The new season of PBS MASTERPIECE and MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! is here and so is our annual preview podcast with executive producer Susanne Simpson.

In the preview Susanne describes her executive producer role as an inheritance similar to the legacy estate of the family patriarch, Lord Grantham, in DOWNTON ABBEY, MASTERPIECE's most popular series to date.

In the full podcast Susanne highlights two exciting new historical dramas coming to PBS MASTERPIECE in 2025.

Episode 60 launches Tuesday, October 22.

In Ep. 59 our topic is Shirley Chisholm, the first Black Congresswoman, political icon and subject of the 2024 Netflix biopic SHIRLEY featuring Oscar-winning actress Regina King as Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. The special guest for this election year conversation is Dr. Zinga A. Fraser, the historical consultant for the film SHIRLEY, Director of the Shirley Chisholm Project on Brooklyn Women’s Activism, and editor of the recent book "Shirley Chisholm In Her Own Words: Speeches and Writings" (University of California Press).

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TIMESTAMPS

0:01 Introduction to the podcast and historical films with political themes

2:26 Overview of SHIRLEY biopic

3:14 Dr. Zinga A. Fraser's Chisholm Journey and Scholarship

8:18 Dr. Fraser's involvement in SHIRLEY film

11:57 Power of film in education

22:15 Podcast Generic Break

23:37 Shirley Chisholm's legacy and contemporary relevance

33:40 Dr. Fraser's book and intended impact

34:03 Reflections on Chisholm and this historical moment

35:48 Time Travel: Witnessing Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan in action

37:39 Where to watch SHIRLEY

37:57 Where to purchase "Shirley Chisholm In Her Own Rods: Speeches and Writings"

39: Disclaimer

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Coming up on Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters we’re talking about the first Black Congresswoman and poltiical icon Shirley Chisholm and the Netflix biopic SHIRLEY featuring Oscar-winning actress Regina King as Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Our special guest is Dr. Zinga A. Fraser, Director of the Shirley Chisholm Project on Brooklyn Women’s Activism and the historical consultant for the film SHIRLEY.

Dr. Fraser's recent book Shirley Chisholm: In her Own Words a Collection of Speeches and Writings published this fall by the University of California Press is can be purchased from our podcast affiliate bookstore -- your purchases support independent booksellers and a small commission supports Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters.

“Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters” kicks off Season 4 with Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Sympathizer which was adapted into an HBO limited series and released in April 2024.

The Sympathizer is described as an espionage thriller and cross-cultural satire about the struggles of its narrator, a half-French half-Vietnamese communist spy or double agent, known only as “the Captain” during the final days of the American war in Vietnam. A “man of two minds,” the Captain arranges to come to America after the Fall of Saigon. While building a new life with other Vietnamese refugees in Los Angeles he is secretly reporting back to his communist superiors in Vietnam. The Sympathizer is a blistering exploration of identity and America, and a powerful story of loyalty, love and friendship.

0:01 Introduction to podcast

1:20 Introduction to THE SYMPATHIZER2

:06 Cast and Creative Team for HBO series

3:11 Viet Thanh Nguyen, author introduction

5:04 Adapting THE SYMPATHIZER for TV/collaborating with Park Chan-wook

8:54 Representation and Pop Culture in THE SYMPATHIZER 

11:53 Satirizing Pop Culture and Hollywood (in THE SYMPATHIZER)

17:21 Multiple Identity and Historical Understanding

20:44 Podcast Subscriber Question: What makes The Captain "the sympathizer?"

23:18 The Boston Sisters reflect on Viet Thanh Nguyen conversation and THE SYMPATHIZER

25:58 Library of Congress Book Festival James Baldwin Panel

32:47 Where to watch THE SYMPATHIZER series and purchase the novel

33:01 Appreciation to Library of Congress

33:40 Where to watch THE SYMPATHIZER series and purchase the novel

35:52 Disclaimer

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PREVIEW for the season 4 premiere of "Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters." The new season (Ep. 58) kicks off with Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Sympathizer" which was adapted into a limited series that premiered on HBO earlier this year.

The conversation was recorded at the Library of Congress 2024 National Book Festival in DC.

In this bonus episode we’re highlighting the Lightning Round question: “What three items would you put in a time capsule that represent your history and the times you've lived?  

The Time Capsule question gives us insight into what our guests want to be remembered for and the memories they’d like to keep about special people, places, and experiences in their lives.

This podcast features responses from 5 guests from the 3rd season of “Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters.” 

• Yancy Red Corn and Moira (Mora) RedCorn who joined us for a conversation about the Martin Scorsese film “Killers of the Flower Moon”
• Damianne Scott, founder of Black Girl Loves Jane, who gave us insights into the country society of Jane Austen’s Regency far from the society of Bridgerton’s ton
• Ruth Gemmell, best known as Lady Violet Bridgerton, matriarch of the Bridgerton family, in the popular Netflix series.
• Rishi Nair who recently joined the PBS Masterpiece Mystery series GRANTCHESTER as the new vicar Alphy Kottaram

TIMESTAMPS

0:01 Intro to Time Capsule Podcast

2:35 Yancey Red Corn and Moira Redcorn, Killers of the Flower Moon, time capsule

9:06 Damianne "Dami" Scott, Black Girl Loves Jane, capsule

12:39 Ruth Gemmell, Bridgerton's Lady Violet, time capsule

15:26 Rishi Nair, Alphy Kotteram/Grantchester time capsule

STAY ENGAGED with HISTORICAL DRAMA WITH THE BOSTON SISTERS®

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In this bonus episode, Michon and Taquiena share their impressions and memories of shopping Chanel including Taquiena's visit to the Chanel couturier in Paris. This conversation occurred while recording THE NEW LOOK podcast (episode 53), but saved to create bonus content for "Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters" subscribers during the podcast's summer hiatus and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Update to the parfum story: While cleaning the bathroom Michon's parfum bottle fell and shattered on the floor. But she still has the memories and the scent for a few days :(

STAY ENGAGED with HISTORICAL DRAMA WITH THE BOSTON SISTERS

Let us know what you think of this bonus episode and share your memories or favorite historical dramas about Paris.

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In episode 57, The Boston Sisters talk with actor RISHI NAIR, who portrays Alphy Kottaram, the new vicar in season 9 of the PBS MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! series GRANTCHESTER. Alphy takes over the pulpit from departing vicar Will Davenport (Tom Brittney), and gets off to a rough start with DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green). This conversation with Rishi Nair explores historical drama representation and cultural identity, as well as race and identity in 1960s England through the story of a British-born Indian vicar. Nair shares stories about becoming part of the GRANTCHESTER cast family; and if acting and ministry are "callings," with similarities and challenges.

GRANTCHESTER is created by Daisy Coulam and is adapted from the Grantchester mystery novels by James Runcie.

Transcript for Ep. 57 is available on the podcast website

0:08 - Introducing Rishi Nair and Grantchester Season 9

4:05 - Creating Alphy Kottaram, the new vicar of Grantchester

9:31 - Becoming part of the Grantchester cast family

11:00 - Historical drama representation and cultural identity

17:35 - Race and identity in 1960s England through the lens of an Indian vicar

23:10 - Acting and ministry "callings," similarities and challenges

28:45 - Lightning Round: the "swinging 60s," football, DVD, water bottle

32:35 - Where to watch GRANTCHESTER and MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!

33:14 - Share, subscribe, write Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters

34:37 - Disclaimer

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STAY ENGAGED with HISTORICAL DRAMA WITH THE BOSTON SISTERS®

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Thank you for listening!

Preview Episode 57. The Boston Sisters talk with Rishi Nair who portrays Alphy Kottaram, the new vicar in season 9 of the PBS MASTERPIECE MYSTERY series GRANTCHESTER. Alphy takes over the pulpit from former vicar Will Davenport, and gets off to a rough start with DI Geordie Keating. But will the locals embrace Alphy as they did the previous 2 vicars?

Episode 57 will be available July 2, 2024. You can watch GRANTCHESTER Sunday nights on PBS MASTERPIECE MYSTERY. Check local listings.

In Episode 56 we talk with actor Ruth Gemmell, who portrays Lady Violet Bridgerton in the Netflix series BRIDGERTON and QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY from Shonda Rhimes’s Shondaland, inspired by the stories and characters in Julia Quinn’s romance novels. In the podcast we talk with Gemmell about her nuanced portrayal of Lady Violet Bridgerton, and explore the theme of self-discovery and love in the series through Lady Violet’s motivations and relationships. This conversation with Ruth Gemmell reveals Lady Violet Bridgerton as a multifaceted character who defies simple categorization. 

BRIDGERTON has completed its 3rd season. All 3 seasons including QUEEN CHARLOTTE are available on Netflix with a subscription.

TRANSCRIPT: Visit the webpage to download a transcript for episode 56 - https://michonbostongroup.com/bostonsisters

1:17 - Episode Intro w/Ruth Gemmell/Lady Violet Bridgerton

1:56 - BRIDGERTON 3 synopsis

3:08 - Ruth Gimmell bio

4:28 - Friendship and romantic love

6:02 - Mature women's friendship: Lady Violet and Lady Agatha

8:42: - Working with Adjoa Andoh (Lady Agatha Danbury)

10:15 - Creating Lady Violet

15:22 - BRIDGERTON effect on historical drama

16:52 - Lady Violet's romantic future

19:44 - Loving 1940s clothes

20:52 - Time capsule: wedding dress, dog photo, motherly advice

23:13 - Where to watch BRIDGERTON series and QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY

23:28 - Stay connected with Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters

24:57 - Disclaimer
STAY ENGAGED with HISTORICAL DRAMA WITH THE BOSTON SISTERS®

ENJOY⁠ past podcasts and bonus episodes

⁠SIGN UP⁠ for our mailing list

SUPPORT this podcast ⁠ SHOP THE PODCAST⁠ on our affiliate bookstore

Buy us a Coffee! You can support by buying a coffee ☕ here — ⁠buymeacoffee.com/historicaldramasisters⁠

Thank you for listening!