Past Events

Harvard Book Store welcomes Chris Wrenn—founder of indie record label Bridge Nine and the clothing label Sully's—for a discussion of his book, Fenway Punk: How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball’s Greatest Rivalry.
Author Chris Wrenn, a member of the Boston hardcore punk scene, had a dream of his own—to start his own record label. Embracing the do-it-yourself ethos of the scene, Chris set out to make it happen, networking and forging relationships with local bands. But such an endeavor required money he didn't have ... until he and his friends heard a familiar phrase echo out of Fenway Park, the home field of the Red Sox. A rousing story of entrepreneurship and ingenuity that also reveals fresh insight into one of the most epic rivalries in sports history, Fenway Punk is a gripping read for both fans of punk music and readers of Ben Mezrich, Lizzy Goodman, and Chuck Klosterman.

Presented by GBH Music and JazzBoston, GBH Jazz Nights welcome saxophonist, flautist, and composer Ken Field and his RSE Trio—Blake Newman on bass and Phil Neighbors on drums—to perform a set that blends the spirit of New Orleans jazz with some of the Field’s original compositions for his group, the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble.

GBH Jazz Nights showcase the incredible range of jazz talent in the Greater Boston area. The series is co-hosted by JazzBoston and GBH Music, taking place on the second Thursday of every month from September through May. Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early! By registering, you agree to receive email communications from GBH Music.

GBH Jazz Nights are made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.

As we transition into the spring and summer months, the expansion of outdoor athletics offers a powerful medium for the unique communal experiences that define us as social and psychological beings. This conversation explores how sporting events serve as a vital catalyst for well-being, providing a rare space to thrive through shared identity and emotional support. According to the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, these gatherings do more than just entertain; they foster essential social connections that preserve our health and happiness. Whether we are united by the electric joy of a collective victory or finding solace in a shared defeat, the bonds formed in the stands and on the field are fundamental to our enduring sense of belonging. Join us as we dive into the science of connection and celebrate the spirit of the game.

Guests:

Alex Richardson
Career Development Manager, The Base

Adrienne Benton 
Co-founder, Black Unicorn Marathoners
Member, Black Girls Run Boston

Tony Richards, Sr.
Founder and Program Director
No Books No Ball Basketball Program

Yamiley Millor
Cheer Coordinator, Brookline Jamaica Plain Patriots Cheer Squad

GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public.

GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you require a seat, we encourage you to arrive before the start time of this event.

Hear from renowned legal scholar, civil rights advocate, and former judge Margaret A. Burnham, the founder of Northeastern University School of Law’s Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project (CRRJ) and author of By Hands Now Known: Jim Crow’s Legal Executioners. Through CRRJ, Burnham has led teams of law students in investigating acts of racial violence in the Jim Crow era, including hundreds of unsolved murders of Black people among other historical failures of the criminal justice system.

What was once a marketplace for personal information has evolved into a permanent, powerful infrastructure: one that federal agencies, law enforcement, and even the Department of Defense increasingly rely on to monitor, classify, and track people in ways the public rarely sees. At the center of this shift is the data-broker economy, a vast, lightly regulated industry that buys and sells the intimate details of our lives. These datasets now feed into AI systems used for policing, immigration enforcement, and risk assessment. More recently, they have also begun informing the Pentagon’s exploration of autonomous technologies capable of identifying and targeting individuals without direct human oversight.

Join Cindy Cohn, Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Kade Crockford, Director of Technology and Justice Programs at the ACLU of Massachusetts, for a timely investigation into how these systems work, who they empower, and what they mean for the future of democratic participation.

The GBH BPL studio will host Outspoken Saturdays, a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists. Every first Saturday of the month, the series will be created in collaboration with spoken word artist Amanda Shea.

If you are interested in performing, feel free to submit your work for review here
Join us!

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Join Jimmy and guests Victor Ortiz, Director of the Office of Problem Gambling Services and Ben Hires, CEO of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, as they discuss how resources, services, and partnerships can mitigate harms associated with gambling.

GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public.

GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you require a seat, we encourage you to arrive before the start time of this event.

Harvard Book Store, the Harvard University Division of Science, the Harvard Library, and Long Now Boston welcome Andrew H. Knoll—Fisher Research Professor of Natural History and Earth and Planetary Sciences, Emeritus, at Harvard University, and author of A Brief History of Earth and Life on a Young Planet—for a discussion of his new book Earth and Life: A Four Billion Year Conversation. He will be joined in conversation by Robin Wordsworth—Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Co-Director of Graduate Studies at Harvard University

Beyond the Page is thrilled to welcome back New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Benedict for an unforgettable evening at GBH Studios to celebrate her spellbinding new novel, Daughter of Egypt.

Join us for a fascinating conversation as Benedict shares the real history and inspiration behind her latest work, dives into the lives of the trailblazing women who shaped it, and answers your questions about bringing hidden stories to light.

Each ticket purchase for this special, in-person event includes:

• Admission to the live conversation on Monday, March 30 
• A SIGNED copy of Marie Benedict’s Daughter of Egypt 

Attendees will also have the opportunity to have their books personally signed by the author after the program.

Don’t miss out on this evening of insight and adventure with one of today’s most celebrated voices in historical fiction!

Join host Ron Mitchell for a compelling conversation with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley as we honor Women’s History Month and look toward the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Grounded in the National Women’s History Alliance’s 2026 theme, "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future," this episode redefines sustainability as a holistic pursuit. Together, they explore the vital role of women’s leadership in driving economic stability, fostering community resilience, and ensuring intergenerational equity. From national policy to local grassroots movements, this discussion highlights how women are actively architecting a more durable and equitable future for all.

GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public.

GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you require a seat, we encourage you to arrive before the start time of this event.

(Rescheduled from March 12)