The Culture Show Podcast

Halloween is lurking around the corner and the Coolidge Corner Theatre is preparing for its 24th annual Halloween Horror Marathon. Mark Anastasio, the Coolidge’s Program Director, joins us to preview twelve hours of horror classics, creature features, and surprise screenings — all shown on 35 millimeter film. To learn more go here.Then, author Gish Jen discusses her new 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. On October 25th you can catch her at a Boston Book Festival event at 3:00. To learn more go here.

It’s October in Salem, where history and Halloween converge. Peabody Essex Museum curator-at-large Paula Richter joins The Culture Show to talk about the Ropes Mansion — its role as “Allison’s House” in Hocus Pocus, and how the museum brings it to life each October. Starting October 23 and continuing through Halloween, the mansion’s exterior will once again be decorated in full “Hocus Pocus” style, drawing crowds to its front steps and gardens. To learn more about all things PEM, go here.Then, pastry chef and author Gesine Bullock-Prado on her new 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. Tonight she'll be at Trillium Fort Point in Boston’s Seaport at 6 p.m.for a Q&A and signing. To learn more go here.

As the only son of Johnny Cash and June Carter, John Carter Cash has carried forward one of America’s most enduring musical legacies. A Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and author, he’s worked with artists from Willie Nelson to Sheryl Crow while preserving his parents’ archives and spirit. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book, The Complete Johnny Cash: Lyrics from a Lifetime of Songwriting, which gathers more than five decades of his father’s words—offering insight into the man behind the Man in Black.From there it’s Cuban-born pianist, vocalist and composer Zahili Gonzalez Zamora. She brings a deep, cross-cultural fluency to her music—melding Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz improvisation, and storytelling. A faculty member at Berklee College of Music, she joins “The Culture Show” to talk about her forthcoming album “Overcoming,” which comes out this Friday; on Friday night she’ll be performing at Scullers Jazz Club at 7:00. To learn more go here.

Today Edgar B. Herwick III, Callie Crossley 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, remembering Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather,” and “Something’s Gotta Give.” Over five decades, Diane Keaton redefined Hollywood stardom with her originality, and offbeat authenticity.From there we reflect on D’Angelo, the R&B singer, songwriter, and producer behind “Brown Sugar"and “Voodoo” who died at 51. And we honor Susan Stamberg, a founding voice of NPR, who has died at 86. Her curiosity, and signature cranberry relish became synonymous with the golden age of public radio and its spirit of storytelling.Plus actor Stephen Graham is expanding his Netflix series Adolescence into a new book on masculinity. His project invites fathers around the world to write letters to their sons about what it means to be a man today — continuing the conversation his show began.

Donnie Wahlberg — familiar to millions as “Blue Bloods’” Detective Danny Reagan — spent fourteen seasons trading barbs, saying grace, and solving crimes in New York City. Now Danny Reagan is back — but this time, he’s doing it Boston-style. “Blue Bloods” followed a multi-generational law-enforcement family bound by duty, faith, and those famous Sunday dinners. In "Boston Blue, " premiering this Friday on CBS, Wahlberg once again steps into Reagan’s shoes — this time moving the New York detective to Wahlberg’s own hometown. He joins “The Culture Show” to talk about a new chapter in the “Blue Bloods” universe and about his homecoming. To learn more about “Boston Blue” go here.From there it's comedian Hari Kondabolu. He's known for turning cultural critique into comedy. His documentary “The Problem with Apu,” took on stereotypes in “The Simpsons” and sparked a national conversation about representation. His new stand-up on race, parenthood, and the politics of everyday life takes aim at how we talk, what we laugh at, and who gets to tell the joke. He joins us ahead of his show at The Rockwell in Somerville. To learn more go here.

Acclaimed glass artist Josh Simpson crafts luminous worlds in miniature. His signature “Planets” —swirls of color and complexity sealed inside glass — reflect his lifelong fascination with space and science. Now, he’s received a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts grant to explore how lunar dust could be melted into glass for future Moon habitats, in collaboration with architect Martin Bermudez of Skyeports, LLC. Simpson’s new book, “Josh Simpson: 50 Years of Visionary Glass,” and his retrospective of the same is on view at the Sandwich Glass Museum through October. To learn more go here.From there we’re joined by Pedro Alonzo, independent curator and Artistic Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial and one of the Triennial’s featured artists, Patrick Martinez. His installation “Cost of Living.” Working with Breaktime, an organization that supports young adults experiencing homelessness, he’s created a series of illuminated signs. They look like storefront advertisements, but their messages — phrases like “People Over Property” — tell a different story: one about struggle, empathy, and being seen. To learn more go here.

Bobbi Brown built a beauty empire on simplicity and self-expression. Now, with her new book “Still Bobbi” she lays bare her lessons in reinvention, resilience, and redefining beauty on her own terms. Catch her at Emerson College on October 27, 2025 for “An Evening with Bobbi Brown” — learn more here.From there Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik joins us for a roundup of the plays and movies to see right now. Joyce Kulhawik is an Emmy-award winning arts and entertainment reporter, president of the Boston Theatre Critics Association and you can find her reviews on joyceschoices.comFinally, Tracy K. Smith. The former U.S. Poet Laureate discusses her forthcoming book “Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times” — an invitation to listen, reflect, and let poetry guide us through uncertainty. She’ll appear at TEDxNewEngland on October 30, 2025 — learn more & register TEDxNewEngland+1

Music legend Peter Wolf has had a long solo career and rose to recognition as former lead singer of the J. Geils Band–famous for its high-octane shows and top 40 hits. Wolf joins The Culture Show to talk about his new memoir “Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters and Goddesses.”. Regie Gibson, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and an instructor at Clark University, has been selected as Massachusetts’ first Poet Laureate. He joins The Culture Show to talk about how he’ll define this role, his path to poetry and to share some of his work. Gibson is a songwriter, author, spoken-word poet and former National Poetry Slam Individual Champion.

Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Joyce Kulhawik co-host this week’s arts and Culture week-in-review. Joyce Kulhawik is a Culture Show contributor, Emmy-award winning arts and entertainment reporter and president of the Boston Theatre Critics Association. You can find her reviews at Joyce’s Choices.First up, In Danvers, a young-adult novel is sparking debate. “All American Boys”—the story of two teens, one Black and one white, whose lives collide after a violent encounter with police—has some parents objecting to its language and content. Teachers, meanwhile, argue its lessons on race, justice, and accountability are exactly what students should be reading.From there, Amazon’s new creative control of the James Bond franchise has fans shaken. The tech giant removed images of firearms from classic 007 artwork—erasing Bond’s trademark weapon from posters and box art. Critics say the world’s most famous spy has been stripped of his license to kill; Amazon insists it’s part of a broader effort to modernize the brand.Then country star Zach Bryan has ignited controversy with a teaser for his unreleased song “Bad News,” which takes aim at ICE raids and the fear they sow. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the lyrics “completely disrespectful,” and the agency fired back—posting arrest footage set to one of Bryan’s earlier songsFinally, thirty original Bob Ross paintings—the misty mountains and “happy little trees” that made The Joy of Painting a PBS classic—are heading to auction to support public television.

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book "Race Against Terror," which tells the thrilling story of how prosecutors traversed the globe, tracking down evidence to convict terrorist "Spin Ghul" for killing American servicemen in Afghanistan. On October 16th he’ll be at WBUR’s CitySpace. To learn more go here. As a child Matthew Shifrin received a gift that changed his life -- a LEGO set with instructions hand-written in Braille. Today he is the founder and CEO of Bricks for the Blind. He joins The Culture Show to talk about how their free Text-based Building Instructions allows people with visual impairments to build LEGO sets . To learn more about Bricks for the Blind go here.Finally we celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with Patricia Estorino, executive chef and co-owner of Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Café. Gustazo has expanded into two locations, Cambridge and Waltham. The restaurant has earned widespread recognition, including repeated spots on Boston Magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants list and multiple Best of Boston awards for Latin cuisine, brunch and most recently, Best Cuban Restaurant 2025. To learn more go here.

Actor and comedian Chris Grace joins The Culture Show to talk about his one-man show, “Sardines(A Comedy About Death),” which is onstage at The Huntington Theatre through November 16th. “Sardines” explores the tragic, hilarious, and important questions of our time: Can we enjoy life if we know how it ends? To learn more go here.From there, under a cloak of darkness, we head to Old Sturbridge Village, where history flickers to life at “Phantoms by Firelight: The Grand Season Finale.” It’s an immersive Halloween experience filled with ghost stories, lanterns, and the daring spectacle of Cyrkus Vampyr. Jim Donahue, CEO and President of Old Sturbridge Village and Rhys Simmons, their Director of Interpretation, Join the Culture Show for an overview.Finally Rebecca Kean, Operations Manager and co-owner of Jamaica Plain’s Brassica Kitchen + Cafe, along with co-chef, co-owner and designer Phillip Kruta join The Culture Show to talk about their expansion. To learn more go here.

Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, joins The Culture Show for his monthly segment “AI: Actual Intelligence.” This month we get his take on Bunny’s final concert in Puerto Rico, which Jeffries attended. It wasn’t just a performance — it was a homecoming and a moment of pride for millions across the diaspora. We’ll also get his take on the reaction that Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show is already generating.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,” now onstage at the American Repertory Theater through October 25th; more information here.Finally we get a preview of Boston Baroque’s season opener “Baroque Masterworks." The acclaimed harpsichordist and conductor Christian Curnyn and Boston Baroque Executive Director Sarah Radcliffe-Marrs join The Culture Show. “Baroque Masterworks" is October 11th and October 12th at Jordan Hall; more information here.

We continue our “Countdown to 2026” series with the Museum of Fine Arts to look at the art reframing our understanding of the American Revolution. Ahead of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we zoom in on Fritz Scholder’s “Bicentennial Indian.” Ethan Lasser, John Moors Cabot Chair, Art of the Americas and Marina Tyquiengco, Ellyn McColgan Associate Curator of Native American Art, lead the conversation.From there, Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Jill Lepore examines whether the U.S. Constitution still functions as a living document. Drawing on The Amendments Project—a vast archive of thousands of failed amendment proposals—Lepore argues that structural and political barriers have made constitutional change nearly impossible. In her new book, “We the People,” she traces how that paralysis has shifted the power to interpret and reshape democracy from citizens and lawmakers to the courts. You can catch Jill Lepore tonight at the First Parish Church at 7:00. The event is hosted by Harvard Book Store. To learn more go here.Finally filmmaker Tom Clement turns his lens on a new form of activism: light projections as protest. His documentary “Projecting Protest” follows artists and activists using buildings as canvases for messages that illuminate the ongoing battle between free expression, property rights, and public space. You can catch him tonight for a free screening at MassArt. The event is at 6:00. To learn more go here.

Today Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III drive our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, Taylor Swift dropped her new album at midnight. “Life of a Showgirl” blends spectacle with storytelling, marking –and marketing–another milestone in her reign over pop culture.From there, Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, a career touchdown that also amplifies Latin music on the world’s biggest stage. While fans cheer the, MAGA critics are calling it a cultural mismatch.Plus Jane Fonda is resurrecting the Committee for the First Amendment, a Hollywood group her father once joined during the McCarthy era. With new battles over censorship raging, she says the fight to defend free expression is as urgent as ever.Finally we remember Jane Goodall, the trailblazing primatologist, has died at 91. Her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees transformed our understanding of animal intelligence and deepened our sense of responsibility toward the natural world.

Celebrated writer Walter Mosley joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book in his Easy Rawlins series, “Gray Dawn: An Easy Rawlins Mystery.” Easy has led readers through Los Angeles — from the 1940s to the turbulent 1970s — with stories that combine the pace of classic crime fiction and the depth of literary character. In “Gray Dawn” a search for a missing woman drags Easy back into secrets from his past. Tonight you can catch Walter Mosley at Harvard Book Store at 7:00. To learn more go here.From there we enter the moonlit world of “Viola’s Room.” The immersive experience, which is at The Shed in New York City through November 16th. Created by Punchdrunk, a pioneer in immersive theatrical experiences, we talk to founder and artistic director, Felix Barrett. To learn more about “Viola’s Room” go here.Finally, Oliver Jeffers—author-illustrator and studio artist – joins The Culture Show. His picture books live on nightstands worldwide; his portraits and projects test what we remember and what we miss. Now with a solo exhibition at Praise Shadows Art Gallery he joins us to talk about how he thinks about story, image, and time. “Dipped Paintings: Oliver Jeffers” is on view through November 8th. To learn more go here.

Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley, and Edgar B. Herwick III host our inaugural Wednesday Watch Party with a comedy classic: Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America. The 1988 hit follows a prince who trades royal privilege for a crash course in Queens. At the time critics were divided, audiences were not. It was a box office smash at the time, now we ask you, nearly 40 years later, does it hold up. From there Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College, joins The Culture Show for his monthly appearance. Today he’s discussing the best way to power AI: geothermal power. Boston Architectural College pioneered this over a decade ago with eight wells under their Green Alley. 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.

We continue our Countdown to 2026 series with Andrea Puccio, Director of the Library at The Clark Art Institute. She gave us an overview of their new exhibition “Back Bay to the Berkshires: Celebrating 250 Years of Art in Massachusetts.” Russell Lord, Chief of Curatorial Affairs at the Norman Rockwell Museum, also joined us with a preview of their upcoming exhibition “Visions of a Nation: 250 Years from Revolution to Rockwell.”From there we looked at how Netflix’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters” has become the streamer’s most-watched film ever, showing the global pull of Korean pop culture. Ray Seol, Associate Professor of Professional Music at Berklee College of Music, helps us unpack how the movie builds on K-Pop’s history and what it reveals about Korean culture today.Finally, Henri Matisse. He’s known for paintings of light and joy, but his wartime years tell another story. Historian Christopher C. Gorham joins us to discuss his new book Matisse at War, which explores how the artist endured Nazi occupation, family hardship, and illness — transforming adversity into some of his boldest work. Tonight you can catch Christopher C. Gorham at Harvard Book Store at 7:00. To learn more go here.

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Stephen Greenblatt joins The Culture Show, to talk about his latest book, “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival.” It traces the meteoric rise and violent end of Christopher Marlowe—playwright, poet, spy, and heretic—whose genius endures today. Stephen Greenblatt is the John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University.From there Courtney O’Connor, Producing Artistic Director for Lyric Stage Boston, gives us an overview of their production of “Our Town,” which is onstage through October 19th. To learn more go here.Finally dating coach Caitlyn Hana joins us to talk about her approach to helping people meet the right match. Her aim is to help smart, quirky people find love in Boston, the Bay Area, and New York. She runs Enchanted Analytics. To learn more go here.

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: Jimmy Kimmel is back on late night. After ABC pulled his show, he returned with a monologue defending satire and drawing his biggest audience in years.From there, Apple TV+ has postponed “The Savant,” Jessica Chastain’s thriller about infiltrating extremist circles. While Apple cites political tensions, Chastain says the show’s urgent themes need to be heard.Plus, Bad Bunny wrapped a historic 31-show residency in Puerto Rico with a finale streamed worldwide. His run was both a love letter to the island and a global cultural moment.Finally, food critic Marilyn Hagerty, whose glowing Olive Garden review went viral in 2012, has died. She spent decades championing small-town diners, truck stops, and chain restaurants.

Acclaimed filmmaker Simon Curtis joins The Culture Show to talk about directing “Downton Abbey:The Grand Finale.” To learn more go here.Boston comedian Tony V has collaborated with renowned musicians on “Rock Bottom: The Musical,” which debuts tonight as part of National Recovery Month. To learn more go here.McGonagle’s Pub has landed a spot on “The New York Times” list of America’s best restaurants, making it the first Irish pub to get this national recognition. Chef Aidan McGee joins The Culture Show to talk about how he is reimagining pub fare. Aidan McGee is the chef patron of The Dubliner and McGonagle's Pub.

Joyce Kulhawik joins the Culture Show with Balancing Acts, a look at the latest plays in the area with a focus on what to prioritize amid an abundance of productions. Joyce Kulhawik is an Emmy-award winning arts and entertainment reporter, president of the Boston Theatre Critics Association and you can find her reviews on joyceschoices.comFrom there we get a preview of Club Passim’s “Reimagining Lilith Fair.” The event celebrates women, queer, and gender expansive artists in the Greater Boston music scene, highlighting the next wave of feminism and the wide breadth of talent in our city. Created and curated by Naomi Westwater, they join us along with participating artist, Amanda Shea. Reimagining Lilith Fair is Saturday, September 27th. To learn more go here.Finally, Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes on a virtual tour of Nubian Square where the public art is created for the community.. Julia Swanson is a multidisciplinary artist and award winning photographer who is the creator of The Art Walk Project – a series of self-guided micro tours of art across Greater Boston.

Actor Barry Bostwick joins The Culture Show ahead of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular” at Emerson Colonial Theatre. The celebration includes the unedited film, a live shadow cast, audience participation, a costume contest, and VIP meet-and-greets— it’s the full midnight-movie experience. The event is on Wednesday, October 1st. To learn more go here.From there Susanne Simpson, Executive Producer of “MASTERPIECE” reflects on the legacy of “Downton Abbey” and she previews what’s next – from the costume drama “The Forsytes,” to the crime drama “The Gold,” and the return of fan favorites such as “All Creatures Great and Small.” To keep on top of all of MASTERPIECE’s programming go here.Finally, Jeremy Sewall, Chef and Owner of Row 34, shares recipes and stories from his new cookbook “Everyday Chef: Simple Dishes for Family and Friends,” which illustrates how restaurant expertise can translate into simple, satisfying meals at home.

Boston’s dining scene just scored a national spotlight: “The New York Times” has named La Padrona one of the best restaurants in America. The Back Bay restaurant is the vision of Eric Papachristos and chef Jody Adams. Eric Papachristos joins The Culture Show to talk about this recognition and the state of Boston’s restaurant scene; he’s a co-founder and CEO of A Street Hospitality Group.From there Film takes center stage with CineFest Latino Boston, running September 24–28 at venues across the city. The annual festival celebrates films by and about Latinos, showcasing stories that span countries, cultures, and genres. Sabrina Avilés, an independent filmmaker and the festival’s founder and executive director, joins us for a sneak preview. To learn more go here.Finally, Dawn M. Simmons, Artistic Director of SpeakEasy Stage joins The Culture Show to talk about the Pulitzer Prize–winning play “Primary Trust.” Written by Eboni Booth, it follows Kenneth, a man bound by years of routine, whose life opens up –for the better–in the face of an abrupt change. Staging. “Primary Trust’ is on through October 11th. To learn more go here.

Today Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III host our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, Late-night just got quieter. ABC has yanked Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after the host’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination sparked outrage from conservatives and the FCC.From there, after nearly 50 years, Jerry Greenfield is leaving Ben & Jerry’s, saying their parent company is silencing their social activism, despite promises to let them remain independentAnd we remember Robert Redford, the star, the storyteller, and the visionary who reframed American cinema.Finally, Somerville crowned Minerva, a black feline with a one-word platform—“Crime”—as its Bike Path Mayor.

For more than a quarter century, Richard Smith 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 is stepping away from the role. Closing a chapter that made Thoreau’s world vividly real for thousands who visited Walden Pond.From there, If you think carving a pumpkin takes skill, imagine shaping one in glass heated to nearly 2,000 degrees. At MIT’s Glass Lab—a place where art meets science—students, faculty, and alumni practice the craft of glassblowing. It’s one of the only university studios of its kind. And each fall, the fruits of their labor gleam on the campus lawn in what is known as the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch, taking place September 27th at MIT's Kresge Oval. To learn more, go here.And, Chris Vognar, the Boston Globe’s new TV and pop culture critic is here. He’ll give us a preview of what to watch on the small screen this month, from the chilling sci-fi of Alien: Earth to the Jude Law-Jason Bateman brotherly bond in Black Rabbit. To read Chris' reviews, go here.

We continue our Countdown to 2026 series with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Each month we look at artworks that shed new light on the American Revolution and the people who shaped it. Today Layla Bermeo joins us to talk about Miguel de Herrera’s Portrait of Doña Feliciana Belendes y Ramirez. Layla Bermeo is the Kristin and Roger Servison Curator of Paintings, Art of the Americas.Singer-songwriter Will Dailey also joins us to talk about his latest album, Boys Talking and his $10 Song project, an experiment connecting fans directly to the music. You can catch him live this Saturday, September 20th, at 8:00 PM at Meadow Hall at Groton Hill Music Center. To learn more go here.And Somerville stirs up one of its sweetest celebrations—the annual “What the Fluff?” Festival. On Saturday, September 20th from 2:00 to 6:00 PM, Union Square fills with music, games, and marshmallow mayhem in honor of the hometown invention that made the fluffernutter a legend. Jessica Eshleman, Executive Director of Union Square Main Streets, joins us for an overview. To learn more go here.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier joins The Culture Show ahead of her concert at The First Church in Belmont with special guest Jaimee Harris. Rooted in folk and country traditions, Gauthier has built a career on transforming hard experiences into songs that connect and heal. To learn more about this Friday’s concert go here.At Emerson College comedy is no laughing matter. Decades before it launched the nation’s first comedy degree, Emerson was sending performers like Jennifer Coolidge and Jay Leno into the spotlight. Now the school is reviving its American Comedy Archives, with candid new interviews featuring Bill Burr, Paula Poundstone, and others. Comedian and Emerson alum Eddie Brill, who lead these conversations, joins us for an overview. To explore the archives go here.Finally MassArt President Mary Grant joins us for her monthly appearance. Today she reflects on freedom of speech on college campuses.

First up, we recap the 2025 Emmy Awards with Callie Crossley, Culture Show co-host and host of Under the Radar with Callie Crossley and Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik, Emmy Award–winning arts and entertainment critic and President of the Boston Theater Critics Association. You can find her reviews at Joyce’s Choices.At Boston’s historic King’s Chapel, a new Living Memorial is taking shape to honor the lives of 219 enslaved people once tied to the church. We’re joined by Harmonia Rosales, visual artist and creator of Unbound, and Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister at King’s Chapel.Finally, Jane Eaglen joins us for her take on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.” Jane Eaglen is a Grammy Award–winning soprano, faculty member at New England Conservatory and President of the Boston Wagner Society, explores if there are any traces of traditional opera in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.

Today Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines on The Culture Show’s week-in-review.First up: Our local culinary scene. It’s having a moment; in its list of America’s 50 Best restaurants, The New York Times names five from New England. The list includes the upscale Italian fare at La Padrona in Boston’s Raffles Hotel and the modern twist on Irish pub food at McGonagle’s in Dorchester.From there, Banksy strikes again. The artist unveiled a new mural at the Royal Courts of Justice building in London, 48 hours after its discovery, it was removed. The irony: The mural was a commentary on the suppression of freedom of speech.Finally, we remember actress Polly Holliday who was best known as the wisecracking waitress Flo on the 1970s sitcom Alice. She died this week at age 88.

Award-winning actor, director, singer-songwriter and bestselling author David Duchovny joins The Culture Show to discuss “About Time: Poems,” a collection that reflects on love, family, aging, and the shifting nature of time. From there Robin Dawson, Executive Director of Boston Film Festival previews the 41st season, which kicks off on September 18th. To learn more go here.Finally Obie Award-winning playwright Kirsten Greenidge joins The Culture Show to discuss “The Kittie Knox Plays.” Presented by Plays in Place in collaboration with MassBike, the series kicks off on September 13th. To learn more about performance times and venues 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.From there Maurice Emmanuel Parent joins us for a preview of Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning play “The Mountaintop. It reimagines events on the night before Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. While a fictional take on events, Hall creates a humanizing glimpse into the civil rights leader’s final hours, The Front Porch Arts Collective is opening its 2025/2026 season with this work. It’s directed by Maurice Emmanuel Parent who is also the Porch's co-founder and Producing Artistic Director. To learn more go here.Finally internationally acclaimed artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez joins The Culture Show for an overview of his solo exhibition at Boston University At Galleries, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There).The works on view include over a dozen original paintings that combine acrylic, oil, and custom textiles, with embellishments painted directly onto the gallery walls extending the artwork beyond the frame and into the space itself. The exhibition is on view through December 10. To learn more go here.

Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, joins The Culture Show to preview this Saturday’s Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!” International Music Festival. It’s a celebration of music, culture, and social justice. To learn more go here.From there Molly Schwartzburg joins The Culture Show for an overview of a new exhibition “Edward Gorey: The Gloomy Gallery. It’s on view at Harvard’s Houghton Library through January 12th. Molly Schwartzburg is the Philip Hofer Curator of Printing and Graphic Arts. She co-curated this exhibition with Maggie Erwin. To learn more go here.Finally writer Nicholas Boggs joins The Culture Show to talk about his book, “Baldwin: A Love Story.” It's the first major biography of James Baldwin in three decades, revealing how the writer’s personal relationships shaped his life and work. Tonight Nicholas Baldwin will be at Harvard Book Store. To learn more go here.

Writer Ben Shattuck’s award-winning story “The History of Sound,” is now a feature length film. Set in World War I, it follows two young men who set out into the woods of Maine to collect folk songs before they vanish. The film is a love story, a time capsule, and a meditation on who gets remembered and how. He joins The Culture Show to talk about adapting his short story to the Silver Screen. “The History of Sound’s” theatrical release in the U.S. is September 12th. To learn more go here.From there writer David Baron joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America. David Baron is an award-winning journalist and author who writes about science, nature, and the American West. While writing “THE MARTIANS,” David Baron served as the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation.Finally, we get a jump on Mexican Independence Day with Veronica Robles. She and her all-female Mariachi band will perform this Sunday at The Charles Hotel Lower Courtyard in Harvard Square. The celebrations start at 4:00. To learn more go here. Veronica Robles is Mariachi singer, musician and Latin American folkloric dancer and choreographer. She is also the co-founder and Director of the Veronica Robles Cultural Center in East Boston.

Today Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons go over the latest arts and culture headlines on our week-in-review.First up, we look at the redesign of the Massachusetts state flag and seal. More than 1,150 public submissions have been narrowed down to just a few options for further review. From there we move to Florida now where Governor Ron DeSantis is taking his “war on woke” to the streets—literally. His administration has ordered the removal of rainbow crosswalks, murals, and other community artwork across the state, calling them unsafe and politically charged. Finally we remember Giorgio Armani who died this week at 91. Armani changed fashion by making formal wear as comfortable as sportswear, with his signature unstructured jackets and streamlined style. His influence stretched from the runway to the red carpet, building a global brand that came to define modern elegance.

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. On September 8th Sally Mann appears at the Brattle Theater for an event sponsored by Harvard Book Store. Tickets are sold out but there is a waitlist. Also, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has announced that she’ll appear as part of the Shapiro Celebrity Lectures next February. “My First Ex-Husband” is an adaptation of true stories by Joy Behar, writer, comedienne and co-host of The View. The play explores the messy, hilarious truths of love, sex, and relationships. Ahead of its run at The Huntington Theatre, Joy Behar joins The Culture Show to talk about creating this work. “My First Ex-Husband” is onstage September 12 - September 28. To learn more go here. Finally we continue our series “Countdown to 2026” with Kate Fox, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, which is leading the Massachusetts 250 campaign, and Brian Boyles, the Executive Director at Mass Humanities. He sits on the state's Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and he co-chairs Everyone 250. To stay on top of all things MA250 go here.

Independent Curator and Artistic Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial Pedro Alonzo joins The Culture Show with Adela Goldbard. She is an interdisciplinary artist-scholar and educator from Mexico and an Associate Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. They’re previewing Goldbard’s Triennial pyrotechnic performance, which will happen at Boston City Hall Plaza, September 12, at 7:00. To learn more go here. From there mother and son duo Jyoti Mukharji and Auyon Mukharji, join The Culture show to talk about their new collaboration “Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen.” On September 4th you can catch them at Davoll’s General Store at 4:00 in South Dartmouth, MA. To learn more go here. You can also catch them at Brookline Booksmith on September 5th, more information on that event is here.Finally, Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College joins The Culture Show for his monthly appearance. Today he’s discussing the art and science of relocating a building, a conversation that was inspired by this story about a church on the move. 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.

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. On September 10th she’ll be at Porter Square Books, in conversation with Chris Cooper. To learn more go here. From there we head to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for an overview of their new exhibition “Rachel Ruysch: Artist, Naturalist, and Pioneer.” Antien Knaap, the MFA’s Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo, Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe, and Charles Davis, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University join The Culture Show.Finally Shana Carroll, the Co-Founding Artistic Director of the Montreal based circus company The 7 Fingers joins us to talk about “Passengers,” which is written, directed and choreographed by Carroll. “Passengers,” is a kinetic show about train travel as a metaphor for life that blends circus, music, dance and storytelling. It’s onstage at the American Repertory Theater’s Loeb Drama Center through September 26th. It is co-produced by TOHU and ArtsEmerson. To learn more go here.

Wendy Benchley joins The Culture Show. She is the wife of the late author Peter Benchley, who wrote the bestselling novel “Jaws.” Since the success of the book and subsequent film, Wendy Benchley has dedicated much of her life to conservation. She is an award-winning ocean advocate and scuba diver. She is cofounder of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards. Along with Laura Bowling, Wendy Benchley is the Executive Producer of the new film “Jaws at 50: The Definitive Inside Story.” It's a National Geographic documentary produced in partnership with Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. To learn more go here.From there Anna Barber, Curator of Exhibitions at Martha's Vineyard Museum joins The Culture Show for an overview of their sprawling exhibition “Jaws’ at 50: A Deeper Dive,” It’s on view through September 7th. To learn more go here.Finally we end where we began, wading into the ocean with another look at “Jaws” at 50. Writer Christopher Shaw Myers joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Robert Shaw: An Actor’s Life on the Set of JAWS and Beyond.”

Director Carson Lund joins The Culture Show to talk about his debut feature film “Eephus,” a quintessentially New England baseball film. Find out more, here.From there Andy Husbands, chef and owner of The Smoke Shop BBQ, has co-authored the “Quick and Easy Burger Cookbook,” which will bump your burger game with creative recipes. He joins The Culture Show to talk about how we can turn our nothing burger into a something burger. Finally we talk to John Flansburgh, one half of the iconic alt-rock duo They Might Be Giants. TMBG have charmed audiences with their eclectic, genre-bending style for decades. They’ve released countless albums, contributed music to TV shows such as “Malcolm in the Middle,” and wriggled their way into the public consciousness with songs like “Doctor Worm” and “Birdhouse in your Soul.”

Music legend Peter Wolf has had a long solo career and rose to recognition as former lead singer of the J. Geils Band–famous for its high-octane shows and top 40 hits. Wolf joins The Culture Show to talk about his new memoir “Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters and Goddesses.”. Regie Gibson, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and an instructor at Clark University, has been selected as Massachusetts’ first Poet Laureate. He joins The Culture Show to talk about how he’ll define this role, his path to poetry and to share some of his work. Gibson is a songwriter, author, spoken-word poet and former National Poetry Slam Individual Champion.

Ben Shattuck’s latest book, “The History of Sound: Stories” is a collection of interconnected stories that examine the lives and landscapes of New England where Shattuck spans centuries in these haunting and often humorous stories. From there it’s teacher by day, Cakeswagg by night. The Boston-based Lyricist and rapper joins us to talk about her sophomore album “Michelin Star.”Finally writer Andre Dubus III. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest work, a collection of personal essays, “Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin,” Andre Dubus III teaches writing at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Best-selling author J. Courtney Sullivan joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest novel, “The Cliffs.” It is an intricately layered novel of family, spirits, and secrets set on the seaside cliffs of Maine.Then author Colm Tóibín joins us. He doesn’t like sequels. He thinks of them as kind of a literary copout. But 15 years after he published his critically acclaimed novel “Brooklyn,” he has written a follow up: the novel “Long Island.” He joins us to talk about the hold that his protagonist, Eilis Lacey has had on him. Finally it’s time for “Sound Files,” our recurring series where we invite local musicians and cultural critics to zero in on one of their favorite entries in the US National Recording Registry. Today Dart Adams, a journalist, historian and lecturer, has chosen to go deep on De La Soul’s “3 Feet High and Rising.”

Interdisciplinary artist Dread Scott joins The Culture Show. In 1989, the US Senate outlawed his artwork and President Bush declared it "disgraceful" because of its transgressive use of the American flag. Dread became part of a landmark Supreme Court case when he and others burned flags on the steps of the Capitol. He is a revolutionary artist who gives us a new way to see some ugly truths about America. From there the acclaimed author André Aciman joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Room on the Sea: Three Novellas.” Finally, it’s another episode 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, Janie Barnett has chosen to go deep on Cyndi Lauper’s “She’s So Unusual.” Janie Barnett’s latest album is “Under My Skin: Reimagining Cole Porter.”

Today Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines on The Culture Show’s week-in-review.First up, fashion backward. We look at a new trend, people wearing vintage clothing with styles inspired by period dramas such as “The Gilded Age” and “Downton Abbey.” From there we analyze the “Sex in the City,” sequel, “And Just Like That.” The series finale was this week and it left fans feeling flat. Then it’s off to the box office where comedies are having a comeback. In recent years they have been sidelined to streaming platforms. Now, with movies such as “The Naked Gun” and “Freakier Friday “ emerging as box office hits, will there be more comedic films having theatrical releases? Finally, we look at how recreational reading rates have steadily declined in the US over the last 20 years, and we’ll look through some of the latest words entered into the Cambridge Dictionary this year.

From Greenwich Village nightclubs to “The Tonight Show” to Hollywood’s red carpets, Joan Rivers made and remade her career through triumph and tragedy. Now the highs and lows of her life and career come together in the play “JOAN.” The executive producer is Melissa Rivers, an actress, writer and TV host. Melissa Rivers joins The Culture Show to talk about bringing the essence of her mother to the stage. “JOAN” is onstage at the Cape Playhouse September 3rd through September 20th. To learn more go here.From there, we look at where history meets contemporary art. Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes us on a tour through Charlestown Navy Yard, home of the USS Constitution and its new neighbor: The Boston Public Art Triennial. Julia Swanson is a multidisciplinary artist and award winning photographer who is the creator of The Art Walk Project – a series of self-guided micro tours of art across Greater Boston.Finally, we stay outdoors with Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture at Native Plant Trust. He joins The Culture Show to talk about welcoming native plants into your garden, late-season perennial blooms, the value of veteran trees and the scourge of beech leaf disease. To learn more about Native Plant Trust go here.

Bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest thriller, ”All This Could Be Yours,” The book centers on debut sensation Tessa Calloway. She’s on a whirlwind book tour for her instant bestseller, But there's a chilling problem—she soon discovers she is being stalked by someone who's obsessed not only with sabotaging her career, but also with destroying her perfect family back home. “All This Could Be Yours,” hits bookstores on September 9th. To learn more go here.From there we are joined by Kevin Levesque as Miss Conception, who has been delighting audiences around the world for more than 23 years. Miss Conception gives us an overview of her current comedic drag show “Make America Gay Again,” which is onstage in Provincetown at The Art House through September 13th. To learn more go here.Finally Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik joins us for our recurring feature, Stage and Screen Time–a look at the latest movies and upcoming plays. 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.

Twice-a-Day Ray is an original cover band that’s too busy saving lives to write their own songs. That’s because the band is made up of three emergency doctors and an emergency medicine PA. Ahead of their August 22nd show at the Cantab Lounge in Central Square, guitarist Colin Devonshire and lead vocalist Kayla Ninteau join The Culture Show. To learn more about Twice-a-Day Ray check them out here. And to keep abreast of everything going on in Central Square this go here.From there Culture Show contributor Jane Eaglen, a Grammy-winning dramatic soprano, joins us to talk about opera as a contact sport and the Wagnerian legacy of Jim Steinman. Jane Eaglen is on the faculty at New England Conservatory and is the President of the Boston Wagner Society. Finally Mary Grant, president of MassArt, joins The Culture Show for her monthly appearance. Today, she joins us with a message for arts students as the 2025-2026 school year begins.

The Sandwich Glass Museum is featuring the artistry of Josh Simpson in the exhibition “50 Years of Visionary Glass.” Josh and his wife, retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman. Cady Coleman’s new book is “Sharing Space: An Astronaut’s Guide to Mission, Wonder and Making Change.” Josh Simpson’s new book is “Josh Simpson: 50 Years of Visionary Glass.” They join The Culture Show to talk about their complementary careers.From there National Book Award–winning writer Imani Perry joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book “Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People.” It’s a meditation on the color blue and its role in Black history and culture.Finally, Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes us on a tour through Kendall Square with a look at SciArt. Julia Swanson is a multidisciplinary artist and award winning photographer who is the creator of The Art Walk Project– a series of self-guided micro tours of art across Greater Boston.

Today Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines on The Culture Show’s week-in-review.First up, Amazon’s “War of the Worlds” reboot earns a rare 3% rating on the movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It’s also being criticized as pro-tech propaganda.From there they’ll discuss Taylor Swift entering a new era, announcing the release of her 12th studio album “The Life of a Showgirl.”Then it’s off to Washington D.C. as President Trump reviews eight of the Smithsonian Institutions' museums to determine if their exhibitions align with his historical vision ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. We’ll also go over his Kennedy Center honorees.Finally, Callie Crossley, ever the trendsetter, unveils the hot summer trend: the mini fan.

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall joins The Culture Show to talk about her new book, “A Protest History of the United States.” Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is an American civil rights attorney, author, playwright, essayist, and professor of Constitutional Law at CUNY's John Jay College of Criminal Justice.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, acclaimed music photographer Henry Diltz joins The Culture Show to talk about his show “Legends in Focus: The Photography” which is tonight at 7:00 at an event hosted by Emerson College and ArtsEmerson. To learn more go here.