Past Events

Join Paul Revere House for the third lecture of the Paul Revere House's 2023 Lowell Lecture Series. This 3-part series From Puritans to Catholics: Religion in Boston’s North End examines how shifts in religious traditions impacted cultural expression, demographics, political affiliations and economic status in the North End.

The key speaker is Stephen Puleo, Author and Historian. When thousands of immigrants from Southern Italy flocked to the North End in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their Catholic religious practices shocked the Irish diocesan hierarchy.

Stephen Puleo will discuss what this reveals about why this group left Italy, how they viewed religion, and how their presence shaped the North End. Presented in partnership with GBH, the Suffolk University History Department, Old North Illuminated, and the North End Historical Society, with funding from the Lowell Institute. For more information, please contact staff@paulreverehouse.org or visit paulreverehouse.org

The air contains an enormous amount of electricity. Clouds are full of it. But how to actually capture it for a continuous energy resource? Dr. Jun Yao and his colleagues at UMass-Amherst have created a small-scale cloud they call the “generic Air-gen effect” that produces a reliable stream of electricity that can be harvested for general use. In this interview, Dr. Yao describes how the Air-gen innovation was developed, how the electricity is harvested from the air via a special material made of protein nanowires, and when the device can be scaled up for general use.

Each of the last presidential elections has presented its own unique challenges, from historically unpopular candidates to voting during a global pandemic. 2024 is shaping up to be no different. Join David Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center and one of the United States’ most respected and trustworthy pollsters, to discuss our next unprecedented presidential election. Get the inside scoop on the swing states, critical voting blocs, and crucial issues that could make or break the 2024 elections. The afternoon's moderator is Latoyia Edwards, Emmy award-winning anchor on NBC10 Boston and NECN.

We’re tidying up our gardens as we await a cool fall breeze. Then, the brilliant colors of changing leaves start to appear. Autumn is a stunning season, but it’s also a messy one with wilted plants, overgrown weeds and fallen leaves. So, what is a gardener to do? Fall clean-up seems like a lot of work, but it’s actually quite manageable. Public gardening expert Karen Daubmann will guide you through a list of to-do’s to keep your garden in peak condition all year-round.



Karen Daubmann is committed to creating effective and longstanding change to public gardens throughout her 25-year career. She joined Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS) in March 2022, where she brings her experience in advancing the operational and planning scale of public gardens. In the development and execution of exhibitions that have welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors, Daubmann focuses her work on encouraging guests to connect and interact with gardens through art, nature and culture. Prior to joining MHS, she worked for 14 years at the New York Botanical Garden, culminating in her position as vice president for exhibitions and audience engagement. She has been featured in Jennifer Jewell’s The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants and has contributed essays for Kusama: Cosmic Nature, 2021 and Frida Kahlo's Garden, 2015.




Daubmann lives and gardens with her husband Matt and dog Klaus in coastal Rhode Island.


This event will be hosted and moderated by GBH News, David Epstein who provides daily weather updates on Morning Edition and founder of Growing Wisdom that provide video tips for home gardeners.


This event is presented is in partnership with Massachusetts Horticultural Society.



Photo credit: Massachusetts Horticultural Society



At Ask The Expert, get access to experts specializing in a wide variety of topics, learn something new about a subject you are passionate about or discover a new interest. GBH invites you to drive the conversation by asking questions during the live event directly with our expert. It’s always interesting, and it’s always free!

In partnership with:

Sayku, born and bred in the vibrant city of Boston, is a rapper whose musical journey is all about bringing the cool, laid-back vibes of chill hip-hop to life. With his unique blend of lyricism and smooth beats, Sayku has carved out a niche for himself in the world of rap.

Growing up in the diverse neighborhoods of Boston, Sayku was exposed to a wide range of musical influences from an early age. Drawing inspiration from the city’s rich cultural tapestry, he began crafting his own brand of hip-hop, one that’s characterized by its relaxed flow and introspective lyrics.

Photo credit: Josiah White

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "Java With Jimmy" will spend the hour in the GBH studio at the BPL raising awareness of this disease that touches lives everywhere.



Breast cancer doesn't discriminate. It knows no name, age, or background. It affects not only individuals but entire families and communities. Join Jimmy in the Newsfeed Cafe as he opens a dialogue about breast cancer's far-reaching impact and the collective strength that can be drawn from sharing our experiences.



We have the privilege of welcoming breast cancer survivors Tamisha Hills and Alyssa Nelson-Kamalu, along with Alyssa’s husband Chinedu Kamalu. They will share their personal stories, triumphs, and the courage they found to face challenges along the way.

Dr. Giselle Perez, a clinical health psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, will also speak with Jimmy about coping with a diagnosis, surviving treatment and building a supportive network for survivors and their caregivers.




Our conversation goes beyond medical treatments and physical battles as we dive into the often-overlooked realm of mental health. Coping with a breast cancer diagnosis can take an immense toll on one's emotional and psychological well-being. We explore the importance of mental health support, coping strategies, and the tremendous strength found within communities.



Join us for inspiration, education, and empowerment as we honor those affected by breast cancer, salute the survivors, and learn how we can provide support.

Can America still build big things? It's the central question of The Big Dig, a new podcast from GBH News and PRX, examining American infrastructure through the lens of the most expensive highway project in the nation's history.

Meet producer and host Ian Coss and engage in a conversation about the project with three guests featured in the podcast: former Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Fred Salvucci, the mastermind of the Big Dig; Peter Zuk, its longest serving Project Director; and Dr. Karilyn Crockett, Assistant Professor of Urban History, Public Policy & Planning at MIT and the author of People Before Highways: Boston Activists, Urban Planners, and a New Movement for City Making. GBH News’ Stephanie Leydon, who served as the editorial supervisor on the podcast, will moderate.


Stay after the discussion for a reception with Ian and his guests — and, as we consider the legacy of the Big Dig, meet with some of today's ambitious thinkers who will showcase their efforts to solve for today’s infrastructure challenges.

Ian Coss is an acclaimed podcast creator, whose original series Forever is a Long Time was named one of the best podcasts of 2021 by The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic and Apple Podcasts. He was previously the producer for Radiotopia’s Over the Road, Ways of Hearing, and Blind Guy Travels as well as GBH’s “Detours,” which was nominated for Podcast of the Year by the Podcast Academy.

6pm Program in Theater begins
7pm Light reception in Atrium

Event registration is required. Seating is general admission.

The maximum capacity of this event is 220

By RSVPing for this event, you agree to receive timely news and updates on events, films, and special offers from GBH.


Photo credit: GBH

In this special Writing History event presented by American Ancestors in partnership with Massachusetts Historical Society, Steve Inskeep, the popular historian-author and host of NPR’s Morning Edition and Up First, discusses his new book, Differ We Must, a compelling and nuanced exploration of Abraham Lincoln’s political acumen. His presentation closes with an extended conversation about the hows and whys of writing about history.

The author of Jacksonland and Imperfect Union joins us to discuss his-just released work about Abraham Lincoln and his political times. In this fresh and compelling narrative, rich in detail and enlightening commentary, Steve Inskeep expands our understanding of the great politician, a man led by his moral compass, but also his priorities. He shows how many of Lincoln’s greatest acts came about through his engagement with people who disagreed with him.

Following Inskeep’s discussion of Lincoln and his new book, he engages in an extended conversation and Q+A session with Ryan Woods and Catherine Allgor about his process for writing histories and the importance of such story-telling. Past authors featured in the Writing History series include Nathaniel Philbrick, H. W. Brands, Eric Jay Dolin, and Stacy Schiff.

Presented by American Ancestors' American Inspiration author series in partnership with The Massachusetts Historical Society, GBH Forum Network, and Porter Square Books.

The effort to destroy facts and make American ungovernable didn’t come out of nowhere.  It is the culmination of seventy years of strategic denialism, according to Lee McIntyre.  In “On Disinformation” he shows how the war on facts began, and how ordinary citizens can fight back against the scourge of disinformation that is now threatening the very fabric of our society. McIntyre explains how autocrats use propaganda to manipulate the populace and deny obvious realities, why the best way to combat disinformation is to disrupt its spread and offers ten smart steps to fight back and win the war against truth.

PFAS, a group of chemicals added to many everyday products, became a concern years ago in the medical community, but governmental agencies were slow to impose regulations.  It is now clear that these “forever” chemicals are everywhere and in everyone. For years, epidemiologists have worked to establish the effects of these toxins on human development and general health. Even now, though, controls on PFAS production and use are inadequate. Philippe Grandjean has been a leader in the international scientific research on PFAS. He provides, in this discussion, the information the public needs for dealing with PFAS-related health issues, and also explains why so much data was not available to researchers until recently.