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‘Home of egg rolls, jazz and blues,’ Chan’s celebrates 120 years in Rhode Island
Music lovers put this Woonsocket music venue and restaurant on their bucket lists.
Listen to previous shows
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July 15, 2025 - Gregory Maguire, Margaret Cho, and Jane Eaglen
What happened to young Elphaba before she was saddled with the wicked mantle? Almost 30 years after the publication of “Wicked,” Gregory Maguire offers readers Elphaba’s origin story in a new book titled “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood.” He joins The Culture Show to talk about it.From there comedian, actress and singer-songwriter Margaret Cho joins The Culture Show to talk about her new album “Lucky Gift.”Finally, the film “Maria,” tells the story of a diva in decline: Maria Callas, one of history's most celebrated opera sopranos. The reviews from film critics are mixed, but what does Jane Eaglen, the Grammy award-winning soprano think about the biopic? Jane Eaglen is on the faculty at New England Conservatory and is the President of the Boston Wagner Society. -
July 14, 2025 - Reginald Dwayne Betts, David Grann, and Chelsea Handler
Reginald Dwayne Betts is an award-winning poet, a lawyer and founder of Freedom Reads, a first of its kind organization working to transform access to books in prisons. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book “Doggerel: Poems.” From there David Grann, author of “The Wager,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon," is a #1 “New York Times” best selling author and an award-winning staff writer at “The New Yorker” magazine. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his writing and reporting process, and adapting his work for the screen.Finally comedian, television host, advocate and New York Times bestselling author Chelsea Handler joins The Culture Show to talk about her new book “I’ll Have What She’s Having.” It’s a collection of hilarious and heartfelt essays that detail what it took for her to become the woman she always wanted to be. -
July 11, 2025 - Devo at 50, Alison Bechdel, and James Parker
Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale, the cofounders of the new wave band Devo join The Culture Show to talk about cultural de-evolution, the genesis of their band, how they came to be one of the most original groups in the history of rock music.From there “New York Times” bestselling author Alison Bechdel joins The Culture Show to talk about her new comic novel “Spent.” Finally James Parker, a staff writer at “The Atlantic,” joins The Culture Show to talk about his piece “When Robert Frost was Bad.” James Parker runs the Black Seed Writers Group—a weekly writing workshop for homeless, transitional, and recently housed writers–and he edits “The Pilgrim,” a literary magazine from the homeless community of downtown Boston. His latest book is “Get Me Through the Next Five Minutes.” -
July 10, 2025 - Baseball: The Movie, Dart Adams on 3 Feet High and Rising, and Max Heinegg
Today writer Noah Gittell joins The Culture Show to talk about his book “Baseball: The Movie.” Gittell, a sportswriter and film critic, takes us through the history of the baseball movie; tracking how they have changed over the years from being mostly feel good to nostalgic to to cynical. Gittell says that the way the baseball film has changed reflects how American values have changed. From there we launch our inaugural episode in our series “Sound Files.” We’ll be inviting local musicians and cultural critics to zero in on one of their favorite entries in the US National Recording Registry. First up, Dart Adams. The journalist, historian and lecturer has chosen to go deep on De La Soul’s “3 Feet High and Rising.” Finally, Medford’s new poet Laureate, Max Heinegg joins The Culture Show to talk about his vision for making poetry more accessible. Heinegg is a high school English teacher, published poet, recording artist and he co-owns Medford Brewing Company. To learn more go here. -
July 9, 2025 - Mfoniso Udofia, Rob "ProBlak" Gibbs, and Black Voices of the Revolution
Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theater with support from The Huntington present the fifth installment of Mfoniso Udofia’s Ufot Family Cycle, “Kufre n’ Quay.” Mfoniso Udofia joins The Culture Show to talk about reaching the midpoint of her none-play cycle. “Kufre n’ Quay” is onstage July 10 - July 26th. To learn more go here.From there artist, arts-educator and co-founder of Street Theory Collective Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs joins The Culture Show to talk about an upcoming exhibition, From The Page To The Stage. This is a dynamic mural exhibition by the Street Theory Collective. The Wagner Foundation is partnering with them to host this exhibition, which is on view July 10th through December 5th at the Wagner Foundation Gallery in Central Square. The opening reception is tomorrow night. To learn more go here.Finally we continue our ongoing series “Countdown to 2026,” our recurring dive into the events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country. Today we look at the experiences of Black Americans during the Revolutionary War period; it’s the focus of a new exhibition at the Museum of African American History titled “Black Voices of the Revolution.” Dr. Noelle Trent, President and CEO of the Museum of African American History, joins The Culture Show for an overview. To learn more about the exhibition go here.
