January 14, 2026 - Chef Karen Akunowicz, Ali Noorani of the Barr Foundation, and hostile architecture w/ Mahesh Daas

Now that the Michelin Guide has put Boston on the map, we’re kicking off a new series checking in with the restaurants on that list — to see what Michelin has meant for their kitchens, their dining rooms, and the city around them. Our first stop is South Boston with chef Karen Akunowicz. Her two Italian restaurants on West Broadway — Fox & the Knife and Bar Volpe — each earned Michelin’s Bib Gourmand designation, recognizing the caliber of cooking she’s been  known for long before Michelin came to kick the tires on Boston’s  restaurant scene. Karen Akunowicz is a James Beard Award–winning chef and “Top Chef” alum. Nonprofits across Boston are confronting rising costs, shrinking support, and tough decisions about which programs can survive. Ali Noorani, the new president of the Barr Foundation, talks with us about how philanthropy is shifting, what’s at stake for arts and education organizations, and how funding priorities can reshape the cultural life of an entire region.Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College, returns for our “AI: Actual Intelligence” segment to examine how urban design can restrict who gets to fully use public space. From benches outfitted with barriers to ledges lined with studs, he breaks down how hostile architecture works — and what it reveals about a city’s values. Daas also updates us on his creative work, including his graphic novella on artificial intelligence,”I, Nobot.”