Advertise on podcast: New School: Arts & Culture

New York City is constantly changing. Starting in 2026, the MetroCard will no longer be available for New York City residents. Produced by: Nika Berezutski, Piper Lacy, Ewan McDougall, Sophia Medley, Bainer Sweeny, Summer Zhao

The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, was first published in New England Magazine in 1891, and was rediscovered in the era of Second Wave feminism along with Gilman’s other works. It has come to be considered a landmark in feminist fiction. Its themes of confinement, betrayal and mental anguish lend themselves to dramatic interpretation, and this program features a performance by Isabel Guastella, accompanied by drummer Deniz Ozsan, upright bassist Kaizan Connor on and pianist Ivan Chen. The production was supported by WNSR New School Radio and Eugene Lang College.

Gridlocked is an immersive audio piece exploring the relationship between cars and urban life in New York City. Created as a soundwalk—an audio experience meant to be heard while walking—it uses field recordings and narration to examine the impact of vehicle congestion. As congestion pricing dominates local headlines, producer Caroline Capuano investigates how many cars enter Manhattan, their effects on infrastructure, and the city’s evolving solutions. The piece also weaves in public opinion and historical context to offer a fuller picture of the issue. While Gridlocked can be heard anywhere, it’s best experienced on location. Start at 2nd Avenue and 60th Street, and walk west toward 3rd Avenue and Central Park as the narrative guides you.

Since 2007 the African Burial Ground has served as a reminder of the suffering of slaves. Located in the financial district in Manhattan, New York, it is a memorial to those who lost their lives because of slavery.  Produced by: Juliana Krogsman

Roaratorio is an acoustic experimental production created by the composer John Cage in 1979 for West German Radio. Cage, whose complex and challenging music often seemed chaotic, was actually a meticulous designer of his compositions, and this lush work is a good example of his mode of operation. As part of the class Radio/Audio Masterworks, which explores significant productions through a rigorous critical lens, filmmaker and sound artist Peter Lucas spoke with the class about the history of the work and led the class, operating in teams, through an exercise that resulted in the creation of their own Roaratorio.

Cast: Isabel Guastella, Elena Hollenbeak, Sophia Longmuir, Atticus Malloy, Jean-Luc Montaudy Band: Nicolas Bond, Deniz Oszan, Lio Spinelli Co-Director and producer: Maddy Burger

The New School’s student-lead film festival, the New Screen Fest, is back for its third annual run. Diverse, creative films from a multitude of genres will be on display on Saturday May 10th at the DCTV Firehouse Cinema. Under the guidance of screen studies professor Nathan Fitch, students work to organize all aspects of such an event, from choosing the films being played to obtaining sponsorships and a venue to running a social media account. The New Screen fest is a vital opportunity for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work and learn how to plan such a large event. Produced By: Simon Jones, Juliana Krigsman, Trevor Mccook, Daniela Mukongo Photo: @thenewscreenfest • New Screen Fest design team

The Lang Theater Production for Spring 2025 will be a staging of La Cocina, written by Tony Meneses and directed by Danica Selem. A contemporary adaptation of the 1960's play The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker, La Cocina takes a deeper look at the dynamics of a kitchen in New York City and working class life. It will be performed at Mabou Mines from May 1st to 4th. Produced by Taz Ahmad Zamri and Izzy Hall.

Step into the world of The New School’s Comedy Club, Mother Figure, where creativity and laughter take center stage. This audio piece explores the vibrant community of aspiring comedians, their deep connection to New York's historic comedy scene, and highlights their upcoming events. Discover how these students are shaping the future of comedy.

The Edges of Ailey exhibition at The Whitney Museum celebrates the life and work of choreographer and activist Alvin Ailey, whose revolutionary artistry reshaped American dance and culture. Featuring over 80 artists, the exhibit weaves together archival materials, photographs, visual art, and live performances to explore themes of Black spiritualism, southern influences, and the impact of Ailey’s peers. Highlights include personal artifacts, iconic performance footage, and tributes to Judith Jamison, Ailey’s long-time principal dancer. Running from September 25, 2024, to February 9, 2025, the exhibit captures the essence of Ailey’s belief that making dances is an act of joy, progress, and celebration. Student tickets are available for $24 with a valid student ID, and adult tickets are $30. Produced by Milo Evashchen, Jordan Pagach, Taylor Carn, & Robinett Espinal

The Village Halloween Parade is one of New York City’s most cherished cultural rites, drawing people from all over the city—and all over the world, to participate in a celebration of freedom, fantasy and fun.  Each year it is an eye-popping extravaganza—building-high skeletons, leering monsters, floats and bands of all kinds. But amidst all the high-end Saturnalia, you can still glimpse parents and their children in bedsheets, and hastily concocted monster suits. It is a parade for everyone at a time when exclusion seems the order of the day. The parade’s website reminds us, in Lewis Carroll’s words, that “Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.” WNSR’s Sarah Montague is a Greenwich Village resident, and makes a point of attending the parade each year.

We bring to you a live-recording of Edgar Allen Poe’s chilling classic, The Tell-Tale Heart. Since its publication in 1843, this story has captivated audiences with its intense exploration of guilt, madness, and the human psyche. In a unique twist, our narrator is voiced by the talented Isabel Guastella, bringing a fresh perspective to Poe’s haunting narrative. Accompanying her is bassist Nicolas Bond.

The Merchant's House Museum, which from 1835-1933 was a residential home for a wealthy family, now exists as a historic house museum in the heart of the East Village. The museum is furnished almost exactly as it was when it was a residence and with nearly all of the family's original furniture and belongings. Not only does it preserve over a thousand historic artifacts, it also exists as a preservation of the Rococo Revival architecture style and acts as a portal to a pivotal time period in Manhattan. The museum is now threatened by development, and this feature, which includes ghost stories and passionate accounts from staff and volunteers, establishes why the Museum’s preservation isn't just important, it's necessary. Producer Credits: Eleanor Kagan, Liliana Green, Kieran Pfaffinger Music: Played and recorded at The Merchant's House on the museums Pianoforte

Producers Andrea Tlacuilo and Alisha Mess tell the story of how Michael Jackson overcame MTV’s racial barrier with his smash hit music video “Billie Jean.” We’d love to give a special thanks to Raul Tlacuilo, Tricia White, Marc Plotkin, and Marlon Saunders.  Our Sources: MTV News: David Bowie interviewed by Mark Goodman (Youtube), MTV Theme Song: Man On The Moon (YouTube), and Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean song. Picture Credits: YouTube (Billie Jean music video)

Since the development of the Disney company in 1923, Disney has grown to be a staple of North American culture, but with its popularity came something unexpected — the cultural phenomenon of “Disney Adults.” Produced By: M Shimek, Emily Wampold, Lillian Heckler, Gabriella Bottomley, Jordan Jainlett