NightSide With Dan Rea

NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and fun. This week Dan asked what have you wanted to do or go during the summer, but haven't yet.

Over the last couple of months, tragedy has struck two MA families unexpectedly. At the end of June, a UMass Amherst student who was interning in D.C. got caught up in a violent act as an innocent bystander who was murdered. Two teenagers have been charged with Eric Tarpinian-Jachym’s murder. Then, in August, a Shrewsbury father was murdered on his way home after dropping his 6-year-old son off at school. Kevin Doherty confronted a man he saw spray-painting graffiti, to which the two men got into a spat where the suspect pulled out a gun and shot Doherty, who tragically died from his injuries. We discussed the senseless acts of violence as of late, felt here in Massachusetts.

Earlier this week, we spoke with Global Partners about the feud over who received the 35-year multimillion-dollar contract to renovate and operate 18 service plazas along Massachusetts roadways. Applegreen, a company founded in Ireland, won the bid for the contract, much to Global Partner’s displeasure. Global tried legally challenging the decision with not much luck. Diana Prosciotta, a representative for Applegreen joined us to address the bidding feud and discuss their plan to restore and operate the 18 MA service plazas.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!Only 37% of U.S. employees strongly agree they are treated with respect at work - a record-low level, according to Gallup. Here’s 5 ways to get more respect at work… Guest: Marcy Syms, social entrepreneur, former chair, & CEO of Syms Corp., philanthropist, and author of Leading with Respect: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer Winter Weather Forecast from The Old Farmer's Almanac! Guest: Sarah Perreault – Managing Editor of the Old Farmer’s Almanac 78-year-old defies the odds, becomes oldest police rookie in California history! Guest: John Myers – the 78-year-old police rookie & a Law Professor at UC Law San Francisco.The Angel Fund for ALS Research ALS will be hosting the Walk of Hope for ALS - TOMORROW, September 6th at Wakefield Lower Common in Wakefield. Guest: Ann Hadley with the Angel Fund

Back in 2020, Massachusetts agreed to pass a bill to create a committee to study and redesign the state seal. Now in 2025, Massachusetts has unveiled the finalists for the new state seal, flag, and motto. The state received more than 1,150 submissions. The three finalists for the state flag include one with a blue hill with six blue and white waves. Another with a simple blue background with the state flower, the mayflower and the third has a crimson background with six turkey feathers, representing Massachusetts as the sixth state to enter the union. Of the finalists, which would you choose and why?

Back in 2020, Massachusetts agreed to pass a bill to create a committee to study and redesign the state seal. Now in 2025, Massachusetts has unveiled the finalists for the new state seal, flag, and motto. The state received more than 1,150 submissions. The three finalists for the state flag include one with a blue hill with six blue and white waves. Another with a simple blue background with the state flower, the mayflower and the third has a crimson background with six turkey feathers, representing Massachusetts as the sixth state to enter the union. Of the finalists, which would you choose and why?

Boston mayoral candidate and philanthropist Josh Kraft joined us on NightSide as we inch closer to next week’s preliminary election. Despite a bit of a shakeup to Kraft’s campaign staff this week with two advisors mutually parting ways, Kraft says he remains focused on Tuesday the 9th. Kraft discussed Boston’s pressing issues took listeners' calls. 

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!The first Black author to write a book on the Ku Klux Klan from in-person, face-to-face interviews with leaders and members, called The Klan Whisperer. Guest: Daryl Davis – civil rights activist, author, co-founder and Global Ambassador for the Prohuman Foundation. His new book, The Klan Whisperer, shares his courageous story, a lifetime of victories over darkness and ignorance You Got In! Now What?: 100 Insights into Finding Your Best Life in College! Guest: James (“Jay”) Hamilton - Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Hearst Professor of Communication at Stanford University Children’s Book: Elephant Beach Guest: Christine Devane – Author of children’s book, former elementary school teacher Local artist creates unique fish prints using the traditional Japanese method of printing fish, Gyotaku, a practice which dates back to the mid-1800s. We’ll talk about what the art form entails and the public interest in it. Guest: Joe Higgins – Owner of Joe's Fresh Fish Prints

Does it feel like more people you know are struggling with a mental health condition? Maybe you’re struggling or the parent of a child who is struggling and not sure why or how to help. According to the CDC as well as the American Psychological Association, kid’s mental health is in crisis. What’s contributing to or causing rising mental health issues? Former New Hampshire Chief Justice John Broderick has now devoted his life to speaking to middle and high school kids about their mental health struggles. After speaking with thousands of kids across New England about the societal and cultural forces impacting their mental well-being, Judge Broderick along with Jeffrey Levin, a former middle school teacher, therapist and now life coach, joined us on NightSide to discuss what’s harming kids’ mental health and what can be done about it.

Does it feel like more people you know are struggling with a mental health condition? Maybe you’re struggling or the parent of a child who is struggling and not sure why or how to help. According to the CDC as well as the American Psychological Association, kid’s mental health is in crisis. What’s contributing to or causing rising mental health issues? Former New Hampshire Chief Justice John Broderick has now devoted his life to speaking to middle and high school kids about their mental health struggles. After speaking with thousands of kids across New England about the societal and cultural forces impacting their mental well-being, Judge Broderick along with Jeffrey Levin, a former middle school teacher, therapist and now life coach, joined us on NightSide to discuss what’s harming kids’ mental health and what can be done about it.

There is an ongoing spat over the bidding procedure for a multimillion-dollar contract to renovate 18 service plazas along Massachusetts roadways. Waltham-based Global Partners LP, a fuel delivery company that currently runs the convenience stores at many of the plazas, lost the bid to Applegreen, a company founded in Ireland with an extensive presence along the Eastern Seaboard. Global Partners legally challenged MassDOT’s procurement, evaluation, and operator selection process. President and CEO of Global Partners, Eric Slifka joined us to discuss the latest in this spat.*Applegreen will join us on NightSide, this Friday evening to share their side of the feud*

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!Comcast Supports Small Business Growth, Awarding 100 Grant Packages to Greater Boston Entrepreneurs –Highlighting how Comcast works 1 on 1 with businesses & how the Comcast RISE grant will help winners. Guests: Becca Fracassa - Director of Community Impact for Comcast’s New England Region & Winner: Rary from Rubato in Quincy, MA The Topsfield Fair to Host 7th annual hot dog eating contest! Guest: Marc Freedman – Runs the Hot dog eating contest Bug Farms! What are they and what do they do? Most are tasked with eating food waste, which in turn they’ll be crushed, dried and sold as an alternative form of protein powder! Guest: Nicolas Rivero – Washington Post Reporter King Richard’s Faire returns for their 44th season! This year at their new venue, the Edaville Entertainment Venue in Carver, MA. New England’s largest and longest-running Renaissance festival runs weekends August 30 - October 19, 2025. Guest: Aimée Sedley - King Richard’s Faire General Manager and Producer

We started with Caller's Choice, but the dominate topic became crime in U.S. cities, and the President's use of troops to assist law enforcement. Do you feel your area is safe? Would you like the National Guard to patrol your streets?

The long-awaited Market Basket mediation is set to take place this week in Delaware between CEO Arthur T Demoulas and his three sisters, who have all been feuding for months. What’s there to mediate? Amidst the ongoing family feud, the future of Market Basket is a key factor, according to many embroiled in the feud. The grocery chain has 90 stores in four states: MA, RI, NH, and ME. Are you hopeful that there will be a mutually successful resolution? What do you think the future of Market Basket will look like and are you at all concerned that prices would change?

Massachusetts Colonel Geoffrey Noble has been leading the MA State Police for nearly a year now and has taken on the large task of reshaping the force and restoring public trust after a series of scandals. After the overtime scandal, the firing of trooper Michael Proctor, and the tragic death of an academy recruit, it has not been an easy task. For the first-time fielding questions from the public, Col. Noble joined us on NightSide to discuss reform and took listener's calls!https://www.mass.gov/guides/cadet-program

After Escobar: Taking Down the Notorious Cali Godfathers and the Biggest Drug Cartel in History – Telling of This Story Guest: Jessica Balboni – Co-Author of the book – also a writer and editor Baseball in the Roaring Twenties: The Yankees, the Cardinals, and the Captivating 1926 Season Guest: Thomas Wolf - Author 9/11 Day National Day of Service and Remembrance - volunteers will pack almost 400,000 healthy, non-perishable meals for people experiencing food insecurity in the community. This event is the largest annual event benefiting The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). Guest: Jay Winuk - co-founder and executive vice president of 9/11 Day, the nonprofit organization that annually organizes the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Which Are the Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars? Guest: Paul Glastris – Editor-In-Chief of Washington Monthly

Morgan White Jr. filled in on NightSide:No, not the 1960 classic Western film starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen, but rather the magnificent seven WBZ Radio talk hosts from the 1960s and up! Morgan and Media Historian Donna Halper chatted about seven of WBZ’s greatest, such as Larry Glick, Dave Maynard, and David Brudnoy.

Morgan White Jr. filled in on NightSide:No, not the 1960 classic Western film starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen, but rather the magnificent seven WBZ Radio talk hosts from the 1960s and up! Morgan and Media Historian Donna Halper chatted about seven of WBZ’s greatest, such as Larry Glick, Dave Maynard, and David Brudnoy.

Morgan White Jr. filled in on NightSide:National park ranger and baseball historian Richard “Dixie” Tourangeau joined Morgan tonight to talk all-things baseball! The Boston Red Sox have 19 regular-season games remaining in the 2025 MLB season. Will the Red Sox make the playoffs this year?

Morgan White Jr. filled in on NightSide:Your eyes are one of your top sensory organs that feed your brain information about the world around you, so it’s important to protect them from damage and keep them healthy. Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Chirag Shah joined Morgan to answer eye related questions!