It can be easier to take the first steps into therapy if you're doing it in a space where you feel comfortable, safe, and part of a community. For centuries, Black and Latino men have used barbershops as places to connect with their neighbors and friends. Black Brown Boston is taking that community tradition and channeling it into "The Barbershop Clinic", hoping to provide a space for Black and Latino men to open up and do some healing. Vania Arroyo, Founder and CEO of Black Brown Boston, and marriage and family therapist Rob Badgett join Nichole this week to talk about the program and their mission.

Get your bookmarks ready - it's time for the Boston Public Library's Winter Reading Challenge! This year, it's a global affair, with books and authors from all around the world in the spotlight. Anyone who takes on the challenge gets a special prize, too! Veronica Koven-Matasy, the BPL's Reader Services Supervisor, joins Nichole this week with details on the challenge and some recommendations to get started.

Demand for skilled workers in the trades continues to grow, but there simply aren't enough people who are trained to meet the call. A Billerica-based company was among the many feeling the strain of the ongoing worker shortage, so they decided to take matters into their own hands and start their own training program, which has become incredibly popular. CEO Mike Lacrosse and People and Culture Manager Keri Brewin are on the show this week to talk with Nichole about the program and all it has to offer aspiring members of the trades.

We have no shortage of talent here in the Greater Boston area, and for more than a decade, an organization called "Castle of our Skins" has been working to ensure the voices and stories of Black artists, performers, and musicians in our neighborhood are uplifted and appreciated. Recently, they were able to work with the city of Boston to secure a brand new home in Lower Roxbury, on Columbus Avenue. Co-Founder Ashleigh Gordon talks with Nichole about the group's history, mission, and plans for their new space, "Gold Hall".

It's time to stock up on all your favorite Girl Scout cookies, everything from the classic Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Patties to the newer offerings like Lemonades. Each year, Girl Scouts around the country sell these tasty treats to raise money for their troops, but the lessons they learn are far deeper than just shelling out shortbread. Monica Roberts, the new Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, talks with Nichole about this season's sale, a flavor that's going away (so you'll want to stock up!), and her vision for the future of Girl Scouting here in Massachusetts.

As the snow and winter conditions settle in, many children here in Massachusetts simply don't have the proper clothing to stay warm in the cold as families struggle to find enough money to go around to pay for essentials. Cradles to Crayons Boston is based in Newtonville, and they work with agencies and non-profits around the Commonwealth to get comfortable, warm clothing and other personal supplies out to as many children as possible. Executive Director Alicia Kabir, who recently joined the team, talks with Nichole about their "Gear Up for Winter" initiative and her plans for the non-profit's future.

If you still have some gifts to pick up for the holidays and you want to support local small businesses, the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce says it's got you covered! The Chamber's new gift guide is out for the 2024 holiday season, highlighting LGBTQIA+ owned businesses all over the Commonwealth. From snacks to sweaters and beyond, Executive Director Alexandria Eberhardt says shoppers can get all kinds of ideas. She's on the show this week with Nichole to talk about the guide.

Some new data from the Boston Public Health Commission's "Health of Boston Mental Health Report" shows a concerning trend with young people in the city: more than 40% of Boston Public Schools students say they experience persistent sadness or hopelessness. That number is higher in students from marginalized communities, such as young women, those who identify as LGBTQ, or those who are Black or Latino. In response, the City of Boston has launched a new program called "Heads Up Boston", where trusted adults help young people become more comfortable with opening up to their peers about what can be a very difficult subject. Samara Grossman, Director of the Boston Public Health Commission's Center for Behavioral health and Wellness, talks with Nichole about the program and its impact.

Here in New England, we haven't had a really bad cold snap yet this winter, but if we did, our power grid would be ready to handle it. That's the word from ISO New England, our regional power grid operator, which says it has more than enough juice to keep our lights and heaters going throughout the coldest winter months. Spokesman Randy Burlingame joins Nichole this week to talk about all the work going on behind the scenes to shore up the grid, forecast our demand, and keep the juice flowing.