The Common

In a section of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, residents have a life expectancy of nearly 92. Travel just two miles away to Roxbury's Nubian Square, and the life expectancy for area Bostonians drops below 69. That's a stark, 23 year difference.

These findings come from a new Boston Public Health Commission report. Today, WBUR Reporter Martha Bebinger joins The Common to walk through some of the startling findings from this analysis, and for a look at some of the factors that contribute to this disparity.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston is known as a runner's city. But last month, running groups with predominantly Black membership, including Pioneers Run Crew and TrailblazHers, reported being targeted by police while spectating the Boston Marathon.

In light of this event, and as the weather warms up and brings runners outside, Jeff Davis, founder of another running group for Black runners, Black Men Run Boston, joins The Common.

Black Men Run Boston is the local chapter of the national Black Men Run organization, which aims to create a safe and health-centered space for Black men to run and walk in community. Today, Jeff Davis shares his experience running while Black in Boston, and discusses what he believes can be done to make running more inclusive in the city.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Some families in Cambridge will soon be eligible to receive $500, each month, for 18 months, no strings attached. It's the product of a new program called Rise Up Cambridge, which seeks to partially address poverty through direct income payments. 

WBUR Senior Business Reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka joins The Common to walk us through this program, and where it fits into a broader, national movement in support of guaranteed income. 

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It's been more than three years since the coronavirus state of emergency was first put in place. It finally ends on May 11th. WBUR Senior Health Reporter Priyanka Dayal McCluskey joins The Common to help us understand this new phase of the pandemic and what this change means for remaining COVID measures.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

No, the government is not coming for your gas stove. At least not this second. But your stove could have implications for the health of your household (gas stoves are the top trigger for pediatric asthma in the state, for example), as well as our environment. WBUR Climate and Environment Correspondent Barbara Moran joins The Common to discuss alternatives, as well as safety tips, for cooking with gas.

Editor's note: A previous version of the audio portion of this story incorrectly stated the number of Boston homes with gas stove leaks. The story has been corrected. We regret the error.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Have you ever had someone knock on your door, ask to see your electric bill and then promise you a better deal? There's a good chance this was a competitive energy supplier, and this so-called "deal" may cost you in the long run.

Today, WBUR Senior Climate and Environment Reporter Miriam Wasser joins The Common to take us through the first piece in her three-part series looking into competitive electric suppliers and the vulnerable communities they harm the most.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It's May, which, according to assistant director for WBUR CitySpace Candice Springer, is the perfect time to catch a musical.

Today on The Common, Candice joins the show with some of her top theatrical picks for the month of May.

Candice recommends...

Bettlejuice: Citizen Bank Opera House, May 2nd - May 14

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Three years ago, the coronavirus pandemic brought Boston's theater scene to a screeching halt. Venues are now welcoming back audiences for performances, but as WBUR Arts and Culture Reporter Amelia Mason reports, business is far from usual. Amelia joins The Common to discuss how COVID-19 has changed Boston's theater scene as a part of WBUR Arts' four part series on arts after the pandemic.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

People in their twenties make up one-fifth of Boston's population, but some of these young people are struggling to make it in the city as the cost of living soars.

Boston Globe Reporter Diti Kohli talked to more than two dozen Gen Z residents living in Boston to learn what financial concerns are making them question their future in the city. Today, she joins The Common to walk through the impact of debt, economic uncertainty and other money woes that are top of mind for Boston's under-25 crowd.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

A study from Common Good Labs, a data science firm based out of Pittsburg, and the Brookings Institution has identified nearly 200 neighborhoods across the country that have done the seemingly impossible: Increase neighborhood wealth, without pushing out the original residents. One of those neighborhoods is Boston's very own Upham's Corner in Dorchester.

Common Good Labs partner Rohit Acharya joins The Common to break down how Upham's Corner did it, and how the neighborhood can be used as a model for other communities.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.