Episodes
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The Genius Next Door: Harvard's Imani Perry on the history and culture forged by Black Americans
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.” -
Why the 'Battle of Versailles' still resonates 50 years later
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 Genius Next Door: BU ecologist breaks down carbon dynamics
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. -
Catch up on your New England news in 30 minutes
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 Genius Next Door: Harvard cellular and molecular biologist Jason Buenrostro breaks down gene expression
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.” -
Despite the horror of war, these organizations continue to seek peace between Israelis and Palestinians
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 -
Latinx News Roundtable: Boston Schools' English learners advisors resign in protest of 'harmful' plan
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 -
Author and scholar Julia Lee discusses growing up neither Black nor white in America
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." -
Author Marta McDowell explores how gardening inspires mystery writers
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." -
A new $4 billion bond bill takes aim at Massachusetts' housing shortage
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
