Boston Public Radio

By some estimates the various conflicts in the war on terror have cost the U.S. more than $6 trillion.

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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about how they’re handling the current political divide in America. Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo shares how he would bring his previous experience as a public defender to the role of Suffolk County District Attorney if elected. He also discusses the need for transparency in the case of former Boston police officer Patrick Rose. Arroyo is a Boston City Councilor. He’s running to be Suffolk County District Attorney. Callie Crossley talks about Harini Logan’s win at the 2022 Scripps Spelling Bee, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant. She also shared her thoughts on Sheryl Sandberg stepping down from her role as COO of Meta. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Barbara Lynch shares her thoughts on the state of the restaurant industry, and called for student loan forgiveness for the next generation of restaurant workers. Lynch is a James Beard Award-winning chef, and the restarauter behind No. 9 Park, Menton, Sportello, and others. In 2017, she was one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people, and is a Druker Award recipient. Art Caplan talks about President Joe Biden’s response to the baby formula shortage, and the scientists that have successfully transplanted a 3D-printed ear. 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. Erin Caldwell talks about Dorchester’s first annual Dorchfest, while pop singer Rosa Cesario, acoustic singer-songwriter Tim Pitoniak, and hip-hop/spoken word artist Paul Willis performed live at the Boston Public Library. In honor of the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee, we host the annual Boston Public Radio Spelling Bee for listeners.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about actions they’re taking in the wake of multiple mass shootings. Bill McKibben shares his thoughts on the lack of action in the U.S. on climate change policies, and worsening water quality at Boston-area beaches. McKibben is an author, educator and environmentalist. He’s the founder of 350.org and ThirdAct.org. He has a new newsletter on Substack titled “The Crucial Years.” He’s also got a new, serialized book titled “The Other Cheek: An Epic Nonviolent Yarn.” Chris Muther talks about his experiences with masking on airlines, and shared his off-the-beaten-path weekend spots in Boston. Muther is a travel writer for the Boston Globe. Michael Curry weighs in on President Joe Biden’s proposed $10,000 student debt relief plan, and lack of movement on gun control legislation in Washington. Curry is chair of the NAACP Advocacy and Policy Committee, and is president and CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers. Andy Ihnatko explains what internet surveillance might look like in a post-Roe America. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Jessica Bennett discusses the verdict reached in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial, sharing her thoughts on our cultural obsession with “celebrity misfortune.” Bennett is is a contributing opinion editor at the New York Times, and the author of two bestselling books, Feminist Fight Club: A Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace, and This Is 18: Girls’ Lives Through Girls’ Eyes. We end the show by talking with listeners about their favorite summer foods.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about student anxiety, following a new GBH report that cites increased levels of bullying in Boston schools. Rep. Ayanna Pressley calls for stricter gun control measures – such as universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons – in the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. She also discusses broadening student debt relief from President Joe Biden’s proposed plan to forgive $10,000 per borrower in student loans. Juliette Kayyem discusses the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) announcement of an investigation into the police response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and diminishing attention towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Shirley Leung talks about recent crypto scams targeting Asian Americans, and the out-of-state journey some women in Mass. take to get an abortion. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Jerrod Carmichael joins us ahead of his June 3 show at The Wilbur, sharing his vision behind the HBO special “Rothaniel.” Carmichael is a comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Corby Kummer talks about Taco Bell’s five-city drag brunch tour, and Guy Fieri’s cult icon status. Kummer is 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. We end the show by asking listeners how their spring cleaning projects have gone.

It’s been nearly 15 years of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and Guy Fieri’s imprint on America’s cultural landscape has reached new heights. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the Fieri fandom, following a recent New York Times profile of the celebrity chef. “The [New York Times] decided they were really going to celebrate Guy Fieri, and if he's raised $20 million [for restaurant workers, let's celebrate him, too,” Kummer said. During the wide-ranging interview, Kummer also shared his thoughts on Taco Bell’s touring drag brunch, the discontinuation of mission-driven brand Honest Tea, and more. Kummer is 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 by talking with listeners about gun reform. Trenni Kusnierek updates us on the Celtics’ win over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the U.S. Open’s return to The Country Club in Brookline this June. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Chris Doughty talks about his run for Mass. governor, and shared his thoughts on the state of the Republican party. Doughty is a Republican candidate for governor. Jenifer McKim and Rose Webster-Smith discuss the corporations buying up Springfield single family homes, following McKim’s reporting for GBH News. McKim is a senior investigative reporter for the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. Webster-Smith is the program director for the nonprofit Springfield No One Leaves. Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett talks about the latest news regarding monkeypox cases in the U.S., and answers listeners’ questions during this month’s edition of “Ask the Doctor.” Gergen-Barnett is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation and residency director in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. We end the show by returning to our conversation on gun reform.