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NEXT New England

by Connecticut Public Radio

NEXT was a radio show and podcast that aired its final episode in May 2021 after a successful five-year run. The weekly program focused on New England, one of America's oldest places, at a time of change. NEXT was produced at Connecticut Public Radio and featured stories from journalists across the New England News Collaborative. Most recently, the program was hosted by Morgan Springer.With New England as our laboratory, NEXT asked questions about how we power our society, how we move around, and how we adapt. Through reporting and interviews, we explored: Where are we now? How did we get here? And what's next?The New England News Collaborative is a regional partnership of public media stations, with Connecticut Public as the lead station. Partners include Maine Public, New England Public Media, New Hampshire Public Radio, Vermont Public Radio, WBUR, WGBH, WCAI, and WSHU. Vanessa de la Torre is the NENC’s executive editor.

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Episodes

  1. NEXT’s Goodbye — And What’s To Come From The New England News Collaborative

    After five years on air, our weekly program NEXT has ended. The show focused on New England at a time of change and featured stories from journalists across the New England News Collaborative. The good news is that these powerful stories aren’t going away. We are ramping up our next phase of New...

  2. The Final Episode: How Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola Reimagines History; Protesters Reflect On The Year That Changed Us

    On the final episode of NEXT, Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola talks about the evolution of her poetry, and how she uses futurism to reimagine history. Plus, protesters reflect on what has changed — or not — in the year since George Floyd’s murder. We also speak with band members of Lake...

  3. Reflecting On ‘Surviving The White Gaze’; Why Green Burials Are Surging In Popularity

    Rebecca Carroll’s new memoir details her experiences as a Black child raised by adoptive white parents in rural New Hampshire. This week on NEXT, Carroll talks about “Surviving The White Gaze.” Plus, epidemiologist and physician Dr. Sandro Galea on the impact of structural issues on public health…

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  4. ‘It’s Like Climbing Up A Mudslide’: Pandemic Pushes Women Out Of The Workforce

    Millions of people in the U.S. left the workforce as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A majority of them were women. This week on NEXT, we hear from women who left their jobs and talk with an expert about the stressors — and what recovery might look like. Plus, high school English teacher…

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  5. Alison Bechdel On ‘The Secret To Superhuman Strength'; Advocates Push Colleges To Hire More Black-Owned Firms To Oversee Investments

    Alison Bechdel’s new graphic novel depicts her life through fitness. This week on NEXT, we talk with Bechdel about ‘The Secret to Superhuman Strength,' which is more about a state of being than six-pack abs. Plus, advocates make the case for colleges to hire more diverse financial firms to manage...

  6. ‘The Happiness Lab’ Professor On Ways We Can Be Happier; How Jonny Sun Is Learning To Balance Work And Rest

    When Professor Laurie Santos first offered a course about psychology and happiness at Yale University, over a thousand students signed up. This week on NEXT, Santos gives us tips on how we can be happier in our lives. Plus, we’ll hear dream experts discuss the evolution of COVID-19 dreams. And we...

  7. ‘It’s My Future’: Young Activists Take On Climate Change; How We Can Adapt To Electric Vehicles

    By the time today’s teenagers are fifty, they’ll be living in a very different New England. This week on NEXT, we hear from young climate activists around our region about how they’re responding to the threat of climate change. And after a year of no travel, why some climate researchers are...

  8. How The Lost Kitchen’s Star Chef Is ‘Finding Freedom’ After Hitting Rock Bottom; Pushing Past ‘The White Colonial Imagination’ To Enjoy Nature

    Erin French’s ascent to rock star chef almost didn’t happen. Before becoming the owner of The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine, she lost nearly everything that mattered in life. This week on NEXT, we talk with French about her journey and new memoir “Finding Freedom.” Plus, as a way to diversify...

  9. A Non-Binary Child And Their Family Explore Identity; The Impact Of Banning Race-Based Hair Discrimination

    A few years ago, Hallel came out as a “boy-girl” to their parents. This week on NEXT, 9-year-old Hallel and their family explore gender identity. Plus, we learn about a new Connecticut law banning race-based hair discrimination in the workplace and in schools. And we hear from newcomers to New...

  10. A High School Senior’s Journey Back To School After A Year Online; Author Jennifer De Leon On Returning To Her Roots

    After a year of online school, high school senior Bridget Donovan is back in the building and feeling like “a freshman again.” This week on NEXT, we tag along with Bridget and visit a New Hampshire school that’s experiencing the social benefits of learning outdoors. Plus, we hear about...

  11. Anti-Asian Hate And The Inextricable Link Between Racism And Sexism; How The Pandemic Changed Cooking And Eating Habits

    This week on NEXT, in the aftermath of the killings of six Asian women in Atlanta, we hear about the inextricable link between racism and sexism. Plus, we talk with Boston chef and restaurateur Irene Li about how the pandemic has altered our relationship with food and cooking. And the…

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  12. Insights On American Culture For ‘The Immigrant And The Curious’; Outfitting Triple-Deckers To Curb Climate Change

    Through fresh eyes, there’s a lot that’s unusual about American life and culture — from bloated wallets and giant cars to the emphasis on self. This week on NEXT, writer Roya Hakakian shares keen observations from her new book “A Beginner’s Guide To America.” Plus, how retrofitting triple-decker...

  13. ‘Artemis’ Astronaut Reflects On NASA’s Mission To Land First Woman On The Moon; A Coastal Town Reckons With Sea Level Rise

    NASA plans to land the first woman on the moon by 2024. This week on NEXT, we talk to a Maine astronaut who is part of the Artemis mission about why that milestone matters, and what it’s like to be in zero gravity. Plus, we’ll hear from two sisters who are participating in one of the COVID-19...

  14. Pressure Intensifies To Bring Students Back To Classrooms; Environmental Group Reckons With Race And Inclusivity In The Outdoors

    The Biden administration and state leaders are pushing to get more students into “in-person” classes again. This week on NEXT, the politics of making it happen. Plus, as the Massachusetts Audubon Society reckons with its founder’s racist past, the group’s push to create equitable access to…

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  15. What High-Speed Rail Could Bring To New England; Vermont Town Mourns The Loss Of A Historic Bridge

    A new report shows that millions of homes across the country are at risk of flooding — and insurance companies aren’t keeping up. This week on NEXT, we explore the inequities and how this affects our region. Plus, we hear more about a proposal for high-speed rail across New England that Congress...

  16. The Lasting Impacts Of The Station Nightclub Fire; What We Can Learn From New England’s Forests

    This week on NEXT, we hear about the enduring impacts of The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island that killed 100 people in 2003. Plus, the mysterious history of Lost Nation Road in Vermont. And we visit an experimental forest in our region to gain new insight on New England research of the...

  17. Disparities In New England’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout; Biomass Plant Proposed In ‘Asthma Capital Of The Country’

    This week on NEXT, we’ll hear the latest on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout across our region — including concerns over inequities in distribution — and get expert answers to some of our questions about life after vaccination. Plus, what’s next for a proposed wood-burning biomass plant in…

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  18. The Promise Of Ropeless Fishing To Save Endangered Right Whales; How Connecticut Is Working To Diversify Its Juries

    This week on NEXT, why one New England state is vaccinating young researchers before older adults. Plus, a look at ropeless fishing and the hope to save the endangered North Atlantic right whale. We’ll also hear from Connecticut’s Supreme Court chief justice about racial inequities in jury...

  19. An Insider’s Look At The ‘Troubled Teen’ Industry; Advancing Racial Justice In The Transition To Clean Energy

    This week on NEXT, what student loan forgiveness under the Biden administration would mean for borrowers in Maine. Plus, an interview with Shalanda Baker, a new deputy director at the U.S. Department of Energy, on the role of energy justice in the transition to clean energy. And we hear from an...

  20. COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Faces Challenges In New England; The Lasting Impact Of Pop Star Selena

    The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are the first of their kind to use mRNA. This week on NEXT, how this new experimental technology could help fight diseases like cancer and cystic fibrosis. Plus, some of the challenges of vaccine distribution in New England. And a new podcast, “Anything…

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  21. NENC/America Amplified Special: What The Biden Administration Will Mean For Climate Change In New England

    Severe storms. Heat waves. Rising seas. New England is already seeing the impacts of climate change, and scientists project they will become more deadly, shaping how we live and work in the northeastern U.S. This week on NEXT, in a special ahead of Inauguration Day, the New England News...

  22. Skipped Classes, Teacher Shortages, Mental Health Concerns: How Schools Are Taking On Pandemic Challenges

    Public school enrollment in New England is down during the pandemic. But even when kids are enrolled, it can be a struggle to get some to show up. This week on NEXT, how one district is tackling absenteeism and why doctors are increasingly concerned about youth mental health. Plus, Massachusetts...

  23. How Fighting For Marriage Equality Unmade A Family; N.H. Man Lands In 1st Amendment Dispute After Insulting Cops

    This week, in a special episode of NEXT, we listen to a collection of award-winning stories from the New England News Collaborative — from a retrospective on the couple that fought for marriage equality in Massachusetts, and later divorced, to a close look at a First Amendment dispute in New...

  24. New England’s Most Famous R&B Family Reflects On Race In America

    The brothers behind New England’s famous R&B group Tavares are of Cape Verdean descent. This week on NEXT, what that means in a Black and white America. And an effort to change the name of Faneuil Hall in Boston continues as New Englanders grapple with the region’s racist past. Plus, how author...

  25. Deadly Outbreaks Persist At Nursing Homes; How Transportation Emissions Harm Our Health

    Most COVID-19 deaths in New England can be tied to long-term care facilities. This week on NEXT, how a nursing home – spared from the virus for months – got hit this fall. Plus, the number of lives we could save if we cut our transportation emissions. And we’ll hear how the “Fauci effect” is...

  26. Getting The COVID Vaccine To New Englanders; Hunting And Hiking On The Rise Up North

    The first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive as soon as mid-December, but it’s up to each state to figure out how to distribute the vaccines. This week on NEXT, we’ll hear about who gets priority in New England. Plus, some health experts question whether contract tracing is worth...

  27. The Challenge Of Saving Right Whales From Extinction While Protecting Lobstermen’s Livelihood

    This week on NEXT, North Atlantic right whales are under threat of extinction. Scientists say entanglement in fishing lines is the main cause of death, but changing the way New England lobstermen fish won’t be easy. Plus, we hear from young climate activists pushing Massachusetts lawmakers to…

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  28. Hope And Conflict At Bami Farm; Journalist Maria Hinojosa On Immigration And Public Media

    When a group of immigrants started a community farm in a Yankee farming town, their presence was complicated by race and rural American identity. This week on NEXT, the story of Bami Farm in Rhode Island. Plus, how the pandemic has accelerated the debate over driver’s licenses for undocumented...

  29. NENC/America Amplified Special: Lessons Lost: The Struggle To Talk About Race In Some New England Classrooms

    What we don’t learn in school can matter as much as the lessons we do learn. This week on NEXT, we talk to teachers and students about the harm of omitting stories and cultures from curricula — and how we can do better. It's a rebroadcast from our series of specials on “Racism in New England,”...

  30. NENC/America Amplified Special: New England’s Abolitionist History at Odds With Racist Realities

    Here’s the story that New England tells itself: Racism is a Southern problem. But our region’s abolitionist past hides a darker history of racism, slavery and white supremacy. It’s a legacy that lives with us today. This week on NEXT, we rebroadcast a special from our series on racism in New...

  31. Inside New Hampshire's Secret List of Cops With Credibility Issues

    America is taking a hard look at policing right now. Many wonder: can we trust the cops? In states across the country, the answer to that question is already out there – on secret lists kept by government lawyers. This week on NEXT, “The List” from New Hampshire Public Radio, which looks at one...

  32. How The AP Calls Election Winners; Hip-Hop Artist Latrell James On Celebrating Mortality

    Transgender and nonbinary people can face misgendering at the polls. This week on NEXT, how that can make voting especially stressful this election. And with Nov. 3 just around the corner, we hear from the Associated Press about its process for calling the presidential race … and about 7,000…

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  33. What’s Motivating Early Voters In New England; Toxic Dangers Lurking In Local Water

    In-person voting has started in some New England states. This week on NEXT, we talk about what’s driving people to vote early this general election. Plus, as temperatures warm due to climate change, toxic cyanobacteria are increasingly polluting our water. And we talk to author Jennifer De Leon...

  34. The Maine Race That Could Help Flip The Senate; Coping With New England’s Severe Drought

    After years of strong support from Maine constituents, Republican Sen. Susan Collins is in one of her greatest political fights. This week on NEXT, how a few highly contested races in New England could impact party control at the national level. Plus, we’ll talk about how New Englanders are…

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  35. Lessons Lost: The Struggle To Talk About Race In Some New England Classrooms

    What we don’t learn in school can matter as much as the lessons we do learn. This week on NEXT, we talk to teachers and students about the harm of omitting stories and cultures from curricula — and how we can do better. It’s the final show in a special series on racism in New England, produced by...

  36. Addressing The Toll Of Racism On New Englanders’ Mental Health

    Racism is trauma. But for many of us, racism’s impact on mental health can be hard to talk about. This week on NEXT, we hear about the stressors of racism in New England and ways to get relief. It’s the third show in a special series on racism in New England — produced by the New England News...

  37. How Segregation Persists In 'Progressive' New England

    Despite progress in civil rights, segregated communities still exist throughout New England. This week on NEXT, we look at how housing laws and discrimination influence where we live. It’s the second show in a special series on racism in New England — produced by the New England News…

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  38. New England's Abolitionist History at Odds With Racist Realities

    Here's the story that New England tells itself: Racism is a Southern problem. But our region's abolitionist past hides a darker history of racism, slavery and segregation. It's a legacy that lives with us today. This week on NEXT, we premiere a special series on racism in New England — produced…

    more

  39. First-Gen Ivy Leaguer Straddles Two Worlds; Actor Luis Guzman On Living In Vermont

    The pandemic has been a balancing act for first-gen college students like Mikayla, who attends Brown University while worrying about her family back home. This week on NEXT, Mikayla’s audio diaries on navigating 2020 as an Ivy Leaguer and the daughter of undocumented immigrants. Plus, when a...

  40. Who Will Get The COVID Vaccine?; Canadian Court Ruling Says U.S. No Longer Safe For Refugees

    A Canadian court has determined the U.S. is no longer safe for refugees. This week on NEXT, we go to the border of Vermont and Canada to learn what this could mean for asylum seekers heading north. Plus, when a COVID-19 vaccine is approved, who will want one and who will get priority? And New...

  41. Bracing For The Return Of College Students; Why A Doctor Quit Showering Five Years Ago

    College students are heading back to some New England campuses. This week on NEXT, how schools are dealing with the influx of students during a pandemic. Plus, a doctor who quit showering five years ago talks about the impact of "too much" hygiene on skin health. And a New Hampshire town…

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  42. Early Lessons As Rural Maine Returns To School; Challenging Hometown Culture Of Silence Around Racism

    Most New England schools are still fine-tuning their reopening plans. This week on NEXT, we visit a school in northern Maine that has started the year early — and hear about the lessons learned so far. Plus, two sisters re-examine the racism they experienced growing up in a predominantly white...

  43. Protests Spark Some Police Reforms in New England; The Case Against Call-Out Culture

    Following the rise of protests against police brutality, we look at what has changed, from police reforms to employee walk-outs. Also on this week’s show, we talk to an activist who says today’s call-out culture is toxic — and advocates "calling in." Plus, refugees from the Democratic Republic of...

  44. Teachers Consider Quitting Job In Face Of Health Risks; A Doctor Vows To Speak Up Against Racism

    This week on NEXT, we hear from teachers who are agonizing over going back to school and putting their families and themselves at risk — or quitting their jobs. Plus, a doctor who has experienced racism vows to stop being silent when she witnesses injustice. And we remember a Black transgender...

  45. Divorcing After Fighting For Marriage Equality; Insulting Cops Lands NH Man In 1st Amendment Dispute

    This week, in a special episode of NEXT, we listen to a collection of award-winning stories from the New England News Collaborative — from the divorced couple that was the face of marriage equality in Massachusetts, to a close look at a First Amendment dispute in New Hampshire. See...

  46. The Debate Over Controversial Statues; Heat Waves And How COVID-19 Complicates Efforts To Stay Cool

    This week on NEXT, New Englanders debate the removal of controversial statues. Plus, Connecticut is refusing to reveal the cost of some taxpayer-funded coronavirus tests. And we look at how the pandemic and climate change are complicating efforts in New Hampshire to stay cool during this hot...

  47. We Changed For COVID. What About The Climate Crisis?; How Companies Say They'll Fight Racism

    The pandemic forced many of us into new habits. Why can’t we do that with climate change? This week on NEXT, why seismic lifestyle shifts to help the environment could be possible right now. Plus, how the business community is addressing systemic racism. And the tension over thru-hikers who...

  48. Tackling The Anticipated Rise In Evictions; Investing In 'Green' Pandemic Recovery

    Eviction cases are expected to soar this summer. This week on NEXT, the debate over extending an eviction moratorium. Plus, a recent night of vandalism in Providence, Rhode Island, was blamed on “outside agitators” — the story is much more complicated. And 16 ideas for investing in a green…

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  49. Tips For Avoiding Coronavirus As States Reopen; The U.S.'s Worst COVID-19 Racial Disparity Is In Maine

    This week on NEXT, how to stay safe during a pandemic as reopening continues in New England. Plus, Maine has the worst racial disparity for coronavirus infections in the country — we’ll talk about why. And a tattoo artist that covers up racist tattoos for free gets an uptick in requests. See...

  50. Declaring Racism A Public Health Crisis; The Hidden History Of Black Vermonters

    This week on NEXT, we talk about the different ways racism has become a public health crisis. Plus, the story of recent efforts to resurface the history of Vermont's 19th century Black communities after some residents tried to cover it up. And unexpected lessons from scientific inventions that…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

NEXT was a radio show and podcast that aired its final episode in May 2021 after a successful five-year run. The weekly program focused on New England, one of America's oldest places, at a time of change. NEXT was produced at Connecticut Public Radio and featured stories from journalists across the New England News Collaborative. Most recently, the program was hosted by Morgan Springer.With New England as our laboratory, NEXT asked questions about how we power our society, how we move around, and how we adapt. Through reporting and interviews, we explored: Where are we now? How did we get here? And what's next?The New England News Collaborative is a regional partnership of public media stations, with Connecticut Public as the lead station. Partners include Maine Public, New England Public Media, New Hampshire Public Radio, Vermont Public Radio, WBUR, WGBH, WCAI, and WSHU. Vanessa de la Torre is the NENC’s executive editor.

HOSTED BY

Connecticut Public Radio

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news

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does NEXT New England have?

NEXT New England currently has 254 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is NEXT New England about?

NEXT was a radio show and podcast that aired its final episode in May 2021 after a successful five-year run. The weekly program focused on New England, one of America's oldest places, at a time of change. NEXT was produced at Connecticut Public Radio and featured stories from journalists across the...

How often does NEXT New England release new episodes?

NEXT New England publishes regularly with 254 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to NEXT New England?

You can listen to NEXT New England on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts NEXT New England?

NEXT New England is created and hosted by Connecticut Public Radio.
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