The WBUR Festival: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Union Square Donuts Pop-up

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Treat yourself to a fan-favorite pop-up from Union Square Donuts, serving up their famously indulgent, made-from-scratch donuts. Come early: these go fast, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Sponsored by:

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
The Hub

Experience

9:00am EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Live Screenprinting

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Stop by the merch table in the Hub to grab your festival gear...and catch the action while it’s being made! Between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM we’re offering live screenprinting on tote bags featuring a limited-edition festival design, created right before your eyes. Each piece is printed on-site, so you can walk away with something truly one-of-a-kind (and maybe even still warm from the press). Quantities are limited, so don’t miss your chance to take home a fresh, portable piece of the festival.

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
The Hub

Experience

9:00am EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Pop-up Bookstore

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Browse the ideas behind the voices at our pop-up bookstore from Porter Square Books. Featuring titles by this year’s festival speakers, the shop offers a chance to dive deeper into the conversations happening on stage. Pick up a copy from your favorite festival speaker before a session or discover something new to take home.

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT
The Hub

Experience

9:00am EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Pop-up Merch Store

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Take home a piece of the festival at our pop-up merch store, featuring a limited-edition screenprinted poster from local artist James Weinberg and festival tote bags designed just for this year. Bold, collectible, and only available on-site, each piece captures the spirit of the weekend. Quantities are limited so stop by early to snag yours before they’re gone.

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT
The Hub

Experience

9:00am EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Check In & Badge Pickup

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 6:00pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

All festival guests are required to check in and receive a badge before admission to any festival activities. Your badge is your ticket to entry for all sessions and events. We look forward to seeing you at the Festival Hub for the start of your festival experience!

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 6:00pm EDT
The Hub

Experience

10:30am EDT

Leading in an Unstable World: A Conversation with Samantha Power

Saturday May 30, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

Tsai Performance Center @ 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and USAID Administrator reflects on the changing role of the United States in the world..

Speakers

Indira Lakshmanan

Co-Host, Here & Now, WBUR

Indira Lakshmanan is a co-host of Here & Now.

Amb. Samantha Power

Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Samantha Power is an Irish-American journalist, diplomat, and government official. She was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017, and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development from 2021 to 2025.

Saturday May 30, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
Tsai Performance Center

Politics

11:00am EDT

Is Business Broken? Live Podcast Taping on the Innovation Economy

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT

WBUR CitySpace @ 890 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

What transforms a scientific idea into a technology, a company, a job or even an entire economy? A century and a half after Boston University Professor Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone, that question is more urgent than ever. Join us as we dig into the forces driving innovation today — and what's at stake if they falter.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Kendalle Burlin O'Connell

CEO & President, MassBio

Kendalle Burlin O'Connell is CEO and President of MassBio, the world's largest and oldest biopharma membership organization, representing 1,700+ companies advancing breakthrough science. A leading voice on healthcare innovation and a champion for the biotech founders and emerging companies driving it, she adv... Read More →

Curt Nickisch

Host, Is Business Broken?

Curt Nickisch is the host of the Is Business Broken? podcast which features conversations with academics, industry leaders, and politicians that ask the thorny questions necessary for this moment, and help us navigate real world solutions.

Dr. Melissa Gilliam

President, Boston University

Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam became Boston University’s eleventh president on July 1, 2024. Dr. Gilliam is an esteemed and award-winning interdisciplinary researcher in medicine, public health, and the humanities. Dr. Gilliam joined Boston University from The Ohio State University, where she held the Engie-A... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
WBUR CitySpace

Business, Live podcast taping

11:00am EDT

The Price of Power: Why Your Energy Bills Keep Rising

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT

CFA Concert Hall @ 855B Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Energy experts unpack the market and policy drivers behind the skyrocketing electric and gas bills across New England – and what practical steps consumers can take to ease the burden.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Matthew Nelson

Principal, Apex Analytics & Former Chair, MA Department of Public Utilities

Matthew Nelson is Principal of Regulatory Strategy at Apex Analytics LLC, where he advises utilities, government agencies, and energy-sector organizations on complex regulatory and policy matters across all six New England states.From 2019 to 2023, Matt served as Chair of the Massachusetts Dep... Read More →

Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven

MA State Representative, 27th Middlesex Disctrict

Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven is a 3-term MA State Representative serving the 27th Middlesex district and running for State Senate. She fights for tax fairness to fund public schools and transportation, government transparency, and the rights of workers and unions. She is a leading voice on energy affordabilit... Read More →

Mary Wambui

Co-Chair, Energy Equity Working Group

Mary Wambui is the Director of Asset Management, Residents and Energy for the Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA), a non-profit social justice ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. She is also a Senior Greg Torres Fellow at MassINC. In addition to these roles, she serves... Read More →

Miriam Wasser

Senior Reporter, Climate and Environment, WBUR

Miriam Wasser is a senior reporter with WBUR's climate and environment team.

Before coming to WBUR, she was a staff writer for the Phoenix New Times in Arizona. Her work has also appeared in Boston Magazine, The Atlantic, Narratively, DigBoston and The Big Roundtable.

Miriam holds... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
CFA Concert Hall

Climate & Environment (Sponsored by WHOI)

11:15am EDT

BOOK SIGNING: Amb. Samantha Power

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am EDT

Tsai Performance Center @ 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Join us for a special book signing with Amb. Samantha Power featuring her memoir "The Education of an Idealist". Meet the author, have your book signed, and continue the conversation after her talk. A limited number of copies will be available on site while supplies last.

Speakers

Amb. Samantha Power

Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am EDT
Tsai Performance Center

Experience

11:45am EDT

The New American Dream: Is Upward Mobility Still Possible?

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT

Marsh Chapel @ 735 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Economists and social innovators examine why fewer Americans now earn more than their parents. The consequences are particularly devastating for lower-income households, but research has identified powerful ways to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

In partnership with:

Speakers

Raj Chetty

Director of Opportunity Insights & Professor of Economics, Harvard University

Raj Chetty is the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard University and the Director of Opportunity Insights, which uses big data to study the science of economic opportunity: how we can give children from all backgrounds better chances of succeeding? Chetty’s work has been... Read More →

Michael Jonas

Executive Editor, CommonWealth Beacon

Michael Jonas is the executive editor of CommonWealth Beacon, a nonprofit publication covering Massachusetts politics and public policy. An award-winning journalist with a particular focus on education, criminal justice reform, and health care, he previously wrote a weekly column on politics f... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Marsh Chapel

Business

11:45am EDT

Joy, Creativity and New Beginnings in Midlife: A Conversation with Allison Aubrey

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT

Booth Theatre @ 820 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

NPR’s health and science correspondent talks about her forthcoming book “Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife You Love."

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Melissa Block

Former Host & Correspondent, NPR

Melissa Block is one of NPR’s most familiar voices. For more than a decade, she anchored the network's flagship afternoon newsmagazine, “All Things Considered,” and she spent many years as a roving NPR correspondent. Her reporting took her from China during a massive earthquake, to the O... Read More →

Allison Aubrey

Health & Science Correspondent, NPR

Allison Aubrey is Health & Science Correspondent for NPR News focused on healthy aging and longevity and a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning. She is the recipient of several awards, including a Washington Press Club award for consumer reporting, two James Beard awards, and a New York Press Club... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Booth Theatre

Health & Wellness (Sponsored by Takeda)

12:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR STAGE: Jake Blount

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Join us at the street fair for a performance by Jake Blount.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Jake Blount

Musician & Scholar

A powerfully gifted musician and a scholar of Black American music, Jake Blount speaks ardently about the African roots of the banjo and the subtle, yet profound ways African Americans have shaped and defined the amorphous categories of roots music and Americana. His 2020 album Spider Tales (named one of the year’s best albums by NPR and The New Yorker, earned... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EDT
BU Beach

Street fair stage (Sponsored by The Huntington), Live performance

12:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR: Ask a Scientist with The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Want to know more about our ocean planet? Just Ask a Scientist or Engineer from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution! We'll have hands-on chemistry demos, the chance to touch a robot, watch cool videos from our research around the world, and plenty of fun give-aways.

Sponsored by:

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
BU Beach

Climate & Environment (Sponsored by WHOI)

12:00pm EDT

Street Fair

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Join us at The WBUR Festival Street Fair! Catch live performances on the music stage, join a lively salsa dance class, and browse FOUND Market featuring 60 unique vendors. With a dedicated Kids Zone and activities around every corner, it’s a vibrant, all-ages experience that brings the community together.

Thank you to our street fair stage sponsor:

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
BU Beach

Experience

12:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR: FOUND Market Pop-up

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Step into a curated vintage pop-up from FOUND Market, where every rack tells a story. Sourced from across eras and styles, the collection features one-of-a-kind pieces, timeless staples, and standout finds you won’t see anywhere else. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect worn-in denim, a statement jacket, or an unexpected gem, FOUND Market brings the thrill of the search, and the satisfaction of a great find, right to the festival.

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
BU Beach

Experience

12:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR: The WBUR Festival Community Mural

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Be a part of WBUR history! Bullseye Mural Co. and WBUR invite you to join us at the Street Fair to help create The WBUR Festival Community Mural.

Grab some paint pens (we'll provide them!) and help bring this collaborative work of art to life. Together, we’ll make a vibrant, lasting piece that celebrates the Fetsival and the voices of the community. No experience needed!

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
BU Beach

Experience

12:15pm EDT

Judges, Law and the New Era of Immigration Enforcement

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT

CFA Concert Hall @ 855B Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Two former immigration judges dissect recent shifts — from the Supreme Court case over birthright citizenship to the large-scale firings of judges — and debate whether we’re witnessing lawlessness or a controversial interpretation and enforcement of existing laws.

Speakers

Simón Rios

Reporter, WBUR

Simón Rios is an award-winning reporter, covering immigration, politics and local enterprise stories for WBUR.
He joined the station in 2015 after two years at The Standard-Times in New Bedford. His first assignment at WBUR was to cover “Snowmaggedon,” the blizzards that led to the snowiest winter in Boston’s history. More recently he has covered the impact of immigration enforcement... Read More →

Art Arthur

Fellow in Law and Policy, The Center for Immigration Studies

Art Arthur is a graduate of the University of Virginia and GW Law School, former trial attorney and associate general counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. He is also former oversight counsel for immigration for the House Judiciary Committee, former staff director... Read More →

George D. Pappas

Former Immigration Judge

Born in Charlotte, NC to Greek immigrant parents, but raised in New York City, George Pappas, the Principal Owner of Pappas Legal, PLLC in Asheville, NC representing clients in Western North Carolina and nationwide in U.S. immigration law.

Most recently, Dr. Pappas was appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland as Federal Immigration Judge at the Boston and Chelmsford, MA immigration courts between 2023-2025.Between 2003 and 2023, Dr. Pappas represented clients nationwide and internationally in immigration... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT
CFA Concert Hall

Politics

12:15pm EDT

The Room Where It Happens: Covering the White House in Real Time

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT

Tsai Performance Center @ 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Three White House journalists pull back the curtain and share the tactics, pressures and ethical dilemmas of reporting from the epicenter of power.

Speakers

Lisa Mullins

Host, All Things Considered, WBUR

Lisa Mullins is the voice of WBUR’s All Things Considered. She anchors the program, conducts interviews, and reports from the field. Mullins is also guest anchor of the WBUR and NPR midday show Here & Now.
From 1998 through 2012, Mullins was chief anchor of the daily international news program, “The World,” co-produced by the BBC, WGBH and PRI. Her foreign reporting has taken her to Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Cuba, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Hong Kong, South and North Korea and... Read More →

Zolan Kanno-Youngs

White House Correspondent, The New York Times

Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House Correspondent for The New York Times. He is on a team of reporters covering President Trump and his agenda. While he covers domestic and foreign policy broadly, his work focuses on immigration, homeland security, race and inequality. Based in the Washington bureau... Read More →

Tom Nichols

Staff Writer, The Atlantic

Tom Nichols is a staff writer at The Atlantic. An expert on international security issues, he taught national security affairs for 25 years at the U.S. Naval War College. He is the author of several books on international politics and democracy in America.
... Read More →

Jasmine Wright

Jasmine Wright, White House Correspondent & Co-author, NOTUS Morning Newsletter

Jasmine Wright covers the Trump White House and co-authors NOTUS’ Morning newsletter.

At NOTUS, she has covered the second Trump administration and Kamala Harris’ presidential run. She was a finalist for the Livingston Award for her incisive reporting on what went wrong inside the Harris campaign. She regularly appears on CNN, MSNBC, CBS and CSPAN to offer political... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT
Tsai Performance Center

Politics

12:30pm EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Otto Pizza Pop-Up

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Join us in the Howard Thurman Center from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (or while supplies last!) for a complimentary pizza party, provided by our sponsor Otto Pizza.

Sponsored by:

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
The Hub

Experience

1:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR STAGE: Line Dancing Queens

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Kick up your heels with Line Dancing Queens in this high-energy 30-minute lesson at the street fair. You’ll learn fun, easy routines...no experience necessary! Come solo or with friends, just be ready to move and have a blast!

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Line Dancing Queens

Line Dancing Lessons

Line Dancing Queens (LDQ) is a women-led Boston dance community bringing welcoming, all-levels line dancing online and in person. With social media videos, weekly and monthly events, and bar nights around Boston, LDQ inspires confidence, fun, and friendship, bringing people together through dance... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
BU Beach

Street fair stage (Sponsored by The Huntington), Live performance

1:00pm EDT

Driving Herself Sane: A Conversation with Lindy West

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Marsh Chapel @ 735 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The culture critic, comedian, activist and bestselling author of “Shrill” reflects on her new memoir “Adult Braces” and the intense discourse it’s generated around millennial feminism, body positivity and polyamory.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Lindy West

New York Times Bestselling Author & Comedian

Lindy West is the author of three books: the New York Times bestselling memoir Shrill as well as the essay collections The Witches Are Coming and Shit, Actually. Lindy is a former contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and her work has appeared in This American Life, The Guardian... Read More →

Ally Jarmanning

Senior Reporter, WBUR

Ally Jarmanning is a senior reporter focused on criminal justice and police accountability. She champions data and public records in the WBUR newsroom, reporting her own stories and working with fellow reporters on projects and daily news. She started at WBUR writing for Morning Edition and later... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Marsh Chapel

Arts & Culture (Sponsored by the BSO)

1:00pm EDT

Sound as Catalyst: A Conversation with Jad Abumrad

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

WBUR CitySpace @ 890 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The Radiolab creator on the art of sonic storytelling, science of wonder and the creative rules that turn complex ideas into unforgettable audio experiences.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Sam Sanders

Host & Executive Producer, The Sam Sanders Show

Sam Sanders is an award-winning reporter, radio host and podcaster. He currently hosts and is executive producer of the The Sam Sanders Show, made in conjunction with KCRW and distributed nationally by PRX. Sanders has been named podcaster of the year by both The Ambies and The iHeart Podca... Read More →

Jad Abumrad

Creator of Radiolab, Dolly Parton's America & Fela Kuti: Fear No Man

Jad Abumrad is a composer, artist and journalist and the creator of Radiolab (http://radiolab.org), Dolly Parton’s America (http://dollypartonsamerica.org), Fela Kuti: Fear No Man (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fela-kuti-fear-no-man/id1835735529) and many other podcasts which collectively... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
WBUR CitySpace

Arts & Culture (Sponsored by the BSO)

1:30pm EDT

Meating Demand: The Future of Protein

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

Booth Theatre @ 820 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Hear from a chef, a scientist and an industry leader about today's alternatives to meat — from plant-based foods on the market, to meat grown in labs using animal cells. What will it take to make meat alternatives accessible, and appetizing, to everyone?

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Nicole Tichenor Blackstone

Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University

Nicole Tichenor Blackstone is a tenured Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, where she leads research at the intersection of food systems sustainability, environmental impacts, and evidence‑based strategies for transforming modern food systems. Her w... Read More →

Joanne Molinaro

Founder, The Korean Vegan

With over 6 million fans spread across her social media platforms, New York Times best-selling author and James Beard Award winner Joanne Molinaro, a.k.a The Korean Vegan, has appeared on The Food Network, CBS Saturday Morning, ABC’s Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show, NPR, PBS, CNN, and The Rich Roll Podcast. She’s been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Food and Wine, and The Atlantic; and he... Read More →

Amory Sivertson

Host and Senior Producer, WBUR Podcasts

Amory Sivertson is the host/reporter of Beyond All Repair and the co-host and senior producer of Endless Thread. She's one of the founding producers of Modern Love: The Podcast and the former producer of Dear Sugar Radio (now called Dear Sugars).

Previously, Amory was the studio d... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Booth Theatre

Climate & Environment (Sponsored by WHOI)

1:30pm EDT

Rising Tides, Changing Seas: Oceans in a Warming World

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

CFA Concert Hall @ 855B Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

As the planet warms, our oceans suffer. From hurricanes to coral reefs, hear about the prognosis for them — and how their future affects life on land.

Speakers

Peter de Menocal

President & Director, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Peter B. de Menocal is the president and director of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the world’s largest independent organization dedicated to ocean research, engineering, and education. He joined WHOI in 2020 to lead the institution to advance breakthrough ocean science and technology to protect... Read More →

Peter O'Dowd

Host-correspondent, Here & Now, WBUR

Peter O'Dowd is Here & Now’s host-correspondent. When the full-time hosts are off air, Peter steps in to cover the day’s most important stories.

Otherwise, from his base in Arizona, Peter is out covering issues critical to the Southwestern United States. His environmental reporting includes the ongoing drought on the Colorado River and the impact of rising temperatures in the region. He also covers the battle over immigration... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
CFA Concert Hall

Climate & Environment (Sponsored by WHOI)

1:30pm EDT

Truth Across Borders

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

Tsai Performance Center @ 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Three media leaders convene for a multigenerational, bilingual Spanish-English conversation on the challenges and future of journalism around the globe.

Speakers

Marty Baron

Former Editor, Boston Globe & Washington Post

Martin Baron is an American journalist who was editor of The Washington Post from December 31, 2012, until his retirement on February 28, 2021. He was previously editor of The Boston Globe from 2001 to 2012; during that period, the Globe's coverage of the Boston Catholic sexual abuse scandal earned... Read More →

Paola Ramos

Contributor, MS Now/ Telemundo & Host, The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos

Paola Ramos is an author and Emmy-Award winning journalist. Ramos is a contributor for Telemundo News and MSNBC/MS NOW. She is also the co-host of iHeartMedia’s “The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos” Ramos is a former Corresponded for Vice News. Her reporting has taken her along... Read More →

Javier Marin

Media Entrepreneur, Founder of Tiempo & El Planeta

Javier Marín is a media entrepreneur and author of Live from America: How Latino TV Conquered the U.S. Founder of Tiempo Company, publisher of El Planeta and El Tiempo Latino. A Harvard Business School alum, he explores media, identity, and the growing power of Spanish in shaping America’s... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Tsai Performance Center

Media

2:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR STAGE: Kimaya Diggs

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Join us at the street fair for a performance by Kimaya Diggs.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Kimaya Diggs

Musician & Songwriter

Kimaya Diggs is a musician residing in Western Massachusetts. Her new album "Quincy" explores Diggs' unique style of Soul, Folk, and R&B. She has opened for Mavis Staples, Trombone Shorty, Emily King, and more. The Boston Globe says: “Expressive, smooth vocals…she’s kind of an unstoppable force... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
BU Beach

Street fair stage (Sponsored by The Huntington), Live performance

2:15pm EDT

Life Kit - Live Taping

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

WBUR CitySpace @ 890 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

This edition of the NPR podcast will focus on what it takes to lead a good life.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Marielle Segarra

Host, Life Kit, NPR

Marielle Segarra is the host of NPR's Life Kit, the award-winning podcast and radio show that shares trustworthy, nonjudgmental tips that help listeners navigate their lives. She's guided listeners on how to: do CPR, start a new habit, get out of credit card debt, build a village, support a loved... Read More →

Rachel Wilkerson Miller

Author of The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People & The Nice Life: How to Elevate the Everyday and Find Joy in What You Have

Rachel Wilkerson Miller is the author of The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People and Dot Journaling—A Practical Guide. Her third book, The Nice Life: How to Elevate the Everyday and Find Joy in What You Have comes out in October. Rachel is the former editor-in-chief of SELF M... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
WBUR CitySpace

Health & Wellness (Sponsored by Takeda), Live podcast taping

2:15pm EDT

Bloodlines & Bylines: Robin Young & Zolan Kanno-Youngs in Conversation

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

Marsh Chapel @ 735 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The longtime Here & Now host and her nephew, a New York Times White House correspondent, trade personal newsroom anecdotes and discuss how family, trust and ethics can shape journalism in today’s turbulent political moment.

Speakers

Zolan Kanno-Youngs

White House Correspondent, The New York Times

Robin Young

Co-Host, Here & Now, WBUR

Robin Young brings more than 25 years of broadcast experience to her role as host of Here & Now. She is a Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has also reported for NBC, CBS and ABC television and for several years was substitute host and correspondent for "The Today S... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Marsh Chapel

Media

2:15pm EDT

Stories of Justice: A Conversation with Bryan Stevenson

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

College of General Studies Auditorium @ 871 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The civil rights lawyer, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of “Just Mercy” reflects on the legal system, racial justice and the stories we tell about our nation’s history.

Speakers

Tiziana Dearing

Host, Morning Edition, WBUR

Tiziana Dearing is the host of WBUR’s Morning Edition.

Prior to helping listeners start the morning with news from around the corner and around the world, Tiziana hosted Radio Boston, WBUR’s daily local magazine, for five years.

Tiziana came to journalism after a career that spanned academia, nonprofits and for-profit management consulting. She taught graduate students at the Boston College School of Social Work and chaired its program in Social Innovation and Leadership. Tiziana ran a start-up foundation... Read More →

Bryan Stevenson

Civil Rights Attorney & Author, Just Mercy

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
College of General Studies Auditorium

Politics

2:45pm EDT

No Laughing Matter: Satire in the Age of the Political Absurd

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT

Tsai Performance Center @ 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Satirists from The Onion and The Atlantic reveal how parody, sharp humor and viral comedy cut through today’s news cycle — exploring the importance of humor when reality can feel like a bad internet meme.

Speakers

Mike Gillis

Head Writer, The Onion

Mike Gillis is head writer for The Onion. He's also written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Tricycle, ClickHole, and the Supreme Court (in the form of a recent amicus brief in defense of parody and free speech).

Ally Jarmanning

Senior Reporter, WBUR

Alexandra Petri

Staff Writer, The Atlantic

Alexandra Petri is a staff writer at The Atlantic. Before joining The Atlantic in 2025, she wrote a humor column for the Washington Post. She won the 2025 Thurber Prize for American Humor for her book AP’s US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up). She is the author of two other books... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Tsai Performance Center

Politics

3:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR STAGE: Jonathan Suazo

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Join us at the street fair stage for a performance by Jonathan Suazo.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Jonathan Suazo Trio

Saxophonist, Composer & Educator

Jonathan Suazo is an award-winning Puerto Rican saxophonist, composer, and educator whose work bridges Afro-Caribbean traditions and contemporary jazz through a powerful cross-cultural lens. Grounded in heritage and driven by emotional storytelling, Suazo uses music as a vehicle to share the rhythms... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
BU Beach

Street fair stage (Sponsored by The Huntington), Live performance

3:00pm EDT

Cheese and Wine, Considered: A Guided Tasting (VIP Pass Holders Only)

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Indulge in a curated tasting experience with experts from Formaggio Kitchen and Dave's Fresh Pasta.

Please note that you must have a VIP badge to attend this special event.

Space is limited to 75 people for this session. First come, first served.

Sponsored by:

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
The Hub

VIP Pass Holders Only

3:30pm EDT

Solitary Confinement on Film: A Conversation with David Oyelowo

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

WBUR CitySpace @ 890 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The award-winning actor discusses his starring role in the film “Newborn,” which explores the devastating impacts of solitary confinement.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

David Oyelowo

Actor, Producer & Director

David Oyelowo is a multiple Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated actor and producer. Oyelowo made his directorial debut with the critically-acclaimed film, THE WATER MAN, which he produced under his Yoruba Saxon production banner. Current and upcoming film and television projects include BA... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
WBUR CitySpace

Arts & Culture (Sponsored by the BSO)

3:30pm EDT

Stories That Stay: A Conversation with Celeste Ng

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

College of General Studies Auditorium @ 871 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The bestselling novelist of “Everything I Never Told You,” “Little Fires Everywhere” and “Our Missing Hearts” reflects on the power of fiction to illuminate family, identity and belonging.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Robin Young

Co-Host, Here & Now, WBUR

Celeste Ng

Author, Little Fires Everywhere

Celeste Ng is the number one New York Times bestselling author of the novels Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and Our Missing Hearts. Ng is the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation, and her work has been publishe... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
College of General Studies Auditorium

Arts & Culture (Sponsored by the BSO)

3:30pm EDT

How to be Healthier: A Conversation with Dr. John Whyte

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

Marsh Chapel @ 735 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Join the American Medical Association CEO for insights on the real value of medical interventions like full-body scans and fitness trackers, and how to find health information you can trust.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Deb Becker

Senior Correspondent & Host, WBUR

Deborah Becker is a senior correspondent and host at WBUR. Her reporting focuses on mental health, criminal justice and education.

Deb is also a substitute host on several WBUR programs and helps produce and report for various WBUR special projects. Deb also worked on the launch... Read More →

Dr. John Whyte

CEO, American Medical Association

John Whyte, MD, MPH, is chief executive officer of the American Medical Association. A board-certified internist, Dr. Whyte previously served as the chief medical officer at WebMD, leading initiatives that expanded strategic partnerships, created new business opportunities, and positioned WebMD at the forefro... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
Marsh Chapel

Health & Wellness (Sponsored by Takeda)

4:00pm EDT

STREET FAIR STAGE: Salsa y Control

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

BU Beach @ 270 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Turn up the rhythm with Salsa y Control in this lively 30-minute salsa lesson at the street fair. Learn the basics or sharpen your moves with expert instructors who make it fun and approachable for all levels. No partner needed, just bring your energy and get ready to dance!

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Salsa y Control

Salsa Lessons

Johnny Giraldo, a Colombian-born salsa dancer, has taught and performed since 1998. Inspired by music from his childhood, he co-founded Salsa y Control Dance Company in 2003 with his brother, Andres Giraldo and now wife, Felicita Giraldo-Rosado. He gained national and international recognition... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
BU Beach

Street fair stage (Sponsored by The Huntington), Live performance

4:00pm EDT

Hope Takes Flight: Saving Birds and Ourselves

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

Booth Theatre @ 820 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

The author of “The Return of the Oystercatcher” shares inspiring stories of how devoted scientists and bird lovers are restoring threatened avian populations — and how those efforts ripple outward to protect ecosystems and human communities.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Tiziana Dearing

Host, Morning Edition, WBUR

Scott Weidensaul

Author, The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet

Scott Weidensaul is the author of nearly thirty books, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Living on the Wind and the New York Times bestseller A World on the Wing. A writer and researcher specializing in birds and bird migration, he is a native of Pennsylvania now living in New Hampshire... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Booth Theatre

Climate & Environment (Sponsored by WHOI)

4:00pm EDT

Iron Songwriter with Wolves of Glendale

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

CFA Concert Hall @ 855B Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Get ready for a wildly fun, one-of-a-kind show with the band Wolves of Glendale as they bring their live “Iron Songwriter” challenge to the stage. Using a beloved Boston movie as inspiration, they’ll create an original song on the spot in a session that’s part concert, part comedy, and completely unpredictable.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Wolves of Glendale

Comedy Band

Zooming in on the absurdity of daily life through their original music and pointed parodies, the Wolves have gained a significant social media following and dedicated fanbase in the mere year and a half they’ve been a band. They’ve performed at the Netflix is a Joke Festival... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
CFA Concert Hall

Arts & Culture (Sponsored by the BSO), Live performance

4:00pm EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Last Call

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Wrap up The WBUR Festival in style at our closing happy hour. A lively, feel-good gathering to celebrate a weekend of big ideas and new connections. Come raise a glass, swap stories and close out the festival on a high note.

Sponsored by:

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
The Hub

Experience

4:45pm EDT

Longevity Myths and Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT

Marsh Chapel @ 735 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The author of “Eat Your Ice Cream” separates interventions that improve longevity and quality of life from those that don’t.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Deb Becker

Senior Correspondent & Host, WBUR

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel

Former Health Policy Advisory, Obama Administration & Member COVID-19 Advisory Board, Biden Administration

Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, is Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds appointments in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine and the Department of Health Care... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Marsh Chapel

Health & Wellness (Sponsored by Takeda)

5:00pm EDT

Spring Green: A Better World is Possible

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm EDT

WBUR CitySpace @ 890 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Join a beloved local songwriter and an award-winning environmental journalist for a performance, reading and conversation on how music and storytelling help us slow down and reconnect with ourselves and the natural world.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Dianna Bell

Senior Editor, Arts & Culture, WBUR

Dianna Bell is senior editor of arts and culture for WBUR.

She graduated from High Point University with a bachelor's degree in media and pop culture studies, and with a master's in arts journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University... Read More →

Mark Erelli

Musician & Songwriter

Mark Erelli is a critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist known for his distinctive blend of rock, folk, and Americana. His music is known for its lyrical depth and intricate instrumentation, drawing influence from classic rock icons. Mark has collaborated with a... Read More →

Meera Subramanian

Author & Journalist

Meera Subramanian is a journalist whose award-winning work has appeared in Nature, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Orion and beyond. A National Geographic Explorer, she is the author of two books, the latest A Better World Is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis, a graphic novel about you... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm EDT
WBUR CitySpace

Arts & Culture (Sponsored by the BSO)

5:00pm EDT

FESTIVAL HUB: Word Play: Scrabble Frenzy

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm EDT

The Hub @ 808 Commonwealth Avenue, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

Grab a beer and join the author of “Unabridged” and “Word Freak” for a lively celebration of words and the people who love them. Then, watch as he faces off against five challengers in simultaneous Scrabble matches that put wordplay in the spotlight.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Eve Zuckoff

City Reporter, WBUR

Eve Zuckoff is WBUR's city reporter, covering Boston politics, breaking news, and enterprise stories. She’s covering City Hall and the mayoral race, and keeping an eye on all things Boston, from neighborhood issues to the cost of living and policies that affect the lives of res... Read More →

Stefan Fatsis

Author, Unabridged & Word Freak

Stefan Fatsis is the author of Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary (October 2025) and three previous books: A Few Seconds of Panic, about life in the NFL (2008); Word Freak, about the world of competitive Scrabble (2001); and Wild and Outside, about minor league baseball (1... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm EDT
The Hub

Experience

5:15pm EDT

The Uncensored Mic: A Conversation with David Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:15pm - 6:00pm EDT

Tsai Performance Center @ 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

The comedian, actor and Emmy Award-winning writer takes the stage for an unfiltered conversation that blends comedy, culture and the issues shaping the moment.

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Meghna Chakrabarti

Host, On Point, WBUR

Meghna Chakrabarti is the award-winning host and editor of On Point. Based in Boston, she is on the air Monday through Friday.

On Point has been frequently recognized for excellence in journalism under Meghna's leadership. Chakrabarti is the former host of Radio Boston, WBUR’s acclaimed weekday local show. She's the former host of Modern Love: The Podcast, a collaboration of WBUR and The New York Times... Read More →

David Cross

Emmy-winning Actor & Comedian & Two-Time Grammy Nominee

Emmy winner and two-time Grammy nominee David Cross is a comedian, actor, writer, and producer widely known for co-creating Mr. Show with Bob and David and playing Tobias Fünke on Arrested Development. A stand-up veteran of over four decades, he has released acclaimed specials, albums, and has toured globally, earning the reputation as... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:15pm - 6:00pm EDT
Tsai Performance Center

Arts & Culture (Sponsored by the BSO)

5:15pm EDT

On the Front Lines: Covering Mass Deportations

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:15pm - 6:00pm EDT

CFA Concert Hall @ 855B Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Three journalists share firsthand accounts of covering the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown — from congressional hearings to detention facilities and embedding with ICE agents and ICE watchers. Learn about the challenges, risks and ethical choices that come with documenting mass deportations in real-time.

Speakers

Tim Dunn

Lead Political Reporter, Boston Herald

Tim Dunn is a Political Reporter for the Boston Herald. He has over 10 years of experience as a journalist, covering local and regional news for various outlets across Massachusetts to national headlines during his time at Fox News.

Simón Rios

Reporter, WBUR

Pablo Manríquez

Editor, Migrant Insider

Pablo Manriquez edits Migrant Insider and reports for MeidasTouch. He lives with his dog Roxy in Washington, D.C., where he covers Congress, The White House, and the courts. Pablo is Chile-born, Missouri-raised, and Notre Dame educated. He is also a semi-famous oil painter... Read More →

Allison McCann

Data reporter, The New York Times

Allison McCann is a data reporter at The New York Times who covers immigration. Her stories often involve collecting and analyzing data to better understand the topics she covers. She also works across a variety of visual formats — charts, maps, photos, videos — in addition to... Read More →

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:15pm - 6:00pm EDT
CFA Concert Hall

Politics

5:30pm EDT

After Party at Sunset Cantina

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:30pm - 7:00pm EDT

Sunset Cantina @ 916 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446, USA

After Hours at Sunset Cantina – Drinks, bites, and live music as the sun sets. Mingle, unwind, and keep the festival vibes going!

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:30pm - 7:00pm EDT
Sunset Cantina

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