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The 25-hour Moby Dick Marathon sails on in New Bedford
Every winter, thousands of fans descend on the New Bedford Whaling Museum to hear the novel out loud.
Listen to previous shows
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February 17, 2026 - On Frederick Wiseman, Dell Hamilton, Uli Lorimer on the snowpack, and Matthew Shifrin
Joyce Linehan joins “The Culture Show” to reflect on the legacy of documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman. As Chief of Policy for Mayor Marty Walsh she was key to Wiseman’s documentary “City Hall,” which is an expansive exploration of how Boston runs.Dell M. Hamilton, interim director of the Alain Locke Gallery of African & African American Art, joins us to discuss Renaissance, Race, and Representation, on view through June 6 at Harvard. The exhibition spans nearly two centuries of Black printmaking and explores how artists used reproducible media to shape representation and the public record.Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture at the Native Plant Trust and a 2026 Distinguished Service Medal recipient from the Garden Club of America, explains the hidden benefits of this winter’s deep snowpack. Sustained snow cover stabilizes soil temperatures, protects roots, preserves moisture, and can help suppress certain pests — setting the stage for a stronger spring across New England.Matthew Shifrin, founder and CEO of Bricks for the Blind, returns for our recurring feature “AI: Actual Intelligence.” This month, he shares what it’s like to travel blind — from navigating unfamiliar hotels to the unpredictability of ride-shares and the way weather reshapes a city through sound. -
February 16, 2026 - Katherine Tallman on the Coolidge Corner Theater, Roberto Lugo, and Chompon "Boong" Boonnak
After more than a decade as Executive Director and CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Katherine Tallman is stepping down. She reflects on expanding the Brookline art house, elevating its national profile, and guiding it through the shifts of streaming and the pandemic — reshaping what independents can be. To keep on top of all of Coolidge's programming go here.Ceramic artist Roberto Lugo blends classical porcelain with hip-hop, portraiture, and social critique — asking who belongs in museums and who gets left out. His exhibition “(In)visible Ink” is on view at the Robert Lehman Art Center at Brooks School in North Andover though March 6. It brings together porcelain, painting, and customized sneakers in a powerful conversation about visibility. To learn more about the exhibition go here. Chompon Boonnak, co-owner of Mahaniyom in Brookline and its cocktail slinging sibling Merai, joins us after a double Michelin distinction: a Bib Gourmand for Mahaniyom and an Exceptional Cocktails Award for his bar program. He talks about balancing bold street food with serious mixology and what the recognition means for Greater Boston’s dining scene. -
February 13, 2026 - Week in Review: Olympic cheaters, Wuthering Heights, and a sad horse plush
On this edition of The Culture Show, Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley, and Lisa Simmons, go over the week’s top arts and culture headlines.First up, the Winter Olympics delivered medals — and meltdowns. Norway’s biathlon star Sturla Holm Lægreid hijacked headlines with a tearful on-air confession about cheating on his girlfriend, while ski jumping faced a surreal scandal dubbed “Penis-gate,” with allegations that athletes gamed suit measurements for an aerodynamic edge. And on the ice, Ilia Malinin’s crowd-roaring backflip revived debate decades after Surya Bonaly was penalized for the very same move.Then we remember James Van Der Beek, who died this week at 48. The former Dawson’s Creek heartthrob later reinvented himself, gleefully skewering his teen-idol image with sharp, self-aware performances that proved he was always in on the joke.Plus nearly two centuries after Wuthering Heights, the mystery of Heathcliff endures. A new film adaptation has revived debate over the character’s racial identity — and how Emily Brontë’s “dark-skinned” antihero should be portrayed today.Finally it’s a week in preview with host recommendations of upcoming events and happenings to take in. Callie offers “Romantasy Trivia” on February 14th at the Trident Booksellers & Cafe; Lisa Simmons highly “Say It Loud: AAMARP, 1977 to Now” on view at the ICA; and Jared suggests “The Moderate,” presented by Central Square Theater. -
February 12, 2026 - Alan Cumming, Billy Bragg, and Penelope at Lyric Stage Company
Actor Alan Cumming returns to the show fresh off receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Tony, Emmy, BAFTA, and Olivier Award winner talks about being a buck naked vegan, the runaway success of his reality series “The Traitors,” now the most-watched unscripted streaming program, and who he thinks is a traitor to American values.British singer-songwriter Billy Bragg joins us with his new rapid-response protest anthem, “City of Heroes,” written in solidarity with Minneapolis demonstrators and inspired by recent anti-ICE resistance. A legendary voice of political music for more than four decades, Bragg reflects on the role of songs in moments of social upheaval—and looks ahead to this summer, when he’ll reunite with Wilco to perform their Woody Guthrie project Mermaid Avenue at the Solid Sound Festival. To learn more go here.At the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, the ancient myth of “The Odyssey” gets a mythic makeover in “Penelope,” a one-woman, cabaret-style musical that tells the story of the wife left behind. Composer Alex Bechtel’s intimate song cycle explores patience, loneliness, and resilience. Performed by Aimee Doherty and directed by Courtney O’Connor, they join us to discuss giving a new voice to a timeless tale. Penelope is onstage through March 1. To learn more go here. -
February 11, 2026 - The Louvre heist with Elaine Sciolino, Vince Petryk of JP Licks, and Mahesh Daas
Last spring, the Louvre looked untouchable, with a couture exhibition and a grand renovation plan led by director Laurence des Cars. Then came a cascade of crises, including a brazen jewel heist that stole $100 million in French Crown Jewels, along with strikes and a damning security audit. Journalist Elaine Sciolino joins us to discuss the turmoil. Elaine Sciolino is the former Paris bureau chief for the New York Times and a bestselling author. Her latest book, “Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum,” is out in paperback this March. Winter doesn’t slow down New England ice cream fans, and J.P. Licks has new flavors to prove it. Founder Vince Petryk talks about February specials, including Strawberry Cookies ’N’ Cream, and the company’s community programs like its Girl Scout cookie partnerships and sock drive for Rosie’s Place. To learn more go here.Mahesh Daas returns for our feature “AI: Actual Intelligence” with fresh, off-algorithm insights. This month he looks at reconstruction—from replicas of Thoreau’s Walden cabin to rebuilding communities after the California wildfires. Mahesh Daas is president of Boston Architectural College and the co-author of the graphic novella about artificial intelligence, titled “I, Nobot.”
