♪ HOST: TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF OF WORCESTER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED HIS DEPARTMENT HAS HARMED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AFTER CITY REPORT FOUND HUGE DISPARITIES ITERATION OF THE REST.

HOW CAN HE RIGHT THOSE WRONGS.

ONE OF THE MORE EXCITING ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENON IS HAPPENING HERE MONDAY IN THE U.S. EDGAR IS HERE TO SHARE CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES.

FINALLY FROM MUSIC CRITIC TO ROCKING THE STAGE IN HER OWN RIGHT A FORMER BOSTON GLOBE COLUMNIST SHARES HER STORY FROM THE STAGE.

♪ HOW CAN WORCESTER RIGHT THE WRONGS OF SYSTEMIC ISSUES IT IS UP AFTER AN EQUITY REPORT.

THE INTERIM CHIEF IS ACKNOWLEDGING THE HARM THE POLICE HAVE DONE.

>> HISTORICALLY THERE HAVE BEEN POLICE PRACTICES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

HOST: THE AUDIT COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY ALSO LAID OUT A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WPD WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

I AM JOINED BY SAM TARKINGTON AND SAM KING.

LET’S START OUT BY GIVING US THE HEADLINES AND WHAT THE REPORT IS TELLING US.

>> THIS EQUITY AUDIT REPORT WAS A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING, ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW, AND IT RECOMMENDED EVERYTHING FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CITIZEN OVERSIGHT BOARD TO BETTER OFFICER TRAINING, TO MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SOME OF THE MAIN FINDINGS INCLUDED THE FACT THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE LATINO PEOPLE, LACK, ARE ARRESTED A DISPROPORTIONATE RATES COMPARED TO WHITE RESIDENTS.

HOST: THE WHITE POPULATION OF THIS CITY IS 52% BUT THE ARREST RATE -- >> ANOTHER MAIN FINDING WAS THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH ARRESTS IN GENERAL HAVE GONE DOWN, YOUTH, CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18 ARE ARRESTED AT HIGH RATES, SO THAT WAS A SURPRISING TAKE AWAY.

THEN THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH DATA REGARDING HOW POLICE FORCE AND WHETHER THEY ARE RECORDING THAT DATA.

THE AUDITORS FOUND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT PUBLICLY RECORDING THAT DATA IN A WAY THAT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE.

HOST: CHRISTIAN, WHEN YOU SELL THOSE NUMBERS, WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WE KNOW THAT POLICING CAN BE ENHANCED IN THE CITY OF WORCESTER.

I WAS PART OF A COALITION THAT MET WITH THE MAYOR AND CAPACITY MANAGER IN ESTABLISHING THIS EQUITY AUDIT.

WE WANTED TO DELVE INTO POLICY, PROCEDURE, AND THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE HAVE -- WHAT WE HAVE HERE TO IMPROVE OVERSIGHT AND TAKE A HARD LOOK AT HOW WE COLLECT DATA.

ONE OF THE THINGS REVEALED WAS WE ARE NOT COLLECTING DATA ON RACE AND AGE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, SO THAT THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE SHOULD, AND AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, THERE IS A BIT OF A TRUST TO GET BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOME INSTANCES.

AND THE BETTER WE CAN DO DIVIDING DATA INTO BEING TRANSPARENT, THE MORE ABLE WE ARE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

>> CHRISTIAN, HOW HAS THE POLICE FORCE RESPONDED TO YOUR INITIATIVES?

>> WE HAVE A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE IN PLACE, AND THE ACTIVE -- ACTING CHIEF HAS BEEN ENGAGING.

THE PAST CHIEF WAS NOT WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SICK STOMACH RACISM, AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IS SOME POLICY CHANGES, SOME PRACTICE CHANGES INTERNALLY, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO DO BETTER AS A CITY AND AS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, WE HAVE TO START FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.

THE AUDIT REVEALED THAT POLICE OFFICERS OF THEMSELVES HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.

THEY HAVE QUESTIONS THEMSELVES ABOUT UNFAIR DISCIPLINE THAT IS INFLUENCED BY WHO YOU KNOW IN POLITICS, AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LEVEL OF TRUST INSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF A DEGREE THAT WE SHOULD, THEN THAT CAN ALSO TRICKLE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES.

WE HAVE A MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE THERE SHOULD BE PROVIDING OVERSIGHT FOR THIS, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ATTEMPTING TO ONBOARD AN OFFICER AND STAFF TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THIS.

>> AND REGARDING THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT, YOU PLAYED THE CLIP EARLY ON WHERE THEY ACTING CHIEF ACKNOWLEDGES PAST WRONGDOING IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THE PREVIOUS CHIEF WAS NOT WILLING TO DO THAT, AND THAT WAS DESPITE IN 2022 THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE WORCESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AND DISCRIMINATORY POLICING BASED ON RACE AND SEX, AND THROUGH MY SOURCES A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST FELT THAT DESPITE THE INVESTIGATION, DESPITE NEWS REPORTS OF MORE LAWSUITS BEING FILED AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MORE SETTLEMENTS FOR FALSIFYING POLICE ARRESTED EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE, THEY FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO CHANGE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING NEW COMING OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND -- THAT SIGNALED THESE ARE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

NOW THE INTERIM CHIEF MAKES THE STATEMENT AND I HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LIKE, WOW, THIS IS A DIFFERENCE.

OBVIOUSLY IT IS JUST WORDS.

LET’S SEE HOW THINGS ACTUALLY TURN OUT, DOES THAT STATEMENT IN AND OF ITSELF AS THE COUNSELOR SAID DURING THAT MEETING IN RESPONSE, THAT WAS BIG FOR THE CITY.

HOST: WHAT ARE THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> AS THE AUDIT REPORT MENTIONED IT WAS EVERYTHING FROM DIVERSIFYING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE AUDITORS CLEARLY WOULD’VE LIKED.

HOST: AS WE CAN SEE FROM THE EMPLOYEES BY RACE, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT A HOMOGENOUS FOREST IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY OVERREPRESENTED BY WHITES AND UNDER REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HISPANICS , AND ASIANS.

>> THAT IS WHAT THE REPORT POINTED OUT, AND ONE THING THE CITY ALREADY HAS MOVED ON AND THE COUNSELOR WAS INVOLVED IN THIS VOTE WAS GETTING RID OF THE SILVER SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR POLICE CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF.

THAT IS A MOVE A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND MASSACHUSETTS HAVE MADE BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT ALLOWING THEM TO HIRE THE OFFICERS THEY WON, BECAUSE AS PART OF THE REQUIREMENT YOUR OFFICERS NEED TO TAKE THIS EXAM AND SCORE HIGH ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BE CONSIDERED.

IT PREVENTS OFFICERS FROM OUT OF STATE, CHIEFS FROM OUT OF STATE FOR APPLYING POSITIONS LIKE THIS SO THE REPORT RECOMMENDED TO GET RID OF THIS TO OPEN UP THE PROCEDURE A LITTLE BIT, OPEN UP THE PROCESS, AND THAT WAS ABOUT THAT THE COUNSELOR WAS INVOLVED IN, SO THAT WAS ONE INITIAL STEP THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN, AND NOW THE REPORT IS GOING BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR FURTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT HOW THE PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

IT WILL COME BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER WHERE HE AND THE CITY COUNSELOR WILL MEET AND DISCUSS THIS ISSUE FURTHER AND PROVIDE MORE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR HOW THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD.

HOST: COUNSELOR, WHAT ARE THE FIRST FEW CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED?

>> WE REALLY NEED A CULTURE SHIFT INTERNALLY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHEN THE ACTING CHIEF MADE THE STATEMENT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, SOME OF THE POLICING IN THE PAST, IT WAS A RESPONSE TO MY QUESTION THAT I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN THIS REPORT YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY STATING THAT YOU HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT POLICING IN MANY ASPECTS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE MAJORITY OF THE RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TERMS OF TRUST OR PATTERNS OF PRACTICE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I ASKED HIM HOW DOES HE RECONCILE THAT?

AND THAT IS THE FIRST CHALLENGE, AND IT STARTS FROM THE TOP, IT STARTS FROM LEADERSHIP.

IT STARTS FROM REALLY TAKING A LOOK AT DATA.

WE NEED TO INTEGRATE A SYSTEM THAT IS EASILY NAVIGABLE AND A SYSTEM THAT IS TRANSPARENT AND AVAILABLE ONLINE THAT FOLKS CAN TAKE A LOOK AT.

AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE INITIAL THINGS, AND IN TERMS OF LOW HANGING FRUIT, ONE OF THE THINGS RECOMMENDED WAS A VERY SIMPLE WITH RESPECT TO THEIR INTERNAL TRAININGS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PLANNING, THAT IT MUST BE STATED ALONG IN THEIR RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES AS WELL, THEIR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSIFY THE WORKFORCE, COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND THAT IT MUST BE STATED IN POLICIES OF THE WE ARE SETTING A STANDARD IN THAT DEPARTMENT THAT, YES, THIS IS IMPORTANT.

IT WILL MAKE FOR A BETTER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> THE INTERIM CHIEF AT THE END OF HIS COMMENTS RESPONDS TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OF THE OFFICERS FEEL IN THE COMMUNITY FEELS, WE ARE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

HOST: THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WE WILL BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT, AND WE ARE HOPING THE COMMUNITY CAN REPAIR THE TRUST THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

NEXT UP, UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK OR IN A CAVE HIDDEN AWAY FROM THE SUN YOU KNOW THIS MONDAY IS A BIG DAY IN NORTH AMERICA.

THAT IS BECAUSE THE SUN WILL BE HIDING FROM US FOR A FEW MINUTES.

2024 SOLAR ECLIPSES AROUND THE CORNER, A TOTAL ECLIPSE IN PARTS OF NEW ENGLAND.

HERE IS EDGAR, THE GUY BEHIND THE CURIOSITY DESK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> ARE YOU INTO THIS, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ECLIPSE?

HOST: I GREW UP IN THE SPACE BUSINESS SO ANYTHING INVOLVING ASTRONOMY IS MY JAM.

>> AS A REMINDER, THIS IS MONDAY.

IT WILL HAPPEN AROUND 2:00 TO 4:30 AND PEOPLE WILL BE AT 90% TO 90% -- 92% TOTALITY.

LOTS OF CITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, INDIANAPOLIS, CLEVELAND, AND PLACES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, AND DOMAIN -- AND MAINE.

HOST: WHEN IS THE NEXT TOTAL ECLIPSE ACHIEVING.

>> THIS IS ECLIPSE RELATED BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE SCIENCE OF IT.

PEOPLE WEALTHY ECLIPSES HAPPENING CAN KIND OF PULLED DISTRIBUTOR OUT ON THEIR FRIENDS AND STUFF.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THE GUINEA PIG AND GO THROUGH WITH ME.

FIRST QUESTION IS IT TRUE OR FALSE?

TRUE OR FALSE, ANOTHER FULL SOLAR ECLIPSE WILL OCCUR IN 2079 WITH THE BOSTON PROPER IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY THIS TIME.

HOST: SO THE NEXT ONE IN THE UNITED STATES IS 2044.

I WILL GUESS TRUE.

>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE BECAUSE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A FULL SOLAR ECLIPSE IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, BUT MANY WILL BE AROUND IN 2079 AND IF YOU WERE WILLING TO MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES ARE NOT THAT UNCOMMON.

THERE ARE A BUNCH OF THEM COMING UP.

WE SEE A LIST RIGHT HERE.

2026, 2027, 20 28, 2030, 20 33, 2034.

I THINK ALASKA WILL GET A PART OF ONE COME UP BUT OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD, IF YOU WENT TO SEE WHEN YOU CAN DO IT IN YOUR LIFETIME.

NUMBER TWO, TRUE OR FALSE.

THERE IS ALWAYS A FULL MOON ON THE EVENING OF AN ECLIPSE.

IS THAT TRUE OR FALSE?

ALWAYS A FULL MOON ON THE EVENING OF A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.

HOST: IT HAS TO BE A FULL MOON FOR AN ECLIPSE.

>> THAT WOULD BE NO, IT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

IT IS ALWAYS A NEW MOON.

THE FIRST PHASE OF THE MOON IS A NEW MOON.

THAT IS WHERE IT IS IN ITS FOES -- PHASE.

NUMBER THREE, WANT TO DO ANOTHER ONE?

STAYING ON THE MOONS BUT THIS ONE WE WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE EARTH, TRUE OR FALSE, ON MARS, FULL SOLAR ECLIPSES ARE MUCH MORE COMMON THEN HERE ON EARTH BECAUSE MARS HAS TWO MOONS.

>> MARS DOES HAVE TWO MOONS BUT I DO NOT THINK THERE BIG ENOUGH TO BLOCK OUT THE SUN.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT ON THAT THE NAMES OF THE TWO MOONS.

BOTH DIFFERENT KINDS OF FEAR, ONE OF THEM IS TERROR AND THE OTHER IS PANIC.

THE GARB BOTH VERY SMALL MOONS, SO WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF ECLIPSES THAT HAPPENED THEY ARE ALWAYS PARTIAL BECAUSE THE MOONS ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY COVER THE SUN RELATIVE TO SOMEBODY WHO WOULD THEORETICALLY BE STANDING ON THE SURFACE OF MARS.

THE BIG EVENT ON MARS IS WHEN ONE OF THE MOONS ECLIPSES THE OTHER MOON.

THAT IS A RARE OCCURRENCE BUT DOES HAPPEN.

HOST: SOMEDAY SOMEBODY WILL GET TO SEE THAT.

>> FINGERS CROSSED WE CAN GET TO MARS SOMEDAY FOR THAT.

WE WILL SHIFT OUT OF SCIENCE AND INTO ARTS AND CULTURE OF THIS ONE.

TRUE OR FALSE, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE 1983 BONNIE TYLER HIT TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART?

HOST: I’VE HEARD IT.

>> THAT 1983 BONNIE TYLER HIT SINGLE WAS WRITTEN BY THE SAME SONGWRITER BEHIND THE I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE BY MEAT LOAF AND IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW BY CELINE DION.

TRUE OR FALSE?

HOST: THEY ALL HAVE KIND OF THE SAME STYLE SO I WILL GO WITH TRUE.

>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE, AND THE SONGWRITER IS A SONGWRITER NAMED JIM STEINMAN.

SHE WENT TO AMHERST COLLEGE.

ESSENTIALLY HIS SENIOR PROJECT, WOULD GOT A BUNCH OF HIS CREDIT FOR HIS WRITING ON MUSICAL, AND THIS MUSICAL WAS CALLED DREAM ENGINE, AND IT IS LIKE A DYSTOPIAN 1969, BUT THERE WAS A SONG IN THAT MUSICAL CALLED FORMATION OF THE DRIVE -- TRIBE AND THAT IS WHERE THE LINE TURNED AROUND BRIGHT EYES ORIGINATES.

HIS RETROSPECTIVE DIFFERENT SONG HE WROTE IN 1969.

HOST: WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SEE THE ECLIPSE?

>> I WILL BE COVERING THIS FOR THE CULTURE SHOW IN VERMONT WHICH IS END THE PATH OF TOTALITY.

A SMALL TOWN THREE HOURS OUT OF BOSTON, BUT THEY PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT WITH CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING A SCIENCE PROGRAM AND THEY ARE EXPECTING 5000 TO 10,000 PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS EVENT.

HOST: THAT SOUNDS AMAZING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN THE SKIES GO DARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

>> I WILL GIVE YOU THE FULL REPORT.

HOST: IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE, AND A FORMER MUSIC CRITIC LEARNED THAT WHEN SHE PUT DOWN HER PEN AND PICKED UP A MICROPHONE.

SHE SHARED HER EXPERIENCE WITH STORIES FROM THE STAGE, AND WE BRING YOU THAT NOW IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THAT SHOW IN THIS ONE.

>> IT IS A WARM SUMMER NIGHT IN 2009 AND I HAVE AND TO GET THE SAME WAY I HAVE ENDED COUNTLESS SUMMER NIGHTS, HUNCHED OVER A FOLDING TABLE IN A TRAILER PARKED IN THE BOWELS OF AN AMPHITHEATER OUTSIDE OF BOSTON TAPPING ON MY LAPTOP AND NERVOUSLY EYEING THE CLOCK.

THERE IS A CLOSER TO -- CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV ON IN THE CORNER AND THE SOUND OF DRUMS ARE POURING OUT OF IT.

I AM SEARCHING MY ONLINE THESAURUS FOR SYNONYMS FOR BREEZY, SUNNY, LAID-BACK, FEEL-GOOD, LIGHTHEARTED.

I AM WRITING A REVIEW OF THE JIMMY BUFFETT CONCERT.

IT IS HIS 50TH AT THIS VENUE.

I CANNOT REMEMBER HOW MANY I COVERED IN 4, 5, 6, IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN TO ALL 50.

COINCIDENTALLY I AM ABOUT TO TURN 50.

A NUMEROLOGIST WOULD SAY THAT THIS WAS NO COINCIDENCE, THAT 50 REPRESENTS CHANGE ANY GROWTH AND PERSONAL FREEDOM AND THAT ALL OF THESE 50’S WERE A HARBINGER OF THIS SEA CHANGE THAT WAS ABOUT TO UPEND MY LIFE.

ALL I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS SHIFTING INSIDE OF ME.

I HAVE LOVED TO A CRITIC FOR A LONG TIME, IT IS AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH RIDICULOUS PERKS.

I HAVE MEDITATED WITH THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ANY TACOS WITH LUCINDA WILLIAMS AND CURLED UP ON HIS CELL PHONE WITH MADONNA COME UP WITH THIS KNIFE MY EYES KEEP LENDING ON THE ANTONYMS, ANXIOUS, TROUBLED, VEXED.

THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG, SOMETHING IS CHANGING AS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS.

SOMETHING IS MISSING.

NOT LONG AFTER THE CONCERT I AM ON THE PHONE WITH MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS A STUDENT AND SHE IS TELLING ME THAT SHE IS THINKING ABOUT TAKING SOME TIME AWAY FROM SCHOOL.

SHE HAS BURNT OUT AND NEEDS TO CHANGE AND DURING ONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF BRAINSTORMING HER YEAR OFF BECOMES OUR YEAR OFF.

WE ARE PUMPED ABOUT THIS IDEA AND WE START MAKING A LIST.

WE CAN START A SMALL ARTS FESTIVAL.

WE CAN BECOME CHEESEMAKERS.

WE CAN BUILD A CABIN.

WE COULD WRITE SONGS AND MAKE A RECORD.

HANNAH ULTIMATELY DECIDES TO STAY IN SCHOOL BUT THAT LAST IDEA, I CANNOT GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG I DREAMED ABOUT BECOMING A MUSICIAN.

I GREW UP IN L.A.

IN THE 1970’S AND WENT TO AN ARTSY HIGH SCHOOL .

I LOVE TO SING AND WAS CRAZY ABOUT POP MUSIC.

MY BIG FANTASY WAS DONALD FAGAN FROM STEELY DAN WOULD DISCOVER ME.

EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT PLAY MUSIC HE WOULD SENSE HOW MUSICAL IT WAS AN OFFER TO PRODUCE MY DEBUT RECORD.

YOU KNOW THE STORY, I BECOME A STAR.

I DID LEND AN INTERNSHIP AT THE SEATTLE WEEKLY AFTER COLLEGE AND THEY GAVE ME A SHOT WRITING ABOUT MUSIC.

I HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK.

I AM NOT FILLED WITH REGRET OVER MY CHOICES.

I AM HOWEVER GROWING OLDER, AND AS I DO CERTAIN THINGS ARE BECOMING CLEARER TO ME.

FOR INSTANCE, THE FACT THAT I AM GOING TO DIE.

I DON’T JUST KNOW THIS.

I FEEL THIS.

I FEEL MY MORTALITY.

I FELT THAT NIGHT IN THE AMPHITHEATER SEARCHING FOR NEW LANGUAGE AND THE FEELING WAS EVEN STRONGER WHEN I WAS TALKING WITH MY DAUGHTER ABOUT A MOTHER-DAUGHTER MUSIC PROJECT, SO WOULD MY 50TH BIRTHDAY ROLLS AROUND I AM DOING MY JOB, GOING TO SHOWS, FILING MY STORIES BUT I NO LONGER FEEL LIKE THE LUCKIEST WRITER IN THE WORLD.

I FEEL LIKE A KID WITH HER NOSE PRESSED UP AGAINST THE GLASS FRUSTRATED AND FULL OF DESIRE.

I SUPPOSE I COULD HAVE SIGNED UP FOR GUITAR LESSONS, BUT INSTEAD I WALK INTO MY EDITOR’S OFFICE ONE MORNING AND I QUIT MY JOB TO BECOME A SONGWRITER.

IT WAS NOT QUITE THAT IMPETUOUS.

I AGONIZED FOR MONTHS.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THE STEADY PAYCHECK, WORRIED ABOUT LOSING MY IDENTITY.

WHO WOULD I BE IF I WAS NOT JOAN FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE AND WHAT WOULD PEOPLE THINK ABOUT A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN CHASING A ROCK ’N’ ROLL DREAM, BUT I WAS DONE BEING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN?

THE NEWSPAPER GAVE ME A MICROPHONE, AND I PACKED IT IN A BOX WITH A MOUNTAIN OF REPORTERS NOTEBOOKS AND WENT HOME.

I SPEND THE NEXT TWO YEARS HIDING IN MY ATTIC WITH THE BORROWER GUITAR AND AN AMPLIFIER THAT ONE OF MY KID’S FRIENDS LEFT AT THE HOUSE TRYING TO PLAY BAR CHORDS AND HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT ALL OF THE LISTENING AND THINKING AND WRITING THAT I HAVE BEEN ABOUT MUSIC COUNTS TOWARDS MY 10,000 HOURS.

I START POSTING PICTURES ON FACEBOOK OF MY FINGERS INTO VARIOUS SHAPES ON THE GUITAR NECK WAITING FOR MY FRIENDS TO TELL ME WHAT I AM PLAYING.

RADICAL TRANSPARENCY FELT LIKE THE ONLY WAY I COULD DEAL WITH THE SELF-DOUBT AND SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS, SO I START A BLOG AS ONE DOES AND I START POSTING AUDIO CLIPS OF MY CRINGE WORTHY BABY STEPS.

I AM NOT SELF-DEPRECATING.

I AM A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL.

IT WAS BAD STUFF BUT I KEPT GOING AND DIGGING AND WORKING VERY HARD TO SILENCE THE CRITIC INSIDE OF ME, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY I COULD FIND THE SONGWRITER INSIDE OF ME.

ONE OF MY FAITHFUL READERS, SHE WAS A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE STARTS LEAVING THE ENCOURAGING COMMENTS ON MY BLOG AND SENDS ME SOME OF HIS OWN SONGS TOO, AND I LOVE THEM.

DAN INVITES ME TO GET TOGETHER AND WRITE MUSIC.

I HAD NO INTENTION OF LEAVING THAT ATTIC FOR A LONG TIME, BUT DAD WAS TENACIOUS AND I WAS GETTING SICK OF MYSELF.

I KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE OR AS WELL AS ANYONE THAT SONGS DO NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM.

SO DAN WAS TENACIOUS AND I FINALLY CAME OUT OF MY ATTIC AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE STARTED PLAYING OUR SONGS, AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE FORMED A BAND AND WE ARE ON A TINY STAGE PLAYING OUR FIRST SHOW IN A ROCK CLUB, AND IT IS A VERY LOADED INTO VERY SCARY IN THE MOST THRILLING AND JOYFUL THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

MAY BE MIDDLE-AGE SEEMS LIKE A STRANGE TIME TO KICK OFF A MUSIC CAREER, BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE IT IS ACTUALLY THE PERFECT TIME.

I DON’T HAVE STARS IN MY EYES.

I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT IN ANY CONVENTIONAL SENSE, ALTHOUGH READING A REVIEW OF MY BAND AND THE BOSTON GLOBE WAS FABULOUSLY SERIAL.

THE BEST PART OF THE ENDEAVOR, THE MISSION-CRITICAL PART OF IT IS THAT AT MY AGE I AM FAR LESS CONCERNED WITH WHAT THE WORLD EXPECTS OF ME THAT WHAT I PLAN TO DO IN THE WORDS OF THE POET MARY OLIVER WITH MY ONE WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE.

THANK YOU.

HOST: YOU CAN CATCH MORE STORIES FROM THE STAGE MONDAYS AT 9:30 P.M. ON THE WORLD AND HERE FRIDAYS AT 8:00 ON GBH.

NEXT WEEK CATCH SOME STORIES IN PERSON AT THE STORIES FROM THE STAGE INTO THE WILD EVENT.

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO HAD TO GBH.ORG/EVENTS.

USE CODE GREATER BOSTON IN ALL CAPS END WITH.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

IT THE LEADERS OF THE STATE’S PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICE SAY THEY WANT TO CHANGE HOW THEIR DEPARTMENT OPERATES.

ONE OF THE LEADERS WILL JOIN ME.

WHAT DO LONG COVID AND CHRONIC LYME DISEASE HAVE IN COMMON?

ONE ENGINEER SAYS A LOT.

SHE WILL EXPLAIN WHY THE LINK IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IT MEANS WERE HELD.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪