Great Art, Big Ideas

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...

Enjoy this enlightening discussion on climate displacement, featuring speaker Tabitha Sookdeo from IRIS, Maya Prabhu from Law at Yale Law School and Yale School of Medicine, and Keshia "Talking Waters" De Freece from Sovereign Science LLC. Delve into the pressing question: Who are the climate migrants, and what challenges do they encounter? Gain insight into the complexities of climate-i...

Lucy Nalpathanchil moderates a powerful conversation on Activism and Optimism that features LGBTQ BIPOC activists Adrian Huq , co-founder of the New Haven Climate Movement Youth Action Team, and Kwolanne Felix , Fellowship and Community Manager at Black Girl Environmentalist. This empowering dialogue highlights the potential of emerging climate leaders of color, including Black girls, women, and g...

Enjoy this invigorating community conversation hosted by the Citywide Youth Coalition Inc! In this Ideas event, recorded live on the New Haven Green, we tackle a transformative topic: expanding voting rights to 16-year-olds for local state elections. Dive into an engaging discussion as we explore the benefits and challenges of empowering our youth with the right to vote. We share insights on civic...

This week Ana María Álvarez, Founding Artistic Director of CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater joins us in the studio to talk about their upcoming production of  ¡AZÚCAR! playing at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas on June 28 & 29, 2024.  Topics discussed include how the company was founded in the concept of resistance and what it means to resist. If after listening to this you...

Keynote by Thi Bui, author and artist of the graphic memoir "The Best We Could Do". Introduction by President Dr. Elsa Nunez, Eastern Connecticut State University Moderated by Dr. Jason O. Chang, Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies, Director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute, University of Connecticut Welcome to our Keynote address by Thi Bui, author...

How we tell the stories about ourselves, traumatic or otherwise, can be used to categorize us in ways that are not always equitable. Are marginalized groups expected to share traumatic experiences when dealing with institutions of power? Join sociologist, Aya Waller-Bey , community engagement storyteller Mike Keo , and Andrus Awardee Betty Bajek to explore what’s contributing to this issue, why it...

A world without housing insecurity. A realistic goal? Only if we better understand the inter-related array of steps that can lead to its elimination. Deepen your understanding and broaden your perspectives of this critical issue with the help of panelists Kellyann Day , CEO of New Reach, social worker Antwan Nedd , New Haven Housing Authority Director Karen DuBois-Walton , community organizer Bill...

Artificial intelligence has been both idolized and demonized. Some have welcomed it into their businesses. Others fear it will destroy our lives. This lively presentation will help you take a fresh, informed, balanced look at how AI is impacting our lives now...and what we can do to ensure it will continue to be a force for good in the future. Speakers include Dr. Anat Lior, Bonnie Kaplan, and Mic...