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No need for FOMO: Here are some of the best WBUR CitySpace conversations and concerts of 2024
In one week at WBUR CitySpace, you can go on quite the journey. Recently, audiences learned to make an extra special Vietnamese recipe on a Monday, took the stage to compete in The Moth StorySLAM on Tuesday, explored the evangelical movement on Thursday and discovered the history of October surprises on Friday.
The breadth of topics and events we host at CitySpace reflects what we think is the importance of live journalism: bringing the community together for conversations that elicit joy, foster connection, provide context and deepen understanding. 2024 was no exception. The year brought award-winning chefs, filmmakers, reporters, — along with a WWE wrestler and a bona fide rock star, among many more.
As we gear up for a new year and new lineup (you can browse our upcoming season now), here’s a list of the CitySpace staff’s favorite events from 2024.
Curated Cuisine: Seafood Simple with James Beard Award-winning chef Eric Ripert
“One of the most famous chefs in the world, Eric Ripert engaged in a down-to-earth and revealing conversation with Here & Now co-host Robin Young. He shared memories from his storied career, from his upbringing in France and move to New York City to his deep friendship with Anthony Bourdain and his embrace of Buddhism.” — Amy Macdonald, Director
Happily Ever After: A celebration of romance novels and the authors behind them
“Romance novels are often the only thing I want to read when I find myself with rare free time. And getting to convene some of the best authors in the genre (Jasmine Guillory, Ali Hazelwood and Beverly Jenkins) right before Valentine’s Day in front of a sold-out crowd was an absolute dream. The authors chatted about their surprising origins, creative processes and why happy endings will always have a place in our hearts. And, I don’t think there was a more fitting moderator than Here & Now producer Kalyani Saxena, who is the biggest romance fan I know and whose enthusiasm made this event a complete celebration.” — Candice Springer, Assistant Director
Marketplace’s “Make Me Smart” Live with special guest Heather Cox Richardson
“Nuance and context was needed during the 2024 election cycle with the firehose of information we all experienced. The CitySpace team wanted to address this head on and one idea rose to the top very quickly: co-producing Marketplace’s ‘Make Me Smart’ live with hosts Kai Ryssdal and Kimberly Adams. We knew we needed a special guest who could dive deep with them and the choice was easy: historian Heather Cox Richardson, author of ‘Letters From An American’ and ‘Democracy Awakening.’ Less than two weeks before the election, Richardson offered deeply researched context and a profound understanding of just what was at stake as voters headed to the polls.” — Steven Davy, Senior Producer & Director
On Point presents 'The Jackpod' Live with Jack Beatty and Meghna Chakrabarti
“In July, we featured On Point news analyst Jack Beatty along with host Meghna Chakrabarti at a special live taping of their podcast series The Jackpod. It felt like being back in my favorite class. Had Beatty been a professor, his office hours would have required reservations months ahead of time. A curious and surprisingly hilarious person, Beatty showed the audience that you can take as heavy a topic as the 2024 presidential election and make it digestible and nuanced — while still having great comedic timing.” — Avi Nguyen, Event Specialist
Welcome to Pawnee: Actor Jim O'Heir shares stories from the set of "Parks and Recreation"
“As someone who watched every episode of ‘Parks and Recreation,’ it was such a joy to get some unknown insights into the behind-the-scenes friendships and hilarity that took place over seven seasons. Jim O’Heir not only shed light on what it was like for him to be part of the show, but also let the audience see the person that he is off set. During the interview lead by Saxena, you could truly see that Jerry’s character was created and molded off O’Heir’s hilarious personality.” — Jules Waclawik, Technical Operations Manager
Sound On: Boston Calling Night featuring Ward Hayden & The Outliers
“For a special edition of our Sound On series, we invited three performers from Boston Calling for a one night showcase — an eclectic mix of folk with Kieran Rhodes, R&B from ToriTori and country from headliner Ward Hayden & The Outliers. It was a true display of the local talent that flourishes here in Boston. And, passersby were even dancing on the benches outside the theater on Commonwealth Ave.” — Chris Barrios, Technical Director
Third Act: An evening of stories of reinvention later in life
“2024 was my first year at CitySpace, and as a foodie, news junkie and all-around pop culture omnivore, it was hard to pick one event. But ‘Third Act’ stands out. It centered around three inspiring stories of transformation, from ‘Accidental Icon’ Lyn Slater's ascent to fashion influencer to Julieanne Richardon's rebirth from being a corporate attorney to historian of Black culture to environmentalist Bill McKibben's call to elders to join young people in social activism. Add in a couple piano performances and you've got live music, the arts, history and vital social issues all explored in an hour by WBUR reporter Anthony Brooks. It captured so much of what CitySpace does.” — Taylor Bettinson, Technical Director
