Boston Public Radio

The transportation experts joined Boston Public Radio for our monthly segment of “Curb Your Enthusiasm."

The latest Frontline documentary examines the divisive decade in politics.

Movements like dry January are helping even bartenders find sobriety.

The NBC Sports commentator broke down exactly what’s at stake for the Red Sox manager.

TV expert Bob Thompson says the popularity is due to a mix of nostalgia for the game itself and for host Alex Trebec.

The inaugural poet recited a handful of modern takes on the classic form.

Today on Boston Public Radio we’re on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations. Susan Orlean previews her latest book about animals, including the history of the movie “Free Willy,” her relationship with turkeys and her Valentine’s Day spent with a lion. Orlean is a staff writer for the New Yorker, and an author; her latest book is “On Animals.” Joanne Chang talks about her latest book inspired by her baking journals, “Pastry Love: A Baker’s Journal of Favorite Recipes.” Chang is a James Beard award–winning pastry chef. Richard Blanco reads fall-themed poetry, including “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost, “The Blower of Leaves” by January Gill O’Neil, “November 2: Día de los muertos” by Alberto Ríos and “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” by James Wright. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. Howard Mansfield previews his latest book, "Chasing Eden: A Book of Seekers," about communities throughout American history that sought freedom, happiness and utopia. Mansfield is an author who writes about history, architecture and preservation. Malcolm Gladwell discusses his new book, "Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know." Gladwell is a New Yorker staff writer and host of the “Revisionist History” podcast. Sy Montgomery explains how songbirds find mates for life in other birds who literally sing their tune and discussed vampire bats who adopt vampire bat pups. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and BPR contributor. Her latest book is "Becoming A Good Creature." Arthur C. Brooks discusses the key to happiness, drawing from his social science work and latest podcast, “How to Build a Happy Life.” Brooks is the William Henry Bloomberg professor of the practice of public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, a professor of management practice at the Harvard Business School, the happiness correspondent at The Atlantic and host of the podcast series “How to Build a Happy Life.” Spencer Buell and Erica Walker talk about the rise of noise complaints in Boston, as well as what — and if — residents and politicians should do about it. Spencer Buell is a staff writer for Boston Magazine. Erica Walker is a noise researcher who founded Noise and the City. She is an assistant professor of epidemiology at Brown. Daniel Leader discusses his latest book, "Living Bread." Leader is a pioneer in the American baking world.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan begins the show by updating listeners on the latest in the pandemic, including why cases are on the rise in some parts of the country and how to have a safe Thanksgiving. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the division of medical ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Then, we ask listeners their safety plans going into Thanksgiving as cases rise. Ali Noorani shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s immigration policy, and updates listeners on the status of the evacuation from Afghanistan. Noorani is the president and chief executive officer of the National Immigration Forum. His forthcoming book is “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Corby Kummer talks about how climate change could make food less nutritious and how New Mexican chiles made it to space. Kummer is the executive director of the food and society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Jared Bowen previews the latest in Boston’s arts scene, including the play “The Last Five Years” and what’s new at the Cape Ann Museum. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. Sy Montgomery explains how turkeys went from being almost extinct to a common Thanksgiving favorite, and her favorite personality traits of whales. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. We end the show by broadcasting the news that the three men on trial in Georgia were found guilty of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and heard listener reactions to the verdict.

The galaxy’s first space-grown New Mexican hatch chile peppers have been harvested from the International Space Station (ISS). Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio in studio Wednesday to discuss the space-grown chiles, and what these chiles could mean for the future of indoor farming. NASA employees brought 48 chile seeds aboard a spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for growth on the ISS. This past October —- the end of New Mexico’s hatch chile season — the ISS crew harvested 7 mature hatch chiles. ISS crewmembers celebrated the growth of the peppers by throwing a taco party. “It's been very good for the mental health and psychology of the people in the space station, no doubt, to tender these plants and smell the leaves and smell the green,” Kummer said. The hatch chile seeds used in the ISS gardens were NuMex Española Improved, a hatch chile variety known for its early-maturity and medium-heat profile. The seeds were planted in an “oven-sized growth chamber” on the ISS, with NASA and ISS crew controlling lighting, temperature, trimming, and irrigation. The contained growth of these hatch chiles is big news for the future of indoor farming as well, Kummer notes. “There are billions of venture capital dollars being put into these indoor farms,” Kummer said. “This is like a very high profile, highly publicized example of growing things [indoors] if you control the humidity and the ultraviolet light.” Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show asking listeners their thoughts on the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, and whether it’s time for something different. Trenni Kusnierek updates listeners on the latest headlines in sports, including Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter criticizing Michael Jordan and LeBron James, and Patriots General Manager Bill Belichick sharing his favorite Thanksgiving food. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Mayor Michelle Wu answers questions from constituents in her first ever Ask the Mayor, including about her environmental platform, vaccine requirements and Mass. and Cass. Wu is mayor of Boston. Dan Shaughnessy tells anecdotes from his latest book about covering the Celtics during the Larry Bird era. Shaughnessy is a sports writer at the Boston Globe. His new book is “Wish It Lasted Forever: Life With The Larry Bird Celtics.” John King previews the latest political headlines, including the status of Build Back Better and the Jan. 6 investigation. King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays at noon and Sundays at 8 a.m. We end the show by continuing our conversation with listeners about how they like their Thanksgiving turkey.

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne talks about the status of Build Back Better, President Joe Biden’s medical report and whether he is eyeing a run for a second presidential term. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country." Then, we ask listeners about their media diets, following a PEW survey showing how some types of news consumption have declined. Michael Curry weighs in on the latest COVID-19 numbers and the recent availability of booster shots for all adults. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. Katie Caster and Kim Parker discuss burnout among teachers of color, and what needs to change for the teacher force to better represent the students they serve. Katie Caster is manager of curriculum and education at Latinos for Education. Kim Parker is President of the Black Educators’ Alliance of Massachusetts. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III share their reactions to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, in which he was found not guilty on all counts. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Price is the founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Brian Weeden tells the Wampanoag tribe’s side of the Thanksgiving origin story, and how his community will be commemorating Thursday as a national day of mourning instead. Brian Weeden is the Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. He is from Eel Clan. He is also Co-President/Trustee of the United National Indian Tribal Youth, or UNITY. We end the show by asking listeners if their family planning has changed, as some people opt to forgo having kids out of fear for the environment.