New England Public Radio Podcast

Listen to the full series here. by NEPR

NEPR's Henry Epp talks to reporter Matt Murphy of the State House News Service about the coming week in Massachusetts politics.

Summer Fiction: Noy Holland's 'Bird' by NEPR

What're You Reading? by NEPR

Interview: Bishop Talbert Swan On Transgender Public Accommodations Bill by NEPR

Interview: Activist Tynan Power On Transgender Public Accommodations Bill by NEPR

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill: May 23rd, 2016 by NEPR

This is a big week for transgender advocates in Massachusetts. On Thursday, the state Senate is planning to vote on a bill that would extend public accomodation rights to transgender individuals.

A new study shows that nearly a third of New England farm operators are over age 65, and most of those farmers don't employ anyone under 45 years old.

WSHU's Ebong Udoma Talks Connecticut Budget With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill: May 2nd, 2016 by NEPR

NECIR Reporter Jenifer McKim Speaks With NEPR's Henry Epp About Reverse Mortgages by NEPR

After A Death In Springfield's Lockup, Two Officers Suspended by NEPR

As Municipal Costs Increase, So Do Efforts To Get Colleges And Nonprofits To Pay Up by NEPR

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill For April 11th, 2016 by NEPR

Mount Holyoke Professor Vincent Ferraro, a specialist in International Relations since the end of the Cold War and former consultant of the United Nations' development program and UN Association of the United States, spoke on the Islamic State and seven core conflicts in Syria. The lecture was hosted by the UMass Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha's Delta Lambda chapter. The civil war in Syria has highlighted tensions both in and outside of the region. The ongoing battle between the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad and anti-government forces has not only allowed Islamic fundamentalists to gain a foothold, but has further aggravated divisions between nation-states and other actors such as Russia and the United States, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as Turkey and the Kurdish peoples. Ferraro also discusses how climate change and fossil fuels tie directly to political conflicts. Together, these conflicts have created unlikely alliances and tested international balance of powers. This lecture was recorded on March 22, 2016 in Machmer at UMass Amherst.

21st Century Libraries by NEPR

Activist Gloria Steinem, who is widely known for her grass roots work in the 1970s Feminist Movement, was invited back to her alma mater Smith College to be part of the 2016 Presidential Colloquium, "Thinking in Public in a Networked World." To a packed audience, Steinem spoke candidly about the recent media outrage regarding a comment she made about young female voters and discussed the ways in which social media platforms can hinder rather than help social justice work. Gloria Steinem, who graduated from Smith in 1956, has dedicated her life to gender equality, social justice, and political activism. In the 1960s, she became a leader and major voice for the Feminist Movement and has committed to the cause of creating positive social change. In the 1970s, she co-founded Ms. Magazine, which helped give women a voice in American Journalism. She has also published several books including her most recent, My Life on the Road (2015). In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded Steinem the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest civilian honor. To conclude her talk, Steinem warned the audience about using social networks to discuss political and social ideas. Instead, she feels these conversations are better left to be shared in person and as a community. This lecture was recorded on March 28th, 2016 at John M. Green Hall at Smith College.

Activist and Writer Gloria Steinem Speaks With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

State House Reporter Matt Murphy Talks Beacon Hill With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

Professor Steven Nelson is the director of the UCLA African Studies Center and a Professor of African American Art History at UCLA. Professor Nelson's talk looked at works by artists such as Mark Bradford, Houston Conwill, Moshekwa Langa, and Julie Mehretu. Their works examined many aspects of African History and culture in a variety of mediums and spaces. As an undergrad Nelson was a studio arts major at Yale University and received his PHD from Harvard University. After teaching at Tufts University and Wellesley College Nelson went on to teach at UCLA. Nelson has published books such as, From Cameroon to Paris: Mousgoum Architecture in and out of Africa and, Savages on the Seine: The Mousgoum Dome at the 1931 International Colonial Exposition. This talk was recorded on March, 2nd, 2016, at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College

Sarah Rushing, Professor at the Montana State University, spoke at Amherst College on the topic of neoliberalism and the ways in which people in the modern era must navigate institutions of life and death in American society. Rushing's latest work in progress is a book entitled "Comparative Humilities: Ethics, Empowerment, and Sites of Political Awakening." While she focused on the politics of life and death in her talk, she also spoke about the college campus and how it fits into her main thematic questions regarding autonomy within neoliberal institutions. After earning her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1996, Rushing was encouraged by her college adviser to apply to PhD programs. She ended up attending the University of California in Berkeley, where she majored in Political Theory. Since then, she has published several articles concerned with the theories of Judith Butler and her most recent areas of interest--humility and autonomy. Now at Montana State University, she teaches Political Science and serves as an advocate for student organizations trying to promote diversity and equity on campus. This lecture was recorded on February 17, 2016 in the Pruyne Lecture Hall at Amherst College.

Two Months After State Takeover, New Southbridge Schools Leader Appointed by NEPR

State House Reporter Andy Metzger Talks Beacon Hill With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

The Short List: Baker Travel Flap, Holyoke Needle Exchange Jeopardy, Charter School Opposition by NEPR

As part of a series of events highlighting the recent exhibition of the Caesar Photographs at Smith College, three activists and scholars--Robert Ford, Mouaz Moustafa, and Sarah Leah Whitson--came together to discuss the violations of human rights currently taking place in Syria. Combining their different perspectives on the issues at hand, the three speakers each gave a short presentation about the photos and the ways in which the conflicts surrounding Syria are not appropriately being addressed. In January of 2014, news surfaced of a Syrian defector who had left the government's mukhabarat (security agencies) with tens of thousands of images displaying the bodies of detainees who died in state detention centers. Many have died or have disappeared after being detained by the government since the beginning of the uprising in 2011. Code-named "Caesar", the Syrian defector stated that as an official forensic photographer for the Military Police, it was his personal duty to photograph the bodies of deceased detainees and assist in archiving thousands more similar photographs. Photographed in Syria between May 2011 and August 2013, this striking collection of images was put on display during a two week exhibition at the college. (This panel discussion and exhibition includes graphic content.)

Holyoke Fire Chief John Pond Speaks With NEPR's Henry Epp About Collapsing Former Armory by NEPR

Dr. Damon A. Williams, Senior Vice President for Program, Training, and Youth Development Services for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, recently visited the University of Massachusetts Amherst to review the current Diversity Strategic Plan. The plan lists a number of actions the university is planning to take in order to create a more inclusive and diverse campus. Dr. Williams received his PhD from the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Higher and Post-Secondary Education, specializing in organizational behavior and management. His lecture, titled “Towards a Model of Inclusive Excellence and Change,” focused on the question of diversity and how UMass can create significant learning opportunities for students and faculty. According to Dr. Williams, UMass’s strategic plan is acceptable, but the campus can push it further. He outlined six principles for administration to follow, hopefully creating a more positive and inclusive community. This lecture was given on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in the Cape Cod Lounge of the Student Union at UMass Amherst.

Authors Annie Liontas and Jeff Parker visited the University of Massachusetts Amherst as part of their Visiting Writer Series. Jeff Parker is the author of Where Bears Roam the Streets: A Russian Journal. This book looks a past of complicated politics, and takes a humorous look at a friendship of two men who are on opposing sides of the Cold War. Parker reads here an excerpt from his book The Manner of Being:Writers and Their Mentors. The author also shares a recently completed short story, of a son growing up with a "birthday clown" mother who must accompany her as Superman. Other works of his can be found in publications like The Tin House and The Walrus. Parker currently teaches at the MFA program for Poets &Writers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Annie Liontas read excerpts from her debut novel Let Me Explain You. Liontas's novel was featured on the New York Times Book Review and was also selected by the American Booksellers Association in 2015 as "Indies Introduce Debut." The book follows the life of Stavros Stavros Mavrakis, a Greek immigrant and proud diner owner who believes he only has ten days left to live. This talk was recorded in Memorial Hall at UMass Amherst.

Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein Speaks With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

State House Reporter Matt Murphy Talks Beacon Hill With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

Democratic Presidential Candidate Rocky De La Fuente Speaks With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

The Primer On The Primary: Mass. Voters Head To The Polls Tuesday by NEPR

Green Party Presidential Candidate Bill Kreml Speaks With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

NPR's international correspondent, Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, spoke with UMass Professor John Higginson about her career covering the African continent. The two discussed the current political, economic and social issues impacting African nations today.

With Policy Debate In Background, Mass. Education Board Approves New Charters by NEPR

Green Party Candidate Sedinam Kinamo Christin Moyowasifza-Curry Speaks With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

Henry Epp Checks In With NHPR's Josh Rogers, VPR's Peter Hirschfeld On Races For Governor by NEPR

With the next of our Valley Voices Story Slams with the Academy of Music coming up, we’re looking back to our archives to feature the top three stories from our “Schooled” StorySlam, held back in September of 2014. Here we’re sharing stories of cruel nuns, defying the odds, and a little love note that turned out not to be so little at all... Music by Broken Social Scene, Portico Quartet, People Under the Stairs.

Department Chair of Psychology at Smith College, Patricia DiBartolo, spoke about the crippling side effects of perfectionism as a part of Smith’s Chaired Professor Lecture series.

As Millennials Come Of Political Age, Few Decide To Run For Office by NEPR

Five Employees Of Great Barrington School Plead Not Guilty In Abuse Case by NEPR

Mass. Senate President Ends Interview When Pushed For Pipeline Position by NEPR

Amherst College Finds Missing Audio Of 1964 MLK Speech by NEPR

As we get ready for another season of our popular Valley Voices Story Slam with the Academy of Music, we’re delving into the archives to feature the top three stories from our “Love Struck” StorySlam, held back in February of 2015. Music by Broken Social Scene, Portico Quartet, and Beck.

For Easthampton, Mass. Family, An Unresolved Search For A Missing Son by NEPR

State House Reporter Matt Murphy Talks Beacon Hill With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR

What made The Short List this week? Big Headlines for 2015: Voter Turnout, Viaduct Construction Fewer Headlines in 2015: Chinese-owned CRRC USA Rail Corp., Springfield Historical Commission/Historical Preservation What's Ahead for 2016? Connecticut's Third Casino and Springfield's MGM Casino. New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy explore these issues with Matt Szafranski of of the Western Mass Politics & Insight blog and The Reminder’s Mike Dobbs.

When you see people with their heads buried in their phones, possibly playing a game like Bejeweled Blitz, don't judge them too harshly. New research finds the visual search and matching app may have potential as a brain training tool. New England Public Radio's Carrie Healy talked about the study, by UMass psychologist Susan Whitbourne.

State House Reporter Matt Murphy Talks Beacon Hill With NEPR's Henry Epp by NEPR