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Forum Network

Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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GBH Forum Network

The Forum Network is a public media service of the GBH Educational Foundation that offers thousands of video lectures by the world's foremost scholars, authors, artists, scientists, policymakers, and community leaders, made available to the public for free.

Lectures hosted on The Forum Network are presented by community organizations and educational institutions from the Boston area and beyond.

From science to the humanities, from local to global topics, The Forum Network is committed to providing outstanding educational content for lifelong learners, and to encouraging deeper understanding and civic engagement around the vital issues of our time.

Explore lectures by Topics, Series, Partners, and Speakers. To provide viewers with more information, lectures are further augmented with speaker biographies, related lectures and books, captions and transcripts, and downloadable audio.

In the past, GBH has collaborated with other public media partners—WETA in Washington, DC; Public Broadcasting Atlanta; and WNET New York—to record public speaking events. While the structure of the Forum Network changed in 2014 to focus specifically on the Boston region, previously recorded lectures remain archived in this website.

Major support for the GBH Forum Network comes from the Lowell Institute, an organization created to carry out the 1836 bequest of John Lowell Jr., to make free public lectures available to the citizens of Boston

Stay in touch with Forum Network. » Facebook Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Become a partner by joining our network as a local community content contributor. Email forumnetwork@wgbh.org with the subject line "New Partner".

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About GBH Educational Foundation

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives. GBH serves New England, the nation, and the world with programs that inform, inspire, and entertain. GBH is PBS's single largest producer of content for television (prime-time and children's programs) and the Web. Some of your favorite series and websites -- Nova, Masterpiece, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Curious George, Arthur, and The Victory Garden, to name a few -- are produced here in our Boston studios. GBH also is a major supplier of programs heard nationally on public radio, including The World. And we're a pioneer in educational multimedia and in media access technologies for people with hearing or vision loss. Our community ties run deep. We're a local public broadcaster serving southern New England, with 11 public television services and three public radio services -- and productions (from Greater Boston to Jazz with Eric in the Evening) that reflect the issues and cultural riches of our region. We're a member station of PBS and an affiliate of both NPR and PRI. In today's fast-changing media landscape, we're making sure you can find our content when and where you choose -- on TV, radio, the Web, podcasts, vodcasts, streaming audio and video, iPhone applications, groundbreaking teaching tools, and more. Our reach and impact keep growing. GBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors -- Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards -- even two Academy Awards. In 2002, a special institutional Peabody Award cited GBH's 50 years of service to the "community, the nation, and the world with outstanding productions and collaborations."

GBH is devoted to bringing you new experiences, taking you to new worlds, and giving you the very best in educational content. We're here for you -- and it all happens thanks to your interest and generous support!

https://forum-network.org/

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    Disability Reframed: A Growing Community

    Thu, Jun 26, 2025
    More than 70 million adults in the U.S.—that’s 1 in 4 people—live with a disability; some since birth, some developed over time, and some lives changed unexpectedly. The disabilities community is growing, and no matter how it arrives in your life, a disability is a natural aspect of the human experience. People with disabilities deserve our recognition and support.

    Join us for a discussion on ways to be more welcoming to those who are newly managing disability or chronic illness, how to navigate life’s changes with resilience and adaptation, and how together we will build a stronger, more supportive and connected community. Our panelists are Keisha Greaves, a motivational speaker, former Muscular Dystrophy Association National Spokesperson, and founder of the company Girls Chronically Rock; Carl Richardson, the long time Coordinator for implementation of the the Americans with Disability Act, 504, and Diversity Officer for the Massachusetts State House; and Tina Zhu Xi Caruso, a visually impaired photographer, disability advocate and participant in the Netflix series Love on the Spectrum.

    Serving as moderator of this important and timely conversation is Nicole Agois Hurel, a musician, educator, arts administrator, and disability advocate whose work centers at the intersection of arts, education and disability. She is the Managing Director of Open Door Arts, an organization that works to increase access, participation, and representation in arts and culture by people with disabilities.

    Disability ReFramed is a GBH annual conversation that imagines what the future could be. Come and network prior to the event and learn more from local partner organizations presenting in the GBH Atrium.

    This event is presented with support from our sponsors:
    the Museum of Science, Vinfen, and Bentley University
    Forum Network
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    GBH Forum Network
  • Webinar - Youth homelessness

    Hidden in Plain Sight: Understanding Youth Homelessness

    Mon, Apr 8, 2024
    Many homeless youth go unseen or unheard. The most recent DESE data from the 2022-23 school years reports there were 1790 unaccompanied homeless students in MA.
    In Massachusetts, you are considered a homeless youth if you are 24 years of age or younger, not in physical custody of a legal guardian and lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. While Boston has been allocating funds for this often overlooked demographic, what more can be done to end youth homelessness?

    Tori Bedford moderates a conversation with experts who work to address the situation, whether it’s through offering beds, educational programs or assistance with permanent living.
    Forum Network
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    GBH Forum Network
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    Power Shift: How The Big Quit Is Shaping the Future of Work

    Tue, Apr 12, 2022
    Even as offices reopen and masks come off, one of the most ubiquitous disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers: a profound change in the way we execute, imagine and feel about work. The initial shock of shutdowns and layoffs was followed by a robust rebound and -- a shortage of workers. Especially in the service sector, many never returned to jobs with uncertain hours, low pay and a heightened risk of COVID exposure. Across the economic spectrum people are taking stock of what matters most and reordering their priorities. People are not just changing jobs, but also the way work factors into their identity. “I don’t dream of work,” has become a popular social media hashtag, as has “I quit my job.” GBH News captured the stories and the spirit of this moment in our series [The Big Quit](https://www.wgbh.org/news/the-big-quit) , profiling local people who - by choice or circumstance - have made major changes during the pandemic. Join us virtually for a discussion moderated by Stephanie Leydon, Director of Special Projects at GBH News, with Leslie Forde, Founder and CEO of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, Mark Melnick, Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Lauren Jones, Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable. Together they will examine what happens next in our state as the economy adjusts to changed expectations, new challenges and an empowered workforce.
    Forum Network
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    GBH Forum Network
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    How COVID-19 Changed Us: A Pandemic in Photographs

    Wed, Mar 10, 2021
    One year ago the pandemic forced us apart. It drove us out of the classroom and office; it shut down theaters and bars. Streets were empty and emergency rooms were overwhelmed by people falling ill. It also revealed existing inequities. Those already struggling battled isolation, a lack of resources, profound levels of stress and deep personal loss. As most of us had no choice but to remain at home, photojournalists were often the first and only eyes on the ground, witnessing the impact of the coronavirus on nearly every aspect of our lives. Callie Crossley, host of Under the Radar, Basic Black and GBH News commentator, brings four members of the Boston Press Photographers Association — independent photojournalist Angela Rowlings, Reuters Senior Photographer Brian Snyder, Boston Globe Photographer Jessica Rinaldi and GBH’s Director of Photography, Meredith Nierman — to a roundtable discussion to examine the pandemic through their photos, stories and reflections. *** _This event is part of an entire day of reflection and storytelling conducted by GBH News. On March 10, 2021 we mark one year from the day when Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency. See the entire day of [special programming](https://www.wgbh.org/news/a-year-apart) and use the hashtag #AYearApart to follow our stories on social media_
    Forum Network
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    GBH Forum Network
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    The Color of Public Money — A Public Discussion

    Tue, Feb 16, 2021
    The next GBH News Forum. This time, we’re looking at inequities in government contracting and public spending revealed by the work of the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting in its ongoing series, “The Color of Public Money.” The project first revealed in January 2020 that minority-owned businesses – and Black-owned businesses, in particular – get a tiny fraction of the billions of dollars spent by Massachusetts state agencies on contracts for a vast array of goods and services. In fact, minority-owned firms saw their share of state dollars decline over the past two decades. As the reporting continued, minority business groups pressed Governor Charlie Baker to respond. By the end of 2020 he relented, announcing that he would elevate the state’s minority contracting office to an independent state agency. More reforms – and reporting – are in progress. GBH News Forums: You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Experts.
    Forum Network
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    How to Bridge the Partisan Divide

    Mon, Oct 19, 2020
    In anticipation of the November 2020 elections, GBH News invited a panel of experts to share their understanding of partisanship and disunion in the country. Just how divided are we, and what is the psychology that drives these divisions? With a deeper understanding of the current situation and a larger historical context, perhaps we can make more choices that will help us bridge the divides that separate us. Specifically the panel examines the role of media and perception in polarization, the history of partisanship, and what we can do to move forward to bridge the divide.
    Forum Network
    GBH News Forums
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    Understanding Polling Numbers In 2020

    Mon, Aug 17, 2020
    Throughout election cycles poll results appear to move up and down rapidly. They can often be confusing, especially when the methodology is unclear. How can we better read and understand political polls? A panel of experts sits down with WGBH News Digital Editor Laura Colarusso to examine how these numbers are determined, in what ways campaigns react to polls, how journalists interpret the numbers and why we put so much stock in polling during elections. Guest speakers are Gary Langer, founder of Langer Research Associates and former director of polling at ABC News; Wilnelia Rivera, president at Rivera Consulting, Inc. and lead on Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's 2016 campaign; and James Pindell, political reporter at The Boston Globe.
    Forum Network
    GBH News Forums
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    WGBH News Forum: How Will The Pandemic Impact Elections?

    Mon, May 11, 2020
    What will be the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our 2020 elections? The coronavirus has inflicted terrible damage on families around the globe. It has also affected many areas of our lives, from the economy to the way students are learning online. As the 2020 presidential election approaches, we must consider how the pandemic is impacting the election season. This panel discussion examines how campaigns are reaching voters while observing social distancing, explores the procedural changes states may make to the election process, and looks at ways to stay safe when voting. The discussion is moderated by WGBH News Senior Digital Managing Editor, Laura Colarusso. This News Forum is brought to you in partnership with the Ford Hall Forum, Harvard Book Store, WGBH News , and the WGBH Insider Series.
    Forum Network
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    WGBH News Forums: How To Spot Fake News

    Mon, Jan 13, 2020
    WGBH News and the Forum Network begin 2020 with an original, news-focused speaker series that will provide a closer look at the presidential election season. In these quarterly events, audience members can connect to WGBH News reporters and experts who will help navigate a heavy year of political coverage. This first event focuses on how to spot “fake news” in an age of disinformation, with a panel of scholars who study media manipulation, digital resources, and the spread of misinformation. The discussion is moderated by WGBH News Senior Digital Managing Editor, Laura Colarusso. Photo: Ryan Arel/Forum Network
    Forum Network
    GBH News Forums
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    GBH Forum Network
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    Black Lives, Native Lands, White Worlds: A History of Slavery in New England

    Thu, Oct 17, 2019
    Historian Jared Ross Hardesty focuses on 17th century New England, when enslaved people—both indigenous peoples and kidnapped Africans—comprised about 4 percent of the population. He shares the individual stories of enslaved people, bringing their experiences to life. He also explores the importance of slavery to the colonization of the region and to agriculture and industry, New England’s deep connections to Caribbean plantation societies, and the significance of emancipation movements in the era of the American Revolution. **About the event site** In the eighteenth century, the [Royall House and Slave Quarters](http://royallhouse.org/) was home to the largest slaveholding family in Massachusetts and the enslaved Africans who made their lavish way of life possible. Today, the Royall House and Slave Quarters is a museum whose architecture, household items, archaeological artifacts, and programs bear witness to intertwined stories of wealth and bondage, set against the backdrop of America’s quest for independence.
    Forum Network
    Policing The Black Community: Consequences And Activism
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    GBH Forum Network
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