All upcoming Lectures

Historian Clay Jenkinson is a John Steinbeck scholar who is retracing the author’s 1960 Travels with Charley tour of America to explore the mood and face of the country on the eve of its 250th birthday. Jenkinson examines Steinbeck's extraordinary account of his road trip ­and his own attempt to make sense of what the author called "this monster country" by viewing it with fresh eyes during a spring-though-fall driving odyssey.

The longtime kings of jazz—Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie—were born within a few years of one another and overcame racial boundaries to become some of the most popular entertainers on the planet. Author Larry Tye follows the story of how these revolutionary musicians opened America’s eyes and souls to the magnificence of their music, and in the process wrote the soundtrack for the civil rights.

Billy Wilder, the Polish-born and German-raised genius behind The Apartment and Some Like It Hot, captured the outrageous quirkiness of the United States better than most of his Hollywood contemporaries His caustic and brutal observations manifested themselves in charming and sometimes-outrageous comedies, as well as forceful dramas. Film historian Max Alvarez salutes the laughter and intensity of the great Wilder and his unforgettable film achievements.

For more than 60 years, Barbie has been the world’s best-selling fashion doll, inspiring millions of fans to play with, collect, and adore her. Cultural historian Leslie Goddard explores the history of Barbie, beginning with her inventor, the passionately creative and intensely competitive Ruth Handler. Delve into the complex cultural debates Barbie has inspired over the decades.

Yoga can be a lifestyle medicine that promotes brain health, mental health, and overall well-being. Linda Lang, a certified yoga therapist, offers an opportunity to learn how to embrace yogic thinking and simple and gentle breathing techniques to cultivate a healthier—and calmer—relationship with your body and mind.

Understanding the Bible means understanding the cities and cultures that produced it. The story of these centers—their history, their archaeology, their mysteries, and the inhabitants, and the people later excavated there—is also the story of the Bible itself. Professor of classics and religious studies Robert Cargill leads a fascinating tour through cities including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Babylon, Athens, Alexandria, and Rome to reveal how their stories shed new light on the Bible.

The potato famine of 1845 to 1849, known in the Irish language as "the great hunger," led to the death of a million people and the emigration of a million more, reducing the population of Ireland by roughly one quarter. Historian Jennifer Paxton explores the origins of the famine in the difficult economic and political circumstances of Ireland in the early 19th century and examines the controversy over the degree to which the British government can be held responsible for the disaster and its impact on the Irish landscape and culture.

Since Jaws scared a nation of moviegoers out of the water nearly 50 years ago, great white sharks have attained a mythic status as the most frightening and mysterious monsters to still live among us. Journalist Susan Casey became obsessed with these awe-inspiring creatures and has joined scientists on their expeditions to study the species. Dive in as Casey discusses her time spent among the great whites as well as the latest in great white shark research.

Theoretical physicist and philosopher Sean Carroll is known for his unique approach to sharing physics with a broad audience. Drawing on his new book Quanta and Fields, he takes on quantum field theory—how modern physics describes nature at its most profound level. He offers accessible, straightforward perspectives on topics from why matter is solid to the sizes of atoms to why the predictions of quantum field theory are so spectacularly successful.

For centuries, the royal court in London was the political, social, and cultural headquarters of the nation. A formal gathering there was a glittering stage where a guest could increase their power, consolidate their family’s importance, and share gossip and tales of palace intrigues—all with the goal of capturing the eye of the sovereign. Historian Robert Bucholz reveals why anybody who was anybody—or who longed to be somebody—coveted an invitation to court.