Episodes
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August 13, 2025 - Josh Ritter, "We're Doing The Wiz," and Erica Hirshler, Curator of American Paintings at the MFA
Josh Ritter, the prolific singer-songwriter, joins The Culture Show to talk about his forthcoming album, “I Believe in You, My Honeydew,” and to preview his upcoming performance at the Lowell Summer Music Series. He’ll be performing with The Royal City Band on August 24th. To learn more go here.From there Ian Coss, an award-winning podcast producer joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest podcast, “We’re Doing ‘The Wiz’,” which he co-created, co-hosted and co-produced with Sakina Ibrahim. To learn more go here.Finally Erica Hirshler, the Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, joins The Culture Show for our recurring series, “American Revolution: Frame by Frame.” Each month the curators and experts from the MFA join the show to talk about works in their collection that offer insight into the American Revolution. This is an extension of Museums 250. This month the focus is on John Singleton Copley’s “Watson and the Shark.” -
August 12, 2025 - Astronaut Cady Coleman on Jim Lovell, Pedro Alonzo, and the North End Fisherman's Feast
We reflect on the legacy of the late NASA astronaut Jim Lovell with Cady Coleman. She’s a retired NASA astronaut, U.S. Air Force colonel, scientist, pilot and musician. She spent months working and living aboard the International Space Station. Her latest book is titled “Sharing Space: An Astronaut's Guide to Mission, Wonder, and Making Change.” We’ll also get her take on what the future of space exploration and education will be if President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to NASA become a reality.From there Culture Show contributor Pedro Alonzo joins us for his monthly appearance. He is a Boston-based independent curator who specializes in public art projects. He is also the Artistic Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial.Finally we head to the North End by way of the 115th annual Fisherman’s Feast, which kicks off August 14th and runs through August 17th. Domenic Strazzullo, the president of the Fisherman’s Feast, and The Boston Guido, one of the meatball competition judges, join us for the ultimate overview. To learn more go here. -
August 11, 2025 - Amber Ruffin on "The Wiz," Nina Festekjian, and The Cape Playhouse
The Broadway hit “The Wiz” is onstage at Citizens Opera House August 12 through August 24 by way of Broadway in Boston. The book was updated by comedian, writer and actress Amber Ruffin. She joins The Culture Show to talk about giving the musical a contemporary spin. Amber Ruffin hosted the late-night talk show, “The Amber Ruffin Show” on Peacock. She has been a writer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” since 2014. To learn more about this production of “The Wiz,” go here.From there Armenian-Lebanese restaurateur Nina Festekjian, Founder and Executive Chef of Anoush’ella, joins The Culture Show to talk about their pop up experience Cafe Anoush. Every Thursday they will provide an open air dining experience at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center. To learn more, go here. Finally Eric Rosen, Artistic Director of The Cape Playhouse, joins The Culture Show to talk about his vision for the historic theater and to give an overview of upcoming productions. To learn more go here. -
August 8, 2025 - Week in Review: Versailles AI, South Park, and Hamilton at 10
Today Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons go over the latest arts and culture headlines on our week-in-review.First up, the Palace de Versailles is bringing some of its statues to life, using AI to make them interactive. From there, it’s been 10 years since Hamilton bounded on to Broadway. We’ll look at how it changed the way people think about musicals and produced them.Plus with Great Gatsby 100 years old this year we’ll endeavor to decode its iconic book cover.And Steve Martin is the ambassador for the Frick Collection, filming a series of videos encouraging visitors to return to the Fri’s revamped home on 5th Avenue. -
August 7, 2025 - Michael Ansara, Christine Baranski, and Van Gogh's Roulin Family Portraits
Michael Ansara spent years as an activist and an organizer, starting with the civil rights movement of the 1960s, going on to be a regional organizer for Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). He spent 10 years organizing opposition to the war in Vietnam. For 15 years, he was a community organizer, including directing Mass Fair Share. He has worked on political campaigns, coordinated voter registration efforts, and trained many organizers. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his new memoir “The Hard Work of Hope,” which takes us into his days of activism. Ansara is also a published poet and co-founder of Mass Poetry. To learn more about his upcoming book events go hereChristine Baranski has played a variety of strong women on stage and screen, including Agnes van Rhijn in HBO’s “The Gilded Age” and attorney Diane Lockhart on “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight.” She joins The Culture Show ahead of “The Gilded Age’s” season finale and to preview her event tonight, headlining a special edition of the John G. Winslow Lecture at The Elms, one of the famous Gilded Age mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. To learn more go here.Finally Katie Hanson, William and Ann Elfers Curator of Paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, joins The Culture Show for an overview of their exhibition “Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits.” It’s on view through Sep 7, 2025. To learn more, go here. -
August 6, 2025 - Dennis Lehane on "Smoke," a Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts and Culture recap, and Mahesh Daas
Dennis Lehane, known for writing literary crime novels such as “Mystic River,” “Gone, Baby, Gone,” and “Shutter Island,” joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest collaboration with Apple TV+, the new crime series “Smoke.” Created by Dennis Lehane, the nine-episode drama – inspired by true events – follows an arson investigator who teams up with a police detective to stop two serial arsonists. The series is gripping, full of twists, secrets, and believably complex characters. Lehane also serves as writer and executive producer. Episodes drop every Friday. The series finale is on August 15th. To learn more go here.From there we look at the Boston Mayoral candidates and their vision for Boston’s arts and culture sector. Emily Ruddock, Executive Director of MASSCreative, joins The Culture Show to recap last week’s Mayoral forum on arts and culture, which was organized by MASSCreative as part of its Create the Vote Boston 2025 campaign.Finally, Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College joins The Culture Show to talk about development and construction in Boston and what the city’s skyline can accommodate when it comes to building skyscrapers. Mahesh Daas is a Culture Show contributor who joins us monthly. He is co-author of the graphic novella about artificial intelligence, titled “I, Nobot.” -
August 5, 2025 - Robert Reich, The Ciota Brothers on "Cassino in Ischia," and Phoebe Potts on "Too Fat for China"
Robert Reich served in three presidential administrations, including as Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. He’s served as an advisor– endeavoring on behalf of working people exploited by the system. As a professor he has been the ultimate explainer about rising inequality. As a public intellectual he pulls no punches–calling out the bullies: anyone and any institution that threatens democracy and human decency. It’s a life’s work on which he reflects in his new book “Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America.” He joins The Culture Show to talk about it. On September 2nd he’ll be at Harvard Book Store. To learn more go here.From there the filmmaking duo, brothers Frank Ciota and Joe Ciota, join The Culture Show to talk about their years of collaboration and their new film, “Cassino in Ischia.” It’s a romantic comedy that follows the misadventures of Nic Cassino, a fading action hero who is fighting for an ultimate cinematic comeback. Finally comedian and story teller Phoebe Potts joins The Culture Show to talk about her one-woman show “Too Fat for China,” centers on the ups and downs of her quest to adopt a child. It’s onstage at Central Square Theater August 7th through August 10th. To learn more go here. -
August 4, 2025 - Imari Paris Jeffries, Chan's Home of Egg Rolls and Blues, and Elijah Wald
Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, joins The Culture Show to talk about the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, in partnership with Embrace Boston, a life-size bronze monument of W.E.B. Du Bois was recently unveiled in Great Barrington, MA, Du Bois’ hometown and birthplace. The unveiling marks the beginning of a statewide initiative through the Everyone250 coalition – a statewide effort to commemorate untold stories and elevate inclusive history as part of the U.S. Semiquincentennial.From there Culture Show producer Kate Dellis takes us to Woonsocket, Rhode Island for a night at Chan’s Home of Egg Rolls and Blues, one of the best jazz and blues venues hiding in plain sight.Finally we’re joined by Elijah Wald. On August 6, the musician and historian, whose book inspired the Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown," will perform his show "Bob Dylan in Greenwich Village" at Club Passim. In this historical concert, Elijah will weave together music and storytelling to trace Dylan's evolution from a young folk and blues singer into the iconic voice of a generation. To learn more go here. -
August 1, 2025 - Week in Review: AI chatbot girlfriends, a White House ballroom, and Sydney Sweeney's jeans
Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III host our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, Elon Musk releases “Ani,” an AI anime sexualized chatbot. From there we look at how an anti-pronography group has pressured Itch.io and Steam to de-index thousands of titles that have adult and NSFW content.Then we head to DC to look at Republican lawmakers' push to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump, and we’ll look at Trump’s plans to build a $200 million ballroom at the White House.Plus American Eagle and Dunkin’ have stirred things up with ads that focus on genetics, perpetuating notions about beauty norms, on that front Vogue has introduced an AI model, furthering unrealistic notions of beauty.Finally we raise a glass to the “Golden Girls.” The sassy sitcom is celebrating its 40th anniversary. -
July 31, 2025 - The legacy of Jonathan Demme, Neuroscientist Emily Falk, and public art in Zone 3
David M Stewart joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book is “There's No Going Back: The Life and Work of Jonathan Demme.” Stewart is a film journalist who teaches film and media studies at Emerson College, Plymouth State University, South College and Southern New Hampshire University. His latest book is “There's No Going Back: The Life and Work of Jonathan Demme.” He has some upcoming book events: On August 4th he’ll be in New York City at the Bryant Park Reel Talks Series and on August 7th he’ll be in Concord, New Hampshire at Gibson's Bookstore. You can find him on social media @filmnerddave.From there Emily Falk joins The Culture Show to talk about her recent piece for the New York Times, which explains the science behind doomscrolling. Emily Falk is a leading neuroscientist and expert in the science of behavior change. She is a professor of communication, psychology, and marketing at the University of Pennsylvania and Vice Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication. Her new book is “What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change.” Finally we enter Zone 3 on Western Ave. Julia Swanson takes us on a tour of the public art hotspot. 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 of art across Greater Boston.
