Episodes
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BPR Full Show 7/13/20: 'Bling Bling Theology'
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: how much harm do you think President Trump is doing by sidelining Anthony Fauci? Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeff Riley and MGH infectious disease specialist Dr. Sandra Nelson weighed the various approaches for reopening Massachusetts schools. WGBH News analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott talked about Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and explained the controversy behind Turkish President Recap Tayyip Eddogan’s decision to convert the historic Hagia Sophia back into a mosque. TV expert Bob Thompson talked about Colin Kaeperinck’s deal with Disney, and reviewed “Elvis from Outer Space." Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed Kanye West’s bid for President, and why U.S. school curriculums have done such a poor job of teaching the history of American racism. “Make Way for Ducklings” sculptor Nancy Schon discussed her latest work, a memorial to the COVID-19 pandemic, and talked about the role of politics in art. We opened lines to ask: do you think the pandemic is bringing out the best in humanity, or the worst in humanity? -
BPR Full Show 7/10/20: Gamble Away!
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: Is Massachusetts taking a gamble on our health by reopening casinos? Boston Globe Business Columnist Shirley Leung talked about whether Massachusetts residents can handle phase three of reopening, and offered her take on the myriad organizations addressing Boston’s racial inequity. Beat the Press Host Emily Rooney reflected on the passing of local talk radio figure Jay Severin and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Comedian Tom Papa discussed his new book, "You're Doing Great! And Other Reasons to Stay Alive,” and talked about the joys of living a simple life. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed a damning civil rights audit at Facebook and new features coming to iPhone users with the smartphone's latest operating system. Under the Radar Host Callie Crossley talked about the decision from the New York Times and the Associated Press to capitalize the “b” in Black, and her love of “Hamilton,” which just had its streaming debut on Disney Plus. We reopened lines to ask listeners: With a heat wave approaching, are you missing the office AC? -
BPR Full Show 7/9/20: The Long Haul
Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about the US’ standing as the nation with the most COVID-19 cases and discussed the latest national headlines. With coronavirus cases spiking across the country, we opened lines to ask listeners: Are you ready for the long haul of living with COVID? Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the Supreme Court’s ruling on President Trump's tax returns, and whether Amy Cooper — who gained notoriety for calling the police on a Black man in Central Park — deserves to have her false reporting charge dropped. Dr. Karilyn Crockett, Boston's newly appointed and first-ever chief of equity, talked about her goals and what she believes it's going to take to change racism and classism in the city. Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville talked about where Massachusetts stands with respect to reopening schools, and the Trump administration’s latest order prohibiting international students from returning to or remaining in the US for remote learning. We opened lines to ask listeners: Has Amy Cooper already paid the price for her white privilege? Harvard dream researcher Deirdre Leigh Barrett talked about her new book, “Pandemic Dreams." -
BPR Full Show 7/8/20: The Problem With Parole
Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about research from the WHO into whether the coronavirus can be transmitted through tiny droplets in the air, and how that research stands to impact how the U.S. reopens. WGBH News senior investigative reporter Jenifer McKim talked about the latest reporting from the The WGBH News Center for Investigative Reporting, on failures of the Mass. parole system. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference. Harvard behavioral economist Michael Norton discussed his latest research on consumer attitudes around how companies respond to economic pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic. He also responded to questions and comments from listeners. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s Peggy Fogelman talked about the museum’s reopening, as well as their ongoing exhibit, titled “Boston’s Apollo: Thomas McKeller and John Singer Sargent.” Emmy Award winning performing artist Wyatt Jackson and Latin Grammy Award winner Gen Rubin talked about “Get Up,” their new single that comments on racial injustice in America. -
Corby Kummer: 'Central Problem' For Restaurants Is Misbehaving Customer Base
Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Tuesday about returning to eat at restaurants amid the coronavirus pandemic. "The problem is always going to be 'How do we get diners to wear masks and behave?' - that's the real problem for restaurants and is why they're opening and reclosing," he said. "We're working on a diner code of conduct on how to enforce this, because this is the central problem." Restaurants are coming up with various ways of enforcing health safety to a customer base that doesn't want to abide by the rules, Kummer noted. "Applebee's is hiring employees who just go around with a tub of cleaning products constantly disinfecting," he said. "But Applebee's should hire someone who also very nicely stands at the door of the restaurant saying 'I think you've forgotten your mask, can we give you one?' so that they have the equivalent of a bouncer enforcing this." Hiring a person to enforce mask-wearing among customers is a good investment of money that restaurants could be taking, Kummer added. "But of course independent restaurants can't afford this extra person, they can't afford this enforcement." Kummer is a *senior editor at The Atlantic*, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy. -
BPR Full Show 7/7/20: Facing Eviction
Today on Boston Public Radio: MIT's Justin Steil and City Live/ Vida Urbana's Lisa Owens discussed their new report on how Boston’s evictions hit Black communities particularly hard, and what the disparity means ahead of the statewide eviction moratorium lift on August 18. Comic and writer Maeve Higgins discussed her recent New York Times piece, "To the White People Who Want to Be One of the "Good Ones.” Carol Rose from the Mass. ACLU talked about the Supreme Court’s recent decisions on abortion rights, and attempts by President Donald Trump to end the federal DACA policy. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about issues stemming from restaurant patrons refusing to wear facemasks, and worker abuses by meat-processing giant Tyson Foods. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, talked about recent reporting on the attitudes of white evangelicals around President Trump, and recent statements from the great-grandson of the woman who portrayed Aunt Jemima, who’s upset about the company’s decision to rebrand. We opened our lines to ask: Now that museums, movie theaters, and outdoor performance venues are opening back up, what have you missed the most and what are you looking forward to picking up again? -
BPR Full Show 7/6/20: July 4th Retrospects, Part Three of Three
On today's pre-taped episode of Boston Public Radio: Jim and Margery talked to New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik about his latest book, "A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism." Harvard Business School behavioral economist Michael Norton looked at the pathology of the “ask braggart,” the person whose sole motivation behind asking you a question is to tell you about themselves. Jim and Margery talked to Norman Mineta, the former statesman who served as cabinet secretary for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, about a new PBS documentary, "Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story." New Yorker Staff writer George Packer discussed his latest book, "Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century." Filmmaker, writer, artist John Waters talked to Jim and Margery about his latest book, "Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder." Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creator of “Bojack Horseman” discussed his collection of short stories, "Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory." Ben Mezrich discussed his latest book, "Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Redemption and Betrayal." -
BPR Full Show 7/3/20: July 4th Retrospects, Part Two of Three
On today's pre-taped episode of Boston Public Radio: New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe discussed his latest book, "Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland." Cartoonist Roz Chast and humorist Patricia Marx discussed their latest collaboration, "Why Don't You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It? A Mother's Suggestions." Comedian Jay Pharaoh joined us to talk about his latest projects, which includes a new standup tour, web series, and the movie "Unsane," directed by Stephen Soderberg. Judge Richard Gergel discussed his latest book, "Unexampled Courage," which recounts a racist attack on a South Carolina native after World War II and how that episode sparked the civil rights movement. Harvard Businesses School’s Michael Norton joined us to explain his latest research, which looks at identity branding. Michael Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. His latest book is "Happy Money, the Science of Happier Spending." Alt-rock band Guster joined us for an in-studio performance of their album, "Look Alive." -
BPR Full Show 7/2/20: July 4th Retrospects, Part One of Three
On today's pre-taped episode of Boston Public Radio: Jim And Margery talked to New York Times Magazine staff writer and lecturer at Yale Law School, Emily Bazelon whose latest book, "Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration," looks at the causes of Mass Incarceration Environmentalist and journalist Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org, discussed his latest book, "Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?" MIT economists Jonathon Gruber and Simon Johnson discussed their latest book: "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream." Author TC Boyle joined Jim and Margery to talk about his latest novel, "Outside Looking In." Poet Richard Blanco gave a crash course on the literary tools that can make your poetry more poetic. -
BPR Full Show 7/1/20: Pacing & Bracing
Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about the problem with relying on a quick COVID-19 vaccine, and his worries about this year’s flu season. MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed healthcare options for people who’ve lost coverage after losing their jobs, and responded to caller questions. Ahead of Gov. Baker’s press conference, we opened lines to talk with listeners about Tuesday's decision by the Boston Art Commission to remove a Park Square statue depicting Abraham Lincoln and a former enslaved person. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference. CNN analyst and national security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed ramifications of rising COVID-19 rates across the U.S., and news about the Trump Administration’s handling of intel that Russia offered bounties on the lives of U.S. troops. Pulitzer-prize winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen discussed his latest writing in the New York Times, about what director Spike Lee got wrong in his new Vietnam War film “Da 5 Bloods.” Tech writer Andy Ihnatko talked about companies banding together to boycott Facebook, and a marketing firm compiling information on Black Lives Matter protesters from phone data.
