The Common

The Dorchester Reporter, founded in 1983 by husband and wife Ed and Mary Forry, celebrated 40 years of circulation this month. Bill Forry, current publisher of The Reporter (and Ed and Mary's son) was 10-years-old when his parents started the paper. Today, Bill Forry joins The Common with his wife and co-publisher Linda Dorcena Forry to reflect on four decades of The Dorchester Reporter and how it helped shaped the Boston we know today. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Enbridge, a Canadian energy company, wants to expand one of its pipelines in the Northeast in order to increase the supply of natural gas to states like Massachusetts. This comes as Massachusetts and surrounding states are actively trying to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in order to combat the impacts of climate change. However, pipeline expansion projects like this one fall under the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), rather than individual state governments. Miriam Wasser is a senior climate and environment reporter at WBUR. She joins The Common to explain what the pipeline expansion project entails and why there's debate over whether the extra gas is needed. She also breaks down the role state officials and climate advocates will play as the project advances Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (M.I.C.E) is a festival focusing on independent, small press and self-published comics and cartoons. This year's event is hosted by Boston University's School of Visual Arts, and takes place September 30-October 1st at BU's Fuller Building (808 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass.) And best of all, it's free to attend. Dan Mazur is a professional cartoonist, comics historian and the co-director of M.I.C.E. He joins The Common to talk about what attendees can expect at this year's expo, as well what makes Boston such a great city for independent comics. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

After months of refusing to provide records on a police officer who was accused of sexual assault, the town of Natick has paid WBUR more than $22,000 in a lawsuit settlement. It's the latest example of a Massachusetts city paying out big, after being sued for ignoring or rejecting a request for public records. Ally Jarmanning is a senior reporter for WBUR. She joins The Common to talk about why municipalities continue to withhold public records despite knowing they may have to pay, and how this practice can make it difficult for private citizens to obtain important information about their public institutions. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Massachusetts is in the midst of a housing crisis. Just last month, Governor Maura Healey declared an emergency in the state's family shelter system, through which a record number of people are desperately trying to obtain housing. Producer's note: After this interview was recorded, state housing officials announced that they are launching a 90-day effort to reduce the number of vacancies in state public housing by the end of 2023 as a response to the impactful reporting described in this episode. And yet, a new investigation from WBUR and ProPublica found that there are nearly 2300 units of state public housing sitting empty across the Commonwealth –– sometimes for years at a time. Todd Wallack is an investigative correspondent with WBUR. He joins The Common to discuss why valuable public housing units are allowed to remain unoccupied, and the challenges housing officials have filling them. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The end of summer means a whole slue of fun things to do in Greater Boston. Like cinema? How about dance? There are more than half-a-dozen film festivals happening in the region this autumn, and over a dozen dance events. How about new music for a new season? Look no further than WBUR's Fall Arts Guides, featuring new albums from local artists, theatre events, art exhibitions, classical music performances and more. WBUR Arts Editor Lauren Williams joins The Common to discuss some of highlights from this fall's arts guides. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The top regulator of the state's $5-billion legal weed industry has been suspended, even as the Control Commission is poised to make new rules governing cannabis production and commerce in Massachusetts. State lawmakers also sent a letter Monday to the Legislature’s committee on cannabis policy, asking for a hearing and an independent state auditing unit to review the board's actions. Today, Boston Globe staff reporter Matt Stout joins The Common to discuss State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg's decision to suspend Shannon O’Brien, who she appointed as the state's top regulator just one year ago -- and what it might mean for the state's burgeoning cannabis economy. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Green crabs are an incredibly successful — and harmful — invasive species. They thrive in ocean waters the world over, including in New England. Although traditionally only used as fish bait, some chefs are now serving green crab at Boston restaurants. Today, Radio Boston Producer & Director Amanda Beland joins The Common to explain how green crabs are harming our local environment, and what some people are doing to fight back. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

With traditional flu season bearing down fast, and Covid-19 on the rise, the upcoming fall and winter might be better characterized as a triple-viral threat: Covid, flu and RSV. This is also the first year we've ever had vaccines available for all three respiratory viruses. Public health experts say the threat to the public at large -- and the hospital system -- must be taken seriously, but with more anti-viral-tools in our toolbox than ever before, there may also be also be some room for cautious optimism. Today, WBUR Senior Health Reporter Priyanka Dayal McCluskey joins The Common to talk about what's ahead for public health in Massachusetts. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Starting this year, Salem High School is instructing students to put their phones into lockable pouches during the school day, outside of lunch, to reduce in-class distractions and encourage in-person interactions. Today, WBUR Senior Education Reporter Carrie Jung joins The Common to talk about this new policy, how students are responding, and what's next for cell phone restriction policies in high schools across the region. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Amplify Latinx's ALX100 recognizes inspirational leaders from across Massachusetts' Latinx community's diverse professions, nationalities and identities. This year's inaugural list of 100 includes WBUR's own José Massó, host of ¡Con Salsa!, the station's bilingual salsa and Latin jazz music show that has been on the air for 48 years. José joins The Common to discuss the ALX100 honor and ¡Con Salsa's! impact on Greater Boston over the decades. Listen to ¡Con Salsa! on WBUR Saturday nights at 10pm. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo (District 5) and Kendra Lara (District 6) lost their bids for reelection during Tuesday's preliminary vote. This follows a year of controversy for both the councilors and city council. It's also the first time in over 40 years that an incumbent city councilor has lost a preliminary election in the city of Boston. WBUR Reporter Walter Wuthmann was at the polls on Tuesday. He joins The Common to discuss the upset and what it means going into the November general election. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Today, we're heading to Mattapan, looking for food. This culinary quest is part of WBUR's Field Guide to Boston -- a station-wide effort to help you connect with the city's communities. WBUR arts reporter and Mattapan native Arielle Gray joins us as a local guide on this episode of The Common, and takes us to three of her can't-miss spots for top-tier food in the neighborhood. Ari recommends.... - Ali's Roti Restaurant: 118 Blue Hill Ave. - Café Juice Up: 1290 Blue Hill Ave. - Le Foyer Bakery: 132 Babson St. And check out the rest of WBUR's Field Guide here: http://wbur.org/fieldguide Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Cousin Stizz is a Dorchester-raised (currently LA-based) MC who broke out in 2014 with his song "Shoutout." Since then, he's gone on to release five albums and has won Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards three times (2018, 2019 and 2022). Now, he's returning to Boston on September 16 to launch Commonwealth Fest, a hip hop festival featuring a stacked lineup of local artists as well as national acts. Cousin Stizz joins The Common to preview Commonwealth Fest and discuss its, as well as his own, Boston origins. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

A month ago, Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency within Massachusetts' family shelter system, which is struggling to support record numbers of unhoused families across the state. WBUR Senior Health and Science Reporter Gabrielle Emanuel joins The Common today to discuss several of her latest stories from within the state's family shelter system, including challenges enrolling newly arrived children in school, as well as recent anti-immigrant protests targeting family shelter locations around the state. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Thursday marked the first day of school for Boston Public Schools, and WBUR Education Reporter Max Larkin was out as busses departed and facility doors opened, talking to students and parents to get an idea of what's top-of-mind heading into the 2023-2024 school year. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston-based content creator Keonte Henson, also known as @atstayathomedad, has built a following on TikTok and Instagram with his humorous, real-talk approach to local restaurant reviews. Often recording from the driver's seat of his parked car, Henson reviews Greater Boston food options with a focus on casual eateries, take-away spots and budget-friendly options. Keonte Henson joins The Common to talk about how creating food-related content has helped him connect with Boston since his 2022 move to the area. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Experts say that many cities and states, including Massachusetts, are vastly underestimating the number of people who die from heat every summer. And, as WBUR Senior Climate and Environment Reporter Miriam Wasser explains, this lack of data makes it hard to know if efforts to protect people from extreme heat are working. Miriam joins The Common to walk us through her reporting. Miriam's story: https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/08/31/heat-waves-mortality-excess-deaths-climate-change Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The beginning of September is Boston's unofficial moving season, and settling into a new space isn't always a walk in the park. But one great way to make any house (or apartment, or studio... we know how it is) feel like home, is to add plants. Today on The Common, we visit Emerald City Plant Shop, New England's first Black-owned specialty plant store, to learn how best to care for green life indoors, and to learn more about owner Quontay Turner's journey opening this Norwood-based business. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Happy Labor Day, everyone. Team Common is taking the day to relax. We hope you are, too. Today, we bring you a story from our friends in the WBUR newsroom. This story comes from Senior Health Reporter, Priyanka Dayal McCluskey. For decades, gay men were banned from donating blood in the U.S. based on fears that these donations would spread HIV. But this year, federal officials updated the guidelines. Dr. Robbie Goldstein, who is the Massachusetts commissioner of public health, pushed for the change, and was one of the first in the state to donate under these new guidelines. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The end of summer is always bittersweet but it also ushers in one of our favorite times of year: Theater season. Assistant Director of CitySpace Candice Springer is back on The Common with three theatrical performances to enjoy during the month of September. Candice recommends: POTUS - Sept. 15 - Oct. 15: SpeakEasy Stage Company at the Calderwood Pavilion https://www.bostontheatrescene.com/shows-and-events/potus/ Assassins - Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston Theater https://www.lyricstage.com/show-item/Assassins Fat Ham - Sept. 22 - Oct. 22 at The Huntington at the Calderwood Pavilion https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/whats-on/fat-ham/ Learn about more CitySpace events happening this month: https://www.wbur.org/events Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston's preliminary municipal elections are September 12. Among the seats up for grabs are District Five and District Six, which are currently held by Councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Kendra Lara, respectively. Both candidates have had their share of high profile drama this past year, and are heading into the election with multiple competitors. Boston Globe Politics Reporter Emma Platoff joins The Common to discuss the outlook for Lara and Arroyo's campaigns, as well as what this coming election season could mean for progressive politics in Boston. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Today on, The Common, a story about how social media can be used for good. Elizabeth Amador is an activist and community leader who uses Instagram to help Spanish speaking residents navigate local government bureaucracy to get the help they need. In her posts and livestreams, she answers questions about everything from obtaining rental and food assistance to getting a driver’s license for her audience of nearly 17,000 followers. And she does it all in her free time. In today's episode, Elizabeth sits down with host Darryl C. Murphy to talk about her experience running her Instagram account, and the persistent information gap that necessitates its existence. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last week, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, or POST, finally released its new database of complaints against police officers in Massachusetts – a year after its deadline. The release of the data is being called ​​“a major milestone” in the effort to increase transparency and accountability in our state’s law enforcement system. But, as WBUR Senior Reporter Ally Jarmanning explains on today's episode, there is still a lot of information missing from the record. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It’s Monday, which means it’s time for us to bring you a story from one of our friends in the WBUR newsroom. When you think about pollution, you probably think of contamination in the air or water. But light pollution can impact the health of people and wildlife, too. Today's story comes to us from WBUR Environmental Reporter, Paula Moura. She talked to one resident on Nantucket who made it her full time job to protect the island’s night skies. Her efforts led to the town passing a light pollution bylaw earlier this year, and it could be a model for other legislation in the state. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Poison ivy seems to be booming, and researchers think climate change could be to blame. As carbon dioxide levels increase and temperatures warm, this toxic vine is not only getting bigger and growing faster, but the plant's oil, which causes allergic reactions in about 80% of the population, is becoming more plentiful and increasingly potent. Today, WBUR Senior Health and Science Reporter Gabrielle Emanuel joins The Common to discuss the troubling tie between human caused climate change and the rise of poison ivy. Gabrielle's story: https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/08/22/bigger-earlier-and-itchier-why-poison-ivy-loves-climate-change Take Gabrielle's poison ivy quiz: https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/08/22/massachusetts-new-england-poison-ivy-quiz Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The new $56 billion state budget earmarks $5 million to design and launch a reduced fare program for low income MBTA riders. The program could benefit an estimated 60,000 riders, but it's yet to be seen exactly what the plan will look like and, perhaps most importantly, when it will be available to qualifying riders. WBUR Transportation Reporter Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez joins The Common to walk us through this highly anticipated program, and what she's watching for going forward. Read Andrea's story: https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/08/18/reduced-fares-mbta Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

In May, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory sounding the alarm on what he calls the “devastating impact of the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in the United States.” A growing body of research ties loneliness to an increased risk of health conditions including heart disease, stroke, dementia and even premature death, making it, by many measures, a public health concern. Today, WBUR Senior Health Reporter Priyanka Dayal McCluskey joins The Common to talk about two Boston-area-based programs that aim to combat loneliness through fostering friendships and human connection. More info on the Friendship Project: https://advocates.org/friendship-project-advocates-volunteer-program Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

MBTA ridership still lags about 40% behind pre-pandemic levels, while car traffic has bounced back in-full. This is bad news for the climate, as experts say reducing driving is by far one of the fastest ways to reduce transportation emissions, which make up more than 30% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions. Today, Boston Globe Transportation Reporter Taylor Dolven joins The Common to discuss the MBTA service concerns holding some commuters back from taking the T when driving is an option. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It’s Monday, which means it’s time for us to bring you a story from one of our friends in the WBUR newsroom. Today’s story comes from WBUR education reporter, Max Larkin. Each summer, rising high school seniors known as THRIVE Scholars head to Amherst College for a six week program. They come from all over the country, and they’re all talented students from low income backgrounds who hope to attend a selective college or university. Max headed out to Amherst to check out this year’s summer academy, where the scholars make their final preparations for the application process. Max's story: https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/08/17/boston-nonprofit-students-of-color-elite-colleges Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

September 1 is just two weeks away, and so is the giant game of musical chairs that unfolds in the streets of Boston every year. Seven in 10 leases turn over on that day to make way for the tens of thousands of students who return to the city at the end of the summer. Between the traffic, trucking your worldly possessions across town and acclimating to a new neighborhood, move-in day can be an overwhelming time for anyone, particularly the un-initiated Bostonian. So, today on The Common, WBUR Reporter Simon Rios gives newcomers the inside scoop on how to navigate the chaos and start off your Boston chapter on the right foot. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last week Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency in the Massachusetts family shelter system, which has reached its capacity. The shortage of shelter and temporary housing available means that many unhoused families are being left without adequate support and resources. WBUR Senior Health and Science Reporter Gabrielle Emanuel joins The Common to explain Gov. Healey's declaration, which is calling on everyone from the federal government, to private citizens, to help families in need. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a $56 billion state budget for the fiscal year of 2024. Included in that budget are several considerable investments in education in the state, from free lunches for K-12 students to free community college tuition for nursing students. It also set aside a sum of about $1.5 billion to help stabilize Massachusetts' early education and childcare industry, which has been a huge financial stressor on parents and providers alike. WBUR Education Reporter Carrie Jung joins The Common to provide a deep dive into the state's early childhood care investments, as well as an overview of other education ticket items in this year's budget. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Earlier this month, a report from the Dorchester Reporter found that all six public pools in Dorchester and Mattapan are closed for maintenance this summer. The work ranges from long-anticipated projects, to unplanned repairs, that together make for a perfect storm that has residents wondering: "How was this allowed to happen?" Especially in two of the hottest, most underserved neighborhoods in the city. WBUR General Assignment Reporter Walter Wuthmann joins The Common to talk about how city officials and community members are reacting to the story. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It’s Monday, which means we’re back with another story from our friends in the WBUR Newsroom while The Common works on some future projects. Today's story is a quick but important one, and comes to us from WBUR Arts Reporter Cristela Guerra. It’s about a former curator at the Worcester Art Museum, who is suing senior leadership at the museum, accusing them of discrimination. WBUR Arts Reporter Cristela Guerra reports that according to the lawsuit, former curator Rachel Parikh was “mocked and ridiculed because she is a brown-skinned South Asian” Indian woman and was “subjected to a hostile and offensive work environment." Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

August 11 marks 50 years of hip-hop, one of the most impactful cultural contributions of the last century. And while hip-hop was born in New York City, Boston's scene has been around since the early days, and continues strong today. Edo.G has been part of the Boston hip-hop scene since the '80s, when he came on first as a dancer, and then as an emcee. He popped in the early '90s with an album he did with Da Bulldogs called “Life of a Kid in the Ghetto," and has released more than a dozen albums and collaborations in the years since. Today on The Common, Boston hip-hop legend Edo.G joins the show for a look back at 50 years of Boston hip-hop, and a look ahead to what's next for the scene. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Assistant Director of WBUR CitySpace, Candice Springer is back on The Common with three free things to get you out of the house, and through these final weeks of August. Candice recommends... - GLD FSTVL - 8/12, 12:00 pm - 10: pm at City Hall Plaza - Saint Anthony's Feast - 8/24-8/27 in Boston's North End - The Museum of Bad Art - Open seven days a week at Dorchester Brewing Company - Check out WBUR CitySpace's fall lineup of events, out now! GLD FSTVL: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/gld-fstvl Saint Anthony's Feast: https://www.stanthonysfeast.com/schedule.html The Museum of Bad Art: https://museumofbadart.org/ CitySpace's fall lineup: https://www.wbur.org/inside/2023/08/07/wbur-cityspace-unveils-new-fall-lineup Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last month's flooding in Western Massachusetts hit many farmers hard, but it wasn't the first unpredictable weather event of the year. Today, WBUR Senior Climate and Environment Reporter Barbara Moran joins The Common to discuss how changes in weather patterns are impacting farmers, and what you can do to support local producers as they navigate a changing climate. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It’s been almost a month since parts of Western Massachusetts were hit hard by extreme weather and flooding. The state’s Department of Agricultural Resources estimates that 110 farms were affected by the severe weather, and that related losses total $15 million. Stone Soup Farm in Hadley, MA is among them. About 80% of the 10-acre farm was flooded during the rains. Today, Dave DiLorenzo, owner of Stone Soup Farm, joins The Common to look back at the day his crops flooded, and to look ahead to what's next for the farm. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

We're back with another feature from one of our friends in the WBUR newsroom as Team Common works on some longer term projects. Today's story comes from WBUR Morning Edition's Rupa Shenoy and Laney Ruckstuhl. Last week, Former President Donald Trump was indicted on four felony counts, all related to attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors say that Trump incited the January sixth violence at the capitol, which was lead by his supporters, including members of right-wing groups. Kristofer Goldsmith is the founder of Task Force Butler, a nonprofit group of veterans who've been tracking extremists in New England. He joins Rupa to talk about his work, and the state of right-wing extremism in the region. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

September and the first days of school are just around the corner. But there is still nearly a month of summer left for families with kids to pack in the warm weather activities. So, today we’re turning the show over to the parents of WBUR to tell us how their kids have been making the most of summer vacation while it lasts. Also, they share how they are balancing all that fun in the sun with the practical and emotional complexities of parenting. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

In January, Massachusetts launched the Behavioral Health Help Line. It's a key part of the state’s Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform project, and aims to provide a so-called “front door” to mental health care, connecting callers with both crisis and longer term resources. Boston Globe Reporter Felice Freyer joins The Common to discuss the first six months of the system's rollout, its successes and where improvements are still needed. If you or someone you know are in mental health crisis or may be considering suicide, contact the Massachusetts mental health helpline at 833-773-2445 or the national crisis lifeline, which is 988. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last week, the U.S. Education Department launched a civil rights investigation into Harvard University’s legacy and donor admissions policies, which give preferential treatment to certain students who come from families of alumni or who donate to the school. Researchers from Harvard and Brown also released a study, which finds that that students from the highest income 0.1% of American households are more than twice as likely to gain admission to highly selective or elite colleges and universities compared to children from lower-income households with similar test scores. The study also finds that legacy preferences play an important role in that disparity. WBUR Education Reporter Max Larkin joins The Common with more on the growing conversation around legacy admission policies. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Some say the idea of a universal "song of the summer" is a thing of the past, but how about an entire mixtape? Six Boston area DJs and 17 local artists have joined forces with the City of Boston to create "Dear Summer Vol. 1" — the city's first-ever mixtape, and they want it to be your soundtrack to the summer. DJ Chimel "ReaL P" Idiokitas is the executive producer and curator of "Dear Summer Vol. 1." He joins The Common to walk us through the mixtape and tells us what it takes to put together a project that represents the breadth of talent that makes Boston's music scene unique. You can find out more about the mixtape here: https://www.boston.gov/arts-and-culture/dear-summer-mixtape-vol1#listen And hear the full mixtape on Soundcloud here: https://soundcloud.com/mayorwu/dear-summer-vol-1 Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

We're back with another feature from one of our friends in the WBUR newsroom as Team Common works on some longer term projects. Massachusetts had its first big heatwave of the year last week, and it likely won’t be the last. As extreme temperatures become more common, knowing how to navigate the heat's effects is important. Especially for certain groups, such as the elderly or people who work outdoors. WBUR reporter Martha Bebinger brings us this report about a new pilot program that is testing heat health alerts in the region. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

August marks 50 years of hip-hop. It’s one of the most influential cultural movements of the last century, and one that far transcends music. It’s art, it’s fashion, it’s language, it’s community and… it's film. The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline is celebrating the culture with a month-long film series called “Been Here For Years: Hip Hop at 50.” It starts August 1 and runs through the month. Billy Thegenus, programming and outreach coordinator for the Coolidge Corner Theatre joins The Common with his can't-miss picks for this upcoming series. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

When you pay your monthly utility bills, you pay for a lot more than just the energy you use. You pay to build and maintain the infrastructure that gets the energy to your house. You pay for operating expenses, like employee salaries. You pay for the state's energy efficiency program. And, you might also be helping fund your utility’s attempts to influence climate policy. WBUR Senior Climate and Environmental Reporter Miriam Wasser joins The Common to talk about the various loopholes that enable this reality, and what advocates are trying to do about it. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Hollywood is on strike. The writers are on strike, the actors are on strike and it’s the first time in 60 years both groups are doing so simultaneously. They want better pay, regulations on the use of AI in TV and film and a variety of other ticket items. In the meantime, many productions have come to a halt, including here in Massachusetts — where more than 30 major productions were filmed just last year. Nerissa Williams Scott is a faculty member at Emerson College and CEO and lead creative producer at the production company That Child Got Talent Entertainment. She joins The Common to discuss the impacts of the Hollywood strikes on our local film industry. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

This week, people from all over the country are coming to Boston to participate in the 114th NAACP National Convention. The convention runs from July 26 through 31 and includes speakers such as Vice President Kamala Harris, rapper Meek Mill and Boston’s own Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space, Mariama White-Hammond. There will also be workshops and social events, all aimed at fostering community and advocacy in Boston and across the country. Today, NAACP Boston Branch President Tanisha Sullivan joins The Common with more on the event, and the significance it holds for Boston. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

We're back with a feature from one of our friends in the WBUR newsroom as Team Common works on some longer term projects. In May, a new park opened in Mattapan, and, get this… it’s edible. The Edgewater Food Forest is a quarter-acre park in Mattapan full of fruit trees, berry bushes and other edible plants. Anyone in the community can harvest food there, for free. The park is a collaborative effort between neighborhood groups, the city, and the nonprofit “Boston Food Forest Coalition.” They’ve helped build 10 of these sites so far. WBUR Climate and Environment Correspondent Barbara Moran brings us this audio postcard from the opening celebration of the Edgewater Food Forest. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.