Explain Boston to Me
Episodes
Renting an apartment in Boston with Justin Kaplan of the Boston Accent
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it so hard — and expensive — to rent an apartment here? Why does everyone move on the same day? Why do so many landlords suck? In this epis...
The teams Celtics fans love to hate with Jake Issenberg
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're talking rivalries! What team is the biggest Celtics rival of all time? What exactly makes a fanbase hate another franchise with the heat o...
Market Basket with Stephanie Vecellio
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"It's like 'Succession,' but with more discounted top-round." On this episode, artist and Somerville resident Stephanie Vecellio tells talks...
Boston Movie Club: Good Will Hunting
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the inaugural installment of our Boston Movie Club, we're talking about Good Will Hunting. To get into all the good stuff — Stellan Skarsgaard’...
The Tom Brady/Bill Belichick Patriots with Matt Butler
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This one is a doozy! I get to talk about the impeccable strangeness of Tom Brady while digging into how the unholy alliance of hard-nosed coach and ...
Reinventing The Seaport with Kyle Paoletta
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's finally here!!! After months of anticipation and countless — well, I could probably count them — mentions in random episodes of the podcast, ...
What we talk about when we talk about Black history in Boston with Dr. Kerri Greenidge and Dr. Kendra T. Field
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The history of Black Bostonians goes far beyond abolition and busing, just ask the co-directors of Tuft's African American Trail Project. In this epis...
"Boston" versus Boston with Garrett Dash Nelson
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that Boston — as in the actual city — is actually quite small, while it could be argued that the metro area stretches for hours in se...
The 2004 Red Sox with Tyler Rotman
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of the holiday season, we present this magical tale of underdog grit, triumph over evil, and old men weeping in the streets. Lifelong Red Sox...
Southie with Pat Toomey
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're back from vacation and learning all about this iconic Boston neighborhood. Our guest Pat Toomey (not the former senator!) explains old working-c...
North Shore Beefs with Andy Ferg
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hope you're hungry! We're digging into this regional delicacy with the man behind a 50k-strong community dedicated to discussing North Shore roast bee...
The Big Dig with Ian Coss
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we're joined by the host of GBH News' "The Big Dig" podcast to talk about the city's most infamous infrastructure boondoggle. Who were...
The Boston Pops with Susan Dangel
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I'm learning about the Boston Pops, a beloved local institution. We're talking Arthur Fielder, we're talking John Williams, we're singing...
Boston's 1980s Standup Comedy Scene with Nick Zaino
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're diving into Boston's comedy boom with Nick Zaino. The Boston Globe writer tells us about the legend of the Ding Ho, swears in the name of Dennis...
The Boston Busing Crisis with Matthew Delmont
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week I'm learning about how, in the 1970s, Boston became the poster child for desegregation strife in the North. Professor Matthew Delmont of Dar...
The Dedham Mall is dead, long live Legacy Place with Leila Cohan
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm joined by Leila Cohan, TV and movie writer extraordinaire, to talk about running errands in the suburbs, the joys of a bad mall, killing time in C...
Route 128 and the Massachusetts Miracle with Lily Geismer
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you heard the phrase "Massachusetts Miracle," would you also assume it was a famous sports play? Please tell me I'm not alone. In this week's epi...
Riding the MBTA rails with Jed Paul
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week I'm joined by a transit influencer, which is a thing I just made up. Fellow Boston transplant Jed Paul (@jeddeo1 on TikTok and Instagram) is...
Boston's Ice Cream Obsession with Judy Herrell
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are people in Boston — and New England more generally — especially obsessed with ice cream? Consider this an Explain Boston to Me investigation. T...
Newbury Street with Courtney Flynn of Trident Booksellers & Cafe
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're taking a walk down one of Boston's most iconic commercial corridors. Courtney Flynn is the second generation running Trident Bo...
The Harvard Square Pit with Bud Durand and Elizabeth Ross
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I'm joined by two former Harvard Square Pit rats to talk about why suburban kids were drawn to this spot, the legacy of counter-culture in ...
The Modern Lovers and '70s Boston with Sean Maloney
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Local writer Sean Maloney explains how the '70s scene in Boston set the stage for the Modern Lovers, and why Jonathan Richman continues to provide ins...
The Boston Marathon with Kevin Koczwara
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, things are taking a slightly more serious turn. It can’t be all orange dinosaurs and curbside sectionals over here. We’re talking about the...
The North Shore and Rte. 1 with Desirée Dugas
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re talking about the North Shore, and about Route 1 — that mecca of kitsch and nostalgia — in particular. To learn more, I spoke with ...
Allston Christmas with Matt Shearer
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On the first ever episode of "Explain Boston to Me," we’re talking about Allston Christmas, the smorgasbord of free curbside stuff that happens ev...