Today on Boston Public Radio:

We begin the show by asking listeners their thoughts on the labor market, amid worker shortages and unionization fights to grow worker power.

Mike Keiley gives tips on how to ethically and responsibly gift pets during the holidays, and debunks pet adoption myths from the pandemic. Keiley is the director of adoption centers and programs at MSCPA-Angell.

Callie Crossley discusses Simone Biles’ pick as Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, and Jussie Smollett’s guilty verdict for lying about a staged racist, homophobic attack. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black.

Andy Ihnatko teaches listeners how to best protect their passwords, after an annual list of most common passwords included “123456” and “password1.” Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com.

Sue O’Connell weighs in on the Supreme Court dismissing the Justice Department’s challenge to Texas’ restrictive abortion law, and the Ghislaine Maxwell trial for her involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief.

Sam Green previews his latest exhibit, “32 Sounds,” mixing visual, narrative, and live music components to create a “live documentary.” Sam Green is the director behind “32 Sounds,” showing this Saturday at Mass MoCA. 

We end the show by talking with listeners about which holiday traditions they’re keeping, ditching and beginning anew amid the pandemic.