Best WCAI Podcasts (2025)

1
Restoring bog habitat 49:35

16h ago49:35

49:35

Restoring New England's coastline: it once had vast salt marshes and unobstructed riparian habitats.By Mindy Todd

1
Planning for our final stage of life 48:28

1d ago48:28

48:28

Have plans in place for finances, estate, and health care.By Mindy Todd

1
The changing soundscape of early May 4:13

2d ago4:13

4:13

While the turn of the calendar to May brings an avalanche of phenological change to yards and woods, maybe none is so obvious, and welcome, as the change in the morning soundscape.By Mark Faherty

1
Edible Native Plants 49:01

3d ago49:01

49:01

An interview with foraging expert and author Russ CohenBy Mindy Todd

1
What you learn while hitchhiking 3:58

3d ago3:58

3:58

The most important teacher I ever had was not some Harvard professor, or one of many newspaper editors who carved up my prose. It wasn’t even a person, a whole person anyway. It was an appendage.By Seth Rolbein

1
News Roundup: Joint Base brush fire; towns vote on stopping Pilgrim wastewater evaporation 48:56

7d ago48:56

48:56

This week: Local fire departments join to battle a brush fire at Joint Base Cape Cod. And, should the Pilgrim Nuclear Plant be allowed to continue evaporating contaminated wastewater — local towns will get to vote their opinions. Also: AmeriCorps Cape Cod faces the funding axe.By Steve Junker

1
The changing media landscape 49:33

7d ago49:33

49:33

We talk with former CBS News President Andrew Heyward about the changing media landscape.

1
The kites are back 3:43

9d ago3:43

3:43

It’s not even May, and the “Swallow-tailed Kite triangle” of Cape Cod is already popping off with early sightings. There were no fewer than five reports of this improbably graceful hawk over the last week.By Mark Faherty

1
Peculiar and superior 16:10

10d ago16:10

16:10

Writer, naturalist and Cape Cod Notebook contributor Dennis Minsky joins us to discuss his latest collection of essays, Peculiar and Superior, A Year Rounder in Provincetown.

1
The Wampanoag Story 33:19

10d ago33:19

33:19

We are the Land is a community devised play that shares the Wampanoag Experience through story, dance and spoken word.

1
Lichen on a drizzly day 3:25

10d ago3:25

3:25

What really impresses me at this time of year, at any time of year, actually, are the lichens. These otherworldly beings, growing on tree bark and branches, spreading on the ground or on rocks or gravestones, seem to thrive in any weather.By Dennis Minsky

1
News Roundup: Tributes to a Vineyard Icon; Fishermen Concerned at Start of Season 46:16

14d ago46:16

46:16

A busy week in local and regional news

1
Changing the Perception of Incarcerated People 49:28

15d ago49:28

49:28

A look at the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice

1
The Guatemala Aid Fund 24:16

15d ago24:16

24:16

Joining us to talk about the work of the Guatemala Aid Fund and how a Massachusetts family started it all we welcome Bethany Zeeb Eisenberg and Pedro de Leon, Director of Fatimas Children’s Home and the Association to Eradicate Poverty, organizations that partner with Guatemala Aid Fund.

1
A moving portrait of loss 25:13

15d ago25:13

25:13

We talk with artist, poet and novelist Lauren Wolk about her latest book Candle Island. Set on a small island off the coast of Maine it’s a moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art.http://www.laurenwolk.com/

1
Expanding access to local food is more important than ever 4:46

15d ago4:46

4:46

By Elspeth Hay

1
New arrivals are coming every day 4:23

16d ago4:23

4:23

Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite garden accessory, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Quite a few have been reported already, with the first sighted back on the 17th in Brewster.By Mark Faherty

1
Board games are more popular than ever 49:07

17d ago49:07

49:07

A look at the popularity of board games, new and traditional.

1
The legacy of conservation land on the Cape and Islands 49:37

21d ago49:37

49:37

Enjoying thousands of acres of open space on The Cape and Islands.By Mindy Todd

1
News Roundup: Flanagan pressured to step down; Sagamore Bridge neighbors speak out 49:04

21d ago49:04

49:04

This week: State representative Chris Flanagan from Cape Cod has been indicted, but will he step down from office? Neighbors of the Sagamore Bridge speak out on the pain of being in the path of new construction. And: a chilling video from New Bedford raises questions about federal immigration enforcement.…

1
A Korean Natural Farming teacher on the relationships that create healthy soil 5:23

22d ago5:23

5:23

This week on the Local Food Report, a Korean Natural Farming teacher on the relationships that create healthy soil.By Elspeth Hay

1
The psychology of happiness 49:28

23d ago49:28

49:28

Our panel of behavior health experts look at ways we can change our behavior to feel happier.By Mindy Todd

1
Rare birds in a secret location 4:57

23d ago4:57

4:57

It’s a classic birding bummer — sometimes a rare bird comes to light too late for birders to see it, to the chagrin of those who missed out.By Mark Faherty

1
Gardens in April 48:59

24d ago48:59

48:59

Spring garden advice with Roberta Clark.By Mindy Todd

1
Don’t give in to panic 3:52

24d ago3:52

3:52

The other day I took some old friends up to Great Point. The weather wasn’t particularly good — Nantucket in March, we kept grumbling. I don’t think they’d mind me saying old friends, as it’s true. Both are older than me by a mile, and they don’t get around as easily as they once did.By Mary Bergman

1
News Roundup: 'Hands Off' rallies draw thousands across Cape region; new public meetings on Cape bridges 49:31

28d ago49:31

49:31

This week: A rally in Hyannis drew more than a thousand people protesting a range of actions by the Trump administration, joining other rallies around the region. Also: a new round of public meetings is planned for the replacement of The Cape bridges. And, the new Department of Education is taking back millions of dollars from New Bedford schools.…

1
The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative 48:01

29d ago48:01

48:01

An interview with Dan Wolf and Paul Niedzwiecki.By Mindy Todd

1
An apple expert from Maine on the importance of diversity in our trees 4:25

29d ago4:25

4:25

John Bunker has spent the past fifty years learning everything he can about North American apple varieties.By Elspeth Hay

1
A visit from a Pacific Loon 3:48

30d ago3:48

3:48

On Sunday, a rare bird was discovered on Great Pond in Eastham, driving local birders loony. This unassuming gray and white waterbird was in the wrong kind of water in the wrong town on the wrong coast.By Mark Faherty

1
A detour to Scargo Tower 4:09

1M ago4:09

4:09

Those of you who travel the north side of Cape Cod know that Route 6A has been closed in Dennis for several months, and a detour sends drivers either north through Sesuit Neck or south to Scargo Hill Road.By Susan Moeller

1
An apple expert from Maine shares his passion 4:51

1M ago4:51

4:51

Earlier this year, I finally made the journey north to meet John Bunker — a farmer in his 70s who arguably knows more about apple varieties than almost anyone alive in New England today.By Elspeth Hay

1
When Florida comes to Cape Cod 3:40

1M ago3:40

3:40

This year it turned out that, as I was heading to Florida, Florida was heading to Cape Cod. As soon as I got down there I saw the rare bird alert from back home blowing up with Florida birds, most of which I didn’t even see while I was in Florida.By Mark Faherty

1
Hunting for hazelnuts 4:47

1M ago4:47

4:47

This week on the Local Food Report, a naturalist takes Elspeth hunting for hazelnuts.By Elspeth Hay

1
The return of the Ospreys 4:13

1M ago4:13

4:13

March may come in like a lion, but around here it goes out on the crooked wings of an Osprey.By Mark Faherty

1
The baddest crab 4:17

1M ago4:17

4:17

The European green crab has quite the reputation. They’re smart ... in a dangerous way. They’re voracious, predatory and they eat their young!By Tom Moroney

1
When times get tough, Martha’s Vineyard residents practice gleaning 4:51

2M ago4:51

4:51

This week part three of a mini-series on big picture local food issues—today with a focus on what we can change with a little hyper-local creativity.By Elspeth Hay

1
Shorebirds of early spring 4:08

2M ago4:08

4:08

They’re baaaaack! Here on the cusp of astronomical spring, those adorable little beach goers that certain people love to hate have arrived, or at least the first few scouts have. Piping Plovers have been seen in Orleans, Hyannis, and Sandwich, and more are likely out there on the bleak beaches of March…

1
Echolocation 3:23

2M ago3:23

3:23

My father stands in the doorway of Henry David Thoreau’s cabin on Walden Pond. Of course, there is no cabin anymore, instead the cabin’s footprint is marked with narrow granite stones, giving the whole place an unintended funerary feeling.By Mary Bergman

1
Weekend meals help hungry kids 4:44

2M ago4:44

4:44

This week on the Local Food Report, weekend meals to help hungry kids.By Elspeth Hay

1
Sights and sounds of early "spring" 4:12

2M ago4:12

4:12

By Mark Faherty

1
Pudelhund, meet Canis Latrans 3:30

2M ago3:30

3:30

My dog America, a full-on poodle, loves to stare into pines and oaks that quill out of a hillside down to the marsh. She’ll do this sitting on a comfy bed by a window, standing outside on a deck, or curled atop pine needles.By Seth Rolbein

1
Rebuilding our regional food system 4:29

2M ago4:29

4:29

Liz Wiley is executive director of the Marion Institute — a non-profit focused on improving human and environmental health and food quality in southeastern Massachusetts. And when I asked her what she’s working on right now, she said regional communication.By Elspeth Hay

Podcasts Worth a Listen

WCAI Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen