Explain Boston to Me artwork

Places & Travel · Lee Stabert

Explain Boston to Me

by Lee Stabert

Podcaster and Philly transplant Lee Stabert learns about Boston. She'll never be a native, but she might just learn to speak the language.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Romneycare was a buddy-cop story with Ian Coss of The Big Dig

Ian Coss is back! This time, he's discussing season four of his GBH podcast, The Big Dig. This iteration — titled "Mitt & Ted, a healthcare story" — centers on the passag

Oct 7
1 h 08 min

Bill Russell with Dart Adams

In this episode, we're speaking with returning guest Dart Adams about Celtics legend Bill Russell. He goes deep on the superstar's personality, his activism, his groundbr

Sep 30
57 min

Making Shoes — then and now — in New England with Gregory Cordeiro

In this episode, we're chatting with Gregory Cordeiro of Easymoc. This shoe industry vet talks about the history of making footwear in New England, the talent base that k

Sep 23
1 h 17 min

Government Center with Noah Harper

We're talking about a project that transformed downtown Boston, for good or for ill. City planner Noah Harper talks us through the history of Government Center, from Scol

Sep 16
56 min

East Boston and living in the shadow of Logan Airport with Joshua Lown

In this episode, we're talking about East Boston with researcher and resident Joshua Lown. How did this series of soggy islands become a dense urban neighborhood? What is

Sep 9
1 h 12 min

Boston baked beans with Amy Traverso (Rewind)

There’s a reason they call it “Beantown.” In this week’s rerun, Yankee Magazine food editor Amy Traverso takes us through the history of this iconic food — and explains w

Sep 2
39 min

Boston Movie Club: Fever Pitch (Rewind)

In this Boston Movie Club REWIND, we’re talking about Fever Pitch, the 2005 romcom starring Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore, and the 2004 Red Sox. Joining me to dig into thi

Aug 26
57 min

Gillette Stadium and the economics of sports in Boston with Victor Matheson

In this episode, we're talking with economics professor Victor Matheson about the history of Gillette Stadium and Boston's aversion to stadium funding more broadly. The c

Aug 19
1 h 12 min

Thoreau, Emerson, Fuller and the Transcendentalists with Peter Wirzbicki

On this episode, we're talking about an intellectual movement that changed the world — and was born right here in the Boston area. From Walden Pond to "Self-Reliance" to

Aug 12
44 min

What your New England summer destination says about you with Zach Remi

We're joined by Zach Remi aka @new_england_dad to talk about what your New England summer vacation says about you. From Maine to Martha's Vineyard, New Hampshire to Cape

Aug 5
47 min

Boston in the 1970s with Joseph Nevins

We're talking with Joseph Nevins, a professor and co-author of A People's Guide to Greater Boston, about this seminal decade in Boston history. From busing to the Bicente

Jul 29
48 min

Boston coffee culture with Jim Varney of Wavelength Coffee Roasters

We're chatting with Jim Varney of Wavelength Coffee Roasters about local coffee culture — from Dunkin and Coffee Connection to Keurig and $8 pour-overs. What does it mean

Jul 22
52 min

Saving — and occasionally scrapping — Boston's Historic Buildings with Peter Vanderwarker and Dr. Rebecca Kemper

This conversation focuses on Boston's wealth of historic buildings — and the advantages and challenges that result. Peter Vanderwarker and Dr. Rebecca Kemper from Histori

Jul 15
54 min

Nantucket with Julie Gerstenblatt

We're hopping on a ferry and heading to the "The Little Grey Lady of the Sea." Author Julie Gerstenblatt is here to talk us through her personal relationship to Nantucket

Jul 8
1 h 11 min

Tripledeckers with Matthew Dickey aka Streetscape Curator (REWIND)

I'm down the [Jersey] shore, so it's rerun time! This is one of the show's most popular episodes ever. We’re talking tripledeckers, that iconic piece of the local urban f

Jul 1
36 min

Running a restaurant in Boston with Nick Dixon

In this episode, we're chatting with chef and restauranteur Nick Dixon about what it actually takes to run a successful spot in the city of Boston, from the cost of doing

Jun 24
54 min

Polar Seltzer with Jacqueline Cain

Crack a cold one! In this episode, we're talking about Polar Seltzer, a staple of fridges and coolers across New England. This Worcester-based company has been in busines

Jun 17
50 min

Putting Boston on a T-Shirt with Chris Wrenn

In this episode, we're chatting with Chris Wrenn, author of Fenway Punk: How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball's Greatest Rivalry. He talks "Yankees Suck," goin

Jun 10
56 min

Provincetown with Courtney Trautman

This week, it's just the tip — of Cape Cod! We're talking Provincetown with Courtney Trautman a South End transplant with a deep love of this seaside gay mecca. Philly a

Jun 3
44 min

Summer on Cape Cod with Joe Fenti (REWIND)

It's re-run time, as Lee is off getting ready for the launch of ArtPhilly's What Now: 2026 festival. To that end, we're kicking off summer by chatting about Cape Cod. Sha

May 27
29 min

Chart trend

Position in the Places & Travel chart (US), last 90 days.

#44
all-time peak
4
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Explain Boston to Me ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 7, 2026).

#188 ▼ 24 Places & Travel US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

As someone who also is a Boston transplant, I really enjoy the guests and them discussing whatever expertise / topic on the podcast. Going as niche as Allston Christmas and as historical as the Boston Tea Party gives a variety of great topics and there’s definitely something for everyone. I usually skip the first 10-15 (maybe longer?) of the host talking about her week, cause sometimes I feel like it could be shorter. Also I stopped listening so frequently since I found the host a little judgey or making random assumptions but I guess the point is she is doing this to be more open about a new city/culture anyways. Worth a try / coming back to every once in a while.

cosmiclove · Apr 2026

I love this podcast so much - I just moved to Boston six months ago and it has really helped me learn about my new city. Thank you, Lee!

Karen from TWD 'Cast · Mar 2026

I love Explain Boston to Me! This has been my favorite podcast for about a year and a half. When I initially discovered this podcast I completely binged as many episodes as possible! Now I listen weekly and look forward to each episode. I am a New England native and lived in Boston for 12 years. I went to college in the city and minored in history. If you love learning more about Boston culture and history, this podcast hits the spot! I recently moved to Portsmouth NH and miss Boston dearly. This podcast helps me feel connected to the city. My favorite episodes have been the Boston Brahmin and Market Basket ones. A fun new topic idea could be the beach pizza wars in the Merrimack Valley (Tripoli vs Cristy’s)! As someone who recently moved from Boston to another city, I completely understand and appreciate Lee’s desire to share her love of Philadelphia at the beginning of each episode. To all the haters, try tapping the fast forward button and think about spreading more kindness!

DRF1993 · Mar 2026

Started listening before moving to Boston, and your history and tips have really lit a fire for me! Thank you so much for teaching me about my adopted home town!

sportyspicesage · Jan 2026

I enjoy the podcast, but it feels more like a podcast about Philadelphia half the time. I was a regular listener, but the excessive talk about Philadelphia on a podcast that’s about Boston is tiring. The guests can be great, but some topics are not researched enough and the takes can be a hit or miss. There’s a lot of surface level topics that don’t focus on the intricacies of our communities. One person cannot be an expert on a neighborhood - maybe you’re missing a wider perspective from others?

G.Tucker · Mar 2026

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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About Explain Boston to Me on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Explain Boston to Me, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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