In It Together: Recent Episodes
In It Together
During this time of social isolation, you're not alone. WGBH is here to help you navigate this strange moment that we all find ourselves in. Host Arun Rath talks with experts, doctors, community leaders to provide the latest COVID-19 information on what's happening in Massachusetts. The Coronavirus might stop us from gathering in person, but it can’t stop us from connecting -- we're in it together.
It’s been two years since Governor Charlie Baker declared a COVID state of emergency in Massachusetts. To mark the occasion, In It Together brought back some old friends of the show to reflect on the pandemic and where we go from here. Arun Rath speaks with Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Cassandra Pierre, Franciscan Children’s Hospital behavioral health director Dr. Fatima Watt, La Colaborativa executive director Gladys Vega, and local comedian Lamont Price, as well as GBH reporters Craig LeMoult and Meg Woolhouse.
In In It Together’s final episode before a summer break, Arun Rath checks back in with the family of Keith Jacobs, who died from COVID-19 last year, to discuss the massive toll this pandemic has taken. And Arun speaks with regular guest Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, now the founding director of Boston University’s new Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy and Research.
After more than a year closed, the Brattle Theater is set to re-open its doors this July.
We’ll hear what we can expect about programming and the experience from Ivy Moylan, executive director and co-founder, and Ned Hinkle, creative director.
And yes, there will be a Jaws screening. Wouldn't be the Fourth of July without one.
We'll hear about the need for investment in local minority-owned businesses, especially as we emerge from the pandemic, when Arun Rath speaks with Kofi Callender of Roxbury-based start-up organization E for All and Widline Pyrame of Fusion Dolls.
The pandemic closed churches last year, preventing people from not only worshipping in person together, but grieving together. This is especially true for churches in communities of color. We'll hear more about this collective trauma from Reverend Emmett Price and Reverend Irene Monroe, both co-hosts of the GBH podcast, All Revv'd Up.
Live local theater is getting back underway. The first performance in the Boston area will be at Arlington's Regent Theatre, where Michael Levin will perform his one-man show called "The Mom Show," about his mother's escape from Nazi Germany and how she made it to the U.S. Arun Rath speaks with Levin.
Most of the state's COVID-19 restrictions relax on Saturday, but according to a new survey, depression levels across the board remain high, even as the pandemic here in the United States improves.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Roy Perlis, the director for the Center for Quantitative Health at Mass General Hospital, about the findings.
The murder of George Floyd by police nearly a year ago has forced America to reexamine issues of race in all sorts of areas. That includes healthcare, especially in the context of the pandemic.
Arun Rath speaks with community health expert Dr. Monica Wang, Associate Director of Narrative at the B.U. Center for Antiracist Research, about how Floyd's murder has prompted the field of medicine to take a hard look at itself.
Arun also speaks with Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Sabrina Assoumou about the disparities in healthcare access and health outcomes faced by communities of color.
We’ve been checking in with GBH's Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen since the start of the pandemic. It's been up's and down's throughout the last 14 months for arts institutions in the state, but with restrictions relaxing in about a week, there's positive news on the horizon for them as they welcome summer.
The state is getting ready to bring COVID restrictions to an end this Memorial Day weekend, and some doctors say that decision makes sense. But others are skeptical, including UMass Medical Center's Dr. Robert Klugman, who speaks with Arun Rath.
When it comes to Massachusetts communities hit disproportionately hard by COVID, Chelsea is at or near the top of the list. Arun Rath speaks with Gladys Vega, head of La Colaborativa, formerly known as the Chelsea Collective, to hear how things are going in Chelsea as the pandemic seemingly winds down.
The state is getting ready to lift pandemic restrictions, but the vaccination effort still has a ways to go, especially in hard to reach communities. Arun Rath speaks with Mass General’s Dr. Alister Martin about the GOTVax campaign he's working on through Mass General and Boston Medical Center.
MIT political scientist Evan Lieberman talks about a paper he recently co-authored that looks at how different social and racial groups perceive COVID-19 health disparities and how that data can be used in future public health messaging campaigns.
Community health centers have been an important part of the state's vaccine strategy, and with mass vaccination sites set to close, they're about to become even more vital. Arun Rath speaks with Michael Curry, head of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
It's been a mystery from the beginning: why do some people become much sicker - than others with Covid - and why do some people just get a mild case, or don't have symptoms at all?
Nearly a year and a half into the pandemic, public health officials are learning more about why that is.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Marcia Goldberg, an infectious disease expert at Mass General Hospital, about a new study that looks at that variability in COVID.
Prisons and jails have been hotspots for coronavirus. But the Middlesex House of Correction is making a novel effort to fight outbreaks. It's the first detention facility in the country to monitor for the virus in its wastewater. We'll hear more about the monitoring program from Middlesex County sheriff Peter Koutoujian.
We continue our look at how the relaxing of state restrictions will impact some businesses.
Like many indoor performance spaces, the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield has had an up and down time of it since the pandemic shut down the Company last spring. But this summer, they're planning indoor and outdoor performances with audiences for the first time in months. We’ll hear from Julianne Boyd, the Company's artistic director, about what those performances will look like and what she's most looking forward to this summer.
Arun Rath speaks with GBH State House reporter Mike Deehan, who gives us a primer on the state's rollback of COVID regulations. And Arun checks back in with Mimi Loureiro, founder of the O2 Yoga studio in Somerville, about how businesses like hers are handling this stage of the pandemic.
The India Association of Greater Boston is nearly 60 years old. Host Arun Rath speaks with the director of Civic Engagement for the India Association, Guru Samaga, about what what local Indian Americans are doing, individually and within institutions, to help with the crisis in India.
Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Louise Ivers, head of the Center for Global Health at Mass. General, about how places like Massachusetts, where vaccinations are going well, can't be fully safe from COVID as long as the virus is active in other parts of the world.
Tom Mountain is vice chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. Like many conservatives, he was deeply skeptical - contemptuous in his words - about the threat posed by COVID-19.
Until he got infected, and got sick. Very sick. He'll tell us about his painful journey from skeptic to believer and how he's now doing his best to convince other conservatives who are skeptical of the COVID vaccines that they need to step up, and get their shots.
The show continues to explore the concept of pandemic learning loss, as Arun Rath hears more about how education officials in the Somerville and Framingham public schools are working to fill learning gaps
Students have been living in an alternate reality these past 13 months as they attempt to learn in a pandemic. As we take stock of the gaps created and worsened by COVID, one teacher is advocating for a more humane approach, one that tackles student healing and trauma head on. Host Arun Rath talks about this with middle school civics teacher Neema Avashia.
With an end to the pandemic in sight, some of us may be feeling anxious at the prospect of reconnecting with people in the workplace and in social settings. Arun Rath speaks with psychiatrist Dr. Michelle Durham of Boston Medical Center and the BU School of Medicine about that kind of anxiety can be managed.
Happy Earth Day!
Ray Brown of the Talkin' Birds show and podcast stops by to discuss what birds he's excited to see and hear this spring and summer. Even as the state starts to re-open, the interest in birding remains strong.
Arun Rath checks back in with Heidemarie Floerke, a German teacher at the Boston Latin School, about teaching language through slam poetry and songwriting.
Arun Rath speaks with Norris Guscott, head of the Lynn Food and Fitness Alliance and Lynn’s food security task force leader, about fighting food insecurity amid the pandemic.
Today is the eighth anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.
We'll look back with Jack Fultz, a longtime training advisor for the Dana-Farber Boston Marathon team. He is also the winner of the 1976 Boston Marathon. We'll also talk about what's next for this year's marathon in October.
Arun Rath speaks with Don Cox, head of the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, about the Food4Vets program and the increased need for food and housing in the veteran community.
Thousands of eviction cases are making their way through Massachusetts courts following the expiration of the state's eviction moratorium last year.
We'll hear from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Greater Boston Legal Services about what rights tenants have in this process and where they can turn for help if they need it.
New Bedford is the country's largest commercial shipping port and has the largest collection of seafood processing plants in the U-S.
This creates some unusual circumstances for the city.
This past weekend, they held a vaccine clinic specifically geared towards those working in these industries.
More are planned for this week, despite the pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Host Arun Rath speaks with New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell about all of this.
The pandemic has highlighted housing problems in and around Boston. Arun Rath speaks with tenants union organizers Jeremy DaCruz and Dan Albright, plus Denise Matthews-Turner from City Life/Vida Urbana, about evictions and their impact on immigrant communities.
We're living a virtual age, but all those zoom meetings keeping us connected may also be wrecking our self image.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Shadi Kourosh, a board certified dermatologist and the director of Community Health at Massachusetts General hospital, about "zoom dysmorphia" and how we can combat it.
Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Matthias Waltz from UMass Memorial Healthcare about efforts to create better outcomes for COVID patients.
On Monday, many elementary school students headed back to school for their first week of full-time, in-person learning.
Watertown was one of them. We’ll hear from Superintendent Doctor Dede Galdston about how the first day back went.
But some districts - like in Chelsea - needed more time to prepare for the shift back.
Superintendent Dr. Almi Abeyta walks us through what school will look like for some elementary students when they head back to classrooms next week.
Arun Rath speaks with Dan Hoffenberg, vice president with Cataldo Ambulance. Hoffenberg is managing vaccine work for Cataldo at the mass vaccination site at Boston's Hyne's Convention Center.
On Monday, thousands of students will be returning to classrooms for full-time, in-person learning. For many of them, it will be their first big step towards a new normal.
But with that step comes anxiety all around. We'll hear how parents can help make that transition easier. We'll also hear how one school district is working right now to make their students comfortable with in-person learning. Then, we get the teacher perspective. Many of them are vaccinated - or getting their shots - but with cases ticking up, there's uncertainty among some of them about returning to classrooms.
Throughout this pandemic, nurses, doctors, and staff across hospitals and community health centers have been on the front lines caring for patients and their families. It's been emotionally taxing for many of them. That’s why some here in Massachusetts are now coming together to help their colleagues.
Brigham and Women's Hospital has launched a new podcast called Resiliency Roadmap as a way to support nurses on the frontlines.
We’ll hear from Maddy Pearson, podcast host and the chief nursing officer and senior vice president for clinical services at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Christine Murphy, the program director of the Psychiatric Nursing Resource Service, also at Brigham.
Arun Rath speak swith Paul Sacco, head of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, about how the lodging industry has been taken out at the knees by the pandemic, and what recovery might look like, especially for smaller inns and motels.
Outdoor dining starts up on Thursday in the North End.
The pandemic has been particularly hard on this Boston neighborhood, which relies heavily on tourists and sports fans for their business.
We’ll hear from Phillip Frattaroli, managing partner of the Filmark Hospitality Group, which owns a handful of restaurants in the greater Boston area, including three in the North End. Phillip says he and his family are looking forward to patio season this year after a long winter.
Arun Rath speaks with Cicely Carew, the Cambridge artist behind 'Ambrosia,’ a huge hanging art installation in the atrium of the Prudential Center that’s inspired by the concept of healing amid the pandemic.
Facing another Passover in the pandemic, it seemed like a good time to check in with host Arun Rath’s rabbi, Howard Jaffe, of Temple Isaiah in Lexington.
Regular listeners know him well at this point; we first talked on the show last year before our first pandemic Passover.
Arun and Rabbi Jaffe talk about the ongoing virtual worship services, keeping the community together, the prospect of actually gathering again, and zoom holiday burnout.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Ambassador Meron Reuben, he's the new Israeli Consul General for New England. They talk about everything from Passover, to vaccination efforts in Israel, to how his office is providing aid locally during this time.
Arun Rath speaks with Kevin Kopchynski, astronomy educator with the Stars Over Springfield program at the Springfield Museums. He shares how the program is continuing to help people learn about space online.
Restaurant and hospitality workers became eligible for the vaccine this week. In the days leading up to then, restaurants began posting guidance directed at workers and staff on social media. This banning together comes after a tough year for the industry and in the midst of a vaccine rollout that's been less than ideal.
We’ll hear from Bessie King, co-owner of Boston's Villa Mexico Cafe, about the last year and the work her and her co-owner, her mother Julie, have done to protect and support their staff. This includes helping them find and sign up for vaccine appointments.
Arun Rath speaks with Eva Millona, head of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, MIRA, and co-chair of the Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition. Millona shares her thoughts on why vaccination rates among people of color are lagging behind rates for white residents. And she tells us what she wants to hear from Governor Charlie Baker when it comes to vaccine equity ahead of an oversight hearing set for tomorrow.
Thousands of volunteers have signed up to be members of the state's Vaccine Corps, an effort organized through UMass Medical School. Each day, they assist in everything from scheduling, to wellness checks, to actually administering the vaccines. Chancellor of UMass Medical School Dr. Michael Collins explains the work being done by volunteers of every age and background to help get Massachusetts residents vaccinated safely and efficiently.
Arun Rath checks back in with the head of UMass Memorial Healthcare, Dr. Eric Dickson, to get his thoughts on a year of COVID-19.
Arun Rath speaks with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to get her take on vaccine equity, vaccinations for teachers, school reopenings, and the way her job has shifted amid the pandemic.
Last spring, a group of Holy Cross students launched "COVID Chronicles," a project meant to document aspects of the pandemic through selected themes.
With the guidance of two history professors, the twelve students gathered information, oral histories and visual media.
Arun Rath speaks with those two professors, and with three of the students who were involved.
In a special edition of In It Together, Arun Rath introduces GBH News’ retrospective on the pandemic, “COVID-19: Covering a Slow-Moving Disaster,” produced by GBH News senior managing editor Sean Corcoran.
Arun speaks with GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen to review the last year of arts and culture, including how institutions have continued to adapt in uncertain times. Jared also shares a few feel-good stories from the past year.
As part of our look back on the last 12 months in this pandemic, GBH Reporter Tori Bedford brings back the Check-In for a special 15th episode. We’ll hear some reflections from you, our listeners, about how COVID-19 has changed you.
We know the pandemic has changed how we say "hello" — through masks, and at a six-foot distance — but we're beginning to learn more about how it has also changed the ways we say "goodbye."
Socially distancing means no visits in the hospital, no traditional funerals and no hugs outside your immediate bubble. The typical distractions of work and play now look like your home office, take-out and more time to think. When you go online, turn on the TV or radio, news of the pandemic is everywhere.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Doctor Shamaila Khan about how the pandemic has changed grieving. She's the director of the Center for Multicultural Mental Health and a clinical psychologist at Boston Medical Center. She organizes and runs bereavement groups for people who have lost someone to COVID-19.
As we reflect back on the last year, we reached back out to some guests we've had on the show over the last 12 months and asked them three questions: What have we lost? What have we gained? What's next?
We'll hear from a nurse, a reverend, a mayor, bookstore owners, teachers and more.
Host Arun Rath walks through their answers and adds his own reflections on the last year of the pandemic and hosting this show and podcast.
Arun Rath speaks with Oliver Barker, director of the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, about a new memorial the museum is installing to remember those who've died from COVID-19.
Arun Rath speaks with Wendy Northcross, head of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, about what businesses on the Cape are anticipating this coming summer as vaccinations increase and foreign workers potentially return.
We'll hear how Lawrence General Hospital, city officials, and a regional community health center are working together to vaccinate hundreds of residents a day within city limits.
Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Ilona Goldfarb, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Mass. General, to hear what's known and not known when it comes to coronavirus vaccines and pregnancy.
In the time of COVID, school nurses aren't just dispensing medications to students anymore.
In Brockton, when schools closed last spring, their nurses immediately pivoted to helping the city contact trace. This winter, they adapted again - this time, in helping the city vaccinate its residents.
We’ll hear from Dr. Linda Cahill, she's a registered nurse and the nursing supervisor for Brockton Public Schools about all of this and what's next now that students will be returning to classrooms.
Restaurants across Massachusetts can now operate with no restrictions on capacity. That's the decision from Governor Charlie Baker.
It's getting mixed reactions from health experts, and from restaurateurs themselves. Arun Rath speaks with two. First, we hear from Nancy Caswell, owner of Oak and Rowan in Boston and Brine in Newburyport, who says the end of capacity limits is scary but necessary.
Then, Arun checks in Emma Hollander of Starlite Management Company, who believes restaurant workers should be prioritized for vaccines. She says her company won't be seating people indoors until all staffers have been vaccinated.
Our lives are more online now than they've ever been. While it makes tasks like grocery shopping and keep in touch with friends and family, more convenient, it also opens the door for those looking to take advantage of our wider online existence.
Host Arun Rath with Stuart Madnick, professor of Information Technology at MIT and the founding director of Cybersecurity at the MIT Sloan School of Management, about this and what we can all do to protect our personal information.
Arun Rath speaks with Stephen Curry, public health director for the city of Fitchburg and chair of the Montachusett Public Health Network. Curry says that so far, central Massachusetts has been left behind in the state's vaccine rollout.That could soon change, with Governor Charlie Baker announcing the formation of eleven regional collaboratives that will set up vaccine clinics across Massachusetts.
Olivia Adams, a software designer in Arlington, is the brains behind the website macovidvaccines.com.
Her site helps people get actual appointments by taking government data and using speedy private web servers to get people set up with their shots.
We’ll hear more about the inspiration behind the site and how it works.
Arun Rath speaks with Heidemarie Floerke, a language teacher at the Boston Latin School. Floerke has been frustrated with the limitations of teaching virtually, but she's found a way to connect her students with great art, and a great artist. Together, they've created a song.
A new food program in Boston pays restaurants to prepare and serve meals to women in need in the city.
It's called "Lunch is on Us" and it's organized by Women's Lunch Place, a daytime shelter and advocacy center.
Arun Rath speaks with the organization's executive director Jennifer Hanlon Wigon about the program.
Arun Rath speaks with Jessie Magyar, School and Family Programs Manager at Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art. The ICA has put together free art kits - curated by museum artists - for Boston Public School children.
Today is the second day of February vacation week for Massachusetts schools.
It's usually a time for carefree travel, a break from school work, and spending time with friends.
Not this year, thanks to new classmate COVID-19.
For teachers and staff, it's a balancing act between ensuring your students learn and keeping themselves safe.
GBH’s Mark Herz speaks with Merrie Najimy, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, about their push to get teachers vaccinated quickly and get students back in classrooms safely.
Mark Herz fills in for Arun Rath and speaks with GBH News reporter Craig LeMoult about how vaccination centers across Massachusetts are working to ensure that no doses are wasted. It's a delicate process as the state increases distribution.
Frontline workers are continuing to have problems getting personal protective equipment. To find out where and why that’s still the case, Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Shikha Gupta from Get Us PPE. The organization started taking PPE donations last March and distributing the equipment to groups in need. Its efforts have only grown since.
And Arun gets a different angle on problems with supply lines for essentials from Harvard Business School professor Willy Shih, who offers a primer on the Defense Production Act and what effect it might have if President Biden invokes it.
The Reggie Lewis Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College is open and vaccinating the community. College President Dr. Valerie Roberson talks about why it was important for her campus to be a vaccination resource for the Roxbury community.
The CDC says Massachusetts is among the states with the most cases of pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome caused by COVID. Arun Rath discusses the illness with Mass. General pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Ann Murray.
Winter high school sports are in full swing and soon, so too will spring sports. Host Arun Rath speaks with Avery Esdaile, the athletic director for the Boston Public Schools, about what the next few months will look like and how student athletes are continuing to cope with the changes.
New COVID variants are popping up across the country and here in Massachusetts. Arun Rath discusses the variants with UMass Memorial Healthcare infectious disease specialist Dr. Richard Ellison.
Bridging the digital divide is crucial for a successful vaccination campaign. We hear from Boston's Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez about this. Plus, the work going into a mass vaccination site in Roxbury.
People who've come to be known as COVID long haulers are still dealing with health problems caused by coronavirus, months after they first came down with the illness. For long haulers who are also frontline healthcare workers, the problems are magnified. Arun Rath speaks with Deb McDonnell, a long hauler and longtime ICU nurse, about how she and her teenage daughter, also a COVID long hauler, are managing their symptoms. Arun also speaks with Mass. General’s Dr. Zeina El-Chemali, who’s running a clinic for long haulers like Deb.
Tracking COVID-19 in ... wastewater? We hear how Cambridge company Biobot Analytics is helping communities around the world make policy decisions that go beyond testing and case counts, including potentially identifying new variant strains of the coronavirus.
Arun Rath hears about coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts at UMass-Amherst from the school’s public health director and Health Promotion Center head Ann Becker, as well as public health masters candidate Isabella Caruso, who also works at the center.
Middlesex County Jail and House of Corrections has started vaccinating those incarcerated and jail staff.
Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian talks about this effort and how the facilities have been working to answer questions and get science-based information to those incarcerated.
Host Arun talks with Boston resident Eleanor Kaplan, who recently turned 100. We first heard from Eleanor in the spring. Tonight, we look back on the last year with her, including the election of her candidate - Joe Biden.
People have a lot of questions about the coronavirus vaccine - make that vaccines. That includes the logic behind dosing decisions. Arun Rath looks for answers from Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the infectious diseases division at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Arun also gets Dr. Sax's take on President-elect Joe Biden's ambitious plan to vaccinate 100 million people in his first 100 days in office.
Dr. David Hamer from Boston Medical Center joins host Arun Rath to talk about the most prevalent, known mutation of COVID-19. Preliminary data shows this variant may be more transmissible, but Dr. Hamer says wearing a mask and social distancing are still good tools for keeping you and others healthy.
Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Englander, executive director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University. Englander has a new book out, The Insanely Awesome Pandemic Playbook: A Humorous Mental Health Guide for Kids.
An in-depth look at how drive through testing works, how it's adapting for the winter, and the mostly untold challenges faced by the army of individuals performing all those coronavirus tests.
Imagine a time where young people volunteer to help distribute and vaccinate the world.
It's a reality not so farfetched for Dr. Michael Collins, Chancellor of UMass Medical School.
Dr. Collins gives host Arun Rath his pitch.
Arun Rath checks back in with Museum of Science president Tim Ritchie. The museum opened back up over the summer, but it’s had to close again amid the latest coronavirus surge.
In our last episode of the year, Arun Rath speaks with Katie Murphy, head of the Mass. Nurses Association and an RN at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who gives her perspective on the pandemic and 2020 as a whole.
We'll look back on the last nine months in this pandemic with Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center.
The food insecurity crisis within the coronavirus crisis is still raging across Massachusetts. Arun Rath checks back in with Catherine D’Amato, head of the Greater Boston Food Bank.
We may not be able to gather in person, but that isn't stopping the Boston Ballet Company from bringing the beauty of dance into your living room.
The city's premier dance company has made holiday programs like The Nutcracker and The Gift available for streaming this year.
We'll hear how they did it, and what's next for the Company.
For some music lovers, Christmas isn't Christmas without a performance of Handel's Messiah.
That's especially the case in Boston, because thanks to the Handel and Haydn Society, the city has enjoyed 167 consecutive years of Messiah performances -- America's Oldest Messiah is right here.
It's happened every year, through the civil war, world wars, and a global pandemic
So you shouldn't be surprised to hear that 2020 was not going to stop the show, even as stages across the world have gone dark.
We'll hear how the artists worked to bring music and performance to virtual audiences, right at a time when we need it the most.
Boston's holiday music programming is some of the best in the country, and the pandemic isn’t standing in the way of the Boston Pops. Arun Rath speaks with Pops conductor Keith Lockhart to find out how they’re adapting their holiday act.
We take a look at some of the challenges facing expectant mothers and those who have already given birth in this pandemic.
Arun Rath speaks with Maria Fenwick, founder and executive director of the Teacher Collaborative.The organization is helping educators across Massachusetts connect and share best practices for running a classroom - online and in person - amid the pandemic. One such educator is Malden kindergarten teacher Wendy Yaakov, who also shares her experiences with Arun.
Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke with members of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church a few weeks ago about a potential coronavirus vaccine.
Senior Pastor Elizabeth Walker says she arranged the discussion to help quell vaccine skepticism among her congregation.
Pastor Walker joins host Arun Rath to talk about the meeting and what her community has been facing in this pandemic.
Arun Rath speaks with Elizabeth Matos of Prisoners' Legal Services of Massachusetts about the challenges of vaccinating those who are incarcerated. Massachusetts is one of just six states in the country that's including its prison population in the first phase of its vaccination plan, but winning the trust of inmates could be a tall task.
'Nimble and Pivot'
Those are two words Artistic Director Julianne Boyd says she and her company Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield have been living by since the spring.
The company - along with other indoor performance venues - have been told to shut their doors for the second time this year thanks to rising cases and hospitalizations in the state.
But with the first vaccinations being administered this week, there is hope on the horizon.
Hear more about what Barrington Stage Company has planned for next year.
Many people who came down with coronavirus months ago are still dealing with persistent physical and mental health symptoms. Arun Rath speaks with one so-called “long hauler,” Lian Lam of Canton.
Community health centers are pillars of trust and support in communities of underserved residents. That's why their services have been even more crucial in this pandemic.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Holly Oh, the Chief Medical Officer at Roxbury's Dimock Center, about the care her Center has provided to patients during the pandemic and how that earned trust will be crucial in getting buy-in for a coronavirus vaccine.
Arun Rath speaks with Boston City Council President Kim Janey about how the pandemic is affecting Boston - particularly its communities of color, where there's some skepticism about soon-to-be distributed coronavirus vaccines.
Comedian Lewis Black talks about comedy in a pandemic, performing virtually, the Boston comedy scene and his favorite, but least favorite topic, politics.
Thousands of high schoolers are still preparing to or already applying to college, despite the pandemic.
We'll hear from Somerville College and Career Counselor Melanie Banks about how her students are navigating the process with such an uncertain future.
There's been good news and awful news when it comes to COVID-19. Vaccines are nearly ready, but cases across the country and here in Massachusetts are exploding. Arun Rath discusses the numbers and their implications with Harvard epidemiologist Dr. William Hanage.
Stages around the state have been dark since March and that includes those frequented by comedians.
In a perfect world, comedians feed off the energy of live audiences to perform and in turn, make those audiences laugh.
But in a time where live shows just aren't possible right now, comedians are having to adapt their comedy to virtual audiences.
We hear from Dorchester comedian Lamont Price about how he's managing in this new world.
Then, comedy mainstay Improv Boston announced this week it's closing it's Cambridge theater after nearly 2-decades operating shows and classes from it.
We learn what's next for the company from Managing Director Josh Garneau.
Arun Rath checks back in with GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen to get an update on how the local arts and culture scene is faring as we head into the holiday season.
When the pandemic rocked the Massachusetts economy back in the spring, thousands of people were able to collect unemployment benefits to supplement their lost wages. Most people except undocumented immigrants, who are having to reach into the shadows of society to get help with shelter and food.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Patricia Sobalvarro, she's the executive director of the non-profit Agencia ALPHA, based in Boston, about the challenges facing undocumented residents in this pandemic.
The coronavirus crisis is continuing to devastate the local music industry. Arun Rath checks back in with JJ Gonson, owner of Somerville's ONCE Ballroom. In the spring, Gonson told In It Together that she was hoping to keep her venue alive by moving shows online. But now, she's being forced to close up shop.
Arun Rath speaks with Gladys Vega of the Chelsea Collaborative, which has been helping residents get through this pandemic in one of the state's hardest hit communities. She'll share her own experience recovering from coronavirus.
Do you remember the last concert you went to this year before COVID shut our state down?
Host Arun Rath speaks with two musicians who have been trying to make ends meet in this pandemic without their main gigs on stage.
Arun Rath speaks with GBH's Craig LeMoult, who's been reporting on how people are shifting their Thanksgiving plans. And Arun checks back in with Dr. Anne Fishel, director of the Family and Couples Therapy Program at Mass General, to hear her thoughts on how we can maintain healthy relationships through this very different holiday season.
The number of opioid overdose deaths increased in Massachusetts this pandemic, according to new data.
Host Arun Rath speaks with UMass Memorial's Dr. Kavita Babu about the ways this pandemic has created more barriers to treatment for those battling opioid addictions.
Different school districts are adopting different education models amid the coronavirus crisis. Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Matthew Malone, superintendent of the Fall River Public Schools, which has gone with a hybrid system. Then Arun checks in with Robert Jokela, superintendent of the Fitchburg Public Schools, where class is remote-only.
Promising news from two potential coronavirus vaccines have been catching headlines lately.
Host Arun Rath hears more details about the candidates from Dr. William Chin, a Professor of Medicine, Emeritus at Harvard Medical School.
Then, Arun speaks with Dr. Paul Biddinger, chair of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, about the challenges facing local officials in both distributing a potential vaccine, but also getting buy in from residents to get vaccinated.
It's been nearly a month since the state's ban on evictions expired. Renters and some landlords are having a tough time due to the pandemic. Arun Rath speaks with Paulette Houston, owner of a two-family home in Roxbury who's been struggling to make ends meet since her sole tenant lost their job amid the coronavirus crisis. Arun also hears hear from Larry Seamans from FamilyAid Boston, about the help the organization has been giving to families experiencing homelessness thanks to COVID-19.
Tonight we mark the over 10,000 people who have died from the coronavirus in Massachusetts.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera about what his city has been through, and the work to create a memorial to those lost.
Then, GBH's Marilyn Sharer reports on some of the efforts to appreciate and memorialize those 10,000 and counting.
Finally, we'll hear from Amina Mohammed who is the new Youth Poet Laureate Worcester and the first youth Poet Laureate for Massachusetts. She talks about how writing has helped her through difficult times, plus she reads us one of her poems.
A new nationwide study shows that anxiety and depression are on the rise among younger adults thanks to the pandemic. Arun Rath discusses the problem with Dr. Roy Perlis, head of Mass General's Center for Quantitative Health.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Eric Dickson, the President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. He says while his hospital system is prepared for a second surge in cases, he's concerned about burnout among staff after eight long months of battling this pandemic.
There have been stark racial disparities when it comes to who's been hit hardest by this pandemic. Arun Rath speaks with Alice Goldfarb, COVID Racial Data Tracker lead at the COVID Tracking Project, and Jessica Simes, Associate Director of Research at the BU Center for Antiracist Research.
Host Arun Rath explores the future of the pandemic locally and nationally, with a special focus on how to improve health outcomes for communities of color. Then, we learn some tips and tricks on taking care of ourselves and our families during these trying times.
These interviews aired as part of a special election forum called GBH News Presents Election 2020: What's Next. You can find further election coverage at wgbh.org/news/election2020.
Host Arun Rath speaks with college activist Annie Soup-Koagne on what inspirited her and her peers to vote in this election and how she thinks the pandemic encouraged more voter turnout.
Arun Rath speaks with Merrie Najimy, head of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, about how the teachers in the union are handling their jobs amid the tough circumstances brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
It's election day and host Arun Rath explores how two groups - immigrants and young people - have prepared to participate in this presidential election despite the pandemic.
Plus, with the election and the coronavirus, it's a pretty overwhelming time to be alive. We'll hear the best ways to talk about everything that's going on with children of all ages.
Arun Rath speaks with Professor Daniel Shapiro of Harvard Medical School and Harvard's International Negotiation Program about how to navigate difficult discussions about the pandemic and the election.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Michelle Pepe, of Sharon, about her father Bernie Rubin. Bernie and his wife Phyllis founded a furniture company - Bernie and Phyl’s - that was well-known around the region. Both were infected with the virus, as was Michelle.
Host Arun Rath speaks with local restaurateur Jordan Mackey about the devastating toll the pandemic has taken on his restaurant. 29 Rustic Mediterranean in Sudbury. Plus how he and others are weighing the financial costs of staying open.
Arun Rath speaks with state senator Eric Lesser, who represents portions of western Massachusetts. We hear his thoughts on the Baker Administration putting pressure on schools in his district to bring students back to the classroom.
With coronavirus cases on the rise in Massachusetts and across the country, Arun Rath checks in with regular guest Dr. Nahid Bhadelia of Boston Medical Center and the B.U. School of Medicine to get her take on where we’re at in the pandemic.
We continue our look at some of the people we've lost to COVID-19 with the loved ones they’ve left behind. In Massachusetts, nearly 10,000 people have died from the coronavirus.
Tonight, Host Arun Rath hears about Keith Jacobs, of Stoughton, from his wife, son, and daughter.
Welcome to a bonus episode of In It Together, the podcast.
Over the next few episodes, we're going to hear about some of the people we've lost to COVID-19 from the loved ones they’ve left behind.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Sharmila Murthy and her husband Dr. Sameer Chopra, of Brookline, about Sharmila’s father, N.S. Ramamurthy.
Over the next couple of episodes, we’ll be remembering those who have died from the coronavirus by speaking with the family they’ve left behind. Tonight, host Arun Rath hears with Nicole Harris about her father Fred, who passed away in March. Stay tuned tomorrow for a special episode of the podcast where we’ll be remembering another victim of the virus.
Arun Rath speaks with Anthony Benedetti from the Committee for Public Counsel Services. The group provides legal representation to those who can't afford it on their own. Benedetti explains the challenges their clients are facing amid the pandemic.
Bob Giannino, President and CEO for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, talks about the need for a coordinated coronavirus response across Massachusetts, one that includes aid for those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
The state's ban on evictions has expired. Governor Charlie Baker opted not to extend the moratorium; his administration is instead putting more money into rental assistance. Arun Rath speaks with Stefanie Coxe from the Regional Housing Network of Massachusetts about what it all means for tenants.
Host Arun Rath checks back in with immigrant attorney Susan Church about how immigration proceedings continue to be impacted by the pandemic and by the Trump administration.
The presidential election is less than three weeks away and efforts are underway to encourage participation regardless of party lines.
Some of those efforts are focused on helping those incarcerated cast ballots. In normal times, voting from behind the wall is already challenging - but like so many things, the pandemic has only complicated it.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Kristina Mensik, the Assistant Director of the non-partisan group Common Cause Massachusetts and Massachusetts State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa about how the coronavirus is further challenging those who are incarcerated from casting their vote.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Melisa Lai-Becker, she's the site chief of emergency medicine for CHA Everett, which is part of the Cambridge Health Alliance system. Dr. Lai-Becker talks about how the last seven months have been at the hospital, which is located in one of the state's so-called hotspots for infection.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Mandy Sun, a senior in Boston Public Schools, about a letter she and other Asian American students sent to school officials in Boston, Malden and Quincy. Those students say the pandemic has increased racism towards Asian-Americans and they want increased protections. Among the asks in the letter: diversifying school lesson plans, more guidance counselors, and more teachers of color
Host Arun Rath checks back in with Suzanne Algeri, an RN and Associate Chief Nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brittany Sheehan, also an RN at MGH. They both talk about how the hospital is continuing to prepare for a potential second surge of the virus, but also how they and their staff are taking care of themselves after a tough spring.
The state’s moratorium on evictions is set to expire on October 17th. Arun Rath speaks with Kelly Turley from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless about what’s at stake if Beacon Hill leaders don’t take action to extend the ban.
Could you use a hug? A lot of people could. But in a pandemic where that hug could spread the virus, they are out of the question for many.
But not at the Dwyer Home, an independent senior living facility in Weymouth
We hear how they're allowing families to hug safely during this time.
Arun Rath speaks with Jill and Jackie Schon, the mother and daughter team behind the Paint Bar in Newton. The first paint and sip establishment in the northeast, it was forced to go virtual back in March. But so far, business is booming.
Tonight, we're highlighting two sides of re-opening Massachusetts.
First, the Big Dipper Hospitality Group has been pretty outspoken against allowing indoor dining at any of their three Cambridge restaurants, even as the state is relaxing restrictions. Host Arun Rath speaks with co-owner Heather Mojer about this.
Then, we head to Pittsfield where the Barrington Stage Company is now planning indoor performances this winter and spring after Governor Charlie Baker gave them and other theaters the go ahead to do so. The Company's Artistic Director Julianne Boyd walks Arun through what their set-up will look like.
Arun Rath speaks with Michael Curry, the Deputy CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, about the challenge of getting buy-in from communities of color when it comes to an eventual coronavirus vaccine and coronavirus care in general.
The number of cases and hospitalizations tied to the coronavirus is increasing. Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, the Medical Director of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center, about this newest data and whether we should be concerned as the state begins to more broadly re-open.
Back in the spring, speech pathologist Linda Wrinn began quarantining away from her family. But her husband Bill and their daughter made it a five-star experience for her. Host Arun Rath last spoke with the Wrinn family back in June just as Linda was about to come out of quarantine to live back with her family. It’s been a couple months of relative normal for the Wrinns. He checks back in with them.
Host Arun Rath checks in with reporter Tori Bedford for her regular series,“The Check In.” In this episode, we hear an update from a mom of four who’s also working from home. School is starting in their household and things are getting hairy as everyone figures out the new normal this fall.
Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Joseph Allen from Harvard's Healthy Buildings program. The program aims to keep buildings optimized to fight the spread of coronavirus. But waffling by the CDC on airborne transmission and other aspects of the virus has made life harder for Allen and his fellow researchers.
The state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, DESE, is pushing back against school districts that are starting remotely, but have low coronavirus transmission numbers within their communities. DESE says they want a timeline of when exactly these districts will get students back into the classrooms.
Watertown Public Schools is one of these communities. Host Arun Rath speaks with Watertown Superintendent Dr. Deanne Galdston and John Porz, chair of Watertown’s School Committee, about this pushback.
Arun Rath speaks with Victoria Helberg of Respond Inc., a domestic violence prevention agency based in Somerville, about the hurdles the pandemic has put between survivors and those who could help them.
The show must go and according to GBH's Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen - it is, though it looks different.
Host Arun Rath speaks with him again about what's been happening with arts, music and theater in Massachusetts over the last few months.
Arun Rath checks back in with his own rabbi, Howard Jaffe of Temple Isaiah in Lexington, ahead of the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We’ll learn how Rabbi Jaffe has helped his congregation adapt amid the pandemic.
We all know this fall will look different for all students - and not just in the classroom.
Full contact high school sports like football and cheerleading have been canceled this fall.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Avery Esdaile, the athletic director for Boston Public Schools, and BPS senior and football player Enrique Schiappacasse about this upcoming school year.
It's not what either of them expected, but both are staying positive despite the challenges.
Arun Rath speaks with MIT’s Sinan Aral about his study which found that inconsistent and uncoordinated reopening plans from state to state have exacerbated the spread of COVID-19.
Aun Rath speaks with Dr. James Weaver, the organizer of an M-I-T project to make personal protective equipment that’s manufactured seven million face shields for frontline workers nationwide.
The city of Lynn took early actions to try and contain the coronavirus, but it's still among the communities bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Arun Rath speaks with Lynn mayor Thomas McGee.
School is starting around the state and some students are or will be returning to classrooms for in-person or hybrid learning. As they do so, some are worried the conditions of their school buildings may not be up to pandemic standards yet
Host Arun Raths speaks with Jodi Sugerman-Brozan about this. She's the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health.
Arun Rath speaks with certified nursing assistant Therese Nkezea. Nkezea says she was scared to go to work this spring, but she felt a duty to help the elderly patients in her care - and she says that even if there's a second wave as we head towards fall and winter, she would do it all again.
GBH Radio’s Mary Blake speaks with Alex Psilakis from the organization MassVOTE about Tuesday's primary and how outreach efforts to vulnerable communities were impacted by social distancing.
Mary Blake fills in for Arun Rath and speaks with Dr. Kate Atkinson, a family physician in Amherst, about the challenges of running a private medical practice amid the pandemic.
For some districts, figuring out bus routes is the most complicated dance of the school year.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Drew Damien, President of the Massachusetts Association for Pupil Transportation, about how social distancing has made that dance even more nuanced.
Aaron Schachter fills in for Arun Rath. Local music fans were aghast and angry at the news that beloved Allston venue Great Scott was shutting down. But it looks like it could be getting a second life at a new location. Before Arun left for vacation, he spoke with Great Scott booking agent Carl Lavin, who tells us more.
Early on, Chelsea was in the spotlight as a hotspot for the virus in Massachusetts.
Months into the pandemic, the city is out of the headlines, but residents are still struggling while also preparing for a second wave.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Gladys Vega, Executive Director of the Chelsea Collaborative, about how she and her staff are working to help their community. She says it will be years before the city is economically stable again.
The pandemic has been disruptive for both the election and the 2020 U.S. Census. Arun Rath speaks with Beth Huang, executive director of Massachusetts Voter Table, a non-partisan voter engagement organization based in Boston, about how the group’s efforts have been complicated by the coronavirus crisis.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Diana Viens, a parent and administrator for the Facebook group, “MA Parents Seeking Pods, Teachers, Tutors,” which has over over 6,000 members. The group connects parents and their students with other groups of students, teachers and educators as parents look to supplement whatever learning plan their district is presenting for the new school year.
This past spring, UMass Medical School started bringing students, faculty, and staff back to campus. Today, the campus is nearly fully populated - with restrictions in place, of course. The secret to keeping everyone safe? Constant - and consistent - testing. Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Michael Collins, chancellor of UMass Medical School, about how they've managed the virus.
As a chaplain, Rabbi Karen Landy always felt close with her co-workers - but when the pandemic hit, their shared experiences made them family. Host Arun Rath speaks with her about the last five months and how her work at Hebrew SeniorLife has adapted because of the coronavirus
We continue our series on how the pandemic is hitting our mental health. Arun speaks with Dr. Chris Gill from the BU School of Public Health about the emotional effect the coronavirus crisis has had on doctors and other healthcare workers.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Sarah Gay, of Somerville, who contracted the coronavirus back in the spring. She's since recovered, but has continued to mostly isolate away from the world … until this past weekend. You won't want to miss what she decided to do.
Arun Rath speaks with Watertown’s Lillian Hong, a local organizer for the Lockdown Letters Initiative. The initiative collects thank-you notes for frontline workers of all stripes, from across the country. What started out as a small project has expanded quickly; the organization has now gathered more than 7,000 letters.
Aaron Schachter fills in for Arun Rath and speaks with Bill Bartley, owner of Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage. The Harvard Square institution is up for sale. It's one of the many beloved places that are facing changes amid the coronavirus crisis. Plus, we'll revisit Arun's conversation with “Soup Lady” Marjorie Druker, owner of the New England Soup Factory, about what she's been cooking during the pandemic.
Mark Herz fills in for host Arun Rath and speaks with Dr. Ashish Jha from Harvard's Global Health Institute about the recent uptick in coronavirus numbers in Massachusetts and what it means for reopening schools. We'll also hear Arun's conversation with Lou Woolf, head of Boston-based Hebrew SeniorLife, on how the pandemic has hit nursing homes and long-term living facilities.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Rabbi Allison Poirier from Temple Beth Sholom in Framingham about the synagogue’s weekly “Park and Pray” program which allows congregants to safely pray and sing with each other, which socially distanced in their cars.
Craig LeMoult fills in for Arun Rath and speaks with Newton South High School teacher Joana Chacon, and Newton South students Imani Fonfield and Carrie Ryter, about how anti-racism can be taught in the classroom.
And we'll hear a conversation between Arun and Melissa Mastrolia, head of the Massachusetts Arts Education Association, about how art educators are figuring out how to stay connected with their students in a remote environment.
We're continuing to explore what school will look like in the fall.
All this week, we've talked with teachers and educators, but what about parents? A lot is uncertain right now and parents are weighing options.
Host Arun Rath speaks with WGBH Radio's Tori Bedford for her bi-weekly segment “The Check-In” where she talks with two parents who are considering their options for the fall.
Then, we've heard about many vulnerable student communities this week and today’s episode only adds to the list. Students with disabilities will have challenges in any learning model their school district chooses for them.
Arun speaks with Dr. Mary Anne Morris, Executive Director of Special Education for the Springfield Public Schools, about what these particular students may face next month.
It's day three of our week-long series covering what education will look like for K-12 students this fall. Arun Rath speaks with Revere schools superintendent Dr. Dianne Kelly about the challenges facing her district, where there’s a large population of ESL students and students whose parents are essential workers.
Arun also hears from Derrick Ciesla, principal of Dorchester's Russell Elementary School, whose student community includes immigrants and kids dealing with homelessness.
It's day two of our week-long series looking at what education will look like for K-12 students in the fall
First, Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Joseph Allen, head of Harvard's Healthy Buildings program. He lead a report on what schools need to consider when re-opening for in-person learning.
Then, the role of the school nurse is changing in this pandemic especially as students potentially prepare to head back to their classrooms. Arun speaks with Doreen Crowe, head of the Massachusetts School Nurses Organization about how school nurses are adapting.
It’s hard to believe, but September is just a month away, so In It Together is going to spend this week focused on K-12 education.
For many parents, school isn't just where they send their kids to learn - it's what gives them the bandwidth to spend the day focused on their own jobs. But school reopening plans are in limbo as COVID-19 cases tick upwards. Arun Rath hears from a local mom of three, Jennifer Infurna, who thinks all students should be back in class come September.
At the same time, educators are raising concerns about how coronavirus could spread in the classroom. Arun will speak with fifth grade teacher Rose Levine of Cambridge’s Graham and Parks School, who thinks students should stay home for now.
For women getting out of prison, re-entry into their community can be challenging. It's an understatement to say that the coronavirus complicates that process even more.
Host Arun Rath speaks with two formally incarcerated women - Leslie Credle and Stacey Borden - about their experiences coming out of prison and into their communities. Both women are members of the organization, Families for Justice as Healing.
Plus, we'll hear what incarcerated men and women experienced during the pandemic from attorney Bonnie Tenneriello from Prisoners Legal Services.
Love, loss and everything in between. Host Arun Rath speaks with Boston Globe reporter Meredith Goldstein, creator of the Love Letters column and podcast, about what letters she’s been getting in this pandemic and what advice she’s been dishing out to readers.
The coronavirus hit Brockton and Revere hard and roughly five months since the pandemic began, both cities are still recovering. Host Arun Rath speaks with Revere mayor Brian Arrigo and Brockton mayor Robert Sullivan about how recovery has been going in their communities.
Back in the spring, roughly 36-percent of Boston’s Pine Street Inn residents were testing positive for the coronavirus. Now, roughly 2-percent are. Host Arun Rath speaks with Pine Street Inn President Lyndia Downie about how she, staff and the city worked to lower coronavirus cases among the homeless.
How faithful have you been when it comes to wearing a mask? WGBH News sent five of our journalists to five different locations this week, to see how people are doing when it comes to covering up properly. Host Arun Rath speaks with our own Edgar B. Herwick III on how the reporting went and what they found out.
When you think of essential workers, you probably don't think of fishermen. But throughout this pandemic, they've been out on the ocean doing their work, despite the danger they face of contracting coronavirus. Arun Rath speaks with Heidi Sulman of Fishing Partnership Support Services about how the industry has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19.
And case numbers are low here in Massachusetts, but doctors, nurses and other staff are still caring for coronavirus patients at local hospitals. Even the strongest among them are feeling the strain. Arun hears from Dr. Beth Lown, medical director at the Boston-based Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, about the emotional toll this crisis is taking.
It's been roughly a month and a half since inns and motels in the state were allowed to reopen. For Melody Edson and her husband, that re-opening couldn't come fast enough. They purchased the Inn at the Oaks in Eastham just 14 months ago and needless to say, it's been an interesting first year in business. Host Arun Rath speaks with Melody about how the Inn is doing. And, here’s a welcomed spoiler: it's good news.
As tourists return to the Berkshires and businesses reopen, Arun Rath checks back in with Jonathan Butler, president of the economic development agency 1Berkshire, to learn how the region is bouncing back. And Arun speaks with Rachel Chanoff, one of the forces behind Artists at Work, a new program giving funding to artists who’ve been impacted by the coronavirus crisis in exchange for work on social justice initiatives.
We still don't know exactly what school will look like in the fall: online, in the classroom, a hybrid model... and a lot of kids, parents and teachers are getting anxious. Host Arun Rath speaks with WGBH Radio's Tori Bedford who's been reporting on the topic.
In Massachusetts, the coronavirus is infecting communities of color at three times the rate of their white peers. Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Atyia Martin from the Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition about their work to ensure recovery from the pandemic is equitable across racial lines.
Arun Rath speaks with Lizz Matos, director of Prisoners Legal Services, to get an update on how Massachusetts inmates are weathering the pandemic. And Arun hears from local artists Catherine Aiello and Tommy Driscoll about their new virtual photo exhibit that documents the experiences of food service workers before and during the coronavirus crisis.
Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Tom Tsai from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health to get an update on what we've learned about coronavirus testing in the months since the pandemic began. And Arun hears from Dr. Jennifer Allen, one of the leaders of a survey from Tufts University that found that only 57-percent of respondents would actually get vaccinated against the virus if a vaccine were to become available.
The travel industry has been decimated by the coronavirus.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Jay Bernten, president and CEO of Vista Travel Inc in Cambridge, about how his travel agency is faring right now and what they're expecting for the future of the industry in the coming months.
With state courts set to reopen, Arun Rath speaks with Anthony Benedetti, chief counsel for Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts agency that provides attorneys to those who can't afford their own. And Arun hears from immigration lawyer Susan Church about how immigration courts have been handling the pandemic.
Gyms and fitness centers in Massachusetts have the go ahead to open their doors as part of phase three of the state's re-opening plan.
But one longtime studio, O2 yoga in Somerville, is choosing to stay online for now, despite the financial impacts. Host Arun Rath speaks with O2 founder and owner Mimi Loureiro about this decision and how she's learning new ways to bring her practice to the community.
Arun Rath speaks with bartender Thea Engst, who’s leaving the service industry amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. And Arun hears from Christina Frone, manager of Olde Magoun’s Saloon in Somerville, about their reopening plans.
Phase three of the state's re-opening plan starts on Monday. Of the places that can re-open are museums. Host Arun Rath speaks with Tim Ritchie, president of the Museum of Science, about what re-opening looks like for them and some of the challenges their facing in planning that re-opening
Arun Rath hears from Dr. Janis Moriarty of the Massachusetts Dental Society and learns how dentists are keeping themselves and their patients safe amid the pandemic. And he speaks with Gulalio Guevara of the Boston Cleaning Collective to hear how they’re handling their work.
A lot has happened these last six months on top of a global pandemic. This is leading to some people feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Darshan Mehta, medical director at Mass General's Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, on how to avoid "crisis fatigue" and what you can do if you're already in the thick of it.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Steve Marcelin, manager of the Roslindale Farmers Market, which is opening back up with restrictions in place. Arun also hears from Nico Lang, a Somerville resident who’s raising money for workers at the city’s Market Basket.
Host Arun Rath checks back in with Caroline Harvey, co-owner of Dogtown Books in Gloucester.
Last time they chatted, the shop was closed and trying to adapt with no real end in sight.
Now, they're planning to re-open on Friday for the first time since March.
Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Christopher Gill from the Boston University School of Public Health about public perceptions of the coronavirus and its cascading effects. Dr. Gill also discusses which metrics to be paying attention to as the Massachusetts economy continues to reopen. Plus, WGBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen gives Arun an update on how the cultural scene is weathering the pandemic.
We've all been adapting as we go along in this pandemic.
Back in March, host Arun Rath spoke with mom Hayley Denker. Back then, she had just started working from home while taking care of her two toddlers. Her husband Tyler was pulling overtime working at Trader Joes.
Three months later, they've hit their groove, though some weeks are better than others.
Arun checks in with them and sees how the family is doing.
Arun Rath speaks with Mass General anesthesiologist Dr. Lucy Li about the discrimination she's faced as an Asian-American during the coronavirus crisis. And Arun checks back in with local realtor Andrea Castinetti, who came on the show in the spring after launching an effort to collect personal protective equipment for frontline workers in need.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Bill and Linda Wrinn of Gloucester. Linda is a speech pathologist at a nursing home in Peabody. Since March, she's had to quarantine away from her family because some of her patients had the coronavirus. While she never got sick, she didn't want to bring the virus home to her family. In an effort to help her and their teenage daughter cope with the change, Bill re-framed Linda's quarantine, instead choosing to treat her as a hotel guest at the Bennet Street Hill Inn and Bistro, named after the street where the family lives. Bill created and cooked a different dinner menu every night for Linda, while their 12-year-old daughter Veila took care of the housekeeping. Linda's been in quarantine away from her family for over 70 days in an RV in the family's driveway, but there's a chance next week that she may finally be able to reunite them again.
It’s been a while since many of us hit the barbershop. But they’re open now - with restrictions in place. Arun Rath speaks with Anthony Berriola, owner of Razors Barbershop in Somerville, to hear how his shop is handling the new rules. And Arun hears from Kevin Whitney, Chief Nursing Officer at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, about how they’re proceeding with recently restarted elective surgeries.
Host Arun Rath checks back in with Sara Slymon, director of the Brookline Public Library.The Brookline Library system stepped up to help during the pandemic, transforming one of their locations in lodging for local firefighters trying to social distance. They also printed mask filters and hand-sewed cloth masks for frontline workers. Monday was the first day staff could return to work on site. While the libraries wont physically be open until the end of summer, at the earliest, they are still doing curbside pick-up of books and plan to maintain their online resources and offerings for the rest of the year.
Arun Rath checks back in with Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the infectious diseases division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, to get a sense of what we know about the coronavirus three months after Governor Charlie Baker ordered schools closed and banned restaurants and bars from offering sit-down service. And Arun speaks with Donna Kelly-Williams, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, to hear how the state’s nurses are weathering the pandemic.
Reporter Tori Bedford has been covering protests and demonstrations over the last few weeks organized because of the police killing of George Floyd. Host Arun Rath talks to her about what she’s seen and we hear from some protesters who never made it into her daily reporting.
Arun Rath takes a look at how movie theaters and music venues are coping with the pandemic, speaking with Ned Hinkle, creative director at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, and JJ Gonson, owner of ONCE Ballroom in Somerville.
Hair salons and barber shops are more than just a place to get a hair cut - for many, they're community centers, places to socialize and see friends.
Host Arun Rath talks with Erin Danielle, the owner of Simply Erinn's - a unisex hair salon in Cambridge, about how her business is re-opening to customers and keep that sense of community alive.
Arun Rath speaks with Nikhil Lal and Jay Diengott of the Artisan’s Asylum in Somerville about their effort to make PPE for frontline workers. And Arun hears from Ben Wallace of Gallery 263 in Cambridge about how his space is handling the phased-in reopening.
This pandemic has impacted almost everything in our lives, including how we grieve. Host Arun Rath speaks with Adrianne Faggas, owner of Faggas Funeral Home in Watertown, about how her business has changed because of the virus, including how families are able to grieve the loss of their loved ones, whether they died of coronavirus or not.
Arun Rath speaks with Linda Hassapis, head of Magical Beginnings daycares, about the state’s plan to let childcare centers reopen. And as libraries get ready to open their doors too, Arun hears from Rob Favini of the state’s Board of Library Commissioners.
Given what's going on in our country, a lot of people desperately want to get out and have their voices heard. But, as we've been hearing the whole way through, we're in a pandemic and crowds are about as unsafe as it gets when it comes to exposure.
Host Arun Rath talks with Dr. Chris Gill from Boston University’s School of Public Health about protest in the age of pandemic.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Jan Ross of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund about what the cancellation of the Boston Marathon means for the charitable contributions usually raised by runners.
For the first time ever, the Massachusetts Speech and Debate League held a tournament completely online. They believe it's the first time a speech and debate tournament has ever been done completely virtually. Host Arun Rath speaks with the League’s Debate Chair Josh Cohen about it.
And, thousands of women are creating and delivering wine and gift baskets to strangers as random acts of kindness in this pandemic. Arun speaks with Janice Davis and Eve Grenon, two organizers of the local Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine group, which you can find on Facebook.
Arun Rath speaks with Seth Mnookin, head of MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing, about the pitfalls journalists who don’t typically cover science face when trying to report on the pandemic. And Arun hears from Catherine D’Amato, head of the Greater Boston Food Bank, and Ashley Stanley, founder of the food distribution organization Lovin’ Spoonfuls, about how food insecurity has spiked in Massachusetts due to coronavirus.
We asked and you answered: kids from across the state submitted their questions about the coronavirus. Dr. Nahid Bhadelia with Boston University’s Special Pathogens Unit and Brighton High School junior Phebean Ogunsanwo join host Arun Rath to go over the questions and their answers.
Arun Rath speaks with Tim Averill, a local grandfather and teacher who’s taken his grandchildren’s education into his own hands following school closures caused by the coronavirus crisis. And Arun gets a sense of how local restaurants are handling reopening plans from Dave Fiore, owner of the J & M Diner in Framingham.
Host Arun Rath chats with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh about how the pandemic has impacted his city and how he’s planning to make recovery as equitable as possible for the city’s hardest hit communities.
Arun Rath speaks with WGBH Radio’s Phillip Martin about those who are still working outside their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. And Arun hears from Polly Hanson-Grodsky, associate director of Project Place, a local organization that helps with job training for low-income and homeless residents, as well as the formerly incarcerated. He also speaks with a former client and intern at Project Place, Joli Sparkman Bayron, who was herself incarcerated.
The ethos of this show-- that we are in this together - is honest, and we believe that. But part of what we do is also bring you the truth - and the truth is, while we are in this together, the pandemic has also revealed the lines that divide us.
Host Arun Rath hears about a new report that shows communities of color living in high poverty areas are the most economically vulnerable to the impacts of the coronavirus.
Then. we'll check-in with the head of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce and find out how businesses in his community are dealing with the challenges of this pandemic.
Arun Rath speaks with the state’s top election official, Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin, about how residents can expect to vote amid the pandemic. And political consultant Tony Cignoli talks about two local elections taking place tomorrow, and how candidates are adapting their campaigns to the coronavirus crisis.
We've talked a lot on this show about how coronavirus and the pandemic restrictions have taken a brutal toll on all the performing arts. It's bad all around, but ensemble singers may have the worst of it.
Both scientific experts and professional organizations are warning that choirs and group singing may need to go silent until there's a vaccine or effective treatment.
Host Arun Rath talks with a doctor from Mass. Eye and Ear about why that is.
We’ll also hear from local choral leader about how his group is faring because of this pandemic.
Host Arun Rath speaks with MaryCat Boyett about a drive she’s organized to gather much-needed diapers for families in Chelsea, where the coronavirus pandemic has hit hard and supplies are low. And Arun hears from two local hospice workers, Pat Ahern and Molly Polansky, about how hospices have had to adapt their care for the terminally ill in the face of the pandemic.
A new study from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds the coronavirus death rate has surged in parts of Massachusetts that are already at a disadvantage. Host Arun Rath talks with one of researchers ...
And, one of those cities that saw a surge was Revere. We check-in with the city's mayor to see how the pandemic has impacted his residents.
Arun Rath talks with Anna Gosline, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care, about the conversations we should have been having before the coronavirus crisis about advance directives and end of life decisions. And Arun hears from two workers with Elder Services of Worcester about the issues that vulnerable seniors and their caretakers are facing amid the pandemic.
Host Arun Rath talks music, poetry, and prose with fellow WGBH host Brian O'Donovan of A Celtic Sojourn. And Arun hears the sounds of spring with Ray Brown of Talkin’ Birds.
Host Arun Rath speaks with two hospital chaplains about their new and adapted roles in this pandemic. Father Thomas Sheehan works at UMass Memorial Medical Center and Bridget Power is a chaplain resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Council of Churches executive director Reverend Laura Everett about the disparities that have been exposed and exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Arun also hears from local musician Dan Blakeslee about how artists who make their living playing live shows are making it through the crisis.
Host Arun Rath hears from State Senator Julian Cyr on what this year’s Cape Cod summer could look like for residents and visitors alike.
Then, we hear how the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield is adapting this year’s show season for social distancing.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Reverend Mary Jane Eaton of Boston’s Common Cathedral, who’s been keeping up services for the city’s homeless population during the coronavirus pandemic. And Arun talks to Tony Fogg of the Boston Symphony Orchestra about how the BSO is staying connected with its audience while Symphony Hall is closed.
Host Arun Rath checks back in with Tori Bedford, who’s been speaking with people dealing with parents and other loved ones who aren’t taking the coronavirus crisis as seriously as they should be. And Arun talks to a local 12th grader who’s facing the disappointment of missing out on senior year’s usual rites of passage, as well her final softball season.
Host Arun Rath hears an update from WGBH News Investigative Reporter Jenifer McKim on how the novel coronavirus is continuing to make its way through the state's prisons and jails.
Next, with summer just around the corner, one summer camp is adapting its programming from in-person to virtual. We hear from the camp's founder.
Lastly, we learn about a new children's book written by two local authors about the coronavirus.
Host Arun Rath speaks with the owners of Porter Square Books in Cambridge and the Dogtown Book Shop in Gloucester to see how they’re going about their business without in-person customers. And Arun learns how educators in one school district in the Berkshires are helping students without internet access keep up with their studies.
Host Arun Rath speaks with the head of the Somerville non-profit Parenting Journey about the challenges facing low-income and all immigrant families during this time.
Next, the holy month of Ramadan began last week. We hear how the region's largest mosque called the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) is marking this year's holiday while social distancing.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Nicholas Reich, a professor of biostatistics and and epidemiology at UMass-Amherst. Reich and his colleagues are trying to model the coronavirus pandemic to get a sense of its possible outcomes. Arun also hears from Francesca Panetta, Creative Director at MIT’s Center for Virtuality. Panetta is an organizer of the Corona Diaries, an open-source effort to document the pandemic.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Cape Cod journalist Greg O’Brien about how those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease like himself are handling the coronavirus crisis. And Arun checks in with WGBH News reporter Tori Bedford about part two of her investigation into love during the time of COVID-19.
Host Arun Rath checked-in with WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen about how museums and art institutions are continuing to manage in this pandemic.
Next, we heard how one institution — the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning in Framingham— is adapting its programming for virtual learning.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Fatima Watt, director of behavioral health services at Franciscan Children’s hospital in Boston, about how kids and teens can cope with the coronavirus crisis. And Arun talks with local author Nina Livingstone, who’s navigating the pandemic with the additional challenge of being blind and partially deaf.
Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Host Arun Rath finds out ways to safely celebrate nature with Lisa Vernegaard, the executive director of the Sudbury Valley Trustees.
Arun then chats with Jill Palese, a local fashion designer based in Hingham who put her new swimsuit line on hold to instead produce masks and gowns for healthcare workers on the front lines.
Host Arun Rath spends what would have been Marathon Monday speaking with someone who knows the Boston Marathon better than most - former Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans. And Arun interviews Cara Soulia, co-founder of the Front Steps Project. Photographers across the globe have been taking pictures during the pandemic of families stepping outside the isolation of their homes and posing on their front steps.
Host Arun Rath checks in with WGBH Radio’s Tori Bedford, who’s been speaking with locals about how their love lives are faring during the coronavirus pandemic. And he gets some advice from Dr. Anne Fishel, director of the Family and Couples Therapy Program at Mass General.
Host Arun Rath speaks with the head of Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester about its pandemic plan. Almost half of the tests the Center’s administered for coronavirus since March have come back positive. Then, Arun gets a take on these times from someone who’s seen more than most of us. Eleanor Kaplan is 99 years old and lives at Springhouse Senior Living in Jamaica Plain.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Lucie Sullivan from WGBH’s FRONTLINE Dispatch podcast about her experience with COVID-19.
Host Arun Rath speaks with a local nurse who was exposed to coronavirus at work and was required to self isolate for two weeks following the encounter. During the quarantine, she says she was counting down the days until she could get back to work and continue helping people. Next, while coronavirus is taking up a lot of our bandwidth these days, other struggles are continuing. Arun checks in with the head of a local residential treatment facility about how those in recovery are staying sober during this pandemic.
Host Arun Rath speaks with an immigrant advocate about how the immigrant community is navigating barriers to healthcare and economic support during the coronavirus crisis. He also gets the story of a Tufts Medical Center nurse who’s been collecting cards for COVID-19 patients suffering alone in the hospital. And Arun checks in with the director of the Brookline Public Library, whose main building has been converted into an auxiliary fire station.
Host Arun Rath speaks with the president of the Boston Pride board, Linda DeMarco, and board member Marco Torres, about the decision to postpone the city's Pride events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Arun also catches up with WGBH Radio's Tori Bedford for another segment of "The Check In." And he speaks with Rev. Dr. Julianne Buenting, Interim Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Northampton, about how her congregation will observe Easter at a distance.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Dani Hackner, the Chief Clinical Officer with Southcoast Health, which operates hospitals in Fall River, New Bedford and Wareham. Southcoast Health opened the first drive-through coronavirus testing site in Massachusetts last month. Then, Arun speak with a Medford man who tested negative for the coronavirus this week. He walks us through the testing protocols at another drive-through site in Lowell.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey about scammers who’ve been trying to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis. And he gets some COVID-19 cooking tips from Marjorie Druker, chef and owner at the New England Soup Factory.
Passover starts tomorrow. Host Arun Rath talks with his rabbi, Rabbi Howard Jaffe about how their congregation is staying connected during the holiday while also social distancing. Then, Arun checks in with the head of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association on how the state’s bars and restaurants are surviving with all non-essential businesses still ordered closed until next month.
Host Arun Rath checks in with Donna Kelly-Williams, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, about what local nurses are dealing with on the ground during the coronavirus pandemic. And with so many of us holding meetings on Zoom, Arun speaks with a Boston FBI agent about how users can keep themselves safe and avoid trolls.
Host Arun Rath checks in with WGBH Radio’s Tori Bedford, who’s been following Mr. Rogers’ advice and looking for the helpers. Rath also speaks with WGBH jazz host Eric Jackson, who reflects on the legacy of Ellis Marsalis and other jazz greats who’ve died from COVID-19.
Host Arun Rath talks with the owner of a Boston-based home care company on how family and caregivers can help home bound seniors deal with isolation and loneliness. Then, Arun speaks with longtime sports writer Bob Ryan about his memories from past opening days and what he’s doing in a time without baseball.
Host Arun Rath interviews the owner of a Hyde Park candy company, Kate McCrea, about how her business is handling the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. He also hears from the founder of a Watertown 3D printing company making protective masks for healthcare workers and swabs for virus tests. Plus, WGBH Radio’s Adam Reilly explains how the federal coronavirus aid package could affect Massachusetts.
Host Arun Rath speaks with the head of MassLandlords about what options renters and landlords have when there’s no money left for housing. Next, we hear how a local YWCA is continuing to empower young women in this time of social distancing and coronavirus. Finally, with all this working from home, you may not be driving as much as you used to. The good news is - mechanics are open, but we’ll give you tips on how to maintain your car before you have to check-in with them.
With recreational pot shops deemed non-essential, host Arun Rath speaks with the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association, David O’Brien. He also checks in with Georgia Katsoulomitis, executive director of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, about the economic toll the pandemic is taking on low-income residents and sort of help they can get. And WGBH Radio’s Paul Singer explains the concept of “third places,” where people gather outside the home and office, and how their closure could impact us.
Host Arun Rath checks in with Tori Bedford for our regular segment “The Check In.” Arun then speaks with Dr. Jack Maypole, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, who has some tips for parents working from home with young children who are out of school.
Host Arun Rath checks in with a local doctor who says while his hospital has enough ventilators, they don’t have enough masks, despite asking for more. Then, Arun checks in with Boston Public School superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius on how her and city teachers are keeping kids engaged with at home, virtual lessons. We end the show with a conversation with Dr. Robert Davey who is studying the coronavirus in a local lab, the only lab to have a sample of the virus in New England.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Kelly Turley from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless about how the homeless population is coping with the coronavirus crisis. He also speaks with a local artist who’s immunocompromised.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Gina Garro, a first grade teacher at the Garfield Elementary School in Revere, Massachusetts about the challenges of creating meaningful lesson plans for students while they learn from home for the next few weeks. Next, we hear from Boston University business school lecturer Jay Zagorsky on how people can use this time at home to enhance their skills to enter what he predicts will be a future booming job market.
Host Arun Rath speaks with Mike Deehan from WGBH Radio’s State House Bureau about Gov. Charlie Baker’s stay-at-home advisory and his order to close all non-essential businesses. Rachel Rock visits a synagogue in Wellesley that’s using technology to keep congregants connected, and Marilyn Schairer explores the anxiety that’s been aroused by the pandemic.
During this time of social isolation, you're not alone. WGBH is here to help you navigate this strange moment that we all find ourselves in. Host Arun Rath talks daily with experts, doctors, community leaders to provide the latest COVID-19 news affecting Massachusetts. The Coronavirus might stop us from gathering in person, but it can’t stop us from connecting -- we're in it together.