Explain Boston to Me

Lee Stabert

Podcaster and Philly transplant Lee Stabert learns about Boston. She'll never be a native, but she might just learn to speak the language.

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24 episodes
weekly
Avg 53 min
English

Episodes 24

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#164
Wednesday · 1 hr 17 min
Making Shoes — then and now — in New England with Gregory Cordeiro
In this episode, we're chatting with Gregory Cordeiro of Easymoc. This shoe industry vet talks about the history of making footwear in New England, the talent base that keeps companies in Boston, and why he has dedicated his life to making high-quality leather shoes in Maine.
#163
September 16 · 56 min
Government Center with Noah Harper
We're talking about a project that transformed downtown Boston, for good or for ill. City planner Noah Harper talks us through the history of Government Center, from Scollay Square to Urban Renewal, Brutalism to the Cop Slide. Plus, the tragic tale of a lost earring.
#162
September 9 · 1 hr 12 min
East Boston and living in the shadow of Logan Airport with Joshua Lown
In this episode, we're talking about East Boston with researcher and resident Joshua Lown. How did this series of soggy islands become a dense urban neighborhood? What is residents' relationship with their noisy neighbor, Logan Airport? And how did fights over runways and run-off contribute to a legacy of community resistance on Maverick Street and beyond?
#161
September 2 · 39 min
Boston baked beans with Amy Traverso (Rewind)
There’s a reason they call it “Beantown.” In this week’s rerun, Yankee Magazine food editor Amy Traverso takes us through the history of this iconic food — and explains why its place on the Mount Rushmore of local cuisine might be in jeopardy.
#160
August 26 · 57 min
Boston Movie Club: Fever Pitch (Rewind)
In this Boston Movie Club REWIND, we’re talking about Fever Pitch, the 2005 romcom starring Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore, and the 2004 Red Sox. Joining me to dig into this divisive film is Tyler Rotman, who you might remember from EBtM: The 2004 Red Sox. We talk about Fallon as a leading man, the last-minute script changes, and why some locals loathe this movie.
#159
August 19 · 1 hr 12 min
Gillette Stadium and the economics of sports in Boston with Victor Matheson
In this episode, we're talking with economics professor Victor Matheson about the history of Gillette Stadium and Boston's aversion to stadium funding more broadly. The conversation touches on Fenway, the new ballpark in Worcester, Robert Kraft's new Revs home, and the one public stadium project the city IS funding.
#158
August 12 · 44 min
Thoreau, Emerson, Fuller and the Transcendentalists with Peter Wirzbicki
On this episode, we're talking about an intellectual movement that changed the world — and was born right here in the Boston area. From Walden Pond to "Self-Reliance" to one of the first great feminist thinkers, Transcendentalism produced enduring literature and revolutionary ideas. Princeton professor Peter Wirzbicki is here to explain it all.
#157
August 5 · 47 min
What your New England summer destination says about you with Zach Remi
We're joined by Zach Remi aka @new_england_dad to talk about what your New England summer vacation says about you. From Maine to Martha's Vineyard, New Hampshire to Cape Cod, we're parsing the delights, drawbacks and expectations of iconic local warm-weather destinations.
#156
July 29 · 48 min
Boston in the 1970s with Joseph Nevins
We're talking with Joseph Nevins, a professor and co-author of 'A People's Guide to Greater Boston,' about this seminal decade in Boston history. From busing to the Bicentennial to the Vault, the 1970s showcased a city in transition.
#155
July 22 · 52 min
Boston coffee culture with Jim Varney of Wavelength Coffee Roasters
We're chatting with Jim Varney about local coffee culture — from Dunkin and Coffee Connection to Keurig and $8 pour-overs. What does it mean that this regional prizes both affordable, utilitarian caffeine delivery AND serves as a hot-bed for java-centric innovation?
#154
July 15 · 54 min
Saving — and occasionally scrapping — Boston's Historic Buildings with Peter Vanderwarker and Dr. Rebecca Kemper
This conversation focuses on Boston's wealth of historic buildings — and the advantages and challenges that result. Peter Vanderwarker and Dr. Rebecca Kemper from Historic Boston Incorporated share their thoughts on the evolving city, when a building crosses the rubicon and becomes "historic" (paging City Hall), and lament some of their favorite lost structures.
#153
July 8 · 1 hr 11 min
Nantucket with Julie Gerstenblatt
We're hopping on a ferry and heading to the "The Little Grey Lady of the Sea." Author Julie Gerstenblatt is here to talk us through her personal relationship to Nantucket, detail the island's particular charms, and explain how the whaling-mecca-turned-posh-summer-destination has evolved over the years.
#152
July 1 · 36 min
Tripledeckers with Matthew Dickey aka Streetscape Curator (REWIND)
We’re talking tripledeckers, that iconic piece of the local urban fabric with Matthew Dickey, aka Streetscape Curator. What are the origins of this vernacular architectural style? How has their identity — and their residents — changed over the years? And are we ready for a tripledecker renaissance?
#151
June 24 · 54 min
Running a restaurant in Boston with Nick Dixon
In this episode, we're chatting with chef and restauranteur Nick Dixon about what it actually takes to run a successful spot in the city of Boston. His new spot Dalia just opened in South Boston.
#150
June 17 · 50 min
Polar Seltzer with Jacqueline Cain
Crack a cold one! In this episode, we're talking about Polar Seltzer, a staple of fridges and coolers across New England. This Worcester-based company has been in business for 144 years, and it remains the gold standard for the seltzer obsessed, including our guest, food writer Jacqueline Cain.
#149
June 10 · 56 min
Putting Boston on a T-Shirt with Chris Wrenn
In this episode, we're chatting with Chris Wrenn, author of Fenway Punk: How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball's Greatest Rivalry. He talks about "Yankees Suck," going legit with Sully's Brand, and the city's enduring punk and hardcore scene. It's a true Boston story with plenty of only-in-Beantown insights.
#148
June 3 · 44 min
Provincetown with Courtney Trautman
This week, it's just the tip — of Cape Cod! We're talking Provincetown with Courtney Trautman a South End transplant with a deep love of this seaside gay mecca.
#147
May 27 · 29 min
Summer on Cape Cod with Joe Fenti (REWIND)
It's re-run time. We're kicking off summer by chatting about Cape Cod. Sharing his thoughts, feelings, and shark avoidance tips is Joe Fenti, standup comedian and corporate drone/content creator.
#146
May 20 · 42 min
Boston Market (IT'S BOSTON CHICKEN!!!) with Tanya Edwards
In this episode, writer Tanya Edwards tells us about the rise and fall of Boston Market (née Boston Chicken), which just closed its final Massachusetts location.
#145
May 13 · 49 min
Boston's Spaghetti Streets with Andy Woodruff
Whether it was cow paths or Puritan obstinance, the roots of Boston's grid-less city run deep. To talk about the city's geography, we're joined by Andy Woodruff, author of the new book "Boston in 50 Maps."

Showing 1–20 of 24 episodes