I got the chance to sit down for a conversation with one of the world’s premier musicians and humanitarians. He is celebrated cellist Yo Yo Ma. The focus is “We The People,” a series of concerts, conversations and special events at Tanglewood in the Berkshires curated by Yo Yo Ma during the beginning of August 2026. It’s an ambitious project involving our nation’s shared past, present and future featuring a star-studded array of world class musicians. We also talk about the power music has to affect positive change, how practicing can and should be fun and the origin of his cello’s name. (It is Petunia by the way!)

Enjoy a warm and engaging chat with the one and only Yo Yo Ma!

Peter M. Hoffman is the author of “Karmic Winds: Reflections from The Smartest Guy in Hollywood.” Peter is a Yale-trained attorney who became a powerful Hollywood insider helping to steer blockbuster films such as Rambo, Terminator 2 and Basic Instinct. A pioneering figure during the independent film industry boon, Peter enjoyed much success. But as the industry turned, legal battles mounted and he was dogged by a federal investigation that landed him behind bars. There he penned this memoir examining the nature of justice, the seductions of power and the invisible forces that shape our lives. He speaks openly about his lifelong pursuit of meaning through Buddhism and shares fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of some of the movie industry’s most pivotal moments.

Meet Joel Steiner, co-founder of Changing Futures (www.changingfuturesnow.org), committed to improving the lives of people living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), by addressing the overlooked gastrointestinal ( GI) challenges they face later in life. Joining Joel on today’s podcast is Dr. Steven D. Freedman, MD, PhD and a leader in the field of gastroenterology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Changing Futures is supporting the research of Dr. Freedman, which as you’ll hear, could not only bring hope to CF patients, but has potential to offer promising new modes of detection and treatment in the fight against cancer and other diseases. As the only charity entirely focused on these life-threatening issues, the mission of Changing Futures is to advance research, deliver essential resources and develop a compassionate and informed community. Efforts worth supporting!

Let me introduce you to a lovely lady who knows about the power of laughter. Ever look at your life and think, ‘How the heck did I get here?’ Through comedy, funny songs, and stories, Stacey Shipman explores life’s twists and turns, things like aging, burnout, and unexpected caregiving. She also works with leaders who know their event or message needs a shake-up. Whether she’s performing, writing, or facilitating conversation, Stacey’s goal is to leave you feeling lighter, braver, and less alone. She definitely achieves that and more! Check out Stacey at www.StaceyShipman.com.

Ready for a look behind the scenes at America’s most challenging and popular game show? Well, you came to the right place because today’s guest is Jason Singer, a recent Jeopardy champion. What makes the story even more cool is that a few years earlier Jason’s wife Susan also appeared on Jeopardy and she came away a winning champion! Besides talking with Jason about Jeopardy behind the scenes, we chat about the many benefits of being curious, why trivia isn’t silly at all, how engaging yourself in learning about a lot of things, some outside of your comfort zone, strengthens your brain and makes for a much more interesting and fun life. In a culture that often rewards physical achievement, it’s nice to know that Jeopardy exists for those of us who exercise our thinking muscles. Congratulations to Jason and Susan, one smart couple!

Today’s guest is a writer whose imagination seems boundless. Meet Alex Grass, a writer of horror fiction, whose work is incredibly engaging, creative, scary and at times quite humorous. He’s written several critically acclaimed novels. Today we focus on his book of short stories,” Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror.” Alex shares his views on his favorite writers of horror fiction and why certain scary films and TV shows such as “The Twilight Zone” are so impactful. The short stories, some of which are just a couple of pages pack quite an emotional punch. As fellow writer Stphen Gallagher says “these are under-the-skin stories, nightmare scenarios that are elegant, gripping and seriously strange!”

Award–winning Boston based photojournalist Bill Brett has created a terrific series of memorable coffee table-sized books over the years.

He tells us he is most pride of his seventh book. It is entitled, “Boston Veterans Appreciation,” reflecting Bill’s deep respect for all those who have served our country, men and women, young and old, all races, creeds, religions and backgrounds. Photographing these veterans offers a
way to honor those who have sacrificed and to preserve their stories for posterity.

Here is one for true crime fans! A riveting story by author Robert Fitzgibbon entitled, “Murder in Salem Massachusetts: The Death of Frances Cochran.”

Journey back to July 17th, 1941 just north of Boston in the City of Lynn, Massachusetts where an attractive nineteen-year-old Frances Cochran is picked up by an unknown driver in a mysterious black automobile. She is never heard from again. Her mutilated body is found days later in a lover’s lane in Salem, a city known for its macabre past. Decades roll by with police following up on thousands of leads. The murder makes national headlines and is tangled up with other unsolved murders including the 1947 Los Angeles Black Dahlia case. Decades roll by with police following up on thousands of leads but the case remains unsolved. Rob delves into stories of the mysterious, eerie and forgotten. And this latest one is true chiller!