Episodes
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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. -
July 30, 2025 - James Sullivan, Presidential Pets at the JFK Library, and Mary Grant
“Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out,” is a concert and discussion series celebrating protest music. The series is inspired by James Sullivan’s book Which Side Are You On?: 20th Century American History in 100 Protest Songs. James Sullivan, a journalist, author and longtime contributor to the Boston Globe, joins The Culture Show to talk about his book and this series. The next event is scheduled for August 13th at The Lizard Lounge. To learn more go here.From there Alan Price, Director of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, joins The Culture Show for an overview of their current exhibition “Presidential Pets.” To learn more go here.Finally Mary Grant, president of MassArt, joins The Culture Show for her monthly appearance. Today she discusses how President Trump is changing the arts and culture landscape, as well as the continued impact of federal funding cuts on higher education. -
July 29, 2025 - Paula Plum, Tiffany Jenkins, and New Bedford's revolutionary history
The Hub Theatre Company of Boston’s production of Theresa Rebeck’s "The Understudy," is onstage at Club Café through August 2nd. Paula Plum, a five-time Elliot Norton Award winner, is directing the play. The acclaimed actor, director, writer and educator joins us for an overview, To learn more about the production go here.From there sociologist and writer Tiffany Jenkins joins The Culture Show to talk about her new book, “Strangers and Intimates: The Rise and Fall of Privacy.” From ancient times to our digital present, Jenkins takes us through the emergence of private life and the forces – from social media to surveillance – that are now threatening it.Finally we continue our series “Countdown to 2026.” Ashley Payne, Director of Tourism & Marketing for the City of New Bedford, joins The Culture Show to talk about the role that the whaling city played in America’s fight for independence. -
July 28, 2025 - The Moonwalkers, Jane Eaglen, and Unearthing Childhood: 300 Years of North End Kids
Lightroom and Paquin Entertainment Group have brought The Moonwalkers: A Journey With Tom Hanks to Boston. This is an immersive experience combining storytelling and rare NASA archival footage to bring the stories of the Apollo missions to life. It is narrated and co-written by Tom Hanks. Producer Richard Slaney, CEO of Lightroom, joins The Culture Show for an overview. This exhibition is on view at the Saunders Castle at Park Plaza. To learn more go here. From there Culture Show contributor Jane Eaglen, a Grammy-winning dramatic soprano, joins us to talk about opera as a contact sport. Jane Eaglen is on the faculty at New England Conservatory and is the President of the Boston Wagner Society. Finally we head to Boston’s North End with a look at Old North Church’s exhibition “Unearthing Childhood: 300 Years of North End Kids.” Emily Spence, Director of Education at Old North Illuminated and Nadia Kline, Public Archaeologist for the City of Boston, join The Culture Show for an overview. To learn more about this exhibition go here.
