March 17, 2026 - We Black Folk Showcase, Jill Medvedow on "The English Understand Wool," and Matthew Shifrin

Artist and musician Cliff Notez and  singer-songwriter and composer Gabriella Simpkins join “The Culture Show” for a preview of the We Black Folk Showcase, coming to Arts at the Armory in Somerville on Friday, March 20. Created by Cliff Notez, We Black Folk is a Boston movement opening up the idea of folk through song, roots music, poetry, and story. To learn more about the upcoming showcase go here.We’re  launching a new recurring series, “Read on Arrival,”devoted to short books and novellas that can be read in one sitting but linger long after. Leading the way is former ICA director Jill Medvedow, who joins Jared to discuss the inaugural selection: Helen DeWitt’s novella “The English Understand Wool.”Matthew Shifrin returns for AI: Actual Intelligence, our recurring feature spotlighting original, algorithm-free thinking from voices across the region. This month, the founder and CEO of Bricks for the Blind continues his conversation about traveling blind, from the unpredictability of ride-shares to the apps that can help navigate unfamiliar situations.