Explain Boston to Me

Lee Stabert

Boston

The Departed

Gentrification

Good Will Hunting

Philadelphia

Cambridge

Boston Red Sox

American Revolution

South Boston

Kowloon

Boston Brahmins

Harvard University

Boston Culture

Paul Revere

Boston Massacre

Fenway Park

Boston Dive Bars

Dunkin' Donuts

The Town

Irish Immigration

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

155 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	147	Founded	3 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Society & CulturePlaces & TravelHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

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. Sharing his thoughts, feelings, and shark avoidance tips is Joe Fenti, standup come... more

27 May 2026 • 29 min • Most popular

Boston Market (IT'S BOSTON CHICKEN!!!) with Tanya Edwards

In this episode, writer Tanya Edwards tells us about the rise and fall of Boston Market (née Boston Chicken), which just closed its final Massachusetts location. From two young Northeastern grads with a rotisserie and a dream, to Carver Sandwiches, t... more

20 May 2026 • 42 min • Popular

Boston's Spaghetti Streets with Andy Woodruff

Whether it was cow paths or Puritan obstinance, the roots of Boston's grid-less city run deep. To talk about the city's unique geography, we're joined by Andy Woodruff, author of the new book Boston in 50 Maps.

Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toy... more

13 May 2026 • 49 min

Explain Boston to Me LIVE! at the Athenaeum

Explain Boston to Me took to the stage at the Boston Athenaeum, a storied institution that reflects the history and values of its home city. Guests Leah Rosovsky and John Buchtel spoke about 19th century Boston, the origins of the Athenaeum, and the ... more

6 May 2026 • 55 min

Key Facts

Accepts Guests

Accepts Sponsors

Contact Information

Podcast Host

Number of Listeners

Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!NPR

The Big DigGBH News

The DailyThe New York Times

ThroughlineNPR

RadiolabWNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Tanya Edwards

Writer covering New England for publications like The Boston Globe, Eater, Yankee Magazine, Rhode Island Monthly, and more

The Boston Globe, Eater, Yankee Magazine

Episode: Boston Market (IT'S BOSTON CHICKEN!!!) with Tanya Edwards

Andy Woodruff

Cartographer and author of Boston in 50 Maps

Self-employed / Cartographer

Episode: Boston's Spaghetti Streets with Andy Woodruff

Leah Rosovsky

Director of the Boston Athenaeum

Boston Athenaeum

Episode: Explain Boston to Me LIVE! at the Athenaeum

John Buchtel

Curator of Rare Books and Head of Special Collections

Boston Athenaeum

Episode: Explain Boston to Me LIVE! at the Athenaeum

Richard Auffrey

Food writer and historian, The Passionate Foodie

The Passionate Foodie

Episode: Mythbusting in Boston's Chinatown with Richard Auffrey

Glenn Stout

Writer and Fenway Park historian

Author, Fenway Park histories (Red Sox Century, Fenway 1912)

Episode: Don't Take Fenway Park for Granted with Glenn Stout

Dr. Rufus Jackson Faulk

Adjunct professor at Roxbury Community College; restaurant owner in Dorchester; former senior policy advisor

The Mix (Dorchester); Roxbury Community College; City of Boston

Episode: Roxbury with Dr. Rufus J. Faulk

Geoff Kelly

Retired FBI agent; lead investigator on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist for 22 years

FBI

Episode: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist with Geoff Kelly

Hidetaka Hirota

Associate professor of history, UC Berkeley; expert on 19th century US immigration history

University of California, Berkeley

Episode: A new look at Irish immigration to Boston with Hidetaka Hirota

Hosts

Lee Stabert

Podcaster focusing on Boston culture and history; hosts most episodes.

Pat Toomey

Returning guest and South Boston native; appears across episodes.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 155 ratings

Boston fashion!!
Thank you for covering that topic! Comforting to know I’m not alone
Apple Podcasts
5
WaitWhat1986
United States22 days ago
Fun Podcast about Boston Facts
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 ... more
Apple Podcasts
3
cosmiclove
United Statesa month ago
A New England Treasure
Love this podcast it is a wealth of info on Boston and New England !
Apple Podcasts
5
Anvil man blacksmith
United States2 months ago
Perfect podcast to learn about Boston
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!
Apple Podcasts
5
Karen from TWD 'Cast
United States2 months ago
My Favorite Podcast
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. Thi... more
Apple Podcasts
5
DRF1993
United States2 months ago

Embed These Reviews on a Website

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners enjoy new city perspectives from outsiders who still capture authentic Boston vibes.

Positive sentiment about the show's depth on local culture, with occasional critiques about guest variety.

Listeners appreciate the Boston-focused storytelling and guest diversity, with many praising accessible, engaging history explanations.

Some reviews note occasional unevenness in guest depth or topic handling, and a few compare content to another city, which isn't always relevant.

Fans highlight the host's ability to connect personal anecdotes with broader Boston lore, making complex history feel relatable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#203	United States/Society & Culture/Places & Travel
Apple Podcasts	#245	Hong Kong/Society & Culture/Places & Travel

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Boston's Spaghetti Streets with Andy Woodruff

Q: Why does Boston look the way it does, with its wiggly streets instead of a grid?

The city grew from a mostly unplanned settlement with natural paths evolving into roads; the shoreline and early town center determined where routes formed, and only later did some areas, like Back Bay, adopt grids when they were developed on filled land.

Boston's Spaghetti Streets with Andy Woodruff

Q: Can you introduce yourself and tell us why you're qualified to speak on Boston culture and geography?

I'm Andy Woodruff, a cartographer and author focused on Boston maps; I've spent years documenting Boston's streets and helped produce a book, Boston in 50 Maps, that highlights the city's unique geography.

Mythbusting in Boston's Chinatown with Richard Auffrey

Q: What was the first Chinese restaurant in Boston and where was it located?

The earliest restaurant claims are murky, but Hong Far Low is often cited as an early establishment, with evidence suggesting it opened around 1879 and served chop suey, though later archival work casts doubt on the exact opening date and founders; other early restaurants appeared on Harrison Avenue by the 1880s.

Mythbusting in Boston's Chinatown with Richard Auffrey

Q: Can you introduce yourself and explain why you're qualified to speak on Boston culture and Chinatown's origins?

I'm Richard Auffrey, a lifelong Massachusetts resident and food writer with an extensive background researching Boston's Chinatown; I've written an 18-part series on its history and numerous articles on Chinese dishes and their origins, supported by newspaper and archival sources.

Roxbury with Dr. Rufus J. Faulk

Q: How has Roxbury changed, and what does the future look like?

He notes demographic shifts toward renters, rising housing costs, and new amenities, while stressing that the community must leverage advocacy and coordinated city-wide action to ensure inclusive growth, affordable housing, and local economic development.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Explain Boston to Me

What is Explain Boston to Me about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners get a rich tour of Boston through culture, history, food, sports, and neighborhood life. Episodes frequently explore historic events, local institutions, and everyday traditions, often weaving in personal anecdotes and guest expertise to illuminate how Boston's past shapes its present. A standout trait is the host's outsider's perspective paired with deep local curiosity, producing approachable yet deeply informed conversations about clubs, seafood, urban development, and distinctive Boston stories that feel both educational and entertaining. The show often features prominent local historians, chefs, journalists, and community figures, delivering a vibrant mix of archival context and contemporary insights that can appeal to native... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Explain Boston to Me?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Explain Boston to Me. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Explain Boston to Me and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Explain Boston to Me get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Explain Boston to Me, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Explain Boston to Me?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Explain Boston to Me, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Explain Boston to Me have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Explain Boston to Me has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Explain Boston to Me?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Explain Boston to Me:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. The Big Dig
3. The Daily
4. Throughline
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Explain Boston to Me are there?

Explain Boston to Me launched 3 years ago and published 147 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Explain Boston to Me?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Explain Boston to Me?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Explain Boston to Me from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Explain Boston to Me?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Explain Boston to Me. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Explain Boston to Me?

Recent guests on Explain Boston to Me include:

1. Tanya Edwards
2. Andy Woodruff
3. Leah Rosovsky
4. John Buchtel
5. Richard Auffrey
6. Glenn Stout
7. Dr. Rufus Jackson Faulk
8. Geoff Kelly

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.

Try it free for 7 days