For nearly fifty years, Peter Drummey has been one of the quiet forces making history accessible. As the longtime Stephen T. Riley Librarian and, most recently, Chief Historian at the Massachusetts Historical Society — the nation’s oldest historical society — he helped generations of researchers navigate one of the country’s richest archives and advised storytellers ranging from filmmakers to the late David McCullough. Now retired after a 47-year career, he joins us to reflect on the stories he’s spent a lifetime helping others uncover.

Ethan Hawke has built one of the most varied careers in contemporary film, spanning Hollywood classics like Dead Poets Society and Training Day, as well as independent films such as Before Sunrise and Boyhood. He’s also an accomplished novelist, screenwriter, producer, and filmmaker. This week, the Coolidge Corner Theatre honors him with the 2025 Coolidge Award, where he’ll appear for a screening of Blue Moon and an onstage conversation about his lifelong creative evolution. To learn more go here.

Culture Show contributor Matthew Shifrin joins us for his recurring segment “AI: Actual Intelligence.” This month he discusses the work that he’s doing with Think Outside The Vox to make music accessible to deaf people by turning instrumental music into stories that are then translated into ASL and performed by actors. Matthew Shifrin, founder and CEO of Bricks for the Blind, returns for our “AI: Actual Intelligence” series. His Boston nonprofit translates LEGO instructions for builders with vision loss.

December 1, 2025 - Ethan Hawke, Peter Drummey, and Matthew Shifrin

The Culture Show Podcast