Great Art, Big Ideas

Who gets to call America home, and who decides? Four authors talk about race, citizenship and writing themselves into the national story. Victoria Buitron ( A Body Across Two Hemispheres ) answers the question every immigrant hears: “But where are you really from?” Zakiya Dalila Harris ( The Other Black Girl ) remembers being told she didn’t sound Black enough, and finding her people anyway. Chris...

She was checking a track listing for a Method Man album when she noticed an unused interlude. She pitched it as a duet, got Mary J. Blige on the vocal and Puff Daddy on the mix, and the result — “I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need To Get By” — became one of the defining records of the era. Her name wasn’t on it. Drew Dixon spent the 1990s in rooms where hip-hop was being decided. She starte...

In a cypher, nobody owns the floor. You take your turn, you give it back, and the circle is what holds. Recorded live at the New Haven Museum as part of our Queens of the Culture series, this conversation puts three women in that circle — each of whom built the culture in a different medium. Kim D. Holmes is a choreographer and dancer called one of the premiere luminaries of the urban dance moveme...

We are thrilled to honor Lhakpa Sherpa, a true trailblazer whose impact and achievements continue to inspire across communities and generations. Set against the stunning backdrop of the historic New Haven Harbor, this evening features an intimate conversation with Lhakpa, moderated by Dr. Quan T. Tran. In 2000, Lhakpa Sherpa became the first Nepali woman to summit Mt. Everest and survive. She has...

Every oyster shell tells a story — and together, they're helping bring Long Island Sound back to life.  Watch "Shucking the Status Quo," a conversation on local aquaculture, indigenous stewardship, and community shell recycling, and how they're working hand in hand to restore one of our most treasured waterways. Featuring shellfish farmer Beth Simonds, Chief Sagamore Buddy Pock...

 | What does it really mean to cook local — and why does it matter?  Chefs Emily Mingrone, Arturo Franco-Camacho, and Damon "Daye" Sawyer get honest about sourcing close to home, building relationships with local farmers and fishers, and what sustainable food can look like on a Connecticut plate. Moderated by Tagan Engel of The Table Underground.  Recorded live at the New Haven Museum as...

What's the most powerful weapon against fascism we've nearly forgotten? Jack Hitt and Chenjerai Kumanyika, hosts of the Peabody Award-winning podcast Uncivil, turn their lens on the labor movement — tracing the buried stories of workers who fought back against gilded-age oligarchs, accumulated wealth, and authoritarian drift.  This is not a history lesson. It's a warning — and a cal...

 | Historians Elizabeth Hinton, Joanne Freeman, and Beverly Gage sit down with CT Public's Lucy Nalpathanchil to ask: what does the past actually tell us about democracy under strain right now? Drawing on centuries of American history, they explore how democracies have been tested before, what we can learn from those moments, and why understanding the past has never felt more urgent — whether...

This deeply moving special episode honors Denise Santisteban, the festival's beloved curator of ideas and storytelling events, who passed away in April 2025. Host Tiffany Hopkins shares four of Denise's most powerful personal stories, performed live between 2017 and 2020, showcasing her remarkable gift for storytelling. In these intimate narratives, Denise takes us on journeys both physi...

In this intimate and inspiring conversation, legendary Chef Jacques Pépin reflects on his extraordinary culinary journey spanning nearly eight decades. From his wartime childhood in Lyon, France, to becoming one of America's most beloved cooking teachers, Pépin shares the profound philosophy that has guided his life: food as a universal language of love and connection. Thanks for listening an...

Join The Honorable Clifton Graves for a thought-provoking discussion that bridges Ray Bradbury's classic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 with the urgent civic challenges facing America today. Speaking at New Haven Public Library -  Stetson Branch, Judge Clifton Graves draws powerful connections between Ray Bradbury's 1953 vision of censorship and book burning in Fahrenheit 451  and contem...

In this thought-provoking discussion, hosts Juanita Sunday and New London Poet Laureate AnUrbanNerd explore how science fiction serves as a powerful lens for understanding our present and predicting our future.  Using Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and Octavia Butler's A Few Rules for Predicting the Future as their foundation, they examine how speculative fiction doesn't create probl...

Join us as Mercy Quay, founder and CEO of Connecticut's only anti-racist public relations agency, The Narrative Project, guides us through the complex world of news consumption and media literacy. With over a decade of experience as both a journalist and communications strategist, Quay examines how framing, bias, and sensationalism shape our understanding of current events. In this thought-pr...

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok delivers a stirring keynote weaving together Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, and her own immigrant story to explore how art serves as resistance against cultural devastation and loneliness. Drawing from her current Broadway adaptation of Fahrenheit 451, Majok examines Guy Montag's journey from boo...

Join us for an illuminating conversation about the transformative power of theater as a form of resistance and social change. In this compelling Ideas Talk, three distinguished theater artists explore how live performance challenges conventions, creates community, and gives voice to marginalized stories. Featured Speakers: Dexter Singleton - Executive Artistic Director and Founder of Collective Co...

In this fascinating talk, we explore the unexpected connections between neuroscience, quantum computing, and visual art through a unique interdisciplinary collaboration at Yale University. This talk features a panel discussion following the screening of a documentary about Italian visual artist Serena Campini, who served as an artist-in-residence at the Yale Quantum Institute. Through her residenc...

In this episode we tackle the critical issue of book bans and restrictions impacting libraries and schools across the United States. Our expert panel, including Lauren Anderson, Sam Lee, and Harold Steward, will explore the cultural battles over intellectual freedom and the essential role of education in promoting diverse perspectives. Discover the challenges faced by librarians and educators as t...

In this episode we bring together a distinguished panel to explore the crucial role of preserving cultural identities in our changing world. Featuring Sandy Grande, Chris Newell, Nakai Clearwater Northup, and Dana Jackson-Washington, the discussion dives into the importance of maintaining diverse cultural heritages for current and future generations. Our panelists share their unique experiences an...

Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and Jason Mancini , Executive Director of Connecticut Humanities, discuss the critical role the humanities play in tackling society’s toughest contemporary challenges . Chair Lowe will highlight new National Endowment for the Humanities initiatives that respond to some of the most pressing issues of our time: strengthenin...

Step into the tempestuous world of Shakespeare's King Lear and explore its profound relevance to our modern climate challenges!  No work of English literature speaks more directly to human vulnerability in the face of climate disruption than Shakespeare's King Lear. The old king, thrust into the storm, feels his environmental weakness to his skin. This round-table conversation is led by...

Join Laurie Santos, host of the Happiness Lab Podcast, and Tamar Gendler, Yale Professor of Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature, for an enlightening discussion on the science, history, and philosophy of happiness. Learn useful tips and ideas on how to live a more positive life. Whether you're curious about what makes us happy or just want some advice on feeling better, this conversatio...

Join author and activist Ashton Applewhite and Donna Fedus from Borrow My Glasses for an enlightening conversation on aging and inclusivity. Discover how aging can be a period of growth and vitality, while exploring strategies to combat ageism and promote fairness. Challenge common beliefs, share ideas for fostering a welcoming society for all ages, and delve into the importance of reshaping perce...

Join host Catherine Shen on CT Public's "Where We Live" as she moderates an engaging discussion with Deb Bibbins, founder of For All Ages. Discover why social connection is the foundation of our mental and physical health, who the loneliest age group is (it’s not the one you think!), and how we can help one another improve our social connectivity. Learn how intergenerational connect...

Enjoy this unforgettable evening with John Dankosky, CT Mirror's Director of Events, and Erick Russell, Connecticut’s 84th State Treasurer! With John's charm and expertise as a renowned radio personality and moderator, and Erick's historic achievement as the first Black LGBTQ person elected to statewide office, get ready for an engaging and inspiring discussion. Thanks for listening...

Can science save us? Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson of Urban Ocean Lab and John Dankosky from Science Friday, discussing Dr. Johnson's latest book, "What If We Get It Right?" Explore the bold notion of envisioning a future where we act out of love for what's to come, navigating through the complexities of climate change with optimism and determination. This transformative dialogue...