NightSide With Dan Rea

According to residents in South Boston, rats are running rampant in their neighborhood! Residents describe seeing rats more regularly out and about during the daytime, not just at night. Earlier this year, Tufts University did a study that found a deadly type of bacteria called leptospirosis persistent among Boston’s rat population. With that additional health concern, some Boston City Councilors are pushing for an office specifically focused on pest control and appointing a "Rat Czar" to tackle this problem. Are you seeing an increase in rats in your neighborhood? Boston City Counselor Ed Flynn checked in.

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Nearly three months after the death of 5-year-old Hyde Park resident Lens Joseph, who was struck and killed by a school bus while crossing the street, the family of Lens is still looking for answers. No one has been criminally charged in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Suffolk County district attorney’s office and Boston police. The family of the Hyde Park kindergartener has filed a lawsuit against bus contractor Transdev and former bus driver Jean Charles, alleging negligence. Dan asked the question, why don’t we know more about the investigation and driver?

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We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!

Heatwaves and high stress linked to poor eating habits and digestive strain. How do you eat in the heat for optimal health? Dr. Julie Gatza - Nutrition Expert, Chiropractic Physician and Founder of Florida's Wellness Institute discussed with Dan.

The “Gen Z stare”! What is it? Have you come across the stare yet? It’s that blank look Gen Zers are starting to give elders- well everywhere! From the workplace to the restaurant,  the trend has gone viral on TikTok. Steve Roop - AI and digital director at  Littlefield Agency stopped by.

One Third of Dual Income Couples Without Kids Are Going into debt for their pets! Rachel Barber – USA Today Personal Finance Reporter explained.

The exercise paradox and how studies have been done that show despite popular belief in the fitness world, burning more calories than you consume does not exactly help you lose weight! Erin Nystrom – Substack Writer and Fitness Enthusiast checked in.

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By now, most of the known world or at least anyone not living under a rock, knows who the “Coldplay Couple” is, that was outed at a Coldplay concert for having an affair after getting caught on the jumbotron with their arms wrapped around each other. The last thing Astronomer CEO Andy Bryon and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief of HR, probably ever thought, would be that for one, their love affair would be laid bare for the world to see and two, that it would be turned into such a viral sensation via memes and reenactments. While the two were morally in the wrong, do you think they are entitled to privacy? Did their lives deserve to be so publicly outed the way they were? 

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By now, most of the known world or at least anyone not living under a rock, knows who the “Coldplay Couple” is, that was outed at a Coldplay concert for having an affair after getting caught on the jumbotron with their arms wrapped around each other. The last thing Astronomer CEO Andy Bryon and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief of HR, probably ever thought, would be that for one, their love affair would be laid bare for the world to see and two, that it would be turned into such a viral sensation via memes and reenactments. While the two were morally in the wrong, do you think they are entitled to privacy? Did their lives deserve to be so publicly outed the way they were? Matthew Gasda, columnist for UnHerd joined the conversation to share his take!

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According to a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of 500 Boston voters likely to participate in the September 9th preliminary election, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has a 30-point lead over challenger Josh Kraft. In addition, the polling shows Wu leading Kraft across age groups and racial demographics, as well as among Democrats, whereas Kraft is polling better with Republicans and Independents. David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University Political Research Center says all the ingredients are here to set up a big win for Mayor Wu this Fall. Pollster David Paleologos joined us to discuss.

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We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!

Massachusetts Once Again Ranks Among Worst States for Cost of Doing Business. Chris Anderson - president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council – which co-organized the MA Opportunity Alliance stopped by.

Nonantum Neighborhood in Newton paints Italian flag road lines over yellow lines in time for St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival! With Terry Sauro – President of the Nonantum Neighborhood Association.

Gen Z has regrets: 1 in 4 say they wish they hadn’t gone to college or would’ve picked a higher-paying industry. Paul Peters - business owner, bestselling author and host of the podcast On Purpose with Paul Peters discussed it with Dan.

What is chronic venous insufficiency, the condition diagnosed in President Trump’s legs? Shivani Kumar, MD, Vascular Surgeon at Tufts Medical Center checked in.

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NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and fun. A favorite, Brushes With Celebrity returns. 

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According to Allstate's 2025 Best Driver Report, Boston ranked worst in the nation for the 10th consecutive year! The report found that Boston drivers are 244-percent more likely to get into a collision than the national average. Do you think Boston drivers are really that bad? What are your experiences driving on the roads in the Greater Boston area? What makes us so bad and what can we do, if anything, to turn that around?

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Despite the controversy over the Italian flag road lines down Adams Street, the St. Mary of Carmen Society Annual Festival has kicked off this week in the Nonantum neighborhood of Newton and will continue through the weekend. Were the Italian flag road lines repainted before the festival? If so, how? Where? Has there been any fallout or any response from the City of Newton? Vice President of the St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival, Carl Pasquarosa along with other Newton residents joined in conversation to discuss the festival!



*Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller has an open invitation to join the conversation on NightSide*

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