Curtis Wilson escaped his father’s troubled world and grasped his lifelong dream of becoming a cellist. Then, he almost lost it all. The protagonist of writer, educator and classical musician Brendan Slocumb’s new book “The Dark Maestro” reflects the author’s own experience as a performer. “The Dark Maestro” is our July selection for Bookmarked: the “Under the Radar” book club.

The pro-birth movement, known as pronatalism, has long been popular in certain politically conservative circles. But in recent years, it has begun to gain traction more broadly. Many view it not only as a means to slow the declining population, but also as a way to preserve culture. But others worry that the singular focus on having more babies is intentionally exclusive and ignores the issues of economic inequality and women’s reproductive rights. What exactly is pro-natalism? And why does it stir passionate debate?

With warmer weather arriving, food and drinks are getting “swicy” – that’s sweet and spicy. The adventurous blend has been trending for some time with the rise of hot honey and, now, as an added kick to already bold white wines. Plus, international food trends make a splash locally and could the Michelin guide boost much-needed dine-in traffic to local restaurants? Our food and wine experts tell us more!

The Los Angeles anti-deportation protests may not be on the front page, but the National Guard is still on the ground in LA. President Donald Trump wants to build “Alligator Alcatraz,” a detention center in the Florida Everglades. And the Milford teen who was held by ICE denies ICE’s claims that he lied about the conditions of his detention. It’s our Latinx news roundtable!

Thousands of books are facing scrutiny throughout the country as the book-banning movement continues to gain supporters. Now, authors are joining together to fight back and use their voices off the page to spread awareness about how book bans threaten democracy and free speech. We speak with three members of Authors Against Book Bans in the latest installment of Unbound Pages, our yearlong series on the anti-book-banning movement in America.

In 1975, Boston native Donna Summer released her single, “Love to Love You Baby,” a sexy disco tune featuring shimmering strings and a funky bassline that would become a global smash. Fifty years later, her hometown will celebrate Summer’s artistry and the lasting impact of her work with its eleventh Donna Summer Disco Party on City Hall Plaza. We speak with one of its organizers and UTR’s pop culture expert to learn more.

It’s been 160 years since the last enslaved people in the United States heard the news they were free. What was once celebrated on a city or state level is now celebrated nationwide as a federal holiday on June 19, also known as Juneteenth. In the spirit of the holiday, Cambridge’s LabCentral is hosting a special exhibit and panel discussion, centering local Black artists and community activists in an event called “Juneteenth: Freedom & Form.” We speak with one of the artists and the event organizer.

It started as a minimalist, eerie musical phrase – one ominous note, then two, signifying the looming, underwater danger of a great white shark. Fifty years later, the theme to the 1975 Steven Spielberg blockbuster “Jaws” is just as recognizable and iconic as the film itself. We take a deep-dive into this musical masterpiece with two expert music professors.

It’s Pride Month … or is it Title IX Month? President Donald Trump’s administration continues to push back on the LGBTQ+ community through its ban on trans troops – and newly graduated trans cadets – in the military, potential federal budget cuts to a vital suicide prevention hotline that helps queer youth, and renaming a Navy ship dedicated to gay rights icon Harvey Milk. But Pride celebrations are still happening across the country, including an inaugural parade in a small town in West Virginia! All that and more in this week’s LBGTQ+ news roundtable.

Throughout his career, artist John Wilson was inspired to capture the faces of his community: Black people who lived in Roxbury. He chose to do figurative paintings, drawings and sculptures, rather than abstract work, because he was determined  that Black people should be seen in the fullness of their humanity. That was the overall theme of his work, which is now in an exhibit at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts – “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson.” Callie speaks with a curator and a John Wilson collector to learn more about Wilson’s work.