The WBUR Festival

As the planet warms, our oceans suffer. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd talks to one of the world’s leading marine experts, Peter de Menocal, director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, about what the future of oceans can tell us about our life on land, and solutions that can be found in their depths.

Economist Raj Chetty is the director of Opportunity Insights, which studies how to give children from all backgrounds better chances of succeeding. Michael Jonas, the executive editor of CommonWealth Beacon, talks to Chetty about why fewer Americans out-earn their parents than in previous generations, why the consequences are particularly devastating for lower-income households—and powerful, resea...

Does our increased use of AI amplify human imagination, or risk dulling our capacity for original thought? Cloe Axelson, senior editor of WBUR's Cognoscenti, explores the intersection of AI and creativity with poet and artist Sasha Stiles; the director of Harvard College Writing Center, Jane Rosenzweig; and Ann Handley, author of the forthcoming book "ASAP: As Slow As Possible."

Former NPR host Melissa Block talks to NPR health and science correspondent Allison Aubrey about her forthcoming book, “Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife You Love."

WBUR's Mirian Wasser talks to a panel of energy experts —Matthew Nelson, former chair of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities; Erika Uyterhoeven, a Democratic state representative from Somerville Disctrict; and Mary Wambui, a ratepayer advocate who sits on the state's Energy Efficiency Advisory Council  — about the market and policy drivers behind the skyrocketing electric and gas bill...

Ezekiel Emanuel — bioethicist, oncologist and author of  the new book “Eat Your Ice Cream” -— talks to WBUR's Deborah Becker about how to separate interventions that improve longevity and quality of life from those that don’t.

Samantha Power,  former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and USAID Administrator, speaks with Here & Now  host Indira Lakshmanan about the changing role of the United States in the world.

M. Gessen, opinion columnist at The New York Times and the author of Serial's 2026 show "The Idiot," joins Here & Now  host Indira Lakshmanan for a wide-ranging conversation on Russia, Ukraine and the rise of global totalitarianism. Plus, what happens when a reporter turns the lens inward to confront family history and personal memory.

Former National Endowment for the Arts leaders - Harvard Loeb Fellow Jen Hughes,  Kennedy School Program Director Jenn Chang, and Asian American Ballet Project Founder Elizabeth Mochizuki - speak to WBUR's Tania Ralli about the future of arts funding amid efforts to defund the agency and bold new models to sustain artists and cultural institutions.   This conversation was a part of The WBUR Festiv...

Ken Casey, frontman of the punk band Dropkick Murphys, talks to Here & Now's Robin Young about  channeling punk rock's protest roots to deliver a pro-democracy message. 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 with each other and with WBUR.

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...