Boston Public Radio Podcast

BPR Full Show 5/22: I Forgot The Butter!

GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses "The Light in the Piazza" at the Huntington, penguins getting a retirement home at the New England Aquarium and the Kennedy Center's MAGA makeover.Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses her new 8-part documentary series on the American West, with Kevin Costner, premiering on Memorial Day.Chris Dempsey and Rep. Bill Straus join for a transportation panel, discussing former T chief Brian Shortsleeve joining the GOP race for governor, a turbulent start for South Coast Rail and how to spend the $1.3 billion from the millionaire's tax.Attorney General Andrea Campbell joins for Ask The AG. We ask her about ICE raids and local law enforcement, Question 1, consumer protections and more.

Today:Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett of Boston Medical Center discusses Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis.And, Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart calls in with July 4 news.

NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discusses the Celtics out of the playoffs and breaking news about Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson.Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis and new COVID-19 vaccine guidelines from the FDA.Boston Globe film critic Odie Henderson joins for a summer movie preview and reflects on 50 years since Jaws premiered. CNN's John King joins remotely to discuss the opposition to Trump's big, beautiful tax bill.

BPR Full Show 5/19: Feeling Bleh

Carbon Leaf joins for Live Music Friday, head of a performance at the Spire in Plymouth.Dan Primack is the business editor for Axios. He joins to talk about Trump’s business deals in the Middle East, Walmart’s tariff price hikes and HBO’s big re-re-re-brand to HBO Max.Director Gene Tempest & American Experience EP Cameo George talk about their latest project, “Mr. Polaroid,” a new documentary about the invention of the Polaroid camera (which started in Cambridge). Armani Thomas is a local artist who makes mini-paintings of Boston scenes and leaves the canvases up around the city. He chronicles his work on TikTok as @armoneythomas. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner discusses yesterday's SCOTUS arguments on the 14th Amendment, along with other contested Trump executive orders and the sense that "rule of law" is ending in America.

Political analyst Chuck Todd with his weekly D.C. rundown.Rep. Ayanna Pressley talks about the return of Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk. And, her new bill to stop the garnishment of wages for people with student loans in default. Dr. Sarah Fortune leads a tuberculosis research team at Harvard whose NIH funding was just cut by the Trump administration. She talks about the importance of scientific research and the future of her lab.MIT economist Jon Gruber explains how cuts to higher education will impact the biotech, medical and education economy in Massachusetts.

Today:Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley tells of her visit to constituent Rumeysa Ozturk in a Louisiana detention center, of the fight to get her released, and how Democrats are fighting back against the Trump administration.And, Dr. Sarah Fortune, chair of the department of immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, discusses how a surprise philanthropic donation is keeping her scientific research alive – despite cuts from the Trump administration. 

GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses the no-nudity dress code at Cannes and 'Kimberly Akimbo' at the Emerson Colonial Theatre.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem explains why the Qatari plane gifted to President Donald Trump poses security problems. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses new FDA-approved 'natural' food colorings, the golden age of the fried-chicken sandwich and Michelin stars coming to Boston restaurants.Naturalist and author Sy Montgomery on this season's tick problem and new research on the rhythmic capabilities of sea lions.

Today:National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the amount of work that will have to go into retro-fitting the Qatari airplane to suit Trump's presidential needs.And, naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses warming climate's impact on ticks and the humans who get bit by them.

Today:Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library to discuss his mayoral challenge to Michelle Wu.And, Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart discusses the current spring Pops season, his 30th with the orchestra.

NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discusses a private equity in the Celtics' purchase bid and their devastating loss last night in game four against the Knicks. Josh Kraft joins to discuss his campaign for Mayor of Boston.Conductor Keith Lockhart on his 30th anniversary with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and what's in store for the Pops' spring season.CNN's John King joins via zoom to discuss the latest national political headlines.

Today:Olga Cherevko of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, zooms into the show from Gaza City to discuss the humanitarian crisis there.Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G Price discuss the new Pope's Creole heritage.

BPR Full Show 5/12: Crisis In Gaza

Today:Gov. Maura Healey joined Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on May 9, 2025.

For Live Music Friday we hear from Brockton-based artist Latrell James, who won Album of the Year at 2024’s Boston Music Awards. He's performing at Boston Calling this month. We also speak to Boston Calling co-founder Mike Snow."Ask The Governor" with Maura Healey. We ask Gov. Healey about tariffs, the latest ICE raids, potential cuts in the state budget and more. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark joins is to talk about dysfunction within the Democratic party, what the party's message should be moving forward, and her recent petition to protect Medicaid and SNAP.

Podcaster Chuck Todd returns for his Thursday D.C. roundup.Andrea Cabral on the latest law and order headlines: an appeals court ordering the return of Rumeysa Ozturk and to Vermont. Environmentalist Bill McKibben returns for his monthly climate check-in. Culture reporter James Bennett II discusses why Americans are obsessed with the movie Conclave and the real-life conclave. While on air, the current conclave ended and the new pope was announced. We talk with James about the historical significance of the first Pope from the United States, Leo XIV.

Today:National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the start to the secretive process to pick the next pope.NPR host Ari Shapiro zooms in ahead of two local shows on his cabaret tour.

Jared Bowen discusses the local arts groups impacted by cancelled NEA grants.Juliette Kayyem discusses what you need to know about Real ID requirements.Ari Shaprio joins ahead of his one-man cabaret show: "Ari Shapiro: Thank You For Listening" stopping in Nashua and Lexington this weekend.Ana Sortun, executive chef of Oleana and chef/co-owner of Sofra, joins with Maura Kilpatrick, chef/co-owner of Sofra — for our latest edition of How Do You Two Know Each Other?

Today:Senator Ed Markey discusses Trump's tariff plan, and his recent visit to Rumeysa Ozturk in Louisiana.And, Chuck Collins from the Institute for Policy Studies discusses the uber-wealthy forces trying to expand Bedford’s Hanscom Field to accommodate more fossil-fueled private jets.