The WBUR Festival

WBUR's Simón Rios speaks with two former immigration judges — Art Arthur, a fellow in law and policy at The Center for Immigration Studies; and George Pappas, the principal owner of Pappas Legal, PLLC representing clients in Western North Carolina and nationwide in U.S. immigration law — about recent shifts in immigration policy, and whether we’re witnessing lawlessness or a controversial interpre...

WBUR Reporter Martha Bebinger talks to entrepreneur and social justice leader Demond Martin about lessons from his new book “Friends of the Good," an exploration of how deep friendships boost our resilience in work and life. This conversation was a part of The WBUR Festival (2026), where thousands of attendees descend on Boston each year to hear movers, makers, and other fascinating people in conv...

Ashley Maceli (VP of AI solutions at Eastern Bank), Jen Stave (executive director of Harvard Business School's AI institute), and Andrew Hogue (head of AI at Duolingo) speak with WBUR tech correspondent Scott Kirsner about how their companies are deploying AI today and what AI-driven workplaces might look like in the future. This conversation was a part of The WBUR Festival (2026), where thousands...

Civil rights lawyer and Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson speaks with WBUR's Tiziana Dearing about the legal system, the stories we tell about our nation, and why he sees hope as a prerequisite for justice. Stevenson is the author of "Just Mercy." This conversation was a part of The WBUR Festival (2026), where thousands of attendees descend on Boston each year to hear movers, makers...

Marty Baron, former editor of The Washington Post and The Boston Globe; Paola Ramos, Telemundo contributor and host of The Moment; and media entrepreneur Javier Marin discuss how journalism has evolved over the last few decades and what challenges the industry may face in the future. This conversation was a part of The WBUR Festival (2026), where thousands of attendees descend on Boston each year...

WBUR Senior Reporter Ally Jarmanning chats with Lindy West about her new memoir "Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane," navigating a complicated relationship with food, and why she hopes her future is full of donkeys. This conversation was a part of The WBUR Festival (2026), where thousands of attendees descend on Boston each year to hear movers, makers, and other fascinating people in conversation w...

John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor to Donald Trump, speaks with   On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti about Iran, his time in the White House, and whether President Trump is the same leader he worked with eight years ago. This conversation was a part of The WBUR Festival (2026), where thousands of attendees descend on Boston each year to hear movers,...

We're bringing you compelling conversations from The WBUR Festival, where thousands of attendees descend on Boston each year to hear movers, makers, and other fascinating people in conversation with each other and with WBUR. Dr. Rochelle Walensky speaks with WBUR Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing about the effect of funding cuts on public health, the role the media plays in educating Americans...

We're bringing you compelling conversations from our annual WBUR festival, when thousands of people descend on Boston to hear movers, makers, and other fascinating people in conversation with each other and with WBUR. James Beard Award-winning chef and World Central Kitchen founder  José Andrés speaks with  Sam Sanders, WBUR alum and public radio maven, about how his new book on Spanish cooking is...

We're bringing you compelling conversations from The WBUR Festival, where thousands of attendees descend on Boston each year to hear movers, makers, and other fascinating people in conversation with one another and with WBUR. Rahm Emanuel, former mayor of Chicago, former United States Ambassador to Japan, and former White House chief of staff, spoke with The Atlantic 's Evan Smith about the value...

We're bringing you compelling conversations from our annual WBUR festival when thousands of people descend on Boston to hear movers, makers, and other fascinating people in conversation with each other and with WBUR. Kicking the series off is a conversation from last year's festival where Boston Mayor Michelle Wu spoke with WBUR Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing and Sharman Sacchetti, political...