Lee Stabert

Cambridge

Writer and Editor at Freelance

Host of Explain Boston to Me podcast. Editor in Chief @keystoneedge. Eater, music listener, Philly lover, one-time goat whisperer.

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Articles

Does Boston still drink? with Rachel Slade

1 week ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

In a recent Boston Magazine article, journalist Rachel Slade asked the question, “Does Boston still drink?” She’s here to explain her findings and to talk about local drinking culture. We get into the rise of NA options, the death of the neighborhood drive bar, and Gen Z’s changing tastes. Quinta Brunson talks MAC machines.
A Kiwi in Boston with Jacinda Arden, former PM of New Zealand

1 month ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

This week we have a very special guest: Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand. She also happens to be a local — at least for a few more months. We’re getting her hot takes on driving in Boston, New England weather, and how the city both met and defied her expectations. Arden’s memoir, A Different Kind of Power, will be released on June 3, 2025. She is appearing at the Chevalier Theater in Medford at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025. CLICK HERE for tickets. Philly cheesesteaks in Tokyo.
Public transit in Boston with Seth Kaplan

1 month ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

What are the worst things about Boston’s aging transit system? What are the best? And, most importantly, what does the future of the MBTA look like and how will it shape the city? This week, we’re chatting with Seth Kaplan of TransitMatters, an organization that uses data to improve local transportation systems. Matt Stahm’s new glove. Jalen Hurts skips the White House. Revere reenactment. Bill “Bae” Belichick and Jordan Hudson keep making news.
REWIND: Dunkin’ Donuts with Megan Johnson

1 month ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

While I’m on vacation, please enjoy my most popular episode of all time! This conversation with writer Megan Johnson touches on the mustachioed man (“time to make the donuts”), the iconic color scheme, the kinds of people you find in a Dunkin’, music festival brand activations, Coolattas, Ben Affleck, and so much more. Here’s a link to Casey Affleck’s SNL sketch. And here’s a pic of Ben buckling under the weight of the world while gathering his Dunkin’ order in 2020. Check out Megan on Instagram.
The Winter of 2015 with Chris Laudani aka the “Boston Shoveler”

1 month ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

In this episode, we take a trip back to 2015, aka the snowiest winter in Boston history. Our guest was just a humble bartender when he was thrust into viral fame for an act of civic pride. Hint: It’s no coincidence that we’re releasing this installment during marathon week. Bringing a buzz to Citizen’s Bank Park. Red Sox fan from Ipswich, Massachusetts, goes viral after catching foul ball with fried dough. A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read on MAX.
Influencers in Boston with JQ Louise

2 months ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

In this episode, we’re joined by local influencer JQ Louise to learn about how the sausage is made — how local restaurants go viral, the most photographed places to town, and the contrast between the Boston of the internet and Boston IRL. Follow JQ Louise at @TheJQList and @JQLouise on Instagram; and check out her website here. Rodney Peete catches a fly ball in Tokyo. The Wanamaker Building closes; the trailer for Mannequin, a camp classic. Nashville’s wings, the ultimate influencer catnip.
Mayor Tom Menino with Wilbur C. Rich

2 months ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

Thomas Menino was mayor of Boston for over 20 years. What made him such a successful politician? How did the city change under his watch? What were some of his signature achievements and nagging failures? We’re joined by Wilbur C. Rich, professor emeritus at Wellesley College and author of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino: Lessons for Governing Post-Industrial Cities, to talk about this iconic figure.
An African warlord in Boston with Nate Homan

2 months ago | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

Did you know that Liberian dictator and international war criminal Charles Taylor broke out of prison in Massachusetts? He also earned an accounting degree, lived in Roxbury, and smuggled illegal goods from Southie’s ports. Journalist Nate Horman has all the details about this wild corner of Boston history. Milt Williams to the Patriots. Celtics City on HBO. “Diamonds and Guns: AN INFAMOUS WEST AFRICAN WARLORD’S BAY STATE JAILBREAK” by Nate Homan.
The Rat and Boston’s Rock Heyday with Evan McGonagill and Peter Laurence

Mar 5, 2025 | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

In this episode, we riff on The Rat, Boston’s answer to CBGB and an essential piece of the city’s music history. We’re looking back through the lens of “Making a Scene,” an exhibit at Harvard’s Loeb Music Library. This episode includes a visit to the gallery, which is open to the public through April 18, 2025. Plus, regional accent talk, Boston Monopoly (make your voices heard!), and Irish Potato szn.
Announcement: Send me your Kowloon stories!

Feb 20, 2025 | bleav.com | Lee Stabert

I need your help! I want to fill out my upcoming episode on Kowloon with your stories. What does this North Shore stalwart mean to you? What makes the Saugus restaurant so special? What is your favorite Kowloon memory? You most beloved dish? Send a voice note (preferred) or a written ode to [email protected]. You can also reach out via instagram: @explainbostontome. Then listen to next week’s ep to hear the greatest hits.