The Culture Show Podcast

Author Gish Jen discusses her novel, “Bad Bad Girl.” In this witty and deeply personal work, Jen blends fiction and autobiography to imagine her mother’s life and explore the distance between them — uncovering how storytelling can bridge what family history leaves unsaid. From there we’re joined by Sam Kissajukian. In 2021 the Aussie comedian quit stand-up, rented an abandoned cake factory, and became a painter. Over the course of what turned out to be a six-month manic episode, he created three hundred large-scale paintings, unknowingly documenting his mental state through the process. He turned this experience into his one-man show “300 Paintings.”Finally, pastry chef and author Gesine Bullock-Prado talks about her cookbook “My Harvest Kitchen: 100+ Recipes to Savor the Seasons.” From Hollywood lawyer to Vermont baker, she shares how cooking with what’s close at hand — and in season — can feed both body and spirit.

James Sullivan, a journalist, author and longtime contributor to the Boston Globe, joins The Culture Show to talk about his book Which Side Are You On?: 20th Century American History in 100 Protest Songs.From there Aisha Muharrar joins The Culture Show to talk about her debut novel “Loved One.” She’s an Emmy Award–winning writer and producer who has worked on “Hacks,” “Parks” and “Recreation,” and “The Good Place.”Finally, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Richard Russo joins The Culture Show, to talk about his new book "Life and Art.” It’s a COVID-era meditation on his childhood, adulthood and what it means to be an artist.

First up, Sally Mann. In 2015 renowned photographer Sally Mann published her memoir “Hold Still,” an inquiry into family history, the American South and the nature of creativity. Now, comes her book “Art Work: On the Creative Life.” It is laugh-out-loud funny. It’s irreverent. And it’s refreshingly practical as she guides the reader through her experience and process of being an artist. From there Jeremy Sewall, Chef and Owner of Row 34, shares recipes and stories from his new “Everyday Chef: Simple Dishes for Family and Friends,” which illustrates how restaurant expertise can translate into simple, satisfying meals at home.Finally, Richard Smith. For more than a quarter century he embodied Henry David Thoreau—donning the waistcoat and straw hat, walking the paths of Concord, and giving voice to one of New England’s most enduring thinkers. Now, after 26 years of living deliberately in another man’s shoes, Smith has stepped away from the role. Closing a chapter that made Thoreau’s world vividly real for thousands who visited Walden Pond.

Robert Reich served in three presidential administrations, including as Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. As a professor he has been the ultimate explainer about rising inequality. As a public intellectual he pulls no punches–calling out the bullies: anyone and any institution that threatens democracy and human decency. It’s a life’s work on which he reflects in his book “Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America.” He joins The Culture Show to talk about it. From there Marianne Leone is an actress, author, and screenwriter. She joins The Culture Show to talk about her novel “Christina The Astonishing," a coming-of-age story about Christina Falcone and her desire to break free from Catholic school nuns, Italian mothers, and small-town Massachusetts. Finally, Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actor Sam Waterston joins The Culture Show to talk about the role that launched his career, Nick Caraway in the 1974 film adaptation of “The Great Gatsby.”

It’s a story for the past, present and future: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Though it was a reflection of Dickens’ times, the struggle between selfishness and selflessness endures. In Ebeneezer Scrooge, Dickens created both an antagonist and protagonist who went from being a covetous curmudgeon to a repentant man. Today we’re serving up two scoops of Scrooge with actors David Coffee and Karen MacDonald about what it takes to the iconic character.From there we hit the pause button on the Santaland soundtrack to make room for Blue Heron. The vocal ensemble takes us back to 15th century England with medieval music that will put you in the holiday spirit of yore.And Susan Wilson, the official house historian of the Omni Parker House, takes us inside Charles Dickens’s remarkable 1867 residency at Boston’s Omni Parker House — the hotel where he rehearsed, wrote, and prepared for readings that sent the city into a literary fervor. She traces how Boston became a temporary home for Dickens and why “A Christmas Carol" still resonates here during the holidays.

Ron Chernow―prizewinning author of seven books, including the National Book Award winner “The House of Morgan,” the Pulitzer Prize winner “Washington: A Life,” and the George Washington Book Prize winner “Alexander Hamilton”―joins The Culture Show to talk about his new biography “Mark Twain.” From there we talk to National Geographic Explorer in Residence Tara Roberts. She joins The Culture Show to talk about her book “Written in the Waters: A memoir of History, Home and Belonging.” Finally, author JM Varese joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest novel, a Victorian Gothic thriller that is rooted in the real-life Victorian scandal when arsenic was used to make decorative wallpaper. JM Varese is Director of Outreach for The Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz.

The United States has a National Recording Registry— a list of more than 600 recordings that have been deemed culturally, historically or aesthetically significant by the Library of Congress. GBH’s The Culture Show is digging deep, one recording at a time, with our recurring segment SOUND FILES. In this edition, Keith Lockhart with the acclaimed orchestra Boston Pops waxes operatic about his love of Queen’s 1975 masterpiece “Bohemian Rhapsody.”“Twenty-five years ago, there were all these things that everybody knew how to sing,” Lockhart said. “These days, our audience is fragmented enough — from the younger people to the older people — that there’s only one song I can think of that pretty much everybody in every audience we ever play for knows. And that is ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’” In 2022, it was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. In its induction essay, musical artist Don Breithaupt describes it as something of a musical and technological miracle and said, simply, “it is now in a class by itself.” On its initial release back in 1975, literally millions of people across the globe bought the record. One of those buyers was a gifted 15-year-old clarinetist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. That, of course, was Keith Lockhart. “The first rock album I bought — the first LP I bought — was Night at the Opera in the fall of 1975,” Lockhart said. “I’d heard ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in airplay on the radio, and I thought, ‘How did they do this?’” Holiday Pops is on through December 24th. To see Keith Lockhart live, learn more here.

In the Victorian era, Charles Dickens was more than a famous author — his public readings of A Christmas Carol turned literature into live spectacle. His great-great-grandson, Gerald Charles Dickens, carries that tradition forward with a one-man performance of the holiday classic. Touring internationally since the early 1990s, he joined The Culture Show to talk about literary inheritance, live storytelling, and decades spent bringing Dickens’ ghosts to life onstage. To learn more about Gerald Charles Dickens go here.On Christmas Eve, Italian-American tables overflow with seafood for the Feast of the Seven Fishes — a tradition shaped by Catholic practice, regional custom, and availability rather than strict rules. But debates endure: why seven dishes, what counts, and how much tradition should bend? We talked with Domenic Strazzullo and The Boston Guido about how memory, argument, and improvisation have become part of the celebration itself.Susan Roberts spends the holiday season performing as Mrs. Claus — a role that blends warmth, quick thinking, and emotional awareness. Working public events and private visits, she helps manage high expectations and big feelings that come with the season. She joined The Culture Show to talk about becoming Mrs. Claus, the craft behind effortless cheer, and why the woman in red is stepping into the spotlight. To learn more about Susan Roberts go here.

On this edition of The Culture Show, Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, Hollywood’s biggest night is getting a new home. The Academy Awards will leave broadcast television and stream exclusively on YouTube beginning with the 101st Oscars in 2029, ending a more than five-decade run on ABC and signaling a major shift in how global audiences gather for live cultural events.Plus the entertainment industry gets its annual checkup. UCLA’s Hollywood Diversity Report tracks who holds power on screen and behind the camera — and finds progress remains uneven, with representation still lagging behind the diversity of today’s audiences.Then, a long-overdue honor for Donna Summer. The Queen of Disco was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognized for writing and co-writing the hits that reshaped pop and dance music, from “I Feel Love” to “She Works Hard for the Money” and “Bad Girls.”And, a farewell to Rob Reiner. From playing “Meathead” on All in the Family to directing films like This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally…, Reiner’s work reshaped comedy, romance, and character-driven filmmaking.Finally, we split hairs over splitting hairs – from year-round whiskered Santas and organized beard-natural groups to professional Santas investing in hyper-real yak-hair wigs, the debate over whether Santa should grow his own beard or wear one is very much alive.

Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston and co-chair of Everyone 250, joins us for his recurring segment AI: Actual Intelligence — a space for original, human insight. This month Jeffries discussed how history, memory, and civic responsibility are shaping current cultural conversations in Greater Boston and beyond. He also previewed Everyone250’s 2026 events to confront erasure and reclaim America’s story. To learn more go here. Then Mary Grant, President of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, discusses the mass shooting at Brown University and how colleges are grappling with fear, safety, and institutional responsibility while trying to preserve the independence that defines campus life. She also shared her top list of the memorable arts and culture events of 2025.And we topped things off by topping one off with Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash. He returned for his annual holiday visit — offering festive cocktail and mocktail ideas, plus practical advice for stocking a bar and hosting with confidence during the season. Jonathan Pogash is President and Owner of The Cocktail Guru. These are the cocktails he made today Hanukkah Harry Nonalcoholic : POM wonderful pomegranate juice, aquafaba, lemon, turmeric, honey Winter Spice Old Fashioned - Mad River maple cask Rum, home-made winter spice grenadine, bitters Jonathan’sFamous Eggnog - A classic nog w/ Mozart white chocolate, sherry, and Mad River bourbon

Today we commune with the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley, and Edgar B. Herwick III co-host this month’s Wednesday Watch Party and revisit all the screen lives of “A Chistmas Carol.” Dickens’ tale has been adapted hundreds of times — from silent films and mid-century classics to animated versions, musicals, and comic riffs. The hosts ask listeners what versions resonate the most with them and who is their favorite Scrooge.

Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston and co-chair of Everyone 250, joins us for his recurring segment AI: Actual Intelligence — a space for original, human insight. This month Jeffries discussed how history, memory, and civic responsibility are shaping current cultural conversations in Greater Boston and beyond. He also previewed Everyone250’s 2026 events to confront erasure and reclaim America’s story. To learn more go here. Then Mary Grant, President of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, discusses the mass shooting at Brown University and how colleges are grappling with fear, safety, and institutional responsibility while trying to preserve the independence that defines campus life. She also shared her top list of the memorable arts and culture events of 2025.And we topped things off by topping one off with Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash. He returned for his annual holiday visit — offering festive cocktail and mocktail ideas, plus practical advice for stocking a bar and hosting with confidence during the season. Jonathan Pogash is President and Owner of The Cocktail Guru. These are the cocktails he made today 1) Nonalcoholic Hanukkah Harry: POM wonderful pomegranate juice, aquafaba, lemon, turmeric, honey Winter Spice Old Fashioned - Mad River maple cask Rum, home-made winter spice grenadine, bitters and Jonathan’s Famous Eggnog - A classic nog w/ Mozart white chocolate, sherry, and Mad River bourbon

Conceptual performance artist and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova is the creator of Pussy Riot. She joins The Culture Show to discuss “Police State” — a museum installation that recreates the conditions of her incarceration through constant surveillance and confinement. The project draws directly from her imprisonment following Pussy Riot’s 2012 protest inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Tolokonnikova’s new book, also titled “Police State” documents the installation and reflects on power, punishment, and resistance. To learn more about her new book, “Police State,” go here.Internationally acclaimed violinist Stefan Jackiw joins us ahead of his chamber music concert this Thursday at the Allen Center in Newton, 7:30 PM, presented by Cherry Street Music. A Boston native who made his professional debut at age 12 with the Boston Pops, Jackiw has built a career spanning major orchestral stages and intimate chamber collaborations. To learn more about this Thursday’s concert go here. Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson returns for her monthly Public Service Arts Announcement, asking whether holiday decorations — lights, inflatables, ice sculptures, and storefront windows — can cross the line from seasonal display into public art. Swanson is a multidisciplinary artist and award-winning photographer, and the creator of The Art Walk Project, a series of self-guided micro tours of public art across Greater Boston.

Tina Statter’s “Is This A Room” uses the verbatim FBI transcript of Reality Winner’s 2017 interrogation to turn everyday language into gripping drama. Actor Parker Jennings, who plays Reality Winner, and actor Cristhian Mancinas-García, who plays Special Agent R. Wallace Taylor, join The Culture Show to discuss this production, which is now onstage at Apollinaire Theatre Company through January 18th. To learn more go here.For more than five decades, Marina Abramović has made endurance, vulnerability, and moral responsibility central to performance art. She joins The Culture Show to discuss her new BBC Maestro course, “The Marina Abramović Method: Performance and Presence.” To learn more go here.Boston Globe TV and pop culture critic Chris Vognar remembers actor and director Rob Reiner, he’ll also cut through December’s viewing overload, highlighting holiday films that still deliver, and unexpected titles worth your time.

Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons host our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the Golden Globe nominations are out, offering a snapshot of where Hollywood’s center of gravity is shifting. The awards bypassed the supposedly gravity-defying Wicked: For Good, while One Battle After Another surged ahead with nine nominations. In a nod to how audiences consume storytelling now, the Globes also introduced a podcast category for the first time.From there we’re off to Australia, which has passed one of the world’s most sweeping efforts to limit kids’ access to social media, banning anyone under 16 from holding an account. Platforms will be required to identify and remove underage users or face steep fines. The move reflects growing concern over cyberbullying, addictive design, and the mental-health toll of digital culture.Then we remember Napoleon Jones-Henderson, a founding member of the AfriCOBRA collective, leaves behind a towering legacy in Afrocentric art. Working across textiles, sculpture, and mixed media, his vibrant, community-rooted work helped define the visual language of the Black Arts Movement. His death marks a profound loss for art, design, and cultural history.Plus a Nativity scene in Dedham has sparked a loud debate over artistic and political expression. The traditional Holy Family has been replaced by a stark sign reading “ICE was here.” The Archdiocese and ICE officials want the display removed, while the parish priest is holding off — for now.Finally, those unmistakable Vince Guaraldi piano notes are turning 60. What began as a scrappy, low-budget TV special has become the gold standard of holiday storytelling. A Charlie Brown Christmas remains a cultural touchstone, proving that sincerity can outlast spectacle.

The Wheelock Family Theatre brings new life to “Annie,” the classic musical rooted in the 1924 comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.” Set against Depression-era New York, the show blends breadlines, political intrigue, and a young girl’s unwavering belief in “tomorrow.” Featuring Sky Vaux Fuller as Annie and De’Lon Grant as Oliver Warbucks, they join us to talk about how this production explores resilience, hope, and what it means to rise to the moment. “Annie” is onstage through December 21. To learn more go here.At the Native Plant Trust in Wayland, more than 10 million seeds from rare and endangered New England plants are now preserved—an unprecedented milestone for the nation’s oldest native-plant conservation organization. Sourced from meadows, wetlands, shorelines, mountain slopes, and even military training grounds, these seeds safeguard biodiversity against development, invasive species, and climate threats. Director of horticulture Uli Lorimer joins the show to discuss how this growing seed bank helps protect the region’s ecological future. Uli Lorimer is the author of “The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden.”Culture Show contributor and independent Curator Pedro Alonzo takes us inside the museums of Glasgow and the transformed Frick Collection in New York. After a five-year, $330 million renovation, the Frick has reopened with expanded galleries, restored architectural splendor, and unexpectedly intimate encounters with masterpieces by Vermeer and Rembrandt. Alonzo shares how these spaces balance tradition and reinvention—and what visitors can expect from their renewed cultural impact.

We continue our “Countdown to 2026” series with a preview of next July’s Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. It will headline the Commonwealth’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Boston Symphony Orchestra Julian and Eunice Cohen President and CEO Chad Smith join us to talk about what this expanded Fourth of July tradition will mean for the Esplanade and beyond.Frank Gehry, who died at 96, was one of the most influential architects of his generation, responsible for landmarks like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and MIT’s Stata Center. Boston Architectural College president Mahesh Daas joins us to reflect on Gehry’s legacy and how his sculptural buildings changed the conversation around architecture. Mahesh Daas is the author of four books including “Towards A Robotic Architecture” and “I, Nobot,” a graphic novella exploring relationships among artificial intelligence, robotics, and cities. Martin Puryear, one of the most important American sculptors — and one of the most significant Black sculptors working today — is known for large, hand-built forms in wood, metal, and wire. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s exhibition, “Martin Puryear: Nexus” gathers major works from six decades. Ian Alteveer, Beal Family Chair, Department of Contemporary Art, joins The Culture Show for an overview. “Martin Puryear: Nexus” is on view through February 8, 2026, to learn more go here.

Patti Smith, National Book Award–winning author of “Just Kids,” joins The Culture Show to discuss her latest memoir, “Bread of Angels.” The book traces her imaginative postwar childhood, her life with Fred “Sonic” Smith, and the years of loss and renewal that shaped her return to writing and performance. She appears at The Chevalier Theatre on December 17 for a Brookline Booksmith event exploring the new work. To learn more go here.Susan WIlson, the official house historian of the Omni Parker House, takes us inside Charles Dickens’s remarkable 1867 residency at Boston’s Omni Parker House — the hotel where he rehearsed, wrote, and prepared for readings that sent the city into a literary fervor. She traces how Boston became a temporary home for Dickens and why “A Christmas Carol" still resonates here during the holidays. If you want the full Dickens experience this holiday season, Crescendo Productions is presenting a “A Christmas Carol,” at the Omni Parker house December 19th -December 21st. To learn more go hereBoston-based Americana country artist Elisa Smith recently earned a Josie Music Award for Female Song of the Year for “Nashville Don’t Forget Me,” an honor presented at the Grand Ole Opry. She joins the show to talk about the new recognition and her forthcoming album, “Perfume,” which will be released this spring with a portion of proceeds supporting Rosie’s Place. To learn more go here.

Playwright Sarah Ruhl joins The Culture Show to discuss writing the book for “Wonder,” the new musical premiering at the American Repertory Theater. Adapted from the bestselling novel and acclaimed film, the production follows Auggie Pullman, a boy with a facial difference navigating the trials of middle school with courage and compassion. “Wonder,” is onstage December 10-February 8, to learn more go here. The Worcester Art Museum has reopened its Arms and Armor Galleries after a decade of renovation and reinterpretation, unveiling a global collection that spans medieval Europe to Japan, India, Africa, and beyond. Featuring swords, helmets, shields, and full suits of armor, the galleries illuminate the artistry, engineering, and cultural histories behind these objects. Executive Director Matthias Waschek and curator Jeffrey Forgeng walk us through the museum’s ambitious reimagining and what it means to bring this collection back to public view. To learn more go here.Finally, we go inside “Unsent,” a new indie video game set in a 1970s-inspired post office where lost letters and feelings pile up. We’ll talk with creative director Brien Rondeau about conjuring this surreal bureaucracy. To learn more, go here.

Edgar B. Herwick III, Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons and Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik co-host this week’s arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the 2025 Words of the Year capture a moment shaped by online overload and cultural tension. Dictionary.com chose “67,” Cambridge went with “parasocial,” Collins selected “vibe coding,” and Oxford tapped “rage bait.” Together, they trace the emotional and technological currents running through daily life.And a familiar holiday argument has resurfaced, thanks to a ruling from across the Atlantic: British regulators have declared that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. The verdict has reignited a seasonal debate that refuses to melt away.Then JPMorgan’s new Midtown tower has made a dramatic entrance on the New York skyline, promoted as a sleek, future-forward skyscraper. Critics, however, see something very different—calling it an environmental “eco-obscenity” that overshadows its sustainability claims.Finally, Playwright Tom Stoppard, who died at 88, leaves behind one of the most influential bodies of work in modern theater. With five Tony Awards and screenplays like Shakespeare in Love, he brought precision, wit, and intellectual curiosity to both stage and screen. His legacy is defined by a rare ability to put language to the complexities most of us only sense.

Tony Award–winner Matt Doyle brings a burst of holiday warmth to Worcester with “Make the Season Bright,” a concert filled with seasonal favorites. Known for standout roles in “Company,” “Spring Awakening,” and “The Book of Mormon,” Doyle also has deep ties to Massachusetts, where he spent part of his childhood. He joins The Culture Show to talk about returning home, embracing the holidays, and the music that shaped him. “Make the Season Bright” is onstage December 10th at the BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center. For tickets and information, go here. Levain Bakery’s cookies have earned a national cult following — oversized, craggy, irresistibly rich — but the story behind them is just as compelling. Co-founders Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald reflect on 30 years of friendship, baking, and building a community around a single, unforgettable cookie. They join The Culture Show to discuss their new book, “Levain Bakery: A Story of Friendship, Community, and Cookies,” and the phenomenon their tiny shop sparked. You can catch them tonight at 7:00 at Lovestruck Books and Cafe in Harvard Square. To get tickets go here. Cirque du Soleil reimagines a holiday favorite with “’Twas the Night Before” a high-velocity blend of circus artistry, dance, and storytelling. The production transforms Christmas Eve into a world of motion where nothing — and no one — stays still for long. Cirque dancer and dance captain Artem Tikhonenko joins The Culture Show to share how the troupe brings this kinetic twist on the classic tale to life. “’Twas the Night Before” is onstage at the Boch Center Wang Theatre through December 14th, to learn more go here.

Actor Will Lyman takes on Ebenezer Scrooge in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s “A Christmas Carol"at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, stepping into one of literature’s great holiday transformations. His daughter, actor and producer Georgia Lyman, is simultaneously shepherding “Yellow Bird Chase” to the stage with Liars & Believers, a whimsical, family-friendly piece that blends clowning, puppetry, and physical theater. Together, they talk about sharing a season, a craft, and a lifelong pull toward the stage. “A Christmas Carol” is onstage Dec. 6 - Dec. 23 at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre. To learn more go here. “Yellow Bird Chase” is onstage at Central Square Theatre Dec. 12-Dec 21–two weekends only. To learn more go here.The Boston Public Library’s exhibition “REVOLUTION! 250 Years of Art + Activism in Boston” looks at how images, objects, and ephemera have captured moments of protest and possibility from the American Revolution to the present day. Drawing on the library’s vast archives, it asks whose struggles are remembered, whose are ignored, and how visual culture shapes our understanding of change. Curator Kristin Parker joins us to talk about the stories she wanted to bring forward and why this is a timely reexamination.This year’s “Midwinter Revels” turns to “Matchless,” Gregory Maguire’s reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl.” Directed by Debra Wise, the production weaves Maguire’s story into Revels’ signature mix of music, ritual, and communal celebration. Debra Wise, Interim Artistic Director for Revels and bestselling author Gregory Maguire join us for an overview. “Midwinter Revels” is onstage at Sanders Theatre, December 12–28 followed by a virtual encore. To learn more go here.

“Stand by Me,” the classic coming-of-age film, is turning 40. To commemorate the film’s anniversary, “Stand By Me: The Film and its Stars 40 Years Later,” takes place at the Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, December 6th. There will be a screening followed by a conversation with three of the film’s stars - Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton, and Jerry O’Connell. Ahead of this event actor and television host Jerry O’Connell, who starred in the film as Vern Tessio, joins us to reflect on the film, what made it a classic and his reunion with his castmates. To learn more about the anniversary event go here.Joyce Kulhawik joins The Culture Show for our recurring feature, Stage and Screen Time–a look at the latest movies and plays in theaters now. Joyce Kulhawik is an Emmy-award winning arts and entertainment reporter and president of the Boston Theatre Critics Association. You can find her reviews on Joyce’s Choices. Brian McCreath, director of production at GBH Music, host of CRB’s Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcast, and host of The Bach Hour on CRB Classical 99.5 and The Bach Channel stream joins The Culture Show for a preview of “Illuminate Bach: A Holiday Celebration!” Recorded live in GBH’s Fraser Performance Studio on December 3 at 8:00 PM, “Illuminate Bach” brings together sacred and secular works by Bach, performed by Emmanuel Music under Artistic Director Ryan Turner. It will first air as a radio program during In Concert on Sunday, December 14 at 7 pm. On television, "Illuminate Bach" will next air four times across Massachusetts on both GBH2, GBH44, and NEPM on these dates: Friday, December 19 at 9 pm. - GBH2 and NEPM Premiere, Saturday, December 20, at 8 pm on GBH44, Thursday, December 25, at 4 pm on GBH2 and NEPM, and Thursday, December 25 at 6 pm on GBH44. The full program will also be available for on-demand streaming on Classical.org and Passport.

For nearly fifty years, Peter Drummey has been one of the quiet forces making history accessible. As the longtime Stephen T. Riley Librarian and, most recently, Chief Historian at the Massachusetts Historical Society — the nation’s oldest historical society — he helped generations of researchers navigate one of the country’s richest archives and advised storytellers ranging from filmmakers to the late David McCullough. Now retired after a 47-year career, he joins us to reflect on the stories he’s spent a lifetime helping others uncover.Ethan Hawke has built one of the most varied careers in contemporary film, spanning Hollywood classics like Dead Poets Society and Training Day, as well as independent films such as Before Sunrise and Boyhood. He’s also an accomplished novelist, screenwriter, producer, and filmmaker. This week, the Coolidge Corner Theatre honors him with the 2025 Coolidge Award, where he’ll appear for a screening of Blue Moon and an onstage conversation about his lifelong creative evolution. To learn more go here.Culture Show contributor Matthew Shifrin joins us for his recurring segment “AI: Actual Intelligence.” This month he discusses the work that he’s doing with Think Outside The Vox to make music accessible to deaf people by turning instrumental music into stories that are then translated into ASL and performed by actors. Matthew Shifrin, founder and CEO of Bricks for the Blind, returns for our “AI: Actual Intelligence” series. His Boston nonprofit translates LEGO instructions for builders with vision loss.

Award winning writer and poet Kwame Alexander joins The Culture Show to talk about the PBS Kids debut of “Acoustic Rooster.” Based on Alexander’s beloved children’s book “Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band,” the “Acoustic Rooster” universe is now on PBS KIDS. To learn more, go here.From there the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Elizabeth Strout joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book “Tell Me Everything.” Finally Oliver de la Paz, the poet laureate of Worcester and associate professor at The College of the Holy Cross joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest collection of poetry “The Diaspora Sonne

Boston’s AAPI Holiday Market returns on December 3, 5–8 PM. Organized by The Boston Foundation’s Asian Business Empowerment Council, the event highlights the creativity and entrepreneurship of the region’s AAPI community. Irene Li and Qingjian Shi join us for an overview. Qingjian Shi is Senior Director of the Asian Business Empowerment Council at The Boston Foundation, and Irene Li, a celebrated chef, restaurateur, and community leader, is the co-founder of Mei Mei, a restaurant-turned-dumpling-company based in Boston, and co-founder of Prepshift. To learn more about the AAPI Holiday Market go here. Peter DiMuro brings his long-running alt-holiday show, Funny Uncle Cabaret, back to The Dance Complex on December 13 & 14. A variation on The Nutcracker, it blends dance, drag, storytelling, and live music, drawing on DiMuro’s own “gay avuncularity” and stories of chosen family. Tickets and details here.Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson leads a tour through Providence’s community-driven public art scene. Swanson — a multidisciplinary artist and creator of The Art Walk Project — spotlights the works created by and for the local community.

Crossword constructor and writer Natan Last joins us to explore his new book, “Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle.” He traces the evolution of crosswords from early newspaper amusements to today’s culturally expansive grids. Last is a writer and immigration policy advocate. He writes bimonthly crosswords for “The New Yorker.” You can catch him at Harvard Book Store on December 10; learn more here.Filmmaker Vincent Straggas takes us inside “Life on the Other Planet,” his new documentary about Boston’s music scene in the 1970s and ’80s. Through interviews and archival footage, he captures the clubs, bands, and renegade energy that shaped a generation. To learn more about the film and upcoming screenings go here.Finally, Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare returns to Somerville’s Rockwell for its 10th anniversary season with a drunken production of “Hamlet.” Actors Brett Milanowski and Noelle Scarlett join us to preview the show, which runs November 29 through February 14; to learn more go here.

Chef Pyet DeSpain brings her Indigenous and Mexican heritage to the forefront as she talks about her debut cookbook, “Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking.” She shares how traditional ingredients and family stories shaped her cooking and her path from winning Next Level Chef to building a career rooted in culture and community.Then, for the first time in 22 years, Merriam-Webster has released a new Collegiate Dictionary, adding thousands of updated terms and usage examples. Editor-at-Large Peter Sokolowski joins us to explain what made it in, what was retired, and what this new edition says about how English has evolved.And Boston’s dining scene just earned a major spotlight as Greater Boston joins the prestigious Michelin Guide. Devra First breaks down what this recognition means for chefs, diners, and the city’s growing culinary identity.

Edgar B. Herwick III, Callie Crossley and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review. Greater Boston has officially entered the world of fine-dining prestige. For the first time, the Michelin Guide included the region in its Northeast Cities edition — awarding a coveted star, several Bib Gourmands, and even a cocktails honor. It’s a milestone moment for the local dining scene and a boost to the city’s culinary profile.As Boston celebrates its Michelin debut, Hollywood is serving up overdue recognition of its own. Tom Cruise — one of the industry’s most enduring blockbuster stars — has finally received an honorary Oscar.And from Oscar gold to Klimt’s Venetian Golden Age; at Sotheby’s, Gustav Klimt’s 1910 portrait of Elisabeth Lederer sold for a staggering $236.4 million, setting a new auction record for modern art.Plus Pope Leo XIV has taken a tangible step toward reconciliation with Indigenous Canadian communities, as the Vatican Museums officially hand over dozens of artifacts collected by missionaries generations ago.Finally, we’re also getting into the holiday spirit with an all-things-Thanksgiving roundup, from the holiday traditions to the eternal Thanksgiving dinner debates.

FRONTLINE and the Associated Press return to Ukraine with “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a gripping new documentary from the Oscar-winning team behind “20 Days in Mariupol.” The film embeds with Ukrainian soldiers fighting to reclaim a village outside Kyiv, offering an unfiltered view of life — and loss — in a grinding, three-year conflict. FRONTLINE’s Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath joins The Culture Show to talk about the filmmakers, the collaboration, and the responsibility of documenting war. “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” premieres on November 25th on PBS and various streaming platforms. To learn more go here.Evan Dando, the Boston-born frontman of The Lemonheads, joins us to talk about a remarkable stretch of new work: “Rumors of My Demise,” his new memoir tracing the highs, lows, and chaotic detours of rock-star life. “Love Chant,” The Lemonheads’ first album of original music in nearly 20 years and a national tour that brings the band back home for a show at the Wilbur Theatre on November 26. To learn more about the show go here.After a catastrophic flood shut down its North End theater last March, Improv Asylum is officially back at 216 Hanover Street. Following months of rebuilding and reimagining, the company celebrated its Grand Reopening in October — and returned with its Main Stage revue, “The North End Justifies the Means.” Co-founder and CEO Norm Laviolette joins The Culture Show to talk about the flood, the comeback, and what’s next for the comedy institution. To learn more about all things Improv Asylum go here.

Mary Grant, president of MassArt, joins us for her monthly episode, “AI Actual Intelligence.” This month she talks about the Department of Homeland Security’s use of Norman Rockwell’s paintings on their social media channels.Then we look at the Florida Highwaymen, the group of Black painters who turned Florida’s wild horizons into some of the most sought-after landscapes of the 20th century. Their vibrant scenes—sunrises, storm fronts, and stretching marshland—are now the focus of a major exhibition at the Addison Gallery. Curator Gordon Wilkins joins us to explore their artistry, their hustle, and the legacy they carved outside the mainstream. To learn more, go here.Chef Daniel Kenney, Executive Chef of Willow & Ivy at The Lenox Hotel, shares his approach to a lower-stress Thanksgiving: Willow & Ivy’s Take & Bake feast. The feast feeds a table of eight and eliminates the holiday heavy lifting. To learn more about this recipe for Thanksgiving Day success go here.

Playwright Ins Choi joins us to discuss Kim’s Convenience, his hit play now onstage at the Huntington Theatre Company (November 6–30, 2025). Drawing on his Korean-Canadian upbringing, the story follows a family running a corner store and the cultural and generational tensions that shape their lives. Choi originally played the son and now portrays the father, offering fresh insight into the world he created. Tickets and info: Huntington Theatre CompanyVisual artist Dread Scott—known for work that confronts power and scrutinizes America’s layered history—joins us to talk about "Fall of Freedom." The sweeping, multi-city project is being organized amid growing concerns about democratic backsliding. Dread Scott is part of a coalition of artists, which includes Ava DuVernay, John Legend, Jeffrey Wright, who are responding to rising threats to civil liberties and engaging the public in collective acts of resistance. “Fall of Freedom” is nationwide, with local arts organizations hosting events in Massachusetts. To learn more go here.Contributor Pedro Alonzo examines how tech consolidation, shrinking competition, and unchecked corporate power are reshaping daily life in America. For him, it echoes the Mexico he grew up in, where monopolies and political control once stifled innovation and opportunity. Pedro draws the parallels—and the warnings—these trends carry for the present moment.

Serj Tankian, the electrifying voice of System of a Down and a defining figure in alternative metal, steps into a new creative realm with The Art of Disruption: The Art and Impact of Serj Tankian at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown. The exhibition, which is on view through Feb 28 2026, blends sound, color, and political urgency—and you can check it out here.Then Nora Burnett Abrams joins us. She is the Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston’s Ellen Matilda Poss Director. After fifteen years at MCA Denver, she brings a bold curatorial vision and a deep commitment to emerging artists. She joins us to talk about her plans for the ICA’s future.Finally it’s time for our recurring series “AI: Actual Intelligence.” Grammy-winning soprano Jane Eaglen joins us. A performer on the world’s greatest opera stages and now a faculty member at the New England Conservatory, she also serves as President of the Boston Wagner Society.

Today Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Callie Crossley go over the latest arts and culture headlines. First up, Pope Leo XIV has revealed his four favorite movies: “It’s a Wonderful Life” “The Sound of Music,” “Ordinary People” and “Life Is Beautiful.” He’s sharing his watchlist ahead of the Vatican’s first-ever “Meeting with the World of Cinema,” a Hollywood summit inside the Apostolic Palace that invites filmmakers and faith leaders to talk art, empathy, and storytelling.From there, Boston’s Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is set to honor a dozen musical legends who are responsible for some of the greatest music moments of the past century. The esteemed list of inductees includes some of the most notable names in folk, Americana, and roots music history, such as Jackson Browne, Aretha Franklin and Muddy Waters. And “Walk My Way,” becomes the first AI-generated song to top the Country Music Billboard charts. Created by the artificial band Breaking Rust.. And it’s not alone: R&B’s newest sensation is the AI generated hit “How Was I Supposed to Know?” Finally, after more than two centuries in circulation, the penny is finally making a change of its own. The U.S. Mint has pressed its last one-cent coin, ending a 232-year run for the country’s smallest piece of currency.

Two Boston institutions come together to celebrate the life and legacy of artist Allan Rohan Crite, the city’s great chronicler of everyday Black life. His work—paintings, prints, and illustrations—captured the spirit of the South End and Roxbury for decades. Allan Rohan Crite: Urban Glory is on view at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum through January 19, and Allan Rohan Crite: Griot of Boston is at the Boston Athenaeum through January 24. Guests Ted Landsmark, co-curator of “Allan Rohan Crite: Urban Glory” at the Gardner Museum, and Christina Michelon, curator of “Allan Rohan Crite: Griot of Boston at the Athenaeum” discuss how these companion exhibitions illuminate his enduring impact.After more than twenty years as a principal dancer with Boston Ballet, John Lam begins his next act. He’s launched Lam Dance Works, a new company centered on collaboration and creative exploration. Its debut performance, Act II, takes place Friday, November 15 at the Emerson Paramount Center. Lam joins the show to share his vision for this new chapter in movement and artistry.Boston’s cocktail scene has long had a master behind the bar: Jackson Cannon, Beverage Director at ES Hospitality and the creative force at Eastern Standard. He joins the show to talk about Boston’s evolving bar culture and his upcoming holiday cocktail classes at Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks on November 16 and December 14. Listeners can reserve a spot here.

The wizarding world returns to the stage as “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” casts its spell on Boston audiences. The Tony Award–winning play follows a grown-up Harry and his son Albus as they navigate family, friendship, and the legacy of magic. Actors Nick Dillenburg and Adam Grant Morrison join The Culture Show to talk about bringing these iconic characters to life at the Emerson Colonial Theatre through December 20. To learn more go here.In our ongoing series marking America’s 250th anniversary, we explore how art helps us understand the Revolution and its global context. This month, the Museum of Fine Arts highlights a rare mid-18th-century desk and bookcase crafted in Puebla, Mexico—an object that reveals the intertwined stories of trade, empire, and independence. Lucía Abramovich Sánchez, the MFA’s Carolyn and Peter Lynch Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture, joins us to unpack its history and meaning.Each month, The Culture Show’s “AI: Actual Intelligence” segment taps into fresh ideas from creative thinkers across the region. Culture Show contributor Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College, discusses the ecological design philosophy of landscape architect Kongjian Yu. He became world renowned for conceptualizing "Sponge Cities," which uses parks, wetlands, and waterways to protect people while making cities more livable. A retrospective of his work is now on view at the BAC’s McCormick Gallery through January 16th. To learn more go here.

Regie Gibson, inaugural poet laureate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Nina Zannieri, Executive Director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association, join The Culture Show for a preview of “A Revolutionary Concert: Paul Revere, the Man, the Myth, and the Music.” Commemorating the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride; it takes place November 13 at 7 p.m. at Boston’s Converse Hall. Admission is free with registration here. Playwright Patrick Gabridge and director Lisa Rafferty bring to life the voices of abolitionist women Lydia Maria Child, Maria Weston Chapman in “A Revelation of Character.” Commissioned by The Associates of the Boston Public Library and created with Plays in Place, the staged reading draws from letters in the Library’s Anti-Slavery Collection. Performances take place November 13-15 in Rabb Hall at the Boston Public Library’s Copley Square branch. Admission is free with registration here.Pulitzer Prize–winning composer and conductor Tania León reunites with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for the world premiere of “Time to Time,” a new orchestral work co-commissioned by the BSO. León, a trailblazer who helped define the sound of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, continues to expand the reach of American music. Performances run November 13–15 at Symphony Hall, to learn more go here.

The Museum of Fine Arts,Boston has taken a historic step in confronting America’s past, returning two monumental stoneware vessels to the descendants of David Drake — an enslaved potter from South Carolina who inscribed his name and poetry into clay when literacy was forbidden. His fourth-generation granddaughter Pauline Baker and her son Yaba Baker join The Culture Show to reflect on Drake’s legacy and what this homecoming means for their family. To learn more go here.After a decade away from the spotlight, British musician Patrick Wolf returns with “Crying the Neck,” an album inspired by the rugged coastline of eastern England and a creative rebirth years in the making. He joins The Culture Show ahead of his performance tonight at The Center for the Arts at the Armory in Somerville at 7 p.m. To learn more go here.And five-time James Beard Award winner Dorie Greenspan brings sweetness (and some savoriness) to the everyday with her new cookbook “Dorie’s Anytime Cakes” — filled with loaves, Bundts and snackable slices. She appears tonight at Trillium Fort Point in the Seaport for a 6 p.m. Q&A and signing. To learn more go here.

Today Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons, artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Festival and program manager at Mass Cultural Council, go over the latest arts and culture headlines. First up, the Grammy nominations are out, and music’s biggest night is making history. For the first time in fifty years, the Recording Academy will honor album art alongside album of the year. And in the country categories, the field’s been split to recognize both traditional and contemporary country sounds.From there “People” has named “Bridgerton” star Jonathan Bailey the Sexiest Man Alive. The British actor, soon to appear in Wicked, becomes the first openly gay man to receive the title Then it’s onto Hollywood’s most glamorous sow; Miss Piggy is finally getting her own feature film, produced by Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, with a script by Tony Award winner Cole Escola. Now the pressure’s on the diva to bring home the bacon at the box office.And after decades of planning, Egypt’s new mega-museum has opened near the Pyramids of Giza. The Grand Egyptian Museum will display the full collection of Tutankhamun’s tomb for the first time, with more than 50,000 artifacts showcased in cutting-edge galleries — a triumph of culture and ambition.Finally, Tom Brady’s latest play has him in the dog house — this time with ethicists and animal welfare advocates. The former quarterback revealed his new dog is a clone of his late pit bull mix, created through Colossal Biosciences — a biotech firm he invests in that’s also known for its efforts to resurrect extinct species.

Few people know more about art theft than Anthony Amore. As Director of Security and Chief Investigator at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, he’s spent decades pursuing the truth behind its legendary 1990 heist. His new book, “The Rembrandt Heist: The Story of a Criminal Genius, a Stolen Masterpiece, and an Enigmatic Friendship,” revisits another one of Boston’s great art crimes — the 1975 theft of a Rembrandt from the MFA — and the larger-than-life thief who pulled it off, Myles Connor. Tonight he’ll be at Wellesley Books at 7:00. To learn more go here.Marine Corps veteran turned poet and playwright Benjamin Fortier transforms the experience of war into art that probes topics such as memory, duty, and loss. His award-winning poetry collection “Phantoms” and his powerful monologue “Michael and the Saints” explore what lingers long after combat. The work will be featured November 10 at Hyannis Arts Hall as part of In Honor: A Grief Dialogues Experience, marking Veterans Day and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. To learn more go here.Writer, composer, and performer Justin Huertas reimagines the superhero origin story in “Lizard Boy,” a queer coming-of-age musical where dragon’s blood, heartbreak, and indie rock collide. Since premiering at Seattle Rep, it’s become a cult favorite for its humor, heart, and soaring sound. Presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company, “Lizard Boy” runs through November 22 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. To learn more go here.

Today we’re revving up the DeLorean for a trip “Back to the Future.” Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley, and Edgar B. Herwick III co-host this month’s Wednesday Watch Party and revisit the 1985 sci-fi comedy that made time travel cool — and Michael J. Fox a star. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg, the film became the top-grossing movie of the year and a pop-culture touchstone. Four decades later, the hosts ask: does this time-travel classic still stand the test of time — or has the future finally caught up to it?

Imari Paris Jeffries — President and CEO of Embrace Boston and co-chair of Everyone 250 — returns for another edition of “AI: Actual Intelligence,” which spotlights original, algorithm-free thinkers from the region’s sharpest minds. George Balanchine’s “Jewels” — the first full-length abstract ballet — returns to Boston Ballet for the first time in more than a decade. Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen reflects on the legacy of Balanchine, the music that animates each act, and why this glittering triptych still captivates dancers and audiences alike. “Jewels” is on November 6th through November 6- November 16, to learn more go here.As autumn settles in, Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture at Native Plant Trust, joins us to dig into the Leave the Leaves campaign — a call to rethink fall cleanup. He explains how fallen foliage nourishes the soil, shelters pollinators, and transforms our backyards into thriving habitats through the cold months ahead.

Comedian and actor Chris Grace returns to The Culture Show to talk about Sardines (A Comedy About Death), his autobiographical one-man show now at the Huntington Theatre through November 16. To learn more go here.Then actor, author, and filmmaker Crispin Glover joins The Culture Show to discuss his latest film, “No! You’re Wrong. or Spooky Action at a Distance.” For nearly two decades, Glover has been making and performing in films that defy convention—films that he writes, directs, and presents himself. He screens the new film tonight at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. To learn more about this and future screenings go here.And Matthew Shifrin, founder and CEO of Bricks for the Blind, returns for our “AI: Actual Intelligence” series. His Boston nonprofit translates LEGO instructions for builders with vision loss. Today he discusses how technology might help the visually impaired read facial expressions—and the emotions behind them.

Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has returned ownership of two monumental stoneware vessels to the descendants of David Drake — an enslaved potter.. It’s the first U.S. museum to resolve ownership for art made under slavery, linking creativity to accountability and justice.From repatriation to restitution — another story of art and accountability is unfolding overseas. French police have arrested additional suspects in the daylight robbery that stunned Paris last month, when thieves made off with royal jewels worth millions from the Louvre.From the galleries of Paris to the corridors of power in Washington: President Trump has fired all six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the body that advises on the design of national monuments, memorials, and federal buildings. And, grab your candy stash — The Culture Show is getting into the Halloween spirit. Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley, and Edgar B. Herwick III dig into the season’s spookiest trends, from the hottest costumes of 2025 to the great candy controversies — plus a few ghost stories haunting New England’s history.

A century ago, the Wang Theatre—now part of Boston’s Boch Center—opened as a lavish movie palace, a cathedral to the golden age of entertainment. Since then, it’s hosted everything from vaudeville to Broadway, rock legends to symphony orchestras. As the Boch Center celebrates its 100th anniversary, President and CEO Casey Soward joins The Culture Show to reflect on the theater’s storied past and the next century of live performance in Boston. To learn more about their upcoming shows and events go here.For more than eight centuries, the Louvre has stood as both fortress and museum—home to masterpieces and mysteries alike. Journalist, former “New York Times Paris” bureau chief, and bestselling author Elaine Sciolino explores its history and allure in her new book, “Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum” She joins us to unpack the recent high-stakes jewelry heist and what it reveals about art, identity, and intrigue in modern France.What happens when Shakespeare’s witches get a modern reawakening? In “The 4th Witch,” Chicago-based collective Manual Cinema conjures Macbeth’s world through light, shadow, and live music—telling the story of a young refugee who transforms grief into power. Co-founder and Co-artistic Director Ben Kauffman joins The Culture Show to discuss the company’s handmade cinematic style and how this haunting new work reinvents one of literature’s darkest spells. “The 4th Witch,” is in Boston by way of ArtsEmerson, onstage at Emerson Paramount Center through November 9th. To learn more go here.

After her mother’s death, writer Alysia Abbott was raised by her father—poet Steve Abbott—in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury during the height of counterculture. Her memoir “Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father” captures that vivid, unconventional childhood and the complexities of growing up amid both liberation and loss. Now adapted into a feature film produced by Sofia Coppola, Abbott joins us to reflect on seeing her story come to life on screen. On November 1st there will be a special screening of “Fairyland” at the Coolidge Corner Theatre.” To learn more go here.Photographer Anthony Barboza returns to his hometown of New Bedford for a career-spanning retrospective at the New Bedford Art Museum. From James Baldwin to Betty Carter, his portraits have helped shape how Black creativity and culture are seen. The exhibition, “I Return With a Feeling of Us,” is on view through November 23 and celebrates his decades-long impact on American photography. Anthony Barboza and the New Bedford Art Museum’s Executive Director Suzanne de Vegh join The Culture Show for an overview. To learn more go here. Finally, acclaimed drummer and composer Allison Miller joins The Culture Show. She defies category, blending jazz, rock, and folk with fearless originality. A longtime bandleader and collaborator with artists like Brandi Carlile and Ani DiFranco she recently joined Berklee’s Harmony and Jazz Composition Department as the Ken Pullig Visiting Scholar in Jazz Studies. Her latest album is “Big & Lovely” by Allison Miller with the One O’Clock Lab Band.

As part of our ongoing “Countdown to 2026” series, we explore how Massachusetts is commemorating 250 years of American history. Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago joins us to discuss the new Massachusetts Veterans Legacy Trail, a statewide digital map linking more than 1,200 monuments and memorials that honor generations of service. Created by the Healey–Driscoll administration for the MA250 commemoration, the trail invites residents to engage with the Commonwealth’s military past — from the Revolution to today. To learn more about the trail go here.From there actress Lesley Ann Warren joins “The Culture Show” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the cult classic film “Clue.” The Oscar- and Golden Globe–nominated performer, who played the unforgettable Miss Scarlet, will be in Boston to host a special anniversary screening at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. To learn more go here.Finally travel writer Kiernan Schmitt takes us on a Halloween-inspired journey through the hidden and haunting corners of the city. His book “Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide”uncovers the eerie and unexpected — from ghostly convents to abandoned zoos and the bizarre sculpture garden known as Ponyhenge. Schmitt, who co-hosts the travel podcast “Out of Office,” returns to the show to reveal the stories and curiosities hiding in plain sight.

Hockey historian Mike Commito joins The Culture Show to celebrate the Boston Bruins—one story at a time. His new book, Bruins 365, serves up a memorable moment for every day of the year, combining sharp research with the spirit of the game.From there it’s another edition of “Sound Files,” our ongoing series when we invite local musicians and cultural critics to zero in on one of their favorite entries in the US National Recording Registry. On tap today, Grammy Award–winning drummer, composer, and founder of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, Terri Lyne Carrington. She goes deep on “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”Finally, roller derby veteran and author Erica Vanstone takes us inside her fast-paced, full-contact memoir “Don’t Let Them Eat the Baby: Why Roller Derby is the Greatest Sport Never Sold.” From the Camden rinks to the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, Vanstone tells a story of resilience, rebellion, and the community that helped her—and a sport—find their soul.

Edgar B. Herwick III, Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons and Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik co-host this week’s arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the Louvre heist. Thieves disguised as maintenance workers pulled off a seven-minute jewel theft at the world’s most famous museum — raising questions about how security slipped for treasures worth nearly $100 million.From there a look at Hollywood’s fading star power: From Julia Roberts to Dwayne Johnson, A-list names aren’t guaranteeing box-office gold anymore. What’s dimming their shine?Plus Eric Lu’s Triumph. The Massachusetts-born pianist made history in Warsaw, becoming the first American in 55 years to win the International Chopin Competition.And the legacy of Allan Crite. Boston’s own “artist-reporter” is celebrated in a major exhibition from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Boston Athenaeum, honoring his vivid portrayals of everyday Black life.

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David McCullough spent decades helping Americans see their past in human terms. A new collection, “History Matters”, gathers his essays and speeches on why history endures — edited by his daughter Dorie McCullough Lawson and longtime collaborator Mike Hill. She joins us ahead of her American Ancestors Headquarters event today at 5 p.m. To learn more go here. From there Mary Grant, president of MassArt joins us for her monthly appearance as part of our recurring series “AI: Actual Intelligence.”Finally Berlin-based baker Laurel Kratochvila joins the Culture SHow to talk about her new cookbook Dobre Dobre: Baking from Poland and Beyond. The book celebrates Poland’s baking traditions — from Jewish-diasporic classics to regional favorites — and reveals how migration and memory live on in every recipe. She’ll appear at Harvard Book Store tonight at 7 p.m. to learn more go here.