Boston Public Radio Podcast

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses Wicked: For Good, the latest AI-generated pop song, plus, his art-filled tour of Berlin.National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the war crimes allegations against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. And her thoughts on the attack on national guardsmen in D.C.Imari Paris Jeffries of Embrace Boston and Rev. Jay Williams of Union Combined Parish discuss their big plans for the upcoming MLK weekend and for the nation's 250th anniversary.Evan Horowitz of Tufts' Center for State Policy Analysis joins for a year-end roundup of state policy challenges: Medicaid work requirements, fiscal pressure on municipalities, and his new class at Tufts, "AI and the Future of American Politics."

Today:Evan Horowitz, executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University’s Tisch College, discusses the state's economy, the certified ballot questions for 2026's election, and more.

CNN chief national correspondent John King with the latest national political headlinesConductor Keith Lockhart discusses the Boston Holiday Pops 2025 season, which kicks off this weekActor Ethan Hawke zooms in ahead of his event tomorrow with Jared at the CoolidgeLee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discusses the organization's One+ mortgage program, and housing affordability more broadly

Today:Actor Ethan Hawke zooms into BPR ahead of an event at the Coolidge Corner Theater this week. His latest film is "Blue Moon."

Massachusetts is considering new regulations for elderly home care. We talk with Mass League of Community Health Center’s Michael Curry about that, and the latest on rising health insurance costs as Affordable Care Act subsidies sunset. Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer breaks down the rising costs of pantry staples bananas and even… pasta. Plus, he’ll tell us why Bostonians pay some of the highest prices in the country for their daily caffeine fix. Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses her argument for stable housing and why it's vital for keeping people healthy. And, she explains what the latest CDC vaccine changes mean for people in Massachusetts. Plus, we remember English playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard and revisit our 2019 interview with him at Tanglewood. The Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan after an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week. We check in wit

Today: After an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week, the Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan. We check in with Fariba, an Afghan refugee with US citizenship, about what that means for her community. And, we talk with Alexandra Weber of the International Institute of New England about the impact on refugee communities.

Today:Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon of the War on Cars podcast join to discuss their new book "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile"

Today:Javier Marin is executive chairman of El Planeta, the leading Spanish-language newspaper in Massachusetts. He discusses his new book "Live From America: How Latino TV Conquered the U.S.”

Today:National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the chaotic few days of peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.

Former secretary of public safety, Andrea Cabral, discusses how federal immigration forces are misusing "less lethal" weapons against protesters.Harvard's national security expert Juliette Kayyem on the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia deal, plus Congressman Mark Kelly under Pentagon investigation for his involvement in a video from Democratic lawmakers calling on troops to defy illegal orders.Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear discuss their new book "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile."Playwright Ryan Landry previews this year's Gold Dust Orphans holiday show.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses this year's holiday squeeze as consumers are expected to cut Black Friday spending for the first time since 2021.

CNN's John King zooms in for the latest national political headlinesTrenni Casey discusses Killington's independent era for skiing in the NortheastAbdallah Fayyad, Globe ideas writer, joins via zoom to discuss his latest piecesCongressman Jim McGovern calls into the show on the annual March for the Food Bank of Western Mass. Javier Marin, executive chairman of El Planeta, joins in person to discuss his new book:  “Live From America: How Latino TV Conquered the U.S.”

Today:Ukrainian journalist and Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov presents his latest film “2000 Meters to Andriivka” tomorrow night on PBS. It offers a vantage point of war rarely seen in non-fiction films: a first-hand look at the toll of war on the frontline soldiers.

Paul Reville, former education secretary, discusses the federal influence in our education systems — from efforts to dismantle the Education Department to Harvard Vocational School.Oscar-winning documentarian Mstyslav Chernov on his latest FRONTLINE PBS film "2000 Meters to Andriivka" that captures the Ukraine-Russia war from the point of view of frontline fighters.Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III join for All Rev'd Up on BPR. They discuss how the multiethnic faith community of New Bedford is faring amid immigration attacks. Giselle Byrd reflects on her appointment to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Byrd, a community activist, executive director of Theater Offensive performing company, and a Black transgender woman, has received death threats since the news of her appointment.Folk singer/songwriter Tom Rush zooms in to celebrate his induction into Boston's Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame.

Jinx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme return to preview their “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” tour, which stops at the Wang Theater on Nov. 22ndLyndia Downie & Judge Kathleen Coffey join for a Thanksgiving check-in. Coffey is the founder & retired judge for the Homeless Court, which helps low-level offenders clear their records in order to get their life back on track. Lyndia of course is Executive Director of the Pine Street Inn.Hayley Reardon & Judit Neddermann are our guests for Live Music Friday, ahead of a show tonight at City Winery Boston. Reardon is a Marblehead native, Judit is visiting from Barcelona. Alex Green, vice-chair of the  Massachusetts Special Commission on State Institutions and a lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, on the latest on a bill sent to Governor Healey's desk that would make it easier for family members to obtain records of their disabled loved ones who lived in institutional housingSue O’Connell on Larry Summers/Harvard/Epstein fallout, a proposed Boston city hal

Today: Singer-songwriters Haley Reardon and Judit Neddermann perform tonight at City Winery in Boston. They perform for us at the library accompanied by Pau and Arnau Figueres.And, Harvard Lecturer and vice-chair of the Massachusetts Commission on State Institutions, Alex Green, discusses new legislation that would allow families and researchers access to records involving people with disabilities who lived in state institutions.

Chuck Todd discusses the latest national politicsJonathan Van Ness zooms in ahead of their stop in Boston on their "Hot and Healed" tourAlejandra Caraballo, lawyer, clinical instructor at Harvard's cyberlaw clinic, and trans rights activist, joins to discuss the attacks on transgender people from the federal government this yearKelly Beatty of Sky & Telescope and Mario Motta discuss light pollution in Massachusetts. Mario Motta is a retired cardiologist and specialist on the medical effects of lights on humans

Today:Jonathan Van Ness of Netflix's 'Queer Eye' fame joins ahead of a stop on their "Hot and Healed" tour in Boston this weekend.Then, civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo discusses attacks on trans people in today's political climate, and the fallout at Harvard -- where she is a clinical instructor of cyberlaw -- over the school's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

BPR Full Show 11/19: Yo-Yo Ma Gets A Smug Mug!

Today:Cellist Yo Yo Ma previews his sold out Celebrity Series of Boston performance is this Friday at Symphony Hall: “We the People: Celebrating Our Shared Humanity.” It will be simulcast free of charge at more than 20 venues across the state, from Cape Cod to North Adams. For more information, go to CelebritySeries.Org 

BPR Full Show 11/18: Ask The Mayor November Edition