The Point

As case numbers continue to rise, local hospitals cope with a shortage of protective gear. Governor Baker orders nonessential bricks-and-mortar businesses to close and extends the school shutdown until May. The Islands attempt a contruction ban, but it's no so easy. And local volunteers take up the call to sew protective masks.

There are important parallels between a global pandemic and climate change. One moves with incredible speed, the other more slowly, but both have the power to drastically change our way of life. We talk with Philip Duffy, President and CEO of the Woods Hole Research Center , about lessons from the pandemic that can help shape our response to climate change and the opportunities we have at this moment to shift our thinking and behavior around the threat of climate change.

Research shows people are more likely to stick with an exercise routine and push themselves harder if they’re exercising with other people. With gyms and fitness studios closed for the foreseeable future and social distancing the new normal, what happens to those of us who suddenly find our exercise routines upended? Joining us to discuss how we can adapt is Jana Faiky, owner and trainer at Fitness Directions , a studio offering fitness classes and personal training in Falmouth.

On The Point, we explore how and why might we do mindfulness practice with kids and others in our households. Our guest Adam Liss, Director of Cape Stress Reduction & Optimal Health , uses Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction to help people find balance and ease, and improve the quality of daily life. We discuss research on the effects of mindfulness and meditation on stress and anxiety, hear about some free easy- to- access online resources, and ways to connect with others through virtual

Sharing their choices of f iction and non-fiction books on sisters, Kellie Porter from the Woods Hole Library and Jill Erickson, reference librarian at the Falmouth Public Library, join our host Mindy Todd on The Point.

As our population grows and more wild spaces are developed, humans are spending less time in nature. There is growing evidence that a nature deficit can have negative impacts on our physical and emotional well-being, not to mention what it means for the entire ecosystem. On The Point, we talk with nature writer Richard Louv about the re-connecting with the natural world. His latest book is Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals can Transform Our Lives and Save Theirs .

The first confirmed coronavirus cases have appeared across the region, in Barnstable, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties. One week into statewide closures, shutdowns, and quarantine, there are still unanswered questions about testing and about supporting people now out of work.

While many of us are itching to get into our outdoor gardens, it’s still a little early to dig in. On The Point, we talk with Marsha Potash about indoor plants: exotics, easy keepers, and tips to keep indoor plants healthy and happy. We also take indoor plant questions from listeners.

It’s natural to feel anxiety about things that threaten our health and safety: it helps to keep us alive. But anxiety and fear can become overwhelming and keep us from making rational choices. On The Point, w e talk about how to stay informed about the coronavirus without becoming overwhelmed, what we can do to keep ourselves healthy mentally and physically during these unprecedented times, and why helping one another is often the best way to combat stress and anxiety.

On the Point, we talk about the latest on how to keep the virus from spreading, supports and services to help those in need, and how to cope with the stress and anxiety associated with the virus and the economic impact.