The Culture Show Podcast

Director Igor Golyak is the founder of Arlekin Players Theatre based in Needham. He joins The Culture Show to talk about upcoming events, productions and what it means to be embarking on its 15th anniversary year. To learn more about Arlekin Players Theatre and their programming, go here.Since 1938 researchers at Harvard have been studying the lives of hundreds of people and their families to discover what makes us happy. Some of the key findings were in the New York Times bestselling book, “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness,” by Dr. Robert Waldinger and Marc Shulz. Now out in paperback, Dr. Robert Waldinger joins The Culture Show to talk about this research. He is the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development.Finally, Independent Curator Pedro Alonzo joins The Culture Show for his monthly appearance. Today he took us on a radio tour through London’s art scene. Pedro Alonzo is the Artistic Director of The Boston Public Art Triennial.

What happened to young Elphaba before she was saddled with the wicked mantle? Almost 30 years after the publication of “Wicked,” Gregory Maguire offers readers Elphaba’s origin story in a new book titled “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood.” He joins The Culture Show to talk about it.From there Boston Celtics’ president Rich Gotham joins The Culture Show to talk about the new HBO docu-series “Celtics City,” which is streaming now on Max, with new episodes dropping Monday nights.Finally we head to candlepin city: Worcester. Vanessa Bumpus, Exhibits Coordinator for the Museum of Worcester gives us an overview of “Strikes, Spares & Deadwood: Candlepin Bowling,” which is on view through April 5th. To learn more, go here.

The new comedy film, “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” stars Tim Key as a lottery winner who tries to reunite his favorite musical duo Mortimer-McGwyer, played by Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden, also a romantic couple that broke up many years ago. Distributed by Focus Features, the film hits theaters on March 28th. Ahead of its release Tim Key and Tom Basden, who co-wrote and co-star in the film, join The Culture Show.From there we get a jump on the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, which kick off this Wednesday at TD Garden. National champion pair skaters Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov join The Culture Show for a preview. To learn more about the championships, go here.Finally Mahesh Daas, President of Boston Architectural College, joins The Culture Show to talk about upcoming events at the BAC featuring architect Tatiana Bilbao. Mahesh Daas is a Culture Show contributor who joins us monthly. He is co-author of the graphic novella about artificial intelligence, titled “I, Nobot.” Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO: Research Center of the Sea of Cortez exhibit is on view at the BAC’s McCormick Gallery through May 9th. 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, they reflect on the 35th anniversary of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum robbery, the largest art heist in the world and Boston’s most famous unsolved mystery.Then it’s something that’s hardly the steal of this century, the Boston Celtics have been sold for a record-breaking $6.1 billion.From there it’s an update on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s Family Days expansion, which now includes free admission to the performance arts and more museums.Finally, they listen to Will Smith’s musical comeback by way of his forthcoming album–his first in 20 years,

Fabiola Jean-Louis, a visual activist working in photography, paper textile design, and sculpture joins The Culture Show to talk about her solo exhibition at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum “Waters of the Abyss: An Intersection of Spirit and Freedom.” The exhibition features a large amount of original commissions from the Haitian artist, crafted from paper pulp, mineral stones, shells, metals, glass, and other materials. The exhibition is on view through May 25th. To learn more, go hereFrom there, Washington Post theater critic Naveen Kumar joins The Culture Show to talk about his recent column, “What happens when a theater critic can’t sit down?Finally, Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga, founding artistic director of OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center and Nicole Taney, the artistic director at Celebrity Series, preview “Ailey Revelations Celebration.” With the help of Celebrity Series the dance theater group will be in Boston to facilitate four free community events –Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park and Mattapan–teaching locals dance moves from Alvin Ailey’s legendary performance “Revelations.” To learn more go here.

Joshua Croke, the President and Founder of the organization Love Your Labels joins The Culture Show to preview their “Threads Youth Fashion Showcase,” which features the artistry of youth designers, ages 13-19. The showcase is this Sunday at the Jean McDonough Arts Center in Worcester. To learn more, go here.From there, by day she teaches theater to Boston’s youth; by night, she channels those skills into her performance as her larger-than-life rap alter ego, Cakeswagg. Her latest album is “Michelin Star.” She won Video of the Year at the Boston Music Awards for "Bad Bitch Link Up." Coming up, on March 29th she’ll be a special guest performer at the Love Your Magic Conference and in April she’s taking on a dual role in UMass Boston Theatre Arts' spring production of “Peter and the Starcatcher.” She joins The Culture Show to talk about it all and for an in-studio performance.Finally, it’s your last chance to take in WINTERACTIVE, the outdoor public art installation. We get a final overview with Michael Nichols, the President of the Downtown Boston Alliance, which is hosting and producing WINTERACTIVE in partnership with Quebec-based curatorial partners and independent artists working in Boston, Canada, and beyond. Participating artist Brandon Vickerd, the creative force behind “Alouette,” also joins The Culture Show. WINTERACTIVE wraps up on March 30th. To learn more, go here.

We mark the 35th anniversary of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist with Holly Salmon, the John L. and Susan K. Gardner Director of Conservation and Anthony Amore, head of security and chief investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.From there Emmy Award-winning director Lauren Stowell joins The Culture Show to talk about the HBO documentary series “Celtics City,” which is available to stream on Max, with new episodes debuting Monday nights.Finally we get a preview of Music Worcester’s “Bach Birthday Bash,” with four concerts featuring 14 of the composer's works performed by local and international-caliber musicians. Chris Shepard, the artistic director of The Complete Bach, the Worcester Chorus and CONCORA, joins The Culture Show for a preview.

Kim David Smith, the internationally acclaimed singer and actor, joins The Culture Show to discuss his new album, “Mostly Marlene,” and to preview his show at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater on March 21st, "Mostly Marlene: a Dietrich-Drenched Album Debut!" To learn more, go here.From there we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Riverdance. Steven O Broin was an original company member. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his experience, how Riverdance became a global sensation and what it means to see Riverdance celebrate its 30th anniversary with a new tour “Riverdance 30: The New Generation,” which will be at The Boch Center Wang Theatre April 8-April 13th. To learn more, go here.Finally Jane Eaglen joins The Culture Show to talk about The Kennedy Center. It has been a venue for some of the greatest operas and operatic performances. What will it mean for opera if the Kennedy Center’s programing no longer includes opera? Jane Eaglen is a Grammy-winning soprano. She’s on the faculty at New England Conservatory and she’s the President of the Boston Wagner Society.

Callie Crossley, James Bennett and Lisa SImmons go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library is honored with the Harleston Parker Medal for best new architecture. Then it’s onto a structure that has no honor despite a public campaign to save it– The Pink house has been demolished. From there, President Trump removes Shelley C. Lowe, Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and finally a tribute to D’Wayne Wiggins, a pioneer of neo soul who was a guitarist and singer for Tony! Toni! Toné!

Veteran television journalist and anchor Chris Wallace joins The Culture Show to talk about the state of media today, a polarize nation and why presidential debates still matter.From there Chris Pitts, the founder and producer of the Newton Piano Summit, which showcases world-class professional musicians in a series of concerts each season, joins The Culture Show to preview the 2025 season, which kicks off March 15th. Participating musician Anastassiya Petrova, a jazz pianist and organist, also joins The Culture Show with an in-studio performance. The Newton Piano Summit is 3:00-5:00 PM March 15, 16, 22 and 23 at Second Newton Church in Newton. To learn more, go here.Finally Mary Grant, President of MassArt, joins the Culture Show for her monthly appearance. This month, as we near the 5th anniversary of the COVID shutdown, she reflects on how the pandemic upended higher education and the arts sector. She also previews this year’s MassArt Auction.

“Parade,” the Tony-winning revival on Broadway, is now onstage at Emerson Colonial Theatre through March 23rd. The musical is a dramatization of the real life, trial and tragedy of Leo Frank. He was a Jewish man from Brooklyn who found himself in Atlanta in 1913. As a northerner in the south, he quickly found himself subject to rampant antisemitism which culminated in Frank being tried and convicted for the rape and murder of a 13-year old white girl. He was imprisoned and subsequently abducted and lynched by white supremacists. Max Chernin who plays Leo Frank, and Talia Suskauer who stars as his wife Lucille Frank join The Culture Show to talk about bringing this story to life. From there it’s the post-post-modern diva Meow Meow. Internationally renowned for her chansons, cabaret classics, and covers–she brings mischief and mayhem to her performances. She joins The Culture Show ahead of her March 15 show at Sanders Theatre, An Evening with Meow Meow, presented by Celebrity Series. Finally the acclaimed pianist and filmmaker James Carson joins The Culture Show to talk about his endeavor–two decades in the making–to find a new way to perform and have audiences experience music. He captures this odyssey in his documentary film, “Cabin Music,” which he’s screening throughout Massachusetts. To learn about upcoming events go here.

The new baroque opera “The Seasons,” is making its world premiere in Boston. It was conceptualized by Anthony Roth Costanzo and playwright Sara Ruhl who joined The Culture Show for an overview. The Seasons Is set in the near future when the seasons are out of order and extreme weather upends the life and aspirations of a group of artists who’ve escaped the city for a creative retreat on a remote farm. The music is Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” along with other compositions and the libretto is by Sarah Ruhl. “The Seasons” is a co-Production with Boston Lyric Opera, SCENE, and AMOC,* co-presented by ArtsEmerson. It’s onstage March 12th through March 16th. To learn more go here.From there Lisa Fagin Davis joins The Culture Show for a recap of the Hundred-Year Book Debate 2025. Every year the Associates of the Boston Public Library ask “are the books that were published a hundred years ago still relevant today?” The 1925 classics that competed this year for relevancy supremacy were “The Trial,” by Franz Kafka. “Mrs. Dalloway,” by Virginia Woolf and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”Finally theater artist Melody Munitz joins The Culture Show to talk about playing Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family. The national Broadway tour brings the show to Boston at the Wang Theatre at the Boch Center March 21-March 23. To learn more go here.

Craig Ferguson, the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director and comedian joins The Culture Show to talk about his “Pants on Fire” tour, which brings him to Boston for a show at The Wilbur on March 13th. To learn more go here.From there Mark Anastasio, Program Manager & Director of Special Programming at Coolidge Corner Theatre, joins The Culture Show for an overview of their Big Screen Classics series, which is on now through mid-June. To learn more go here.Finally we head to the MIT campus where the “Great Dome,” will be illuminated. The exhibition titled, “Gaze to the Stars,” is part of Artfinity, MIT’s Festival for the Arts. The creative force behind this installation, Behnaz Farahi, a professor at the MIT Media Lab, joins The Culture Show for a preview. To learn more about the exhibition go here.

Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, James Bennett II and Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, Lin-Manuel Miranda cancels “Hamilton’s” upcoming run at the Kennedy Center amid leadership and ideological changes. From there it’s a look at a freedom of speech issue as the publisher of the romance novel series “Sparrow and Vine,” pulls the books amid readers’ backlash over a character expressing pro Elon Musk sentiments. Then it’s onto Meghan Markle–now Meghan the Duchess of Sussex–and her lifestyle Netflix series, which has been universally panned. Finally, it’s a conversation about Serena Williams who is now an investor in the WNBA.

Award-winning poet Tiana Clark joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest collection of poems, “Scorched Earth.” Tiana Clark will be at a book event March 6th at 7:00 at Porter Square Books: Boston Edition. To learn more, go here.From there Brian Harrington joins The Culture Show. He’s the owner and operator of PopUp Bagels in the Seaport District, which will soon expand into Somerville and Cambridge. It’s famous for being served piping hot, and for those long lines.Finally the pioneering video artist Charles Atlas joins The Culture Show to talk about his major retrospective at the ICA, which is on view through March 16th. On March 6th he’ll be in conversation with ICA curator Jeffrey De Blois. To learn more go here.

James Parker, a staff writer at “The Atlantic,” joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest piece “When Robert Frost was Bad.” James Parker runs the Black Seed Writers Group—a weekly writing workshop for homeless, transitional, and recently housed writers–and he edits “The Pilgrim,” a literary magazine from the homeless community of downtown Boston. His latest book is “Get Me Through the Next Five Minutes.” From there Marissa Gallant, director of education at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, joins The Culture Show to give us an overview of their exhibition “Pixels+Petals,” which features over 2,000 orchids. It’s on through March 23rd.Finally Paul Daigneault, Producing Artistic Director at SpeakEasy Stage, joins The Culture Show to talk about stepping down after leading the theater company for over 30 years. He also discusses his farewell production, the musical “A Man of No Importance,” which is onstage through March 22nd. To learn more go here.

Reginald Dwayne Betts is an award-winning poet, a lawyer and founder of Freedom Reads, a first of its kind organization working to transform access to books in prisons. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book “Doggerel: Poems.” From there comedian, actress and singer-songwriter Margaret Cho joins The Culture Show to talk about her new album “Lucky Gift,” and her “Live and Livid” comedy show, which brings her to The Wilbur on March 14th. Finally David Brown,Vice President of Communications and Development, at Vinfen joins The Culture Show for a preview of the Vinfen Film Festival. Every year Vinfen uses the power of film to raise awareness and fight against the discrimination and stigma often faced by people with mental health conditions and disabilities. The Vinfen Film Festival is March 15th.

Joyce Kulhawik joins The Culture Show for an Oscars recap with her take on the snoozers, snubs and surprises. 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’sChoices.From there, Admiral James Stavridis. He led NATO's global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander for the alliance. He is also a prolific and popular author of historical military fiction whose novels offer cautionary tales. He joins The Culture Show to talk about geopolitics, European history and his process as a writer.Finally Danyson Tavares, the Executive Director of the Boston Society for Architecture joins The Culture Show for his take on President Trump’s executive order, mandating classical architecture for government buildings.

Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and James Bennett II go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the return of the Fyre Festival. Notorious for scamming people the first time around, it’s back selling tickets that range between $1,400 and $1.1 million. From there it’s the legacy of Soul and R&B icon Roberta Flack,reflecting on the versatile career of the legendary actor Gene Hackman, and remembering actress Michele Trachtenberg of “Gossip Girl” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fame.Then we raise a glass to South Boston’s summertime destination, Sullivan's Castle and Island, which just won a James Beard America’s Classics Award.And ruminations on the fate of 007 now that Amazon owns the James Bond franchise.

Boston’s high-octane New Orleans-inspired brass band, Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, is celebrating Mardi Gras with a show this Saturday at Scullers. Musician, composer and founder of Revolutionary Snake Ensemble Ken Field, and acclaimed trumpeter Jason Palmer join The Culture Show for a preview. From there the new director of the MIT Museum, Michael John Gorman, joins The Culture Show to talk about his vision for the museum and to talk about Artfinity, the MIT festival for the arts.Finally Mary Grant, president of MassArt joins The Culture Show for her monthly appearance to mark the fifth anniversary of MAAM and to discuss how the Trump administration’s agenda is reverberating through the arts sector and higher ed.

Art and science converge in the exhibition “Nebulae: The Universe Unveiled,” on view at the New Bedford Art Museum through March 9th. Six NASA photographs from the Webb and Hubble telescopes are on display with works by artists who have either been directly inspired by the NASA photographs or inspired by the marvels of the night sky. Suzanne de Vegh, Executive Director of The New Bedford Art Museum; Mark Munkacsy, President of the Astronomical Society of Southern New England and Acting Director of the Observatory at UMass Dartmouth, and ceramicist and experimental filmmaker Harvey Goldman join The Culture Show for an overview.The children’s musical “Finn” was commissioned by the Kennedy Center, and it had a critically acclaimed run at the end of last year. Under President Trump’s leadership, The Kennedy Center has pulled the plug on the musical’s tour. The Director of “Finn,” Adrienne Campbell-Holt, joins The Culture Show to talk about the consequences of this abrupt cancellation.Culture Show contributor Pedro Alonzo discusses how art fairs can be a life force for the arts and the cities that host them, and he weighs in on a conflict in Quincy over public art. Pedro Alonzo is an independent curator and the Artistic Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial.

Max Hodge’s, CEO of The Shed in New York City and Alex Poots, Artistic director at The Shed, join The Culture Show to talk about the innovative arts and culture venue and their current exhibition “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” which is open through March 16, 2025.From there artist Jay Critchley joins The Culture Show to talk about his exhibition, Jay Critchley: Democracy of the Land, Inc., FLAGrancy, which is on view at Montserrat College of Art through March 5, 2025.Finally Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons joins us to talk about all things movies, including her Oscars predictions. Lisa Simmons is the artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Festival and program manager at Mass Cultural Council.

Megan Marshall, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, has long been revered for her storytelling skills and deep insights into historical figures, such as the poet Ellizabeth Bishop, and Margaret Fuller, the 19th century journalist and celebrated intellectual of her time. In her latest book,”After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart,” Megan Marshall takes a turn at autobiography, examining her own art and life. Megan Marshall joins The Culture Show to talk about it.From there we head to the coast of Maine. In recent years their lighthouses have been hit with millions of dollars worth of storm damage. Bob Trapani, an author and Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation joins The Culture Show to talk about what it means to have all of Maine’s 66 historic lighthouses added to the World Monuments Fund 2025 global watchlist.Finally it’s the South Asian Showdown 2025 Bollywood/Fusion Dance Competition. This Saturday some of the best dance groups from the United States and Canada will compete at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester. Rohit Bhambi, President of Boston Bhangra and founder of South Asian Showdown, joins The Culture Show for an overview.

Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and James Bennett II go over this latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, hundreds of artists protest new National Endowment for the Arts restrictions, asking the NEA to reverse policy changes made in response to executive orders issued by President Trump.From there, it’s the JFK Library and Museum, which was forced to temporarily close after a handful of federal employees were fired. Finally, Singer and actor Donnie Wahlberg doubles down on Boston. Not only is he working to bring a WNBA expansion team to his hometown, he’ll be joining the local police force by way of “Boston Blue,” a spinoff of “Blue Bloods.”

Comedian, television host, advocate and New York Times bestselling author Chelsea Handler joins The Culture Show to talk about her forthcoming book “I’ll Have What She’s Having.” It’s a collection of hilarious and heartfelt essays that detail what it took for her to become the woman she always wanted to be. It’s in bookstores on February 25th and is available for preorder on her website. On February 26th you can catch Chelsea Handler at Brookline Booksmith for a book signing event. From there New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow joins us to talk about “Radicalized,” a collection of four science fiction novellas connected by social, technological, and economic visions of what America could be in the near future. Published in 2019, one of those novellas, “Radicalized,” anticipated how frustrations with the profit-driven health insurance industry could lead to the kind of violence that happened in real life when Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was assassinated. Cory Doctorow’s latest book is “Picks and Shovels.” Finally, snowboarding phenom Maggie Leon joins The Culture Show for an overview of this Saturday’s Red Bull Heavy Metal street snowboarding competition. Located at Boston’s City Hall Plaza, 2:00-5:30, it’s free to the public.

Recently a rare violin crafted in 1714 by Antonio Stradivari during his renowned “Golden Period” fetched $11.3M at Sotheby’s New York with the proceeds benefiting New England Conservatory. The funds will be used to establish the largest named endowed scholarship in support of future generations of musicians. The result places the violin among the most valuable musical instruments ever sold at auction. Andrea Kalyn, President of New England Conservatory, joins The Culture Show to talk about this remarkable story,From there it’s Bryan Stevenson.Ten years ago the civil rights lawyer wrote the bestselling memoir “Just Mercy,” documenting his career fighting for disadvantaged clients and people on death row. It awakened Americans to the injustices within our criminal justice system. The tenth anniversary edition of “Just Mercy” was recently published. Bryan Stevenson joins The Culture Show to reflect on what has changed since it was published.Finally, "Phoenix of Gaza." Culture Show producer Kate Dellis brings us the story of how Virtual Reality is being used to memorialize Gaza.

Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, joins The Culture Show to talk about what it means to honor Black History Month amid President Trump’s DEI rollbacks.From there Mikko Nissinen, Artistic Director of Boston Ballet, joins The Culture Show for a preview of their upcoming production of “Swan Lake,” which is onstage at the Citizens Opera House February 27th through March 16th.Finally, Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes on a virtual tour of the three works of public art that will fill anyone with hope and joy. 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.

“New York Times” bestselling author Joseph Finder joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book, “The Oligarch’s Daughter,” which tells the story of Paul Brightman, a man on the run, living under an assumed name in a small New England town with a million-dollar bounty on his head. The suspenseful thriller takes us into the worlds of global intelligence, Wall Street and Russian Oligarchs.From there we mark the 20th anniversary of the CatalystCollaborative@MIT. The partnership between MIT and Central Square Theatre is the longest-running collaboration between a research institution and a professional theatre. Two of the co-founders, Alan Lightman and Debra Wise, join The Culture Show to talk about its trajectory and their current play “SPACE,” which is presented by Central Square Theater as part of the Brit d’Arbeloff Women in Science and Catalyst Collaborative@MIT production. Finally we remember poet Danielle Legros Georges who died last week. She was born in Haiti and moved to the United States with her family when she was six. She grew up in Boston and left an indelible mark here as only the city’s second Poet Laureate, serving from from 2015 to 2019. She taught Creative Arts at Lesley University, and was a translator and published poet. She joined The Culture Show recently to talk about her latest book, “Three Leaves,Three Roots: Poems on the Haiti-Congo Story.”

Culture Show co-hosts Edgar B. Herwick III, Callie Crossley and James Bennett II go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, President Trump purges the Kennedy Center and appoints himself Chair of the Board. From there, it’s the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which just unveiled its list of the 2025 nominees. Patti Smith announces a sprawling tour schedule to mark the 50th anniversary of her album “Horses,” Paul McCartney wows fans with a surprise performance at the Bowery Ballroom in New York. Finally, this weekend marks SNL’s 50th anniversary and they are going big with events spanning the entire weekend.

Amor Towles. The bestselling author of “Rules of Civility,” “A Gentleman in Moscow,” and “The Lincoln Highway,” jins The Culture Show to talk about his new bestseller, “Table for Two”From there, we get an inside perspective on how Notre Dame was rebuilt. Vermont timber framer Will Gusakov, owner of Goosewing Timberworks, was among the international craftspeople tapped to work on the cathedral’s reconstruction effort. He shares what it meant to be a part of history.Finally, Ayodele Casel. The trailblazing tap dancer and choreographer talks about her show, “Diary of a Tap Dancer,” which traces her life, from the Bronx to Puerto Rico, celebrating the women dancers who broke the tap ceiling along the way.

Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic for The Washington Post, Sebastian Smee joins the Culture Show to talk about his new book, “Paris in Ruins,” which takes us to 19th century Paris, where the horrors of government corruption, civil war, and rampant destruction were beyond brutal. Smee also details how it created a generation of artists who responded to the despair by using vivid colors and swift brushstrokes to create beauty and brilliance. It led, he writes, to Impressionism. From there, a golden opportunity for illustrator Dale Stephanos: designing the Betty White Postage Stamp. He joins The Culture Show to talk about fulfilling a life-long dream and what it took to capture the essence of the beloved actress and golden girl.Finally, James Beard award-winning chef Christina Tosi. Founder of Milk Bar and her famed Milk Bar pie, she joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest cookbook, which features more than 100 sweet and savory recipes.

Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy discusses his film “Small Things Like These,” which he produced and starred in. He also gives us a preview of the Peaky Blinders movie.From there, Annette Gordon-Reed. She’s an historian, lawyer and Pulitzer-prize winning writer. Her latest book, “On Juneteenth,” explores the holiday commemorating the day Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. Finally, famous for its role in the historic ride, Boston’s Old North Church has embarked on its own journey to restore the artwork that graced its walls during the American Revolution. Culture Show Producer Kate Dellis brings us the story with a behind-the-scenes look at this restoration.

Actor and author Marianne Leone joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book, “Five-Dog Epiphany: How a Quintet of Badass Bichons Retrieved Our Joy,” From there New Bedford poet Erik Andrade joins The Culture Show to talk about poetry as activism. Erik Andrade is an award winning spoken word poet. Recently his work was included in “Black Fire This Time Vol. 2,” a groundbreaking anthology celebrating the legacy and future of the Black Arts Movement. Finally, the music duo Eric and Will. Eric Vloiemans is a Dutch trumpet sensation, Cambridge native Will Holshouser is an accordion master – together they create original, evocative compositions that build on jazz, classical and folk music.

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, Emilia Pérez. Two weeks ago the movie seemed destined for Oscars gold with 13 nominations. Now leading actress Karla Sofía Gascón’s Academy Award campaign is in tatters amid a string of controversies that has Netflix distancing itself from her.Plus some of the greatest poets have called Massachusetts home– from Robert Frost to Robert Pinsky, Emily Dickenson to Tracy K. Smith, but the state didn't have a home for them. That all changed on Monday when Governor Healey signed an executive order, creating a poet laureate of Massachusetts. And McDonald's Shamrock Shake is back and so is its long lost mascot–who looks like he’s gathered some moss–the verdant Uncle O'Grimacey. Finally, it’s an auction with strings attached. A Stradivarius violin could fetch a record 18 million dollars.

Chelsea Spear, the poet with the golden ukulele joins The Culture Show for an in studio performance and to talk about her latest endeavor. She is the creative force behind the ukulele power pop project “Travels with Brindle” Her latest album, “No. 1 in Heaven Starring Travels With Brindle,” will be released on March 7th. On February 7th she drops her title track followed by a single release party that evening at the Lilypad in Cambridge. To learn more about the single release party go here. To explore her music, go here.From there, Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik joins us for another edition of “Stage and Screen,” which is a roundup of the plays and movies in theaters 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 at Joyce’sChoices.

Filmmaker Bruce David Klein discusses his latest documentary “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story.” Its Boston premiere is February 7th at the Regent Theatre in Arlington. Bruce David Klein will be there for a Q and A. To learn more about the event go here.From there Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College, joins The Culture Show for his recurring feature “AI: Actual intelligence,” where we tap into the most interesting thinkers in our region. His insights and observations are totally original and algorithm free. This month we’re talking about what it will take to rebuild Southern California in the wake of the wildfires. Mahesh Daas is the co-author of the graphic novella about artificial intelligence, titled “I, Nobot.”

The Tony and Emmy-award winning actor, writer and singer Alan Cumming joins The Culture Show to talk about his hit reality TV series, “The Traitors,” which kicked off season three last month. To keep abreast of everything Alan Cumming is up to, go here.From there the thrash metal band from Waipu, New Zealand, Alien Weaponry, joins The Culture Show ahead of tonight’s 7:00 show at the Royale. To learn more about the concert, go here.Finally, independent filmmaker, actor and author Joyn Sayles joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest novel “To Save the Man,”which sheds light on an American tragedy: the Wounded Knee Massacre, and the ‘cultural genocide’ experienced by the Native American children at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. On February 5th you can catch John Sayles at 6:00 in East Sandwich at an event at Titcomb’s Bookshop. To learn more go here, On February 6th you can catch him at the Duxbury Senior Center at 3:00, and on February 7th he’ll be in Guilford, CT at the Guilford Free Library at 6:00.

Courtney Swain, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist, songwriter and sound artist joined The Culture Show for an in-studio performance. We were also joined by Nicole Taney, Artistic Director at Celebrity Series. On February 11th Courtney Swain will be performing at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville, as part of the contemporary music festival, Stave Sessions, which is presented by Celebrity Series. To learn more about the show go here.From there the innovative photographer Abelardo Morell joins The Culture Show to talk about his technique and his exhibition, now on view at the Clark Art Institute through February 17th, “Abelardo Morell: In the Company of Monet and Constable.” To learn more about the exhibition go here.Finally, we get an overview of “The Life & Times of Michael K,” with puppet master Craig Leo and actress Sandra Prinsloo. It’s a theatrical adaptation of JM Coetzee's 1983 novel, using exquisite puppetry to bring the story to life. A collaboration between South Africa’s Baxter Theater and Handspring Puppet Company, it’s presented by ArtsEmerson, onstage at the Emerson Paramount Center through February 9th. To learn more, go here.

Today Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week- in- review.First up, the Smithsonian Institution. They’re closing their DEI office and freezing federal hiring, following President Trump’s mandate. Even though the Smithsonian is not a federal agency, it gets a big chunk of funding from federal appropriations. So what will this mean for its many museums?And while representation might be purged from federal agencies, the opera house is a different story. After 138 years of hiding in plain sight, the first complete opera by a Black American composer gets its debut.Plus, Mona Lisa has something to smile about. Amid renovations at the Louvre, she’s going to get a room of her own.Finally, a recap of FireAid, the benefit concert raising funds for wildfire recovery and prevention.

Fabiola Méndez, the celebrated Puerto Rican cuatrista and singer, joins The Culture Show for an in-studio performance. Méndez and her ensemble are performing February 8th, as part of CROMA Space’s 2025 season. CROMA Space, which is located in Boston’s historic Arlington Street Church, is dedicated to Latin American cultural diversity. To learn more about this upcoming show go here.From there, Oren Etzioni. The computer scientist and Artificial Intelligence pioneer is a self-described AI optimist. He’s also a realist who is alarmed by the downsides of AI, such as disinformation. He recently founded TrueMedia.org, which offers tools for fighting A.I.-manipulated content, such as deep fakes.Finally, it’s time for Actual Intelligence with Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons, Executive Director of Roxbury International film Festival. She discusses all things movies, from the Oscar nominations to Sundance to the local film series that are showing across Boston, including two upcoming events featuring Lisa Simmons 1) Amplifying Voices Film Festival at The Cabot this weekend. To learn more, go here. And next weekend Lisa Simmons will moderate a panel following the screening of “Look Into My Eyes,” at Emerson Paramount Center. To learn more, go here.

The musical “Funny Girl,” is coming to town by way of Broadway in Boston. We get a preview with actress Hannah Shankman who stars as Fanny Brice. “Funny Girl” is onstage at Citizens Opera House February 4th through February 16th. To learn more go here.From there, the Boston Athenaeum has launched its newest exhibition, “Frank M. Costantino: Visionary Projects,” presenting the drawings of eminent Boston-based architectural illustrator Frank M. Costantino. Lauren Graves, Associate Curator at the Boston Athenaeum and Frank M. Costantino join The Culture Show for a preview. To learn more about the exhibition, which is on view through May 3rd go here.Finally, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with Boston Lyric Opera, presents Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s “Die tote Stadt.” Showcasing soprano Christine Goerke in her role debut, Goerke joins The Culture Show along with Tony Fogg, the BSO's Vice-President of Artistic Planning, for an overview. “Die tote Stadt” will be performed on January 30th and February 1st at Symphony Hall. To learn more go here.

Playwright Jordan E. Cooper joins The Culture Show to talk about his play “Ain’t No Mo,’” a satirical take on racism in America, which garnered six Tony award nominations. “Ain’t No Mo’” is a co-production by SpeakEasy Stage Company and Front Porch Arts Collective. It’s onstage through February 8th at Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion. To learn more, go here.From there, storied independent record label Run For Cover Records is celebrating its 20th anniversary – teaming up with The Bowery Presents – for “Something In The Way,” a two-day indie rock, emo, and shoegaze festival taking place at Roadrunner this weekend, February 1st and 2nd. Tom Chiari, label manager at Run For Cover Records, joins The Culture Show for an overview. To learn more go here.Finally, 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. Tonight at 6:00 she’ll be at The Brattle Theatre at an event sponsored by Harvard Book Store. To learn more about the event, go here.

Alton Brown, the television personality, food show presenter, food scientist, author, voice actor, and cinematographer joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations.” It’s a debut collection of personal essays defined by his flair, wit, and insight. On February 8th at 1:00 you can catch Alton Brown at a book signing event at Harvard Book Store, more details here. Brown will return to Boston by way of his “Last Bite” tour at the Boch Center Wang Theatre on March 14th. To learn more go here.From there Beth Gilligan, Deputy Director at Coolidge Corner Theatre, previews their upcoming series “Cary Grant: The Man From Dream City,” which runs February 4th through February 25th. To learn more go here.Finally Kate Hamill, actor and playwright, joins The Culture Show to talk about “The Odyssey. ” Commissioned by the American Repertory Theater, Hamill turns a contemporary lens on Homer’s “Odyssey,” reimagining the stories of both Odysseus and his wife, Penelope, and asking how we can learn to embrace healing and forgiveness in order to end cycles of violence and revenge. “The Odyssey,” is onstage at ART’s Loeb Drama Center February 9th through March 16th. 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, the Oscar nominations are out and “Emilia Pérez” breaks the record for the most Oscar nominations for a foreign language film. “Wicked” and “The Brutalist” aren’t far behind, with each movie garnering 10 Oscar nods. We’ll look at the other surprises, snubs and snoozers.And, “The Brutalist” might be shining at the Oscars, but the light is going out on modern architecture with President Trump’s executive order, mandating classical architecture for all federal buildings.Plus it’s a tabloid takedown, with Prince Harry settling a legal battle with Rupert Murdoch –winning an apology and an eight figure sum. Finally, The Doobie Brothers, George Clinton and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins are among the Songwriter Hall of Fame 2025 inductees.

The documentary film, “Resistance: They Fought Back” tells the little-known story of how widespread and prevalent Jewish resistance to Nazi barbarism was during World War II. The film’s Executive Producer Paula Apsell joins The Culture Show to talk about it ahead of its premiere on PBS, January 27th, which is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. To learn more about how to watch it, go here. Paula Apsell is a Senior Executive Producer Emerita of “Nova” and “Nova Science Now” and CEO of Leading Edge Productions.From there Chemehuevi photographer Cara Romero joins The Culture Show to talk about her first major solo exhibition at the Hood Museum of Art, Cara Romero: Panûpünüwügai (Living Light). Spanning the past decade of her work, this exhibition presents a thematic examination of Romero's complex and layered images, which celebrate the multiplicity, beauty, and resilience of Native American and Indigenous experiences.Finally we look at the state of the craft brewing industry. In a recent New York Times article, Joshua M. Bernstein writes about its breakneck growth over the decades, and its decline. 2024 marked the first time since 2005 that more breweries closed than opened. Joshua M. Bernstein is an award-winning writer and beer, spirits, food and wine journalist. His latest book is “The Complete Beer Course.”

The dynamic dining duo, Jenny Johnson and Billy Costa join the Culture Show to go over the local restaurant acne, from the latest openings, to the latest closings and must-have meals. Jenny Johnson and Billy Costa are co-hosts of NESN's "Dining Playbook" and "Meet Boston with Billy and Jenny.” Their new book is “A Taste of Boston: The Definitive Cookbook of the City We Love.” From there it’s countdown to the Boston Public Art Triennial. It will feature 18 large-scale public art commissions, by local, national and international artists. Including the artist collective and self-proclaimed “public secret society,” New Red Order, whose work imagines what an Indigenous future could look like. Multimedia artist Jackson Polys is one of the core members. Polys and culture show contributor Pedro Alonzo, who is Artistic Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial, join The Culture Show.Finally, we get an overview of the Boston Public Library’s Winter Reading Challenge to read a book by an author from each of six geographic regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. Veronica Koven-Matasy, the reader services supervisor at the central library in Copley Square, joins The Culture Show for an overview.

“Forbidden Broadway,” is a Tony award-winning show that skewers Broadway musicals with love. It’s the brainchild of playwright and parodist Gerard Alessandrini. Debuting in 1982, Alessandrini has created multiple iterations of “Forbidden Broadway.” His latest production is “Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song. “ Alessandrini, a Needham native and founding father of the spoof “Spamilton” joins The Culture Show for a preview of “Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song,” which is onstage at the Emerson Colonial Theatre for three performances, February 8th and 9th. To learn more, go here.From there we’re joined by Mumbai-based writer and director Payal Kapadia, Her debut dramatic feature film, “All We Imagine as Light” has garnered international acclaim, which includes the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Closer to home, she recently received The Coolidge Breakthrough Artist Award. Her film will be opening in multiple theatres across Boston this Friday, January 24th. For a deeper look at the film, on February 9th “All We Imagine as Light,” will be featured at West Newton Cinema’s “Behind the Screen” event. To learn more, go here.Finally, writer Karen Valby joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book, “The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History,” It is among the New York Times’ 100 Notable books of 2024.

Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III discuss President Trump’s inauguration through the lens of arts and culture. They’ll also focus on what Trump’s presidency will mean for the arts and culture sector.From there we mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a conversation about The Embrace memorial and sculpture on Boston Common, which honors Martin Luther King, Jr., Correta Scott King and their fight for civil rights. Jha D. Amazi joins us to talk about the collaborative effort that went into creating The Embrace, which was crafted by MASS Design Group in partnership with artist Hank Willis Thomas. Jha D. Amazi is a senior associate at MASS Design Group, and Director of the Public Memory and Memorials Design Lab. Finally, Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes us on a public art tour of the public art throughout Greater Boston that honors Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders. 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.

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 Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision upholding a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company to sell the platform in order for the app to continue operations in the United States. What could this mean for the social media juggernaut, and for free speech?From there, we remember the legacy of the innovative and industrious filmmaker, artist and composer David Lynch, who died at age 78. He radicalized film and influenced a generation of actors and directors. And California is still ablaze, leaving a number of architectural landmarks in ashes and disrupting awards season, prompting a debate if they should be televised–or even happen– amid the devastation.Finally, Bad Bunny returns to his roots with a concert residency in Puerto Rico.

In 1991 New England Law Professor Mary Joe Frug was murdered in Harvard Square. More than 30 years on, the case remains unsolved. Michael Cassidy was a prosecutor in Massachusetts when the crime was committed. He’s been haunted by the slaying ever since. One way to grapple with it, write a legal thriller based on the case. His inaugural novel is titled “‘When the Past is All Deception.” He joins The Culture Show to talk about writing the legal thriller. Michael Cassidy is a nationally recognized expert in criminal law and legal ethics and a professor of law at Boston College Law School.From there it’s cooking up a new way to teach, literally. Erica Pernice, an adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island School of Design, is teaching her industrial design students product development in the kitchen. It’s a place where they can learn how to Iterate, critique, and control one variable at a time and iterate again, and again.Finally Andrés Holder, Executive Director of Boston Children’s Chorus joins The Culture Show to preview their 22nd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute concert, “Road to Freedom,” which explores the legacies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. The performance is on January 20th at 4:00 at Symphony Hall. To learn more, go here.