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Radio Boston

2,539 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 83 ratings

Provocative stories and authentic voices from around Boston.

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Episodes

It's time for taxes. Here's what you need to know

February 22, 2024 19:24 - 10 minutes - 9.16 MB

Radio Boston dug into what you need to know for tax season this year with local financial expert Ancel Tejada, program manager of the Financial Empowerment Initiative at MASSCAP.

The Massachusetts GOP is mired in turmoil and debt. It's part of something bigger

February 22, 2024 17:19 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB

The Massachusetts GOP's troubles mirror the turmoil churning in the party's national committee, and the Republican apparatuses in swing states like Michigan and Arizona.

2023 was tough for Boston's tech industry. Will 2024 be better?

February 22, 2024 17:18 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MB

Radio Boston recaps a rough year for Boston's tech industry and what the future holds with Boston Globe reporter Aaron Pressman.

Donna Summer's estate takes on Kanye West in copyright battle

February 21, 2024 19:13 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MB

Peter Karol of the Center for Intellectual Property at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Bhamati Viswanathan of New England Law and historian Dart Adams join Radio Boston to discuss the history and legal complexities of sampling.

Sandwich celebrates 150th birthday of children's author Thornton Burgess

February 21, 2024 19:06 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MB

We learn more about the life and legacy of author and conservationist Thornton Burgess.

Learning about political writer Maria K. Stewart and other Black figures in Boston's history

February 21, 2024 19:06 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB

Boston Globe senior opinion writer and columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr joins us to share more about the life and impact of Maria K. Stewart, the first Black female published political writer. Then, Boston historian and journalist Dart Adams joins us to share more about Black leaders and landmarks in Boston's history that need recognition. 

Boston could face revenue shortfalls from empty office buildings

February 20, 2024 19:24 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MB

Radio Boston talks about a new report detailing potential tax revenue shortfalls due to office buildings remaining empty after the pandemic.

New day program for migrants opens in Chelsea

February 20, 2024 19:24 - 6 minutes - 6.14 MB

Amidst an overflowing emergency shelter system in Massachusetts, the nonprofit La Colaborativa is opening a state-funded day program in Chelsea for newly arrived migrants.

‘The Dynasty’ pulls back the curtain on the New England Patriots

February 20, 2024 17:30 - 14 minutes - 13 MB

The Apple+ documentary series “The Dynasty” takes viewers behind the scenes of the Patriots’ 20-year run of excellence and provides new insights into the chief characters of the drama. Jeff Benedict, author of the book by the same name that inspired the series, and Michael Holley, NBC Sports Boston host and author, joined Radio Boston to discuss the show. 

Rep. Stephen Lynch on the latest with Steward Health and its financial struggles

February 16, 2024 18:06 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MB

Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch joins Radio Boston to give the latest on the financial challenges at Steward Health. Plus, WBUR's Deb Becker and Priyanka Dayal McCluskey provide analysis.

Milton voters rejected a multifamily zoning proposal. What happens next?

February 16, 2024 17:36 - 9 minutes - 9.02 MB

Milton's "no" vote this week puts the ball in the court of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who's repeatedly threatened legal action against municipalities that reject new housing in line with the MBTA Communities Act. So, what happens next? Radio Boston asks former state Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.

Anita Hill headlines Boston Conservatory Orchestra's Black History Month show

February 16, 2024 17:36 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MB

Dr. Anita Hill joined Radio Boston to talk about her long career of advocacy and her upcoming performance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Annual orchid show mixes living plants with sculptures of flowers made from plastic bags

February 15, 2024 18:00 - 5 minutes - 5.17 MB

Two thousand flowers are in bloom right now at the New England Botanic Garden's annual orchid show. But tucked among the living plants are dozens of sculptures of orchids made from single-use plastic bags.The exhibition is called "Patterns in Bloom" and it's the brainchild of New England artist Molly Gambardella.

Boston is best in the world at biotech. Beijing wants to do it better

February 15, 2024 17:52 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB

Amidst growing biotechnology competition between the U.S. and China, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party visited biotech labs in Boston this week.

COVID isolation guidelines may soon change. What does this mean for Mass.?

February 14, 2024 17:10 - 7 minutes - 6.68 MB

Radio Boston talks about some potentially big changes to COVID isolation guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Local organizers strive to galvanize Black voters ahead of a pivotal election year

February 14, 2024 17:10 - 16 minutes - 15 MB

Ahead of a national election season in 2024, community organizations are trying to get out the word to local Black voters to make their voices heard.

Celebrating different kinds of love this Valentine's Day

February 13, 2024 20:30 - 7 minutes - 7.24 MB

"The Jar is a 21st-century model to help people create, catalyze and deepen meaningful relationships with people who are like them and not like them," founder Ben-Aharon said. "It allows people to show up fully as themselves."

All eyes on Milton for high-stakes housing vote

February 13, 2024 17:41 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

Lisa Alexander of Boston College Law School, Andrew Brinker of the Boston Globe and Chris Dempsey of the city planning firm Speck Dempsey join Radio Boston to discuss an upcoming referendum in Milton over whether to comply with the MBTA Communities Act.

Celebrating 200 years of dinosaur research — and how local scientists helped change paleontology

February 13, 2024 17:40 - 14 minutes - 12.8 MB

Two hundred years ago, an English geologist named William Buckland found a fossil unlike anything he’d ever seen. He called it "Megalosaurus" and thought it belonged to a large lizard. Little did he know he’d discovered the first of a group of animals that still fascinate us today: dinosaurs.

Celebrating 200 years of dinosaurs — and how local scientists helped change paleontology

February 13, 2024 17:40 - 14 minutes - 12.8 MB

Radio Boston celebrates the bicentennial of dinosaurs and how much New England has contributed to the study of paleontology with two scientists.

U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch on how he's changed over time and what's still left to do in office

February 12, 2024 17:29 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MB

We get to know Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch, from his time as an iron worker and lawyer, to how he's changed in the nearly 30 years he's been in elected office. Plus, how a cheeseburger may have saved his life. Seriously!

Cape Cod has a wastewater problem. Here's what low- and high-tech solutions look like

February 12, 2024 17:28 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MB

WBUR climate correspondent Barbara Moran joins Radio Boston to explain what's causing wastewater to enter Cape Cod's bays and estuaries and what some enterprising residents are doing about it.

Educators weigh in on a new vision for Boston Public Schools

February 09, 2024 20:36 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MB

Radio Boston hears from Jessica Tang, president of the Boston Teachers Union, and Aparna Lakshmi, history teacher at the O’Bryant School in Roxbury, about the city plan for Boston Public Schools and their own vision for a re-imagined BPS.

Need to unpack your relationship to money? A financial therapist weighs in

February 09, 2024 17:24 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MB

Jenae Murphy, a licensed financial therapist and the founder of Financial Therapy LLC in Brockton, joins Radio Boston with tips on how to improve your relationship to money.

Outdoor dining will return to some — but not all — Boston streets this spring

February 08, 2024 18:23 - 9 minutes - 8.89 MB

Once again this year, restaurants in the North End will largely be left out of Boston's outdoor dining program.

Mass. officials want the state to be a climate tech hub for the world. Can they pull it off?

February 08, 2024 18:23 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MB

The Greater Boston area already has major hubs of biotechnology and life sciences. Now Gov. Maura Healey wants to make the commonwealth a climate tech lab for the world. A local tech reporter joins Radio Boston to discuss.

City of Boston celebrates 'Year of the Dragon' this Lunar New Year

February 08, 2024 18:22 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

Lunar New Year starts Saturday, and according to the Chinese zodiac system, it's the year of the dragon. We talk with two people about what Lunar New Year means to them.

State officials and support groups work to aid veterans amid high suicide rates

February 07, 2024 18:07 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MB

Radio Boston spoke with two military veterans about how to reduce rates of suicide among veterans and what Beacon Hill could do to help.

With Steward in dire straits, future of Mass. hospitals is uncertain

February 07, 2024 18:07 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MB

Financial trouble at the for-profit company Steward Health Care System has cast uncertainty on the future of several Massachusetts hospitals.

Learning more about the Boston Black Panther Party through one photograph

February 07, 2024 18:06 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MB

We learn more about a new exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts called "Comrade Sisters," documenting the work of the Black Panther Party. WBUR's Ari Gray joins us to share more.

A look at efforts to beef up libraries in Mass. prisons and jails

February 06, 2024 18:05 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MB

Radio Boston takes a look at the state of libraries in Massachusetts jails and prisons.

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

February 06, 2024 18:04 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB

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

February 05, 2024 20:30 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB

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

February 05, 2024 17:49 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MB

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

February 05, 2024 17:48 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MB

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

February 02, 2024 18:28 - 14 minutes - 13 MB

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

February 02, 2024 17:53 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB

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

February 01, 2024 19:04 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MB

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

February 01, 2024 19:01 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

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

February 01, 2024 17:48 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MB

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

January 31, 2024 19:06 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

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

January 31, 2024 17:55 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MB

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

January 31, 2024 17:53 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MB

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

January 29, 2024 17:41 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MB

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

January 26, 2024 17:35 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MB

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

January 25, 2024 17:23 - 8 minutes - 7.99 MB

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

January 25, 2024 17:23 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MB

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

January 25, 2024 17:23 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MB

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.'

January 25, 2024 17:22 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MB

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

January 24, 2024 17:49 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MB

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

Guests

Justin Long
1 Episode