Under the Radar Podcast

Food insecurity is a year-round problem, but as the holidays approach, what is often an invisible problem gets more public attention. Nearly 2 million Massachusetts residents are food insecure, meaning they don't have enough to eat or don't know where their next meal will come from. We speak with three members of Make Hunger History, a coalition of organizations, anti-hunger advocates and policymakers, to hear more about the state of hunger in Massachusetts.

The Mass Politics Profs are back for one last hour-long all-politics special right before Election Day! Could Latinos, motivated by recent comments against Puerto Rico, turn out for Vice President Kamala Harris? Are former President Donald Trump’s anti-trans ads effective? And will we find out the results of the election on Tuesday, November 5 … or months later? All that and more on this week’s episode!

This year, the world commemorates 125 years of the iconic film director Alfred Hitchcock. Although Hitchcock died in 1980, his work continues to influence filmmakers to this day. And his movies like “Psycho,” “Rear Window,” “Vertigo” and “The Birds” are still considered some of the best films ever made. John Fawell, professor emeritus at Boston University, joins us to tell us more about the life and legacy of Hitchcock.

It’s likely most primary voters did not recognize one of the most contested races on the ballot – the race for Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, which drew big money and high-ranking endorsements. It’s also likely that even the informed voters have no idea what Clerks of Courts do or why it is an elected position. So “Under the Radar” decided to go straight to the source – candidates Allison Cartwright, future Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, and John Powers, Suffolk County Clerk of Courts for Civil Business, to learn more.

$17.8 trillion: That’s how much Americans owe in consumer debt. The biggest driver of that debt? Misunderstanding about how to use money. In a survey by the credit monitoring agency Experian, 3 in 5 American adults made financial mistakes because they weren’t money savvy. Experts are urging education for young people, including making financial literacy a graduation requirement. Will mandated financial literacy become part of the Massachusetts school curriculum?

Mfoniso Udofia’s play “Sojourners” is the first in a series of nine plays that make up the Ufot Family Cycle. The plays are based on the real-life experiences of Nigerian-American immigrants and spans three generations. “Sojourners,” which starts at the end of October at the Huntington Theatre, kicks off a two-year presentation of all the plays in a unique city-wide and Greater Boston festival – the first time all nine plays have ever been performed as a cycle. Udofia tells us the inspiration behind her work and how it feels to finally have her vision made reality.

In her new book, “Locker Room: A Woman’s Struggle To Get Inside,” Melissa Ludtke recounts the story of her groundbreaking legal case against officials in Major League Baseball, who denied women access to teams’ locker rooms. She won her case, and the ruling opened doors for the hundreds of female sports journalists who came after her.

Our regional news roundtable is back with headlines from New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Cape Cod. This week: A new voter ID law in New Hampshire is causing confusion before Election Day, Rhode Island’s Washington Bridge saga, an offshore wind farm auction on the Cape and more!

The 2024 presidential and statewide elections have brought renewed attention to voting issues – particularly challenges or limitations to certain citizens’ right to vote. For more than 4.6 million people living in the U.S., the right to vote has been taken away due to a felony conviction, with some states even placing lifetime bans on the formerly incarcerated. And with former President Donald Trump’s numerous felony convictions, the question of who gets to keep their voting rights and who loses them has been placed into an even brighter spotlight. We speak with three experts and advocates about the importance of restoring full voting rights for all Massachusetts residents.

The NBA started its pre-season games this week, and its regular season tips off on October 22. You've probably already seen NBA players dazzle on the basketball court. But what about on red carpets … walking backstage before games… or even on the catwalk? Author Mitchell S. Jackson has captured the NBA fashion evolution in his book "Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion." Mitchell Jackson joined “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley” from Phoenix back in March 2024.

The Mass Politics Profs are back! This week: JD Vance and Tim Walz will face off for the only vice-presidential debate of the election season. Is this year’s VP debate more significant than past ones? Also, is anti-immigration, nativist narratives working for Trump, or are they pushing more voters toward Vice President Kamala Harris? And locally, John Deaton takes on sitting Senator Elizabeth Warren, and the latest news regarding ballot questions facing voters this November. It’s an hour of national, state, and local analysis with our political scientists roundtable.

Our pop culture experts are back! After two Emmy ceremonies just this year, could the excellence in television award show be leading the charge on Hollywood’s diversity efforts? Meanwhile, the Country Music Awards have snubbed Beyonce, who received zero nominations for her critically acclaimed and record-breaking country album, “Cowboy Carter.” Plus, Kendrick Lamar scores the Super Bowl halftime show, the shocking charges behind Sean “Diddy” Combs’s arrest and bidding farewell to three titans of entertainment: James Earl Jones, Tito Jackson and Frankie Beverly.

Author Kate Feiffer’s first adult novel “Morning Pages” is a play within a play: the main character is a playwright and much of her internal dialogue is on the page as scenes from a play. Moreover, she’s turned to a popular daily artist’s exercise to jumpstart her imagination. It’s fair to say that “Morning Pages” is pretty meta. All that as the fictional Elise Hellman is caught in a life’s passage tending to the needs of an aging mother and a teenage son. “Morning Pages” is our September selection for  “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.”

In 1964, Wendell Arthur Garrity was United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts – not yet a judge on the District Court of Massachusetts. Ruth Batson was a frustrated parent and civil rights activist – not yet director of Boston’s Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, or Metco, the voluntary desegregation program. Louise Day Hicks was a member of Boston’s School Board – not yet the leader of ROAR: Restore Our Alienated Rights – and the face of white opposition to the integration of Boston Public Schools. Ten years later, they would all be major players in the battle to desegregate Boston Public Schools. As the city marks 50 years since Judge Garrity’s ruling on busing, we consider the importance of the period before busing – a time expert Zebulon Miletsky refers to as Boston’s ‘true civil rights movement.’

In September, 1974 – two days after her 14th birthday – Leola Hampton boarded a school bus that would launch her into the heart of one of the most divisive and defining moments in Boston history: court-ordered school desegregation. She and her older sister, Linda Stark, were bused from their home in the predominantly Black neighborhood of Roxbury into the white, working-class neighborhood of South Boston. They navigated a violent and virulently racist high school experience so scarring that a half-century later, they are only now beginning to discuss it with each other. In a new documentary called “‘Never Cried’: Boston’s Busing Legacy,” produced by GBH News’ Emily Judem and Stephanie Leydon, Leola and Linda, along with their family and experts in local history and trauma, share their story.

For 10 years, Oberon – the American Repertory Theater’s second performance space in Cambridge – was known to locals and visitors alike for “The Donkey Show,” a disco rendition of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The show closed in 2019, and in 2021, Oberon shuttered, too. Now, a new venue called Arrow Street Arts is taking over the existing space, and it’s kicking off its grand opening in a big way with Arrowfest, a 10-day arts festival showcasing local actors, musicians, dancers, circus performers, puppeteers and more. We speak with Arrowfest’s lead curator and two performers debuting a new work at the festival.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024, marks the 23rd anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in history – 9/11. In the wake of the four coordinated attacks carried out by the Islamist extremist group, al-Qaeda, America went after the attackers and moved to reshape its strategy for national security. More than two decades after 9/11, do Americans feel terrorism is still the greatest threat? And what is the state of national security in the United States today? Three experts tell us how national security is much more than border walls, cyber safety … or taking off our shoes at the airport.

Cellular and molecular biologist Jason Buenrostro is one of 2023’s MacArthur Foundation fellows. Buenrostro, who is also a Harvard University associate professor, studies the mechanisms that “turn on” genes, and is the pioneer of a popular method to assess chromatin accessibility across the genome. We spoke with Professor Buenrostro for Under the Radar's series, “The Genius Next Door.”

Oceans, rivers and lakes are chock-full of thousands of underwater plants and algae collectively described as seaweed. Demand for seaweed — kelp, specifically — has exploded as scientists have confirmed its dietary benefits and its potential as a tool in the fight against climate change. From food to biofuel and everything in between, some experts believe this billion-year-old algae is the wave of the future.

More than 20 years ago, Stephen L. Carter’s debut novel, “The Emperor of Ocean Park” spent 11 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, raking up accolades and award nominations. Interest in the novel has continued, and now, “The Emperor of Ocean Park” has been adapted into a streaming series starring Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker. We speak with author Carter about the inspiration and underlying themes of the novel, and with show creator Sherman Payne about adapting the thrilling whodunit from page to screen.

They came as housekeepers, whalers and indentured servants in the 19th century: Black families who settled permanently on Martha’s Vineyard. Their hidden history is uncovered in a new book, “Black Homeownership on Martha’s Vineyard: A History,” by authors Thomas Dresser and Richard Taylor. We speak with Dresser and Taylor about tracing the existence of Black people on the Vineyard to before the Revolutionary War, unearthing centuries-old stories and why Martha’s Vineyard has been a haven for Black families for generations.

Seven musicians, two recordings, five songs: musical magic. This week marks the 65th anniversary of “Kind of Blue,” the iconic album recorded and performed by a young group of talented rising stars – John Coltrane, Julian “Cannonball” Adderly, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb and Wynton Kelly – before they were jazz legends, all under the leadership of the visionary trumpeter Miles Davis. “Kind of Blue” remains a treasured classic recording and is still selling copies, still taught in music classrooms, still covered by jazz musicians and still deconstructed by cultural critics. So why has Kind of Blue endured as the top classic jazz album for 65 years? We speak with three jazz experts to learn more about the revolutionary album.

Two high-profile Indian American women – Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, are shining a spotlight on South Asian women in politics. They’re just two of the 4.4 million Indian Americans in this country – the largest Asian demographic identifying solely from one country, and an increasingly powerful voting bloc. As Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepts the Democratic nomination this week, will South Asian women mobilize for her campaign? And how are they shaping the 2024 elections in their communities and states, both as active voters and as candidates?

Boston released “Dear Summer: Volume 1” last year – its first official summer mixtape and the country's only city-sponsored one. From hip-hop to rock to jazz, the new platform showcased the talents of local musicians and Boston’s rich musical heritage and legacy. Now “Dear Summer: Volume 2” is live featuring a new set of artists: six DJs and 17 artists (6-1-7, get it?) from the Greater Boston area for a 2-hour-long soundscape. This second annual collaboration has two aims: to “connect residents across neighborhoods through music, and to celebrate summer.” We speak with the mixtape’s co-producers to learn about this year’s edition.

In the days when professional baseball was segregated into white and Black teams, a Black woman named Toni Stone made history.  Stone was a sports phenom, and she rose through the ranks to become the first woman to play regularly in the Negro leagues, a series of men's professional baseball leagues. The teams attracted talented players including Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron. But Stone proved to be of the same caliber — when Aaron was picked up by Major League Milwaukee Braves, Stone took his position at second base with the all-male Indianapolis Clowns in 1953. “I had not heard of Toni Stone, and I was shocked and dismayed and then really not surprised at all, because that's what history does to black women,” said Lydia Diamond, author of the play, “Toni Stone.”  “That's what history does to Black people. That's what history does to women of all colors. But then it angered me, and I felt like I had to take it on, and that it was my honor to take it on.” Until recently, Stone’s remarkable story had been largely forgotten. Award-winning playwright, Lydia Diamond, takes on Stone's story in a new play featured at The Huntington Theatre. GUEST Lydia Diamond, award-winning playwright whose works include “The Gift Horse,” “Smart People,” “Stick Fly” (Broadway) and “The Bluest Eye,” she is an associate professor of playwriting at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and her new play, “Toni Stone,” is running at the Huntington Theatre

This week on Under the Radar's Local News Roundtable — City Hall shifts, ballot questions, lifeguard news and more. Boston’s Environmental Chief is moving on. Rev. Mariama White-Hammond used her three-year cabinet tenure to amplify equity in the city’s environmental policies from expanding the city’s green jobs to reducing heat islands in neighborhoods. She left the position to focus on her role as a pastor at Dorchester’s New Roots AME Church. Plus, advocates for rideshare companies are hyping up their public campaign for a potential November ballot question that would decide whether their drivers would be classified as employees rather than independent contractors. And the city of Worcester’s new partnership with the YMCA of Central Massachusetts could solve their lifeguard shortage — an ongoing problem in the summer for many Bay State communities. Dip your toes in those stories and more on Under the Radar's Local News Roundtable.  GUESTS Gin Dumcius, reporter at CommonWealth Beacon Mike Deehan, reporter at Axios Boston Katie Lannan, State House reporter at GBH News

Mother expressions run the gamut of familiar advice. ”If everybody jumps off the bridge, will you do it, too?”  “I’m the mother; that’s why.”  “We have food at home.” These and other motherly quips have lasting resonance — not always positive. “If you came to my mom and told her you were bored, you got assigned a cleaning task. Can't be bored washing the windows, you know?” Carissa Burk, author of “The Little Green Book of Mothers’ Wisdom” told Under the Radar. This Mother’s Day we reflect on the sayings, quotes and expressions that both nurture and challenge our relationship with mom.  Rachel Marie Martin, author of “Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood,” says that ultimately, motherhood is about doing your best. She said you can find value even in your mistakes. “Learning from it [a mistake] and really learning to embrace the other women that get to walk this journey with you — and walking hand in hand without the judging, but with the loving and knowing that they too are really trying to do their best,” she said. GUESTS Carissa Burk, CEO of Creative Green Living Media Group, author of “The Little Green Book of Mothers' Wisdom” Rachel Marie Martin, founder of findingjoy.net and author of “Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood”

On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court overturned legal segregation in America’s public schools in the landmark ruling, Brown v. Board of Education. The decision dissolved the “separate but equal” doctrine, effectively ending legal segregation in American education. The ruling 70 years ago was a defining moment for the country’s racial progress — it also marked the beginning of what turned out to be a slow and arduous process of integrating Black students into majority white schools.  In 1974, Boston drew national headlines for the violent response to the busing of Black students. And it wasn’t until 1988, more than 30 years after the Brown decision, before close to half of Black students were in desegregated schools. Since then the numbers have significantly decreased. On this 70th anniversary, Under the Radar considers the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education in Boston and nationwide. GUESTS Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School and professor of history at Harvard University Michaele N. Turnage Young, senior counsel and co-manager of the Equal Protection Initiative at the Legal Defense Fund Alisa R. Drayton, executive director of the Yawkey Club of Roxbury

Author Suzanne Park's new rom-com, “One Last Word,” is a novel centered around a Korean tech entrepreneur — and what happens when her new app accidentally sends intimate messages to all the important people in her life. “Her goal is just to get from point A to point B. I've been conditioned to work hard and get good grades and work hard at work, and I'll get promoted, and my life will go in this trajectory that's predictable,” said Park. “And then when all of this falls apart and, crumbles around her, she sees that what she had thought in her life, as her life plan, isn't actually turning out the way she thought it was.” The fictional main character Sarah Chae is jobless, estranged from her best friend, and still carrying a torch for a high school buddy who has no idea how she feels. She puts her life on hold to create a new app about death — but then it all blows up. Park said her main character's story is not just figuring out her career and romantic life.  “She also has to figure out, is her life outlook even aligned to where it should be? Because she had believed all these things before and now she's seeing that what she had believed is actually not necessarily true,” said Park. The new romantic comedy serves up a life-altering pivot for Sarah that leads to an even sweeter happy ending.  “One Last Word” is Park's latest novel and the May selection for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” Listen to the full interview above. GUEST Suzanne Park, author of four romance novels, including her latest, ”One Last Word”

Organizations across the Bay State are joining together to take on a bold mission — eliminating hunger in Massachusetts. More than one million people in the state try to make ends meet with federal funds for food; many of those include families with children. The new Make Hunger History Coalition includes leaders of food banks, legislators and other advocates for hungry residents whose stated goal is to make Massachusetts “the first state to end hunger, permanently.” GUESTS Jennifer Lemmerman, chief policy officer for Project Bread Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

America loves hot sauce. A 2021 Instacart survey found 74% of consumers eat hot sauce with their food, and when there was a shortage of the popular Huy Fong Foods' sriracha hot sauce last year, one bottle would go for as much as $52 on Amazon. Right now, they go for $9.  But given Greater Boston’s reputation for cuisine that is the opposite of spicy (clam chowda, anyone?) you might be surprised that Massachusetts has a long history with hot sauce — the first bottled cayenne sauces appeared here in 1807. “There is a really, really long history of use of hot and spicy foods in the Americas,” Megan Elias, director of the food studies programs at Boston University, told Under the Radar. “The capsicum comes from the Americas. And it was, then exported out to Europe and to the rest of the world, really crucially. So it ends up in South Asia and ends up in Africa, getting kind of involved ... in the foods there. And then, eventually kind of comes back to the U.S.” The hot sauce market in the U.S. is projected to grow from about $3 billion in 2023 to more than $5 billion by 2030, and there will be plenty of spicy food for local fans to sample at the upcoming, inaugural Rhythm N' Spice festival in Cambridge on Saturday, May 4. It reflects the area's growing desire for spicy flavors, says Nicola Williams, producer of the festival. She plans to highlight the culinary diversity that exists in Greater Boston. “We have a spicy Jamaican vegetarian and beef patty challenge. We have a spicy pizza challenge with a local, Black-owned restaurant right here in Cambridge. We have, wings. And we're going to have three categories of flavors, from African sauces, to jerk, to hot sauce from all over the world,” she said. “And so we want to make sure that we infuse all of this spice throughout the event. We also have dance so you can shake it off after you've blown your mouth or palates.” GUESTS Nicola Williams, producer of the Rhythm N' Spice Hot Sauce Fest, president of The Williams Agency Brian Ruhlmann, founder and owner of Craic Sauce in Lowell, Massachusetts Megan Elias, director of the food studies programs at Boston University

Each year more than one million American women begin menopause — an experience many don’t understand and few talk about. Often referred to as “the change,” the most common symptoms include — hot flashes, brain fog and fatigue. “I had insomnia for years,” Dr. Tina Opie, a management professor at Babson College, told Under the Radar. “I was sweating profusely. I would be at work and forget my train of thought.”  What’s more, many are still in the dark about how to navigate this natural transition in life, even with new information and medication available.  For some people like Marian Themeles, a breast cancer survivor who has experienced hot flashes, the standard hormone replacement therapy treatment is not viable, despite her severe symptoms.  She says it feels like, “suffocation from the inside. You get incredibly hot, and you feel like you can't breathe, and that lasts several minutes.” However, there is a newly approved drug, Fezolinetant, designed to treat hot flashes for patients who cannot take the standard hormone replacement therapy.  Dr. Jan Shifren, a reproductive endocrinologist and obstetrician/gynecologist said, for the first time, “we are really targeting a place in the brain where hot flashes occur and in very well controlled trials, it reduces the severity and frequency of hot flashes.” This conversation and more this week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.  GUESTS  Dr. Jan Shifren, a reproductive endocrinologist and obstetrician/gynecologist and director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Midlife Women's Health Center Marian Themeles, a patient of Massachusetts General Hospital who uses the prescription menopause medicine, Veozah (Fezolinetant) Dr. Tina Opie, an associate professor in management at Babson College

From Oscar-winning movies like “Parasite” and the Oscar-nominated “Past Lives,” to the innovative modern fashion and the thumping beats of K-pop groups like BLACKPINK and BTS, South Korean culture has risen to global prominence. It’s known as the Korean Wave, or Hallyu. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is highlighting Korean culture with “Hallyu! The Korean Wave” a new 250-piece exhibit which includes ancient art, current music and pop culture trends.  The exhibit's curator, Christina Yu Yu, hopes that this exhibit can reach audiences of all ages.  “For the younger generation, they can learn more about history... maybe for the parents and grandparents' generation, this exhibition can also help them to learn about this contemporary cultural phenomena,” Yu Yu said on Under the Radar. The exhibit also highlights the influence of fan culture for K-pop through the display of different K-pop groups' light sticks and online activism in the K-pop community.  “The fandom has been the vehicle for this new phenomenon and I think it will be the crucial factor to [keep Hallyu] sustainable,” said professor Irhe Sohn, a Korean culture expert. This week Under the Radar discusses the significance of Hallyu, the links between the exhibit's pop culture and ancient pieces, and the fandom culture that continues to popularize South Korean media.  GUESTS Christina Yu Yu, chair of Art of Asia at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Irhe Sohn, assistant professor of Korean Language and Literature at Smith College

This year 21 anti-transgender laws have passed nationwide with hundreds more under consideration. But Maine’s legislature has gone against the trend, instead approving a new “shield law” protecting health care workers who provide gender-affirming care. It is headed to the desk of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. It is incredibly important “to protect states where care is legal because providers are worried,” said Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. “There's really a lot of disinformation and misinformation out there. And we want to make sure that in states where care is legal, that providers are able to provide best practice medical care.” Plus, Massachusetts U.S Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Elizabeth Warren successfully fought for $850,000 in federal funds for an LGBTQ+ Senior Housing Development known as The Pryde.  This is a big win, says Janson Wu, senior director of state advocacy and government relations at The Trevor Project, but the battle for funding like this shouldn't be so difficult. “$850,000 is a big deal for this project. But when you think about it in the context of an appropriation bill, it's a fraction of a fraction of a percent,” Wu said. “And so the other story here is that it shows the extent that extreme conservatives in Congress have used the budgeting process as a way to attack the LGBTQ community. And that's a disturbing trend to have.” And while the South End once held the crown, many now claim Dorchester to be Boston’s star “gayborhood.” But trends come and go, says Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth. “I'm so old that I could tell you that back in the day, the Fenway was considered the gay neighborhood and Somerville was the lesbian neighborhood. And so, all of it, JP, Dorchester, South End were all up and coming since then,” said Sterling Stowell. “But I think it's important to acknowledge that, certainly historically, before the days of legal protections, and at least a relative greater level of public acceptance, the LGBTQ folks were not economically a group that could afford higher rents. And so historically, we were living in areas where rents were lower.” It's all on Under the Radar's LGBTQ News Roundtable. GUESTS Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, or BAGLY Janson Wu, senior director of state advocacy and government relations at The Trevor Project Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion rights were pushed into a blazing spotlight. The intense fallout from the 2022 decision resulted in new state-sponsored legal limits to abortion access as well as the successful blocking of would-be abortion bans in states like Kansas.  Despite the highly charged ongoing national debate about abortion, national surveys show Americans’ attitudes remain about the same. A new poll of Bay State residents by GBH and Commonwealth Beacon conducted by the MassINC Polling Group echoes the national polling.  MaryRose Mazzola from the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts told Under the Radar she has seen an influx of out-of-state patients since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She said new abortion bans, “force people to travel or they force people to seek other options and figure this out on their own.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will soon rule on how Americans can access mifepristone — a major abortion medication and method used by nearly two-thirds of all who seek abortions. Arizona’s highest court ruled earlier this week that an 1864 law banning abortion is now enforceable. Amelia Bonow from Shout Your Abortion argues that the prevalence of abortion is more than what it seems from public opinion polls.  “We all know a lot of people who have had abortions,” said Bonow on Under the Radar. “One in three women has at least one abortion in their lifetime and that is a consistent statistic across demographics race, class.” The stigma around abortion is what fuels the national debate says Erin O'Brien, a political science professor from UMass Boston. “The more that Massachusetts and other states can do to talk about how normative of an experience abortion is, that's better for politics and reproductive health for all women, regardless of whether they choose to have an abortion,” said O'Brien. GUESTS Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston.  MaryRose Mazzola, chief external affairs officer for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.  Amelia Bonow, executive director of Shout Your Abortion, an abortion rights advocacy organization.

Rhode Island taxpayers are feeling sticker shock as they may shell out over $130 million in debt payments for a soccer stadium in Pawtucket. One reporter noted it was similar to the amount the government of Pakistan is charged to borrow money. Plus, the bids are in for major offshore wind projects that could bring energy and jobs to Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where New Bedford and Salem stand to gain big shares of the money pie. And a surprise resignation by New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster has stirred fierce competition for the seat — including a top Biden aide with local roots. It’s Under the Radar's Regional News Roundtable.

"Relinquished" is an industry term used to describe the process where parents give up their children for adoption.  The term is also the title of author Gretchen Sisson's new book, “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and The Privilege of American Motherhood” which profiles the stories of birth mothers and breaks down the myths and misunderstandings about the American adoption process. For many birth mothers, the stigma prevents them from forming healthy relationships with their child and the child's adoptive family said Sisson in an interview on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.  “When you only have these two types of stories to tell, the one where the [birth] mother doesn’t care, or the one where her desire to be part of her child's life is a problem, then you're not making space for openness in adoption that is well supported, well understood, and ultimately child-centered.” Listen to the full conversation above. GUEST Gretchen Sisson, qualitative sociologist in the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco and author of "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and The Privilege of American Motherhood"

Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers have joined more than 200 U.S. musicians in an open letter demanding protections against artificial intelligence. The group argues the new tech could undermine or replace human artists. Plus, Beyonce’s record-breaking album, “Cowboy Carter” is pushing boundaries in country music highlighting the genre’s Black artists and Black history. And comedian Kevin Hart’s peers tap him for the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Under the Radar talks those stories and more for our Pop Culture News Roundtable. GUESTS Michael Jeffries, dean of academic affairs and professor of American studies at Wellesley College Karen Huang, lecturer on history & literature at Harvard University

March Madness wraps up this week as top college basketball players compete for the coveted NCAA championship. Some of the most talented collegiate players will go on to join the pros in the NBA — and while it's likely they want to play like superstars LeBron James, Jason Tatum and Stephen Curry, to name a few, more and more it appears they also want to dress like them. "There was a lot of resistance at first," Mitchell S. Jackson, author of "Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion" told Under the Radar. "And we're really talking about the youngsters that come in the league at that time, which is Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul. Those are the guys that started to embrace the new standards, or mandates, of the NBA Fashion." Under the Radar speaks with Jackson to learn how fashion icons have emerged from an unlikely setting — the NBA. GUEST Mitchell S. Jackson, Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University and author of "Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion."

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the national hunger crisis across the country. In Massachusetts, the number of households struggling with food insecuritymore than doubled, from about 8% pre-COVID to a record high of 19% during the pandemic. Emergency food access programs, food pantries and even targeted pandemic food subsidies did not eliminate the hunger emergency. That inspired some communities across the state to install community refrigerators, filled with food shared by neighbors and local businesses. Maria Ravelli, of Woo Fridge and organizer behind the first-ever Worcester community fridge, shares that she is, "fueled by equal parts love and rage" to continue creating neighborly food-sharing spaces. Since the pandemic, these fridges have continued to serve the high demand of the community. "We do multiple checks a day to make sure that the fridge is clean, that it's as stocked as it can be," Megan Ramette, an organizer of the Allston-Brighton fridge, said. "Things that we see that are stocked in the morning often don't last through the afternoon, and they certainly don't last through the evening." GUESTS Megan Ramette, organizer for the Allston-Brighton community fridges. Maria Ravelli, organizer of Woo Fridge, from Worcester, Mass. Here are some community fridges in Greater Boston to check out: All/Bright Community Fridge Brighton Congregational: 404 Washington St., Brighton Roslindale Community Fridge 1 Firth Road, Boston Jamaica Plain Community Fridge 672 Centre St., Jamaica Plain Somerville Community Fridge (Winter Hill and Union Square) 35 Prospect St. and 36 Sewall St., (Somerville), 33 St Clement Rd (Medford) Fridge in the Square – Harvard Square 45 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge Brookline Community Fridge 7 Station St., Brookline Lynn Community Fridge 16 City Hall Square, Lynn Worcester Community Fridges 16 Brooks St., 44 Portland St., 42 South St., 695 SouthBridge St., 2 Kansas St., Worcester Want us to add another community fridge to this list? Email: thule@wgbh.org or jessesteinmetz@wgbh.org.

From immigration to reproductive rights, issues that ignited the country in the last presidential election will be re-litigated in the rematch between President Biden and former President Trump. As the contest heats up, former President Trump’s speeches are reaching new levels of violent rhetoric — at a recent rally he predicted a "blood bath" should he lose. And Gov. Maura Healey opposes a potential ballot question that would eliminate the MCAS test as a requirement for high school graduation, an opposition that puts her at odds with the Massachusetts Teachers Union backing the question. Plus, what are the takeaways from Super Tuesday and recent primary elections that may indicate trouble or triumph for both parties heading to November? That and more during Under the Radar with Callie Crossley's full hour with members of the Mass Politics Profs. GUESTS Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston Jerold Duquette, professor of political science and director of the Public Policy and Management Program at Central Connecticut State University Maurice Cunningham, former associate professor of political science at UMass Boston

How did Ella Fitzgerald become the legend she was? That’s the question author Judith Tick asks and answers in her new biography on the famed vocalist, “Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song," our March selection for Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club. Jazz and history buffs know about the young Ella Fitzgerald’s first nervous performance at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater. The new book marks that pivotal moment in the life of the would-be dancer and many new details in the first full-scaled biography since the singer’s death nearly thirty years ago. Tick describes Fitzgerald's legacy as a duality: "She could sing all kinds of songs... she could go on all kinds of television programs and uplift people around her. And yet, at the same time, her humility and her ordinariness shows us the full dimensions of a great personality." From turning a nursery rhyme into a classic jazz tune to perfecting improvisational singing known as scatting, Ella Fitzgerald’s talent led her to become one of America’s cultural icons. GUEST Judith Tick, Professor emeritus of music history at Boston’s Northeastern University. She is the author of “Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song.”

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have officially clinched the required delegates for their Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. With the unofficial general campaign underway, both parties are eager to win the Latino vote. Now, a Republican strategy to shore up Latino support is becoming clear as they are aligning with Latin American politicians — far-right populist President of Argentina, Javier Milei, was a featured speaker at the recent Conservative Political Action Committee, as well as President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, who told the crowd to "put up a fight" against the "global elites" to win back the U.S. Plus, accusations of racism are flaring up as temporary shelters are being set up across the state to house migrant families. And Big Papi threw a first pitch at the Red Sox's recent exhibition game in the Dominican Republic — showcasing Dominican players’ dominance in American baseball. We break down those stories and more on our Latinx News Roundtable this week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley. GUESTS Julio Ricardo Varela, MSNBC columnist and founder of Latino Rebels Marcela García, opinion columnist and associate editor at the Boston Globe

Greater Boston is home to one of the largest populations of Puerto Ricans. It's a local community that expanded by the thousands after World War II, when about six million islanders from the US territory made their way to the mainland looking for better economic opportunities. They enriched the nation’s cultural melting pot with aspects of indigenous customs and traditions. Today, with an even greater appreciation for authentic representation and a ready audience to celebrate it, organizers have created BoriCorridor, an inaugural arts-led tour of the Northeast to celebrate Boricuan, or Puerto Rican, diaspora heritage. Under the Radar gets a preview before it arrives in Boston later this month. GUESTS Elsa Mosquera, Co-Founder and Principal at the Agora Cultural Architects And Creator of BoriCorridor. Melissa Rodriguez, a stand-up comedian of Teatro Breve, the Puerto Rican variety show performing on the first weekend of the BoriCorridor tour.

From the 1500s through the Civil War, more than 10 million Black men, women and children were enslaved in America. Slavery deemed them property. They were listed on bills of sale; their family members were sold away and their names were changed. After emancipation and the Civil War, the formerly enslaved found many of the familial threads of connection buried or lost. It’s why their African-American descendants have difficulty tracing their lineage. Now, a local organization is leading a national collaborative project to identify each of the 10 million people, stories, and names of those who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America. Danyelle White, who has been restoring her personal Black lineage for 6 years, highlights the need for this project: "I'm almost doing this for the sake of justice...I am very interested in uncovering stories and creating a full picture, not just for myself, but [for] the rest of my family, and for everyone else. We all deserve to understand where we come from." Dr. Kendra Taira Field, chief historian of 10 Million Names, says that this is just the beginning of many years of hard work that must go into heritage recovery and restoration: "We're at a really powerful and beautiful moment of great potential and possibility... As we bring together the tools of historians, genealogists, and descendants, I think we have a great, great future ahead." "It's pretty hard to tell the history of slavery without talking about the white folks and their involvement," said Richard Cellini, founding director of 10 Million Names. He emphasizes that this work is necessary for all of America, regardless of whether you are Black or not: "This is not Black history and it's not white history. This is American history." GUESTS Dr. Kendra Taira Field, chief historian of 10 Million Names, associate professor of history and director of the center for the study of race and democracy at Tufts University Richard Cellini, founding director of 10 Million Names, director of the Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program and founder of the Georgetown Memory Project Danyelle White, vice president of strategic initiatives & community engagement at the Salt Lake Tribune, she has been tracing her Black family heritage for 6 years

In 1993, "The Joy Luck Club" was a surprise hit. The poignant story featuring an all-Asian cast broke barriers at the box office. Would "The Joy Luck Club" inspire more stories drawn from the Asian American experience? No, as it turned out — it took 25 years before 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” another film featuring an all-Asian cast, became a breakout global hit. Last year, Asian representation got its biggest boost since “Crazy Rich Asians” when the movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once” reaped top box office receipts as well as near-universal acclaim from critics and fans. This year, Asian representation in TV and movies presents us with "the biggest menu yet," says Elena Creef, professor of women’s and gender studies at Wellesley College. "I am so thrilled to see the most diversity across genres of storytelling for Asian-American stories — I think ever." Jenny Korn, research affiliate at Harvard University, celebrates the focus on the intersectional identities of Asians in this year's catalog, including the film "Joy Ride." "I will say this movie has the greatest amount of queer visibility for Asians," she said, adding that "of all the movies that we're discussing today, [it] does the most explicit job of declaring authenticity for Asians and intra-Asian across ethnicities." In this special hourlong discussion, Under the Radar looks at a broad sample of new Asian-American representation in movies and shows like "Past Lives," "BEEF," "The Brothers Sun" and more. GUESTS Jenny Korn, Research Affiliate and Founder and Coordinator of the Race, Tech and Media Working Group at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. Elena Creef, Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Wellesley College. specializing in Asian American visual history in photography, film and popular culture.

In the 1950s, most single, white middle-class women were expected to marry and raise a family — much like their mothers before them. But becoming a flight attendant, or a "stewardess" as they were referred to then, offered another kind of life for young women — a life of adventure. From GBH’s "American Experience" program, the new documentary "Fly with Me" showcases the firsthand accounts of the pioneering women, who historians argue, transformed the workplace — both in the air and on the ground. Co-director Sarah Colt describes the stewardesses featured in the film as women filled with "wanderlust," who were "interesting and engaged with pushing boundaries. These young women were drawn to an independent life of travel and glamor. But the airlines also imposed women-only job restrictions like weigh-ins, and deliberately excluded Black women. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley spoke with Sarah Colt, co-director of the film and Julia Cooke, author and historian, about the film and the role flight attendants played in the movement for gender equity in the workplace. GUESTS Sarah Colt, writer and co-director of "Fly With Me," an "American Experience" documentary and GBH production Julia Cooke, author and historian featured in "Fly With Me"

Forty acres and a mule. That’s what was promised to thousands of the formerly enslaved in a post-Civil War nation. Since then, America has grappled with the idea of reparations for Black Americans. But in recent years, some cities, towns, and states have begun to consider — and move forward — with reparations as atonement for America’s cruel history of slavery. A new 7-part podcast from GBH News called "What Is Owed?" explores what reparations might look like in Boston, one of the oldest cities in America, and if there is an achievable plan for the rest of the country. GUESTS Saraya Wintersmith, politics reporter for GBH News and host of "What Is Owed?" Jerome Campbell, senior producer for "What Is Owed?" Dr. William Darity, professor of Public Policy, African and African American Studies, and Economics and the director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University

Editor's note: This episode originally broadcast November 24, 2023. When the MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month, the recipients joined an exclusive group of previous fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent and leadership in their fields. Interdisciplinary scholar and writer Imani Perry is one of this year's MacArthur fellows. “I describe my work in part as haunting the past,” Perry said. “I'm trying to train my attention on those who were disregarded in the past as a way of shaping our ethics for the present and the future. So it's sort of like trying to catch a hold of freedom, dreams that have existed over the course of generations, train my gaze and shine a light on them.” Perry, who is also a Boston University professor, studies the history and the cultural expressions forged by Black Americans in the face of injustice. There are 20 MacArthur fellows across the country, and Perry is one of four based in the Boston area. We talked with professor Perry for Under the Radar's series, “The Genius Next Door.”

Editor's note: This episode originally broadcast on November 24, 2023. In 1973, Americans triumphed in a fashion smackdown that earned the country respect and admiration among critics worldwide. On that day 50 years ago, American and French designers went head-to-head in a creative competition dubbed the “Battle of Versailles." The fashion show was held at the historic Palace of Versailles, the former residence of King Louis XIV. The Americans won with cutting-edge ready-to-wear and stunning Black models. A half-century later, the legacy of the once-obscure event continues to shape global fashion. GUESTS Robin Givhan, senior critic-at-large for the Washington Post and author of “The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History” Alva Chinn, actress and model from the 1973 "Battle of Versailles" Jay Calderin, founder and executive director of Boston Fashion Week and co-director of education at the School of Fashion Design in Boston

Almost thirty years ago, President Bill Clinton formally declared the “President's Initiative on Race” with the goal of jumpstarting a national discussion about race. Arguably, there ended up being more conversation about the initiative than the actual discussions he’d hoped it would inspire. In 2016, former Boston mayor Marty Walsh ushered in a similar citywide race conversation. Last month, GBH announced a multifaceted program to spark a new public conversation about the nation’s race history. GBH President and CEO Susan Goldberg joins Under the Radar to discuss the importance of the new “Reckoning and Repair” initiative. GUEST Susan Goldberg, president and CEO of GBH

The blood-soaked heritage of America’s enslavement of an estimated 10 million Africans is a fact. Yet some Americans refuse to recognize or openly discuss the communal inherited pain, shame and anger linked to that history. But conversations about this fraught history are happening, according to author and journalist Michele Norris' latest book, “Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity.” Norris describes the real-life anecdotes from Americans in her book as "like you're just walking through America and hearing people speaking out loud about the things that they only usually only talk about in private." GUEST Michele Norris, author, journalist for The Washington Post, host and executive producer of the podcast, "Your Mama's Kitchen," and former co-host of NPR's "All Things Considered"

Florida bolsters its reputation as an anti-LGBTQ state with a new rule — trans residents can no longer update their driver’s license with their correct gender identity. Plus, a New Hampshire town manager stepped down after being harassed in an ongoing controversy about an LGBTQ art display. And the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill to repeal several archaic sodomy and anti-trans laws. Those stories and more on Under the Radar's LGBTQ News Roundtable. GUESTS Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, or BAGLY E.J. Graff, journalist, author and managing editor of Good Authority, an independent site publishing insights on political science Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD

Grace Elizabeth Hale grew up hearing that the real-life heroism of her grandfather mirrored the fictional courageous confrontation of Atticus Finch, the hero of "To Kill A Mockingbird." While she had been told her grandfather, a county sheriff in Mississippi had protected a Black man from a lynch mob, who then died in his custody the following day trying to escape — the facts showed a different story. "I knew the story that I had been told... but it just made it clear that none of it was true, that this was a big cover up," Hale told Under the Radar. During her research as a historian and scholar, Hale uncovered the shocking details of one lynching that exposed the truth of her family lore. In fact, Hale’s home state of Mississippi holds the record for the most lynchings in the country. “In the Pines: A Lynching, A Lie, A Reckoning” documents Hale's family history, and the bloody vigilante tradition embedded in the nation’s history. GUEST Grace Elizabeth Hale, professor of American Studies and History at the University of Virginia and author of "In the Pines: A Lynching, A Lie, A Reckoning"

New Hampshire is not generally considered a beacon of Black culture, where the last census documented people of color to be just a fraction of the general population. But the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is working to prove how generations of Black Americans have informed both the Granite state’s — and the nation’s — history.  Under the Radar explores the trials and triumphs of Harriet Wilson, Amos Fortune and Ona Judge, among other lesser known figures that are all foundational to New Hampshire’s past and present. GUESTS JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire Kabria Baumgartner, associate Professor of History and Africana Studies at Northeastern University Courtney Marshall, English teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy

From the Oxford English to the Merriam-Webster, English language dictionaries are well established in the U.S. But the effort to create dictionaries of indigenous languages is growing, including a new one capturing Cape Verdean Creole. A local publisher is documenting the common tongue of the West African nation — and of many Greater Boston immigrants — in an English to Cape Verdean dictionary to be published later this year. GUESTS Manuel Da Luz Goncalves, founder and owner of Mili Mila Inc. Abel Djassi Amado, associate professor of political science and international relations at Simmons University

Climate change has sparked a sharp rise in fires, floods and other natural calamities. Now, the Biden administration has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to speed up victims' ability to get immediate monetary support through benefits including “displacement assistance.” In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey has released the first round of funding for cities impacted by flooding last year. Plus, new research reveals plastic water bottles have up to 100 times more tiny plastic particles than previously estimated — a threat to the environment and health. And bitter cold unplugged electric vehicles across the country as batteries lost their charge. It’s Under the Radar's Environmental News Roundtable. GUESTS Dr. Gaurab Basu, director of education and policy at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health Beth Daley, executive editor and general manager of The Conversation U.S. Cabell Eames, policy consultant for Vote Solar

Whether you measure it by its politics, pubs or people, Boston's Irish heritage is unavoidable — but Ireland's northeastern neighbor is beginning to step out of its shadow. From bagpipes to the savory meat pudding known as haggis, local Scottish groups are making a push for more recognition of their distinct culture and history throughout New England. Under the Radar discusses the inaugural "Not Your Usual Burns Night," which will honor Scotland's national poet with traditional poetry, song, dance and Scotch whisky — and how that event just a part of the effort to bring Boston’s Scottish culture alive. GUESTS Dr. Larry Bethune, vice president of Scots in New England Dr. Peter Abbott, British Consul General to New England

As goes New Hampshire, so goes the nation? A Granite State mantra will likely be put to the test in this Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. Former President Donald Trump trounced his competitors in last week’s Iowa caucus with the biggest margin of victory in the history of the state’s Republican caucuses. But has his momentum been slowed in the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary? Meanwhile, after the Granite State refused to accept second place to South Carolina in the Democratic National Committee’s primary cycle, President Joe Biden is not on the ballot. That isn’t stopping local Democrats from leading a write-in campaign for him. Plus, a new study shows New Hampshire’s primary could be impacted by an influx of new voters — potentially as many as 245,000 new voters. Under the Radar's New Hampshire Insiders are back! GUESTS Arnie Arnesen, former New Hampshire democratic legislator, nominee for governor and candidate for U.S. Congress, and host of WNHN’s The Attitude with Arnie Arnesen Paul Steinhauser, national politics reporter for Fox News and campaign columnist for The Concord Monitor

Last year, a new memorial was unveiled in Boston Common to honor the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. Embrace Boston, the organization behind the memorial, also announced the names of civil rights leaders whose names were embedded in the Boston Common plaza where the sculpture sits. Now Embrace Boston is adding to the roster by recognizing the 2024 Embrace Honorees who have, in the organization’s words, worked to build “a more equitable Boston.” GUESTS L. Duane Jackson, former architect and member of the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Port Authority, managing member of Alinea Capital Partners, LLC and an Embrace Boston 2024 Honoree Deborah Jackson, former president of Cambridge College, CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts and Vice President of the Boston Foundation, and an Embrace Boston 2024 Honoree

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday that is also designated a National Day of Service. Reverend King spent his life in service leading the campaign for social justice during the civil rights movement — and a new documentary looks at a new generation following in his footsteps. "Brief Tender Light" follows four Black African students from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Nigeria, as they embark on their education at MIT. They pledge to return to their home countries after graduation and become agents of change, but their years abroad challenge them in unexpected ways. Under the Radar sits down with the director and a student featured in "Brief Tender Light" as the nation marks Martin Luther King Jr.'s 95th birthday. GUESTS Arthur Musah, director and producer of "Brief Tender Light" Philip Abel Adama, CTO and co-founder of Cleva Banking and a student featured in Brief Tender Light

Barbra Streisand's life and career has long been the stuff of legend and mystery — until now. The singer, actress, director and activist spent 10 years writing her new memoir, and at nearly 1,000 pages it fills in the behind-the-scenes details fans have long craved. From lifelong insecurities and singular triumphs, to devastating losses and her ongoing fight against the industry sexism which sought to limit how she used her artistic gifts, Under the Radar reviews "My Name is Barbra" with two experts on her talent and life. GUESTS Garrett Stewart, professor of literature and cinema at the University of Iowa, author of “Streisand: The Mirror of Difference” Matt Howe, founder of Barbra Archives, a Barbra Streisand fan website and author of “Barbra Streisand: The Music, the Albums, the Singles”

Local shoppers at the California-based grocery store chain Trader Joe's and Massachusetts’ own Market Basket know there is no self-checkout in either store. Even as self-service checkouts gained floor space in other American grocery and retail stores, those two bet that their customers preferred the efficiency of trained human staff. And recently, some large retailers — Walmart, Costco and Dollar General — have announced they are rethinking self-checkout by adding more staff, or in some cases, removing the machines altogether. Advocates say self-checkout is convenient and reduces employee costs, while critics argue the system has failed to deliver on those promises as many businesses have been hit with merchandise losses from customer errors and shoplifting. Under the Radar looks to the future of self-checkout to find out if the practice has gone stale. GUESTS Rita McGrath, academic director of executive education at Columbia Business School Phil Lempert, founder and CEO of Supermarket Guru, a food and health news hub

For many Americans, there can be only one Christmas song to rule them all: Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You." In addition to 772 million views on that single YouTube video alone, it has hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart the past four years in a row and is believed to have raked in nearly $100 million in earnings thus far. But for the rest of us, there is a world of underground, often bizarre holiday music, and Under the Radar's holiday music correspondent has spent decades dredging them up from record stores and and forgotten corners of the internet. This season, for his 34th year of holiday melodies, Mike Wilkins honors his mixtape history with this year’s seasonal compilation, “Mr. Mike's Merry Mix," a Yuletopia recording. GUEST Mike Wilkins, radio engineer for PRX and GBH’s The World Stream or download his full playlist on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/seenthat/mikemas2023

This year, the newest versions of a favorite American Christmas tradition are, well, untraditional. Advent Calendars now offer much more than chocolates — frozen food and canned wine anyone? Plus, a lesser-known French bubbly our wine expert says is perfect for toasting in the New Year. And chic new restaurants Jiang Nan and Zhi Wei Cafe are making a splash in Boston’s Chinese food scene. It’s Under the Radar's Food and Wine Roundtable: Holiday Edition. GUESTS Jonathon Alsop, founder and executive director of Boston Wine School, author of "The Wine Lover's Devotional" Amy Traverso, senior food editor at Yankee Magazine, co-host of the GBH series, "Weekends with Yankee," author of "The Apple Lover's Cookbook"

In the 1760s, Massachusetts colonists began pushing back against the ever-tightening grip of British rule. The boiling tension erupted in violent episodes, few more shocking than the Boston Massacre in 1770 when five colonists were killed by British militia. Three years later, protestors publicly rejected the taxes on tea by dumping crates of tea from the British East India Company in the Boston harbor. This event would later become known as the Boston Tea Party. "The Boston Tea Party doesn't just come out of nowhere, there's weeks of tension as the ships arrive and even before the ships arrive," said Benjamin Carp, Brooklyn College history professor. "The goal is really to send the tea back to London, and this was technically illegal ... And so if someone would just agree to ship it back, then maybe we can not have to have some kind of dramatic protest. But because people keep telling them no, this is what leads to the Tea Party ultimately." On December 16, Boston will observe the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, a momentous event leading up to the American Revolution. "If you lived in Boston at that time, you were reading the letters, you were reading the pamphlets, the newspapers, people were gathered watching the event happen," said Anjelica Oswald, an American Ancestors researcher working on the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program. "If your family member was here in Boston, it's very likely that they had something they witnessed, something they read, something that brought their spirit into it, and maybe that's why they were mustered in for the revolution later." Leading up to the Boston Tea Party's anniversary, museums, schools and historical organizations across the state have come together to celebrate the significance of this historically pivotal event. "We have an amazing opportunity as a city, as a commonwealth and as a nation to mark this 250th anniversary of this iconic moment in American history," said Evan O' Brien, creative manager at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. "And I think we have a great opportunity to make sure that we're telling the story in a way that is as accessible to everyone from around the world." GUESTS Benjamin Carp, Brooklyn College history professor and author of “Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America” Evan O’Brien, creative manager at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Anjelica Oswald, researcher at American Ancestors helping with the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program

In the middle of a New England forest, a yellow house and the land on which it sits holds 200 years of personal and political history. The home and forest tell stories of family, time, memories, ghosts and the wonders of an evolving landscape. This sweeping saga is author Daniel Mason’s latest novel, “North Woods,” a riveting, imagined story of one New England house from the time of American colonies to the present. Through prose and poetry, Mason traces the intertwined seasons of the people linked to the home, as well as the exciting evolution of plants and animals who share the surrounding land. “North Woods” is the December selection for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” Daniel Masonis the author of five books, including his latest "North Woods." He was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for his book, "A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth." Mason is also an assistant professor at the Stanford University Department of Psychiatry.

It’s the season of giving and a time of year when Americans traditionally make charitable donations. With more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations across the country, there’s plenty of choices for where Americans can donate their dollars. But just last year, total charitable giving dropped by 3.4%, according to the Giving USA Foundation. "Often when people don't give, they say something like, 'how could my $5 possibly help this enormous problem facing the world?'" said Michael Norton, Harvard Business School professor and co-author of “Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending.” "So the feeling that it sort of drops in a bucket can prompt people not to give," he said. "So, when we're thinking about encouraging people to give, we're really trying to think about how do we increase that feeling of connection and increase that feeling of impact." Meanwhile, two Harvard University researchers say they have cracked the code for motivating potential donors to give. Together, they created Giving Multiplier, a research-based matching system that promotes both effective philanthropic and charitable giving and the world’s most effective charities. "In one case, you can spend $50,000 helping one person, or that same amount of money help 100 people, or even closer to 1,000 people with the surgery," said Joshua Greene, Harvard University psychology professor and co-founder of Giving Multiplier. "People in the in the U.S. are much more likely to feel a kind of personal connection for people who are suffering from blindness here, and yet the money can go much farther in other places. And so how do you deal with that?" Could this new method of philanthropy become the future model of giving?

When the MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month, the recipients joined an exclusive group of previous fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent and leadership in their fields. Interdisciplinary scholar and writer Imani Perry is one of this year's MacArthur fellows. “I describe my work in part as haunting the past,” Perry said. “I'm trying to train my attention on those who were disregarded in the past as a way of shaping our ethics for the present and the future. So it's sort of like trying to catch a hold of freedom, dreams that have existed over the course of generations, train my gaze and shine a light on them.” Perry, who is also a Boston University professor, studies the history and the cultural expressions forged by Black Americans in the face of injustice. There are 20 MacArthur fellows across the country, and Perry is one of four based in the Boston area. We talked with professor Perry for Under the Radar's series, “The Genius Next Door.”

In 1973, Americans triumphed in a fashion smackdown that earned the country respect and admiration among critics worldwide. On that day 50 years ago, American and French designers went head-to-head in a creative competition dubbed the “Battle of Versailles." The fashion show was held at the historic Palace of Versailles, the former residence of King Louis XIV. The Americans won with cutting-edge ready-to-wear and stunning Black models. A half-century later, the legacy of the once-obscure event continues to shape global fashion. GUESTS Robin Givhan, senior critic-at-large for the Washington Post and author of “The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History” Alva Chinn, actress and model from the 1973 "Battle of Versailles" Jay Calderin, founder and executive director of Boston Fashion Week and co-director of education at the School of Fashion Design in Boston

The MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month. The recipients join an exclusive group of fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. Environmental ecologist Lucy Hutyra is one of this year's fellows. “I didn't realize I was breaking all those barriers at the time that I was breaking them,” Hutyra said. “The imposter syndrome can take over very easily, especially when you come from such a different background, and I think that the key is just kind of move past it. You do belong. You're there and you made it. Then you need to find allies and people that you can trust and that you can support, and I have been that for my friends, for my colleagues and for my students, and I'll always try to be that going forward.” Hutyra, who is also a Boston University professor, studies the impacts of urbanization on environmental carbon cycle dynamics. There are 20 MacArthur fellows across the country, and Hutyra is one of four based in the Boston area. We sit down with professor Hutyra for our Under the Radar series, “The Genius Next Door.” Listen now.

This week on Under the Radar's Regional News Roundtable: Gabe Amo was sworn into Congress this week, becoming the first Black person, or person of color, elected to represent Rhode Island in the U.S. Congress. Plus, controversy over a New Hampshire Republican who was forced to resign after an investigation revealed he hadn’t lived in the district that elected him for more than a year. And members of Martha’s Vineyard’s Steamship Authority attempted to cover up details of a ferry boat accident. GUESTS Arnie Arnesen, host of The Attitude with Arnie Arnesen from WNHN Ted Nesi, politics and business editor, investigative reporter for WPRI Steve Junker, managing editor of news at CAI

The MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month. The recipients join an exclusive group of previous fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. The award acknowledges the fellows’ demonstrated talent and potential as leaders in their fields. Cellular and molecular biologist Jason Buenrostro is one of this year's MacArthur fellows. "For me, [being a scientist] is like I'm living in a dream. Growing up, my parents didn't graduate high school or my extended family, none of them went to college, and the probability that that things would work out in this way are just unfortunately low rate," said Buenrostro. "I like to think that what was once a challenge for me to move through the academic system, to sit down on the desk and to listen to somebody go on and on about about something in a classroom, is now a tool in my tool belt." Buenrostro, who is also a Harvard University associate professor, studies the mechanisms that “turn on” genes, and is the pioneer of a popular method to assess chromatin accessibility across the genome. There are 20 MacArthur fellows across the country, and Buenrostro is one of four based in the Boston area. We talk with professor Buenrostro for Under the Radar's series, “The Genius Next Door.”

Israel’s war against Hamas has marked just over one month. It’s the latest chapter of the decades-long, ongoing strife between the Israeli government and Palestinians. The present day suffering of people in the war zone and its impact on others around the world is incomprehensible. And yet, even during this conflict, the struggle for a peaceful resolution continues. Under the Radar spoke with representatives from two organizations that have spent decades working toward peace in the region about why, despite the violence, they remain committed to their efforts. GUESTS Tim Wilson, advisor to Seeds of Peace and director of the Maine Seeds Programs Aziz Abu Sarah, board member of American Friends of Combatants for Peace Gili Getz, board chair of American Friends of Combatants for Peace

What does it mean to be Asian in a country where everything seems Black and white? Growing up, author and scholar Julia Lee says she spent much of her formative years angry about never being seen, ashamed that she felt powerless as a Korean woman, and suffering from generational trauma passed down from her immigrant parents. On Under the Radar with Callie Crossley, Lee said understanding her place in a racial hierarchy constructed around Black and white has been a complicated journey. "It's just that in our society and in our culture, being white means you get to be treated as human, and that is all I and so many people of color want," she said. "Unfortunately, when we look around, the only people who get to be treated as full human beings are white. And so it's not whiteness we want, we just want to be treated with humanity and humaneness." Lee explores this journey in her new memoir, "Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America."

A new plan from Boston Public Schools to integrate students who are English language learners into general education classrooms has led to multiple resignations on BPS' English Learners Task Force. Plus, compared to much of the country, Massachusetts has a low poverty rate. But it’s twice as high for Latinos. And a flag mix-up results in a cultural snafu in the new, best-selling Spider-man video game. Those stories and more on Under the Radar's Latinx News Roundtable. GUESTS: Julio Ricardo Varela, MSNBC opinion columnist and founder of Latino Rebels Marcela García, opinion columnist and associate editor at the Boston Globe

It’s Halloween — the season of all things spooky and scary — from horror movies, to haunted mansions and potentially even gardens. It turns out there's an unexpectedly sinister side to gardening, according to writer and gardener, Marta McDowell. She says many mystery writers use gardens in their tales of deception: "I think most gardeners understand this feeling of you're always sort of a detective. Why did this plant die? What is bothering this plant? I mean, you're even sometimes out there with a magnifying glass, trying to figure out what pest is on your petunia," McDowell told Under the Radar. "And there are quite a few crime writers who also dabble in the garden, so they have that at their fingertips for various plot devices." McDowell explores the link between mystery and gardening in her book, "Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers." GUEST Marta McDowell, author of "Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers."

Gov. Maura Healey unveiled a $4.1 billion bond bill last week targeting the state’s housing shortage. It could create over 8,000 accessory dwelling units, or “in-law suites,” across the state. Plus, a new poll highlights the 2024 election ballot questions at the top of the list for Massachusetts voters. Of those surveyed 52% said they would vote to remove MCAS as a requirement for receiving a high school diploma. And a Boston City Council candidate is stirring up controversy with comments about Black Lives Matter. Those stories and more on Under the Radar's Local News Roundtable. GUESTS Katie Lannan, State House reporter for GBH News Gin Dumcius, reporter for CommonWealth Magazine Mike Deehan, co-writer of the Boston Axios Newsletter

A myriad of new local restaurants, including 311 Omakase, All That Fish + Oyster and Moëca, are making the Boston area a seafood-lover’s haven. Plus, a significant Portuguese American population in Greater Boston is reflected in new Portuguese restaurants featuring the flavorful cuisine, from crispy cod cakes to tasty egg tarts. And wine lovers are choosing an old favorite — chardonnay — for their fall sipping, driving its expected market value over the next decade upward by hundreds of millions. It's Under the Radar's Food and Wine Roundtable. GUESTS: Jonathon Alsop, founder and executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of "The Wine Lover's Devotional" Amy Traverso, senior food editor at Yankee Magazine, co-host of the GBH series, "Weekends with Yankee," author of "The Apple Lover’s Cookbook”

A century ago, images of young children working in factories under dangerous working conditions shocked Americans. Since then, numerous child labor protections have been put in place to prevent exploitation and abuse. But in the past two years, child labor laws have entered the crosshairs of some lawmakers. At least 10 states have introduced or passed legislation loosening child labor protections, including New Hampshire. Now, Granite State children as young as 14 can work around alcohol and 16-year-olds can work an almost 40-hour week. "[Nationwide] we're finding kids in automobile factories on the floor of a packing house, or some chicken processing plants and in other manufacturing facilities, in seafood, in lots of industries where we really haven't seen children working in decades," said David Weil, Brandeis University professor and a former administrator for the Wage and Hour Division at the U.S. Department of Labor. "And now we're finding them in significant numbers and in very dangerous conditions, so it's unfortunately a real return to the past." Some lawmakers are saying changing youth labor rules will help address worker shortages, but experts and advocates worry that these measures will negatively impact minors. "We're seeing a coordinated multi-industry push to roll back labor standards, and what that's really reflecting is industry's desire to maintain and expand their access to pools of low wage labor," said Jennifer Sherer, director of the State Worker Power Initiative at the Economic Policy Institute. "And in this case doing that in a really disturbing way that can expose children to hazardous conditions or long, excessive hours that we know based on research, can put kids in a high risk category for their grades slipping." What’s behind the newfound push to relax child labor laws? GUESTS Jennifer Sherer, director of the State Worker Power Initiative at the Economic Policy Institute David Weil, professor at Brandeis University and former administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the U.S. Department of Labor

Cricket is a wildly popular sport, second only to soccer as the most-watched sport on the globe. In the United States, football, basketball and baseball still dominate. But evidence shows the bat-and-ball sport is once again gaining traction in Greater Boston and across the country. "I moved into Massachusetts in 2010. When I moved, we had about 30 teams, [and] if you assume 15 to 20 players per team, you have about 600 players back in 2010. Now, as of today, in 2023 October, we have roughly about 72 teams playing," said Kumar Putravu, president of the Massachusetts State Cricket League. "So we've doubled the number of teams and we have a total number of players, roughly around 2,000 to 3,000 players, give or take a few. It has grown exponentially over the last decade." From Major League Cricket premiering in the U.S. this summer, to high stakes rivalries currently playing out in the Cricket World Cup, the so-called Gentleman’s Game of the 17th century is exploding in growth in Greater Boston thanks to local immigrant communities. "There's now opportunities for men, women, kids... people above 40, even people above 50, people above 60, there are opportunities for them to play" said Kartik Shah, founder and director of the Greater Boston Cricket Foundation. "As more opportunities come about, you see more and more people trying to play the game that are immigrants here from all over the world. And cricket is played all over the world. And all of these people now have a chance to play different versions, different styles, different formats." Will the surge in Massachusetts teams help add cricket to Boston’s roster of beloved sports? GUESTS Kartik Shah, founder and director of the Greater Boston Cricket Foundation Phani Kumar Putravu, president of the Massachusetts State Cricket League

Climate change turned up the heat this summer — the sweltering temperatures in August and September were the hottest since global records began in 1880. Meanwhile, two significant efforts to fight climate change are taking root. In a first of its kind agreement, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut are working together to build more offshore wind farms. Plus, an $11 million grant will help Boston expand its tree canopy especially in areas where trees are scarce. That and more on our Environmental News Roundtable. GUESTS Dr. Gaurab Basu, director of education and policy at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health Beth Daley, executive editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S. Sam Payne, digital development manager and communications specialist for Better Future Project, a Massachusetts-based grassroots climate action organization

You can count on traffic gridlock on most Tuesdays in Greater Boston as thousands of workers make their way into offices in the city. After the pandemic forced many workers to be remote, and then company leaders pushed for a return to the office, many have now seemed to settle on an in-between: hybrid work. Recent research confirms that employees consider hybrid to be the modern workplace, giving both flexibility and job satisfaction. The evidence also shows people care enough about hybrid work policies that some have quit jobs when their employers push for a five-day-a-week traditional work environment. After three years of post-pandemic turmoil, is hybrid work now a permanent fixture in America? GUESTS: Bryan Hancock, global leader of McKinsey & Company’s talent management practice Dena Upton, head of people at Dandy and former chief people officer at Drift, both which have embraced the remote work style

For over 10,000 years, members of the Wampanoag tribe have lived in Aquinnah and throughout the island known as Noepe, also known as Martha’s Vineyard. Traditionally a fishing and agriculture community, tribe members also harvest acres of wild cranberry bogs each year that grow on their land. Cranberry Day — the annual harvesting of the fruit — has been a centuries-long celebration passed down by the elders as part of the Aquinnah Wampanoag’s rich history. "I would say it's probably my favorite holiday, and so I was shaped by that," Jannette Vanderhoop, member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, told GBH's Under the Radar. "If someone came by and there wasn't enough food, everyone just got a little less. And I thought that was really beautiful and indicative of our community and how we take care of each other." The treasured tradition serves as a way to commemorate Indigenous People’s Day, says Jordan Clark, assistant director of Harvard University’s Native American Program. "When you think about Massachusetts, when you think about the areas around Boston and the Cape and the Islands, Native people have been living on it for tens of thousands of years," Clark said. "Oftentimes a lot of the founding ideology, a lot of the founding philosophy that we think of as 'American,' is often directly taken from Native communities. But again, that's not part of our national narrative. And so, Indigenous People's Day plays a role in taking a pause and asking, kind of, the larger community to maybe refocus and recenter and reimagine kind of how they see the world and their relationship to it." GUESTS Jannette Vanderhoop, member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, board member of the Aquinnah Cultural Center and author of "Cranberry Day: A Wampanoag Harvest Celebration" Jordan Clark, assistant director of Harvard University’s Native American Program, and a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah

As an observant young girl and a curious tween, Aisha Harris, co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, was deeply immersed in pop culture. Her early fandom led her to a career as a cultural critic whose hot takes, pithy observations and deep dives into cultural shifts are broadly admired. But Harris says it's not as easy as it looks: "I always feel like I'm not doing enough, but, you know, in part because it's my job and also because even when I'm watching or reading or consuming any sort of art or media, if it's not for work, I'm still in the back of my mind thinking of, okay, perhaps down the line, this could be something that I touch on years later or months later. ... I'm kind of a hoarder when it comes to both books and notes, and I think that's kind of what helps me stay as up and as absorbed as I can, in addition to all the things that I'm doing for my actual job on a day to day basis." Harris has captured her adventures in pop culture in her first book, “Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me.” GUEST Aisha Harris, co-host and reporter for NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, author of “Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me”

Latinos make up one of Massachusetts' largest ethnic groups, and the last few years has seen significant growth in the widely diverse Latino communities with roots in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. While Latino workers are considered by many to be the backbone of the local economy, they are disproportionately low wage workers. "There still are very real challenges around poverty rates that are really disturbing," said Dr. Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute. But she said there are signs of improvement: "For second generation Latinos, we are seeing more positive outcomes. So, we do have some hope there for the next generation." For many residents, Latino nonprofits have helped fill in the gaps providing vital services to local Latino communities. And yet, many Latino nonprofits in Massachusetts also struggle to make ends meet — one 2020 report says less than 2% of philanthropic dollars are being directly invested in Latino-based organizations, and nearly 100 new nonprofit organizations would need to be created to fill the current gaps in services to the Latino population. "Our volunteers can only volunteer for so long," Lina Cañon, director of finance operations and development for Chica Project, told Under the Radar. "And so if you're not paying the women that are in the organization equitable wages and being competitive with the market and allowing them to live in Boston, which we all know is expensive, then how are you actually going to sustain that program?" Some experts see solutions in policy, and one thing Tomás Gonzalez, director of community and advocacy for Amplify Latinx, wants passed is a bill that would, "allow for the creation of a micro business development center, which would hope to grant $50,000 grants to folks if they hire individuals from the community, returning citizens, those coming off transition assistance, those that are local to to the establishment, so that you can give that business owner the room that they need. Because typically our small business owners ... typically aren't the places that banks give money to." During this Hispanic Heritage Month, Under the Radar looks at the roadblocks to philanthropic funding and the efforts to increase access. GUESTS Dr. Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston Lina Cañon, director of finance operations and development for Chica Project Tomás Gonzalez, director of community and advocacy for Amplify Latinx

Traditionally, New Hampshire is the proving ground for presidential hopefuls, with most spending major time and money in the Granite State. But many 2024 Republican presidential candidates — so far — are bypassing New Hampshire on their way to Iowa. "It's more expensive to run in New Hampshire than it is in Iowa. It's definitely a bit of a mistake in terms of trying to capture 2024," Erin O'Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston, told Under the Radar. "But Republicans know, to beat Trump, they're betting down on the idea you have to 'out-Trump' him or 'out-conservative' him, and you're more likely to be able to do that in Iowa." Plus, Republican Senator Mitt Romney announced he will retire at the end of his term, saying it's time for the "next generation" of leaders. The former Massachusetts Governor's remarks re-energized the debate about the age of elected officials. "I don't want to say that any particular individual ... should retire," said Luis Jiménez, director of the international relations major at UMass Boston. "But the question we should be talking about is, why is it that people stay in Congress that long? Why is it that people stay in politics that long? And a big reason why has to do with the way that we're doing politics these days and the power of incumbency, the power of money and so on." And the U.S. Senate has gone “business casual." A change in dress code means one Democratic Senator can officially ditch his suit and tie for a hoodie. Jerold Duquette, professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University, argues "this is sort of a gift in terms of authenticity. These people want conformity. ... Politically, a dress code in the Senate as an issue is to the great advantage of those rebelling against the establishment tie, or whatever the case may be." Those stories and more during our full hour with the Mass Politics Profs. GUESTS Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston Jerold Duquette, professor of political science and director of the Public Policy and Management Program at Central Connecticut State University Luis Jiménez, associate professor of political science and director of the international relations major at UMass Boston

How did we move from suffering in the heat with room-temperature drinks to ice-harvesting capitalists and fanatical ice consumers? America’s journey to ice obsession started right here in Boston with the enterprising Frederic Tudor, who envisioned something seemingly preposterous: bringing ice to the tropics. The Tudors were one of the wealthiest families in Massachusetts. The family had servants who harvested large blocks of ice out of the lake on their estate, and an ice house to store that ice underground, where it could stay cool year-round. "For about four centuries or so, the planet Earth was a lot colder than it is now ... lakes and rivers froze much deeper than they do now. So people could carve large blocks of ice out of those bodies of water for use in their everyday lives, such as cooking or medicine, what have you," Amy Brady, author of the book “Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks — A Cool History of a Hot Commodity,” explained on GBH's Under the Radar. Frederic Tudor, in his early twenties, decided to try selling those ice blocks to people who lived in warm climates, where ice didn't form naturally. He determined that if he could make it to Cuba, he'd be a made man. But he was eventually successful in convincing people to use ice. Frederic even turned several port cities in the Southern U.S. into what he called "ice cities," and inspired a number of copycat entrepreneurs. "Out West, the natural ice harvesting industry really took off quickly until about the 1860s, when the Civil War cut off the Southern ice supply from the North due to the wartime embargoes," Brady explained. "And so it was shortly after that, that mechanically made ice became popular, with ice-making plants cropping up along the south." Even if the war hadn't occurred, Brady believes the natural ice industry would have met a similar fate. "Lakes and rivers are the homes of many organic beings: the fish, of course, the plants and the microorganisms that live in there. And all of that was true in the 19th century, just as it's true now. And people would ingest that. ... So it wasn't uncommon for people to get very, very sick," she said. GUEST Amy Brady, executive director and publisher of Orion Magazine, coeditor of "The World as We Knew It: Dispatches from a Changing Climate," and author of "Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—A Cool History of a Hot Commodity”

Across the country, anti-LGBTQ violence is on the rise. Just recently, a California business owner was killed for displaying a Pride flag. "This is a tragic example of where someone was trying to be supportive and send a message of love and safety and then became targeted by the very hate that is used against so many," Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of BAGLY, told Under the Radar. "I think it's a reminder of how dangerous the situation has become with the increased rhetoric. ... And it's emboldening people, and all of us are being threatened in different ways." The current climate is also reflected in at least 142 bills introduced across the U.S. this year that aim to restrict gender-affirming healthcare. But some advocates are pushing back. Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, said these legal battles are about more than the law: "It's about people's lives. It's about families who now have to consider whether or not they have to uproot their lives and move to another state to provide their child with the health care that they need. And it's about medical providers who are facing the loss of their licenses and criminal penalties for doing their oath, which is to provide and care for their patients." Advocates say an increasing number of LGBTQ+ people are moving to Massachusetts, specifically, in part because of the state's legal protections. "I fled Ohio for the same reason. It just was not comfortable being queer in Ohio," said E.J. Graff, managing editor of Good Authority. "But especially those families that have trans kids, I don't see how they can stay where they are with their children always under threat." It's our LGBTQ News Roundtable. GUESTS Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, or BAGLY Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD E.J. Graff, journalist, author and managing editor of Good Authority, an independent blog publishing insights from political science

What Boston sports team won five national championships in the last six years? Hint: it wasn’t the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins. The answer: the Boston Renegades, a women's football team. While the local women’s teams that have been winning championship after championship, they've received much less fanfare than their male counterparts at Fenway or Gillette Stadium. "Sports aren't inherently male, but in so many spaces we've come to accept them as such," said Rev. Laura Everett, author of the blog, Boston Women’s Sports. "We have national and world champions playing locally, but they're not getting the coverage they deserve. Whereas so often women's sports teams are expected to prove that they're worthy, when the men's teams are just presumed that they are." But soccer fans may have reason to rejoice — a bid to bring a new national women’s soccer team to Boston could materialize in coming years. Some experts hope it could be the catalyst for local women's teams to finally get the respect and higher profile they have earned. "It's exciting to think that women's pro soccer will be back, hopefully, in Boston and exciting because it's a sport and a league, the NWSL, that's really on the rise. It will be great to have Boston be part of that women's sports conversation nationally." GUESTS Shira Springer, sports journalist and lecturer in Managerial Communication at MIT Reverend Laura Everett, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, author of the blog, Boston Women’s Sports

Oceans, rivers and lakes are chockful of thousands of underwater plants and algae collectively described as seaweed. Demand for seaweed — kelp, specifically — has exploded as scientists have confirmed its dietary benefits and its potential as a tool in the fight against climate change. "Seaweeds have a variety of nutrients and minerals and anti-inflammatory properties that you just can't get from typical land plants," Scott Lindell, research specialist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, told Under the Radar. "Food processing companies are finding ways to integrate seaweed, kelp in particular, into products that Americans are familiar with. There are kelp burgers out there which are vegan and some of the best vegetarian burgers I've ever had." There are now seaweed farms from Alaska to Massachusetts, including Duxbury Sugar Kelp of Duxbury, Mass. Owner-operator, John Lovett, said one reason he got into the business was to explore the environmental impacts of kelp: "I really wanted to... be on the forefront of learning about [kelp], to be able to innovate some of the systems that we use to grow it and really to help other farmers understand the impact that they, too, can have on the environment." From food to biofuel and everything in between, some experts believe this billion-year-old algae is the wave of the future. A new exhibit about seaweed aims to capture part of that excitement. "One of the biggest things that I hope people walk away from the exhibition thinking about is that seaweed is a lot more than they may have known," Naomi Slipp, chief curator at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and curator of "A Singularly Marine & Fabulous Produce: the Cultures of Seaweed". "One of the fun things about having the exhibit up has been engaging in these conversations around contemporary applications for seaweed and its potential for the future." GUESTS Scott Lindell, research specialist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution John Lovett, owner-operator of Duxbury Sugar Kelp Naomi Slipp, chief curator at the New Bedford Whaling Museum

Editor's note: This segment originally broadcast on January 27, 2023. In 1949, a small organization formed in Boston. Ten fatherless boys were paired with adult volunteers to help them navigate their lives. More than 70 years later, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts serves young boys and girls and connects more than 3,600 children with mentors each year. We discuss the importance of strong social webs, how the pandemic frayed them and the power of mentoring with the leader of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and a tight-knit duo that continues to grow together. GUESTS Mark O’Donnell, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts Karen Rodriguez, volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts Rosela Moreta, Karen’s 10-year-old mentee

Editor's note: This segment originally broadcast on April 16, 2021. It’s still too soon to know all the ways the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reshape our decisions about life and family, but one facet is that many women have decided to protect their reproductive future by freezing their eggs. About a decade ago, egg freezing was considered an experimental procedure. Today, it's a relatively common procedure thousands of women choose each year. During the pandemic, the number of women electing to postpone pregnancy by freezing their eggs has surged. Why? And will their choices have a broader impact long term? GUESTS Nina Resetkova, reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF John Petrozza, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center Nikki Richardson, former egg freezing patient

Americans have intimate relationships with their cellphones. A recent report found 89% of Americans say they check their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up, and 60% sleep with their phone at night. And during the day, nearly one-third of American adults reported being online "almost constantly" in 2021, up from 21% in 2015. "I remember being attached to [my phone] and when I was texting my girlfriend, I remember the screen just kind of came alive," said Jose Briones, an advocate of digital minimalism. "I get this rush of, 'Wow, like, somebody cares about me.' And I put a lot of my value not on the person necessarily or the notification that I got, but also on the phone, because the phone is the medium through which I receive this amazing, loving text." But its not just phones holding our gaze. Watches, doorbells, even many refrigerators are now "smart." Partly in response to how ubiquitous this technology has become in the fabric of modern life, Joe Hollier co-founded Light, a company that sells minimalist cellphones. "There's no social media, no infinite feed of any kind, clickbait news, and there's no email," Hollier told Under the Radar. "So, really all of the things the phone does — calling, texting, setting an alarm — are just really utilitarian based. And the idea is that you're not pulling out the phone. So, we like to say it's a phone designed to be used as little as possible, because it's about the time and the space that it gives you to not be staring at a screen." Hollier is one of a number of Americans attempting to separate themselves from the seemingly inescapable reach of technology. These digital minimalists are willing to change their habits to go back to a simpler, less technology-centered lifestyle. "We can decide how much technology we embrace, how we embrace it, and how we really find the value in our life," said Andrew Maynard, professor of advanced technology transitions at Arizona State University. "My camera is a fully manual camera and I get joy and pleasure out of that. ... That's a choice I make. And I think a lot of people forget that they can make these decisions for themselves, how much or how little technology they have in their lives. Of course, the difficulty is when we've got tech companies trying to push it down our throats, sometimes it's difficult to pull back from that." GUESTS Joe Hollier, co-founder of Light, a company that sells minimalist cellphones Jose Briones, digital minimalism YouTuber and advocate, moderator of the subreddit, “r/dumbphones” Andrew Maynard, professor of advanced technology transitions at Arizona State University

From hip-hop to folk to jazz, Boston’s musical legacy is alive on a new platform showcasing the talents of local musicians. Mayor Michelle Wu and the city's Tourism, Sports and Entertainment Office debuted "Dear Summer Vol. 1" this July: it's the city's first official mixtape. "I think we did a good job in representing the sound of the city, the cultural diversity of the city, and just really highlighting and boosting up our artists and also our DJs so we can show that there's talent here right in our backyard," Chimel “ReaL P” Idiokitas, co-executive producer and curator of the mixtape, told Under the Radar. Representing a variety of music genres, "Dear Summer Vol. 1" features six DJs and 17 artists from the Greater Boston area for a 1-hour, 39-minute soundscape. The new, annual collaboration aims to “connect residents across neighborhoods through music, and celebrate summer.” "How can we, as the city of Boston, leverage this platform to show artists that they can stay here, that they can make it, that they can bolster their careers?" said John M. Borders IV, Boston's tourism, sports and entertainment director. "I think we have a unique opportunity as the city to champion those folks." GUESTS Chimel “ReaL P” Idiokitas, DJ and co-executive producer and curator of “Dear Summer Vol. 1” John M. Borders IV, tourism, sports and entertainment director for the City of Boston and co-executive producer of “Dear Summer Vol. 1"

Sixty years ago, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom inspired more than 250,000 people to gather for a public demonstration — at the time, one of the biggest marches in the country's history. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now famous speech, “I Have a Dream” at the Lincoln Memorial, just weeks after President John K. Kennedy called civil rights a “moral issue.” "I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to put my feet where my heart was, to speak in support of civil rights, to join all the other thousands of people who wanted to see the United States make some moves toward civil rights," said Jane Bowers, a Boston resident who attended the 1963 March. But the original focus of the March was to be a public stand for jobs and freedom, and a push against a deeply segregated, racist America. "A month after this event, white people blew up a church and killed four children. And so I think it's very important that we make a distinction between the white people," said Byron Rushing, former Massachusetts state Rep. "Never say this [march] had an effect on white people. It had an effect on the moment, it seems. Maybe a majority of white people, but it certainly did not have an effect, except the negative concern by Southern white people." What is the legacy of this seminal event in this moment of continued efforts to roll back civil rights gains, and at a time of increasing violent racial tension? "We now see a determined resistance that's called MAGA, that is trying to go back to where they were again in the sense, which is make America great again for them," Courtland Cox, civil rights activist who helped organize the 1963 march, told Under the Radar. "Making America great depended on racial and economic exploitation of the African American community. ... And the good thing about today is that, while we only could protest in 1960 and '63 and '65, we can now be in power. ... We now have positions of power and we need to be able to really uphold the concepts of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence." GUESTS Jane Bowers, a Boston resident who attended the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Byron Rushing, former Massachusetts state representative and president of the Roxbury Historical Society Courtland Cox, civil rights activist who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

The National Museum of the American Latino may be years away from officially opening, but it's already caught in America's culture wars. The attack has been led in part by Latino Republican Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, having proposed legislation to pull funding for the museum. "I'm okay with you criticizing how you view history. But do you have to vote to defund it?" said, Julio Ricardo Varela, president of Futuro Media Group. "Seriously, like, you can't even stand up for our community? You have to go down the 'woke politics' side?" Diaz-Balart has since said funding would not be pulled, but only after a meeting with Smithsonian leadership: “What we did is we cut the funding, and immediately [the Smithsonian] responded, and then we had a very positive meeting." Gov. Maura Healey announced a state of emergency this August due to the surge in migrant families arriving in the state and in need of shelter. A total of 20,000 people, made up of over 5,000 families with children, are currently living in state-funded shelters. And last month the long debated driver's license law for undocumented immigrants went into effect. The state saw roughly 100,000 requests for learner's permit appointments in the first three weeks of July. "They don't want to be in the shadows. They don't want to work under the shadows. They don't want to have to drive without a license," Marcela García, an opinion columnist at the Boston Globe, told Under the Radar. "What I've noticed is that for immigrants, this has been very symbolic, too, because it is giving them a sense of belonging, a sense of inclusion." That and more on our Latinx News Roundtable. GUESTS Julio Ricardo Varela, president of Futuro Media Group, co-host of the “In The Thick” podcast, founder of Latino Rebels, and MSNBC opinion columnist Marcela García, an opinion columnist and associate editor at the Boston Globe

50 years after its birth, hip-hop has become an integral part of mainstream American culture. With its roots in the voices of marginalized communities, hip-hop is reflected in everything from a rapping Pillsbury Dough Boy to dialogue in movies to speeches on the floor of Congress. "Hip-hop is a culture. It's a far-reaching culture. It's the most dominant youth culture on the planet," said Dart Adams, Boston-based writer and hip-hop expert. "It incorporates DJing, b-boying — or 'breaking,' as it's commonly called — emceeing is one aspect, and of course, you know, there's graffiti art. And all these aspects of the culture come together to form hip-hop. But people's idea of hip-hop is usually relegated just to rap music." What started as Kool Herc’s innovative DJ party groove in 1973 was amplified by new masters of ceremonies, or MCs, spinning and scratching at house and street parties. The new music genre quickly established its signature turntablism, breakbeat deejaying, and scat-style rhyming lyrics. Hip-hop artists would go on to express their tears and triumphs in their songs — they often spoke to political and social oppression. "Hip hop was the way we spread the word. It was the way we let people know that we were in solidarity across time and space," Dawn-Elissa Fischer, co-founder of the Hip Hop Archive and Research Institute at Harvard University, told Under the Radar. "I was actually in a rural area of the United States, the Ozarks in southern Missouri, at the time where there were a lot of various types of lynchings and police killings and other horrible, racist things happening that weren't being covered in the news. And so, to hear 'Public Enemy No. 1' ... and 'Fight The Power' and to see the video, the visual of the parade of people gathered; I felt protected and inspired." In the ’90s, America became the hip-hop nation. And in the ensuing years, hip-hop became the biggest and most influential global music genre in the world. "The hip hop of the '90s really captured the spectrum of Blackness. You go from 'Fight the Power' to 'Juicy,' which is the celebration of the comeuppance, not just of Biggie himself, but of his community who he is able to put on, but also Black people and hip-hop in particular," said Danielle Scott, professor at Berklee College of Music. "And then he says, 'You never thought that hip hop would take it this far.' Now hip-hop is in Harvard. Hip-hop is in Brown [University]. Hip-hop is no longer relegated to the pre-filming of the Grammys, it's on the Grammys' stages. It's in country music. It's all around the world. ... I think what Biggie said in that moment, just in that one little line, was prophetic, you know, in terms of how far hip-hop was going to take it." GUESTS Dart Adams, Boston-based writer and hip-hop expert Danielle Scott, hip-hop MC and professor at Berklee College of Music Dawn-Elissa Fischer, associate director and co-founder of the Hip Hop Archive and Research Institute at Harvard University

If there ever was a time we all could use a good laugh, it’s now — as, all around us, the world seems to be on fire literally, and figuratively. For this special edition of “Bookmarked: Under the Radar Book Club," we’re delving into the world of humor on the written page — through the musings of contemporary humor essayists — those sharp and witty observers of everyday life who find the funny in the mundane. "I get embarrassed for being a person with basic tastes who does not interrogate things very deeply. A person who needs to be smacked in the face with the subliminal message, because I absolutely will not suss it out for myself," Samantha Irby writes in her book, "Quietly Hostile." "The embarrassment usually leads to my second guessing both myself and my interpretation of whatever it is we're talking about," she continues. "This then devolves into an even more embarrassing apology. I'm so sorry for not understanding what, quote, 'good acting' is. And that continues until I shrivel into a husk and die, vowing with my dying breath to never again publicly express joy or excitement." These authors use their own lived experiences as a lens to deconstruct the serious in service of the silly. "I don't have any original thoughts that are going to break the world open. I really just have my day-to-day life, my own stories," Blythe Roberson, author of "America the Beautiful?" told Under the Radar. "I really just wrote this book to make people laugh. Like, I didn't write it hoping I would change the hearts and minds of America. So, I hope they just enjoy it, really." GUESTS Samantha Irby, author of five books including her latest book of essays, “Quietly Hostile” Blythe Roberson, author of two books of humorous essays, her latest is “America the Beautiful? One Woman in a Borrowed Prius on the Road Most Traveled” Module