The Culture Show Podcast

Through her poetry, Tracy K. Smith probes the meaning of life, she meditates on what happens to our souls when we die, she communes with the dead. She uses poetry to explore her own role in the world as a mother, making the personal profound. Her poems also scrutinize historical racial oppression, the paradox that is the American dream, and the injustices that plague our nation. All of these themes come together in her lyrical, haunting and ultimately hopeful new book, “To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul.” It is part manifesto, part memoir–and all parts mesmerizing.In 1761 a young girl crossed the Atlantic on a slave ship. Captured in West Africa, she arrived in Boston where she was purchased by John and Susanna Wheatley. They named her Phillis, after the name of the slave ship that brought her to America. They taught Phillis to read and write. Able to express herself on the page, she went on to become the first African American to publish a book of poetry. Wheatley traveled to England to promote the volume and on her voyage back to America she wrote the poem, “Ocean.”The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture recently acquired this rare, handwritten manuscript along with a trove of other texts that shed light on the life –and the life of the mind—of Phillis Wheatley. Joining us to talk about what is the largest collection of Wheatley material in public hands is Kevin Young, the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The Korean wave makes a big splash in Boston.A new exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts is a high amp historical remix of Korean culture and pop culture. It’s a celebration of everything South Korea has to offer, from K-Pop to K-dramas, from fine art to fashion. And the dynamism of this show originates from the juxtaposition of traditional customs with the fast-paced, innovative society that South Korea is today. All that AND the opportunity to get your full K-Pop dance on–right inside the galleries. We’ll talk to the curator. From there, we’re getting off the wall with Berklee professor Tia Fuller. As the Executive Director of the upcoming Michael Jackson tribute concert, she discusses how his music resonates across generations, which includes her students.Finally, we check in with the Brockton High drama club to find out what it means to be the state champions. That’s next on The Culture Show.

Anthony Rapp, the actor and singer, went from being a Starbucks Barista to a Broadway star by way of the hit musical “Rent.” But, his meteoric rise was tempered by the death of Jonathan Larson, “Rent’s” 35-year-old composer and librettist who had an aortic aneurysm on the eve of the show’s debut. Then, a year later, he lost his mother to cancer.These seminal events are the making of Rapp’s one-man-show, “Without You.”Then, it’s the one-man media conglomerate: Matt Farley. For him quality IS quantity. The Danvers based singer-songwriter is prolific. He’s written, produced and recorded more than 25,000 songs. He also makes movies, hosts podcasts and writes books. How does he do it all? Stay tuned to find out.Finally, the Arnold Arboretum is springing back to life, with flowers emerging from trees and shrubs. And that includes the blossoming of their cherry trees. Joining us to talk about their upcoming cherry blossom celebration–and other signs of life at this urban oasis is Jessica Pederson, the head of public programs at the Arnold Arboretum.

In 1970, when Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company” first opened on Broadway, his main character Bobby was a 35-year old unmarried man, whose paired-up friends were pressuring him to leave his bachelor days behind.A few years ago Tony-award winning director Marianne Elliott ran with a revelation: to reverse genders and have the main character, Bobbie…be a woman. It was a eureka moment that earned her another Tony.Now “Company,” is onstage by way of Broadway in Boston. Marianne Eliott joins us to talk about reimagining “Company” for the 21st century.From there, what CAN comedian Daniel Sloss say? And what doesn’t he say? The Scottish standup joins us to talk about finding laughter in the darkest subject matter and what that means in a culture that is quick to cancel.Finally, Edgar B Herwick III joins us from the path of totality.

Live from the GBH studio at the Boston Public Library, it’s our arts and culture week in review. First up, A Tik Toker’s hot take lands her in hot water for saying that SNL has never hired a – you guessed it–hot woman. From there, pop star Lizzo- gives new meaning to “quitting while you’re ahead,” And when it comes to the NCAA, there’s no denying that these women ARE hot–a hot ticket that is, literally –with the price of women’s final four tickets far outpricing the men’s. And from the final four, it’s the food finalists. With two local restaurants scoring James Beard nominations.Finally, it’s follow-up Friday where we give you the latest news on the developing stories we’ve been covering, from Artificial Intelligence to Elvis.

In creative circles, there are artists who worry that Artificial Intelligence could replace them. Not roboticist and artist Alexander Reben– he’s entered the belly of the beast as the first artist-in-resident at Open AI. He joins us to talk about collaborating with AI–not being replaced by it. From there it’s total windfall. New England towns in the path of totality are experiencing a tourism boom. Edgar B Herwick III joins us fresh from St. Johnsbury, Vermont to talk about how the town is preparing for the Solar Eclipse.Finally, Lizzy Shapiro. The Chelsea Massachusetts native credits her career to local community theater. Now she’s back, performing at City Winery Boston as the lead singer of Lizzy and the Triggermen, a 10 piece Jazz Band.

The Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal. You might not know it, but you’ve heard his work. He gave us the theme song to “House of Cards,” which became an anthem for power and corruption. He added even more splashes of color to the Oscar-winning film Pollock. Now his work brings him to Boston, to lead the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra in an upcoming concert. From there, when music saved Boston. We get a preview of a James Brown tribute concert, marking the anniversary of the night the “Godfather of Soul” brought peace to a restless city in the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Finally, with the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, the president of Boston Architectural College, Mahesh Daas is here to talk about how we compare to other nations when it comes to investing in our infrastructure.

Comedian and actor Chris Fleming. He has a comedy special streaming on Peacock, a YouTube Channel with a cult following and he’s selling out comedy venues – but he’s far from selling out. As someone who has built a following playing the oddball, his absurdist comedy can’t be corrupted by success—he’ll be the first to tell you that it lives outside of the standards that come with standup. Ahead of his show at the Wilbur, the Massachusetts native joins us. In January we were joined by Amanda Shea, curator of HellaBlack Volume Six, when she was doing an open call for artists to submit their work. Now, HellaBlack is nearly here. HellaBlack is an interdisciplinary performance event curated by and for Black artists. On April 8, artists will showcase their work. Amanda Shea is back for a preview. She is the 2022 Boston Music Awards Spoken Word Artist of the Year, a performer and activist. She is also the host of GBH’s “Outspoken Saturdays” a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists, which we host at our studio at the Boston Public Library. From there, how the arts has been an economic engine. Waterville, Maine, the former mill town turned college town, was struggling. Only a few years ago their downtown was desolate. Today it is abuzz with shops, maker spaces, an arts complex and a museum. The investment, driven largely by Colby College, has turned the town around. David Greene, the president of Colby College, joins us.

Padma Lakshmi. She’s been on a quest to learn how food is entwined with our history and culture. From inviting us into her kitchen, to entering the kitchens of others. The through-line in all she’s done in her career is making people feel known – and feel at home. To honor this work,Boston University is presenting her with its ICON award. She joins us ahead of her visit to BU. And, In her book Muppets in Moscow, Natasha Lance Rogoff pulls back the iron curtain on what it was like to work in Russia as aTV producer in the 1990’s. There were absolute triumphs of Big Bird Diplomacy, moments when capitalism collided with the legacy of communism, and a deep realization that a country undergoing radical change, can only change so much .

Live from the Boston Public Library, it’s our arts and culture week in review. Beyonce gives new meaning to “Midnight Cowboy,” dropping her much-anticipated country album “Cowboy Carter” today at 12:00 AM. From there music mogul Sean Combs has been accused of sexual assault by multiple people, prompting Federal agents to raid his homes. Is this even more of a signal that people with money, power, and fame are no longer above the law? Then, it’s the kind of comeback that you only see in the movies. This week the Coolidge Corner Theatre has rebounded from covid closures, unveiling its megawatt makeover. And it’s Michaelangelo’s David vs. the Goliath that is capitalism. By defending David’s dignity against naughty souvenirs, is a museum director also attacking freedom of expression?

The street artist Shephard Fairey officially crossed the threshold into fine art with his first museum exhibition–right here at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Curated by Culture Show contributor Pedro Alonzo, that exhibition happened 15 years ago. What did it mean for Fairey’s street cred? What trails did he blaze? Pedro Alonzo joins us to talk about about Shepard Fairey’s legacy and where street art lives today along the spectrum of counter-culture, conventional and commercial art From there, move over March Madness and make way for March grandness–I’m talking about the annual hanging of the nasturtiums at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: with vines that can be 20 feet long. We’ll talk to the woman behind this floral extravaganza. Finally, Mary Grant, president of MassArt joins us to talk about the art of sustainability.

He contains multitudes: an actor, singer, writer– a bon vivant with boundless energy. That would be the Tony-Award winning Alan Cumming. It’s impossible to typecast him: from performing Macbeth to Miley Cyrus. To starring on network television by way of The Good Wife, populating public Television as the host of our own Masterpiece Mystery. And now he’s the saucy star of streaming–on Peacock, hosting and producing the reality TV series, “The Traitors.” However, he is not a traitor to his demographic. At age 59 Alan Cumming is a font of wisdom when it comes to America’s obsession with the fountain of youth—breaking down how abstract and absurd ageism is in his cabaret show, “Alan Cumming is Not Acting His Age”. He joins us to talk about it all. From there, Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons joins us to discuss the night James Brown saved Boston.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke are admired in American history for rejecting their privileged lives on a plantation in the south to become activists in the North. Their pamphlets evangelizing anti-slavery were among the most influential of the antebellum era. They are still read today. What also endures was an omission from the Grimkes’ family portrait: their Black relatives. That was until Tufts University history professor Kerri Greenidge made a course correction with her book "The Grimkes," which focuses on the Black members of the Grimke family. From there, how many pianos does it take to Celebrate Charles Ives? The pioneer in avant-garde music is being celebrated at New England Conservatory with a series of concerts marking his 150th birthday. NEC’s Stephen Drury joins us for a preview. It’s all on The Culture Show—listen to the full episode for more!

Today on The Culture Show: Lights. Camera. Action. This Wednesday the Coolidge Corner Theatre is opening its new 14,000 square foot addition to the public. After Fifteen years of planning, 10 years of fundraising and two years of construction, this is a mega makeover with a renovated lobby, two state-of-the-art theaters and a refurbished concession stand. At a time when other movie theaters are struggling, the Coolidge is having the kind of comeback you only see in the movies. Katherine Tallman, the Coolidge’s executive director and CEO gives us a sneak preview. From there we mark women’s history month with murals made by women. And finally, “Romeo and Juliet,” with Raisinettes? Culture Show co-host James Bennett II joins us to talk about his aria of expertise. After seeing the MET’s Romeo and Juliette in person AND on the big screen, which is the optimal opera experience? It’s all on The Culture Show—listen to the full episode!

First up, we mark the 34th anniversary of the Gardner Museum theft. It’s the ultimate whodunnit in the world of art heists, with the stolen works valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. AND, with a 10 million dollar reward on the table, the tip hotline never goes cold. Then, in the land down under, women rule and men’s egos are torn asunder–at least one man felt diminished when he was denied entry to the women’s-only Ladies Lounge, an art exhibition designed to highlight centuries of female exclusion. Now he’s suing for discrimination. Finally, his name is Taylor-Johnson. Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Will the British leading man be the next James Bond? That and more next on the Culture Show’s week-in-review, broadcasting live from the GBH studio at the Boston Public Library.

What happens when you mix Sting’s greatest hits with the power of hip-hop dance? You get “Message in a Bottle.” It’s a fusion dreamed up by Kate Prince, one of England’s most acclaimed choreographers…resulting in a production that addresses the international refugee crisis. And told from the point of view of a family displaced by civil war. Prince joins us ahead of the show’s New England premiere discussing what inspired her to weave Sting’s songbook into a high-voltage show. From there, a new documentary tells the story of five women living with Vitiligo, from the stigma, to the isolation, to finding strength and community. Then, WCRB’s Brian McCreath joins us fresh from Symphony Hall, with a preview of a weekend concert honoring the life and legacy of the great jazz innovator and saxophonist, Wayne Shorter.

Growing up in Venezuela, artist Miguel Braceli could not express queer love. Today he’s in Provincetown, wrapping up an artist residency program at the Fine Arts Work Center and he’s working to put queer love on the map. Literally. As part of his multi-pronged art project, Braceli has been crowdsourcing stories about finding love in P-Town…using people’s recollections to create a large-scale art installation titled “Map of Love.” He’ll unveil it this weekend…along with a parade of fabulosity, all along Provincetown Harbor. He joins us to talk about how P-town has been a paradise and creative catalyst. From there, it’s time for another edition of ‘balancing acts.’ With local theaters presenting a paradox of choice, theater critics Joyce Kulhawik and Chris Ehlers join me to preview–and prioritize—the must-see productions of the season.

In the play “Cost of Living,” now onstage in Boston, four characters find themselves isolated from society–cut off by poverty, by physical disabilities and by an armor of defensiveness that makes the cost of living exponentially more exacting. It’s a soul-stirring play that explores the longing for human connection. I’ll be sitting down with two of the show’s stars. From there it’s two takes on American history: First, a preview of an immersive experience that takes us into the world of Dill, an enslaved woman living in Massachusetts on the cusp of the Revolutionary War. Then, we talk to the president of Historic New England, the country’s largest independent preservation group. It’s expanding with a cultural hub in Haverhill and excavating the past with a slew of revelations about historic figures with extraordinary stories untold until now.

August Wilson’s monumental Century Cycle is a collection of 10 dramas chronicling the black experience in America, one set during each decade of the 20th century. King Hedley II, number nine in the series, is a powerful, gritty and gripping play about an ex-convict trying to rebuild himself and his community all the while the ghosts of the past haunt him. Actor Naheem Garcia, stars in the play as Elmore. As he’ll explain, playing the role is unfinished business. We’ll talk to him about his enduring relationship to August Wilson’s work. From there, we’ll preview a free concert, where electronic music meets brutalist architecture. And then: Puccini plus popcorn?! How does the experience of watching live opera in the opera house compare to the movie house? With the Metropolitan opera simulcasting live productions in high definition video, we’ll get Grammy-winning dramatic Soprano Jane Eaglen’s take.

Coming up, it’s our arts and culture Week in Review. First up, could Governor Healey be giving new meaning to Taxachusetts? By proposing a live theater tax credit the Bay State could become a breeding ground for Broadway. From there, can you really turn the clock back on TikTok? Even if the US Government bans the social media platform, we’ll look at how TikTok has been THE ultimate influencer. Changing the way people–and sometimes their pets– get famous, get our news, make money, and make up our faces —upending the entertainment industry along the way. Then, after artist Francoise Gilot walked out on Picasso, he told her that she would be nothing without him - au contraire! Now she’s receiving her own dedicated space in his Paris museum.

Vocalist Katherine Goforth. When she came out as a transgender woman and transitioned, she wasn’t sure if she would ever work in opera again. Opera can be conventional and conservative and gender roles are traditionally defined by the performer’s voice. So what does it mean to be a female tenor who wants to play female roles? Having found her voice, that’s what Katherine Goforth is finding out. And along the way she’s showing other vocalists what it means to be authentic onstage and off. She joins us ahead of her Boston Wagner Society recital. From there it’s Kneecap. The Belfast-based rap group known for their fiery social and political commentary is on the rise…with a forthcoming album, an upcoming biopic starring Michael Fassbender and a legal battle with the UK government. They join us ahead of their St. Patricks’ Day performance in Boston. Finally, we preview the MIT Museum’s events surrounding Pi Day.

What is it like to travel the world as a blind person–navigating different cultures, traditions and transportation systems? That’s what Dr. Mona Minkara explores in her travel documentary series, “Planes, Trains and Canes.” After losing her sight, Minkara came to believe that vision is more than sight. And her vision has been to reimagine the travel show by highlighting stories of people who have disabilities. From there playwright Ronán Noone shows us how the other half lives–or rather works, sweats and toils to achieve the American dream. In his play “Thirst,” he takes us into the room where Eugene O'Neill's “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” didn’t happen. Focusing on the hired help servicing the Tyrone Family. Ronan Noone joins us to talk about examining the Irish-immigrant experience, the perils of family loyalties and the push and pull of despair and hope. Finally, Grammy-award winning musician, composer and essayist Nicholas Payton joins us ahead of his performance at Scullers Jazz Club.

The Irish dramatist Conor McPherson wrote and directed a play incorporating 20 songs by Bob Dylan. This is no jukebox musical. And though it is set in Dylan’s hometown of Duluth, Minnesota it’s no bio-musical either. It’s titled “Girl From the North Country.” Set in 1934, the Dylan songs upon which McPherson draws convey the desperation and existential aching of Depression-era America. With the Broadway hit now in Boston we talk to McPherson about his weaving Dylan’s songbook into a deeply stirring show. Celtic Woman is an ensemble that honors Ireland’s history and celebrates the contemporary spirit of modern-day Ireland by fusing traditional and contemporary Irish music. They will be bringing their signature sound to The Chevalier Theater by way of their 20th-anniversary tour on March 21st. Joining us for a preview is one of the performers, Grammy-nominated singer Mairéad Carlin. From there, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kick off their international tour next week. Though they won’t be playing Gillette Stadium this time around, you can still have the Bruce Springsteen experience by way of a photography exhibition that offers a unique early and intimate perspective of The Boss far from the sold-out arenas.

Oppenheimer was the bomb at last night's Oscars, winning seven awards including best picture, best actor and best director. Joyce Kulhawik and Lisa Simmons are here for an Oscars recap, going through all the slights, stunners and the usual suspects. And, in August 1969, as many as half a million people gathered at a farm in upstate New York to hear music. What happened was more than a concert. It was an event that would define a generation. The question is: Were you there? The Museum at Bethel Woods wants to know as part of its Woodstock oral history initiative. They’re in Boston to interview people who were a witness to history-attending Woodstock. Finally Eliot-Norton Prize winning director Scott Edmiston joins us to talk about “The Minutes,” both a satirical take on municipal government and a scathing critique of American hypocrisy.

Coming up on The Culture Show, it’s our Arts and Culture Week-in-Review First up, could the State House become more of an art house? Governor Maura Healey has signed an executive order creating a culture advisory council to find ways to cultivate the Commonwealth’s arts and culture sector. Plus, RuPaul is running on all four cylinders with a book bus touring the country, delivering LGBTQ plus books to communities where they’ve been banned –but is he also throwing diversity under the bus? His online bookstore, which is on a mission to represent marginalized voices, is sparking controversy for its inventory, which includes titles such as Mein Kampf. Then, before there were wet T-shirt contests there was the sodden and besotted Mr. Darcy. The famously soaked white linen shirt that Colin Firth wore in the film “Pride and Prejudice” has sold for 25,000 pounds. That and more is next on The Culture Show.

From Abigail Adams, to grandmothers, to the brains that made breakthroughs in science, we’re marking Women’s History Month with the monuments and murals in Boston memorializing women. Julia Swanson of the Art Walk Project leads the way. From there, is A Midsummer Night’s Dream the perfect Shakespeare starter play? With a romantic tangle, an enchanted forest ruled by fairies, a Donkey and late night cavorting, it could be. Director Victoria Townsend of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company joins us to preview an upcoming production of Shakespeare’s comedy that’s staged with local students in mind. Finally, with Daylight saving time on the horizon that’s one way of ringing in spring. For The Koji Club–Boston’s first dedicated Sake Bar–their Cherry Blossom Disco signifies the seasonal shift. The Koji Club’s Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale joins us for a preview.

What should reparations in Boston look like? A new report from Embrace Boston suggests that repairing generations of inequality and inequity will take more than monetary amends. It will take a wholesale and holistic approach, which includes amplifying and integrating Black History, black representation and the Black Boston of today into the arts and culture landscape. Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston joins us for that conversation. From there, ahead of this Sunday’s Oscars, it’s screen time with the projectionists at Somerville Theater. We get a behind-the-scenes look at a rare art in cinema amid a world that is going digital. Finally, is Artificial Intelligence putting the A-I in Architecture? Mahesh Dass, President of Boston Architectural College, joins us to talk about the emerging reliance of AI in architecture, design and construction.

Coming up on The Culture Show: scaling down Ibsen’s sprawling five act play to a mere 75 minutes. That’s the challenge writer, director and composer Bill Barclay took on when the Boston Symphony Orchestra commissioned him to downsize Peer Gynt, a giant of a play with incidental music composed by Edvard Grieg . This adaptation premiered at the BSO in 2017, now Barclay is back with an updated version of Peer Gynt. He joins us ahead of its performances at the BSO. After that, to encounter the work of artist LaToya Hobbs is really to enter into it. She is a painter and a printmaker whose themes are expressions of motherhood, home and cultural identity. Her monumental series, “Carving Out Time” Is intimate, deeply personal and utterly relatable. Hobbs joins us to discuss her work and its contemporary resonance. Finally, we continue our Oscars coverage with a look at “Maestro” and the burden that biopics have to get it right.

Father Columba Stewart. He is a Benedictine monk and scholar who travels the most volatile parts of the world to rescue and protect ancient documents. As we continue our series of conversations with the people on the frontlines of conflict zones saving art, culture and heritage sites from ruin, Father Columba joins us to talk about his mission. From there it’s the battle of the book. The Boston Public Library hosts an annual debate, asking which of the books from 100 years ago are most relevant today. We’ll get a preview of the books facing off for relevancy supremacy. Finally, Cambridge-based bestselling author Stephen McCauley is here to talk about his latest book, “You Only Call When You're in Trouble.” Brimming with McCauley’s characteristic wit and withering observations of human behavior–it tells the story of family bonds, and why we tend to load up on the louses in our lives.

“The Band's Visit” is one of the most captivating musicals about…nothing. The Tony-winning show follows the adventures of a touring Egyptian band stranded in an Israeli village. With nowhere for the musicians to stay, the locals take them in for the night. The overriding sentiment of “The Band’s Visit” is captured in the song Something Different: Quote, “Nothing is as beautiful as something that you don't expect.” I talk to the man behind those words, David Yazbek, the composer and lyricist for the hit musical. From there, What does it mean to be at sea? Literally, it means to be away from land. Figuratively it means to have no path. It means confusion and disorientation. This is what is captured in a 1915 Japanese work of art titled “Morning Sea.” Writer Gish Jen describes the experience of seeing this expanse of ocean as overpowering and profound.

We cross into the underworld by way of “Eurydice.” It’s a hell raising opera, truly. With music by Matthew Aucoin and based on the play “Eurydice,” by Sarah Ruhl, it’s a retelling of the myth of Orpheus, from the perspective of his bride. In this adaptation we follow Eurydice’s descent into the underworld, where her encounters are humorous, and heartbreaking–especially when she reunites with her father…a bond that proves hard to break. Eurydice had its Metropolitan Opera premier in 2021. Now it’s in Boston by way of Boston Lyric Opera which debuts a new orchestral arrangement. Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl join us for a preview. From there, it’s mixologist Marsha Lindsey–she’s been raising a glass, literally–to mark Black history month by serving up cocktails made with Black owned spirits. Finally, we leap into Leap Year with Edgar B. Herwick III.

Understanding American history means knowing Black history. And in Boston, that history has been made more visible by way of the African American Trail Project. Tufts University professor Kerri Greenidge joins us to talk about what went into mapping historic African-American sites in Boston and beyond. From there, it’s into the wild world of artist Raqib Shaw. He uses porcupine quills and enamel to create landscapes that are electrified by color. They are lush, opulent and ornate. But, his paintings are also always beset by a lurking menace. With an exhibition now on view at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, he joins us to talk about his work. Finally, this weekend P-Town becomes Performance-Town by way of the 24 hour Play festival. It’s the ultimate challenge: can six playwrights, six directors and 21 actors create six new plays in the course of one day?

Coming up on The Culture Show: does Washington have policy down to a fine art? The White House convened its first-ever arts summit, working with artists and arts organizations on how the arts can enrich society–from public spaces to public discourse. Mary Grant, President of MassArt was there. She joins us for her take on that and more. From there, for Boston-based architect Daniel Steger, the phrase “location, location, location,” took on new meaning when his house landed a supporting role in the film “American Fiction.” He joins us to talk about getting this behind-the scenes look into Hollywood. Finally, casting directors can be central to the success of films, and now the Motion Picture Academy has decided they’re eligible to win an Oscar. We’ll talk to local casting director, Julie Arvedon Knowlton about what her work actually entails and what this honor means for the profession.

When Reginald Dwayne Betts was 16 years old, he was an honors student. He was also arrested for carjacking. Prosecuted as an adult, he spent eight years in a Virginia prison, existing among grown up men. What got him through those years behind bars? Books. Betts left prison a poet; he then became an Ivy League-educated Lawyer and now he’s on a mission to bring libraries into prisons with a first-of-its kind organization called “Freedom Reads.” It aims to radically transform access to literature for people behind bars. Ahead of his appearance tonight at The College of the Holy Cross, he joins us. From there, a timely production brings the legacy and political savvy of Golda Meir to life. We talk to actor Annette Miller about inhabiting Meir at a time when the region is in crisis. And to finish the show, we’ll be talking to Alisa Bunin from Aeronaut Brewing Company about their forthcoming Leap Day event.

It’s our arts and culture week in review. Beyonce does the Texas two step onto the country music charts, landing the top spot with her hit “Texas Hold Em. And despite his pathology of antisemitism, racism and homophobia, the artist formerly known as Kanye West makes a controversial chart-topping comeback with his latest album. And, some speculate that the song Hotel California is a metaphor for prison–a fitting interpretation given that the men charged with stealing the lyrics and other Don Henley manuscripts are now on trial. From there, it’s the BCU: Beatles Cinematic Universe. John, Paul, George and Ringo will each get their own biopic. Now comes the hard part: casting them! And, even though Bill Belichick is a man of no words, Apple TV managed to get the notoriously terse coach to speak in its new docuseries about the Patriots dynasty.

Summertime, and the living is easy. Or, if you’re Audra McDonald, you make it look and sound easy. The award winning singer and actor earned her fifth – of a record-breaking six– Tony awards for her portrayal of Bess in the Broadway hit “The Gershwins Porgy and Bess,” which was mounted right here at The American Repertory Theater. On Tuesday she returns to Boston in a one-night-only engagement at Symphony Hall, as part of Celebrity Series. She joins us for a preview. From there, Director Igor Golyak, founder of Needham’s Arlekin Players Theater, joins us to talk about why a convergence of theatrical productions grappling with antisemitism is resonating with audiences today. Finally, as Ukraine marks the second anniversary of being at war with Russia, we look at the nation’s perseverance by way of the Grand Kyiv Ballet, which is kicking off a 60-city national tour of Giselle, here in Boston.

Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola joins us to mark Black History Month. We’ll discuss her poem inspired by the book Beloved and a mother’s agonizing decision. From there, theater artist P Carl. He built a career, a marriage and a life as queer woman. But all the while he had a yearning to become more fully realized. For him that meant transitioning to another gender. He wrote about the transformation in his 2020 memoir, “Becoming a Man,” which he’s now adapted for the stage in a play making its world premier at the American Repertory Theater. He joins us to talk about seeing his life, brought to life on the stage. Finally, we meet the people behind an event turning the silver screen into a silver scream: The Dead of Winter Horror Festival.

I’m Jared Bowen, this is The Culture Show. In Gish Jen’s latest book, “Thank You Mr. Nixon,” Jen writes about US-China Relations. Today she joins us from Shanghai, using her recent cultural experiences as a window into East-West relations, from the Broadway hit, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” to a blockbuster of a show featuring Leonardo da Vinci. From there we talk to two renowned Boston artists: Stephen Hamilton and Napoleon Jones-Henderson. They’ve been orbiting each other for years, including showing their work in the same museum exhibition, but now they are finally converging, collaborating on an art installation commissioned by Roxbury Community College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. We’ll talk to them about what it means to create together. Finally, we head to Gloucester to visit the nation’s oldest art colony with an overview of their annual members show.

It’s hard to imagine Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art without the visionary Jill Medvedow, but that’s what we have to do–she’s stepping down at the end of the year. We’ll talk about her legacy and what’s next. After that, co-host Callie Crossley pores over the history of cocktails and how modern day mixology and classic concoctions are rooted in centuries of African American history.

It’s our arts and culture week in-review and we’ll start with some Friday afternoon quarterbacking: looking at the cultural touchdowns that were made during last week’s Super Bowl, from Queen Bee creating country controversy with her two new songs, to Ben Affleck and the DunKings releasing a single and selling out their Dunkin’ inspired tracksuits along the way. How do you like them donuts? From there, using a 32-ton Swiss Bank safe, A Russian artist is holding works by Picasso, Rembrant and Warhol–threatening to destroy them if Julian Assange dies behind bars. Plus Notre Dame’s new spire has been unveiled, marking a milestone in the cathedral’s restoration. And renewing a debate about historic preservation versus modern interpretation. Finally, the man in the mirror is Jaafar Jackson. With uncanny similarity, Michael Jackson’s nephew plays the gloved one in the new biopic.

From the poetry of Phyllis Wheatley, to the technicolor tapestries of Napoleon Jones-Henderson, to Terry Lynne Carrington’s contemporary beats, Boston’s Black art and culture is everyone’s art and culture. It’s also central to Boston’s Black History which is the city’s history. With Embrace Boston’s Imari Paris Jeffries leading the way, we’ll observe Black History Month, with a focus on the importance of Black art and culture. Then it’s all about fashion. Fashion as armor, fashion as language, fashion as identity. theo tyson, the Fashion Arts curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, joins us to talk about how clothing is central to the social fabric. Finally, the Worcester Art Museum offers a cure for the winter blues, by giving new meaning to wall flowers. We’ll get a preview of their Flora in Winter events–a four day floral takeover.

Composer Joseph Schwantner’s “New Morning for the World” is bold and buoyant and as eloquent as the words it honors–from selected texts by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. This Friday at Symphony Hall, the attorney, author, and civil rights activist Anita Hill will be making her orchestral debut, narrating Dr. King’s words in Boston Conservatory Orchestra's Black History Month concert, which includes Schwantner's composition. We’ll talk to Anita Hill about the power of Martin Luther King’s writing and how –despite our ever turbulent times–his message can still help to keep hope alive. After that, Lunar New Year celebrations continue by way of the Pao Arts Center. This Sunday there will be a convergence of activities from dance to drawing to puppet-making, not to mention other other celebrations along the way. Joining us for a preview is Cynthia Woo, the director of the Pao Arts Center. Finally, it’s time for AI: Actual Intelligence with Pedro Alonzo and a conversation about how Mexico has become one of the world’s top art destinations.

Artist Wu Tsang goes deep on Moby Dick, literally and figuratively with an immersive film installation that takes us into the depths of the ocean. But her interpretation of Moby Dick is from the whale’s perspective. Entitled “Of Whales,” on view at the ICA starting February 15th, it’s part of Wu Tsang’s Moby Dick trilogy, which premiered at the Venice Biennale two years ago. We’ll talk to the artist about her decision to take the Moby Dick plunge. From there we continue our conversation about preserving art amid wartime with a focus on Ukraine. Now living between Massachusetts & Ukraine, Oleksandra Kovalchuck is working to save the art and history of her homeland. And finally, it’s New England on the biggest screen. We’ll talk to director Daniel Ferguson about his documentary, The Heart of New England, now on view at the Museum of Science’s Mugar Omni Theater.

The US Military and the Smithsonian have revived a version of “the monuments-men.-”-- the group of soldiers and military personnel who recovered cultural artifacts and artworks looted by the Nazi regime during World War II. In the 21st century, modern warfare has wreaked havoc on cultural institutions and heritage sites from Bagdahd, to Kiev, to Gaza and beyond. We’ll talk to Cori Wegener, whose work at the Smithsonian is dedicated to preserving and rescuing cultural heritage sites and artifacts. From there, we talk to the playwright Francisco Mendoza about his new work, “ Machine Learning,” now onstage at Central Square Theater. Centered on the fractured relationship between a father, son, and a robot– the play explores society’s codependent relationship with technology, leaving us to ask ourselves if we’re the ones who need to be reprogrammed. Finally, ahead of Valentine's Day, we’re getting a booklovers’ guide to romance with GBH’s arts and culture reporter and associate producer Haley Lerner.

Seiji Ozawa led the Boston Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years. Taking it from the 20th to the 21st century. He was a force–a maverick whose awesome talent for interpreting music stopped legends like Bernstein cold–making Ozawa one in his own right. WCRB’s Brian McCreath joins us to remember the maestro, the man, his musicality and his legacy in Boston and the world over. From there, it’s Greek to AI. In a first, Artificial Intelligence has interpreted the text of bound papyrus scrolls. Then, how the Super Bowl became so much more than football by morphing into a super-sized, nacho-flavored cultural force. And finally, Austen’s powers–Jane that is. Hallmark is devoting an entire month of Valentine’s Day movies inspired by “Sense and Sensibility” and beyond.

For Nadia Liu Spellman and her mother Sally Ling, food is family. Sally Ling is behind one of the first fine dining Chinese restaurants in America. Her famed spot, named Sally Ling’s was a fixture in Boston, where celebrities like Julia Child and Yo-Yo Ma would feast. As an investment banker, Ling’s daughter Nadia Liu Spellman came to realize she couldn’t leave the family business, or that it wouldn’t leave her. Ten years ago she launched Dumpling Daughter, which now has several locations in and around Boston. They join us to talk about how cuisine and culture are intertwined and how all of us can authentically eat our way to a full Lunar New Year experience.. From there, the world can truly be your oyster by way of Island Creek in Duxbury. At their raw bar, you can now take a free tour of their hatchery and peak inside the inner workings of their caviar packing room. Michelle Wong, the Brand Marketing Manager of Island Creek Oysters, joins us to take us deep into oyster culture. And finally, cocktail guru Jonathan Pogash shakes things up with some Valentine’s Day inspired concoctions.

In the latest adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, the star crossed lovers get that much closer to the stars– leaping, bounding, backflipping and flying high by way of the 7 Fingers circus troupe. In this spin on Shakespeare, the doomed romantics don’t need cupid's wings to soar above a common bound, because they’ve got a trapeze. I’ll talk to Aerial Emery, one of the hip-swiveling performers, about the US premiere, now onstage at The Cutler Majestic Theater. From there we enter the year of the dragon through Chinatown. To get a jump start on Lunar New Year, Julia Swanson leads the way, taking us on a tour of the public art hiding in plain sight. And, it’s time for AI: Actual intelligence. Mahesh Daas, president of the Boston Architectural College, says robots and artificial intelligence are striding into all walks of life, changing architecture and design along the way.

Clothes don’t make the man, they make the movie. Now that we are deep into Oscars season, who better to talk two than Academy Award-winning costume designer –and Springfield native – Ruth E. Carter. She won her first Academy Award for her work in “Black Panther,” where she created the Afrofuturist aesthetic of Wakanda. Four years later, she became a superhero in her own right, earning her second Oscar for her work in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” She made history with the win, not only as the first Black woman to receive two Academy Awards, but as the first person to win for both the original and the sequel of a movie. Last month, I caught up with Pakistani-born artist Salman Toor at the Rose Art Museum when his exhibition titled “No Ordinary Love” had just opened. On view through February 11th, we’re bringing you special coverage from our day with Salman Toor. On Sunday, Boston Mayor Michele Wu’s free admission pilot program began. On the first and second Sunday of each month, Boston Public Schools students and their families have free admission to a handful of arts and culture institutions. Culture Show producer Kate Dellis was there to gauge the turnout. Finally, South African vocalist NALEDI is bringing songs from her debut album to GBH Music’s upcoming JazzNOW event. She’ll be joining us to preview her performance.

Playwright Samuel D. Hunter writes about existential struggles. A rising star, he became widely known for “The Whale,” the critically acclaimed play that he adapted to the Academy Award-winning movie starring Brendan Frasier. In his latest work, “A Case for the Existence of God,” Hunter revisits the existential questions that shadow us: what is the point of sorrow? Where do we find the common ground on which we can build relationships? And how can we manifest hope amid despair? With his play now in Boston by way of SpeakEasy Stage Company, Hunter joins me to talk about this deeply moving production. After that, I’ll sit down with poets Diana Khoi Nguyen and Cindy Juyong Ok to discuss their latest collections of poetry. They’ll be discussing their work alongside local poet Sandra Lim tonight, February 5th, at 7:00 at the Harvard Bookstore. Finally, The Boston Comic Arts Foundation is launching a new series: Picture and Panel– a monthly graphic novel event produced in partnership with Porter Square Books and Aeronaut Brewing Company. The debut event is a discussion between writers Rosemary Mosco and Dan Nott titled Hidden Worlds. I speak with Zach Clemente, the President of the Board of Directors for the Boston Comic Arts Foundation.

It’s our arts and culture week-in-review. First up, it’s pumpkin soup for the protester’s soul. The Mona Lisa is the latest masterpiece to be slimed in the name of environmental activism. Is this an effective tactic or just weak sauce? Then, it’s a pyramid scheme: an extreme makeover of Egyptian ruins is outraging archaeologists. From there, with Sundance wrapping up, we look at its sway in the film industry and its funky alternative film fest: Slamdance. And we remember Chita Rivera, who danced and sang her way to an incomparable legacy. Plus, it’s STILL rock and roll to Billy Joel who just released his first single in 17 years. Finally, Huey Lewis was a pinch hitter, Michael Jackson’s pet snake rattled Lionel Ritchie and Eddie Murphy had better things to do…it’s all in a new documentary about the making of “We Are the World.” That’s next on The Culture Show.