David Leonard, President of the Boston Public Library, joins The Culture Show to talk about how public libraries are under siege, from book bans to funding cuts. He wrote about this, and the need to defend these institutions, in a recent piece for the Boston Globe. To keep abreast of all of the programming and resources the Boston Public Library has to offer go here.

From there it’s politics and eggs. Mike's City Diner, the legendary South End breakfast and lunch hotspot is turning 30. It’s famous for big portions and for being the spot where bigwig politicians meet. It’s also a beloved Boston institution among  neighborhood locals, cabbies, cops and employees at the nearby hospitals. Jay Hajj opened Mike’s in 1995. He joins us to talk about building a mainstay of the Boston dining scene. To learn about all things Mike’s City Diner and anniversary specials go here.

Ryan Miller, co-lead singer of Guster and Guster’s drummer Brian Rosenworcel join The Culture Show to talk about their recent performances at The Kennedy Center, which Miller wrote about for The Atlantic. They also previewed two shows in the region; one  in North Adams at MASS MoCA on July 26th and Guster’s On the Ocean music festival, August 8-August 10 in Portland, ME. To learn more go here.

From there Kirk Carapezza joins The Culture Show to talk through a recent episode of College Uncovered, the podcast that he co-hosts with Jon Marcus.  In “The Revenge of the Humanities,” they explore how some colleges are rebranding liberal arts as “applied humanities” or “leadership studies” to better connect with career paths and market demand. Kirk Carapezza  is the Managing Editor and Correspondent for higher education at GBH News. College Uncovered is a collaboration between GBH News and The Hechinger Report.

Finally, former US poet laureate and  Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith. She joined us the day after the election and she chose to share her poem titled  “Declaration,” from her book “Wade in the Water.” 

Today Culture Show co-hosts Callie Crossley, Jared Bowen and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.

First up, Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope. What are the cultural implications and did pop culture anticipate this moment? From there it’s a review of the MET Gala, which celebrated dandyism, Black excellence and menswear. Then it’s a look at President Trump’s plans to put a 100 percent tariff on foreign films. Finally, a production that will be filmed in the United States: “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.”

Alex Alvear is an Ecuadorian composer, bassist, and vocalist who has three shows at Long Live Roxbury, which is a weekly music series bringing top-notch acts to the Long Live Beerworks taproom. The performances are free and the programming is the brainchild of Michael Feldman, the CEO of Feldman Geospatial. Alex Alvear and Michael Feldman join The Culture Show to talk about upcoming shows and how Long Live Roxbury is reviving Boston’s jazz scene. Alex Alvear and musicians Curi Cachimuel and Roberto Cachimuel also previewed tonight’s show with in-studio performances. To learn more about Alex Alvear’s shows and Long Live Roxbury and their other upcoming shows go here.

From there Mary Grant, president of MassArt, joins The Culture Show to recap Creative Sector Advocacy week, to preview the MassArt Fashion Design Fashion Show and to reflect on what’s next for  MassArt’s  class of 2025 with graduation on the horizon.

James Parker joins The Culture Show to talk about his latest book “Get Me Through the Next Five Minutes: Odes to Being Alive.”  He’s  a staff writer at “The Atlantic.”  Since 2011 he has been running the Black Seed Writers Group—a weekly writing workshop for homeless, transitional, and recently housed writers–and editing “The Pilgrim,” a literary magazine from the homeless community of downtown Boston.

From there Fabiola Méndez, the celebrated Puerto Rican cuatrista and singer, joins The Culture Show for an in-studio performance.  

Finally Kiernan Schmitt joins The Culture Show to talk about his new book “Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide,” which takes us into the curious corners and around town. Kiernan Schmitt co-hosts the “Out of Office” travel podcast with Ryan Davis.

Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart joins The Culture Show to reflect on his 30th anniversary with the Boston Pops. He also gives an overview of the Boston Pops spring season, which includes an opening night concert with Cynthia Erivo, JAWS in Concert, and the musician, composer, and  singer-songwriter Cody Fry. To learn about all of their programming go here. 

From there, Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, joins The Culture Show to reflect on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s  letter from a Birmingham jail and the lessons it offers for leading peaceful protests in 2025.

Finally Jameson Johnson joins The Culture Show to talk about Boston Art Review. She is Founder and Executive Director of this organization, which is a magazine, an online platform and so much more. To learn about BAR, go here. 

Nonie Gadsen, Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, and the MFA’s Benjamin Weiss, the  Leonard A. Lauder Senior Curator of Visual Culture, join The Culture Show for our recurring series, “American Revolution: Frame by Frame.” Each month the curators and experts from the MFA join the show to talk about works in their collection that offer insight into the American Revolution. This is an extension of Museums 250. Today Nonie Gadsen and Benjamin Weiss discuss the "Goddess of Liberty" weathervane. 

From there David Coffin, a musician, music-educator and  a maritime specialist is also a guide for Boston Harbor City Cruises. He joins The Culture Show for an overview of their  “Lighthouses and Tales of Boston Harbor,” cruises, which run through May 15th. To learn more go here. 

Finally, we get an overview of “Utopian Hotline,” a theatrical experience that asks the  question: “How would you envision a more perfect future?“  It’s staged by Theater Mitu and here in Boston, it’s presented by ArtsEmerson and the Museum of Science. It plays through May 18th at the Museum of Science Charles Hayden Planetarium.  Denis Butkus, Theater Mitu Company Producer and co-creator of “Utopian Hotline,” joins The Culture Show. To learn more go here.

Today on our arts and culture week-in-review Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, James Bennett II and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines.

First up, Bill Belichick’s controversial interview on CBS Sunday Morning. From there, it’s the viral debate that the Internet can’t get enough of: 100 men vs. one  gorilla.

Then it’s a look at the Tony nominations and a listen to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 inductees. 

Finally, how a former employee at Market Basket has recreated its soundtrack as a Spotify playlist.

David Lindsay-Abaire is a Boston native and a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright. He joins The Culture Show to talk about the “Kimberly Akimbo,” which is coming to the Emerson Colonial Theatre by way of  Broadway in Boston. The 2023 Tony-winner for Best Musical is based on David Lindsay-Abaire's play of the same title. It features a score by Jeanine Tesori and  lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. To learn more go here.

From there we get a jump of “May the Fourth Be With You,” the unofficial holiday for “Star Wars” fans.  This Sunday at the Somerville Theatre, the New England Film Orchestra presents May the Fourth Concert, celebrating the music of Star Wars.  Gina Naggar, conductor, founder, and music director of NEFO joins us for a preview. To learn more go here.

Finally we mark Native Plant Trust’s 125th anniversary,the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. Uli Lorimer, their Director of Horticulture joins us. He’s the author of  “The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden.” To learn more about Native Plant Trust go here.

Award winning writer and poet Kwame Alexander joins The Culture Show to talk about the PBS Kids debut of  “Acoustic Rooster.” Based on Alexander’s beloved children’s book “Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band,”  the “Acoustic Rooster” universe is coming to PBS KIDS with a special and a short-form series produced by GBH. This will feature “Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band” a one-hour special, and “Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams,” a  new animated series of 20 shorts that will introduce viewers ages 3-5 to jazz music. To learn more, go here.

From there Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll joins  The Culture Show to talk about what the state can do when it comes to funding the arts and culture sector now that so many federal grants for museums and libraries have been cut. 

Finally, the pink wave makes a splash at  the Emerson Colonial Theatre. “Mean Girls” the musical is onstage through May 4th. Two of the lead actors, Katie Yeomans and Maya Petropoulos join The Culture Show to talk about this satirical take on teenage drama and the perils of popularity. To learn more, go here.