Episodes
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Regional news: Massachusetts’ offshore wind future splits Cape residents
Is the re-elected Rhode Island State Senate President incapable of doing his job, as some senators claim? Cape Cod residents are divided over President Donald Trump’s declarations on offshore wind power. Should they be concerned about Trump’s claims of danger toward sea wildlife caused by wind turbines? Plus, a social security breach in Rhode Island, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte’s new COGE and Maine Republicans celebrate a pardoned January 6 rioter. It’s our regional news roundtable! -
Despite vitriol and threats, “That Librarian” Amanda Jones continues the fight against book bans
After librarian Amanda Jones spoke at a local public library board meeting to express her concerns about censorship in her small town of Livingston, she faced an organized campaign of harassment from groups with a mission to ban certain books in public and school libraries. But Jones fought back and is now telling her story in her new book, “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America.” It’s our February pick for Bookmarked: The “Under the Radar” Book Club and the first installment of our year-long series on the book-banning movement. -
“Destruction Yiddish”: How the Holocaust changed language
Yiddish is a language mostly spoken by Jews in the United States, Israel and Russia. But when Jewish prisoners were interned during the Holocaust, the Yiddish language went through a metamorphosis, changing and expanding to include new words about their brutal everyday existence. What emerged and lives on today are words that represent both cultural history and a testimony of survivor resilience. We speak with scholar Hannah Pollin-Galay, whose latest book, “Occupied Words: What the Holocaust Did to Yiddish,” about that “destruction Yiddish.” -
esperanza spalding and Jett Galindo's journey from Berklee to Grammys glory
Berklee College of Music alums have collectively won more than 300 Grammys so far. Two of those previous winners who’ve added to Berklee’s count are esperanza spalding and Jett Galindo – alums with previous wins who are up for awards at this year’s Grammys. We spoke with them about their journey from Berklee’s halls to the Grammys stage. -
How the presidential inauguration became poetry's biggest stage
It’s an exclusive club that may or may not add to its members every four years: inaugural poets. There have only been six in the history of the United States, from Robert Frost in 1961 to Amanda Gorman in 2021. How did the tradition become part of the pomp and circumstance of Inauguration Day? And what kind of message is central to inaugural poetry? We speak with two poets – including an inaugural poet – more about this special inauguration tradition. -
What defines a protest anthem?
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once described the freedom songs of the civil rights movement as “the soul of the movement.” What would the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, the Black Lives Matter movement be like without iconic songs like “We Shall Overcome,” the Plastic Ono Band’s “Give Peace A Chance” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright”? In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’re diving into the history of protest music in America. -
'Crossing The Deep' connects Handel's choral works with spirituals by enslaved Africans
When the Handel and Haydn Society found records detailing iconic composer George Frideric Handel’s ties to the slave trade, it responded in a way only the organization could: through music and performance. Rather than “canceling” the composer or disavowing the history, two of the society’s staff members created “Crossing The Deep,” a special concert series showing the parallels between the choral works of Handel and the spirituals of enslaved Africans in America. We speak with creators Dr. Anthony Trecek-King and Reginald Mobley about what’s in store for this year’s concerts. -
New LGBTQ Congress members offer hope as anti-trans bills lead to anxiety
History is made in the 119th Congress as three new openly LGBTQ+ members join the House of Representatives, while leaders in the Republican majority announce plans to undermine LGBTQ legal protections through Title IX. Plus a new study reveals adolescents are rarely prescribed gender-affirming drugs, despite common misconceptions. And a newly enacted law updates parental rights and protections in Massachusetts, offering parents greatly expanded and improved protections. It’s our LGBTQ+ news roundtable! -
Stress expert details how small steps can lead to big changes in ‘The 5 Resets’
Stress can contribute to myriad physical and mental ailments, increasing risks of heart disease, anxiety, depression and even Alzheimer’s disease. But is it possible to live a life free from stress? Stress expert Dr. Aditi Nerurkar says the point of life isn’t to eliminate stress altogether; it’s to relieve toxic stress. Small, lasting changes in stress management are at the heart of her debut book, “The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress And More Resilience,” the January selection for Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club. -
Are 4-day workweeks the future for Massachusetts companies and employees?
Eight hours a day, five days a week: That’s the typical workweek for many Americans. But some companies are rethinking this standard. Around the world, including here in Massachusetts, the change to a four-day, 32-hour workweek has proven positive for businesses and their employees. Will more local businesses adopt this innovative new workweek?
