>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS JOINS ME ON HIS UPCOMING AWARD FOR UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY.

PLUS, WHETHER HE THINKS THE U.S. IS DOING ENOUGH TO HELP, AND IF TODAY'S TOXIC POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS A PERMANENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.

PLUS, LOCAL COMEDIAN AND STORYTELLER PHOEBE POTTS JOINS ME AHEAD OF THE WORLD TOUR OF HER ONE-WOMAN SHOW, "TOO FAT FOR CHINA," A REFLECTION ON HER WINDING JOURNEY THROUGH THE OFTEN-AGONIZING WORLD OF ADOPTION.

>> Braude: THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT MOST AMERICANS AGREE ON, POLITICALLY SPEAKING, THESE DAYS, BUT ONE EXCEPTION HAS BEEN UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY.

IN A RECENT POLL, 72% OF U.S.

ADULTS SAID THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE HE'D DO THE RIGHT THING REGARDING WORLD AFFAIRS, FAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER INTERNATIONAL LEADER ON THE LIST-- AND WHETHER HE'S APPEARING AT THE GRAMMYS, BEFORE CONGRESS, OR THE UNITED NATIONS-- HIS COURAGE IN THE FACE OF RUSSIA'S MASSACRE IS UNDENIABLE.

>> THE WAR DOESN'T LET US CHOOSE WHO SURVIVES AND WHO STAYS IN ETERNAL SILENCE.

>> I SEE NO SENSE IN LIFE IF IT CANNOT STOP THE DEATHS.

BEING THE LEADER OF THE WORLD MEANS BEING THE LEADER OF PEACE.

>> Braude: SO IT'S NOT EXACTLY A SURPRISE THAT THIS YEAR'S "WORLD LEADER FOR PEACE AND SECURITY" AWARD FROM THE BOSTON GLOBAL FORUM AND THE MICHAEL DUKAKIS INSTITUTE WILL GO TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY.

FOR MORE ON THAT, AND A FEW OTHER POLITICAL ISSUES CLOSER TO HOME, I'M JOINED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF BOTH GROUPS, FORMER GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS.

GOVERNOR, IT'S WONDERFUL STO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.

AND YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD.

>> Braude: YOU'RE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD YOURSELF, SPEAKING OF THAT, WHEN YOU BECAME AN OCTOGENERIAN, YOU SAID ON THE SHOW JIM, 80 IS THE NEW 20, SO WHAT IS 889?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE 89 IN NOVEMBER.

SO SO FAR SO GOOD.

>> Braude: SO FAR SO GOOD.

GOVERNOR, THE WORLD HAS SEEN A LEADER WHO WAS A TV COMEDIAN MORPH INTO AN ALMOST CHURCHILLIAN CHARACTER.

DO YOU REMEMBER A COMING OF AGE MOMENT FOR A WORLD LEADER ANYTHING LIKE ZELENSKYY'S?

>> NO, NOTHING LIKE IT.

ST REALLY REMARKABLE.

>> Braude: AND WHAT STANDS OUT MOST FOR YOU?

>> WELL, FOR ONE THINGS, HE IS IN DANGER CONSTANTSLY.

SOMEBODY I GUESS IS PROTECTING HIM BUT HOW HE HAS MANAGED TO STAY ALIVE, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, THROUGH ALL OF THIS, THAT NOT TO MENTION PROVIDE THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP T IS PRETTY REMARKABLE.

WE DON'T HAVE AN EXAMPLE QUITE LIKE THIS IN OUR LIFETIME.

AND THAT'S AWESOME.

I JUST HOPE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT HIM AND TRY TO CONNECT WITH THE RUSSIAN, THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING-- ST CRAZY.

I MEAN DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEM AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

AND IT IS JUST, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITED LIKE IT.

BUT WE'VE GOT AN EXTRAORDINARY GUY IN UKRAINE.

AND HE HAS DEMONSTRATE INCREDIBLE COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP.

LET'S COME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES BUT STAY ON THE SAME TOPIC.

HERE IS PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEAKING TO THE NORTH AMERICAN BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE JUST TODAY.

>> THERE'S NOTHING LEFT HAPPENING, MAJOR WAR CRIMESK RESPONSIBLE NATIONS HAVE TOMORROW TO COME TOGETHER TO HOLD THESE PERP THRAITERS ACCOUNTABLE AND TOGETHER WITH OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS WE WILL KEEP RAISING THE ECONOMIC COST AND RATCHET UP THE PAIN FOR PUTIN AND FURTHERED INCREASE RUSSIA'S ISOLATION.

>> Braude: ALMOST EVERY DAY, GOVERNOR, I THINK OF SOMETHING QUINTEN TARANTINO THE DIRECTERRER SAID DURING THE METOO SCANDAL RELATING TO HARVEY WINE TIEN, HE SAID I KNEW ENOUGH TO HAVE DONE MORE.

AND EVERY TIME I WATCH THESE IMAGES ON CNN I AM CONVINCE THADZ TWO OR THREE YEARS OUT AMERICANS OF KIND SOULS WILL SAY WE SAW ENOUGH ON OUR TELEVISION SCREENS AT NIGHT TO HAVE DONE MORE TO HELP THE UKRAINIANS.

DO YOU THINK THE U.S. IS DOING FLUFF?

>> I THINK WE'RE DOING ENOUGH.

AND I AM IMPRESSED WITH THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP WE HAVE HAD.

THIS AND THIS GROUP OF ALLIES THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER IN A REMARKABLE WAY.

WE MAY HAVE ARRIVED AT THE POINT, ESPECIALLY NOW, HAVING SEEN WHAT THE RUSSIANS HAVE BEEN DOING, TO GO FURTHER.

BUT I DON'T THINK, TO PROCEED CAREFULLY AND-- -- BUT I THINK IS TIME FOR MORE OF THAT, ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING WHAT HAPPENED OVER ITS PAST DAYS, WEEKS, WHATEVER.

IN SOME OF THOSE-- IT JUST ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTFUL.

AND THE THING I DON'T UNDERSTAND, JIM S DON'T THE RUSSIANS UNDERSTAND THAT NOBODY BELIEVES THEM?

THAT THERE THIS NOTION THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF NASTY-- THAT IT IS UKRAINE IS SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO BELIEVE.

ST JUST, I DON'T GET IT.

>> Braude: WELL, THERE WAS A LEADER NOT HERE SO LONG AGO IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE YOU COULD SAY DOESN'T HE KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE HIM BUT IT DIDN'T DETER HIM EITHER.

THE OTHER THOUGHT I HAVE, GOVERNOR, ALMOST EVERY DAY IS A LARGER SWATH OF AMERICANS SEEMS TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE THAN IT IS ABOUT THE FUTURES OF DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY.

HOW DOES THAT STRIKE YOU?

>> IT STRIKES ME VERY BADLY AND I HOPE YOU'RE WRONG.

BUT I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH YOU.

I MEAN I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

IT'S NOT JUST-- I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND FOLKS WHO DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW PRECIOUS THIS DEMOCRACY IS AND HOW IMPORTANT ST THAT WE PRESERVE IT, STRENGTHEN IT, AND TAKE IS T SERIOUSLY.

WHAT DO WE AGREE AND DISAGREE IN CERTAIN AREAS.

I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE FOLKS THAT HAVE-- AND TO DO SO, UNDER IMPOSSIBLE-- WE'LL SEE, WE'LL SEE.

>> Braude: WE'LL SEE PRETTY SOON.

IT SEEMS.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU KNOW AND I KNOW, 70% OF REPUBLICANS TELL POLLSTERS THEY BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN IS NOT THE LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT.

THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD IN MAY OR JUNE WHEN THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE IN MY ESTIMATESATION IS GOING TO COME PRETTY CLOSE TO PRODUCING A SMOKING GUN IN TERMS OF TRUMP AND THE INSURRECTION.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU HARKEN BACK TO THE INFAMOUS I COULD SHOOTS SOMEBODY ON FIFTH AVENUE AND I WOULDN'T LOSE A VOTES AND I'M PARAPHRASING OBVIOUSLY WHAT CANDIDATE TRUMP SAID, IF THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE DOES PRODUCE A SMOKING GUN DOES THAT IN ANYWAY REDUCE THE INFLUENCE THAT, THE DONALD TRUMP HAS PUT OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> WELL, I DON'T-- MY SENSE IS THAT HE NEEDS TO BE GETTING A LOT OF TROUBLE BOTH AMONG REPUBLICANS, AT LEAST A LOT OF THEM, AS WELL AS PEOPLE GENERALLY.

AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR REPUBLICANS.

BECAUSE HE CONTINUES TO ASSERT WHATEVER IT IS THAT HE HAS DONE.

AND I THINK GRADUALLY-- HIS IMPORTANCE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL BE FADING BUT I THINK IT IS STILL GOING TO BE A TERRIBLY DIFFICULT PROBLEM POLITICALLY FOR THE REPUBLICANS AS WE MOVE FORWARDS THE MID TERMS AND BEYOND.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Braude: IT REALLY DEPENDS, I GUESS, ON WHO THE REPUBLICANS ARE, I'M SURE YOU READ THE FRED UPTON, ONE OF THE TEN REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR IMPEACHMENT IN THE HOUSE SAID HE WASN'T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

FOUR OF THE TEN HAVE SAID THEY AREN'T RUNNING AND THE OTHER SIX HAVE PRIMARIES WHERE IN-- SOME OR VIRTUALLY ALL HAVE TRUMP-ENDORSED PRIMARY OPPOSITION.

THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DEAD, IS IT NOT?

>> YEAH, AND THESE ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE, VERY GOOD PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I WORKED WITH LOTS OF REPUBLICANS.

>> Braude: I KNOW YOU DID.

>> AND WE KNEW MANY OF THEM AND THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE, WE SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME CONCERNS, THE SAME FEELINGS.

MANY OF THEM WERE OUTSTANDING IN WHAT THEY DID, THEIR COMMITMENT TO CIVIL LIBERTIES, TO THE ENVIRONMENT, TO THE WHOLE SERIES OF THINGS.

BUT THEY CERTAINLY SEEM TO BE DISAPPEARING FROM THE PARTY THESE DAYS.

AND THEY'RE LOSING VERY GOOD PEOPLE, VERY GOOD.

>> Braude: DO YOU SEE A ROAD OUT OF THIS MESS?

I MEAN IS THERE-- HOW DO WE GET BACK TO THE PROMISE LAND?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF DEMOCRATS TO FOCUS ON THAT.

I'M JUST BAF ELED AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WE'LL SEE.

>> Braude: GOVERNOR, REMAINING MINUTES, LET'S COME HOME FOR A MINUTE.

I HOPE FEEL PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THIS THING OUT OF THIS GREAT PACKAGE OUT OF NBC BOSTON FROM LATE LAST YEAR.

THAT IS TRASH BOY FROM TIKTOK, I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A DISPARRAAGING WAY, THAT IS HOW HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF, AND YOU ARE DOING WHAT I HAVE SEEN YOU DO AND YOU HAVE BEEN DOING FOR DECADES, IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN AND HELP THE VIEMENTD.

WE LIVED THROUGH YET ANOTHER U.N. REPORT THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT DIRE, DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES BUT SOME HOPE THERE.

DO YOU HAVE HOPE?

I MEAN WE JUST ENCOUNTS ERRED A SITUATION WHERE I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, MAYBE NAIVELY THAT WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO WIEN OURSELVES OFF RUSSIAN GAS AND OIL IT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE FUELS, NONFOSSIL FUELS.

BUT IN ESSENCE IT SEEMS MOST OF THE WORLD HAS EMBRACED SORTED OF A DRILL BABY DRILL RESPONSE TO THIS RUSSIAN CUTOFF.

>> I THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY THAT IS ENCOURAGING, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF-- TIME.

IF WE DON'T GET MOVING, THE INTERNATIONAL-OF-AS AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON DOING SERIOUS THINGS ABOUT CONVENTIONAL ENERGY, IF YOU WILL, AND ITS EFFECTS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH OF A PLANET.

I MAY NOT BE AROUND, YOU MAY NOT BE AROUND BUT-- .

>> Braude: I PLAN TO BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

I HOPE YOU DO TOO.

ONE LAST THING, GOVERNOR, BEFORE YOU GO.

WHEN SOUTH STATION WAS NAMED FOR YOU AND I SPOKE TO YOU SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I HAVE TO SAY, I RARELY HAVE SEEN A PUBLIC FIGURE WHO HAD AN IMPORTANT PLACE NAMED AFTER HIM, THE MICHAEL S DUKAKIS TRANSPORTATION CENTER IN SOUTH BOSTON.

I DON'T MEAN THIS DISRESPECTFULLY, CARE LESS ABOUT IT, YOUR FOCUS IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO WHAT YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT, NORTH SOUTH RAIL.

SOUTH STATION TO NORTH STATION.

CHARLIE BAKER WASN'T CRAZY ABOUT IT, HE IS LEAVING.

IS NORTH SOUTH RAIL IN OUR FUTURE?

REALISTICALLY, NOT WHAT YOU HOPE BUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE?

>> WITH A NEW GOVERNOR AND WITH THE FUNDS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OF COURSE IT IS, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL, JIM.

>> Braude: WHY?

>> BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT RAIL CARD, IT WILL BE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AS TIME GOES ON, WITH A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

AND IN A TIMELY-- I WASN'T REMEMBER HAVING TO WALK A HALF A MILE FROM THE STATION AND THE NORTH SOUTH STATION, IN ORDER TO GET HOME.

IN THE EARLY 1980S, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, CLOSE THAT GAP.

IF THEY DID IT, WHY CAN'T WE DO IT.

THIS IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT A PROJECT.

AND THE FUNDS-- I HOPE WE WILL MOVE ON IT, IT WILL TAKE THOUSANDS OF CARS OFF ITS ROAD EVERY DAY AND IMPROVE OUR QUALITIED OF LIFE.

THAT IS MY HOPE AND I HOPE YOU AND I WILL BE AROUND WHEN IT HAPPENS.

>> Braude: I THINK.

SO I WANT TO BE AT THE DEDICATION OF THE MICHAEL STANLEY DUKAKIS NORTH SOUTH RAIL, GOVERNOR.

SO I WILL SEE YOU THERE AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU TODAY AND BE WELK TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Braude: NEXT UP LOCAL COMEDIAN AND STORY FELLER NEXT UP, LOCAL COMEDIAN AND STORYTELLER PHOEBE POTTS IS NO STRANGER TO TURNING THE INTIMATE DETAILS OF HER LIFE INTO ART, BALANCING HEART-BREAK AND HUMOR IN A WAY FEW OTHERS HAVE MANAGED.

IN HER FIRST GRAPHIC MEMOIR, NOT GRAPHIC LIKE X-RATED, CALLED "GOOD EGGS," SHE SHARED HER STRUGGLES WITH INFERTILITY AND MULTIPLE MISCARRIAGES.

THEN, SHE PICKED UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF ON STAGE, WITH THE STORY OF HER PURSUIT OF AN ADOPTION.

>> AT FIRST GLANCE, THERE WERE A LOT OF CHOICES ON THE ADOPTION LANDSCAPE, BUT WHEN YOU READ THE FINE PRINT, YOU SAW THAT RULES AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

CHINA SAID THAT THE ADOPTIVE PARENT HAD TO HAVE A BODY MASS INDEX NO HIGHER THAN A 29.

I'M TEETERING TOWARD 30 ON THAT MEAN CHART AT YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

I HAD BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR SOMEONE TO SAY IT, NEVER DID I IMAGINE THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE PEOPLES' REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

(LAUGHTER) >> Braude: HER ONE-WOMAN SHOW, WHICH I LOVED, IS NAMED, WHAT ELSE, "TOO FAT FOR CHINA."

AND PHOEBE POTTS JOINS ME NOW, AHEAD OF HER WORLD TOUR NEXT WEEK!

PHOEBE T IS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU.

>> IT IS SO GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Braude: THAT BIT EXPLAINED WHY ST CALLED TOO FAT FOR CHINA AND I KNOW NO ONE SHOULD EVER TELL AN ARTIST HOW THEY MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT DO HAVE BEEN CALLED TOO FAT FOR CHINA, TOO PRINCIPLED FOR CINCINNATI AND ALMOST TOO GUILT-RIDDEN FOR ETHIOPIA, DOES THAT DESCRIBE IT MORE APTLY.

>> OR WE COULD JUST CALL THE WHOLE THING, IT TAKES A MORTGAGE.

>> Braude: WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE FINANCING THIS IS THE STORY OF WHAT ONE WOULD DO, WHAT ONE-- WHAT YOU DID DO TO FIND LOVE.

THE LOVE OF A TEENY TINY BABY AS YOU SAID, IN YOUR PIECE.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> SO EXACTLY WHAT I JUST SAID, I WENT ON A DISCOVERY, I GO ON A DISCOVERY IN THE SHOW OF TO FIND OUT THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD T TAKES A MORTGAGE TO GET A CHILD.

THAT MY HUSBAND AND I WANTED TO ADOPT.

AND WE TRIED THE SHORT STORY IS WE FAILED IN CINCINNATI AND WE GOT A TINY LITTLE BABY IN ETHIOPIA.

THE LONGER STORY IS THAT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, ALL MUCH MY MORALS AND VALUES HAD TO CURL IN ON THEMSELVES.

AND I HAD TO MAKE VERY DUBIOUS ETHICAL DECISIONS TO JUST ADOPT A BABY.

>> Braude: TINY LITTLE BABY, NOT TEENY TINY BABY.

ONE OF THE KUN UNDRUM, BOTH OF MY KIDS ARE ADOPTEDDED FROM CHINA SO I WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING TOO IS THE WHOLE DOMESTIC VERSUS INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION THING.

AND HERE SAY LITTLE BIT OF WHAT PHOEBE HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT >> IN INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION, BABIES HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE FRUIT BINS FOR A WHILE.

BUT IN DOMESTIC ADOPTION, YOU GET A FRESH BABY.

RAW, LOCALLY SOURCED!

YES, I WANTED MORE LOVE IN MY STORY, BUT I ALSO WANTED MORE LIFE IN MY STORY.

I WANTED EVERYTHING AND I'M AMERICAN, SO I BOUGHT IT.

>> Braude: SO I BOUGHT IT.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ADOPTION WORLD, FLUSH THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> SO IN 2008 WHICH IS WHEN WE DID THIS, YOU COULD GET A BABY IN THIS COUNTRY, ADOPT A BABY FOR, TO THE TUNE OF $40,000.

YOU DON'T PAY A BIRTH MOTHER FOR THE BABY, THAT WOULD BE ACTUAL TRAFFICKING.

BUT THAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU HAVE TO PART WITH.

WE ALSO LEARNED THAT IF WE WERE QUOTE UNQUOTE OPEN TO RACE, WE COULD GET A BLACK BABY GIRL FOR $28,000.

AND A BLACK BABY BOY HAD THE BARGAIN PRICE OF $24,000.

SO OBAMA'S FIRST YEAR OF PRESIDENCY A BLACK BABY BOY IS VALUED AT 77-- 66% LESS THAN A WHITE CHILD THROUGH A DOMTION.

AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY CHANGES HANDS.

AND I THINK AS SOON AS THAT, AS SOON AS THERE IS ALL OF THIS MONEY CHANGING HANDS, THEN THAT IS WHERE LOTS OF NOT SO GREAT THINGS START TO HAPPEN.

>> Braude: BUT YOU ALMOST HAD A BLACK BABY FROM CINCINNATI AND THE REASON IT FELL APART WAS NOT THE PRICE TAG.

>> NO, IT WAS BECAUSE THIS WOMAN WAS INCREDIBLY UNSUPPORTED BY THE AGENCY.

>> Braude: THE MOTHER.

>> I'M SORRY, THE BIOLOGICAL MOTHER, THE BIRTH MOTHER AND SHE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION THAT WAS THE BEST FOR HER CHILD.

>> Braude: YOU KNEE, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WATCHING THIS SHOW DON'T NEED ME OR NIBBLES TO THEM THEM THAT RACE AND RACISM AND SEX VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING, BUT YOU FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL HERE, FOM IT A LITTLE BIT FOR US NOW, IF YOU WOULD.

>> SO I'M STANDING AT THE AIRPORT, WE'VE ARRIVED, WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUR BABY, SUPPOSED TO BE THIS MAGICAL HOLLYWOOD MOMENT.

BUT I'M AWARE SUDDENLY OF THIS LONG LINE OF NED AND NANCY NAP SACK NEO COLONIALISTS ALL WITH THEIR TINY BABIES ON THEIR ARMS, ALL THESE PEOPLE LOOK LIKE ME BUT THIS THEY ARE BLOND AND FROM DUE BEUK AND SO THEY ARE NOT JEWIST AND THEY HAVE ANNETTE YOPIAN BABY SO I REALIZE THE SYSTEM I AM HERE, I'M HERE IN ETHIOPIAN TO ADOPTS A BABY, NOT BECAUSE I'M AN AWESOME PERSON OR MY INTENTIONS ARE GREAT T IS SIMPLY BECAUSE I HAVE A MORTGAGE.

AND I GOT THAT MORTGAGE BECAUSE MY FOLKS HELPED ME OUT.

AND MY FOLKS WERE ABLE TO HELP ME OUT BECAUSE MY DAD AND MY HUSBAND'S DAD CAME OF AGE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AND SO GOT THE BENEFITS OF THE GI BILL.

ALL THEIR HOME OWNERSHIP, THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR WEALTH CAME FROM THAT ERA, FROM BEING GI-- WHITE GI OR I SHOULD SAY NOT BLACK GI'S.

BECAUSE OF THAT LEGACY OF WEALTH THAT I AM STANDING THERE.

>> Braude: CORNELL BROOKS WAS HERE A COUPLE MUCH WEEKS AGO FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL N.A.A.C.P.

AND WROTE A PIECE ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

I SAID TO HIM HERE, I LEARNED ALL OF THIS FROM YOU.

BUT I REALLY LEARNED IT ALL FROM YOU WHEN I SAW YOUR PLAY, ABOUT THE GI BILL IN GLOUCESTER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

UNRELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC PATH YOU TOOK, YOU SAY IN THE PLAY, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE A MOTHER BUT A FATHER, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

NOW MOST OF US STADLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT, SO FOR THE FEW WHO DON'T WHAT DID YOU MEAN THERE?

>> I THINK THAT IN AMERICA THERE IS THIS CULT OF AMERICAN MOTHERHOOD.

YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL AMERICAN MOTHER.

YOU ARE A PAM, AND ARE YOU HELD TO THESE INSANELY HIGH STANDARDS OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND CARING AND SHERIFFING AND TRANSPORTING.

TONS OF COMEDY AND BOOKS ALREADY WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

BUT AMERICA DOESN'T RUN ON DUNKIN'.

AMERICA RUNS ON UNPAID, THE UNPAID INTERNSHIPS OF MOTHERS.

THAT IS WHAT IS MAKING EVERYTHING GO, THAT IS WHY YOU AND I GOT FED.

THAT IS WHY WE GOT EDUCATED IS BECAUSE MOTHERS CAME IN AND DID THE WORK.

AND IT'S STILL, I KNOW IT IS GENDER BUT IT STILL FALLS TO THEM JPS BY THE WAY, CHRIS WAS AGREE WITH EVERY WORD.

>> SHE IS WRITE.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF A COMMON THEME THROUGHOUT THIS, DIDN'T MATTER WHERE YOU WERE GOING OR WHAT YOU WERE DOING, A CONSTANT THEME FOR TOO FAT FOR CHINA IS DREAD.

AND BY THE WAY, SOMETHING EVEN IN MY OWN CIRCUMSTANCES I HAVE LIVED WITH QUITE A BIT.

HERE SAY LITTLE BIT OF WHAT PHOEBE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT NEVER ENDING DREAD.

>> SO THE FIRST THING I DO, BEFORE I EVEN OPEN MY EYES, IS I CHECK THE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES, AND I SCAN FOR THE VITAL INFORMATION THAT I NEED TO START MY DAY.

MAINLY, WHO I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTING LATELY AND SLIGHTS MADE AGAINST ME, AND THEN I KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH DREAD I SHOULD FEEL BEFORE I EVEN GET DRESSED.

>> Braude: BOY DID YOU NAIL IT.

BY THE WAY, THE SLIGHT, HOW OLD DO YOU HOLD T FOREVER, I HOPE.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN.

>> Braude: IF SOMEONE SLIGHTS YOU, FOREVER.

>> OH, WE DON'T LET GO, NO.

>> Braude: SO HAVE YOU CONQUERED THAT, YOU GOT A KID, HAVE YOU CONQUERED THAT?

THE DREAD.

>> SENSE OF DREAD, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> Braude: PERFECT.

>> AND NOW I HAVE A PODCAST, A NEWSROOM AND A PODCAST GOING ALL THE TIME, THAT HERE IS YOUR YOU MESSED UP, HERE IS WHERE IT IS NEVER GOING TO BE RIGHT, SHEER WHERE ALL THE WORRY GOES.

MY FATHER WAS A JOURNALIST LIKE YOU SO I GREW UP GOING INTO THE NEWSROOM AFTER SCHOOL AND ON WEEKENDS.

AND THAT IS WHY IT LIVES HERE.

AND THEY JUST CONSTANTLY ARE TABULATING, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY VERY NICE THINGS ABOUT THERE, BY THE WAY.

>> Braude: WE'LL SEE.

SO IN ANY CASE I SAW THIS, THREE YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO WE SAW THIS.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE?

>> Braude: SO WHY IS IT BACK, I'M THRILLED THAT IT IS BACK, I REALLY DID LOVE IT I'M NOT JUST SAYING IT, I LOVED IT.

>> YOU SAID YOU DON'T LIKE THESE KIND OF THINGS BUT YOU LIKED PLIEN.

>> Braude: THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

I DON'T LIKE THESE KIND OF THINGS AND I LOVED YOURS IS WHAT I ACTUALLY SAID.

WHY IS IT BACK.

>> ST BACK BECAUSE THROUGH THE HELP OF THE GLOUCESTER STAGE AND CHRISTOPHER GIVEIT, I WAS ENCOURAGED TO GET A GRANT FROM THE BOSTON FOUNDATION CALLED LIVE ARTS BOSTON.

>> Braude: I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS BOSS FON-- BOSTON FOUNDATION.

>> YEAH, YEAH, SO I GOT THE GRANT BECAUSE I SAID I WANT TO I'M 51 YEARS OLD T IS TIME TO LAUNCH NIE PERFORMING CAREER AND I WANT TO BRING IT TO BOSTON.

I WANT TO BRING MY COMITY-- COMICS IN SO WE WILL PROJECT ANIMATIONS AND COMICS TO HELP ME WITH THE STORY.

I WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE FRINGE FESTIVAL IN SCOTLAND THIS SUMMER.

>> Braude: FABULOUS.

SO WE HAVE TO END THE STORY WHERE THE STORY REALLY BEGAN, THERE WAS A TINY LITTLE BABY.

AND YOU GOT HIM BY MY QUOWNT THE TINY LITTLE BABY IS EITHER 11 OR 12.

>> ARE YOU CORRECT, IS HE 11.

>> Braude: AND HOW IS THE FORMERLY TINY LITTLE BABY.

>> HE IS-- WE HIT THE JACKPOT WITH THIS KID.

HE IS A GREAT KID.

AND HE'S NOT TINY.

HE IS TALL, HE'S STRONG.

HE'S HILARIOUS.

>> Braude: HOW DID HE DO WITH YOU AND JEFF, ACTUALLY.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN.

>> Braude: YOU SAY WE HIT THE JACKPOT, HOW DID HE DO?

>> OH, I THINK AS THE PSYCHOLOGIST WOULD SAY, WE'RE GOOD ENOUGH.

>> Braude: PHOEBE, I WISH YOU HUGE LUCK WITH THIS SHOW.

I DID LOVE IT AND I HOPE EVERYBODY WATCHING TONIGHT GETS TO SEE T GREAT TO SEE ONCE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Braude: STAY WELLING WITH REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Braude: PHOEBE POTTS, THANKS.

THE "TOO FAT FOR CHINA" WORLD TOUR OF KICKS OFF A WEEK FROM TODAY, APRIL 13th AND 14th IN BOSTON.

THEN APRIL 29th AND 30th AT THE MOSESIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN WATERTOWN BEFORE HEADING OFF TO EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND!

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT toofatforchina.com AND TRUST ME YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE AN ADOPTER OR ADOPTEE TO LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF THE SHOW.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org >> TODAY, WE ARE GOING ALL IN ON A MINOR URBAN MYSTERY HERE IN BOSTON.

(/ UPBEAT MUSIC/ ) IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THE CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES ABOUT 5,000 PERMITS FOR STREET EXCAVATIONS.

COMPANIES LIKE COMCAST AND VERIZON DIG TO LAY CABLE.

NATIONAL GRID TEARS UP STRETCHES TO REPAIR GAS LINES, AND WELL OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PRIVATE COMPANIES, WORKING FOR HOMEOWNERS OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, LAY UNDERGROUND PIPES THAT TAP INTO WATER MAINS.

EACH TIME A COMPANY DIGS UP A BOSTON STREET, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING IT WHEN THEY'RE DONE, AND CRUCIALLY, THE CITY HAS A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PATCHES.

ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS, ABOUT 10% OF THESE PATCHES GO BAD, CRACKING, CRUMBLING AT THE EDGES, SINKING AND THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, HOW DO CITY OFFICIALS KNOW WHETHER THAT PARTICULAR PATCH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY?

AND IF IT IS, WHAT COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT?

THAT'S WHERE THESE GUYS COME IN.

THEY ARE CALLED A-TAGS, SHORT FOR ASPHALT TAGS, AND THEY ARE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON'S STREET REPAIR TRACKING SYSTEM.

THOUGH THEY ARE BUT LITTLE, ABOUT AN INCH AND-A-HALF IN DIAMETER, THEY ARE FIERCELY INFORMATIVE IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DECODE THEM.

THE YEAR THE PATCH WAS LAID IS MARKED AT THE CENTER OF EACH A-TAG, SO IT'S EASY TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY WHETHER IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

AS FOR WHO LAID EACH PATCH, CITY OFFICIALS DEVISED A COLOR CODING SYSTEM.

NOW, BIG COMPANIES THAT DO A LOT OF DIGGING, THEY GET THEIR OWN CUSTOM COLORS, AND THEY GET TO DISPLAY THEIR NAME ON THEIR A-TAGS.

>> NATIONAL GRID, YOU'RE YELLOW.

BOSTON WATER AND SEWER, YOU'RE BLUE.

M.W.R.A, YOU'RE LIGHT BLUE.

COMCAST AND VERIZON, YOU'RE ORANGE, EVERSOURCE, YOU'RE RED.

I SAID THE STEAM COMPANY, YOU'RE WHITE.

>> PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WHO WORK UNDER THE STREETS OF BOSTON, GET A GREEN A-TAG WITH A UNIQUE I.D.

NUMBER AT THE TOP.

SO, ALL IT TAKES IS A QUICK LOOK AT A LEGEND TO KNOW WHO DID THE JOB.

A-TAGS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED ON EVERY PATCH LAID, N THE CITY OF BOSTON, SINCE 2011.

COMPANIES CAN BE FINED IF HEY DON'T EMBED THEIR CHIP.

THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN A ROUSING SUCCESS, ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS WHO SAY THE COMPLIANCE RATE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 98% AND 99%.

AS FOR THAT LAST 1% TO 2%, NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE CODE, YOU TOO CAN BE AN INSPECTOR.

IF YOU SEE A FAILING PATCH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, CALL 311, OR BETTER YET, SNAP A PIC AND TWEET IT AT BOS311.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE HUMBLE A-TAG, AN ACE UP THE CITY SLEEVE THAT KEEPS THE ODDS HIGH, THE STREETS STAY EVEN.

DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE.

AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, ANTE UP, AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE, HEY, I MIGHT JUST SAY, DEAL ME IN.

I'M EDGAR B. HERWICK III, STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

>> THE CURIOSITY DESK IS SPONSORED BY EMERSON COLLEGE, INSPIRING CURIOSITY AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN ALL OF US.