The Common

WBUR midday host Jack Lepiarz is hanging up his headphones after over a decade at the station. Why? He's running away to join the circus, of course. The Common catches Jack, aka Jack Ze Whipper, on his last day to discuss how his Renaissance Faire act became a viral sensation on TikTok and for a look back at his career at WBUR.

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

Two Afghan families, forcibly displaced from their home country, remain occupants of a church basement in Newburyport. It's been more than a year since they arrived, but they’ve been unable to find a permanent home, in part, due to the lack of affordable housing options in the community they’ve become a part of. But, a group of advocates is hoping to develop new structures to help forcibly displaced people afford housing in Newburyport, and beyond. WBUR Senior Producer and Reporter Lynn Jolicoeur joins The Common with more.

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

It's that special time again – We've got WBUR CitySpace's Assistant Director, and general curator of fun, Candice Springer on The Common to tell us what events, happenings, and date-ready tea rooms (Yes! Rooms, plural!) can't be missed in Boston this month.

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

Believe it or not, many of the "expiration date" and "best by" stickers on your food are fairly arbitrary. So during a time when food prices are sky high, knowing what is and isn't still good to eat can help cut down on food waste and your expenses. Food For Free's Ben Engle joins The Common to give us a few pointers on how to be more thoughtful about reducing household food waste.

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

Since December 2021, the MBTA has been working on an "aggressive" hiring campaign to bolster driver numbers to bring bus services back to pre-pandemic levels. Now, in January 2023, they have fewer drivers than a year ago and bus services continue to be cut left and right. Boston Globe Transportation Reporter Taylor Dolven joins The Common to discuss why the campaign failed, and how Boston's Black and Hispanic communities are paying the price. 

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

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to change the way the city approaches development, with one goal being to increase opportunities for economic growth within communities of color. She wants to start with Mattapan, a neighborhood that's 43% Black and 31% Hispanic. WBUR's Rupa Shenoy walks us through the city's proposed plan in today's episode of The Common. 

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

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has made building a diverse and inclusive administration a priority during her first weeks in office. However, she has yet to appoint any Latino people to cabinet positions. Executive Chairman of El Planeta, Boston's largest Spanish-language publication, Javier Marin joins The Common to break down this moment.

Also, we speak with Marcos Marin, El Planeta's new CEO and Editor-in-Chief, about his vision for the paper in the coming years.

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

Wednesday night, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took the stage at MGM Music Hall in Fenway to give her first State of the City address. She used the speech to highlight her plans for housing and development, and to celebrate the successes of her first year in office. WBUR reporter Walter Wuthmann joins The Common to walk us through the major points of Mayor Wu's speech, and to offer analysis on what this all could mean for the remainder of her first term.

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

Last week, nearly 100 children across Massachusetts were stuck in hospital emergency rooms waiting for mental health services. This is not unusual, as child psychiatric units have long been overstretched, particularly during the pandemic. That's why the state has begun partnering with diversion services that allow children to access mental health counseling in their own homes. WBUR's Martha Bebinger joins The Common to share the story of one family's experience.

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.

We've got more on housing, folks! Today, we're taking a look at what Gov. Maura Healey's has planned to address housing insecurity at the state level. WBUR's Simón Rios joins The Common to discuss what we know about Gov. Healey's housing policy, including plans to hire a cabinet-level housing secretary. 

P.S. if you missed it, check out yesterday's show all about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's new plan to propose a rent control policy in Boston, and the uphill battle she could face in doing so.  

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