WBCA Podcasts

Larry Higginbottom speaks about the Department of Education and the United States' imperfect education system, and in particular how it fails to properly serve black students. He shares his view that African Americans should start their own schools and educate their own, and discusses his ideas for the curriculum. Larry also talks about how he supported his own daughter's education.

Today on "Words On Film", Dan Burke reviews "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning", "Lilo & Stitch" (2025), "Friendship", "Secret Mall Apatment", and "Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted". Mr. Burke also gives a spoken word preview of movies subject to being released in theaters on May 29th & 30th, 2025.

Rochelle Jones & Pastor James L. Funches Jr. discuss his song "Young And On Fire" & his writing process, praising God with your heart, getting closer to God through music, pursuing a personal relationship with God & running toward God, helping others seek God without judgement, & much more.

Ken Meyer interviews WBCA Producer and Massasoit Community College professor Deborah Shariff about her background in communications & video production, how she obtained her tenure at Massasoit, integrity in media reporting, the ever-changing media landscape, her WBCA show Urban Empowerment Today, & more! They also dedicate the show to the late great Robert Bowers.

The Boston Haitian community celebrates Haitian Flag Day. Hundreds walk in solidarity with those living with obsessive-compulsive disorder at the Boston OCD Walk. Bostonians share their views on rising rent prices and limited housing stock. Hear an interview with Jeff Bellows, vice president of Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield, about the benefits of biking and their program with Bluebikes in honor of National Bike Month.

Host Cuban Mic speaks to Andre X, a rapper and producer from Lawrence. He discusses his upbringing, his upcoming album and tour, and the local music scene. Listen to hear Andre X's latest tracks.

Haywood Fennell invites guest Mattie Deed to the show to discuss financial empowerment & education in the black community, working for the Mayor's Financial Empowerment office, being a Boston delegate for the Democratic Party, her poetry, the importance of nurturing and educating our children, stigmas surrounding mental illness in the black community, equitable treatment for veterans, & much more.

Join Dale and Cheryl for some delicious steak, chicken, and hamburgers on the grill! Ep.# 309 PSA Free!

On the 1st half, former District 3 City Councilor Frank Baker discusses his run for City Council At-Large. On the 2nd half, Executive Director of Ranked Choice Voting Boston Ed Shoemaker advocates for Ranked Choice Voting.

Brendan O'Connell interviews Suzanne Guy about her struggle with infertility & refusal of IVF, the risk of amniocentesis causing miscarriage, her steadfastness in denying abortion, bad experiences with doctors during her complicated pregnancy, giving birth to her beloved daughter, holding the medicinal profession to the Hippocratic Oath, & more.

Community leaders and residents gathered outside the Massachusetts State House to protest what they see as overly aggressive immigration enforcement. Boston's Youth Jobs and Resource Fair brings together employers and local students. Sarah Cluggish discusses Project Bread's mission to make food accessible for Bostonians, with initiatives including their annual Walk for Hunger.

Rachel Miselman discusses the importance of civics & civic engagement, acquiring signatures to get on the City Counsel ballot, & more.

Larry Higginbottom explains how entertainment is not the only way out of the hood, there is no longer a lid on occupations for blacks, parents do not prepare their children to be studious, the Democratic Party is the party determined to keep the black community poor, & more.

Today on "Words On Film", Dan Burke reviews "Nonnas", "The Quilters", "Another Simple Favor", and "Drop". Mr. Burke also runs down the list of movies subject to being released into theaters for the week of May 18th - 23rd, 2025.

Host Deborah Shariff welcomes back Aust NeferKa, creator of Tehuti Ma'at Academy. Nef discusses her background including her upbringing in Dorchester where she attended the Mather School, a move to New York City, and a return visit to Cape Verde that gave her new perspective. Learn more about Tehuti Ma'at, including its community garden in Brooklyn and its aim to heal wounds of those descended from enslaved people. For more information: tehutimaat.org

Host & former WNBA star Rhonda Banchero invites Kendra Middleton, radio & television talent of 98.5 The Sports Hub & New England Sports Network NESN, to the show to discuss her background, how she began her sports reporting career & journey, ruffling feathers in the industry by being herself, how she ended up in the Boston sports market, competition between sports reporters, the importance of motherly inspiration, & much more!

Guest Susan Wornick!

At the 29th annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace, mothers and supporters gather to remember their children lost to violence. The Committee on Persons with Disabilities and the Disability Advisory Board holds a forum for residents living with disabilities. City Life / Vida Urbana, housing advocates, and tenants rally against wrongful eviction in Mattapan. MassPort says ride shares to the airport will get more expensive in July—hear what Bostonians think. Hear an interview with Don Gillis, senior advisor to Mayor Ray Flynn and author of The Battle for Boston, which details Mayor Flynn's leadership and work with community organizers.

Cuban Mic speaks to Ana Hebra Flaster, author of the book Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town―A Memoir. She discusses growing up in and eventually fleeing Cuba, the disconnect between American and Cuban perspectives on communism, and the values that her parents instilled in her.

Host Haywood Fennell Sr. covers topics literacy, veteran programs and Safety as well as bail with a personal life story.

Join Dale and Cheryl for some delicious standard pancakes and some potato pancakes.

On the 1st half, Don Gillis, author of "The Battle for Boston. On the 2nd half, Lew Finfer, Director of MA for Justice.

Brendan O'Connell interviews guest William Goodman (Full Time Volunteer & Prisoner of Conscience, Red Rose Rescue) about how he got involved with the Pro Life movement, being pardoned by President Trump after being imprisoned for violating the FACE Act, & more.

Today on "Words On Film", Dan Burke reviews "Fight or Flight", "Clown in a Cornfield", "The Alto Knights", and "Better Man". Mr. Burke also gives a spoken-word preview of movies subject to being released into theaters for the week of May 11th - 16th, 2025.

Host Deborah Shariff speaks to Aust NeferKa, creator of Tehuti Ma'at Academy. Learn about the organization, its worker-owned cooperative structure, and its three pillars: healing, creativity, and education. NeferKa also speaks about African identity as something cosmic, and her preference to think of herself as someone of African "ascent". For more information: tehutimaat.org

Host & former WNBA star Rhonda Banchero invites NBC Boston journalist Kwani Lunis to the podcast to share her basketball & journalism background, how she ended up in Boston, all the shows she hosts & works for, how she manages such a busy career, the evolution of media & reporting, & much more!

Sebra B. welcomes Dr. Angela Jamal back for a part 2 episode to discuss the healing arts, her books on health & mindfulness for teens & teachers, the effects of stress & how to combat it, studying & applying acupuncture & traditional Chinese medicine, & much more!

With the opening of a new apartment building in Dorchester, Heading Home helps families move from shelters into permanent apartments. The Oak Square YMCA hosts a community conversation on ending the isolation epidemic. The Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) hosts its 23rd annual artist showcase at Brighton Music Hall, with words from bands Park National and Glasshouse. Hear an interview with Donald Haynesworth, career coach at MassHire and JVS Boston, about how these programs help people who have faced incarceration, homelessness, and substance abuse with reentering the workforce.

Willie P. invites Dawn Simmons, 2023 Elliot Norton Award winning director, to the show to discuss working for Stage Source, her 2nd theater company The Front Porch Arts Collective, learning to be a director & her influences, the importance of working as a team, plays that she has written & produced, advice for those wanting to become directors, becoming Artistic Dir. of SpeakEasy Stage company, & more!

Cuban Mic speaks to Rosa María Payá, a Cuban human rights and democracy activist. They discuss Night Is Not Eternal (2024), a documentary following her activism, as well as her father Oswaldo Payá, a political activist who opposed the Cuban Communist Party and is believed to have been killed by the Cuban government. They also discuss recent protests in Cuba, the reason for Cuban-Americans' increasing support for the Republican Party, as well as Cuba Decide, an initiative to change the nation's political system.

Join Dale and Cheryl for a tasty, freezer friendly chicken noodle casserole bake! Ep.#307 PSA Free!

This week on Talk of the Neighborhoods, former Dist. 7 City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate Tito Jackson joins us to talk about his successful business and his thoughts on the upcoming Dist. 7 Council race. Then, journalist Yawu Miller joins us to talk about the launch of his new online news publication The Flipside and its Boston political coverage.

Host Brendan O'Connell interviews Dave C. Reardon Ph.D. (Founder & Director, The Elliot Institute) about the negative mental effects of abortion, dishonesty of pro-abortion studies, USAID as policy to encourage abortion & depopulation in developing countries, the dangers of mail-ordered abortion pills, & more.

Project Bread Walk for Hunger at Boston Common, Wake Up the Earth Festival in Jamaica Plain, Student Visa problems, Ben & Jerry's & Autism Eats Ice Cream Giveaway for Autism Awareness Month.

Just in time for National Bike Month, Allyson McCalla, Shero of the Newport (RI) chapter of Black Girls Do Bike and director of operations of Bike Newport visits The Suite. She shares her enthusiasm for cycling and may just inspire you to hop on your bike and go for a spin! It’s just like riding a bike, after all!

Host Larry Higginbottom discusses the end of the 2nd reconstruction for ADOS & American blacks, the cutting of social & civil programs under the Trump administration, how these programs were meant to benefit blacks but were blanketed to all minorities, how there is no longer a lid to occupations for ADOS, & more.

This episode continues the diplomacy series, this time featuring special guest Tiago Araújo, the Consul General of Portugal in Boston.

Sharon Hinton invites author Denise Cosby to the show to discuss her book "Murder at Harvard's Kirkland House: A Mother's Worst Nightmare", her non-profit organization Just-in-Time, the loss of her son & inspiration for writing the book, details of the murder case, helping people make better decisions & heal from the loss of a loved one, & more.

In this episode of WBCA Presents we join BNN's intern Paul Pesa as we speak with poet and artist Cat Clover. We'll dive into how artforms like poetry have helped guide her life journey, while she graces us with performances of her original poetry and songs.

Today on "Words On Film", Dan Burke reviews "Thunderbolts*", "The Surfer", "The Shrouds", "The Legend of Ochi", and "Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality". Mr. Burke also gives a spoken word preview of some of the movies subject to being released into theaters on May 9th, 2025.

Host Rochelle Jones uses scripture such as Psalms & Corinthians to encourage listeners during times of hardship & how to endure through struggles.

Host Sebra B. focuses on the impact of stress with her guest Doctor Angela Jamal an advocate of yoga, mindfulness and a holistic approach to life dealing with the impacts of stress.

The Base & Yawkey Foundation celebrate new headquarters The Yawkey Urban Sports Complex, Boston Office of Returning Citizens, Interview with Element Care CEO Douglas Thompson about the organization's senior care services & more.

Cuban Mic and special guest Kiel continue to discuss a range of topics, including Cuban history and political ideology in this part 2 episode.

Haywood Fennell speaks to Rosalyn Elder about the life of Malcolm X and the upcoming Boston Community Read-a-thon of the Autobiography of Malcolm X to celebrate his 100th birthday. The vent is May 17-18 at the Bruce Bolling Building. For more information: malcolmxreadathonboston.com

Join Dale and Cheryl for some jalapeño pickles and pico de gallo! Ep.# 306 PSA Free!

This week on Talk of the Neighborhoods, we'll talk with former state senator Dianne Wilkerson, who has some advice for candidates running to succeed recently indicted District 7 City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson. Then on the second half, community activist Domingos DaRosa joins us to talk about his candidacy for Mayor of the City of Boston.

Brendan O'Connell interviews Jill Jorgenson (Exec. Dir., Clearway Clinic) about how she became involved with the Pro Life movement, how she became involved with Clearway Clinic, the services Clearway provides, the Clinic being vandalized, the besmirching of pregnancy care centers by the Healey administration, the benefits of ultrasound for pregnancy, & more.

Hundreds celebrate Japanese culture at Japan Festival Boston. The 2025 Boston Comics in Color Festival spotlights stories where everyone can see themselves represented. Hear an interview with Megumi Stohs Lewis, violinist and co-artistic director of the Sheffield Chamber Players, which will be performing the program "Common Ground" at the Pao Arts Center in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Host Rachel Miselman discusses the importance of ensuring that people are properly educated about the Holocaust, her disagreement with those who draw parallels between the Nazi regime and the Israeli government, and her strong belief that we need to learn more about one another.