The Wake Up

Our resident Meteorologist and Gardening expert Dave Epstein checks in with Jeremy Siegel for his weekly weather wisdom.  Today Dave discussed the changing landscape of the seasons, how that affects the amount of snow we have on the ground, and what that decline in snow cover could mean for our local climate and growing season.

Author Gregory Maguire, the man behind the book "Wicked," talks to Jeremy about the origins of Elphaba's name and what it was like to get a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming "Wicked" movies.

The Boston Marathon is bringing 30,000 runners to the city. With them come 1,400 toilets. How do organizers calculate the number of portable toilets they'll need? GBH's Hannah Loss has an inside look at porta-potty math.

What's the best place to experience the solar eclipse? The residents of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, a small town that punches above its weight culturally, want you to believe that it's their hometown. Why does it eclipse the rest? Edgar B. Herwick III travels there to find out.

Actor Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Succession) will be appearing at the Emerson Colonial theatre this weekend for "An Evening with Alan Ruck", which will include a screening of the cult classic film and Q&A about his role as the iconic Cameron Frye.  Ruck spoke with our Jeremy Siegel about that and other roles ahead of his appearance.

Earth Day is right around the corner, and the day can be especially pertinent given all the signs of our changing climate — something many Americans are feeling increasingly anxious about. James McKowen, a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, spoke with Paris about how to handle climate-related anxieties and when to seek help for them.

A solar eclipse is coming to New England on Monday, and GBH's Edgar B. Herwick, III has some eclipse-themed trivia for us. Can you get all four right? Plus: Chef Diane Kochilas wants people to live longer and is plant-based longevity in her new cookbook based on the blue zone her family is from: "The Ikaria Way." 

Snow is coming to higher-elevation areas in Massachusetts and northern New England. But expect nothing but rain in greater Boston, GBH meteorologist Dave Epstein said. Plus: Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is leading the NCAA through tumultuous times, and we have a look at his tenure so far.

The Massachusetts State House is tackling a massive omnibus bill. Among the issues it addresses: Funding migrant shelters; extending pandemic-era cocktails-to-go; and so much more. GBH's Katie Lannan joins Paris for a look at negotiations.

A string instrument called the kora has been played almost exclusively by men since the 13th century, strictly passed down as a family tradition in West Africa. Sona Jobarteh, the first woman from a Griot family to become a professional kora player, talks to Jeremy about her journey ahead of a performance Saturday in Somerville. Plus: GBH’s Tessil Collins, managing producer and curator of online jazz station, Jazz 24/7, remembers journalist Sarah-Ann Shaw as a trailblazer, mentor, and community activist.