The Culture Show Podcast

Think of a world where Tallahatchie County in Mississippi would publicly apologize for the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till. Or where the descendants of Robert E. Lee can come together with descendants of people enslaved by the Lee family. Where they all call it celebration, and make plans for another one. That world exists. It’s happened. And Susan Glisson was key to those efforts.She helps people reckon with the country's fraught racial history and sees the past not as an anchor, but as buoy. As a navigational tool pointing us toward a better way. She joins The Culture Show for her thoughts, and guidance on how to navigate the world post Election Day,She is the founder and president of the Glisson Group, a healing and equity consulting firm and founder and Executive Director of the Welcome Table Collaborative. She is a 2024 Advance Leadership Initiative fellow at Harvard University. From there we are joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. She joins us to talk about her latest book, which is now out in paperback, “To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul.” It is part manifesto, part memoir–and all parts mesmerizing.

Thomas Wilkins, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s artistic partner for education and community engagement and vocalist Renese King join The Culture Show to talk about the BSO’s tribute to Duke Ellington concerts, which includes a free concert on Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m. The performance will take place at Boston’s Basilica in the Mission Hill neighborhood. The all-Duke Ellington program marks the 50th anniversary of Ellington’s death with a selection of the jazz great’s most seminal works, including excerpts from his three Sacred Concerts, featuring vocalist Renese King and a specially formed ensemble of singers. To learn more about the free concert go here. And find out more about the November 7th concert here and the November 9th concert here.From there legendary puppeteer Sara Peattie joins us to talk about running the Puppet Free Library, which lives in the basement of Emanuel Church on Newbury street. Sara Peattie is the co-founder of the Puppeteers’ Cooperative, a nonprofit started in 1976 with the late puppeteer George Konnoff.Finally, we continue our series, Countdown to 2026, with historian Catherine Allgor leading the way, with a focus on the culture, the people on the ground, and the events leading up to the American Revolution. Catherine Allgor is President Emerita of the Massachusetts Historical Society, an author, historian and visiting scholar with the Department of History at Tufts University. On this month’s episode we’re looking at the fight for women’s rights by way of Abigail Adams and her famous letter to John Adams, urging him to “Remember the Ladies.”

Growing up in Southbridge, Massachusetts the acclaimed playwright Mfoniso Udofia rarely saw stories about Africans and African Americans that felt true to her own family. Inspired in part by August Wilson’s Century Cycle, she set out to create a cycle of nine plays that follows one Nigerian American family through three generations. Titled the Ufot Family Cycle, all nine of those plays will be produced as part of a two-year city-wide festival in Greater Boston. Led by the Huntington Theatre Company, a wide range of local cultural organizations will collaborate on the project. With the first play of the cycle, “Sojourners,” onstage now, Mfoniso Udofia and the Huntington’s artistic director Loretta Greco join The Culture Show to talk about launching this unprecedented endeavor. “Sojourners,” is on through December 1st. To learn more, click here.From there the writer Andre Dubus III joins The Culture Show. His nine books include the New York Times’ bestsellers “House of Sand and Fog,” “The Garden of Last Days,” and his memoir, “Townie.” His most recent novel, “Such Kindness,” was published in June 2023, and today he joins the show to talk about his latest work, a collection of personal essays, “Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin,” Andre Dubus teaches writing at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. To learn more about his upcoming appearances and events, click here.

November 1, 2024 - Week in Review: Martha Stewart, Teri Garr, and Mariah Carey's early return

St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston will transform into a clandestine location for six intimate performances October 31st through November 2nd, of Concert Theatre Works’ production of “Secret Byrd,” an immersive musical experience celebrating the music and activism of English Renaissance composer William Byrd. Presented by Revels, this is how Byrd intended for his Mass for 5 Voices to be sung- for worship and in strict secrecy. “Secret Byrd,” was created and directed by Bill Barclay, and features The Gesualdo Six, one of England’s leading vocal ensembles, and Abendmusik, New York’s Early String Band. Bill Barclay Artistic Director of Concert Theatre Works and Revels Senior Artistic Advisor, Paddy Swanson join The Culture Show. Tickets and information are at revels.org. From there we get a preview of Porter Square Books’ “Night of the Living Books ( a Halloween Party).” It kicks off at 7:00 PM at the Porter Square Books: Boston Edition in the Seaport District. Assistant Store Manager Jen Fryar joins us for a preview. To see Porter Square Books' staff recommendations, visit their website.Finally Mary Grant, President of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, joins The Culture Show for her monthly appearance to discuss a range of topics, which includes her thoughts on Ballot Question 2, and the recipients of the 2024 MassArt Common Good Award, which celebrates individuals who demonstrate the transformative impact of the arts on civic life.The Culture Show, which presents,Community Canvas, is an initiative at GBH that features artwork from community members on our Digital Mural. Today’s mural, in the spirit of Halloween, is titled Spooky Mookie by Corinn Colford.

Subject:Matter, the Boston-based tap ensemble joins The Culture Show to perform and preview their debut jazz album “Songbook,” which will be released on November 8th. They will also be performing at the ICA on November 8. Ian Berg, a choreographer, composer and founder of Subject:Matter, Dance Captain Sam Emmond and Subject:Matter Music Director Max Ridley discuss it all with Jared Bowen.From there Keith Mascoll previews a live taping of his podcast at the Museum of Science, “Living The Triggered Life Podcast, “ which he co-hosts with his wife Roxann Mascoll. They are a Black couple who have their own trauma histories. On their podcast they talk about love, mental health, relationships and family dynamics. Finally culture show contributor Pedro Alonzo, the Boston-based independent curator and interdisciplinary artist Sam Durant join The Culture Show for our recurring segment AI: Actual Intelligence. Sam Durant, who grew up near Boston discusses how being part of Boston Busing influenced his perspective as an artist.

Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, Executive Producers of FX’s “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez,” join The Culture Show to talk about adapting his story to a 10-part limited series.From there Linda Weld, who is a board member of the Associates of the Boston Public Library and co-chair of the Hundred-Year Retroactive Book Award joins us to talk about their Hundred-Year Retroactive Book award and the upcoming deadline to vote for the 1925 literary work that has the most relevance today.Finally, poet Erik Andrade joins us to talk about his work, being included in the prestigious anthology, “Black Fire This Time Vol. 2,” and the tradition of the spoken word as a form of activism. For more information about Andrade's upcoming open mic nights in New Bedford, visit his Instagram page.

Contemporary painter, sculptor and installation artist Titus Kaphar has built a reputation for grappling with history and racism and for exploring whose stories get told, and whose don’t. Now he’s working with a larger canvas–the movie screen–to tell his story. His debut film, “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” is in theaters now. Kaphar joins The Culture Show to talk about this film, which is about family, generational healing, and the power of forgiveness. From there, a perfect subject for people who like a good helping of history with their Halloween. Over 1,100 bodies lie beneath the sanctuary of Old North Church and you can explore this historic site by way of Old North After-Hours Crypt Tours. Nikki Stewart, the Executive Director of Old North Illuminated, joins The Culture Show to talk about the tour and the history of the crypt. The tours run every night through November 2. To learn more about tickets and times, go here.Finally, ahead of Election Day, we get an overview of “Unfinished Democracy: Artistic Reflections,” which is on view at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod through November 5th, which includes an Election Night closing event. Molly Demeulenaere, Executive Director of the Cultural Center of Cape Cod joins The Culture Show.

First up: Actor Idris Elba has a 10 year plan to bolster the film industry in Africa. Born in London to a Ghanaian mother and Sierra Leonean father, he’s on a mission to do this right by moving to several countries, from Accra to Zanzibar, making sure a new generation of filmmakers can tell stories beyond slavery and trauma.Then, If you’re over 40 -years old, no mistletoe for you. Hallmark has been slammed with an age discrimination lawsuit, claiming studio execs wanted to replace their old actors with younger talent. Plus, the Whitney Museum is implementing our favorite four letter word: FREE. there will be no admission for anyone 25 years-old and younger.Finally, it’s time to get fired up for the world’s first museum dedicated to barbecue.

Writer Raj Tawney’s work largely reflects his multiracial American upbringing. Born to an Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian American family, Tawney has explored his identity and family history through personal essays, a memoir and now he’s applying the edict “write what you know” to his forthcoming young adult novel, “All Mixed up.” It’s a coming-of-age story that follows a friendship forged between Kamal, a multi-ethnic American and Jaz, a Pakistani immigrant in the aftermath of 9/11.From there we meet the artist who is brightening our commute, The Public Art Fund and the advertising company JCDecaux have been collaborating to expand public art. One initiative is transforming bus shelters into public exhibition spaces.The latest installation features artist Adrienne Elise Tarver. Her series, recently unveiled at 300 bus shelters in New York City, Chicago and Boston, is titled “She Who Sits.” The panels feature portraits of seated women and are the artist’s consideration of the enduring influence and significance of the Black matriarch. Finally, Boston Circus Guild is taking Halloween to new frights and literally heights, with “Cirque of the Dead.” It is an adults-only spooky spectacular full of aerial arts, acrobatics, and a story about the spiritualist movement of the 1920s. Ellen Waylonis and Eileen Little join us for a preview. Ellen Waylonis is the creative producer of this year’s “Cirque of the Dead,” and you can see her perform in it. Eileen Little is the director of this year’s “Cirque of the Dead,” which kicks off tonight and ends on October 31st. There are a total of five performances at Arts at the Armory in Somerville. For more information go here.

Today we’re having another edition of countdown to 2025, as in countdown to the first Boston Triennial of public art, which opens next year. It’s curated by Culture Show contributor Pedro Alonzo who is also the Artistic Director of the triennial. It will feature dozens of large-scale public art commissions by local, national and international artists, which includes the acclaimed street artist and filmmaker Caledonia Curry aka SWOON. She and Pedro Alonso join The Culture Show for a preview.From there it’s Keefer Glenshaw. The artist has turned playing cello into an endurance sport. In May he performed for 24 hours. In July another work took him into the woods of Lexington. We caught up with him this summer. Now that his debut album, PURITY, has been released, we’re rebroadcasting that conversation and in-studio performance. Glenshaw is also partnering with Leesta Vall to record vinyl singles of the album. You can learn more here.Finally it’s another edition of AI: Actual Intelligence with Mahesh Daas. He is president of Boston Architectural College and the co-author of the graphic novella about artificial intelligence, titled “I, Nobot.” This month he discussed the Walter Hood exhibition, Native(s), which is on view at the BAC McCormick Gallery.

Today on The Culture Show we continue our series, “Countdown to 2026,” with historian Catherine Allgor leading the way. This month she focuses on slavery in Boston and Massachusetts and how much a part of life it was and how central it was to the business of trade and Boston's economic structure. Catherine Allgor is an author, President Emerita of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and visiting scholar with the Department of History at Tufts University. Her book recommendation for this month is “Belonging: An Intimate History of Slavery and Family in Early New England,” by Gloria McCahon Whiting.From there Culture Show’s James Bennett II discusses Project STEP, a rigorous program that trains young, minority students to be professional, classical musicians.Finally, Jenny Johnson joins The Culture Show to talk about a new cookbook that she co-authored with longtime media partner, Billy Costa. “A Taste of Boston!: The Definitive Cookbook of the City We Love,” is filled with recipes from the city's most legendary chefs and restaurateurs. Jenny Johnson and Billy Costa co-host NESN's "Dining Playbook" and "Meet Boston with Billy and Jenny."

Artist Hugh Hayden’s solo exhibition, “Hugh Hayden: Home Work,” is on view at the Rose Art Museum. It surveys Hayden’s extensive body of work over the last decade, including a site-responsive installation newly conceived for the Rose Art Museum. “Home Work” focuses on the artist’s exploration of the “American Dream,” its pathways, and architecture. Hayden states, “All of my work is about the American dream, whether it’s a table that’s hard to sit at or a thorny school desk. It’s a dream that is seductive but difficult to inhabit.” Hayden, who also has a commission currently on view at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, joins The Culture Show to talk about his work.From there we enter the world of wizardry and witchcraft by way of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition.” It’s an interactive experience, on view at CambridgeSide through January 5th. Created and developed by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Entertainment, in partnership with Imagine Exhibitions and Eventim Live, the show celebrates the iconic characters, creatures, and scenes from the “Harry Potter” books and films. Tom Zaller, president and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions joins “The Culture Show,” for an overview.Finally, Culture Show producer Kate Dellis takes us into the old-timey world –and behind the scenes – of The Post-Meridian Radio Players ahead of their upcoming Halloween performances of “The Unseen Worlds of H.G. Wells.”

Today 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 National Women’s Soccer League Franchise. It made a dangerous play this week when it debuted in Boston. For starters its name, BOS Nation was universally panned, then they added injury to insult with their slogan “Too Many Balls,” considered male-centric and transphobic, the league is now on the defensive apologizing for being so out of bounds.From there they look at the brief but influential life of the singer-songwriter Liam Payne who died at age 31. As a leading member of One Direction he helped to reinvent the boy band, creating one of the most definitive pop groups of his era along the way.Plus, a painting by abstract expressionist Norman Lewis is rescued from a condemned house on Cape Cod.Finally, What’s black, white and ridiculously adorable all over? Pandas.

Nicholas Ma joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest documentary, “Leap of Faith.” It follows 12 Christian pastors who are working to find hope and fellowship even though they hold deeply different beliefs .As they grapple with rifts within the Christian community they’re trying to reconcile that friction with their calling to promote tolerance and connection at the pulpit. “Leap of Faith,” has its opening night at The Coolidge Corner Theatre on Friday, October 18th.From there, Culture Show Contributor Lisa Simmons, artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Fest and program manager at Mass Cultural Council, joins us to talk through the bumper crop of film festivals this season and she’ll offer some recommendations for horror films to take in ahead of Halloween.

Casey Soward has been a force in the performing arts sector. Recently he was named President and CEO of the Boch Center, home to the iconic Wang and Shubert Theatres. He joins us to talk about his vision and what it takes to have one of the most high-profile jobs in Boston’s art scene.From there Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, reflects on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. With Election Day on the horizon, he focuses on King’s fight for voting rights and his mission of fostering peace in a nation on edge. He also gives us a preview of this year’s Embrace Boston's Arts and Culture Summit.

“Nassim,” is Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour's audacious new theatrical experiment. Each night a different VIP performs, while the script waits unseen in a sealed box. Touchingly autobiographical yet powerfully universal, “Nassim” is a striking theatrical demonstration of how language can both divide and unite us. Presented by The Huntington Theatre Company, it’s onstage through October 27th at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. Nassim Soleimanpour joins The Culture Show to talk about this work, his background and his creative process.

Billy Bragg, one of the most outspoken singer-songwriters of his generation, he’s known for his labor activism and for his lyrics that range from romantic to radically political, with a constant throughline of hope for a better tomorrow. He’s released music and toured extensively with Wilco, putting unreleased lyrics by legendary American protest singer and activist Woody Guthrie to music. His latest album, “The Roaring Forty,” compiles dozens of iconic and deep-cut tracks from his now forty-plus year career. Billy Bragg’s “Roaring Forty” tour is well underway. He’ll be performing at the Chevalier Theater in Medford tonight.From there, Boston is now brighter and bolder by way of a new mural by Jeffrey Gibson at Dewey Square on The Greenway. Jeffrey Gibson is a multidisciplinary artist who is representing the United States at this year’s Venice Biennale. And it is historic. Gibson, whose ancestry includes Choctaw and Cherokee forebears, is the first Indigenous American to receive the honor of a solo show in the U.S. pavilion. He is an artist who fuses Indigenous aesthetics, history, politics, and pop culture –packing a powerful punch. Not just for the electrifying visuals but because in Gibson’s work there is a message as it grapples with questions of identity, oppression, and the struggle for freedom. Titled “your spirit whispering in my ear,” the mural is commissioned by The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy in collaboration with Mass MoCA. In addition to the mural, Jeffrey Gibson’s project at MASS MoCA, titled “POWER FULL BECAUSE WE’RE DIFFERENT,” will open on November 3rd. Finally, to commemorate Indigenous People's Day, Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes us on a tour of public artworks that honor Indigenous culture. She’s a multidisciplinary artist and award winning photographer who is the creator of The Art Walk Project, a series of self-guided micro tours.

Today 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, more than a dozen states, including Massachusetts, are suing Tik Tok, alleging that its algorithm was deliberately designed to get people hooked – violating consumer protection laws and causing a teenage mental health crisis along the way. We’ll look at what it means to be a society under the influencer.From there, the controversial Trump biopic, “The Apprentice,” is out, following a beleaguered journey to its theatrical release, from legal fights to fighting to find a distributor. Plus it’s the end of an era for Boston's fine-dining scene. Chef Barbara Lynch, whose reputation has been marred recently by reports of being abusive and volatile, is closing all of her remaining restaurants.

Writer Michael Patrick MacDonald’s bestselling memoir, “All Souls” is about growing up in South Boston during the 1970’s. It was a place that was ravaged by extreme poverty, Whitey Bulger’s crime ring, drugs an racial strife amid the Boston busing crisis.Published in 1999, Michael Patrick Macdonald is marking the 25th anniversary of “All Souls” with a new edition and a series of events. He joins us to talk about what’s changed and what hasn’t since “All Souls” sent so many readers soul searching about a community in distress. You can catch Michael Patrick MacDonald on October 27th at the Jamestown Arts Center in Jamestown, Rhode IslandFrom there we get a jump on Boston Fashion Week, which kicks off on October 13th. Amid the events is one that is celebrating inclusivity by truly being inclusive, it’s called “Every Body Belongs.” It is a celebration at the intersection of fashion and community, featuring designs from both adaptive and traditional designers, with models of all ages and abilities. Kristie Raymond, founder and owner of HumanKind Casting, which is organizing the event, joins The Culture Show with a preview. “Every Body Belongs” is on October 15th, 6:00-8:00 at Garage B at the Charles River Speedway in Brighton.

The bass-baritone Davóne Tines has earned a reputation for challenging traditions in classical music and using art to confront social problems. Now he’s collaborating with the Boston-based chamber orchestra, A Far Cry, on the program entitled CODED, which explores the legacy of Black spirituals.It will be performed in Boston on October 11th at NEC’s Jordan Hall and In New London, CT at Connecticut College on October 13th .And, five years after Harvard University announced plans to relocate and expand the American Repertory Theater, work is underway on the David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance. Get an inside look here. The new complex will include two performance venues, rehearsal studios and teaching space, and an outdoor performance area designed to host ticketed and free programming. Designed by the British architecture firm Haworth Tompkins with local architecture partner ARC and theater consultant Charcoalblue, Haworth Tompkins associate director and architect Tom Gibson joins The Culture Show to talk about what has gone into designing the multi-use space.

Artist Steve Locke’s exhibition at Mass MoCA, “The Fire Next Time,” is a nod to James Baldwin’s 1963 book by the same name. Like Baldwin, in this exhibition Steve Locke contemplates American history, racism and violence directed at Black and queer people. Formerly a fixture in Boston where he was on the faculty of MassArt, Locke is now based in New York where he’s a professor of fine art at Pratt Institute. He joins the Culture Show to talk about his work.From there Edgar B. Herwick III literally goes into the underworld to find out if the cave at Dungeon Rock in Lynn, MA is haunted.Finally Gary Sohmers, the writer, lyricist, creator and producer of “Beasties: A Sci-Fi Rock Opera” joins The Culture Show to talk about its world premier at the Regent Theatre in Arlington.

Music Worcester’s THE COMPLETE BACH is an audacious 11 year project, which Music Worcester has launched to present all of the known works of J. S. Bach. Every season, beginning with 2024-2025, will feature a dozen concerts with music from each genre of Bach’s massive compositional output. it will wrap up on March 21, 2035—the 350th anniversary of the Baroque master’s birth.And it all begins with the inaugural BACHtoberfest, which kicks off October 25th and runs through October 27th at Mechanics Hall.Adrien Finlay, Music Worcester’s Executive Director, and Chris Shepard, Artistic Director of THE COMPLETE BACH and also the director of both The Worcester Chorus and CONCORA joinThe Culture Show to talk about it all.From there Ben Van Leeuwen, CEO and cofounder of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, gives us the scoop on the third Van Leeuwen scoop shop to open this month in Harvard Square. In April they opened up a scoop shop in Chestnut Hill and in September they opened a location in the Seaport District and there are more to come.Finally, we look at a public art movement, “Be the Change.” One of the traditions of the Jewish faith is the Tzedakah box, which is used to collect change for those in need as well as being a symbol of a commitment to justice. Now in its third year, “Be the Change” is both a response to global injustices and a call to action. Six artists have created large, outdoor sculptures–a variation on a tzedakah box – which interprets their chosen social justice issues. These are located at 92 Van Ness street in the Fenway. The installation is on view through October 24th and it’s presented by the Jewish Arts Collaborative. Laura Mandel, Executive Director of JArts, joins The Culture Show.

Today The Culture Show’s 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, Merriam-Webster Dictionary adds 200 new words to the lexicon, which includes Gen Z slang such as “touching grass,” and “ FYP,” And after guiding the Celtics to victory, Jaylen Brown lands on the cover of TIME Magazine’s 100 list. From there we remember baseball legend Pete Rose, and the huge asterisk that gambling left on his legacy; we’ll reflect on the career of actor John Amos, known for being outspoken and playing the patriarch on “Good Times,” and we’ll listen to the influence that Kris Kristofferson had on country music.

Pianist and composer Barron Ryan joins The Culture Show ahead of his performance tonight at Mechanics Hall. As part of their “Beyond the Frames: A Series in Jazz,” he will debut an original work inspired by William and Martha Brown, business owners and abolitionists who lived in Worcester in the 1800s.From there Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark Art Institute, joins The Culture Show to discuss their current exhibition, Guillaume Lethière, which is the first major exhibition of the painter's work.Finally, Father Frank Sevola is Guardian of St. Anthony Shrine, the Church on Arch Street and George Comeau is Senior Manager of Destination Events for the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District join The Culture Show to preview this Sunday’s Blessing of the Animals and the 10th annual Doggone Halloween Parade. Both pet-friendly and pet-centric events will take place at Downtown Crossing.

Reynaliz Herrera is a classically trained percussionist who found her voice when she realized that a bicycle is a wildly versatile percussive instrument. She is a musician, an educator and founder of Ideas, Not Theories, a theatrical percussion company for unconventional percussion instruments. She joins us to talk about her debut album, “BIKEncerto: a concerto for solo bicycle and orchestra”, Reynaliz Hererra has two upcoming performances. One is at the Museum of Science On October 5th, and on November 14th she’ll be performing at the MIT Museum as part of their “After Dark” series.From there Courtney O’Connor, Producing Artistic Director at The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, joins The Culture Show to talk about their production of “Urinetown: The Musical,” which is onstage through October 20th. Finally, R. Tripp Evans joins The Culture Show to talk about his book, “The Importance of Being Furnished: Four Bachelors at Home.” and the exhibition that he guest curated for Historic New England, The Importance of Being Furnished, which is on view through October 27, 2024. R. Tripp Evans is Professor of the History of Art at Wheaton College.

The HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands is back with its 19th annual multi-day music extravaganza. It is outrageous and inclusive, brass and brash, percussive and persuasive. It kicks off October 4th and honks its way through the streets of Somerville and Cambridge through October 6th. HONK! Committee representatives, Reebee Garafalo and John Bell – who are also members of The Good Trouble Brass Band – join us for an overview. Then The Good Trouble Brass band wows us with their music.From there Daniel Gómez Llata, the Town Crier of Provincetown joins us to talk about what it takes to host the first-ever Provincetown Town Crier Competition. It kicks off next Monday, with 15 Town Criers from the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom crying and vying for prizes and top honors.Finally, its “Laughs in Spanish.” The play is part whodunnit, part telenovela and 100% fun. The director Mariela López-Ponce and actress Paola Ferrer, who stars as Estella, join us to talk about the production. “Laughs in Spanish” is presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company at Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts. Through Oct. 12.

Sarah Ganz Blythe is the newly appointed Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of the Harvard Art Museums. She joins The Culture Show to talk about starting this new post and what her vision is for The Harvard Art Museums. To see all of their events and exhibitions you can visit their website here. From there, Morning Edition co-host Jeremy Siegel joins The Culture Show to talk about the making of the Donna Summer mural in Roxbury, which he recently reported on. You can learn more about the mural here. Finally, Mark Anastasio, program manager and director of special programming for the Coolidge Corner Theatre joins The Culture Show to preview Schlock and Awe: The William Castle Experience, which kicks off tomorrow. Coolidge Corner Theatre describes the series as a “journey through cinematic history, where Castle's ingenious marketing ploys turned a night at the movies into a truly immersive experience.” The series will feature a mix of Castle’s cult classic, his influence on cinema and crowning achievements.

Today Edgar B. Herwick III, Jared Bowen and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up: we remember actor Dame Maggie Smith, who has died at age 89. A legend of the British stage, she also won Oscars, Tonys and Golden Globes. She enchanted new generations by way of Harry Potter. And, then of course, she was the Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey everyone wanted to sit next to for her delicious courses of wit. From there it’s a new narrative for the videogame The Legend of Zelda. It’s the princess who’s now doing the saving. Then Project Skydrop, which sounds like a quest you’d find in The Legend of Zelda. Superstar video game designers have invented a real life event that has sent people scouring the woods of New England for golden treasure.And, Saturday Night Live turns 50. Now old enough to have an AARP membership, does it still have its edge and cultural relevance.First up: Project Skydrop. It’s what happens when superstar video game designers invent a real life event – a treasure hunt, which now has people scouring the woods of New England in search of buried treasure.. From there, a spin on cancel culture. Called “click to cancel,” a new law in California makes it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up for one. Plus, if less is more, are Americans ready for a super-downsize –me movement, as the restaurant industry considers serving up smaller portions?Finally, SNL turns 50. Now old enough to have an AARP membership, does it still have its edge and cultural relevance?

Former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. She has become an astute observer of the ever widening cultural divide in American politics. Now in her memoir, “Oath and Honor,” she paints a scathing portrait of the Republican party, condemning her former colleagues and party leaders who after the 2020 election were willing to violate their oath to the Constitution out of political expediency and loyalty to Donald Trump. From there, it’s poetry in motion. A traveling festival, celebrating the legacy of Edgar Allan Poe kicks off in Boston, launching its four-city tour. Dutch artist Erik van Loon, founder of the Poetry Downtown Festival joins The Culture Show with a previewFinally, Joyce Kulhawik is here for Balancing Acts, a look at the latest plays in the area with a focus on what to prioritize amid the bounty of productions. Joyce Kulhawik is an Emmy-award winning arts and entertainment reporter, president of the Boston Theatre Critics Association and you can find her reviews on joyceschoices.com

Uzo Aduba, the award-winning actress spans television, film, and theater. Her road to success is explained in her debut memoir “The Road is Good: How a Mother’s Strength Became a Daughter's Purpose.” In the book, Aduba tells her own coming-of-age story, growing up in Medfield, Massachusetts and studying the Arts at Boston University, by simultaneously telling the story of her late Mother. She joins us ahead of her Harvard Book Store event this Friday.From there, we leap into the Dance Complex’s fall programming. Now in its 34th year, New England’s largest dance hub is kicking off its fall season this Friday with Fall Into Dance, a free public celebration in collaboration with Boston Dance Alliance. Peter DiMuro, Executive Artistic Director of the Dance Complex, joins The Culture Show to talk about the legacy of the Dance Complex and what is in store for dance enthusiasts this fall.Finally, Culture Show contributor, Pedro Alonzo joins us with an update on the Boston Triennial and a new public art installation that’s making a splash in Central Wharf Park, “Whale Song,” by artist Jean-Marie Appriou.

“Mamma Mia!” The musical’s 25th anniversary tour has arrived at the Citizen’s Opera House by way of Broadway in Boston. “Mamma Mia!” is full of surprise appearances, comic situations and misunderstandings that culminate in an unexpected wedding. It has all the makings of a Shakespearean comedy, only it’s told through ABBA’s greatest hits. Phyllida Lloyd, a theater powerhouse, known for putting women center stage, directed the hit musical and then the 2008 film. She joins us to talk about 25 years of “Mamma Mia!”From there, in her latest cookbook, “The Chinese Way,” Betty Liu debunks the myths about traditional Chinese cooking, breaking down the fundamentals and showing us how we can apply them to everyday meals.Finally, Paul Revere risked every farthing he owned to open the country’s first copper mill in the early 1800’s. A new exhibit at the Paul Revere Museum honors his innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. Joyce Stenmon, the exhibition’s curator, joins us for an overview.

Writer Amor Towles is the bestselling author of “Rules of Civility,” “A Gentleman in Moscow,” and “The Lincoln Highway.” Now he has another bestseller, “Table for Two.” His latest book is 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. Towles joins The Culture Show ahead of his appearance at the Emerson Colonial Theatre on September 24th to talk about “Table for Two,” his creative process, and what it was like to see “A Gentleman in Moscow,” come to life by way of a Paramount+ limited series starring Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.From there Independent filmmaker Sabrina Aviles, founder and executive director of CineFest Latino Boston joins us for an overview of the annual film festival highlighting the Latino experience with films made by Latinos about Latinos. The festival kicks off on September 25th and runs through September 29th.Finally, as we wind up the countdown clock to America’s 250th anniversary, we’re launching a new series with historian Catherine Allgor leading the way. In her inaugural appearance she focuses on what Boston was like on the eve of the American Revolutionary War, and the people on the ground who ultimately became “we the people.” Allgor also has some book recommendations: “A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence” by Ray Raphael; “The Boston Massacre: A Family History,” by Serena R. Zabin; “This History of Boston,” by Daniel Dain.

Today Culture Show co-hosts Callie Crossley, Edgar B. Herwick III and Jared Bowen go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week in review.First up, we remember two music legends: Tito Jackson and JD Souther.From there we look at the lawsuit filed against Miley Cyrus alleging that her hit track “Flowers,” includes lifted passages from Bruno Mars’ “When I was Your Man.”Then we look at the rise and fall of music mogul Sean Combs who has been indicted by a New York Grand Jury on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering that date back well over a decade. From there, we head over to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum where their infamous Dutch Room, the gallery where a selection of Vermeers and Rembrandts were stolen, will get a major restorationFinally, a fight for better paternity leave in the UK gets the public art treatment. To advance their cause, men are strapping baby slings to bronze statues of famous men throughout central London.

Culture Show co-host Edgar B. Herwick III sits down for a chat with Dave Barry, the acclaimed humor columnist who popularized Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Coinneach MacLeod is better known as The Hebridean Baker. His simple living, Scottish accent, and photographs of Soctland’s rugged landscape have made him an international bestseller. And then there are his bakes. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book “The Hebridean Baker: At Home: Flavors & Folklore from the Scottish Islands.”From there Edgar B. Herwick III, Culture Show co-host and man behind The Curiosity Desk, discusses the origin of International Talk Like a Pirate Day and traces the real life linguistic influences that pirates have on how we talk today.Finally, saxophone virtuoso James Carter joins The Culture Show ahead of his performances at Scullers Jazz Club on September 21st.

Kneecap. The Belfast-based rap group join The Culture Show ahead of their sold-out show at Paradise to talk about their debut album and biopic, “Kneecap.”From there, is it easy being green? With “Shrek the Musical” now on tour, Morning Edition Co-host Jeremy Siegel goes behind the scenes to find out what it takes to become the beloved, outsized ogre.Finally, Grammy-nominated composer Carlos Simon. He is the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Deborah and Philip Edmundson Composer Chair, a three-season position in which Simon will contribute several new works to the BSO's repertoire, curate concert programs, and lead educational and outreach programs. He joins The Culture Show to talk about this inaugural position and upcoming performances.

In 2018 Hannah Gadsby experienced seismic success with Nanette, a Nextflix special that upended standup comedy. Since then Gadsby has had other solo shows, written a memoir and hosted the recent Netflix comedy special, “Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda.”Now their latest standup tour, titled “Woof!” is bringing them to the Emerson Colonial Theatre on September 19th for two performances. They join The Culture Show to talk about everything from Taylor Swift to the world on the verge of a nervous breakdown.From there Ran Bechor and Karin Sharav Zalkind, co-founders of Adam Theater, a theater company committed to high-quality theater for children, join The Culture Show. They discuss their current production, the musical play “Library Lion,” a site specific performance at the Boston Public Library. The production will have a second run in January at The Huntington at the Calderwood Pavilion.Finally Kiernan Schmitt joins us to talk about his new book “Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide,” which takes us into the curious corners and around town. Kiernan Schmitt co-hosts the “Out of Office” travel podcast with Ryan Davis.

Writer Zadie Smith’s latest novel, “The Fraud” is historical fiction, set in Victorian England. Based on real events in 19th century Jamaica and England, her characters are grappling with many of the issues that we’re grappling with today: class, gender, and the reverberations of slavery.This is a work that is about so much – it’s a novel about a mediocre novelist falling out of favor, it’s about the relationship between England and Jamaica, and it’s an exposition on truth. Zadie Smith joins us ahead of her event at Brookline Booksmith.From there Robin Dawson, executive director of Boston Film Festival, joins us for an overview of their 40th season, which kicks off this Thursday, bringing a diverse slate of films and world premieres to the city,Finally, “The Gun Violence Memorial Project.” The exhibition showcases the magnitude of gun violence in America and it also makes it personal, featuring victims of gun violence, their mementos and the stories that they leave behind. “The Gun Violence Memorial Project,” is created by MASS Design Group and Songha & Company, along with gun violence prevention organizations Purpose Over Pain and Everytown for Gun Safety. Now on display in Boston, Jha D. Amazi, a principal at MASS Design Group joins us to talk about launching this project and bringing it to Boston.

On today’s arts and culture week-in-review Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons, the artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Festival and program manager at Mass Cultural Council, go over the latest headlines.First up, Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president and encourages everyone over the age of 18 to register to vote. Will this make an impact on the race?From there we remember the magisterial and masterful actor James Earl Jones and preview this Sunday’s Emmy awards.Finally, we look at Glenn Lowry, the director of the Museum of Modern Art. He is the latest high-profile leader to exit the museum world. What will the next generation of leaders bring to our major arts institutions and what challenges do they face?

Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston and José C. Massó III, the longtime host of WBUR’s “¡Con Salsa!,” join The Culture Show to preview The Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!” International Music Festival, a celebration of music, culture, and social justice. From there it’s Swampscott native Spencer Charnas. The frontman of the horror metal band Ice Nine Kills is also the curator of The Silver Scream Con. He joins us ahead of its Friday the 13th kickoff in Worcester.Finally Mary Grant, president of MassArt, joins The Culture Show for her monthly segment to talk about a range of topics, which this month includes colleges teaching AI, Governor Ron DeSantis’ severe budget cuts to the arts, and the story of a museum, an ancient broken jug, and forgiveness.

The Tony winning Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater Diane Paulus.She is a master revivalist. If you thought you knew the story of “Porgy and Bess,” or “Pippin,” Paulus has given the classics a new life by giving audiences a new way of experiencing them. Now she’s reframing “Romeo and Juliet,” with an emphasis on the lovers’ love. Diane Paulus and theater legend Terrence Mann join us.From there we get a jump on Mexican Independence Day with mariachi singer Veronica Robles – a cultural force as a performer and as a leader whose cultural center offers Latin American arts and culture programming and jobs for youth.And, artist Alex Buchanan. A Coast Guard veteran and former mariner, rope is now his medium of choice. He literally weaves it and other maritime materials together to figuratively weave the threads of waste, ocean health and maritime culture.

Actor and Comedian Eugene Mirman was born in Moscow, raised in Lexington, and he honed his craft working the stages of Boston's comedy circuit. Today he is known as the voice of Gene Belcher on the FX animated hit “Bob’s Burgers” and for his inventive standup.. He joins The Culture Show ahead of his appearance at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville.From there, Edgar B. Herwick III takes us to Worcester’s Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. That’s where the wondrous Wurlitzer pipe organ can still be experienced as a single instrument that wows with its mighty orchestral sound. Finally, author JM Varese joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest novel, a Victorian Gothic thriller that is rooted in the real-life Victorian scandal when arsenic was used to make decorative wallpaper. JM Varese is Director of Outreach for The Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz.

Today on The Culture Show Katie Bach, acting director of the Kodály Music Institute and music teacher at the Peabody School, talks about bringing the Kodály method of teaching music into local classrooms.From there we raise a glass to Boston Rum Week, which kicks off on September 15th. Olivier Raynaut, one of the head organizers, joins us for an overview.Finally, artist Sandra Sawatzky has created a chronology of environmental degradation over millennia with a tapestry that is nearly a decade-in-the-making. Titled “The Black Gold Tapestry,” it is one of the works included in MassArt Museum’s exhibition “Displacement,” which looks at our relationship with the environment, Sandra Sawatzky and Lisa Tung, executive director of the MassArt Art Museum, join The Culture Show to talk about this exhibition.

On this Friday’s arts and culture week-in-review, Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B Herwick III go over the latest headlines.First up, it looked like it was going to be curtains for West Newton Cinema, but in a major plot twist, it could be a Hollywood ending for the independent movie house, which has a new owner. And, the latest buzz is that Boston could be getting boozier, from a dramatic expansion of available liquor licenses to the city considering open container districts in an effort to boost Boston’s nightlife.And, is “Dancing with the Stars,” in the business of choreographing comebacks for convicts? Plus, Adele, famous for mega hits like “Hello,” is saying so long to show biz–for now.

Eric Vloeimans is a Dutch trumpet sensation, Cambridge native Will Holshouser is an accordion master. Together they create original, evocative compositions that draw on jazz, classical and folk music. Ahead of their upcoming shows – one tonight at the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke, MA and one at the Lilypad in Inman Square this Saturday – they join The Culture Show for an in-studio performance.Then, with election season in full swing you have likely heard that five word phrase that’s ubiquitous in campaign ads, “And I approve this message.” But why? Edgar B. Herwick III, Culture Show co-host and man behind The Curiosity Desk, brings us the answer.Finally the MFA’s Frederick Ilchman, Chair and Mrs. Russell W. Baker Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe, joins The Culture Show to talk about their first-ever Salvador Dalí exhibition “Dalí: Disruption and Devotion.”

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,” which details how she and her husband, the actor Chris Cooper, have been able to come to terms with the death of their teenage son with the help of their canine companions.From there, The Culture Show’s James Bennett II takes us to Cambridge, MA where a nonprofit is investing in the future of Hip-Hop and the next generation of Hip-Hop artists.Finally, with the presidential election a mere 61 days away, Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College, joins us to appreciate the architectural gem that is the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Sebastian Smee, art critic for The Washington Post, and author of “The Art of Rivalry” joins The Culture Show for a discussion of his new book “Paris in Ruins: Love, War, and the Birth of Impressionism.” From there Gloucester Stage Company and Teatro Chelsea are collaborating on “The Hombres,” in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Actor Jaime José Hernández who stars in the play as Beto is also Teatro Chelsea’s Program Manager. He joins The Culture Show ahead of “The Hombres” regional premiere. Finally, we look at an underground art movement, literally. Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson, who runs The Art Walk Project, takes us on a tour of the MBTA’s Red Line subway art scene.

Today we bring you three very different takes on Baseball. First up. from a diamond in the rough to the baseball diamond. Toni Stone made history as the first woman to play professional baseball in the mens’ Negro League. It’s the subject of Lydia Diamond’s latest play.From there it’s sportswriter and film critic Noah Gittell. In his new book he merges two American pastimes: baseball and movies. In looking at how the baseball movie has changed over the decades – from sports glory, to nostalgia to cynicism – he says we can also see how American values have changed.And Finally, why do baseball fans get to keep a foul ball if they catch it? Edgar B. Herwick III has the answer.

Writer Raj Tawney. Growing up in a multicultural household, his coming of age story happened in the kitchen, helping his mother and grandmother cook recipes from their homelands. Themes of food, memory and identity come together in his memoir, “A Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey through a Mixed American Experience”From there, it’s award-winning pastry chef Joanne Chang. She joins us with her theory on why there is a comfort food revival, putting her spin on the classics and how, for her, a recipe is always a work in progress.Finally we top things off, by topping one off with mixologist Marsha Lindsey, As the principal bartender at SRV where she also runs the bar program, she raises a glass to Black history by introducing us to some of her favorite black owned spirits–and her craft cocktails.