Best WCAI Podcasts (2024)

This week: The state has a new head of Coastal Zone Management, which could impact climate planning around our region; a driver eluded police on Martha's Vineyard, crashed through a security gate, and went headlong into the water off the end of the Oak Bluffs ferry terminal; and, Orleans is getting some big public art.…

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Learning about and protecting endangered whales 49:29

Play Pause

2h ago49:29

49:29

Learning about whales, including through musical simulations.By Mindy Todd

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Making bagels in the dawn kitchen 4:31

7d ago4:31

4:31

There aren’t many things that will get me out of bed at 5:30 in the morning. But bagels—or really just the prospect of learning how to make them—is one. Recently, I stood in Wellfleet’s Bagel Hound with owner Ellery Althaus, while the windows were still dark, staring a pile of dough.By Elspeth Hay

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Borderline personality disorder 49:34

1d ago49:34

49:34

The treatment of mood and personality disorders.By Mindy Todd

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Let's talk about that flood of spring overshoot migrants 3:25

1d ago3:25

3:25

The first hummingbird was reported on the Cape, as expected for mid-April, but this eagerly anticipated annual event was overshadowed by spring overshoot fever — southerly winds brought, well, a windfall of rare birds to the Cape and Islands.By Mark Faherty

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Gardening in April 49:38

2d ago49:38

49:38

Our monthly gardens program with Roberta Clark is back.By Mindy Todd

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News Roundup: Nature speaks; Harwich has drinking water difficulties 49:33

12d ago49:33

49:33

This week: An earthquake, an eclipse… what else could happen? Ahh, maybe better not to ask! Meanwhile, firefighting foam gets into drinking water in Harwich—it’s not PFAS foam, but it’s not good to drink, either. And: what happens to Cuttyhunk island if the ferry can’t get into the harbor?By Steve Junker

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Science organizations: engaging in our communities 49:28

7d ago49:28

49:28

How science organizations engage in our communities.By Mindy Todd

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Black garlic, a popular choice for home cooks and chefs 4:00

14d ago4:00

4:00

Beau Valtz is standing in his Wellfleet kitchen in front of a giant pile of fresh garlic.He's wrapping heads of garlic tightly in tin foil.By Elspeth Hay

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Notorious pirates 49:35

8d ago49:35

49:35

Pirates and their influence on the emergence of America.By Mindy Todd

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Keep an eye and ear out for the uncommon birds of April 3:59

14d ago3:59

3:59

April isn’t my favorite month in the birding calendar, especially when its weather barely outperforms bleakest March, but it has its charms – the first hummingbirds and seabird migration among them.By Mark Faherty

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The science behind memory 49:28

9d ago49:28

49:28

The latest science of how memory works.By Mindy Todd

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News Roundup: Gov. comes to Barnstable; Mashpee Wampanoag triumph in lawsuit 44:33

13d ago44:33

44:33

This week: Governor Maura Healey comes to Barnstable to announce new support for families with preschoolers. And, a long legal battle ends as the Mashpee Wampanoag win rights to their tribal lands. Also: here comes the eclipse—you ready?By Steve Junker

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Sticky 49:15

14d ago49:15

49:15

The science of surfacesBy Mindy Todd

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Four trout varieties that are stocked in local waters 4:18

14d ago4:18

4:18

Recently I made a visit to the Sandwich fish hatchery. That’s where the state raises trout for stocking in local ponds and rivers and I spoke with Mike Clark who helps breed four different trout varieties.By Elspeth Hay

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Parenting young adults 49:33

15d ago49:33

49:33

By Mindy Todd

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Leave the leaves? 4:24

15d ago4:24

4:24

This week on The Bird Report: leaf litter, to leave or not to leave?By Mark Faherty

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Bird news in April 49:33

16d ago49:33

49:33

Spring is here and the birds ( and frogs) are singing more each day.By Mindy Todd

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News Roundup: Offshore wind deadline; concerns over radioactive evaporation 49:28

20d ago49:28

49:28

This week: A very big week for offshore wind, as the next round of major projects starts to take shape. And, every member of the state legislative delegation from Cape Cod, the Vineyard, Nantucket, and Plymouth – Democrat and Republican alike – agrees; they all signed a letter calling for the owner of Pilgrim Nuclear to stop evaporating radioactive…

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Atlantic Right Whale research 49:34

26d ago49:34

49:34

Biologists studying the critically endangered Atlantic Right Whale.By Mindy Todd

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One woman’s story of starting a food truck 4:51

22d ago4:51

4:51

By Elspeth Hay

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A royal is visiting us from the Arctic 3:01

22d ago3:01

3:01

You probably haven’t seen anything in the news about it, but I have reliable intel that a royal has quietly taken up residence on Cape Cod. In the Sagamore area, away from the gaze of paparazzi, a prince is spending some time along the canal and trying to blend in with the locals.By Mark Faherty

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A primer on Cape Cod clams 5:14

28d ago5:14

5:14

A primer on Cape Cod clams—local species and how to handle each one in the kitchen.By Elspeth Hay

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Early birds on Cape Cod 3:47

29d ago3:47

3:47

This week on The Bird Report, sometimes birds take the wrong exit off the freeway.By Mark Faherty

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Waxwing poetic 3:50

1M ago3:50

3:50

On two occasions over the last week I found myself driving slowly around some back streets in Yarmouth Port, craning my neck, looking like a cat burglar casing the neighborhood. Or more likely around here, an overly aggressive realtor looking to pounce on a potential new listing.By Mark Faherty

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Pruning wild blueberries and our relationship with the natural world 4:36

2M ago4:36

4:36

This week, a young man in Truro on pruning wild blueberries and our relationship with the natural world.By Elspeth Hay

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Woodcocks and more signs of spring 3:53

1M ago3:53

3:53

As the season of mud settles in, this seems like a good time to talk about one if its biggest stars. This worm slurping dumpling of a bird dances its way back into our lives each March, when the aerial displays of the male become staple program fodder for nature centers and bird clubs everywhere.By Mark Faherty

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Skate 101: Three local cooks share their favorite recipes 4:07

2M ago4:07

4:07

For a long time, skate has been considered trash fish. But with local groundfish like haddock and cod increasingly off the menu, home cooks and local chefs are turning more and more to this tasty shark relative.By Elspeth Hay

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Solitaire and mixed spring signals 4:14

2M ago4:14

4:14

I’ve been getting a lot of mixed signals from Mother Earth lately. On my early morning walk yesterday I saw an optimistic chipmunk, then a freshly dead garter snake that probably should have stayed in bed another two months.By Mark Faherty

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Turnip latkes from a chef in Orleans 4:20

2M ago4:20

4:20

It’s that time of year again—we’re deep into storage vegetable season and I’m looking for recipe inspiration.By Elspeth Hay

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Red Knots and horseshoe crabs 4:19

2M ago4:19

4:19

As I write this, Red Knots feel very far away. To be more precise, 7000 miles and three months away. These Arctic nesting shorebirds are marathon migrators, traveling from well above the Arctic circle to wintering areas at the other end of the planet each year.By Mark Faherty

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Birds in love 4:31

2M ago4:31

4:31

It’s Valentine's Day, which means it’s time to sort through the picked over remains of the greeting cards to find the least groanworthy one. But us people aren’t the only ones suffering though – I mean reveling in love this time of year – it’s also courtin’ season for many species of birds.By Mark Faherty

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Be on the lookout for ducks and eagles 3:31

2M ago3:31

3:31

This past weekend I was tasked with leading a duck and eagle safari on behalf of the remarkable Harwich Conservation Trust. With a full roster of 15 hopeful birdwatchers, my plan was to check various spots around the big pond complex in Harwich and Brewster, a great area to see winter ducks and the eagles that eat them.…

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A farmer goes into the schools on the Outer Cape 4:42

3M ago4:42

4:42

About ten years ago when farmer Stephanie Rein’s kids were in elementary school in Truro, she noticed something about local garden-based education.By Elspeth Hay

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An ode to a sparrow 3:27

3M ago3:27

3:27

Yesterday was a typical Tuesday. I was working at my desk at Wellfleet Bay sanctuary, while trickling through the back of my mind was that little stream of anxiety about what this week’s bird report should be about.By Mark Faherty