WBCA Podcasts

Host Ken Meyer interviews former Commissioner for the MA Commision of the Blind Janet LaBreck about her background, her work with the Commission, difficulties of going to college and getting a job whilst being visually impaired, working for the Obama administration, & more!

City and state officials and the Puerto Rican communtiy gather at the Puerto Rican Veteran's Memorial. Mayor Michelle Wu's Acquisition Opportunity Program (AOP) is celebrated. Girl Scouts join the Greater Boston Food Bank to fight hunger during the holidays. Boston students help shape the future of BPS Eats and the food served at Boston Public Schools. In honor of National Family Literacy Month, author Jessie Janowitz talks about her new book All The Ways To Go.

Raven Chacon, a Diné composer, performer, and installation artist, visits the WBCA Studio to discuss his practice. His work has been exhibited or performed at LACMA, San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, The Kennedy Center, and other institutions, and his composition Voiceless Mass won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Music. He frequently creates and performs site-specific pieces, including a recent show at Boston's Metropolitan Waterworks Museum presented by Non-Event. He discusses this performance as well as his influences, teaching youth in his community, and what, beyond sound, can be captured in a recording.

Haywood Fennell invites his guest, Brennan O'Connell, to talk about his work at the William Joiner Institute at UMass Boston in an effort to provide mental health opportunities for recovering veterans.

Join Dale and Cheryl for some delicious pork ribs on the grill and some corn on the cobb! Ep. #370 PSA Free!

This week on Talk of the Neighborhoods, District 3 City Councilor John Fitzgerald joins us on the first half to talk about the challenges he has faced in his first year in office. Then, on the second half, longtime Democratic political strategists Jason Cincotti, (CinCon Group) and Matt O'Neil (O'Neil Strategy Group) join us to analyze the results from the November General Election.

Rachel Miselman discusses national political matters in the wake of the 2024 presidential election. She also shares her thoughts on the 4B movement, affordable housing, and more.

Host Brendan O'Connell interviews guest Randall K. O'Bannon, Ph.D, about the state of abortion in America, the amount of abortions since the overturn of Roe, the risks of mifepristone, the Turnaway study, abortion pill reversal, & more.

Host Sharon Hinton invites her guest, historian and librarian Kantigi Camara, to discuss the importance of black librarianship and how it ties into black representation.

Host Larry Higginbottom shares his belief that American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) should focus more on developing skills and accumulating wealth, as a more effective way to improve quality of life than engaging in politics.

Guest actor and pastor Tyrone Burton!

Host Sharon Hinton invites guests Ruby Reyes & Keondre McClay of Boston Education Justice Alliance to discuss what justice in education looks like, the organization's mission and accomplishments, preventing the BPS system from falling into receivership, Keondre's role in progressing the organization as the incoming Executive Director, & much more!

Today on "Words On Film", Dan Burke reviews "Blitz", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", "Lost on a Mountain in Maine", and "Memoir of a Snail". Mr. Burke also gives a spoken-word preview of movies subject to being released into theaters for the week of November 11th - 15th, 2024.

Host Rochelle Jones and guest Sabine emphasize the importance of never giving up with scripture such as Samuel 17:31 & 1 Corinthians 1:3-4.

Voters opinions on the 2024 election, restaurant servers' stances on question 5, Massachusetts students no longer needing to pass M.C.A.S. to earn their Diploma, East Boston's 2024 Dia de los Muertos festival, Boston's police force welcomes in a new generation of officers, and an interview with the Site Director of the Greater Boston branch of the non-profit organization Per Scholas.

Cuban Mic discusses ongoing major blackouts (apagones) affecting over 10 million people in Cuba with Spanglish Generation (Daylin Horruitiner). They also discuss their thoughts on Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, as well as ABC's "The View."

Host Haywood Fennell discusses the Veterans Day event at African American Veterans Memorial Park before interviewing guest Mela Bush about how the recent MBTA restructuring is affecting Boston communities.

Join Dale and Cheryl for some delicious beer bread and some honey butter! Ep.# 369 PSA Free!

This week on Talk of the Neighborhoods, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio joins us to talk about Ballot Question 1, to authorize her office to audit the state Legislature. Then on the second half, we'll feature a mini-debate on Ballot Question 5, which would raise the minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers and pool the tips for sharing among back room personnel. Arguing in favor of a Yes vote is Grace McGovern, the Mass. coordinator for One Fair Wage. On the No side is Doug Bacon, a Boston restaurant owner and chair of the Mass. Committee to Protect Tips.

Host Rachel Miselman unpacks Trump's election victory, the current state of politicians, what Trump represents, the source of division in our country, takes a call concerning Trump insulting Kamala Harris, & more.

Host Brendan O'Connell invites Frank Pavone back to the show to review the states with abortion ballot measures.

Larry Higginbottom discusses the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, and his thoughts on what should be done after voting.

Guest actress Kennedy C. Hall!

Deborah Shariff speaks to the president and co-founders of Black Coral Inc., a nonprofit on the frontlines of climate action. Pam Goncalves, J. Lynda Blake, Mic Theirry, and Hank Ebanks discuss how they are preserving indigenous knowledge and empowering people to improve their communities and environment.

Today on "Words On Film", Dan Burke reviews "Here", "Anora", and "Time Cut". Mr. Burke also runs down the movies subject to being released into theaters for the week of November 4th - 8th, 2024, and gives a special message about the 2024 Presidential Election.

Host Rochelle Jones discusses purpose, business, entrepreneurship, & faith with guest Cassandra Desrosiers!

Guest Author Sam Baltrusis!

The 2024 METCO Showcase brings children, parents, and educators together to explore opportunities for students. Boston Commuter Rail workers rally for fair pay in their new contract. A first-time voter shares why he voted in this election. Stop & Shop and the Boston Public Health Commission introduce a new program to provide healthier food options and resources to Boston neighborhoods in need.

Financial advisor Darryl Ruffen joins the program once more to share tips on small steps you can make now to start saving money and working towards building assets and preparing for retirement. With host Willie P.

On the first half Haywood Fennell invites guest Cruz Martinez to the show to give updates on Whittier St. Health Center and the services they are providing, vaccine information and availability, & more. On the second half, guest Barry Gaither joins the show to discuss the new exhibition "Violence Cancelled, Artists Speak", subsequent gatherings at art installations in the city, Barry's great contributions to black art & community, & more.

Join Dale and Cheryl for some delicious chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, as well as a snack to take to a Labor Day party! Ep.# 368 PSA Free!

Host Brendan O'Connell invites guest Frank Pavone back to the show to discuss Toxic Empathy & how it effects the election, opinions & observations surrounding the presidential race, attempts to amend the US Constitution to allow abortion in all states in the future, how pro-choice supporters discount the life of the child from their debates, pro-life being outspent by pro-choice, & much more.

Rachel Miselman discusses what government is, and what it needs to be. She also discusses a community center for Allston-Brighton, which has been delayed in development, as well as a rising level of antisemitism in Boston and the United States.

Host Larry Higginbottom addresses multiculturalism's effect on ADOS & Black America, its strain on the school system and society, being a "nation of immigrants", & more.

American Beauties performs live at BNN Media Studios in observance of Free Speech Week, Community Media, & Local Music! https://www.americanbeauties.org/

Guest Zahara Farrar!

Host Sharon Hinton invites Massasoit Community College student Jahleill Deloacth to the show to discuss his educational experience in media arts, his background in media production at church, working on a reality show, inspirational media producers, his future aspirations, & more.

Urban Empowerment Today with Deborah Shariff returns to WBCA! In this episode, Deborah discusses the upcoming election with Carole Montgomery, Priscilla Flint, and Edosa Osemwegie. They discuss what issues are important to them and who they will be voting for.

Today on "Words On Film", Dan Burke reviews "Venom: The Last Dance", "Conclave", and "Woman of the Hour". Mr. Burke also gives a spoken-word preview of movies subject to being released into theaters for the week of October 28th - November 1st, 2024.

Rochelle Jones speaks to web designer Cassandra Desrosiers and discusses the question "how can I know my purpose and how can I stick to it once I find it?"

Voting for Rideshare Drivers right to unionize, Mammograms made easy and accessible with van based screening labs, the Shine Program and its goal to help senior citizens apply for medicare, a new generation of Emergency Medical Technicians swear oaths to protect the people of Boston to the absolute best of their ability, the Chinatown farmers market begins bringing in food that can't be found on supermarket shelves, and interdisciplinary artist Adrienne Elise Tarver hosts her first ever solo art exhibition "She Who Sits."

Meet Willie Wideman-Pleasants, host of The Village on WBCA and Willie's Web on BNN TV. Learn about how she got involved at BNN, her work as a poet and writer, and how you too can get involved at BNN/WBCA producing for radio and television! Also discussed: country music in Boston, the Great Migration, Boston Public Schools, and more.

Cuban Mic is joined by Fari X and RaggaFwresh, a Boston musician by way of Trinidad and Tobago. He talks about his rap influences, mixing reggae and calypso, and performing at the Boston Caribbean Carnival and Boston City Hall. Also: they discuss the lack of support in the Boston hip hop scene, RaggaFwresh's role in an upcoming film, and a live performance of his latest single, "Ah Bacchanal".

Host Haywood Fennell speaks to author Leslie Guity about her several books, including "Are You on the Right Track?" and "Music is the Key: Music Lives in Me", as well as her writing process. Leslie shares how writing and music have influenced and reflected her life. Also discussed: Massachusetts House Bill H.4942 to regulate property taxes in the City of Boston.

Join Dale and Cheryl for a delicious easy chicken crockpot dish and a jalapeño pickle appetizer! Ep.# 366 PSA Free!

On the first half the show, City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune joins us. On the second half, a mini debate on ballot Question 4 about whether to legalize psychedelics for treatment and personal use. For the YES side is Emily Oneschuk, a Navy veteran and a spokesperson for MA for Mental Health Options. For the NO side, Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, President of the MA Psychiatric Society.