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 24, 2025 - Elisa New on Walt Whitman, Robin Givhan on Virgil Abloh, and the legacy of Steve Ross
Elisa New joins The Culture Show to talk about her recent op-ed in the New York Times, “Walt Whitman Would Have Hated This,” a reflection on how the poet would have responded to federal cuts to humanities education. Elisa New is the Director and Host of the PBS series “Poetry in America,” and she leads the Educational Media Innovation Studio at Arizona State University.From there Robin Givhan joins The Culture Show to talk about her new book “Make it Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh.” Robin Givhan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and the Washington Post’s senior critic-at-large, writing about politics, race and the arts. To learn more about “Make it Ours,” go here.Finally former Boston City Councillor Mike Ross joins The Culture Show to talk about his father, Holocaust survivor Steve Ross, When Steve Ross was 14 years-old he was liberated from the Dachau concentration camp. One of the first people he encountered was Lt. Steve Sattler, an American tank commander. Lt. Sattler embraced Steve, offered him food, and gave him a small American flag. Now Mike Ross and his sister Julie Ross are donating this flag to the Holocaust Museum Boston. -
July 23, 2025 - Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive, Joyce Kulhawik, and Zara Anishanslin
Anna Barber, Curator of Exhibitions at Martha's Vineyard Museum joins The Culture Show for an overview of their sprawling exhibition “Jaws’ at 50: A Deeper Dive,” It’s on view through September 7th. To learn more go here.From there Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik joins us for our recurring feature, Stage and Screen Time–a look at the latest movies and plays in theaters now. Joyce Kulhawik is an Emmy-award winning arts and entertainment reporter and president of the Boston Theatre Critics Association. You can find her reviews on Joyce’s Choices.Finally we continue our “Countdown to 2026,” with Zara Anishanslin on her latest book “The Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution.” Zara Anishanslin is a Professor of History and Art History at the University of Delaware. To learn more go here. -
July 22, 2025 - Worcester's industrial history, As You Like It in Boston Common, and Pedro Alonzo
Vanessa Bumpus, Exhibit Coordinator at Museum of Worcester, joins The Culture Show for an overview of their permanent installation celebrating Worcester’s industry since the early 19th century. It’s an expansive survey of the innovators, workers, investors who have made industry the story of Worcester. To learn more go here. From there, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company brings “As You Like It,” to the Parkman Bandstand for their annual - and free - Shakespeare on the Common production. Actress Nora Eschenheimer, who stars as Rosalind, and actor Michael Underhill, who stars as Orlando, join The Culture Show for an overview. “As You Like It” runs July 23rd through August 10th. To learn more go here.Finally, Culture Show contributor Pedro Alonzo takes us on a tour through Europe, with stops at museums and art installations in rural Spain, Berlin and beyond. Pedro Alonzo is an independent curator and the Artistic Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial. -
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.
