Despite every prediction of endless traffic, grumpy residents and societal collapse, Boston hosting the World Cup has been downright delightful. The biggest surprise for many has been the Tartan Army, a truly shocking influx of Scottish fans in our streets, drinking all our beer and eating all our ranch dressing. This week on Say More, Shirley Leung talks to Globe NFL writer Ben Volin who has been moonlighting as the paper’s chief soccer correspondent and covering all seven World Cup games in Massachusetts. He talks futbol, the future of the sport in the US, and what makes the World Cup so special. Email us at [email protected]  

Scandal-ridden Graham Platner easily defeated Governor Janet Mills to become the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine. Will his controversies hurt him with voters? How has the Trump era changed the way voters respond to political scandal? This week on Say More’s politics panel, Globe opinion writer Abdallah Fayyad and Joan Vennochi compare Platner’s campaign to another scandalous Democrat in Boston, Rachael Rollins, who is running to reclaim her role as Suffolk County District Attorney. Then, they discuss a compromise on Massachusetts rent control and the World Cup in Boston. Email us at [email protected]

Dr. Elisabeth Marnik is not your average immunologist.  Because she grew up unvaccinated, she has a special insight into why people choose to opt out of vaccine schedules and what can be done to build trust and increase vaccine acceptance. This week on Say More, Dr. Marnik, who is also the executive director of the Evidence Collective, sat down with Say More’s Anna Kusmer to talk about vaccine mandates, the limits of empathy, and why “facts alone are not enough.” Email us at [email protected].

From the Science Classroom by Science Whiz Liz

Eureka Day, now playing at the Huntington Theater.

Comedian Alex Edelman is always striving to be better. He spent his childhood going to a yeshiva Jewish day school in Brookline Massachusetts, and now performs comedy on the world’s biggest stages. He’s well known for an award-winning Broadway show “Just For Us,” which recounts his covert visit to a white nationalist meeting in New York City. His new show is called “What Are You Going to Do.” This week on Say More, Alex sits down with host Anna Kusmer to talk about striking a balance between tradition and modernity, the past and future of Jewish comedy, and his renowned hatred of shtick. Email us at [email protected].

 Dr. Khameer Kidia is a physician and mental health researcher at Harvard Medical School and University of Zimbabwe. He headlined the Globe’s Health Equity Summit this year, discussing the ways that Western psychiatry fails to meet the demands of our unequal world. On stage with Say More’s Anna Kusmer, Dr. Kidia talks about using the wisdom of grandmothers to help alleviate mental suffering in Zimbabwe and what he learned from his mentor Dr. Paul Farmer, who cofounded Partners in Health. Email us at [email protected].

In his final days, Massachusetts political legend Barney Frank had harsh words for the democratic party. This week on Say More’s political panel, Opinion writer Joan Vennochi, and Globe Ideas writer Abdallah Fayyad discuss the salience of Frank’s final message, and what democrats can learn from him. With Say More host Anna Kusmer, they then discuss the problem with the proposed rent control ballot measure in Mass, and end with a reflection on Governor Maura Healey and her growing unpopularity. Email us at [email protected].

Barney Frank, who died last week at the age of 86, was one of the most unique and entertaining politicians of his time. Frank got his start in politics right here in Boston working for Mayor Kevin White in the late 60s. Journalist Chris Lydon introduced them. He was a Boston Globe reporter at the time, and now hosts the show Open Source at WBUR. On today’s BONUS episode of Say More, Chris discusses the fateful day he brought Barney Frank to Kevin White’s house to introduce them. Email us at [email protected]

American legend Johnny Appleseed was from here. He hailed from North Central Massachusetts, just a couple miles down the road from Isaac Fitzgerald, a contemporary writer whose first memoir “Dirtbag, Massachusetts” told the story of his misspent youth in the teenage pregnancy capital of the state. This week on Say More, Fitzgerald joins Anna Kusmer to discuss his new book, “American Rambler” which follows the footsteps of Appleseed from New England to Indiana, in search of nature, camaraderie, and some truths about America. Email us at [email protected]. 

To read Isaac's piece in the Boston Globe, click here: The best rest stop in America is in Lancaster, Mass.

Asians are disproportionately gambling at Massachusetts casinos. They are also disproportionately addicted, in debt, and in trouble. A recent Globe investigation found that casinos have extensive strategies to target Asians and encourage them to gamble more than they can afford. While the state spends millions to help with gambling addiction disorders, most of the resources are not reaching Asian problem gamblers. Reporter Chris Serres talks to Say More’s Shirley Leung about what can be done. Email us at [email protected]. 

We bring you a BONUS episode of Say More this week, because a debate is raging among Boston Globe columnists Larry Edelman and Shirley Leung. Larry wrote a column applauding Fidelity Investments for ordering its workers back to the office 5 days a week - saying this move is what’s needed to revitalize downtown Boston. Shirley wrote a rebuttal saying hybrid work is here to stay. Employees cannot go back to the way it was. Who do you agree with? Email us at [email protected]. 

To sign up for Larry Edelman’s Trendlines newsletter, click here. To sign up for Shirley Leung’s newsletter Power Play, click here.