Say More

More than 50 million people make their living working offshore on two-thirds of our planet covered by water.  The non-profit Outlaw Ocean Project is dedicated to exploring human rights violations, forced labor, and environmental problems that plague the world’s oceans. Over the next few weeks, we’re bringing you a three-part story from the second season of The Outlaw Ocean podcast.  Today, in part 1, Outlaw Ocean explores the efforts of the Libyan Coast Guard to capture migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, and the secretive prisons holding those who are caught.  You can learn more about the work of Outlaw Ocean Project here: https://theoutlawocean.com/podcast

It wasn’t long ago that finding an Asian American novelist in a local bookstore felt like finding a rare flower. Today, the options overflow. Viet Thanh Nguyen was on the leading edge of that wave. His first novel, The Sympathizer, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2016. Since then he has written a sequel, a collection of short stories, books for children,  and a book about the Vietnam War. He’s also become an important public intellectual, promoting the work of immigrant and minority writers, and advocating for Palestinian rights. Today on Say More, editor Jim Dao is joined by Viet Thanh Nguyen for a discussion about his recent works and the role of the writer in times of political turmoil.

In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down a law that banned sports betting, and ushered in a new era of gambling. Sports betting has become a multi-billion dollar industry. It’s as ubiquitous as it is lucrative.  In his new book “Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling” Jonathan Cohen argues that the rise of online sports betting, fueled by the convenience of mobile phones, is leading to an out-of-control industry that puts the health of young men at risk. Today, author Jonathan Cohen joins Shirley Leung to discuss gambling and public health.

Democrats are at a crossroads. According to recent polling from CNN, just 28% of Americans view the party favorably. The lowest rating in the poll’s 30-plus year history. Critics say the party lacks vision, and fails to connect with voters. Some say, the party is out of touch. Others believe it’s simply gone too far to the left. But there are new voices looking to dictate a path forward for Democrats, as they work to gain back trust of centrist and working class voters, and seats in Congress heading into next year’s midterm election. Some want to double down on the progressive direction of the party. Others are calling for a return to the center and a new vision for working voters to rally around. Rep. Jake Auchincloss represents Massachusetts' 4th district in Washington. Today, he joins guest host Carine Hajjar for a discussion about his vision for the future of the Democratic Party.

The  Michelin Guide is known for identifying the crème de la crème of dining in the nation’s hottest cities. And for the first time, it’s coming to Boston. Today on Say More, Shirley Leung is joined by Boston Globe Restaurant Critic Devra First to discuss what Michelin means for the city, and how the challenges facing  Boston restaurants, including high rents and the steep cost of living, are impacting industry workers and diners alike

It's a uniquely challenging time for our nation's medical community. The Trump administration has set its sites on slashing federal funding for healthcare and research by tens of billions of dollars, which could be catastrophic for the NIH and CDC. Funding is tenuous to say the least. Then there's mounting political pressure to restrict access to care for low income families on Medicaid plus care for at-risk health groups like transgender Americans and immigrants. So how are healthcare leaders navigating these uncertain times? Today we're bringing you a live episode recorded at the Boston Globes Health Equity Summit in May. It's a conversation with Dr. Kevin Churchwell, CEO of Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Churchwell and host Shirley Leung discuss how major changes at the federal level are impacting healthcare workers and patient care in Boston and beyond.

The 4th of July. What does it mean to you? This week it's America's birthday, a day that recognizes the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a blueprint for Democracy. It's a celebration that comes around every year, yet this time it feels different. Globe Opinion asked readers and community members to reflect on what it means to be an American today. Tune into this special episode featuring a heartfelt collection of voices and perspectives, and check out Globe Opinion's full package marking Independence Day here.

Kevin Sack is a longtime reporter who spent much of his career writing long-form pieces for the New York Time. Then in 2015, he helped cover one of the most horrific massacres in recent US history, the killing of nine parishioners who were attending Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The story launched Sack on what would become a 10 year project to document the history of Mother Emanuel, one of the oldest and most influential black churches in America.  The book, which is out now, explores stories of the enslaved and emancipated Black people who created and sustained the church against all odds in a bastion of the confederacy. The book also grapples with eternal questions of forgiveness and resilience a decade after this terrible tragedy.

Today, we’re sharing a special episode from Endless Thread, a podcast from our friends at WBUR. Brooke Eby was 33 when she was diagnosed with ALS. Since then, she’s gained a huge following for her honest and often hilarious videos about the realities of living with the disease. In this episode, Brooke speaks with Endless Thread hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson about the long road to her diagnosis, how humor has helped her cope, and what she hopes to change for future ALS patients. Follow Endless Thread wherever you get your podcasts.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement is making itself known in Massachusetts. Federal immigration officials say they’ve arrested nearly 1,500 people over the last month in what they're calling, “Operation Patriot.” ICE officers have taken people off the streets, on their way to school, and from courthouses. They’ve made it clear that the Commonwealth is a target. Today on Say More, Boston Globe Politics Reporter Samantha J. Gross and Globe Opinion Columnist Marcela Garcia join Shirley Leung for a look at what ICE’s mounting presence in the area means for local immigrant communities… and what local leaders are doing about it.

With the moving of tassels and tossing of caps, the school year has come to a close at Harvard. And what a tumultuous year it has been. President Donald Trump has gone to war with the nation's most elite university. The White House has canceled a sweeping array of grants and contracts worth billions of dollars with no plans to let up. Then, in late May, Trump moved to prohibit international students from enrolling at Harvard. Harvard has filed lawsuit after lawsuit to stop Trump from destroying what makes the university great, but as we head into summer, the school is at a crossroads with much of its fate hanging in the courts. Globe Higher Education Reporter Hilary Burns joins “Say More” host Shirley Leung to discuss what’s next for Harvard.

When we think about being young, we picture a time of exploration and discovering who we are. What we don't picture? Cancer. But there's a worrying trend in the cancer world with  young adults getting cancer at higher rates, and scientists don't know why. Kelly Spill was 28 years old when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She was pregnant when she first noticed symptoms. Doctor after doctor told her not to worry. When she was finally diagnosed, her cancer was Stage 3. This week on “Say More,” Kelly’s story of treatment and survival. Later a conversation with Dr. Andrea Cercek, an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, who leads the first clinic in the world to specialize in young people with colorectal cancers.

For years, journalist Larry Ingrassia thought his family was tragically unlucky. His mother, two sisters, and brother all died of cancer. Later in life, he understood it was no coincidence: threaded throughout his family’s DNA was a hereditary cancer gene, vastly increasing their risk of the deadly disease. In this episode, Shirley talks to Larry about the moment he discovered the cause, the difficult choice of getting himself tested, and how greater knowledge of family history can lead to monitoring that saves lives. Email us at saymore@globe.com.

Cancer doctor Barrett Rollins only discovered the extent of his wife’s advanced cancer when she collapsed at work, revealing a football sized breast tumor. Barrett’s wife Jane, also a world-class cancer researcher, confounded her entire community when it was revealed that she had hidden her own cancer diagnosis for years, only sharing the truth when it was too late. On this episode of The C-Word: Stories of Cancer, Shirley and Barrett discuss the complex psychology of cancer, why people struggle to face this disease, and the heartbreaking experience of watching a loved one suffer. Email us at saymore@globe.com.

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee became famous with his epic nonfiction book about cancer, “The Emperor of All Maladies.” The book shows that if there’s one constant in cancer research, it’s that it’s always changing. On this episode of “The C-Word: Stories of Cancer,” Shirley talks to Dr. Mukherjee about how his time living and working in Boston changed him as a doctor. They discuss the hopeful progress we’ve made in curing cancer - and the challenges that persist. Email us at saymore@globe.com.