Episodes
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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? -
September 12, 2024 - The Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!”, Silver Scream Con with Ice Nine Kills, and Mary Grant
Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston and José C. Massó III, the longtime host of WBUR’s “¡Con Salsa!,” join The Culture Show to preview The Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!” International Music Festival, a celebration of music, culture, and social justice. From there it’s Swampscott native Spencer Charnas. The frontman of the horror metal band Ice Nine Kills is also the curator of The Silver Scream Con. He joins us ahead of its Friday the 13th kickoff in Worcester.Finally Mary Grant, president of MassArt, joins The Culture Show for her monthly segment to talk about a range of topics, which this month includes colleges teaching AI, Governor Ron DeSantis’ severe budget cuts to the arts, and the story of a museum, an ancient broken jug, and forgiveness. -
September 11, 2024 - Romeo and Juliet at the A.R.T., Veronica Robles, and Alex Buchanan
The Tony winning Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater Diane Paulus.She is a master revivalist. If you thought you knew the story of “Porgy and Bess,” or “Pippin,” Paulus has given the classics a new life by giving audiences a new way of experiencing them. Now she’s reframing “Romeo and Juliet,” with an emphasis on the lovers’ love. Diane Paulus and theater legend Terrence Mann join us.From there we get a jump on Mexican Independence Day with mariachi singer Veronica Robles – a cultural force as a performer and as a leader whose cultural center offers Latin American arts and culture programming and jobs for youth.And, artist Alex Buchanan. A Coast Guard veteran and former mariner, rope is now his medium of choice. He literally weaves it and other maritime materials together to figuratively weave the threads of waste, ocean health and maritime culture. -
September 10, 2024 - Eugene Mirman, the Wurlitzer pipe organ, and JM Varese
Actor and Comedian Eugene Mirman was born in Moscow, raised in Lexington, and he honed his craft working the stages of Boston's comedy circuit. Today he is known as the voice of Gene Belcher on the FX animated hit “Bob’s Burgers” and for his inventive standup.. He joins The Culture Show ahead of his appearance at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville.From there, Edgar B. Herwick III takes us to Worcester’s Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. That’s where the wondrous Wurlitzer pipe organ can still be experienced as a single instrument that wows with its mighty orchestral sound. Finally, author JM Varese joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest novel, a Victorian Gothic thriller that is rooted in the real-life Victorian scandal when arsenic was used to make decorative wallpaper. JM Varese is Director of Outreach for The Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz. -
September 9, 2024 - The Kodály method, Boston Rum Week, and The Black Gold Tapestry
Today on The Culture Show Katie Bach, acting director of the Kodály Music Institute and music teacher at the Peabody School, talks about bringing the Kodály method of teaching music into local classrooms.From there we raise a glass to Boston Rum Week, which kicks off on September 15th. Olivier Raynaut, one of the head organizers, joins us for an overview.Finally, artist Sandra Sawatzky has created a chronology of environmental degradation over millennia with a tapestry that is nearly a decade-in-the-making. Titled “The Black Gold Tapestry,” it is one of the works included in MassArt Museum’s exhibition “Displacement,” which looks at our relationship with the environment, Sandra Sawatzky and Lisa Tung, executive director of the MassArt Art Museum, join The Culture Show to talk about this exhibition. -
September 6, 2024 - Week in Review: A boozier Boston, West Newton Cinema, and Adele
On this Friday’s arts and culture week-in-review, Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B Herwick III go over the latest headlines.First up, it looked like it was going to be curtains for West Newton Cinema, but in a major plot twist, it could be a Hollywood ending for the independent movie house, which has a new owner. And, the latest buzz is that Boston could be getting boozier, from a dramatic expansion of available liquor licenses to the city considering open container districts in an effort to boost Boston’s nightlife.And, is “Dancing with the Stars,” in the business of choreographing comebacks for convicts? Plus, Adele, famous for mega hits like “Hello,” is saying so long to show biz–for now.
