It’s been 160 years since the last enslaved people in the United States heard the news they were free. What was once celebrated on a city or state level is now celebrated nationwide as a federal holiday on June 19, also known as Juneteenth. In the spirit of the holiday, Cambridge’s LabCentral is hosting a special exhibit and panel discussion, centering local Black artists and community activists in an event called “Juneteenth: Freedom & Form.” We speak with one of the artists and the event o...
Jun 16, 2025•22 min
It started as a minimalist, eerie musical phrase – one ominous note, then two, signifying the looming, underwater danger of a great white shark. Fifty years later, the theme to the 1975 Steven Spielberg blockbuster “Jaws” is just as recognizable and iconic as the film itself. We take a deep-dive into this musical masterpiece with two expert music professors.
Jun 16, 2025•36 min
It’s Pride Month … or is it Title IX Month? President Donald Trump’s administration continues to push back on the LGBTQ+ community through its ban on trans troops – and newly graduated trans cadets – in the military, potential federal budget cuts to a vital suicide prevention hotline that helps queer youth, and renaming a Navy ship dedicated to gay rights icon Harvey Milk. But Pride celebrations are still happening across the country, including an inaugural parade in a small town in West Virgini...
Jun 09, 2025•34 min
Throughout his career, artist John Wilson was inspired to capture the faces of his community: Black people who lived in Roxbury. He chose to do figurative paintings, drawings and sculptures, rather than abstract work, because he was determined that Black people should be seen in the fullness of their humanity. That was the overall theme of his work, which is now in an exhibit at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts – “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson.” Callie speaks with a curator and a John ...
Jun 09, 2025•24 min
It’s nearly summertime, which means plenty of sunshine, slower days and lots of time to kick back with a new book. Whether it’s a mystery, thriller, romance, fantasy or nonfiction, there’s a perfect summer read for every book lover to enjoy by the beach, on an airplane or curled up on the couch. Three local librarians joined Callie Crossley for “Under the Radar”’s annual summer-reading special to share what they’re adding to their summer-reading wishlist. For the full list of books – including C...
Jun 02, 2025•58 min
In “Sojourners,” the first play of Mfoniso Udofia’s Ufot Family Cycle, audiences are introduced to Disciple, a graduate student who eventually becomes the Ufot patriarch. But as the drama unfolds play after play, Disciple grows increasingly erratic and intense, often prone to fits of rage. And it’s not until the third play in the cycle – “runboyrun” – that playwright Udofia focuses on Disciple, peeling back what’s led to his unraveling by centering his story and his past. What’s more is his stor...
May 27, 2025•26 min
On May 25, 2020, millions of people around the world watched in horror as white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee to the neck of George Floyd, a Black man, on a Minnesota street. Nine minutes and 29 seconds later, Floyd was dead. His murder led to what some called a racial reckoning, sparking global protests, demands for police reform, community dialogues and corporate pledges to fund opportunities and programs addressing the racial divide. So where do Americans and the United States...
May 27, 2025•32 min
In 2016, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Carla Hayden as the 14th Librarian of Congress, making her the first woman and the first African American to hold the position. Dr. Hayden’s tenure as Librarian of Congress abruptly ended on May 8, when she was fired from the position. Eight days before her dismissal, Dr. Hayden spoke with Callie Crossley in one of her final interviews with the media as part of our year-long anti-book banning series, Unbound Pages.
May 19, 2025•32 min
For many Black women, the hair salon is a cultural safe space, where stories and secrets help build an intimate community. In SpeakEasy Stage’s production of the Tony-winning play, “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” the West African immigrants who do the braiding and the customers seeking their services come together in a funny play that also explores serious current-day immigration policies. Three members of the cast and crew join Callie to talk more about the production.
May 19, 2025•26 min
Societal and cultural norms say mothers must be kind and nurturing, they must have endless patience for their children, they must be doting, attentive and protective, and they should be able to do it all — and be thrilled to do it all. But what does it mean to be a “good” mother in this day and age? We explore the complex and nuanced nature of motherhood in honor of Mother’s Day.
May 12, 2025•33 min
Rags-to-riches entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker and her daughter, A’Lelia Walker, built one of the most successful African American hair care businesses in American history. But it was only after A’Lelia broke free of her mother’s singular vision that she found her calling in 1920s Harlem. That search for independence and purpose is at the center of A’Lelia Bundles’ new book, “Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance.” It’s our May selection for Bookmarked: the “Under the Radar” book...
May 12, 2025•25 min
April 29, 2025 marked 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term in office. In a little over three months, the president, alongside administration officials, Cabinet members, and Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency – or DOGE – have kept Trump’s promise to reshape the government. What can Americans expect for the rest of Trump’s presidency? And how have these first 100 days affected Massachusetts? It’s a full hour of political analysis with the Mass Politics Profs!...
May 05, 2025•58 min
Within his first 100 days, President Donald Trump and his administration have made major changes when it comes to environmental and climate-related policy and action. What will come of the significant shake-up of the Environmental Protection Agency? Plus, previously off-limits fishing grounds are open for business, wildfires as an East Coast problem and the relevancy of Earth Day – it’s our environmental news roundtable!
Apr 28, 2025•36 min
Tony Cokes, a professor of modern culture and media at Brown University, is transforming the moving image to shine new light on some of history’s darkest moments. By using text, music, found footage, journalistic writing and more, Cokes recontextualizes traumatic moments in American history and creates video-based artwork. He is one of three local MacArthur “Genius” grant awardees, and the final installment of our annual series, “The Genius Next Door.”
Apr 28, 2025•22 min
Of the 50 million Catholics in America, only about 3 million are African American. The history of Black Catholics in the United States spans from colonization and enslavement to Black parishes founded by the church during the Jim Crow era. And throughout that history, Black Catholic communities have found ways to make the oldest form of Christianity their own. In honor of Easter, we examine Black Catholicism in Boston and beyond.
Apr 22, 2025•31 min
Book bans have been on the rise across the country in recent years prompting lawmakers to pass legislation to protect libraries and librarians. “Freedom to read” legislation has been adopted in four states, aiming to safeguard access to diverse materials in public and school libraries, and some lawmakers are hoping to make Massachusetts the fifth state on that list. This is the latest installment of Unbound Pages, our year-long series on the anti-book-banning movement in America.
Apr 22, 2025•27 min
Each year, thousands of Greater Bostonians observe Passover through Seder, the ceremonial meal of prayers, blessings and wine retelling the story of the Jews' exodus from ancient Egypt. It’s a tradition passed down from generation to generation all over the world, but it didn’t reach the White House until 2009. Author Richard Michelson wrote about this unique seder in his new children’s picture book, “Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama’s First Presidential Seder.”
Apr 14, 2025•25 min
He’s known as a silversmith, a messenger and a patriot. But Paul Revere's role and contribution to the American Revolution was much more than a midnight ride.We take a walk through Revere’s neighborhood and visit two pivotal locations – the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church – to learn more about the revolutionary and the world in which he lived in honor of the 250th anniversary of his famous ride.
Apr 14, 2025•33 min
Poet Tiana Clark’s mastery of the language of emotions is fully displayed in “Scorched Earth,” her new deeply personal collection of poems, which takes readers from the charred landscape of divorce to searing moments where the intersection of history, race and gender explode on the pages. “Scorched Earth” is our April pick for Bookmarked: the “Under the Radar” book club. Callie spoke with Tiana Clark at the Boston Public Library as part of our new community-centric in-person book-club events: Bo...
Apr 07, 2025•25 min
April is National Poetry Month! Enthusiasm for spoken-word poetry has skyrocketed in recent years, helping to increase the popularity of all poetry. We’re diving into the art form and the poets who use their voices and bodies in staged performances. Who are the lyrical wordsmiths at the top of their game, including here in Massachusetts? We speak with Boston-based award-winning poet Amanda Shea, 2025 Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts champion Abigail Drumm and Grammy Award-winning spoken-word artist...
Apr 07, 2025•33 min
The Boston Comedy Festival has been showcasing comedic talent for 25 years! With so much competition from social media and digital platforms, what continues to make the festival a stand-up destination for comedians in greater Boston and across the country? We speak with the brother-sister duo who founded the festival and an up-and-coming comedian hoping to win this year’s comedy competition.
Mar 31, 2025•24 min
It’s not a moment – it’s a movement. Women’s sports teams from the WNBA to women’s rugby teams are selling out games from coast to coast. Breakout stars like Olympian Ilona Maher, illustrious former collegiate turned pro players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and celebrity-backed teams like Angel City Football Club are in the spotlight. So are women’s professional sports teams FINALLY getting the recognition they deserve?
Mar 31, 2025•34 min
Mfoniso Udofia’s nine-play Ufot Family Cycle forges on! The latest onstage installment, “Her Portmanteau,” hits Central Square Theater later this month. And it picks up a loose thread from the very first play — the story of Iniabasi, matriarch Abasiama’s true eldest daughter. We speak with the playwright and the actress who portrays the daughter as part of our continuing coverage of the Ufot Family Cycle.
Mar 24, 2025•24 min
Will Smith, Jonathan Majors and Lizzo are all traveling the same road: the comeback trail. Nostalgia continues to reign – everything old is new again! Reboots and returns on the big and little screen. And Bad Bunny bares all … well, mostly all. That and more on our pop culture roundtable!
Mar 24, 2025•34 min
Boston’s former ICE office director is chosen as acting director of the national agency, the latest in the controversy about the MBTA Communities Act, and can new liquor licenses in Dorchester and Mattapan help existing businesses … or are they too much trouble for restaurants AND the neighborhood? It’s our local news roundtable!
Mar 17, 2025•37 min
Most beer-drinking Americans choose lagers – crisp, pale beers like Modelo Especial, Bud Light or Coors Light. But Gen Zers and celebrities like Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo and Kim Kardashian have boosted renewed enthusiasm for the Irish stout, Guinness. We’ve drafted top beer experts to mark St Patrick’s Day with a heady discussion about Guinness’ culinary cache.
Mar 17, 2025•21 min
It’s been five years since the Covid-19 lockdown of spring 2020. Covid changed every aspect of our lives – from the way we work, to how kids went to school and even some people’s views on science and vaccines. What changes have stuck around since the pandemic? And which will become so ingrained in our lives that future generations will forget they were brought about by the pandemic?
Mar 10, 2025•42 min
Artist and avid reader Karen Moss felt overwhelmed by the never-ending news of book bans happening all across the country. As she’d previously done in addressing other social justice issues, Karen used her canvas to make a statement — this time, intimate portraits of her loved ones and their favorite banned books. The portraits are showcased in a new exhibit at the Boston Public Library’s central branch. This is the latest edition of “Unbound Pages,” our year-long series on the book-banning move...
Mar 10, 2025•16 min
It’s been a little over a month since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States.And since his first day in office, he has kept his promise when it comes to rolling back protections and rights for people in the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans, nonbinary, genderqueer and intersex people. But communities around the country – and especially here in New England – are pushing back. That and more in this week’s LGBTQ+ news roundtable!
Mar 03, 2025•33 min
The year 2000 ushered in an era of shiny newness – from metallic clothing and furniture to a computer evolution turned tech revolution – alongside generation-defining events: a housing and financial crisis, 9/11 and early public recognition of climate change. Author Colette Shade argues the socio-cultural shifts ushered in during the early 2000s remain significant today in her debut book, “Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything (Essays on the Future That Never Was.)” It’s our March selection for B...
Mar 03, 2025•25 min
