Two mothers on the South Coast of Massachusetts are teaming up to help children with special needs enjoy the outdoors like so many other kids do: biking! Alissa DeSousa and Lindsay Best-Greenspan both have children with special needs, and they were able to see first-hand the difference adaptive bikes made in the kids' lives. Now, they're on a mission to make sure as many children as possible can have access to one. They join Nichole this week to talk about their efforts, their inspiration, and how you can help them reach their goal.

In April, to mark Earth Week, state officials in Massachusetts announced a new $775,000 grant will be used in the coming months to put more air sensors in place around the Commonwealth, with a special focus on "environmental justice" communities - low-income and under-served cities and towns that often feel the worst impacts of pollution and climate change. MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple has details about the plan and how they hope to use the data to put policy in place that will improve air quality for those communities.

Erosion on Cape Cod is certainly nothing new, but in recent years, the Atlantic Ocean has been chewing up more and more of the shoreline. These tidal troubles are forcing communities to think ahead to a future without some of their most beloved shoreline properties, and that problem is front and center at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, where the consistent erosion has forced the Fish and Wildlife Service to demolish their long-standing Visitor Center. Refuge Manager Rick Nye talks with Nichole this week about their decision to take down the building, his concerns for protected wildlife, and how they're trying to get ahead of Mother Nature.

For generations, potable water from the Quabbin Reservoir has been enjoyed by residents in dozens of cities and towns in central and eastern Massachusetts. However, many communities that line the reservoir don't have access to this precious resource, and as a new study looks to expand the MWRA network, many Quabbin-area residents feel they're not getting proper recompense for providing this water to much of the Commonwealth. Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester) says it's time to change that. She joins Nichole on the show this week to talk about her new bill on Beacon Hill that she hopes will create more equity when it comes to water distribution from the Quabbin.

After four years off due to COVID, Japan Festival Boston is back! Later this month, Boston Common will be home to the city's largest festival dedicated to all things Japanese culture: food, kimono, origami, tea ceremonies, ikebana, cosplay, and so much more. Ara Mahar, the PR manager for the festival, joins Nichole this week to talk about all this free family-friendly event has to offer.

Homelessness can impact anyone, and it doesn't always take much to get you to that point - even one or two life events can completely up-end your path. John Lane is someone who knows that all too well. John was living a comfortable life when addiction struck and took him down a path of very hard lessons. Now, John has come full circle, and he's teamed up with Pine Street Inn to use his life experience to help others who are struggling. John is on the show this week to tell his story, offer advice, and share information about Pine Street Inn's permanent supportive housing services.

With just months until the November elections, the campaigns are heating up, and so is the political rhetoric, both on and offline. Election interference on social media is nothing new at this point, but another major player is making its presence known for this election cycle: artificial intelligence. Dr. Weiai "Wayne" Xu, Associate Professor at UMass Amherst, focuses his courses and research on political communities and discourse online, along with artificial intelligence's impact on how we disseminate and learn information. He talks with Nichole this week about what we know, what we're still learning, and best practices for gathering the facts through the elections.

Childhood is full of pure, unadulterated joy through the little things - playing outside, eating a new snack, meeting friends, laughing at cartoons, and much more. For many families, those joys aren't as easy to come by due to poverty, food insecurity or chronic illness. Since 2006, the Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation has been working with franchisees, customers, local organizations and charities, and many others to offer special programs and resources for kids in need, and their families, too! Chair Victor Carvalho joins Nichole on the show this week to talk about their work and how you can help them spread joy to vulnerable kids around the region.

The U.S.S. Constitution - affectionately dubbed "Old Ironsides" - is a symbol of resilience, strength, history and honor. It stands out on the Boston skyline, and so does the woman at the helm! Commander Billie J. Farrell is the first woman to ever command the vessel, leading dozens of sailors, and she's had a storied career in the Navy. In April, she'll be receiving the "Third Lantern" award from Old North Illuminated at the "Lanterns & Luminaries" event. Commander Farrell talks with Nichole about her journey through the Navy, what it's like living as a transplant in New England, the legacy she wants to leave behind to women in the service, and the upcoming award ceremony.