EXPLORE MORE
Martha’s Vineyard reflects on ‘Jaws’ impact, 50 years after the iconic film’s release
Martha’s Vineyard is in the middle of an invasion this summer — one inspired by a 50-year-old mechanical shark and the movie that made it famous.
Listen to previous shows
-
July 21, 2025 - William Jackson Harper, Richard Russo, and Ming Fay: Edge of the Garden
Actor and playwright William Jackson Harper is known for his Emmy Award-nominated performance as Chidi Anagonye on “The Good Place.” He also has an esteemed film and theater career. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance as Dr. Astrov in the Broadway revival of “Uncle Vanya.” He joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest role, playing Jim in Tennessee Williams' rare prison drama, “Not About Nightingales." It’s onstage through August 3rd as part of Williamstown Theatre Festival’s current season. To learn more about Williamstown Theatre Festival and “Not About Nightingales,” go here.From there Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Richard Russo joins The Culture Show, to talk about his new book "Life and Art.” It’s a COVID-era meditation on his childhood, adulthood and what it means to be an artist. Finally we head to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for an overview of their exhibition “Ming Fay: Edge of The Garden.” Gabrielle Niu, the Gardner’s Assistant Curator of the Collection and Exhibitions, leads the way. To learn more about the Ming Fay exhibition go here. -
July 18, 2025 - Week in Review: Public Broadcasting defunded, Emmy nominations, and Stephen Colbert's cancellation
Today Edgar B. Herwick III, Callie Crossley and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons go over the latest arts and culture headlines on our week-in-review.First up, we look at the future of public media now that Congress has stripped more than $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.From there it’s “Fight for America!,” a live, immersive performance centered around a large-scale tabletop wargame that explores the events of January 6th at the U.S. Capitol. It’s onstage in London and will land in Washington DC next January.Then we review the notable Americans who president Trump will honor in his National Garden of American Heroes. And speaking of heroes, how the super hero “Superman” movie is sparking controversy among conservative critics who say it’s a super woke.Finally a piece of cinematic history, Rosebud the sled from Citizen Kane, sells at auction for $14.75 million. -
July 17, 2025 - Chris Berdik, Janie Barnett on "She's So Unusual," and Emi Ferguson
Science Journalist and author Chris Berdik joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back.” It details our chronic exposure to noise, how it's affecting our health, and the people who are working to bring the noise down and improve our quality of life.From there it’s another episode of “Sound Files.” Our ongoing series when we invite local musicians and cultural critics to zero in on one of their favorite entries in the US National Recording Registry. On tap today, Janie Barnett has chosen to go deep on Cyndi Lauper’s “She’s So Unusual.” Janie Barnett is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her latest album is “Under My Skin: Reimagining Cole Porter.” Finally, the acclaimed flute player Emi Ferguson joins us to talk about her collaboration with the baroque ensemble Ruckus. They’ve released a new album “Fly the Coop: Bach Sonatas and Preludes.” On July 25th they'll be performing at the Jean McDonough Arts Center. The show is presented by Music Worcester. To learn more go here. -
July 16, 2025 - Adam Aleksic, "Back to The Future - The Musical," and Steve Locke
Adam Aleksic—founder and former president of the Harvard Undergraduate Linguistics Society, and content creator posting educational videos as the “Etymology Nerd”—joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language.” Tonight he’ll be at the Harvard Book Store. To learn more go hereIn 1985 Marty McFly skateboarded onto the silver screen — and into cinematic history — with the blockbuster, “Back to The Future.” In this sci-fi classic, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown turns a DeLorean into a plutonium-powered time machine. Then, in an experiment gone awry, Marty McFly finds himself taking a ride of his lifetime, going back to 1955 where he meets his parents when they were teenagers. Now audiences can time travel back to 1985 by way of “Back to the Future, The Musical.” It’s onstage at Citizens Opera House by way of Broadway in Boston through July 20th. To learn more go here.Finally, artist Steve Locke. His exhibition at Mass MoCA, “The Fire Next Time,” is a nod to James Baldwin’s 1963 book by the same name. Like Baldwin, in this exhibition Steve Locke contemplates American history, racism and violence directed at Black and queer people. Steve Locke is a professor of fine art at Pratt Institute. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his work. -
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.
