>> BRAUDE: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE WHO'S ANYONE, AND PLENTY WHO ARE NOT, HAVE WEIGHED IN ON WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN CHRIS ROCK, WILL SMITH, AND JADA PINKETT SMITH ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

SO WITH THE FRENZY SURROUNDING ROCK AT HIS FIRST POST-OSCARS APPEARANCE HERE IN BOSTON TONIGHT, IS IT ALL JUST GOSSIP?

OR IS THERE VALUE IN LOOKING AT HOW THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN UNFOLDING DIFFERENTLY, AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE?

PLUS, BOSTON PRIDE CAPTAIN AND ALL-TIME PREMIER HOCKEY POINTS LEADER JILLIAN DEMPSEY JOINS US ON HER HISTORIC WIN, AND THE VERY DIFFERENT WORLD SHE INHABITS AT THE TOP OF HER GAME, THAN MEN AT THE TOP OF THEIRS.

♪♪ >> BRAUDE: WHAT'S COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE SLAP, AN INCIDENT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW AGAIN TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PLAYED AD NAUSEUM FOR ALMOST THREE DAYS STRAIGHT, AND THE ONLY REASON TO SHOW IT AGAIN AT THIS POINT WOULD BE PURE VOYEURISM AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL INVOLVED.

BUT THERE IS VALUE IN TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE WILL SMITH RAISED HIS HAND TO CHRIS ROCK SUNDAY NIGHT, AFTER ROCK MADE A JOKE ABOUT JADA PINKETT SMITH'S ALOPECIA-INDUCED HAIR LOSS.

RIGHT NOW, CHRIS ROCK IS GETTING READY TO STEP ON STAGE AT THE WILBUR THEATRE HERE IN BOSTON, IN HIS FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE THE OSCARS.

TICKET PRICES FOR HIS SHOWS HAVE SKYROCKETED, SOME 1,000 BUCKS A POP ON THE SECONDARY MARKET.

LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL MEDIA HAVE BEEN WAITING WITH BATED BREATH TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT WHEN TMZ IS ON THE CASE, YOU HAVE TO START ASKING ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CONVERSATION.

BUT THE FACT IS, AS JEMEL HILL POINTS OUT IN "THE ATLANTIC," "BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE AREN'T NECESSARILY DISCUSSING AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING MORE PEOPLE NEED TO RECOGNIZE."

I'M JOINED BY GBH NEWS' ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER JAMES BENNETT, AND REVEREND IRENE MONROE, A SYNDICATED RELIGION COLUMNIST, CO-HOST OF GBH'S "ALL REV'D UP" PODCAST AND REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO.

>> Braude: IRENE AND JAMES, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: JAMES, IF I CAN START WITH YOU, ARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING AROUND THIS INNOCENT ALL ACROSS AMERICA WORTH THE TIME WE'RE DEDICATING TO THEM?

>> I THINK THEY CAN BE WORTH THE TIME IF WE'RE GETTING PAST THE SUPERFICIAL ACT OF THE ACTUAL SMACK.

I THINK THAT -- I MEAN, YOU OPENED THIS UP BY SAYING SHOWING IT AGAIN WOULD BE WORRISOME AT THIS POINT, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE ANY PRODUCTIVE MEANING IS TO TALK ABOUT THE QUESTIONS OF WHAT IS VIOLENCE?

ARE WORDS THEMSELVES VIOLENT?

WHAT IS -- WHAT IS POWER AND FAME?

DOES IT EXEMPT YOU FROM ANYTHING?

DOES IT MAKE THE RULES DIFFERENT FOR HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE?

I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY, REALLY, THAT IT IS WORTH HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT.

>> Braude: HOW ABOUT YOU, IRENE?

IS THE WORTH HAVING A CONVERSATION, AND IF SO, WHAT ELEMENTS?

>> I THINK JAMES BRINGS UP A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION, PARTICULARLY ABOUT VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE HERE.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS OTING HERE.

ONE IS, ARE WE ACCUSTOMED TO VIOLENCE, IN TERMS OF CERTAIN GROUPS?

WHAT I MEAN, ARE WE USED TO SEEING BLACK-ON-BLACK VIOLENCE?

AND IT IS CLEAR ONCE HE SLAPPED AND WITH ROCK'S RHETORIC, WE WERE IN A CONUNDRUM OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

BUT IT BECAME CLEAR, ONCE WILL SAT DOWN, WE'RE IN AN EPISODE OF VIOLENCE.

AND THE REACTIONS ARE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE, TO BE QUITE HONEST, IS ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE PERPLEXED ABOUT IS WHY ROCK DIDN'T PRESS CHARGES.

BUT AS BLACK PEOPLE, WE DON'T CALL THE POLICE.

IT IS IMPORTANT HOW WE SEE IT AND HOW WE ABSOLUTELY SPONDRESPOND TO IT.

AS BLACK MEN, THEY GREW UP AROUND VIOLENCE, JUST BEING BLACK MEN IN AMERICA.

ALSO ADD THAT CHRIS GREW UP BEING BULLIED -- HE TALKS ABOUT THAT -- AND WILL TALKS ABOUT HIS FATHER BATTERING HIS MOTHER, PUNCHING HIS MOTHER IN THE FACE.

SO IT IS A QUESTION CLEARLY ABOUT VIOLENCE, BUT ANOTHER QUESTION IT BRINGS, TOO, IS THIS: IF CHRIS WAS BUILT BY ROCK, OR MY HOMEBOY, MIKE TYSON, WOULD HE HAVE SHOWED UP ON THAT STAGE AND SLAPPED HIM?

THAT, TOO, IS A QUESTION.

>> Braude: JAMES, I READ INTO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE VIOLENCE, AND WHAT I -- IF WORDS ARE VIOLENT, AND WHAT I READ IS THEY ARE NOT, AND THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS NOT VIOLENCE TO WORDS.

AM I READING YOU CORRECTLY?

>> I'M NOT THE ARBITER -- I HOPE I'M NOT THE ARBITER OF DEFINITIONS OF VIOLENCE, AND IF I AM, I HOPE I'M NOT.

WE AS SOCIETY, AS A BLACK SOCIETY, A WHITE SOCIETY, AN AMERICAN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, WE NEED TO COME TO AGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT VIOLENCE IS, AND IF WORDS ARE BEYOND JUST BEING MEAN.

I FEEL THAT FOR THE LAST -- NOT EVEN FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT FOR A LONG TIME, IT USED TO BE STICKS AND STONES CAN HURT MY BONES, AND WORDS CAN NEVER HURT ME.

BUT I REMEMBER AS A KID THINKING, OH, NO, WORDS CAN'T HURT.

VIOLENCE IS THE INFLICTION OF PAIN.

WORDS CAN'T HURT.

YOU HAVE TO THINK BY THAT LOGIC, IF WORDS CAN BE VIOLENT -- YOU KNOW, IF IT GOES BEYOND GROWING A THICK SKIN AND LETTING IT SLIDE OFF YOUR BARKS THEN BACK, THEN IS VIOLENCE AS A SLAP VIOLENT?

IF YOU SAY THE WRONG WORDS, THEN YOU WILL GET TOUCHED.

>> Braude: JEMEL HILL WROTE A PIECE IN "THE ATLANTIC," TALKING ABOUT BLACK VERSUS WHITE.

AND SHE DID NOT SAY EVERY BLACK PERSON SEES IT ONE WAY AND EVERY WHITE PERSON SEES IT ANOTHER.

BUT SHE PICKS TIFFANY HADDISH, WHEN I SAW A BLACK MAN STEP UP FOR HIS WIFE, IT MEANT THAT SO MUCH TO ME.

SHE PICKED JOE APAPO SAYING SMITH COULD HAVE KILLED HIM.

AND THEN THERE IS JIM CARREY, AND HERE HE IS ON THE CBS MORNING SHOW YESTERDAY MORNING.

>> I WAS SICKENED, SICKENED BY THE STANDING OVIATION.

OVATION.

I FELT LIKE HOL IS HOLLYWOOD IS SPINELESS.

I WOULD HAVE SUED FOR $2 MILLION BECAUSE THAT VIDEO IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR LIFE.

>> Braude: WAS JEMEL HILL ON TO SOMETHING, IRENE, IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND TIFFANY'S REMARKS IT IN MANY WAYS.

BLACK MEN, FROM JIM CROW EVEN TO PRESENT DAY, HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO DEFEND BLACK WOMEN'S HONOR.

BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEFENDING A BLACK WOMAN'S HONOR AS WELL AS WHAT IS VIOLENCE.

AND I THINK SOME TIMES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE IS A LEVEL OF BEING ACCLIMATED TO VIOLENCE, AND THE BEATING OF BLACK BODIES HERE.

I THINK THAT JIM CARREY IS CORRECT.

I MEAN, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE AUDITORIUM ONCE IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO US THAT THIS WAS AN ASSAULT.

IT IS TO SEE HOW -- NOT ONLY HOW AMERICA RESPONDS TO IT, BUT ALSO HOW THE ACADEMY WILL RESPOND TO IT.

I WAS VERY SHOCKED BY IT.

IT IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.

I NEED TO SAY THIS, OF MASCULINITY.

BECAUSE IT WASN'T AN ACT OF CHIVALRY.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU SAY HOW THE ACADEMY IS GOING TO REACT TO IT, AND THERE IS SOME TALK THAT THEY MAY TAKE AWAY HIS OSCAR.

AND THE POINT THAT HILL MADE, AND HARVEY WEINSTEIN, I THINK WE'LL ALL AGREE, DID A THOUSAND THINGS A THOUSAND TIMES WORSE, AND NO ONE IS TAKING HIS OSCAR BACK.

AND ROMAN POLANSKI RAPED AN UNDERAGE GIRL, AND NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING HIS OSCAR BACK.

SO THE DOUBLE STANDARD IS PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ME, IRENE.

>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY HIS OSCAR.

LISTENING TO WHOOPI GOLDBERG ON THE MORNING SHOW, HE DID EARN THAT.

TO ME THE PUNISHMENT WOULD BE ONE OF TWO THINGS: YOU'RE NOT INVITED NEXT YEAR.

BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN YOU WIN BEST ACTOR OR ACTRESS, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY INVITED.

I THINK HE SHOULD NOT BE INVITED BACK AGAIN.

AND HE MIGHT BE EXPELLED OR ON PROBATION IN TERMS OF BEING PART OF THE ACADEMY.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, JAMES, MUCH OF THE CRITICISM OF THIS CONVERSATION, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, THAT I'VE READ IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, FOCUSES ON THE FACT THAT ALMOST ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS ARE ABOUT THE TWO MEN INVOLVED AND NOT THE MOST AGGRIEVED PARTY, THE WOMAN INVOLVED, ROXANNE GAYE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" SAID IT WELL: IT IS A RARE MOMENT WHEN A BLACK WOMAN IS PUBLICLY DEFENDED.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE ABOUT THAT ANALYSIS?

WE TALK NON STOP ABOUT WILL AND ROCK, AND NOT ABOUT JADA PINKETT SMITH.

>> IN TERMS OF THE IDEA OF THE CONVERSATION, WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN HAVE A FULLY FORMED RESPONSE TO THIS INCIDENT UNTIL YOU CAN GET, LIKE, THE PERSPECTIVE -- THE FULL PERSPECTIVE, NOT JUST A TWEET OR SOMETHING THROUGH A SPOKESPERSON, THE FULL PERSPECTIVE OF THE PERSON AT THE CENTER OF ALL OF THIS, WHO IS, IN FACT, JADE PING SMITH.

JADA PINKETT SMITH.

I THINK WE, AS THE PUBLIC, ARE SO THIRSTY FOR AN OPINION ON SOMETHING THAT IS SO MASSIVE IN POP CULTURE.

>> Braude: YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> ESPECIALLY AFTER SO MANY MONTHS AND YEARS OF LOCKDOWN AND QUARANTINE, THAT IT IS EASY TO LOSE SIGHT, I GUESS, OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WELL-FORMED OPINION OF A WELL-FORMED CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCOURSE, AND THEN ONE THAT ACTUALLY MATTERS.

FOR ONE TO MATTER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF, IN THIS CASE, JADA AS WELL.

>> Braude: I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE A WELL-FORMED OPINION YET.

AND YOU CAN SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SAYING, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY?

EVERYBODY HAS GOT TO HAVE A TAKE ON VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IN AMERICA.

>> YEAH.

>> Braude: THAT IS IN CONTROVERSY.

IRENE, HOW ABOUT YOU?

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS -- I HEARD ON THE RADIO YESTERDAY, A WOMAN CALLED IN TO TALK ABOUT THIS, LIKE EVERYONE IS DOING, AND OUT OF THE BLUE I REMEMBERED THE DOCUMENTARY I SAW ABOUT A DECADE AGO THAT HAD BEEN PRODUCED BY CHRIS ROCK CALLED "GOOD HAIR," ABOUT THE FRAUGHT RELATIONSHIP THAT BLACK WOMEN OFTEN HAVE.

IT COMES ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE CROWN ACT AND CONGRESS AND HERE, TALKING ABOUT RACE-BASED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE BECAUSE OF HAIR.

THE WOMAN HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF MUCH OF THIS DISCUSSION.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

HOW MARGINALIZED JADA PINKETT IS, AND SHE CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK FOR HERSELF.

WE ALL KNOW THAT CHRIS ROCK'S DOCUMENTARY ON BLACK HAIR WAS IN RESPONSE TO HIS DAUGHTER WHO WANTED TO SAY HOW COME MY HAIR IS NOT WHITE-TEXTURED HAIR.

AND HE WAS TRYING TO EDUCATE HER ON HOW BLACK WOMEN WEAR HAIR.

AND OUR HAIR HAS BEEN -- MASSACHUSETTS FINALLY PASSED A CROWN ACT SO I CAN BE HAPPY TO BE NAPPY.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT IT IS A REAL TOUCHY SUBJECT BECAUSE EVEN WHEN WE WEAR OUR HAIR NATURALLY, UNTIL THIS CROWN ACT, WE WERE SUBJECT TO CRIT CULE RIDICULE AND THE CONSTANT POLICING ABOUT IT.

>> Braude: JAMES, I'M ALMOST NERVOUS TO ASK THIS QUESTION, AFTER YOU MADE THE POINT, DOES EVERYBODY HAVE TO HAVE AN OPINION ON EVERYTHING.

TICKETS ON THE MEZZANINE ARE GOING FOR $1335, SO I'LL HESITATE WHEN I ASK THIS -- IS HE GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS TONIGHT?

DOES HE HAVE TO SPEAK TO THIS?

THIS IS HIS FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE THE OSCARS?

DOES HE HAVE TO SPEAK?

WE ALL KNOW WILL SMITH APOLOGIZED TO HIM THE DAY AFTER HE APOLOGIZED TO EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> OUT OF SPITE OF THE WAY A LOT OF TICKETING AND SALES PLACES WORK, AND PRICES BEING JACKED UP, I KIND OF WISH HE WON'T.

[LAUGHTER] >> IN A WEIRD WAY, THIS IS BETWEEN JADA, PRIMARILY, AND WILL AND CHRIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR BUSINESS INSOFAR AS IT PROMPTS US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE LINES AND HOW CAN THEY BE CROSSED, AND I'M NOT A COMEDIAN, BUT I UNDERSTAND IN COMEDY A LOT IS, IN FACT, PERSONAL, BUT A LOT DOESN'T MEAN ALL.

IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING $1300 TO GO TO THIS SHOW TO SEE WHAT CHRIS ROCK HAS TO SAY ABOUT GETTING SMACKED UP SIDE THE HEAD AT THE OSCARS -- I WISH HE WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

>> Braude: AM I RIGHT IN SAYING THAT NONE OF THE THREE OF US WILL BE THERE TONIGHT?

>> YOU CAN BET YOUR LAST DOLLAR I WON'T BE THERE.

>> Braude: JAMES AND IRENE, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NEXT UP, THE STORY OF A BOSTON ATHLETE WHO HEADED TO FLORIDA, WON A CHAMPIONSHIP, AND BECAME THE MOST DECORATED PLAYER IN THEIR LEAGUE.

AND, NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TOM BRADY.

THIS IS THE STORY OF BOSTON PRIDE CAPTAIN JILLIAN DEMPSEY, NOW A THREE-TIME PREMIER HOCKEY FEDERATION CHAMPION AND THE LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER.

BUT UNLIKE BRADY, AFTER MAKING SPORTS HISTORY, SHE'S GETTING RIGHT BACK TO TEACHING HER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN WINTHROP, WORKING HER OTHER JOB, AS IS THE NORM FOR MOST P.H.F.

PLAYERS.

AND IN BETWEEN IT ALL, SHE'S MANAGING TO SQUEEZE IN AN INTERVIEW HERE.

CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING BOSTON PRIDE CAPTAIN JILLIAN DEMPSEY JOINS ME.

>> Braude: CONGRATULATIONS.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A CHAMPION AGAIN?

>> IT IS INCREDIBLE.

THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN BEING A CHAMPION.

>> Braude: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE BEST PLAYER IN YOUR LEAGUE AS WELL?

>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY GRACIOUS COMMENT, BUT I'M MOSTLY JUST INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR TEAM AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THINGS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ROSTER, THROUGH GOALIES AND WE CAME TOGETHER AND STUCK TOGETHER AND BELIEVED TOGETHER, AND IT WENT THE WAY WE HOPED AND IMAGINED IT WOULD.

>> Braude: HOW DID I KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO PRAISE YOUR TEAMMATES ITSELF YOURSELF.

TELL US ABOUT THE LEAGUE?

>> THIS IS THE SEVENTH SEASON.

I WAS HERE BACK IN 2015, '16, AND IT WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE PREMIER WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE.

AND NOW IT HAS BECOME THE PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE.

AND WE HOPE TO KEEP BUILDING FROM THERE.

>> Braude: TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE PRIDE AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BRUINS -- AM I NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> YES.

I'M NOT SURE OF THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THAT, BUT THE BRUINS OFTEN WILL WISH US GOOD LUCK IN BIG GAMES.

AND THEY'VE HOSTED US AT GAMES, ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR, AFTER WE WON THE CUP.

THERE ARE MANY TIES WITH THE BRUINS.

IN A CITY LIKE BOSTON, BEING EMBRACED BY THE SPORTS CULTURE AND ALL OF THE BOSTON TEAMS IS REALLY SPECIAL FOR US.

>> Braude: WELL, THIS IS ANOTHER HUMBLE JILLIAN DEMPSEY MOMENT.

SHE WOULDN'T MENTION THE PHOTOGRAPH OF PAT OF PATRICE PATRICE BERGERON.

THE OLYMPIC TEAM HAS MED MEDLED THE LAST 25 YEARS.

IT IS GAINING MOMENTUM?

>> DEFINITELY, WOMEN'S HOCKEY, IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, EVEN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, HAS GROWN SO MUCH.

RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE, I PLAYED PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY.

IT WAS NOT EVEN IN THIS LEAGUE, IN A LEAGUE THAT NO LONGER EXISTENCE, AND TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IN MY NINTH POST-COLLEGE YEAR, WOMEN'S HOCKEY HAS MADE LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW AND GET VISIBILITY OUT THERE AND SHOW THE PRODUCT THAT IS ON THE ICE.

IT IS VERY EXCITING TO SEE WHERE WOMEN'S HOCKEY IS GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR AND EVEN THE NEXT FEW YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

>> Braude: LINDA BASUTA HENRY, THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE GLOBE, WAS ON WITH ME LAST WEEKEND, AND SHE AND OTHER WOMEN INVESTED $75 MILLION IN THE WNBA, AND HERE IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR HER PART OF THE INVESTMENT, WHICH WAS HER VERY YOUNG DAUGHTER BROACHING A QUESTION.

>> SHE ASKED ME IF GIRLS WERE ALLOWED TO PLAY BASEBALL.

AND I REALIZED SHE HAD NEVER SEEN WOMEN PLAY SPORTS.

AT THAT POINT, SHE HAD SEEN A LOT OF BASEBALL AND SOCCER, BUT SHE HADN'T SEEN WOMEN DOING ANY.

AND I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

>> I'M FORTUNATE I GET TO SEE STUDENTS PLAY EVERY DAY, STUDENTS IN MY CLASS AND FORMER STUDENTS, AND FOR THEM TO SEE ME DO WHAT I LOVE, AND BE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEM, AND THEN COME TO THE RINK AND WITNESS ME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLASS, IS IMPORTANT.

AND THE BOYS GET JUST AS EXCITED ABOUT ME BEING A HOCKEY PLAYER AND CHEERING.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT IT IS AND HOW POSITIVE IT IS FOR US TO BE CONTINUING TO PLAY THIS GAME THAT WE LOVE IN SUCH A COMPETITIVE LEAGUE.

>> Braude: WHERE WE TALK ABOUT YOUR DAY JOB, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU CAN TEACH, AND TEACH THROUGH A PANDEMIC, AND BE THE BEST HOCKEY PLAYER IN YOUR LEAGUE, I JUST DON'T GET IT.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE PAZUTTI-HENRY COMMENT, I ASSUME THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THERE IS GREAT COMPETITION IN WOMEN'S HOCKEY.

ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEGINNING TO SEE WOMEN'S HOCKEY AS A GOOD INVESTMENT AS WELL, LIKE SHE AND HER LEAGUES SAW IN THE WNBA?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

WE WERE VERY FORTUNE TO HAVE TERRIFIC SPONSORSHIPS, WHO HAVE INVESTED IN OUR LEAGUE AND THE PLAYERS, AND THAT THEY WANT TO SEE IT GROW AND IT IS WORTH IT.

FOR US, IT INSTILLS FAITH IN US, AND WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE IS SPECIAL.

AND USUALLY WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT, THEY GET ON BOARD AND THEY ENJOY IT AND THEY'RE IMPRESSED WITH WOMEN'S HOCKEY.

SO WE TRY TO GET IT OUT THERE AND MAKE IT VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE, AND TRY TO GROW THOSE FAN BASES, AND I THINK THAT WILL REALLY HELP PROPEL WOMEN'S HOCKEY FORWARD.

>> Braude: IT HAS GOT TO, BECAUSE I DID A LITTLE MATH AND THE AVERAGE SALARY IS $37,500.

I ASSUME EVERYONE HAS ANOTHER JOB?

>> YES.

I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE NEXT YEAR, BASED ON THE LATEST INVESTMENT FROM OUR BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE BALANCES THEIR HOCKEY CAREER WITH ANOTHER FULL-TIME JOB.

I VIEW THAT RIGHT NOW AS THAT IS AWESOME BECAUSE FOR ME, I'M ABLE TO DO TWO THINGS THAT I LOVE.

AND NOT EVERYBODY CAN SAY THAT.

BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WORKING TOWARDS THE POINT WHERE WOMEN HOCKEY PLAYERS CAN BE FULL-TIME HOCKEY PLAYERS.

AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PIONEER AND GROW IN THIS SPORT.

>> Braude: JILLIAN, YOU WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY NIGHT.

WHEN DO YOU RETURN TO TEACHING?

>> I'LL BE BACK AT SCHOOL TOMORROW MORNING WITH THE KIDS.

>> Braude: IS THAT SURREAL TO YOU?

YOU WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY NIGHT, AND THURSDAY MORNING YOU'RE TEACHING.

IS THAT LIKE AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE FOR YOU, OR NO?

>> IT IS KIND OF THE USUAL, HONESTLY, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE MOST OF OUR GAMES ON THE WEEKEND, SO IT WOULD BE FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL, GETTING READY FOR THE GAMES ON THE WEEKEND, WHETHER IT IS TRAVELING OR JUST RELAXING AT HOME TO BE GOOD TO GO, AND COME MONDAY MORNING IT IS BACK TO WORK AND IN THERE WITH THE KIDS.

BUT FOR ME, IT DEFINITELY ALWAYS BRINGS A SMILE TO MY FACE BECAUSE SO MANY OF MY STUDENTS TUNE IN AND WATCH, AND THE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THEY'LL BE COMMENTING ON HOW THE WEEKEND GAMES WENT.

THIS ONE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ESPECIALLY GREAT ONE BECAUSE THEY KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE GONE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THEY WERE ROOTING FOR US.

AND I'M JUST THRILLED THAT I GET TO GO BACK AND SAY, WE DID IT, WE WON THE CUP, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DAY WITH THE CUP AT SCHOOL SOME TIME THIS SPRING.

>> Braude: THIS IS A TWEET FROM THE BOSTON PRIDE, JANUARY 25, 2021, IT SAYS: "CAPTAIN JILLIAN DEMPSEY'S CLASSROOM SET UP, WE WONDER IF SHE'LL BE TEACHING HOW SHE MADE NWHL HISTORY."

AND SINCE I KNOW YOU'RE TOO HUMBLE TO MENTION WHAT THE HISTORY IS, THIS WAS TWEETED AFTER YOU BECAME THE FIRST PERSON IN LEAGUE HISTORY TO REACH 100 CAREER POINTS.

THAT WAS YOUR SETUP FOR REMOTE TEACHING.

JILLIAN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR TEAMMATES.

IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE EXCITED AND WE APPRECIATE THE COVERAGE.

>> Braude: HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

GOOD LUCK.

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 ♪♪ >> HEY FOLKS, EDGAR B. HERWICK III FROM GBH'S "CURIOSITY DESK," WHERE YOU ASK QUESTIONS, AND I FIND ANSWERS.

TODAY, WE'RE AT THE FAMED MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, WHERE THANKS TO A QUESTION FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE'S LORRAINE VON SNEIDERN, WE ARE LITERALLY CHASING RAINBOWS.

>> MY QUESTION IS WHY ARE THE RAINBOWS THAT I SEE OUTSIDE AFTER A RAINSTORM ALWAYS A PERFECT ARC?

>> RAINBOWS ARE, OF COURSE, ONE OF NATURE'S MOST CHARMING TRICKS OF LIGHT.

AND LIGHT IS EXACTLY WHAT SCIENTIST MATHIAS KOLLE SPENDS HIS DAYS PONDERING.

IN ORDER FOR A RAINBOW TO APPEAR IN THE SKY, YOU NEED THREE INGREDIENTS, SO TO SPEAK.

SUNLIGHT, RAIN DROPS, AND YOU.

AND, AS KOLLE EXPLAINS, ALL THREE HAVE TO BE IN A VERY PARTICULAR SPOT FOR THE MAGIC TO HAPPEN.

>> SO THE SUN HAS TO BE BEHIND YOU.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST THING, THE SUN BEHIND YOU.

THEN AS WE WHOLE OF THE ATMOSPHERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND THAT'S USUALLY WHEN IT RAINS, YOU GET THE CONDITION.

AND THEN WHAT DO YOU ALSO WANT TO DO IS YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE RIGHT SPOT.

>> THESE POSITIONS ARE CRITICAL BECAUSE OF THE TWO PHENOMENA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APPEARANCE OF A RAINBOW, COUPLE OF OLD FRIENDS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL, REFRACTION AND REFLECTION.

REFRACTION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A RAINBOW'S COLORS.

WHEN SUNLIGHT ENTERS A RAINDROP, IT BENDS.

WHITE LIGHT, LIKE SUNLIGHT, IS COMPRISED OF A SPECTRUM OF COLORED LIGHT.

NOW EACH COLOR IS AT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAVELENGTH AND BENDS AT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE WHEN IT ENTERS THE DROPLET.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU GET THIS SPLITTING OF COLORS THAT ARE REDS AND THE ORANGES AND THE GREENS AND THE BLUES GO INSIDE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

>> AFTER THE LIGHT ENTERS THE RAINDROP AND IS SPLIT INTO ITS COMPONENT COLORS, A SMALL PORTION OF IT REFLECTS OFF THE BACK AND HEADS IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH EACH COLOR NOW ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PATH, IT REFRACTS ONE MORE TIME AS IT'S LEAVING THE DROPLET AND HEADS BACK DOWN TOWARD THE EARTH AT A VERY PRECISE ANGLE, 40 DEGREES FOR THE RED, ABOUT 42 DEGREES FOR THE VIOLET, WITH THE OTHER COLORS IN BETWEEN.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE RAINDROP.

ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING AT AN INCREDIBLE SCALE WITH LITERALLY BILLIONS OF RAYS OF LIGHT HITTING BILLIONS OF RAINDROPS.

>> IT HAPPENS IN EVERY RAINBOW, AS LONG AS IT SEES THE RAY OF SUN, IT WILL DO THAT REFRACTION, REFLECTION, REFRACTION, SECOND, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT STANDING IN THE RIGHT POSITION, YOU WILL NOT SEE THIS BY MOST OF THE RAINDROPS.

>> BUT IF YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT POSITION, THAT MAGIC ANGLE BETWEEN 40 AND 42 DEGREES, THERE WILL BE RAINDROPS GALORE, THROWING IN NUMERABLE BEAMS OF DISTINCT RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO, AND VIOLET LIGHT, RIGHT AT YOU.

AND THE RAINDROPS THAT ARE AT THAT PERFECT ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE SUN, AND YOU FORM A DISTINCT SHAPE.

>> ALL THE DROPLETS THAT ARE ON THIS ARC ARE GOING TO SEND THE LIGHT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR ME TO CATCH IT.

>> SO WE HAVE THINK ABOUT IT THREE-DIMENSIONALLY, RIGHT.

SO IT'S LIKE THIS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND MY ELBOWS KIND OF MY EYES.

>> ELBOWS WOULD BE YOUR EYES IN THE SCENARIO.

EXACTLY.

>> YOU CAN THINK OF IT LIKE A CONE, WITH YOU AT THE POINT, AND THE RAINBOW APPEARING ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BASE.

NOW, AS FOR WHY THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE DOESN'T LIGHT UP LIKE A RAINBOW.

WELL, THE GROUND GETS IN THE WAY, IF YOU COULD GET UP HIGH ENOUGH, SO THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RAIN BELOW YOUR FEET, WELL, KOLLE SAYS, "IMAGINE YOU'RE JACK ON A BEANSTALK."

>> AND AS HE CLIMBS UP THIS ARC WOULD ACTUALLY SHIFT WITH HIM, BUT EXTEND FULLER AND FULLER BELOW AND START TO ACTUALLY, ONCE IT'S IN HALF ARC, START TO ARC BACK ON ITSELF.

AND AS HE CLIMBS HIGHER AND HIGHER, THIS ARC MIGHT CLOSE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU DON'T HAVE AN ARCH, BUT YOU HAVE A CIRCLE.

>> A RAIN CIRCLE?

>> A RAIN CIRCLE, NOT A RAINBOW ANYMORE.

>> AND IF YOU THINK RAIN CIRCLES ARE COOL, CONSIDER THIS, ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL RAINDROPS THAT ARE MAKING THE RAINBOW THAT YOU SEE, ARE UNIQUE TO YOUR POSITION.

AND THEY'RE CHANGING CONSTANTLY MOMENT TO MOMENT.

SO FORGET ABOUT LEPRECHAUNS AND POTS OF GOLD.

THE REAL MAGIC IS IN THE SCIENCE AND THE FACT THAT ANYTIME YOU SEE ONE, YOU ARE LITERALLY STANDING IN THE CENTER OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL RAINBOW.

DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE.

AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW COLORFUL THE QUESTION, I MIGHT LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

I'M EDGAR B. HERWICK III, STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE, Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org >> THE CURIOSITY DESK IS SPONSORED BY EMERSON COLLEGE, INSPIRING CURIOSITY AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN ALL OF US.