In Common

GBH News
  • 5.0 (3)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

From Beacon Hill to the Berkshires, In Common is your go-to source for statewide news. Each week, host Jeremy Siegel takes listeners on a roadtrip across Massachusetts as he dives deep into the biggest stories driving conversation throughout the state. A first-of-its-kind collaboration between three public media outlets – GBH News in Boston, CAI on the Cape and Islands, and New England Public Media (NEPM) in Springfield – this weekly news magazine reaches audiences from Provincetown to Western Mass, connecting listeners across the Commonwealth to local news with a statewide perspective. 

  1. 2d ago

    When is peak leaf season in Mass? Plus, a Springfield cyberattack, a transportation panel and the Shared Seas Lab

    On this episode of In Common  Just a few days after the first day of school, Springfield Public Schools canceled classes due to a data breach. Classes resumed on Monday, but the incident remains under investigation. NEPM's Jill Kaufman joins In Common to give us the latest on the cyberattack investigation and how school districts can be better prepared. Humans put many demands on the ocean — for fishing, shipping, raw materials, and more. Those demands can threaten marine life and the communities that depend on local fisheries. The Shared Seas Lab at UMass Dartmouth aims to help us share the ocean. CAI's Jennette Barnes has more with Professor Melissa Cronin. In the late 1700s, the newly drafted U.S. Constitution was celebrated as an innovative, bold experiment. Yet it didn't answer a couple of fundamental questions:  who is a citizen? And how do you become one? As part of our ongoing series 'From Colony to Commonwealth,' GBH immigration reporter Sarah Betancourt tells us how citizenship was granted during the early days of America. After last year's dry-spell, weather experts are forecasting earlier and fuller fall foliage this season. Carol Connare, the editor-in-chief of The Old Farmer's Almanac, has more on when peak color will begin in Massachusetts and where to get the best views. The MBTA has taken on major strides to repair and maintain the T. But there's still a long way to go when it comes to building a world-class transit system here. In Common's Jeremy Siegel discussed this topic with Stephanie Pollack, the former secretary of transportation for Massachusetts and federal highway deputy administrator, Yonah Freemark of the non-profit think tank The Urban Institute and Corrigan Salerno, the transportation policy manager for the Metropolitan Abundance Project. Public libraries in some communities across the state are reaching residents by bringing books to them directly in a truck. These mobile libraries — known as bookmobiles—are attempting to bridge accessibility needs for library patrons who can’t easily go to a branch. GBH’s Trajan Warren and NEPM’s Nirvani Williams have more about these libraries on wheels.

  2. Sep 12

    Privacy vs. security: Why Mass. communities are cutting ties with Flock Cameras

    On this episode of In Common:  How Flock Surveillance quietly built one of the largest private surveillance networks in American history. But privacy advocates -- including the ACLU of Massachusetts -- have raised alarms that these cameras allow warrantless tracking, share sensitive data with out-of-state agencies, and can be abused. CAI's Sam Houghton reports on the debate from Cape Cod. The state is putting muscle behind the housing idea of Accessory Dwelling Units, better known as "granny flats" -- a smaller additional home built onto an existing house site. Jeremy talks with Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matais and GBH reporter Liz Neisloss about how ADUs can help ease the housing crunch, and support multi-generational households. Massachusetts has nearly 100 hundred colleges and universities, but many of them are struggling to stay open. Several small schools across the Commonwealth have recently closed or announced plans to shutter. GBH's Kirk Carapezza and NEPM's Jill Kaufman join host Jeremy Siegel to discuss why so many colleges are struggling -- and what happens when students, professors and college towns when they lose their school. The latest installment of our semi-regular segment, Meanwhile In, where we look at the weird, funny and sometimes amazing New England stories happening outside of our beloved commonwealth. This week: A New Hampshire parking lot mistaken for a UFO. A new bilingual series called "Latinos de Aqui" puts a spotlight on the lives of Latinos in western Mass, with short, documentary portraits. NEPM's executive editor Elizabeth Roman and digital producer Luis Salazar join In Common to preview the project.

  3. Sep 5

    Keeping memory alive: How Mass. schools are teaching 9/11 to students

    On this episode of In Common: Friday is the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. For students who were born after 2001, it's now something they're learning through a third lens. The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund together with GBH has created an education program that teaches students about the impact and aftermath of this event. Patrick Bavis, the education director at the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, and Rockland social studies teacher Greg Rowe join In Common to tell us how schools are teaching kids about 9/11. On Cape Cod, the Steamship Authority has redesigned the Woods Hole ferry terminal, where passengers catch a ride to Martha's Vineyard.  CAI's Amy Kolb-Noyes reports the renovation has an eye on sustainability. When Rick Thorpe was killed in the terror attacks of 9/11, his family wanted to create a lasting tribute to the young father. The result of their effort is Rick's Place, a grief counseling center for children in Thorpe's hometown of Wilbraham. We hear from Thorpe's childhood friend Bill Scatolini, and then a conversation hosted by NEPM's Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith. They spoke with Rick's Place Executive Director Therese Ross, and with Steve Nagel from ROCK 102 in Springfield, who turned to Rick's Place after his wife died. On the north shore, the city of Lynn is home to about a hundred public murals that splash color and design across the busy downtown. GBH’s Magdiela Matta spoke recently with a group of young people who were recruited to work alongside professional artists to make their creative mark on Lynn. Voters in the Massachusetts Primary Election this week seem to prefer incumbents and the status quo. Jeremy gives a preview of what the General Election ballots will look like. The annual Labor Day festival in Lawrence, Mass. commemorates the historic textile workers strike in 1912, when more than 20,000 workers fought for better wages and working conditions. Elizabeth Pelerito, director of the Labor and Education Program at UMass Lowell, tells us more about this history and how it set up a new era of labor rights.

  4. Aug 29

    Postpartum psychosis is in the news. How is Mass. helping mothers in need? Plus, a primer for the primaries

    On this episode of In Common:  The Lindsay Clancy trial has put a rare mental illness in the spotlight. The Duxbury mother claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she killed her three children in 2023 and pleaded not guilty. In Common's Jeremy Siegel takes a closer look at maternal mental health with accounts from a survivor and the push for more awareness and care in Massachusetts with medical experts. From western Mass. to Cape Cod, primary races are heating up as Election Day is just around the corner. GBH's Adam Reilly, CAI's Sam Houghton and NEPM's Karen Brown join In Common to fill us in on some key races that are happening across the Commonwealth. It's another installment of our regular segment "Mass Online," in which we take a look at what's happening on social media throughout the Commonwealth. This weekend, students and renters across Boston are hauling boxes and packing up trucks for the infamous Sept. 1 moving day. GBH's Digital Associate Producer Renuka Balakrishnan tells us more on what to expect on Boston's moving day. Lobster rolls, clam chowder, fried clams -- those are just a few New England staple foods. Woodman's of Essex on the North Shore serves up some of the best versions and is also the birthplace of fried clams. In Common's Stina Chang tells us the story behind the origins of this New England classic dish.

  5. Aug 22

    No beach access in Mass.? Take a trip to the Berkshires Mushroom Festival

    On this episode of In Common:  With nearly 1,400 miles of coastline in Massachusetts, only 12% of beaches are for public use. That's what GBH News investigative journalist Chris Burrell found out in his series called ‘Barriers at the Beach.' He joins In Common to explain why that is and give us an update on what's changed since then. The Berkshire Mushroom Festival returns to Sheffield, Ma. In Common’s Jeremy Siegel talks with mushroom connoisseur Chris Kilham and festival organizer Daniel Shakin to learn more about the magic behind mushrooms and what's in store at this year's event. The Curiosity Desk's Edgar B. Herwick III speaks with GBH's creative designer Matt Welch and Ruth Wallace Herndon, professor emerita at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, on how their own genealogical research is connected. Horseshoe crabs are one of the world's most misunderstood species, even though they’ve been around for millions of years. Now, there's a bill on Beacon Hill pushing to make them the official invertebrate of Massachusetts. CAI's Amy Kolbe Noyes tells us more. In many urban areas in Massachusetts, tall trees can be a rare sight. GBH's Sam Turken finds out why there's been a scarcity of trees in some neighborhoods and the push to create more urban canopy in Worcester. Bridgewater's Little League baseball team is playing in the Little League World Series for the first time ever. We hear how they’re doing ahead of their next game.

  6. Aug 15

    Taking care of Mass. immigrants' mental health; plus road running and hay farming

    On this episode of In Common: For many immigrant families across the Commonwealth, detainment and arrests can cause lasting trauma, not just for the one taken into custody. In a new series of reporting, GBH's Sarah Betancourt says there are many barriers that prevent some families from seeking help. She joins In Common to explain more on this ongoing mental health crisis among immigrant families. The Falmouth Road Race is Sunday. It’s an unusual distance at an unusual time of year for running races and yet it attracts tens of thousands of people to race and cheer on runners, from world-class elite athletes to Cape Cod locals. Julianna Coughlin, host of the Runnah podcast, tells Jeremy Siegel why the Falmouth Road Race is an institution. Data Center Update: A Massachusetts judge has paused plans to expand a controversial data center in Lowell. In Common's Jeremy Siegel has reactions from local residents. We love that Dirty Water, and we love the Red Sox win it represents. Jeremy reports how the song became a celebratory tradition at Fenway Park. Windrow Farm is growing hay in Conway across several tracts of of land, none of which are owned by the farm itself. NEPM's Fabulous 413 hosts, Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith, talk with hay farmer Jae Silverman about his unusual model that makes hay and helps landowners. The new film 'TONY' follows the early days of renowned chef Anthony Bourdain in Provincetown. That's also where the crew filmed some scenes of the movie with the help of Charles Harrington. He is a Cape native who has loads of experience scouting filming spots for some major Hollywood productions in Massachusetts. Harrington joins In Common to tell us what makes a location the perfect scene in a movie.

  7. Aug 8

    From smart meters to banning influencers: It’s a sign of the times in Massachusetts

    On this week's episode of "In Common": Skyrocketing water bills are causing jump scares for several Mass. homeowners. GBH's Marilyn Schairer explains why some residents are seeing bills for water in the thousands of dollars.  The landscape for finding and receiving gender-affirming healthcare for kids has changed significantly. NEPM's Karen Brown explains the latest.  We head to the Cape and Islands! First, we hear about the aftermath of a ‘NO INFLUENCER’ sign on Nantucket. Then, CAI's Jennette Barnes breaks down how housing advocates on Cape Cod are finding new and creative ways to solve the region’s housing crisis. After that, "In Common" host Jeremy Siegel tells us about an auction of old Christmas Tree Shop signs raising funds for new homes. Then, GBH's Meghan Smith reports on a new workforce-training program in Haverhill for people with intellectual disabilities, a population often overlooked or excluded from the workforce. We wrap up with the Greater Goodstock Music Festival in Worcester, where a local mashup band, Disco Lemonade, is headlining the festival. Two members of the band join "In Common" to talk more about the free community event taking place on Saturday, August 8.

  8. Aug 1

    ‘A destroyer of our community,’: Tensions over data centers in Massachusetts

    The stakes are high in both state and local government. On this episode of "In Common": A preview of the debate between Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Seth Moulton as both candidates seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. GBH News Political Reporter Adam Reilly has more on what to expect in the upcoming event. Used fishing nets from Massachusetts are being shipped overseas to save lives in Ukraine. CAI's Amy Kolb Noyes has more on how fishing nets are an effective defense tool against drones. The Roaring Twenties Lawn Party returns to the Crane Estate in Ipswich. Sydney Cooney, social media manager with the dance group Boston Swing Central, shows us how to party like it's 1920. Communities across the Commonwealth are pushing back against data centers harder than ever. In Common's Jeremy Siegel heads to Lowell to see how an existing data center is impacting residents there. In western Mass., officials in Holyoke and Westfield have halted plans for future data centers in those two towns. NEPM’s Phil Bishop breaks down what's happening.  And Mindy Lubber of Ceres, a Massachusetts-based sustainability organization, explains how we can co-exist with data centers.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

From Beacon Hill to the Berkshires, In Common is your go-to source for statewide news. Each week, host Jeremy Siegel takes listeners on a roadtrip across Massachusetts as he dives deep into the biggest stories driving conversation throughout the state. A first-of-its-kind collaboration between three public media outlets – GBH News in Boston, CAI on the Cape and Islands, and New England Public Media (NEPM) in Springfield – this weekly news magazine reaches audiences from Provincetown to Western Mass, connecting listeners across the Commonwealth to local news with a statewide perspective. 

Information

  • Creator
    GBH News
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2026 WGBH Educational Foundation
  • Show Website
    In Common