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Fern L. Johnson, senior research scholar and professor emerita of English at Clark University, and Marlene G. Fine, professor emerita at Simmons University co-author Let's Talk Race: A Guide for White People, a new book that confronts why white people struggle to talk about race, why we need to own this problem, and how we can learn to do the work ourselves and stop expecting Black people to do it for us.

Roller skating is more than just a pandemic pastime. We're examining Worcester's skate scene and talking about history, culture, and representation with Derek Thompson from Chez-Vous. Thank you to organizers Ellen Walsh and Ellen Benson for nurturing the local rollerskate community. And also to Naghmeh Eskandri, Penelope Angiulo, Jeanne D. Arc, and Lady LaRouge for their insights.

It is Molly's one true destiny to someday appear on Jeopardy. When we found out Worcester native Brendan Sargent was going to be on the show, we had a lot of insider questions for him. How did you study? How sensitive was the buzzer? How did your charming anecdote land at the start of the episode? Brendan has graduated from Christ the King musicals to the LA comedy scene. Check out his web series "Dear John" to experience MTV Cribs for the bathroom enthusiast.

Avanah Sophia grew up in the Faith Assembly cult under the teaching of notorious divine healer, Hobart Freeman who aided and abetted in the deaths of nearly 100 of his followers. Avanah has gone on to become an incredible mother, respected music teacher, and revered singer song-writer in Central Mass. Avanah's liberation came when she realized she would rather live in dangerous freedom than peaceful slavery. We are so honored to share her story with you today.

Episode 99 provides an extensive overview of the Free Britney movement, Golden Globes snubs, and celebs who exchange blood vials.

Also, we love The Eggroll Lady!

Worcester native Katzie Guy-Hamilton is the author of the "Clean Enough" cookbook, co-founder of Cassata Bakery, and a Top Chef alum.

A Village People send-off, a sea of purple coats, a pair of hand-knit mittens, and an exquisite young poet—this was an inauguration day we won't soon forget.

Che Anderson and Amy Peterson of Food & Convo host us for a virtual tasting of Grandeza Hot Sauce. Other guests include Ricky Nelson and Travis Duda of SeltzerTime, Jesse Burlingame of the Lonely Mans Podcast, and Shaun Connolly of WOOtenanny and An Actual Alt-Weekly Podcast.

Normal People: Based on a Sally Rooney novel. Young Irish lovers. Connell's chain. The chemistry! The Queen's Gambit: Anya Taylor Joy (who I also loved in Emma) is a Chess wunderkind. The coats. The friendship with her school's custodian. That kid from Love Actually... GBBO: The Bake Off came at a much needed time. They bubbled up at the tent just to give us a soothing, funny, and weird season. Matt Lucas's first season as host was a success!! Final episodes of The Good Place: oh my GOD what a perfect show.

The Half of It: A nerd ghostwrites love notes for a football player to his crush, whom they are both in love with. Directed by Alice Wu. Class Action Park: An eccentric billionaire, Wet Hot American Summer sentimentality, and an examination of what it meant to be viewed as tough in the '80s. Birds of Prey: The only good DCU movie?? But also! Fantastic on its own merits. Stylish, funny, compelling, anchored by Margot Robbie (as star/producer). Should honestly be in awards conversations, which I know sounds crazy.The Old Guard: the two best superhero movies this year were directed by WOC. Also, Palm Springs.

Taylor Swift: A woman who really knows how to turn a phrase. She's in a true creative flow right now. Off her recent drop evermore, my favorite song is ivy. A fairytale and yet still somehow autobiographical in its own right. Fiona Apple: Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Rhythm, dolphin noises, and unbridled self-expression. Tame Impala: The Slow Rush. Bands aren't cool anymore. You know who's cool? Tame Impala.The Chicks: Gaslighter: I will fight Adrian Pasdar myself.

"Ivanka was my best friend. Now she's MAGA royalty." Lysandra Ohrstrom for Vanity Fair. Trump's commentary on the writer's body as an adolescent and also that moment when Ivanka blames a fart on another classmate. "Emily Ratajkowski on Reclaiming her own image." I may have underestimated her. She takes an emotional theft and reclaims some of her dignity with a physical purchase. An entitled photographer is held accountable for his treatment of a young model. Alright, Alright, Alright: An Oral History of Dazed and Confused. Melissa Maerz wrote my dream book. I love a good oral history, and this one's no different. Still thinking about the Dracula twitter thread I read at the beginning of quarantine honestly. "She wanted a freebirth with no doctors.

Plus: Guy Fieri, HILARIA OBVIOUSLY, Mulaney, Good One, Harry & Meghan, The Last Dance, and The Vow.

Part 2 of our Public Hearing crossover. We discuss growth mindset, social-emotional learning, transgender rights, and the validity of SESTA (Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act). Public Hearing is a show about broken systems, the people affected by them, and how we can redesign them. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Action! by Design founder Joshua Croke. Photo at www.popitworcester.com by Unity Mike.