Episodes
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Mr. Mike's Merry Mix: Our annual review of quirky holiday songs
This week on Under the Radar: It’s our annual spinning of holiday tunes with Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World. Wilkins shares his new picks of old songs that are quirky, weird and sometimes way out there — not the traditional carols from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or even new traditional favorites like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Wilkins' compilation of songs-you-never-heard-of include the vinyl one-hit-wonders he rescued from the forgotten bins of overlooked B-sides, and a few newer tunes that might become classics. This season, for his 33rd year of Jingle bell melodies, Mike honors his mixtape history with “Mr. Mike's Merry Mix 2022,” a Yuletopia recording. Stream his full playlist here: https://soundcloud.com/seenthat/mikemas2022 Guests Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World. -
Mr. Mike's Merry Mix: Our annual review of quirky holiday songs
This week on Under the Radar: It’s our annual spinning of holiday tunes with Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World. Wilkins shares his new picks of old songs that are quirky, weird and sometimes way out there — not the traditional carols from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or even new traditional favorites like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Wilkins' compilation of songs-you-never-heard-of include the vinyl one-hit-wonders he rescued from the forgotten bins of overlooked B-sides, and a few newer tunes that might become classics. This season, for his 33rd year of Jingle bell melodies, Mike honors his mixtape history with “Mr. Mike's Merry Mix 2022,” a Yuletopia recording. Stream his full playlist here: https://soundcloud.com/seenthat/mikemas2022 Guests Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’S The World -
Local News Roundtable: Green Line ready for its big debut, but letting more teens vote may stall
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: After four years of work, the Green Line extension will finally open for service on Monday. Plus, Boston City Council approved a petition to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections, but the state Legislature has the final say. And a local photographer showcases residents in Dorchester. Guests: Sue O’Connell, political commentator and analyst for NECN, NBC10 Boston and co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News Gin Dumcius, managing editor at the Dorchester Reporter Mike Deehan, co-writer of the Boston Axios Newsletter -
Food and Wine Roundtable: From fruitcake to wine bars, what to sample this holiday season
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: It's time to indulge in our favorite holiday comfort foods and toast the season with glasses of good cheer. This year, nostalgia is on the table with a return of the fruitcake, and Boston is finally embracing wine bars. Plus, our food and wine contributors offer gift ideas for the foodies and wine lovers on your list. Guests Amy Traverso, senior food editor at Yankee Magazine, cohost of GBH’s Weekends with Yankee and author of “The Apple Lover’s Cookbook” Jonathon Alsop, founder and executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of “The Wine Lover’s Devotional” -
The Geniuses Next Door: We chat with the Massachusetts MacArthur Genius awardees
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Last month, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2022 “Genius” grant fellows — 25 recipients across academia, the arts, and sciences all of whom have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. In our series, “The Genius Next Door,” we gathered three of the awardees who work and teach here in Massachusetts. And, the daughter of one of New York’s most prominent rabbis has a secret that only her best friend knows. Plus, a successful website designer dreams of her own Jewish food show. Both of them are temporarily stymied by the reappearance of young loves gone wrong. Their stories are the heart of two new romance novels set during Hanukkah, the annual festival of lights. Romance novelists Stacey Agdern and Jean Meltzer are the authors of “Love and Latkes” and “The Matzah Ball” our December selections for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” Guests: Danna Freedman is a chemistry professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an associate editor for the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Melanie Matchett Wood is a mathematics professor at Harvard University studying pure math and number theory. Loretta Ross is a reproductive justice and human rights activist, as well as a professor at Smith College. Stacey Agdern is the author of four Hannukkah romance novels; her latest is “Love and Latkes.” The former award-winning bookseller has both reviewed and given talks on the romance genre. She also writes a romance/hockey for an anthology series called Connected Stories. And has written for HEA Happily Ever After, USA Today’s online romance blog, and Romantic Times magazine. Jean Meltzer is the author of two romances; The Matzah Ball is her first. She studied dramatic writing at New York University’s Tisch. The Emmy award-winning former TV writer spent five years in rabbinical school before she started writing romance novels. “The Matzah Ball” will soon be a movie. -
It's a full hour of pop culture cookbooks!
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: We’re bringing you an encore chock-full of fictional-turned-real recipes and the masterminds behind them in honor of the release of the Black Panther sequel. 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 grown, and publishers are all too willing to satiate their hunger. Plus, we have another cookbook encore for you, dear Under the Radar listener. First, we dove into the culinary world of Wakanda; now it's time to look back at some other fictional worlds. 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 Companion Cookbook,” “World of Warcraft: The Official Cookbook,” “Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook” and many more! Her latest, “The Star Trek Cookbook” will hit the shelves in September and is available to order online Nyanyika Banda, Malawian-American chef, writer, entrepreneur, and author of the newly released Marvel’s Black Panther: The Official Wakanda Cookbook. Nyanyika is based in Amherst, Mass. -
The Me Too movement five years later
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Five years ago, Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual assaults kicked off an international movement of survivors called #MeToo. The movement is based on a phrase coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006. It launched a reckoning for harassment and assault in the workplace and beyond; helping to hold powerful people accountable. Weinstein was convicted in 2020 and is now facing a second trial in Los Angeles. We are reflecting on the Me Too movement and it's impact over the last five years. If you or someone you know has suffered harassment or abuse, you can find resources at Jane Doe Inc. And, Fabiola Mendez graduated from Berklee College of Music IN 2017. Today the singer/songwriter works as a cuatro player, and a composer for animated children’s shows, including Alma’s Way and Work It Out Wombats on PBS Kids and Mecha Builders, a series on HBO Max produced by Sesame Street. Mendez is also an artist in residence with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. Mendez joined us to share her love of the cuatro and tells us which of her songs is her favorite to perform. Guests: Fabiola Mendez is an afro latino cuatro player, singer.songwriter, and composer for animated kids shows. Stacy Malone is executive director of the Victim Rights Law Center and member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. Diana Mancera is director of membership and programs at Jane Doe, Inc.. -
Mass Politics Profs: Midterm elections reaction
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: The November 8th midterm elections brought some historic victories; Maura Healey became the first LGBTQ person to be elected governor in the history of the United States. But it also brought some surprises; the "red wave" Republicans were predicting was more of a trickle. We spent a full hour with the Mass Politics Profs to hear what they had to say in the wake of the elections. Find more of their analysis on their blog. Guests: Shannon Jenkins is the interim assistant dean of the college of arts and sciences at UMass Dartmouth and a professor of political science. Erin O’Brien is an associate professor of political science at UMass Boston. Luis Jiménez is an assistant professor of political science at UMass Boston. -
The latest LGBTQ news you need
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: For the first time in this country’s history, LGBTQ candidates are on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Plus, The Pennsylvania ACLU has filed a federal complaint against a school district in the state, alleging it discriminates against trans and non-binary students. And 20 states across the country have pledged to offer a legal shield against anti-LGBTQ legislation. A move some are referring to as the “rainbow wall.” And for our November pick for Bookmarked: Author Stacy Schiff joins Under the Radar to discuss her newest book, 'The Revolutionary.' She gives a very detailed history of the oft-overlooked founding father, Samuel Adams, and the mark he left on his young country. Guest: Stacy Schiff is the author of six biographies, esayist, and winner of the the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for biography. Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, or BAGLY. Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD. E.J. Graff, journalist, author and managing editor of The Monkey Cage at the Washington Post. -
Mass Politics Profs: Everything you need to know about the Nov. 8 elections
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Massachusetts’ four confusing ballot questions are driving up voter interest for the November 8th elections. Plus, Bristol County’s Controversial sheriff of 25 years is facing a real challenger. And election workers across the nation are leaving their jobs in droves – will their exits greatly impact voting this year? Those stories and more on our full hour with the Mass Politics Profs. Guests: Shannon Jenkins is the interim assistant dean of the college of arts and sciences at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and professor of political science. Erin O’Brien is an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Luis Jiménez is an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
