Episodes
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September 25, 2024 - Uzo Aduba, Fall Into Dance, and Pedro Alonzo
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. -
September 24, 2024 - Mamma Mia!, The Chinese Way cookbook, and Paul Revere's copper legacy
“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. -
September 23, 2024 - Amor Towles, CineFest Latino Boston, and the Countdown to 2026
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. -
September 20, 2024 - Week in Review: Tito Jackson, Jane's Addiction, and Sean Combs, and
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. -
TCS Bonus Episode - Talk Like A Pirate Day with Dave Barry
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. -
September 19, 2024 - The Hebridean Baker, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and James Carter
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. -
September 18, 2024 - Kneecap, Shrek: The Musical, and Carlos Simon
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. -
September 17, 2024 - Hannah Gadsby, Library Lion, and Secret Boston
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. -
September 16, 2024 - Zadie Smith, the Boston Film Festival, and the Gun Violence Memorial Project
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. -
September 13, 2024 - Week in Review: A Taylor Swift endorsement, the Emmys, and James Earl Jones
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?
