Can You Teach A.I. Compassion?

Do You Like, Hate When People Say Like?

It’s another edition of “The Glitch Report” with Joan Donovan from the Critical Internet Studies Institute. She’ll talk about some implications of A.I. deepfake videos becoming indiscernible from the real thing, and the fun-house reality of right-wing podcaster Candace Owens – who’s been promoting a bizarre conspiracy theory about the death of Charlie Kirk.  Then, Neuroscientists Bob Datta and David Brann explain their groundbreaking research [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/science/nose-brain-smell-olfaction.html] mapping out how our brains register smell.  Lastly, Edgar checks in with Martha Barnette & Grant Barrett from the public radio show A Way With Words to answer some listener-submitted etymological curiosity questions. We’ll get into the origin of “dust bunnies,” and why New Englanders call drinking fountains “bubblers."

Why Are Bananas So Cheap?

First up, Edgar talks with Abagael Giles from Vermont Public about her recent piece on scientists working to save the American Elm. Then, As the cost of groceries rises, why do bananas remain so cheap? We get a primer in food supply chains, grocery store business models and fruit engineering from Sean Cash, economist at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition & Policy.  Lastly, it’s the June edition of “Ask The Remodeler,” with Mark Philben from Charlie Allen Renovations.

Can You Teach A.I. Compassion?

First up, it’s the latest edition of our A.I. News panel, this week with Harvard humanist chaplain Greg Epstein, former Executive Director of the National AI Advisory Committee Kathy Pham, and AI Ethics Lab founder Cansu Cansa.   Then, we get caught up on Four Things To Know, with Gal Tziperman-Lotan from the GBH Daily Newsletter.  Lastly, URI Greenhouse Manager Benjamin Robbins joins with the latest news around their soon-to-bloom corpse flower [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/09/metro/university-rhode-island-corpse-flower/].

What Are Archaeologists Digging Up In Charlestown?

First,  Edgar talks with Massport CMO John Raferty about what could potentially be the world’s largest soccer ball, which arrived at a park in East Boston on Friday.  Then, This Wednesday will mark 251 years since the Battle of Bunker Hill. We explore the battle's legacy with Julie Hall from the Charlestown Historical Society, ahead of an event Tuesday with GBH’s The Forum Network. Julie will join alongside archaeologists at an ongoing site dig [https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/archaeologists-digging-for-clues-about-battle-of-bunker-hill-fortification-find-key-gun-flint/article_320d4f9f-83ee-5fb6-aeda-e68b9b06f440.html], and a descendant of one of the soldiers who fought.  Lastly, Author Eric Moskowitz talks about his new book The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America.

Is There A Better Way To Board A Plane?

First up misinformation researcher Joan Donovan joins with Craig Newmark – founder of Craigslist – on internet scams in the age of A.I. Craig’s heading the public service campaign Take9 [https://pausetake9.org/]  with muppet Count von Count.  Then, we're learned about some under-explored Massachusetts and New England history with Greg Jackson, host of the podcast History That Doesn’t Suck, ahead of a show at the Wilbur. Lastly, we answer the question on everyones minds... Is there a better way to board an airplane? Edgar meets astrophysicist Jason Steffen, who claims to have designed the most scientifically-sound method for packing in passengers efficiently. We’ll also get some perspective from GBH transportation reporter: Jeremy Siegel.