Today on the podcast, Jim Braude and Margery Eagan talk with a fascinating former spy, Jonna Mendez, she’s the retired CIA chief of disguise and co-author of “Argo,” on her new book “In True Face.” Plus a special musical performance ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, with owner of The Burren Tommy McCarthy the wife of the late Brian O’Donovan, Lindsay O'Donovan.

Best Of BPR: CIA's Jonna Mendez And Brian O'Donovan Legacy Series

Join hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan for a smart local conversation with leaders and thinkers shaping Boston and New England. We feature our favorite conversation from each show. To hear the full show, please visit wgbhnews.org/bpr To share your opinion, email bpr@wgbh.org or call or text 877-301-8970 during the live broadcast from 11AM-2PM Monday through Friday.

News

Today:

The New York Times is out with fresh reporting getting to the heart of politicization on the Supreme Court – Just weeks after the January 6 insurrection, Justice Samuel Alito’s home flew an upside-down American flag, a symbol adopted by Trump supporters contesting Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. The Supreme Court was considering election-related cases at the time. We open the lines to ask your thoughts.

Then, Billy Dean Thomas is not only Boston’s City Hall Plaza Engagement Manager, they’re also the city’s very own, self proclaimed “Queer B-I-G.” They’re playing Boston Calling next weekend, but join us first for Live Music Friday – we talk about their two upcoming albums, and the city’s music scene more broadly.

Best Of BPR 5/17: Insurrectionist Judges & Billy Dean Thomas

We opened by discussing Justice Alito's upside down American flag

Billy Dean Thomas is playing Boston Calling next weekend, and they joined us for Live Music Friday.

Callie Crossley reflected on 70 years of Brown v. Board of Education and present-day school segregation...

Sue O’Connell checked in from her post covering the Karen Read trial. In addition to the latest there, she also touched on 20 years of same-sex marriage in Mass.

Jared Bowen reviewed "Touching the Void" at Chelsea Theater Works, the movie "I Saw the TV Glow," and "Mother Play," playing in New York City. 

Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett talked about brain worms, mammograms after 40, and whether we're talking too much about mental health.

We ended the show by debating with listeners... Is a hot dog a sandwich?

BPR Full Show 5/19: Vertical Sandwich

This week marks 20 years since the first same sex couple got married in Massachusetts. We speak with Margaret Marshall, the author of the historic decision, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. She talks not just about the legacy of that decision, but about civil disobedience and civic engagement in today’s world.

Best Of BPR 5/16: Marking 20 Years Of Same-Sex Marriage With Margaret Marshall

Margaret Marshall was Chief Justice for the Supreme Judicial Court in 2004, and wrote the historic decision than declared same-sex marriage legal for the first time anywhere in the U.S. She joined to reflect on the 20-year milestone.

Former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral reacted to the latest on Trump’s Manhattan trial, controversy around ShotSpotter and the winner of the Westminster Dog Show.

Joe Hanson is the new host of GBH’s High School Quiz Show and the host of the web-series Be Smart. He joined to preview HSQS’s upcoming finale & quiz Jim and Margery.

Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about the death of the person who received the first pig kidney transplant, issues with Elon Musk’s brain chip company Neuralink and the proliferation of STIs among the 60+ crowd.

Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein recapped a few of her latest articles.

BPR Full Show 5/16: Physics for Poets

Today:

Longtime PBS cooking legend Lidia Bastianich is set to get a Lifetime achievement award at the Emmys. She joins us on zoom to talk about her storied career.

Then, we’ll follow that up with longtime Globe journalist and best-selling author Larry Tye on his new book “The Jazzmen.”

Best Of BPR: CIA's Jonna Mendez And Brian O'Donovan Legacy Series

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