Episodes
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July 16, 2025 - Adam Aleksic, "Back to The Future - The Musical," and Steve Locke
Adam Aleksic—founder and former president of the Harvard Undergraduate Linguistics Society, and content creator posting educational videos as the “Etymology Nerd”—joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language.” Tonight he’ll be at the Harvard Book Store. To learn more go hereIn 1985 Marty McFly skateboarded onto the silver screen — and into cinematic history — with the blockbuster, “Back to The Future.” In this sci-fi classic, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown turns a DeLorean into a plutonium-powered time machine. Then, in an experiment gone awry, Marty McFly finds himself taking a ride of his lifetime, going back to 1955 where he meets his parents when they were teenagers. Now audiences can time travel back to 1985 by way of “Back to the Future, The Musical.” It’s onstage at Citizens Opera House by way of Broadway in Boston through July 20th. To learn more go here.Finally, artist Steve Locke. His 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. Steve Locke is a professor of fine art at Pratt Institute. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his work. -
July 15, 2025 - Gregory Maguire, Margaret Cho, and Jane Eaglen
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 comedian, actress and singer-songwriter Margaret Cho joins The Culture Show to talk about her new album “Lucky Gift.”Finally, the film “Maria,” tells the story of a diva in decline: Maria Callas, one of history's most celebrated opera sopranos. The reviews from film critics are mixed, but what does Jane Eaglen, the Grammy award-winning soprano think about the biopic? Jane Eaglen is on the faculty at New England Conservatory and is the President of the Boston Wagner Society. -
July 14, 2025 - Reginald Dwayne Betts, David Grann, and Chelsea Handler
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 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.Finally comedian, television host, advocate and New York Times bestselling author Chelsea Handler joins The Culture Show to talk about her new 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. -
July 11, 2025 - Devo at 50, Alison Bechdel, and James Parker
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.From there “New York Times” bestselling author Alison Bechdel joins The Culture Show to talk about her new comic novel “Spent.” Finally James Parker, a staff writer at “The Atlantic,” joins The Culture Show to talk about his 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.” -
July 10, 2025 - Baseball: The Movie, Dart Adams on 3 Feet High and Rising, and Max Heinegg
Today writer Noah Gittell joins The Culture Show to talk about his book “Baseball: The Movie.” Gittell, a sportswriter and film critic, takes us through the history of the baseball movie; tracking how they have changed over the years from being mostly feel good to nostalgic to to cynical. Gittell says that the way the baseball film has changed reflects how American values have changed. From there we launch our inaugural episode in our series “Sound Files.” We’ll be inviting local musicians and cultural critics to zero in on one of their favorite entries in the US National Recording Registry. First up, Dart Adams. The journalist, historian and lecturer has chosen to go deep on De La Soul’s “3 Feet High and Rising.” Finally, Medford’s new poet Laureate, Max Heinegg joins The Culture Show to talk about his vision for making poetry more accessible. Heinegg is a high school English teacher, published poet, recording artist and he co-owns Medford Brewing Company. To learn more go here. -
July 9, 2025 - Mfoniso Udofia, Rob "ProBlak" Gibbs, and Black Voices of the Revolution
Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theater with support from The Huntington present the fifth installment of Mfoniso Udofia’s Ufot Family Cycle, “Kufre n’ Quay.” Mfoniso Udofia joins The Culture Show to talk about reaching the midpoint of her none-play cycle. “Kufre n’ Quay” is onstage July 10 - July 26th. To learn more go here.From there artist, arts-educator and co-founder of Street Theory Collective Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs joins The Culture Show to talk about an upcoming exhibition, From The Page To The Stage. This is a dynamic mural exhibition by the Street Theory Collective. The Wagner Foundation is partnering with them to host this exhibition, which is on view July 10th through December 5th at the Wagner Foundation Gallery in Central Square. The opening reception is tomorrow night. To learn more go here.Finally we continue our ongoing series “Countdown to 2026,” our recurring dive into the events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country. Today we look at the experiences of Black Americans during the Revolutionary War period; it’s the focus of a new exhibition at the Museum of African American History titled “Black Voices of the Revolution.” Dr. Noelle Trent, President and CEO of the Museum of African American History, joins The Culture Show for an overview. To learn more about the exhibition go here. -
July 8, 2025 - Peter Wolf and Imari Paris Jeffries
Music legend Peter Wolf has had a long solo career and rose to recognition as former lead singer of the J. Geils Band–famous for its high-octane shows and top 40 hits. Wolf joins The Culture Show to talk about his new memoir “Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters and Goddesses.”. From there, Imari Paris Jeffries, CEO and President of Embrace Boston, joins us for a recap of the Embrace Ideas Festival. Plus, as the Pentagon considers stripping Harriet Tubman’s name from the Navy Ship that bears it, we reflect on her role as a military leader during the Civil War. -
July 7, 2025 - Wendy Benchley, Mandy Barnett, and Christopher Shaw Myers
We continue our coverage of “Jaws” at 50 with Wendy Benchley. She is the wife of the late author Peter Benchley, who wrote the bestselling novel “Jaws.” Since the success of the book and subsequent film, Wendy Benchley has dedicated much of her life to conservation. She is an award-winning ocean advocate and scuba diver. She is cofounder of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards. Along with Laura Bowling, Wendy Benchley is the Executive Producer of the new film “Jaws at 50: The Definitive Inside Story.” It's a National Geographic documentary produced in partnership with Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. To learn more go here.From there we’re joined by country music sensation Mandy Barnett. The acclaimed vocalist opens the Wequassett Resort's 21st Annual Cape Cod Jazz and Arts Festival on July 9th. And to celebrate Wequassett’s 100th anniversary, Barnett is performing a one-night-only tribute to the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary.To learn more go here.Finally we end where we began, wading into the ocean with another look at “Jaws” at 50. Writer Christopher Shaw Myers joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Robert Shaw: An Actor’s Life on the Set of JAWS and Beyond.” You can catch Christopher Shaw Myers tonight at an event at Harvard Book Store. To learn more go here. -
July 4, 2025 - "EEPHUS," Chef Andy Husbands, and John Flansburgh
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.From there Andy Husbands, chef and owner of The Smoke Shop BBQ, has co-authored the “Quick and Easy Burger Cookbook,” which will bump your burger game with creative recipes. He joins The Culture Show to talk about how we can turn our nothing burger into a something burger. Finally we talk to John Flansburgh, one half of the iconic alt-rock duo They Might Be Giants. TMBG have charmed audiences with their eclectic, genre-bending style for decades. They’ve released countless albums, contributed music to TV shows such as “Malcolm in the Middle,” and wriggled their way into the public consciousness with songs like “Doctor Worm” and “Birdhouse in your Soul.” -
July 3, 2025 - James Parker, Fabiola Méndez, and Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide
James Parker joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book “Get Me Through the Next Five Minutes: Odes to Being Alive.” He’s a staff writer at “The Atlantic.” Since 2011 he has been running the Black Seed Writers Group—a weekly writing workshop for homeless, transitional, and recently housed writers–and editing “The Pilgrim,” a literary magazine from the homeless community of downtown Boston.From there Fabiola Méndez, the celebrated Puerto Rican cuatrista and singer, joins The Culture Show for an in-studio performance. Finally, Kiernan Schmitt joins The Culture Show 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.
