He was formerly the host of the nationally syndicated, public radio call-in program On Point, from which he was dismissed after an investigation concluded he had created a hostile work environment.
"[3] Ashbrook was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University during which time he decided to leave the Globe in 1996 and create an Internet startup with college friend Rolly Rouse.
[6] WBUR later reported 11 men and women came forward detailing alleged behavior including tirades, belittling critiques of show ideas, and name calling during meetings.
[9] Ashbrook made a statement on the same day, saying that the decision was “profoundly unfair.”[10] In subsequent news interviews, he described himself as "chastened" but determined to return to radio broadcasting "somewhere, sometime soon.
Featured guests on the show so far have included Steve Locke, Kori Schake, Salman Habib, Maya Jasanoff, and Sir John Sawers.
Guests on the show included Bill McKibben, Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, plus a variety of writers, academics, politicians and others.
Ashbrook underwent heart bypass surgery in November 2007 and was off air until January 2, 2008,[19] when he discussed his medical journey in a show with his doctors and nurses.