The Culture Show Podcast

Hannah Selinger is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer. She joins The Culture Show to talk about her debut memoir, “Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly.” On April 30th she’ll be at the Boston Public Library Central Library in Copley Square for an author talk. To learn more, go here.From there 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.Finally, photographer Eric Antoniou discusses his new book “Rock to Baroque: Four Decades of Music Photography.” The book’s official release is Thursday, May 1 with a photo exhibition at the Panopticon Gallery at Boston’s Commonwealth Hotel. To learn more, go here.

Three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky joins The Culture Show to talk about retiring from Boston University where he has been a professor since 1989. He’ll preview his retirement celebration, which is this Thursday, May1st atop “The Jenga Building” on the BU campus. He’ll recite poetry, there will be screenings and a reception. The event is open to the public and it's free. To learn more, go here.From there it’s Creative Sector Advocacy Week. We’re using this as an opportunity to look at the state of the arts and culture sector in Massachusetts with a focus on funding. Julie Wake, Executive Director at Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, and Ami Bennitt, an advocate and founder of Art Stays Here, join The Culture Show for this conversation.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.

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, Pope springs eternal. Pope Francis was a champion of the arts. He is the only pontiff who has attended the Venice Biennale, he opened up a gallery for contemporary art in the Vatican Library and he convened over 100 comedians to share a communal laugh at the Vatican.From there, YouTube turns 20. Everything from “Hot Ones,” to “how to” videos have become online mainstays and along the way, the most-viewed “Baby Shark” has accumulated nearly 16 billion views.Finally, a roundup of high profile trials, from Harvey Weinstein facing a new jury to Karen Read’s retrial to Sean Combs heading to court next week.

Dana Caspersen is a conflict engagement specialist, award-winning performing artist, and best-selling author. She joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book, “Conflict Is an Opportunity: Twenty Fundamental Decisions for Navigating Difficult Times.”From there, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and folk music legend Loudon Wainwright III, joins The Culture Show ahead of his show in Northampton, MA at The Iron Horse and at The Town and The City Festival in Lowell. Finally Emma Chubb, Charlotte Feng Ford '83 Curator of Contemporary Art at Smith College Museum of Art joins The Culture Show for an overview of their exhibition, “Younes Rahmoun: Here, Now,” which is on view through July 13, 2025. To learn more, go here.

Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale, the cofounders of the new wave band Devo join The Culture Show to talk about cultural de-evolution, the genesis of their band, how they came to be one of the most original groups in the history of rock music. In 2023 they kicked off their 50th anniversary tour, which has been extended.” Devo: 50 Years Of De-evolution...continued!” comes to MGM Music Hall at Fenway on May 9th. To learn more, go here.From there acclaimed artist Alan Michelson discusses his “The Knowledge Keepers,” his site-specific sculptures created for the Museum of Fine Arts inaugural “Huntington Avenue Entrance Commission.” His installation honors local Indigenous presence and is, in part, a challenging response to Cyrus Dallin’s Appeal to the Great Spirit (1909), a sculpture that has occupied the entrance plaza since 1912. The MFA commissioned Michelson for this project and produced this in partnership with the Boston Public Art Triennial. Alan Michelson is a Mohawk member of Six Nations of the Grand River and School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University alumnus.Finally, an interior revolution is underway at Boston’s Old North Church with artisans working on a conservation and restoration project to uncover 18th-century painted angels lost to history and layers of paint - until now.

National Book Award winner Martín Espada joins The Culture Show to talk about his new collection of poetry, “Jailbreak of Sparrows.” On April 23rd Martín Espada will be at Porter Square Books in Cambridge at 7:00. To learn more, go here. In celebration of MIT’s new Thomas Tull Concert Hall, Radius Ensemble will perform works by MIT faculty on April 24th. Oboist Jennifer Montbach, Radius Ensemble’s Artistic & Executive Director and Eran Egozy, a clarinetist and Professor of the Practice in Music Technology at MIT join The Culture Show for a preview. To learn more about the concert, go here. Finally Harvard-trained neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest novel, “More or Less Maddy,” which is about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Alton Brown, the television personality, food show presenter, food scientist, author, voice actor, and cinematographer joins The Culture Show to talk about his book “Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations.” From there we head to candlepin city: Worcester. Vanessa Bumpus, Exhibits Coordinator for the Museum of Worcester gives us an overview of a recent exhibition that focussed on the history of Candlepin Bowling.Finally, Orville Peck joins The Culture Show to talk about what it’s like to be regarded as country music’s most mysterious outlaw.

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, Blue Origin’s all-female space flight and the backlash that followed. From there how venerated architect Antoni Gaudí may become a saint and as we near the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary war, the surplus of events in Massachusetts that await history buffs, from the reenactment of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride to the reconstruction of the battles of Lexington and Concord. Finally, “Phantom of the Opera,” returns to New York under a new name–”Masquerade,” and with an immersive experience twist.

Bring your big appetite to Boston’s Big Queer Food Fest, a multi-day happening, celebrating the contributions of the queer community to the culinary world. It kicks off on April 28th and wraps up on May 4th. David Lewis, co-founder of Big Queer Food Fest, and participating Chef, restaurateur and Food Network's Tournament of Champions winner Tifanni Faison join The Culture Show for a preview. To learn about the Big Queer Food Fest and to get tickets, go here.From there we continue our ongoing series celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with historian Sean Osborne. He’s the co-founder of the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington, which recently launched the Black Patriots of Lexington. A project that includes a nine-part YouTube series exploring the lives of soldiers and residents who fought for freedom and were witnesses to history.Finally Mary Grant, President of Mass Art joins The Culture Show for her monthly appearance. Today she talks about Project Beethoven, a collaboration between Mass Art and Handel + Haydn Society.

As we near the 250th anniversary of Patriots’ Day, Kate Fox and David Wood join The Culture Show for a conversation about the major events that ignited the first year of the American Revolution: the battles of Lexington and Concord. Kate Fox is the Executive Director at the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, which is leading the Massachusetts 250 campaign. David Wood is the Curator at Concord Museum. His latest book is “Eyewitness to Revolution: The American Revolution Collection at the Concord Museum.”From there, Karina Corrigan joins The Culture Show for an overview of the Peabody Essex Museum’s exhibition “Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools: Three Hundred Years of Flemish Masterworks." Karina Corrigan is PEM's Associate Director–Collections and The H.A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art.Then, Culture Show contributor Pedro Alonzo joins us for his monthly appearance. He is a Boston-based independent curator who specializes in public art projects. He is also the Artistic Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial.Finally, we return to 1775 by way of some archival audio from WGBH’s vault, a recording of the late Doctor Alfred Worcester recalling the story his great grandmother told him about experiencing Patriots’ Day in 1775.

Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, joins The Culture Show to talk about the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally. As part of the Everyone 250 Initiative and other 250 celebrations, Embrace Boston, in collaboration with the City of Boston and other community partners, will gather at the Embrace Monument/Parkman Bandstand. To learn more about the event, go here.From there Jeremy Siegel, the global transportation correspondent for The World and GBH News, joins The Culture Show to talk about his recent travels to Tokyo, and the lessons Boston can learn from their world class transportation system.Finally, Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik joins The Culture Show for a roundup of the latest plays, movies and television to see right now. 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.

David Grann, author of “The Wager,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon, is a #1 “New York Times” best selling author and an award-winning staff writer at “The New Yorker” magazine. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his writing and reporting process, and adapting his work for the screen. On April 27th he’ll be honored at the Associates of the Boston Public Library's 35th annual Literary Lights dinner.From there Ian Judge, Creative Director at The Somerville Theatre, gives us an overview of “Wonderful & Strange: A Tribute to David Lynch. It kicks off on April 16th and runs through April 19th. To learn more, go here.Finally, Daniel Mendelsohn—Charles Ranlett Flint Professor of Humanities at Bard College, and frequent contributor of essays to The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books where he is Editor-at-Large—discusses his new translation of Homer's “The Odyssey.” Tonight he’ll be at Harvard Bookstore for an event at 7:00. To learn more, go here.

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, which includes the Museum of Fine Arts. Following a global search, they announced that Pierre Terjanian will be the museum’s next Ann and Graham Gund Director and CEO. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his vision for the MFA.From there it’s “A Minecraft Movie, “ which has exceeded box office expectations and sparked mayhem in the movie theaters along the way.Then it’s onto the National Recording Registry with a listen to some of the 25 recordings added this year. Plus, how Trump’s tariffs could affect arts and culture, from the price of books to Hollywood.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Harvard Square’s iconic Harvest Restaurant. To kick off this milestone birthday year, Harvest is inviting alumni chefs to cook a selection of special dinners. Their first one is Harvest Alumni, noted cookbook author and TV Personality Sara Moulton. She joins The Culture Show for a preview. The dinner will take place on Friday. To learn more go here.From there Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons weighs in on how China is threatening to respond to Trump’s tariffs by banning Hollywood flms.. Lisa Simmons is the artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Festival and program manager at Mass Cultural Council. Finally Felipe Torres Medina, an award-winning comedian and writer on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” discusses his new book, “America, Let Me In: A Choose Your Immigration Story.”

Bestselling author Amor Towles has another bestseller, “Table for Two.” It’s a collection of short stories that land us in New York. The second part of the book moves us to Los Angeles in a novella set during the Golden Age of Hollywood. We caught up with Towles back in September when he was in town for a book event. He joins us again, now that “Table for Two” is out in paperback to continue the conversation, with a focus on the second part of the book, “Eve in Hollywood.”From there we continue our series “Countdown to 2026,” with Nina Zannieri, Executive Director of the Paul Revere House. She joins The Culture Show with an overview of the events and programming commemorating the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, which is April 18th. To learn more about everything that the Paul Revere House has to offer, go here,Finally Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College, discusses the lasting impact of COVID on higher education. 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.”

Actors’ Shakespeare Project closes out their 2024-25 Season with their latest production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Actor De’Lon Grant, who stars as Demetrius, joins The Culture Show to talk about the production. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is on stage, April 11- May 4 at the Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. To learn more, go here.From there James Poniewozik joins The Culture Show to talk about today’s political TV dramas and how their adherence to White House procedures and protocols are disorienting compared to the real drama that plays out daily in Trump’s White House. Poniewozik wrote about this recently in his essay “The Sudden Weirdness of TV Presidents.” James Poniewozik is chief TV critic for The New York Times and author of Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America.Finally Katie Hanson, William and Ann Elfers Curator of Paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, joins The Culture Show for an overview of their exhibition “Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits.” It’s on view through Sep 7, 2025. To learn more, go here.

“Night Side Songs,” a new musical created by brothers Daniel and Patrick Lazour is a work that explores the myriad experiences of catastrophic illness–the fear, blame and reconciliation. Produced by the American Repertory Theater in association with the Philadelphia Theatre Company, “Night Side Songs” is onstage at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury April 9th through April 20th. Daniel and Patrick Lazour join The Culture Show for an overview. To learn more, go here.From there, famed countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, He is the new General Director and President of Opera Philadelphia and he’s on a mission to make opera more accessible and affordable. Case in point: there’s plenty to sing about with the company’s new $11 tickets. On the heels of announcing their 2025-2026 season, he joins The Culture Show to talk about his vision for Opera Philadelphia. Finally, GBH’s Paris Alston joins The Culture Show to preview the launch of “GBH News Rooted,” a new television show that continues the conversation about the Black experience. 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 fate of TikTok, which is nearing its Saturday deadline to find a new buyer under federal law or it’ll have to go dark as a result of a ban in the United States.Then it’s the Netflix series “Adolescence,” which has provoked a conversation about toxic masculinity and teenagers in crisis.From there it’s a look at Sam Mendes, who has announced the cast of his Beatles biopic.Plus more White House DOGE cuts are putting a chokehold on arts and culture in this country. In the crosshairs this week: The National Endowment of the Humanities which will see 70-80% of its staff cut. And The Institute of Museum and Library Services which has just been gutted.Finally, reflecting on the career of actor Val Kilmer who died earlier this week at age 65.

Artist Cicely Carew joins The Culture Show to talk about her solo exhibition at the Fuller Craft Museum, BeLOVEd, a visionary site-specific installation uniting multiple media: sculpture, video and a soundscape to create an immersive, meditative experience. To learn more, go here.From there Samuel Brewer joins The Culture Show. He is a co-founder of FlawBored, a multi award winning disability led theatre company. Their show, “It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure,” is presented by ArtsEmerson, onstage through April 13th. To learn more, go here,Finally, we get an overview of the New England Aquarium’s “retirement home” island for aging penguins. Kristen McMahon, the aquarium's curator of pinnipeds and penguins, joins The Culture Show.

Boston Lyric Opera mounts an 80th Anniversary production of "Rodgers & Hammerstein's CAROUSEL,” eight decades to the day of its first Boston run, and in the same venue where the final pre-Broadway tryout played in 1945, the Colonial Theatre. BLO Artistic Associate Anne Bogart stages a tribute to this classic and she joins The Culture Show for an overview. To learn about upcoming performances, go here.From there the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Elizabeth Strout joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book “Tell Me Everything” and to discuss her upcoming visit to Boston on April 27th where she will be the keynote speaker at the 35th annual Literary Lights dinner, sponsored by the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Finally Erika Rumbley, the Director of Horticulture at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum joins the Culture Show to talk about the annual return of their Hanging Nasturtiums, which is on display through April 14th. To learn more, go here.

Matthew Teitelbaum, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Ethan Lasser, John Moors Cabot Chair, Art of the Americas, join The Culture Show to kick off a new series. Each month the curators and experts from the MFA will be on the show to talk about works in their collection that offer insight into the American Revolution. This is an extension of Museums 250.From there Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik joins The Culture Show for a roundup of the latest plays, movies and television. 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 .Finally, we kick off National Poetry Month with artist, educator and activist Amanda Shea. She is the curator and host of “Outspoken Saturdays,” ​​a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists, which happens every first Saturday of the month. To learn more, go here.

Peter Drummey, Chief Historian at the Massachusetts Historical Society, joins The Culture Show for an overview of their new exhibition “1775: Rebels, Rights & Revolution.” The exhibition explores the pivotal events and personal stories that ignited the American Revolution. It’s on view through December 2025. To learn more, go here.From there playwright Robert Horn joins The Culture Show to talk about the Tony Award-winning musical, “Shucked,” which comes to Citizens Opera House by way of Broadway in Boston, April 8 through April 20th. To learn more, go here.Finally Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes us on a tour of public art that will get us outdoors and in the mood for spring. 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 on The 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, President Trump’s latest directive to control culture. Yesterday he signed an Executive Order intended, in his words, to Restore Truth and Sanity to American History. He’s called for the restoration of monuments, memorials and statues quote “improperly removed or changed in the last five years to perpetuate a false revision of history.” From there it’s Mayor Michelle Wu on “The Daily Show,” where she defied its reputation as a racist city by promoting it as diverse and welcoming.Plus a look at Dawn M. Simmons' next act as the artistic director of the SpeakEasy Stage Company.And the countdown to “The White Lotus” season finale. With only two episodes to go, will the show succeed in surprising audiences?Finally, George Foreman’s legacy as a boxing champ turned king of the grill, making millions with his “lean, mean, fat-fighting machine.”

When it comes to Jeff and Julie Kinney, their life is one for the books. Jeff Kinney is the author of the blockbuster, best selling “Wimpy Kid,” kingdom, which is reaching a milestone this year, with Kinney publishing his 20th title, .“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper.” Together, Jeff and Julie own An Unlikely Story bookstore and cafe,” in downtown Plainville, MA, which they opened ten years ago. Now they are writing a new chapter for their adopted hometown, with an ambitious five year plan to revitalize it. They join The Culture Show to talk about their vision.From there Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston joins The Culture Show to talk about the launch of the Everyone250 campaign celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Finally playwright Ricardo Pérez González joins The Culture Show to talk about his play “Don’t Eat the Mangos.” A Huntington Theatre production, it’s onstage through April 27th in the Calderwood Pavillion at the Boston Center for the Arts. To learn more, go here.

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.