Nightside With Dan Rea

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!2025 Jimmy Fund Walk - Sunday, October 5th Guest: Jessica Abbott - Assistant Vice President of the Jimmy Fund Walk Big Apple Circus Returns to Boston at Suffolk Downs October 9th-November 2nd, 2025 - The Long Awaited Homecoming Guest: Joe Gold - Big Apple Circus producer The 41st All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at the Topsfield Fair!  It will be held on Friday, October 3rd.Guest: George Hoomis - co-chair of the All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off What Late-Night Eating Does to Your Gut and Sleep… New research suggests dairy can trigger unsettling or vivid dreams by disturbing digestion and disrupting sleep. How to Rest Easier with Dr. Julie’s Tips… Guest: Dr. Julie Gatza - Co-founder of the Florida Wellness Institute, Health educator

The latest MCAS test results were released, and it shows that Massachusetts students’ test scores are still below pre-pandemic levels. The results showed that high schoolers fared worse on the MCAS than grades 3-8. This was the first year that high schoolers took the test knowing that a passing MCAS score is no longer a graduation requirement…which may be playing a role in the results. What can be done to reverse course and get those tests scores back up? Should we be worried?*Pedro Martinez, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, denied our invitation to join the conversation.*

The latest MCAS test results were released, and it shows that Massachusetts students’ test scores are still below pre-pandemic levels. The results showed that high schoolers fared worse on the MCAS than grades 3-8. This was the first year that high schoolers took the test knowing that a passing MCAS score is no longer a graduation requirement…which may be playing a role in the results. What can be done to reverse course and get those tests scores back up? Should we be worried?*Pedro Martinez, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, denied our invitation to join the conversation.*

The Sagamore Bridge replacement project is something that many Massachusetts drivers are looking forward to, hoping to have an easier drive to the Cape. However, not everyone is excited as part of the project includes taking 13 local properties by eminent domain. Property owners Marc and Joan Hendel spent decades of savings and two years waiting for their Cape Cod home to be built, only to be given a notice one month after moving in that their home was going to be taken away. Marc and Joan joined us to share their story as we discuss the Sagamore Bridge replacement project.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!LinkedIn survey, only 30% of individual contributors want to be promoted into management anytime soon. Guest: Jon Bowerman - Cofounder, Stealth ConsultingThe Paul Mahoney Memorial Golf Tournament Coming up at the Norwood Country Club Oct. 11th Guest: Richard Laham Why do movie theaters just keep rereleasing movies we’ve already seen? Hollywood’s new formula for success is apparently rereleasing old movies… Guest: Dr. Andy Draper – co-hosts the podcast, Off Script Film Review & a Web content manager at Meadows School of the ArtsHealey-Driscoll Administration Issues Evidence-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance to Ensure Access for Residents Guest: Dr. Shira Doron - Chief Infection Control Officer for Tufts Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center

For NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and have fun. This week, we brought back Brushes with Celebrity, a listener favorite.

We discussed the real-life story of the biggest FBI corruption scandal in history! The late Roger Wheeler, businessman and former owner of the World of Jai Alai, was murdered by the mob after uncovering an embezzlement scheme at the World of Jai Alai. How? By speaking with his head of security, Paul Rico, who unbeknownst to Wheeler was a former corrupt FBI agent with ties to the mob, about his embezzlement discovery. Dan was joined by the retired Tulsa police detective Mike Huff, who investigated Wheeler’s murder and took down Rico for his involvement, as well as David Wheeler, the son of Roger, who spent years fighting for justice.

Earlier this week on Monday evening we interviewed Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch in which he made spontaneous comments about the Catholic Church child sexual abuse scandal of several years ago in which he said, “That was mostly homosexual issues, not pedophilia.” Koch went on to say that “the level in which it happens with teachers and coaches is higher than it was percentage wise than the church.” The comments received lots of backlash from the public, Quincy school board and abuse survivors with some even calling for the mayor’s resignation. Dan addressed the comments made as we were joined by a sexual abuse survivor who was abused as a child by a Catholic priest, Father Porter, who was convicted. We invited other abuse survivors to share their story and let their voices be heard on NightSide

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!Why the brain hangs on to some memories but lets others fade…BU researchers sought out an answer to this…Guest: Leo Chenyang Lin (goes by Leo) How to best prepare for a job interview. What type of questions might come up? What’s the best way to present yourself?Guest: Laura Brown – Interview and Business Coach - co-author of the new book, Interview Speak: What Your Interviewer Really Wants You to Know What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)? There is an upcoming Walk Sept 28th to raise funds & awareness for CMT.Guest: Jill Ricci – a Mom and representative for the CMT Association - & Son Vittorio Ricci – Individual living with CMT is walking and cycling to end the rare, incurable disease her son lives with every day. A Cursed Brick Returns To the Old North Church after a string of Misfortunes…Guest: Nikki Stewart - Executive Director of Old North Illuminated, which operates the Old Nor

Earlier this week, President Trump and his Administration made claims about the correlation between autism and Tylenol or acetaminophen use during pregnancy, warning pregnant women not to use the drug. A mounting backlash has followed with medical and autism experts alike disagreeing with Trump’s claims. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to recommend acetaminophen in pregnancy and childhood when used at the lowest dose for the shortest duration. 

Earlier this week, President Trump and his Administration made claims about the correlation between autism and Tylenol or acetaminophen use during pregnancy, warning pregnant women not to use the drug. A mounting backlash has followed with medical and autism experts alike disagreeing with Trump’s claims. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to recommend acetaminophen in pregnancy and childhood when used at the lowest dose for the shortest duration. Mayo Clinic trained Rheumatologist Dr. Alfred Miller takes aim with the claims and believes the Trump Admin. is ignoring scientific studies regarding autism. Dr. Miller joined us to discuss.

During this age of AI, we will talk about the national movement, Responsible AI for America's Youth, which is a movement that ensures every child in the United States has the opportunity to become a responsible and confident user of artificial intelligence (AI). This effort puts students and educators at the center of shaping how AI is brought into schools, elevating their voices in the national conversation. Jeff Riley, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, now the Executive Director of Day of AI, checked in to discuss.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!The disappearance of Christopher Bird…disappeared on Sunday, July 29, 1984. He was last seen by a friend at the D&Q Stables in Windham. Guest: Emily Sweeney – Boston Globe Cold Case Files Reporter & Blotter Tales columnist Mass General Brigham will soon bill you when your doctor consults a specialist about your care. Guest: Jonathan Saltzman – Boston Globe reporter Gov. Maura Healey releases ‘vision’ for statewide high school graduation requirements Guest: Chris Van Buskirk – State House Reporter for the Boston Herald What is the disorder PANDAS or PANS? 33,000 (or one in 200) children in Massachusetts suffer today from what is now known as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (P.A.N.D.A.S.) or Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (P.A.N.S). -Upcoming Walk – Making Strikes for PANS & PANDAS. Saturday, Oct. 4 – Boston Common. Guest: 

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has a new book out on her short run for the White House. Have you read "107 Days"? Dan shared his thoughts and prediction from 2019. What did you think? 

After much drama and legal challenges over winning the 35-year multimillion dollar contract with the MassDOT to redevelop and operate 18 Massachusetts highway service plazas, Applegreen, has backed out of the deal. Will rival contract bidder Global Partners be awarded the contract or will the whole project get rebid? How will this shake out as MassDOT originally had a goal of beginning redevelopment this coming January…Jon Chesto, business reporter from the Boston Globe joined us to kick off the topic.

Do students really need a college degree? With growing criticism over higher education, how is higher ed reinventing itself? For a parent or student who might be worried about a future career mixed with the daunting reality of student loan debt, is a college education still a sound investment or is it unnecessary considering today’s changing economy? Newly instated President of Brandeis University, Arthur Levine is looking beyond the horizon on what higher education should be in the future joined us to discuss.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!As fall officially begins, the American Red Cross urges people to mark the new season with a lifesaving blood or platelet donation to help keep the blood supply strong. Guest: Jeff Hall – with Red Cross of Massachusetts Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln. This book touches on the relationship between Douglass and Lincoln. Guest: Jonathan White – co-author of this book & professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University and vice chair of The Lincoln Forum. & Author of over 20 books. Memorial set for prosecutor Assist. AG Paul McLaughlin who was gunned down by a gang member in 1995. Guest: Judge Jeffrey Locke The Massachusetts State Lottery’s new “Ghostbusters™” instant ticket game & more that’s new with the state lottery. Guest: Mark William Bracken - Executive Director of the MA Lottery

With the breaking news that Applegreen, the company with the winning bid to take control of Massachusetts' service areas, walking away from the lease talks, Dan opened the phones to Caller's Choice, with so many stories to discuss! 

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC Tuesday after being suspended and his show previously removed "indefinitely" after he made controversial comments regarding Charlie Kirk’s murder. Disney decided to reinstate Jimmy if you will after much Hollywood backlash and boycotts however not all media companies or networks that have ABC affiliates are going to air Kimmel. Local TV station owners Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group each announced this week they would not be carrying the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on their ABC affiliates. Will you be watching Kimmel's return if it's available for you to watch? Why or why not?

Tuesday President Trump spoke to the 80th United Nations General Assembly. During the President’s speech he touched on climate change, U.S. funding cuts, bashed the U.N. over teleprompter and escalator issues, told other European leaders their countries are “going to hell” over open border policies and rejected recognition of a Palestinian statehood calling it a reward for Hamas. We discussed an overview of all that occurred during the U.N. General Assembly.