The WBUR Festival: Full Schedule

9:30am EDT

The Future of Innovation in Massachusetts

Friday May 30, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

FitRec

What’s ahead for the world’s most dynamic biotech, pharmaceutical and life science companies.

Speakers

Dr. Avak Kahvejian

General Partner, Flagship Pioneering

Avak Kahvejian, Ph.D. is a life sciences inventor, entrepreneur, and CEO whose work has led to the creation of multiple high-value public and private companies. Since 2011, he has been a partner at Flagship Pioneering, where he leads a team to invent and launch new therapeutic platforms... Read More →

Julie Kim

President, U.S. Business Unit & U.S. Country Head, Takeda

Julie Kim is president of the U.S. Business Unit, U.S. country head and member of Takeda’s Executive Team. The U.S. Business Unit portfolio encompasses gastroenterology, neuroscience, plasma-derived therapies and rare diseases.She joined Takeda in 2019 through the acquisition of... Read More →

Scott Kirsner

Columnist, MassLive & Contributor, WBUR

Scott Kirsner has spent more than 25 years working as a business journalist and contributing editor at the Boston Globe, Wired Magazine, Fast Company, Variety, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Boston magazine, and other publications. He has covered many Massachusetts companies on... Read More →

Friday May 30, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
FitRec 915 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Business

11:00am EDT

Modern Love with Leslie Odom, Jr.

Saturday May 31, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

FitRec

Grammy and Tony Award-winning Hamilton star will explore the complicated love lives of real people and will close with a short performance.

Sponsored by

Speakers

Anna Martin

Host, Modern Love, The NY Times

Anna Martin hosts the Modern Love Podcast from The New York Times, where she tells stories about the messiness and the revelation of human relationships. Her middle name is Ming Ai, which means “understanding love” in Mandarin Chinese, and has proven to be a useful skill for the... Read More →

Leslie Odom, Jr.

Vocalist, Songwriter, Actor & Author

Leslie Odom, Jr. is a multifaceted Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy and two-time Academy Award-nominated vocalist, songwriter, actor, and New York Times bestselling author. With a career that spans all performance genres, Odom has received recognition for his... Read More →

Saturday May 31, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
FitRec 915 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Live podcast taping, Arts & Culture

12:30pm EDT

Kimberlé Crenshaw in Conversation with Jamelle Bouie

Saturday May 31, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

FitRec

The pioneering scholar and writer who coined the term “intersectionality” and a leading New York Times columnist try to make sense of race and politics today.

Speakers

Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw

Civil Rights Advocate & Professor

Kimberlé Crenshaw is a pioneering scholar and writer on civil rights, critical race theory, Black feminist legal theory, and race, racism and the law. In addition to her position at Columbia Law School, she is a Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California, Los... Read More →

Jamelle Bouie

Opinion Columnist, The New York Times

Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Jamelle Bouie is a columnist for the New York Times. He covers history and politics. In addition, he co-hosts the Unclear and Present Danger podcast on the political and military thrillers of the 1990s.Before the Times, Jamelle was chief political... Read More →

Saturday May 31, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
FitRec 915 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Politics

2:00pm EDT

Dr. Anthony Fauci in Conversation with Meghna Chakrabarti

Saturday May 31, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

FitRec

America’s leading infectious disease expert joins On Point’s host and editor to discuss the state of public health.

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... Read More →

Dr. Anthony Fauci

Fmr. Director, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases

Dr. Anthony Fauci is an American physician-scientist and immunologist who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022, and the chief medical advisor to the president from 2021 to 2022.

Saturday May 31, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
FitRec 915 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Health

6:00pm EDT

A Conversation with Ira Glass

Saturday May 31, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

FitRec

As This American Life celebrates its 30th anniversary, the show’s host and producer reflects on his career and the evolution of public radio.

Sponsored by

Speakers

Ira Glass

Host, This American Life, NPR

Ira Glass is an American public radio personality. He is the host and producer of the radio and television series This American Life and has participated in other NPR programs, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Talk of the Nation.

Saturday May 31, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
FitRec 915 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Arts & Culture