it’s still not totally clear when SNAP recipients can expect the return of food...

It's our Friday media analysis segment “Press Play” with NBC 10 Boston's media maven Sue O’Connell and GBH’s Adam Reilly, on the Pentagon’s new MAGA press crew and a new report showing teens think the media is biased and boring. 

As the Trump administration continues its assault on free thought and open inquiry, how are local libraries weathering the storm? We ask Boston Public Library’s David Leonard and Watertown Free Public Library’s Kim Long.

Then it's Live Music Friday with veteran R&B vocalist, Berklee’s Gabrielle Goodman, ahead of a show at Long Live...

BPR Full Show 11/6: How To Share Office Donuts

Governor Maura Healey joins for Ask the Governor.

Then we open the  phone lines to hear listener reactions to yesterday's elections results. 

Faith Soloway, Bitch and Melissa Ferrick are all part of a musical comedy show "One Long Earring." They perform ahead of a show tomorrow night at the Crystal Ballroom.

GBH's Jared Bowen discusses Kennedy Center ticket sales plummeting and Serj Tankian's exhibit at the Armenian Museum in Watertown.

CNN chief national correspondent John King joins for a politics rundown and election day debrief.

We end the show wi...

Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell takes from audience members.

Senator Ed Markey on the government shutdown, food access, and small businesses feeling the pressure amid tariffs. 

The Boston Foundation's Lee Pelton joins to discuss how the government shutdown is impacting nonprofit work

Tiffani Faison and Zimu Chen are restaurateurs behind two of Boston Magazine's favorite new spots: Bubble Bath + Darling. They join to discuss

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ACLU of Massachusetts executive director Carol Rose discusses the challenges to the rule of law under the current presidential administration, and the legal victories holding those in power accountable. 

And David Shapiro, head of the YMCA of Greater Boston, discusses how his organization is joining the effort to keep vulnerable Massachusetts residents fed through the government shutdown. Boston residents can visit Boston.gov/SNAP or call Boston 311 to learn more about the City resources that are available for support. 

National security expert Juliette Kayyem on the investigation into an explosion at a Harvard Medical School building over the weekend, and President Trump’s continued attacks on Venezuelan boats, even as the UN cites human rights violations. Plus, why he's threatening U.S. military action in Nigeria.

Carol Rose of the ACLU of Massachusetts discusses the ACLU-led class action suit on behalf of detained immigrants who have been denied bond hearings. Plus, whether the U.S. supreme court will hand Trump yet another major victory on tariffs. 

Michael Curry of the Mass League of Community Hea...

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island discusses the government shutdown and his latest efforts to limit the influence of special interest groups in elections.

GBH's Callie Crossley weighs in on SNAP benefits drying up, a new debate around autonomous vehicles in Boston and Trump reinstalling a confederate statue in D.C. 

Nick Shea is a rapper/portrait artist who’s grown an online following since starting a $1 portrait project on Boston Common three years ago. He joins for Live Music Friday ahead of a new album release. 

Victoria Kichuk is the chocolate sommelier behi...

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Brandon Cardet Hernandez, member of the Boston Public School Committee, discusses the literacy bill making its way through Beacon Hill, bell-to-bell phone bans in schools, and getting rid of the MCAS as a graduation requirement.

Then economic scholar Chuck Collins discusses his latest book: Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and Planet. 

BPR Full Show 10/30: Day 30 Of Shutdown

Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther talks about the impact of the government shutdown on air travel, why international tourists are skipping the U.S. and therapy dogs at Logan airport.

Kelly Beatty from Sky & Telescope on a “Boston Henge” phenomenon in Back Bay, the Smithsonian's plans to get the Discovery shuttle to Texas and an asteroid that's maybe headed for the moon in 2032. 

Gabrielle Hamilton is the James Beard-winning chef behind the New York restaurant Prune, and author of “Blood, Bones & Butter.” She joins to talk about her latest, a memoir called “Next of Kin,” ahead...

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Former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio discusses the New York City mayor's race; he's endorsed Zohran Mamdani. We'll talk about his hope for the future of New York and Democrats across the country.

And, Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett joins us with Dr. Lisa Fontes on the health impacts of domestic violence, and how to prevent it.

Former NY mayor, one-time presidential candidate Bill DeBlasio calls in to discuss the NYC mayor's race; he's endorsed Mamdani

Sports authority Trenni Casey discusses the NBA gambling indictments

Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett and Dr. Lisa Fontes discuss domestic violence and prevention/awareness through the lens of public health

Anthony Amore, current director of security at the Gardner Museum, discusses the Louvre heist.

The Wagner Foundation's Abigail Satinsky joins with Street Theory artist Ayana Mack and director Rob 'ProBlak' Gibbs to discuss a new partnership exhibit "From the Page to the Stage"...

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Josh Paul and Tariq Habash both resigned from the Biden administration over the president's handling of Israel's war in Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in 2023. They have since co-founded “A New Policy”  – a group that aims to reform U.S. policy  – and join to discuss what a true "American first" policy in the Middle East would look like.

Amherst College’s Ilan Stavans shares his latest book "Conversations on Dictionaries: The Universe in a Book" on the power of dictionaries in shaping culture. Plus we get his take on polling that shows Latinos in America might be turning away from Trump.

Vulture podcast and TV critic Nick Quah shares the best podcasts he's heard this year. 

Josh Paul and Tariq Habash are co-founders of “A New Policy,” which aims to reform U.S. policy toward the Middle East. They join to discuss what they think multiple U.S. administrations have gotten wrong.

The R...

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Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library to reflect on lessons in leadership from her book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, released 20 years ago this week.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin celebrates 20 years since Team of Rivals was published, the one book Barack Obama said he’d want on a desert island. 

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins for “Ask the Mayor.”  We talk to her about Mass & Cass, whether she’ll insert herself into the Markey/Moulton Senate race, new pushback from Boston’s business community, and Trump’s suggestion this month about pulling the World Cup from Foxboro. 

Rasa Quartet performs for Live Music Friday. They’re on tour across New England with a Halloween-themed show called Soundtrack to a Nightmare.