Boston Public Radio

James Beard Award cookbook author Grace Young is raising awareness about the struggles facing Chinatown neighborhoods.

Andrea Campbell chose last week the head of her office’s newly created Housing Affordability Unit starting in July, focusing on expanding affordable housing across Massachusetts.

Joe Spaulding, the longtime president and CEO of the Boch Center, first met the theater’s current namesake in the ticket line for a Cat Stevens concert. The rest is history.

But Republican Michael Sullivan, former U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, disagreed: “I felt a great deal of sadness.”

President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Michael Curry spoke about new COVID-19 variant called FLiRt and the impact on Black and Brown communities who struggle with long COVID.

Katie Theoharides discussed the new parking system at Crane Beach and the impact of climate change on shoreline access.

Funny Uncle Cabaret is a years-long tradition over at the Cambridge Dance Complex, a colorful & glamorous meditation on found families during the holidays. We heard from founder Peter DiMuro, singer Robert McFletcher Jones, and drag star Mizery McRae.Callie Crossley reflected on the passing of Nikki Giovanni… also weighs in on Zuckerberg & Bezos kissing Trump’s ring, Jay-Z allegations, and the LA Times owner weighing in on their opinion coverage.Clementina Chery discussed leading the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, celebrating 30 years working towards a gun violence-free Boston. Sy Montgomery on the world’s oldest known bird giving birth at 74. Also, moths communicating with plants, and the cruisin’ rats of Richmond.

We start the show full of holiday stress. So we ask listeners: how do you deal with holiday gifting stress? Or, are you like Jim who, supposedly, has everything under control this year? NAACP's Michael Curry reacts to the UnitedHealthcare shooting and resulting public discourse the healthcare system. Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses Biden’s pardons, Trump plans to scrap ICE rules that prohibit the arrest of immigrants in churches & hospitals, and more. Environmentalist Bill McKibben talks changing tactics to fight climate change over the next four years.PBS travel guru Rick Steves takes us on a 20-minute Holiday food tour across Europe, from German gingerbread markets to Roman fruit cakes, to Swiss fondue. Plus, he teaches us a new Swiss word. Then it's a Santa-themed "Am I the A-Hole?"

Today:Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on December 11, 2024.

We start the show by continuing our discussion on the poor state of healthcare in the U.S. Then, GBH News art editor Jared Bowen discusses his recent trip to the Crystal Bridges museum in Arkansas and the 2025 Golden Globe nominations. And, it's Ask the Mayor with Michelle Wu. Actor and author Marianne Leone discusses her new book "Five Dog Epiphany: How a Quintet of Badass Bichons Retrieved Our Joy." Finally, Jim wanted to talk about regifting, Margery wanted to talk about reusable bags --- so we open up the phone lines to ask about both.

Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung guest host. They start the show by asking about our obsession with the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer. Then, NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discusses journaling in the NFL and a new study showing that hockey players are more likely to develop CTE the longer they play.NBC Boston host and 'local woman' Sue O'Connell discusses the rise of Theo Von and the "Real World" experience of Trump's transportation secretary pick.Nadia Liu Spellman of Dumpling Daughter & Karen Clarke of Clarke's Cakes and Cookies are food venders at this year's Snowport Holiday Market. They bring us cakes and dumplings. We ask folks to write in with their favorite holiday cookies. CNN's John King discusses the latest national political headlines, including the likelihood that Trump's cabinet picks will be confirmed, and what's next for Kamala Harris.This holiday season lots of packages may be landing on your doorstep, leaving them at risk to "porch pirates," aka package stealers. Have you been a victim of package theft? And what have you done to thwart their efforts? We hear from you.