This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: 50 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision: Roe v. Wade . It made abortion a constitutionally protected right, and simultaneously gave millions of people greater freedom over decisions they could make about their body. But last year, that ruling was overturned . While anti-abortion activists celebrated, critics of the decision argue women today have fewer rights than their grandmothers. Today, we get perspective from women w...
Jan 22, 2023•31 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Zora Neale Hurston has long been known as a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, in particular for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God." But what you may not know is that she was also a dedicated anthropologist — ultimately becoming known as the foremost authority on Black folklore in her time. We speak with the writer and director of "Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space," a new in-depth documentary that highlights the significant contribu...
Jan 15, 2023•24 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Jan. 16 is the 37th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday to acknowledge the legacy of the civil rights leader. The reverend was a key leader in the transformative social justive movement which challenged a racially segregated America, and pushed the coutnry toward a more just future. Understanding the complex history of race and racism in the United States and King's role in the civil rights movement is critical — but how...
Jan 15, 2023•33 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: Massachusetts inaugurated a historic slate of top leaders with Maura Healey as governor and Kim Driscoll as lieutenant governor. Some believe Driscoll could reshape the traditionally low-key role. Meanwhile, in the U.S. House, days of chaos surrounded Republican Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become speaker — what does this discord mean for governing in the new Congress? And as the state Legislature wrapped up its last session, lawmakers tried to push ...
Jan 08, 2023•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: COVID-19 might make all the headlines, but another crisis is afoot: loneliness. Pandemic-times have only exacerbated chronic loneliness by creating a world of isolation and social distancing. Can ecovillages — a unique model fostering community and connection — be one answer? Ecovillage cohousing communities have been popular in Europe for decades, but interest here in the United States is ramping up. These communities are designed to integrate ...
Jan 01, 2023•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : After four years of work, the Green Line extension will finally open for service on Monday . Plus, Boston City Council approved a petition to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections , but the state Legislature has the final say. And a local photographer showcases residents in Dorchester. Guests: Sue O’Connell , political commentator and analyst for NECN, NBC10 Boston and co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News Gin Dumcius ,...
Dec 11, 2022•33 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: It's time to indulge in our favorite holiday comfort foods and toast the season with glasses of good cheer. This year, nostalgia is on the table with a return of the fruitcake, and Boston is finally embracing wine bars. Plus, our food and wine contributors offer gift ideas for the foodies and wine lovers on your list. Guests Amy Traverso , senior food editor at Yankee Magazine, cohost of GBH’s Weekends with Yankee and author of “The Apple Lover’...
Dec 11, 2022•25 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : Last month, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2022 “Genius” grant fellows — 25 recipients across academia, the arts, and sciences all of whom have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. In our series, “The Genius Next Door,” we gathered three of the awardees who work and teach here in Massachusetts. And, the daughter of one of New York’s most prominent rabbis has a secret that only her best friend kn...
Dec 04, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : We’re bringing you an encore chock-full of fictional-turned-real recipes and the masterminds behind them in honor of the release of the Black Panther sequel. When authors and directors invite audiences into an imagined world, they know that food can’t be left off the table. And fans are feasting on a delicious genre: pop culture cookbooks. Recipes and imaginary narratives combine to bring cuisines from fictional universes to real life. A sprink...
Nov 27, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : Five years ago, Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual assaults kicked off an international movement of survivors called #MeToo. The movement is based on a phrase coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006. It launched a reckoning for harassment and assault in the workplace and beyond; helping to hold powerful people accountable. Weinstein was convicted in 2020 and is now facing a second trial in Los Angeles. We are reflecting on the Me Too movement an...
Nov 17, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : The November 8th midterm elections brought some historic victories; Maura Healey became the first LGBTQ person to be elected governor in the history of the United States. But it also brought some surprises; the "red wave" Republicans were predicting was more of a trickle. We spent a full hour with the Mass Politics Profs to hear what they had to say in the wake of the elections. Find more of their analysis on their blog . Guests: Shannon Jenkin...
Nov 13, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : For the first time in this country’s history, LGBTQ candidates are on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Plus, The Pennsylvania ACLU has filed a federal complaint against a school district in the state, alleging it discriminates against trans and non-binary students. And 20 states across the country have pledged to offer a legal shield against anti-LGBTQ legislation. A move some are referring to as the “rainbow wall.” And...
Nov 06, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : Massachusetts’ four confusing ballot questions are driving up voter interest for the November 8th elections. Plus, Bristol County’s Controversial sheriff of 25 years is facing a real challenger. And election workers across the nation are leaving their jobs in droves – will their exits greatly impact voting this year? Those stories and more on our full hour with the Mass Politics Profs . Guests: Shannon Jenkins is the interim assistant dean of t...
Oct 30, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : Massachusetts Ballot Question #3 focuses on alcohol sales across the state. Would a new law give an unfair advantage to grocery and convenience stores or be a boon for big liquor retailers? We’re breaking down the multiple parts of Ballot question #3 and the meaning of a yes or no vote. Plus, many celebrities have turned their cooking passion into a money-making endeavor. That includes actors Reese Witherspoon, Jessie Tyler Ferguson, Stanley Tu...
Oct 16, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : As the threat of climate change looms ever nearer, many are asking: what can I do? For a growing number of people across the world, the answer to that question is re-wilding. So what exactly is re-wilding? It's conservation efforts aimed at restoring and protecting natural processes and wilderness areas. It can look like many things, but for most it looks like introducing plants in your yard that are native to your area. Not everyone is ready t...
Oct 09, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : Is a rising wave of Latino political power in Massachusetts finally representative of the local population? Plus, Puerto Rico is still without power and water more than two weeks after Hurricane Fiona–frustrating Puerto Ricans still not fully recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Maria 5 years ago. And, our guests are learning to embrace Hispanic Heritage Month. All this and more on our Latinx roundtable. Plus: Erika Sanchez’s first novel...
Oct 02, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar: The days of hunting and gathering are far behind us.... maybe? Foraging, modern-day gathering, has exploded in popularity as of late thanks to people like TikToker Alexis Nikole. It's a way to get in touch with your environment through species native to your area. We explore why this plant based activity has taken off. And author Kevin Ngyuen goes inside the tech world for his novel “New Waves.” The novel offers biting commentary along with a who-done-it plot line w...
Sep 18, 2022•58 min
For some of us, September 11th, 2001 still rings clear in our minds, even 20 years after the attacks. But newer generations have little to no memory of that tragic day — either having been too young to remember, or not yet born. Under The Radar is marking the upcoming 20th anniversary of 9/11 by reflecting on how Gen-Zers recognize an event that they learn about in history books. How does generational trauma affect those who didn’t even live through the event? And, once it was clear that the 9/1...
Sep 11, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley : President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday August 24th that he was enacting a student loan forgiveness plan; erasing $10,000 for borrowers who make under $125,000 a year and an extra $10,000 for Pell Grant recipients. How will this impact the midterms? And will the GOP take control of congress? And for local news, the Mass Politics Profs discuss the T woes, local elections, and the passing of the immigrant drivers license bill. Erin O’Brien is ...
Aug 28, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley: We're talking all things historical fiction in this special August edition of “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” We explore the world of books described as historical fiction — imagined stories based on real-life events and people, combining the best of history and novels. GUESTS: Jabari Asim is the author of seven books for adults including his latest, novel, “Yonder” a story of love and friendship set during the time of American ensl...
Aug 07, 2022•58 min
This week on Under the Radar: New England Confectionery Company, or Necco, was the oldest continuously running candy company in the country up until its closure in 2018. The company, which was based in Revere, Massachusetts, produced Clark Bars, Mary Janes, Candy Buttons, Sky Bars, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Sweethearts, and — most notably — Necco Wafers. The New England Confectionery Company shaped the candy industry in our region and beyond, and its closure shocked sweettooths across the country. B...
Jul 31, 2022•25 min
Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz is now a Hall of Famer, cementing the legacy of Latinos in major league baseball. Plus, a new Latino media start-up plans to buy 18 right-leaning Spanish speaking radio stations — a potential media transformation that’s riled up conservative lawmakers. And Black and Latino teachers will collect $835 million through a New York discrimination lawsuit. Those stories and more on our Latinx Roundtable! GUESTS: Julio Ricardo Varela is president of Futuro Media Group, ...
Jul 31, 2022•32 min
This week on Under the Radar : An unprecedented heatwave has swept Europe into a sweltering, deadly public health crisis. Here in the United States, President Joe Biden is soon expected to declare a climate emergency after he's spent months trying — and failing — to push his climate agenda through Capitol Hill. And a new survey shows that extreme weather disasters are taking a toll on Americans' personal finances. Those stories and more on our Environmental News Roundtable. GUESTS: Beth Daley, e...
Jul 25, 2022•33 min
This week on Under the Radar: There will be plenty of traditional music, food, dance troupes and parade floats at this weekend’s Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts, back for its 55th annual celebration. The three-day event kicks off on Friday, July 29 at Franklin Park. The fourth-largest Puerto Rican festival in the nation honors the history of the largest Latino group in the state. GUESTS: Marilyn Rivera, the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts' board vice president and pageant director....
Jul 25, 2022•25 min
Immediately after the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, LGBTQ rights advocates sounded the alarm, saying the conservative court “won’t stop at Roe.” At least one justice — Clarence Thomas — has confirmed their fears, with his statement that the high court “should reconsider” its decision on Obergefell v. Hodges , which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Meanwhile, vandals smeared homophobic graffiti on the exterior of The Pryde, the LGBTQ senior housing complex under construct...
Jul 17, 2022•31 min
This week on Under the Radar: How is it possible that the bones of a champion racehorse were not too long ago consigned to the dusty attic of the Smithsonian? A horse whose stellar career and long pedigree were little known outside some racing circles? These real-life details intrigued bestselling author Geraldine Brooks. leading her to craft a fictional tale based on the documented history of that top racing horse named Lexington. Brooks’ simply titled novel “Horse” is a tale of the twinned his...
Jul 17, 2022•27 min
This week on Under the Radar: You might know that Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to abolish slavery, but you probably haven’t heard how a Black man named Quock Walker was instrumental in making that happen. Back in 1754, the state census counted 4,500 enslaved people in Massachusetts. Walker, born to enslaved Black people, was one of them. He self-emancipated at 28 years old. His punishment for leaving was a brutal beating by his former enslaver. Walker took his case to court wh...
Jul 05, 2022•27 min
This week on Under the Radar: Harvard pubilshed its “ Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery ” report back in April, which detailed the institution's clear, historical ties to slavery. That included enslaved individuals on campus, funding from enslavers and dozens of faculty — including past Harvard presidents — who were enslavers themselves. This was back in the 18th century, but the commercial aspects of slavery is linked in multiple ways today. To begin redressing the university's past involvement...
Jul 05, 2022•31 min
This week on Under the Radar: The country's recent racial reckoning has sparked a renewed interest in Juneteenth — nearly every state in the country recognizes the holiday, and this year many employers gave staffers the day off. But there is alarm that broader embrace of the holiday has sparked the worst kind of exploitive marketing and promotion. Local observances, however, are lifting up the meaning of Juneteenth and connecting the historic event to today’s racial reckoning. GUESTS: Kahina Van...
Jun 19, 2022•33 min
This week on Under the Radar: The Boston-based Roxbury International Film Festival, or RoxFilm, is back for its 24th annual event. Festival organizers are once again offering a hybrid structure, allowing attendees to view screenings both online and in-person. All of the films spotlighted by the Roxbury Film Festival are curated to display the cinematic excellence of film professionals of color. This year’s schedule is packed with 80 films showcasing everything from documentaries to animation, al...
Jun 19, 2022•25 min
