Radio Boston

Jerod Mayo is embracing his history-making place as Patriots' first Black head coach

Radio Boston talks about Jerod Mayo's history-making role as the New England Patriots' first-ever Black head coach.

Harvard class teaches literature through Taylor Swift's songwriting

Harvard professor Stephanie Burt joins Radio Boston to discuss what it's like teaching students about great literary works from the past through Taylor Swift's songwriting.

Mass. Legislature aims to strengthen gun laws with new bills

WBUR state politics reporter Walter Wuthmann joins Radio Boston to break down the state's proposed new gun bills.

Checking in on the state's emergency shelter system

WBUR's Gabrielle Emanuel shares the story of one family living in one of the state's overflow shelter sites. Then, we find out more about the latest overflow shelter site that opened in Roxbury on Wednesday from WBUR's Paula Moura.

Composer Rob Kapilow on the magic of Tchaikovsky

Musician, author, and composer Rob Kapilow will unpack Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings" with local chamber orchestra A Far Cry tomorrow at the New England Conservatory this weekend. It's part of the Celebrity Series of Boston.

'A lot of light': One year after the unimaginable, Tyler Lawrence's mother reflects on the life of her son

Tyler Lawrence, a 13-year-old from Norwood, was shot and killed near his grandparents' home in Mattapan on Jan. 29, 2023. He was sweet, loving, forgiving and kind, said his mother. She still feels like she is waiting for him to come home.

How two organizations in Lynn are working to support youth

Nonprofits LifeScene and Roca Inc. help kids focus on their futures, build skills and where necessary, avoid the cycle of violence. Representatives from the organizations join Radio Boston to discuss their work and the impact it is having right now.

How to find the 'winter hexagon' in the night sky

Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope, drops by Radio Boston to tell you how to find some of the brightest stars in our galaxy this winter.

Mass. GOP chair says party will back Trump if he is the nominee

Radio Boston talks with Jennifer Nassour, former head of the Massachusetts Republican Party, and current state GOP chair Amy Carnevale about the future of their party.

Chef Tiffani Faison on local James Beard semifinalists and planning your Super Bowl (or Taylor Swift) party

Celebrity Chef Tiffani Faison joins us to talk about how to make the best Super Bowl food in a pinch and her thoughts on local James Beard award semifinalists.

Peering off the edge of the MBTA's fiscal cliff

Disappointing fare revenues, a pile of debt and the end of federal pandemic relief money have pushed the MBTA to the financial limit. How did we get here, and what happens next?

In Newton, nine days of a bitter teachers strike take their toll

Radio Boston talks with WBUR senior education reporter Carrie Jung, as well as Mary Walsh, executive director of student support initiative City Connects at Boston College, about the impact of the ongoing teacher strike in Newton.

Wu disappointed with state plan to use Roxbury recreational complex as overflow shelter

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu expressed disappointment over a the state's proposal to use the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex in Roxbury as an overflow shelter site during a Monday appearance on WBUR's Radio Boston. The year-round recreation center would be used to give migrant and unhoused families a place to sleep overnight, out of the cold.

Gov. Healey focuses on education, housing and transportation in budget proposal

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey joins Radio Boston to dive deep into her budget proposal for the next fiscal year. Her priorities include education, transportation, and housing.

Gov. Healey's budget proposal: big needs, tight finances

Gov. Healey unveiled her new state budget plan Wednesday. She's proposing increased spending on childcare and transportation infrastructure, while juggling tax revenue challenges. 

Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey on what the U.S. can learn from Boston's built environment

Jeff Speck, the noted urban planner and author of the book "Walkable City," and Chris Dempsey, former Massachusetts Assistant Secretary of Transportation, join Radio Boston to discuss their plan to make communities more healthy, happy and walkable.

Migrants sleep in Logan Airport amid emergency shelter shortage

Radio Boston digs into how migrants are surviving as they wait for shelter and what the state is doing to mitigate the growing crisis this year and beyond.

This weekend, a high-stakes hockey 'Battle of Comm. Ave.'

This weekend, the rival Boston University and Boston College men's hockey teams, ranked first and second in the country, respectively, will clash in a pair of games nicknamed the "Battle of Comm. Ave."

Recapping the New Hampshire primary and what's next in the race

WBUR political correspondent Anthony Brooks joins Radio Boston to recap Tuesday night's presidential primaries in New Hampshire.

Newton teachers strike stretches into fourth day

Teachers in Newton are on strike for the fourth day. Their fight with the city over the terms of a new contract are a microcosm of tensions playing out between unions and municipalities across the commonwealth.

The key to perfect pancakes? Make them with family, says Chef Joe Gatto

Volunteer hosts help Massachusetts battle migrant shelter shortage one home at a time

Radio Boston speaks with the Immigrant Support Alliance about its efforts to house migrants as the state's emergency shelter remains at-capacity.

What's at stake in New Hampshire?

WBUR political correspondent Anthony Brooks joins Radio Boston from New Hampshire, where voters are casting ballots in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary

Boston Police Commissioner talks change in the department, and what it means for the city

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox joins us to discuss changes and reform in the Boston Police Department. Then, we get analysis from WBUR's Deborah Becker and Yawu Miller, formerly of the Bay State Banner.

Local teacher, filmmaker to spotlight inner cities school systems in latest documentary

Local teacher and filmmaker Noube Rateau hopes to spotlight local struggles and triumphs in urban schools for his latest documentary.

New study finds benefits to METCO. But the program faces an uncertain future

Kids who participate in the METCO busing program, designed in the 1960s to desegregate Boston Public Schools, score better on state tests and are more likely to attend college than peers not in the program, according to a new study. But could funding uncertainty threaten the popular program's future?

Annual cookbook features recipes and stories from immigrant students at Lowell High School

For the past six years, teacher Jessica Lander of Lowell High School has worked with immigrant students in her U.S. History 2 seminar to write a cookbook. Each student brings a recipe from home. We hear from Lander, along with two students, about this year's book and what their dishes mean to them.

Boston Palestine Film Festival offers glimpse into Palestinian life before war

The Boston Palestine Film Festival is marking its 17th run this weekend. We're joined by Michael Maria, director of programming for the Palestine Film Festival, and Erin Trahan, arts reporter, critic, and educator specializing in independent film.

Privacy and public interest collide in legal battle over names in sex ring case

The names of alleged clients of a high-end sex ring remain anonymous, more than two months after authorities uncovered the ring's operations in Watertown and Cambridge. And now, a delay in court proceedings is casting doubt on when—and if— we may ever find out who the alleged buyers are.

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern on finding compromise to avoid a government shutdown

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, of Massachusetts, joins Radio Boston to discuss efforts this week to avoid a government shutdown and how he hopes to find compromise with lawmakers across the aisle.

Boston's The Theater Offensive names new executive director

This month, The Theater Offensive named Giselle Byrd as their executive director, claiming her as the first Black trans woman to lead a regional theater in the country. Radio Boston speaks with Byrd about the role and her vision for the theater company.

Bristol County Sheriff talks providing addiction medication to those who are incarcerated

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux is pushing for reform in prison. Heroux joins Radio Boston to talk about latest effort is expanding a program providing addiction medication. Then, WBUR's Deb Becker joins us for analysis.

Mass. program aims to rehabilitate, not incarcerate, youth offenders

Radio Boston delves into a youth diversion program that gives young people support instead of putting them into the juvenile detention system.

Previewing Healey's first State of the Commonwealth address

Ed Lyons, Massachusetts Republican activist and political writer, and Gary Daffin, Executive Director, Multicultural AIDS Coalition and Co-Chair Massachusetts LGBTQ Political Caucus, join us to preview Governor Maura Healey's first State of the Commonwealth address.

What canceled boosts to cash assistance programs means for low-income recipients

A planned 10% hike to cash assistance programs for low-income parents, as well as elderly and disabled people, is on the chopping block as part of mid-fiscal year state budget cuts.

Inside the T's Tuesday morning collapse

A smoking electrical cable at Downtown Crossing station snarled service on the MBTA's Red and Orange Lines Tuesday. That, with much of the Green Line already shut down for repairs, left commuters twisting in the wind.

Boston’s Dray Drinks wants to help you go dry for January

Radio Boston tried out some drinks with Pat Dooling, owner of the non-alcoholic bottle shop Dray Drinks.

Digging into Mayor Wu's plan to make it easier to build in Boston

Could Mayor Michelle Wu's new Squares and Streets plan help ease the city's housing shortage?

It's owl season in Massachusetts. Here's how to spot them

WBUR's Hanna Ali joins us to talk all things owls, including how people can see and hear them this month through Mass Audubon's 'Owl Prowls.'

Reflecting on what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would think of the world in 2024

In a special hour of Radio Boston, we mark Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by looking ahead to 2024: what's on our minds, what needs to happen, and what should happen in the coming year.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren: 'Very concerned about expanding war' in the Middle East

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins Radio Boston to discuss U.S. strikes in Yemen, her conditions for providing aid in Israel, avoiding a government shutdown on Capitol Hill and efforts to bring more federal funding to the commonwealth.

Can Bostonians learn to love the T?

The MBTA is undergoing major repairs this year, with a stated goal of eliminating subway slow zones by the end of 2024. But is it too late to convince Bostonians that public transit is the way of the future?

Mass. Senate President outlines her priorities for 2024

Massachusetts Senate President Karen lays out an ambitious agenda for 2024. Then, WBUR's Walter Wuthmann provides analysis on what he's expecting from Beacon Hill this year.

New England's Bill Belichick era ends as the coach parts ways with Patriots

We talk about what's next for Bill Belichick and the Patriots after the two sides mutually parted ways Thursday.

Spot a 9-year-old Brockton actress in 'Good Burger 2'

Alexis Turner and her mother, Antoinette Toney, join Radio Boston to talk about Alexis' role in the new movie "Good Burger 2."

Why Massachusetts Buick dealers are backing away from electric vehicles

Boston Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray breaks down the hesitance among some Massachusetts car dealers to go all-in on EVs.

Affordable housing development in Boston faces a key obstacle: cost

WBUR reporter Simón Rios' latest story explores a planned affordable housing development above a library in the West End that's expected to cost more than $800,000 per unit to build.

Massachusetts tightens its belt

Gov. Maura Healey is cutting spending to help make up for six straight months of lower-than-expected tax collections.

Previewing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's second State of the City address

WBUR's Walter Wuthmann and former Boston Mayor Kim Janey join Radio Boston to preview Tuesday night's State of the City address. We dive into what they're expecting to hear and what's at stake.

'American Born Chinese' turns 18 this year. We look at how the graphic novel still resonates today

"American Born Chinese" came out nearly 20 years ago, but it's messages still resonate with many readers, including in Massachusetts. We speak with a 10th grader who won a local contest for a letter he wrote to author Gene Luen Yang about the story. Then, we hear from Gene and Boston University's Joel Christian Gill.