Say More

Before Lee Pelton was CEO of the Boston Foundation, the Harvard-educated academic spent decades in higher education, notably as president of Emerson College. Now, he’s decided to come forward to discuss his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Some things he does remember, like his community-rich childhood in Wichita, Kan. and his love for his roots. On this episode of Say More, Lee shares with Anna Kusmer the sadness and anxiety of losing his memory, and the beautiful things that bring him solace. Email us at [email protected].

For years, Smith College historian Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor kept her famous identity away from the classroom. She is the daughter of Richard Pryor, the groundbreaking Black comedian. Then, a classroom encounter forced her to reckon with her dad’s legacy and her complicated relationship to it. Pryor grew up primarily in Boston with her mom, and through the years, developed a strong bond with her dad, who lived in California and died in 2005. On this episode of Say More, Pryor discusses her memoir “Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me.” She talks to host Anna Kusmer about how her dad used the n-word to challenge audiences, why he eventually disavowed the word, and what this journey reveals about racism in America. Email us at [email protected].

Fears about AI are everywhere you look. Maybe the technology will come for our jobs. Maybe it will come for our potable water. But the biggest loss may be even more crucial: AI is coming for our relationships. It’s nothing less than a “state of emergency,” says Sherry Turkle, a sociologist at MIT, and founding director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, who has spent nearly 5 decades studying the culture of technology and the ways computers affect our emotional lives.  Her new book is called “Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines.” She discusses the digital divide, “pretend empathy” and the emotional impact of chatbots for kids with Anna Kusmer on Say More. Email us at [email protected]

This week, Boston-born Aerosmith announced they were reuniting for two shows, surprising fans after fears they would never play again. This week on Say More, Shirley is joined by Aerosmith’s lead guitarist Joe Perry (who hails from Central Massachusetts) about Aerosmith’s early days playing gigs at proms in the Boston suburbs. They discuss Steven Tyler’s health, Johnny Depp’s house, and what it takes to be a 76-year-old rock star. Email us at [email protected].

A story about a lesbian bar in Greenfield broke the internet this week. What does it tell us about the future of the Left? Is woke dead? Or did a quirky community story get blown out of proportion? Governor Maura Healey seems overly anxious about her MAGA-adjacent challenger Mike Minogue. Then, the politics panel discusses two key Senate races in New England. PLUS an exclusive interview with Congressman Seth Moulton about his big primary loss against Senator Ed Markey. Email us at [email protected]

Matt Siegel’s 41-year radio run was longer than most marriages. He was the star of Boston radio's top-rated show, Matty in the Morning, on KISS 108. In 2022, he disappeared from the airwaves. Siegel harbors deep feelings about how his legendary career ended, and he’s ready to talk about it. This week on Say More, Siegel discusses Demi Lovato, getting older, and the “woke stuff” that ended his career. Email us at [email protected].

Massachusetts is full of riches. We have the best schools, world class hospitals, and a great quality of life. So why are tens of thousands of people leaving every year - and taking their companies with them? Where has our mojo gone? This week on Say More, host Shirley Leung talks to Larry Edelman, author of the Trendlines newsletter, about whether Massachusetts can pull off another ‘miracle.’ email us at [email protected]. 

The Lindsay Clancy Trial is over, for now, but we can’t stop wondering how and why a mother killed her children after months of psychiatric treatment, appointments, and doctors. This case has brought new international attention for its focus on postpartum mental health. In her kitchen, Clancy had a book called, “Good Moms have Scary Thoughts,” written by a postpartum mental health expert, and used as evidence by the defense that Clancy was seeking help. The author of that book, Karen Kleiman, joins host Anna Kusmer on Say More to discuss the book, intrusive thoughts, and moms on trial. Email us at [email protected].  

Across the board in Massachusetts, older established incumbents successfully fought off younger rivals in Tuesday’s primaries, regardless of political platform. Does this outcome mean it’s impossible to beat a sitting lawmaker? Or does the closeness of some of these races reveal something else? How much does age matter to Massachusetts voters? And why isn’t Massachusetts - a lefty stalwart - seeing the same progressive swing as elsewhere in the country? On this month’s politics panel, Globe Opinion Editor Jim Dao talks about MA primary results with writers Abdallah Fayyad and Joan Vennochi. Email us at [email protected].

Historian Omer Bartov never set out to be a Holocaust scholar. He started his career asking the question, ‘why do soldiers fight?’ examining the war crimes committed by Germans in World War II. After years of research, he realized his deep dive into the psychology of soldiers was a profound window into understanding the societal conditions that make war crimes and genocide possible. This week on Say More, Bartov talks to opinion editor Jim Dao about his new book called “Israel: What Went Wrong.” Email us at [email protected].