Episodes
-
January 3, 2025 - Week in Review: Art in the public domain, Jimmy Carter, and the Walmart Birkin Bag
The Culture Show's co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III talk through the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, Popeye the Sailor is famous for his catchphrase “I yam what I yam.” Now he’s whoever you want him to be. Popeye –along with Heminginway’s “Farewell to Arms,” and George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” are among the thousands of creations whose copyrights expired this week. From there it’s President Jimmy Carter, the prolific writer. He wrote over 30 books, ranging from poetry, novels and memoirs. We’ll look at his literary legacy. Plus in 2024 moviegoers were truly repeat offenders. Nine of the top 10 box office hits this year were sequels. And number 10 was the prequel, “Wicked.”Speaking of spinoffs, has Walmart bested the Birkin Bag with its budget-friendly “Wirkin Bag"?Finally, the photography of Robert Frank. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has acquired his work capturing life in Paris in the 1940’s. -
January 2, 2025 - Curt DiCamillo, Moby-Dick Marathon, Tony V
Curt DiCamillo joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “A British Country House Alphabet,” which explores intriguing historical events tied to country houses in the UK, with stunning illustrations.Three volumes in total, the first covers the letters A through H. Curt DiCamillo is an American architectural historian and a recognized authority on the British country house. He is also the Curator for Special Collections at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston.From there it’s all aboard the Pequod. Amanda McMullen, President and CEO of the New Bedford Whaling Museum joins The Culture Show to preview the 29th annual Moby-Dick Marathon. With related events kicking off on January 3rd, the Moby-Dick Marathon features a 25-hour read-a-thon from Saturday to Sunday, interspersed with exciting Melville-inspired activities. To learn more about the marathon experience, go here. Last but not least, comedian, actor and writer Tony V joins The Culture Show. He discusses the state of Boston’s comedy scene and what it means to be a comedian when comedy, once exempted from cultural norms, has been subjected to political correctness and cancel culture. -
January 1, 2025 - Robert Pinsky, Cakeswagg, and Keefer Glenshaw
The three-time US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky has been lauded as one of the last civic poets. Yes, he’s an esteemed professor and renowned critic of poetry, but he is first and foremost a poet’s populist. It has been his mission to bring poetry to the people and the people to poetry. Robert Pinsky joins The Culture Show to discuss a new collection of work called: “Proverbs of Limbo.” From there, it’s rapper Cakeswagg. By day she is a theater teacher working with youth, and by night, she puts her theatrical skills to use, assuming her larger-than-life alter ego, Cakeswagg. After making a splash at Boston Calling she joins us to talk about her sophomore album, “Michelin Star.”Finally, artist Keefer Glenshaw has turned playing cello into an endurance sport. He’s performed for 24 hours straight. And, with a prompt from Yoko Ono, he performed another work that took him into the woods of Lexington. He joins The Culture Show with a performance and to talk about his creative pursuits. -
December 31, 2024 - The Hebridean Baker, the perfect meatball, and A Taste of Boston
Coinneach MacLeod is better known as The Hebridean Baker. His simple living, Scottish accent, and photographs of Scotland’s rugged landscape have made him an international bestseller. And then there are his bakes. He joins us to talk about his latest cookbook, “The Hebridean Baker at Home”From there, we head to the North End to find out what makes a perfect meatball and if it’s served with gravy or sauce.Finally, we’ve moved well beyond clam chowder and baked beans. Boston is now a foodie town and a new cookbook, “A Taste of Boston: The Definitive Cookbook of the City We Love,” by Jenny Johnson and Billy Costa, celebrates both our culinary landscape and the chefs who built it. -
December 30, 2024 - Eurydice, Jane Eaglen, and Reginald Mobley
Today we cross into the underworld by way of “Eurydice.” It’s a hell raising opera, truly. With music by Matthew Aucoin and based on the play “Eurydice,” by Sarah Ruhl, it’s a retelling of the myth of Orpheus, from the perspective of his bride. In this adaptation we follow Eurydice’s descent into the underworld, where her encounters are humorous, and heartbreaking–especially when she reunites with her father…a bond that proves hard to break. Eurydice had its Metropolitan Opera premier in 2021. Then it came here by way of Boston Lyric Opera which debuted a new orchestral arrangement. Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl join The Culture Show to discuss.From there, it’s viva la diva! Have we got it all wrong when it comes to throwing around the terms Diva and Prima Donna? Grammy award-winning diva, I mean soprano Jane Eaglen joins us to break down the opera parlance. Jane Eaglen is on the faculty at New England Conservatory and is the President of the Boston Wagner Society. Finally, countertenor Reginald Mobley joins The Culture Show for an in-studio performance and to talk about his album, Because. -
December 27, 2024 - Ben Shattuck, Alex Buchanan, and Jamie Wyeth
Ben Shattuck’s latest book, “The History of Sound,” is an extraordinary collection of interconnected stories that examine the lives and landscapes of New England. From a farm on Nantucket to the orchards of Hattfield and Barnstable to a logging camp in New Hampshire, Shattuck spans centuries in these haunting, tender and often humorous stories. From there, artist Alex Buchanan, a Coast Guard veteran and former mariner, rope is now his medium of choice. He literally weaves it and other maritime materials together to figuratively weave the threads of waste, ocean health and maritime culture.Finally, artist Jamie Wyeth. He takes us into the darker corners of the world, not to mention his imagination, by way of a collection of works that he says represent unsettling times, from his own personal upheaval to public unrest. -
December 26, 2024 - Matt Farley, Adam Gardner from Guster, and celebrating Charles Ives
Today on The Culture Show, the one-man media conglomerate: Matt Farley. For him quality IS quantity. The Danvers based singer-songwriter is prolific. He’s written, produced and recorded more than 25,000 songs. He also makes movies, hosts podcasts and writes books. Then, it’s music to environmentalists’ ears. We check in with Adam Gardner. The lead singer of Guster is also leading the way to make the music industry more sustainable. Finally, how many pianos does it take to Celebrate Charles Ives? The pioneer in avant-garde music was recently celebrated at New England Conservatory with a series of concerts marking his 150th birthday. NEC’s Stephen Drury joins us to talk about Ives’ genius and where we can hear his influence today -
December 25, 2024 - A Christmas Carol, Blue Heron Vocal Ensemble, and the Wurlitzer pipe organ
It’s a story for the past, present and future: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Though it was a reflection of Dickens’ times, the struggle between selfishness and selflessness endures. In Ebeneezer Scrooge, Dickens created both an antagonist and protagonist who went from being a covetous curmudgeon to a repentant man. Today we’re serving up two scoops of Scrooge with actors David Coffee and Karen MacDonald about what it takes to the iconic character.From there we hit the pause button on the Santaland soundtrack to make room for Blue Heron. The vocal ensemble takes us back to 15th century England with medieval music that will put you in the holiday spirit of yore.Finally, the gift that keeps on giving, the mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ that’s been wowing audiences in Worcester for years. -
December 24, 2024-It's A Wonderful Life, The Hallmark Channel and the best versions of A Christmas Carol
Today on The Culture Show Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III and Callie Crossley are decking the airwaves this hour with a holiday spectacular.First up, the 1946 classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s a film about second chances. It’s a film about gratitude. It’s also a great romance story. In Mr. Potter we have one of the best villains in cinematic history. And along the way we get a lesson in banking and New Deal values.From there it’s the film that people love, and actually love to hate: “Love Actually.” The rom com makes people laugh, makes people cry and makes some of you grinches out there cringe. We look at why it’s firmly in the cannon as the ultimate Christmas comfort watch. And Finally, the Christmas colossus known as The Hallmark Channel. It’s only November and Hallmark is already halfway through its “Countdown to Christmas,” broadcasting 40 new holiday films this season. We’ve made our holiday list and we’re checking it twice. -
December 23, 2024-Dwight & Nicole, Model Trains, Lisa Simmons' Holiday Film Guide
Dwight Ritcher and Nicole Nelson make up the critically acclaimed, genre-defying band DWIGHT & NICOLE. They trace their musical roots through blues, R&B, and soul with a little roots rock, alternative, and Americana sprinkled in. On New Year’s Eve they'll take the stage at Regattabar to perform hits from their acclaimed album, “The Jaguar, The Raven, and The Snake.” Dwight & Nicole join The Culture Show ahead of their Regattabar show for a preview and in-studio performance. To learn more about their New Year’s Eve show, go here.From there we fast track it to Malden. Edgar B. Herwick III takes us to Charles Ro Supply Company. The nation’s largest model train store triples as a museum, a depot for train hobbyists, and a perfect place for holiday shoppers. FinallyCulture Show contributor Lisa Simmons joins us with her list of holiday films: “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” “This Christmas,” “Last Holiday,” “The Best Man Holiday,” “Meet Me Next Christmas,” “The Holiday,” and “ The Christmas Chronicles.” Lisa Simmons is the artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Festival and program manager at Mass Cultural Council.
