Today on Boston Public Radio:

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius answers questions from listeners about the state of schools, including the teacher shortage and wait lists for Boston’s exam schools. Cassellius is the superintendent of Boston Public Schools.

Then, we ask listeners about the Omicron variant and how the pandemic is playing out in schools, including hearing from Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy.

Makinde Ogunnaike and Josh Sariñana talk about how they turn physics and neuroscience into art and poetry, and the intersection of physics and religious faith. Ogunnaike is a PhD candidate in physics at MIT, where he researches quantum systems and the new states of matter they can create. He also runs the Harvard-MIT chapter of the National Society of Black Physicists. Sariñana is a fine art photographer, a writer and neuroscience marketing professional. He’s also the director of “The Poetry of Science.”

Corby Kummer weighs in on who has intellectual property claims to a recipe, and where restaurants stand with restrictions and masking. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Andy Ihnatko discusses the latest developments in electric car technology, and Jack Dorsey’s decision to step away as CEO of Twitter. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com.

Sue O’Connell updates listeners on the latest news in the Cuomo family scandal, after Chris Cuomo was suspended indefinitely from CNN. She also talks about the success of Amy Schneider, the first trans person to make “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions. 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.

We end the show by talking with listeners about how they treated substitute teachers back in the day, amid a teacher shortage and dire need for substitutes.