Darryl C. Murphy

Host

Host of WBUR's news and culture podcast The Common

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A closer look at abortion care

When a 2022 Supreme Court ruling ended nationwide protection for abortion access, Massachusetts abortion rights advocates predicted an influx of people from out of state seeking abortions.

Now, WBUR's Martha Bebinger found the number of people who obtained abortion care from Massachusetts providers was up at least 37% in 2023. The increase was mostly driven by patients from outside the state.

Today on The Common, Martha and Dr. Angel Foster, co-founder of Cambridge Reproductive Health Consulta...
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How a second Trump presidency could impact Massachusetts

It's been a little over a week since President-elect Donald Trump won a second term in office over Vice President Kamala Harris. Regardless of how you feel about it, another Trump presidency is almost certain to leave a lasting impression on our political reality, including here in deep-blue Massachusetts.

Today on The Common, WBUR Senior Politics Reporter, Anthony Brooks and WBUR State House Reporter, Walter Wuthmann, join us to discuss reactions since the election and look ahead to what the r...
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As other newspapers demur, why the Boston Globe is making endorsements

Less than a week after the Washington Post announced it would not endorse a candidate for president this year, the newspaper has lost more than a quarter million subscribers.

Over that same time period, the Boston Globe has reportedly experienced "exponential" subscriber growth.

Jim Dao, editor of the Globe's editorial page, joins Radio Boston to discuss why his page endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race, and made endorsements in a host of down-ballot contests.
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Don't be spooked by this election's BOO-llot questions

Happy Halloween! We wish you safe and spooky celebrations this week. That said, Tuesday, November 5th is the 2024 general election. And there is nothing scarier than getting to the polls unprepared.

Five statewide ballot questions are before voters this November, and frighteningly, there are quite a few misconceptions about them.

Evan Horowitz, director of The Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, joins us in breaking down each question and outlines what is being asked of voter...
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New biography on hip-hop legend MF DOOM shines light on Boston influence

Four years ago, on Halloween day, one of hip-hop’s most revered artists died.

His name was Daniel Dumile but he went by the stage name MF DOOM. The British-American rapper wore a mask that became synonymous with his legacy. His lyrics were both complex and conversational, and his persona was that of a beloved supervillain.

WBUR's Radio Boston spoke to S.H. Fernando Jr. — also known as SKIZ — who wrote a new biography on MF DOOM. Boston journalist, historian and author Dart Adams also joined to...
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Is the Mass. hospital system prepared to deal with extreme weather caused by climate change?

Hospitals around the country are still in need of IV fluids after Hurricane Helene damaged a manufacturing facility in North Carolina that produces about 60% of the vital solution nationwide. The Category 4 hurricane killed more than 200 people across North Carolina and other states, and it caused billions of dollars in damages.

Mass General Brigham buys its IV fluids fromBaxter International Inc, which operates the damaged facility. Last week, the hospital system had to reschedule elective sur...
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An up-close look at Mass' first offshore wind project

Offshore wind projects like Vineyard Wind are set to be a huge part of our state’s energy future.

But for such a huge infrastructure project, it’s not that easy to get out and see for yourself. For one thing, you need to charter a boat to take you out to look at the Vineyard Wind turbines located miles offshore.

This is exactly what a group of New England reporters did in September – including WBUR’s own senior climate reporter, Miriam Wasser. She joins The Common to tell us about the experien...
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How Black Out performances promote inclusion in Boston theater

Boston's theater-goers are overwhelmingly white: 89%, according to a report by the nonprofit ArtsBoston. At the same time, more than half of the city's residents are people of color.

Some theater companies are fostering inclusion with Black Out nights. Performances are taken off sale to the general public and made accessible with a code distributed to Black organizations and social media groups.

Maurice Emmanuel Parent is an actor, educator and co-founder and co-producing artistic director of...
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Meet three of this year's "Makers," artists of color who are building community in Greater Boston

Each year, WBUR highlights a group of artists of color in Greater Boston. These "Makers" are spreading joy and building community while practicing their craft. We meet three of the artists from this year's cohort.

Dancer Beth Mochizuki is helping dancers bring more of themselves to the stage with her company, the Asian American Ballet Project. Saxophonist Jonathan Suazo is combining his Puerto Rican identity with his Dominican heritage through jazz. Musician Pranav Swaroop is fusing classical I...
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Mass. coastal chemical sites lack basic safeguard against hurricanes

Experts say climate change is increasing the risk of a “double disaster” — a large-scale chemical spill caused by extreme weather. Massachusetts is especially vulnerable, as a coastal state with industrial ports.

WBUR's senior investigative reporter Patrick Madden took a closer look at this risk in New Bedford, a city with a high concentration of warehouses that use chemicals for cold storage in the fishing industry.
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Stop and Shop wants you to stay and shop

On this episode of  The Common, Boston Globe Reporter Diti Kohli breaks down the evolution of Stop and Shop, and where the grocery store is headed. Then, listen to an excerpt from host Darryl C. Murphy's WBUR CitySpace interview with Chef and TikTok influencer Jon Kung.

Listen to the podcast to hear the full episode.

Stop and Shop opened a swanky upgraded location in Allston Yards this summer. A couple of weeks later, the company announced that it would be closing more than 30 of its stores in...
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Why hormone therapy is a lifeline for some women before and during menopause

As women approach menopause, their bodies produce fewer hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This causes many people to feel a range of symptoms, some of the most common being hot flashes, sleeplessness and mood changes.

One option to treat those symptoms is what's known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Simply put, HRT puts hormones back in the body through methods like patches, injections or pills. The therapy was popular in the later half of the 20th century, but after one big study...
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A Robot Block Party gives us a glimpse into the future

MassRobotics is hosting its seventh annual Robot Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 28th in the Seaport. The Boston nonprofit wants to get people more comfortable with robots as they become more ubiquitous in our lives.

WBUR's Radio Boston spoke to Joyce Sidopolous, co-founder of MassRobotics, which provides space and support for robotics-focused startups, and Russ Graves, who works as the director of bridging innovation at the Bedford-based technology nonprofit MITRE.
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A visit to Massachusetts' first offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind

The Vineyard Wind project, the country's first large-scale offshore wind farm, is under scrutiny after an incident in July in which one of the blades on a wind turbine broke, sending debris into the ocean with fiberglass and foam chunks washing ashore.

WBUR senior climate and environment reporter Miriam Wasser joins Radio Boston to share what she saw on a boat trip to see the project. Vineyard Wind is still under construction, but once it's done, its 62 turbines will produce enough electricity...
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A vibe check on Boston nightlife

Last spring, the City of Boston welcomed its inaugural Director of Nightlife Economy, Corean Reynolds. You might have heard some people refer to her as the “night czar,” though that’s not her official title. Now that she’s been in her position for a year, we wanted to catch up with her about some of the initiatives her office is working on, as well as challenges to improving nightlife in the city.

You'll also hear producer Frannie Monahan hit the streets to ask Bostonians about their thoughts o...
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