Best Don McDonald Podcasts (2025)

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19 Questions to Uncover Good, Bad, and Ugly Financial Advisors | Don McDonald - E107 59:25

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14d ago59:25

59:25

Today, Jesse is joined by Don McDonald to offer a critical examination of the financial advising and annuity industries, warning retirees and near-retirees about misleading sales tactics that exploit fear - especially the fear of market losses. They emphasize the importance of working with fee-only, fiduciary advisors who are legally obligated to a…

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June 3, 2025 - Mayor Ray Flynn and Don Gillis, Tinder Live! with Lane Moore, and the Cape Ann Museum 55:27

2h ago55:27

55:27

Don Gillis and Ray Flynn join The Culture Show to discuss Gillis’ new book “The Battle for Boston: How Mayor Ray Flynn and Community Organizers Fought Racism and Downtown Power Brokers.” On June 5th at 6:00 Don Gillis will be at a book event at the Roslindale Public Library. To learn more go here. From there comedian and actress Lane Moore joins Th…

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Crypto Markets Efficient? 45:02

6h ago45:02

45:02

In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom reluctantly return to the topic of Bitcoin, using its recent price spike to explore deeper questions about market efficiency, irrational investor behavior, and the legitimacy of crypto as an investment. With nods to Eugene Fama, Cliff Asness, and some well-aimed skepticism, the duo debates whether …

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Oskar Eustis Makes Theater for the People 44:43

22h ago44:43

44:43

Oskar Eustis is a theater director, dramaturg, and the current Artistic Director of the renowned Public Theater in New York City. Throughout his career, Oskar Eustis has been dedicated to making the theater more accessible, uplifting new voices in playwriting, and the development of new plays in addition to directing and producing the classics. Amo…

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Only Six Minutes? 27:11

21h ago27:11

27:11

Don and Tom dive into a new study showing the average investor spends just six minutes researching a stock—most of it just watching the price move. From gut feelings to hometown bias, they unpack why individual stock picking is often driven by emotion, not logic. Along the way, they skewer myths about control, tax efficiency, and the Warren Buffett…

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June 2, 2025 - Andy Husbands, Massiel Grullón, and Uli Lorimer from the Native Plant Trust 55:30

1d ago55:30

55:30

Andy Husbands, chef and owner of The Smoke Shop BBQ, has co-authored the “Quick and Easy Burger Cookbook,” which will bump your burger game with creative recipes. He joins The Culture Show to talk about how we can turn our nothing burger into a something burger. On June 16th Husbands will be at a book signing event at WBUR’s City Space. To learn mo…

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Navigating Love and Miscommunication: The Making of 'I Don't Understand You' 27:05

1d ago27:05

27:05

Navigating the choppy waters of modern communication while attempting to craft a film about it can feel like trying to tame a wild goose—an exercise in futility and occasional hilarity. Brian Crano and David Joseph Craig, the duo behind the lens of 'I Don't Understand You,' dive deep into the intricacies of their creative process. Our conversation …

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Bonds, Bluffers, and Buckets 28:04

4d ago28:04

28:04

Don fields a fresh batch of listener questions in this all-audio edition. A longtime fan asks whether a municipal bond ETF (VTEB) is a smarter place than a money market fund for short-term cash—Don explains why liquidity and risk matter more than yield. Another listener wants help navigating how much cash retirees should keep and when to use it—Don…

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May 30, 2025 - Week in Review: The Labubu craze, Harry Potter, and Audra McDonald vs Patti LuPone 55:29

4d ago55:29

55:29

Today Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III co-host our arts and culture week-in-review starting with a reflection on the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Holocaust museum in Boston’s Downtown Crossing. From there they discuss Harvard University, which will give up ownership of historic photos of enslaved people, following a lega…

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Out of place but in control: John Maclean and Robbie Ryan on 'Tornado' 22:05

5d ago22:05

22:05

John Maclean and Robbie Ryan take us on an insightful journey through the creative process behind their film 'Tornado', reflecting on their decade-long collaboration that has shaped their artistic identities. We dive deep into the thematic undercurrents of their films, with a keen focus on displacement as a recurring motif. Ryan's cinematographic p…

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Episode 96 - Ken Horton, Part 2 1:20:32

5d ago1:20:32

1:20:32

In Part 2 of my conversation with Ken Horton we begin after the 1977 men's world championship, progressing to the 1983 worlds and the controversy surrounding Swedish corn brooms. Ken shares an assortment of stories including a Paul Gowsell tale, tin foil at the 1989 worlds and a trouser mishap that forced umpire Chuck Hay to rule on the use of deni…

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Bad Advice the Norm? 45:36

5d ago45:36

45:36

Don and Tom roll through Memorial Day weekend with a little heat from the audience, a breakdown of where Americans get their financial advice (hint: it’s not great), and some solid, real-world investing guidance. They take a couple of strong listener calls—one on geopolitical market fear and another from a small business owner unsure how to save fo…

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May 29, 2025 - Vincent Valdez, Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), and public art around Bost 55:29

5d ago55:29

55:29

Vincent Valdez is an American artist who explores identity, social justice, and American history. Not to mention our particular capacity, as a society, to forget our episodes of violence. Just a Dream… is the artist’s first major museum survey including work from over twenty years across all media. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his proces…

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What to do with BC natural resources? ft. Stewart Muir 1:17:03

6d ago1:17:03

1:17:03

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 🏨🌄 Kate, Mike and Geoff welcome Stewart Muir, Founder and CEO of Resource Works, to the Hotel for a discussion on natural resource development and the policy pivots taking place with the new Mark Carney administration and David Eby go…

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9%? Not a Chance 45:07

6d ago45:07

45:07

This episode brings the heat on so-called “financial educators” masquerading as fiduciaries while hawking high-commission indexed annuities. Don and Tom dissect the misleading promises of 9% guaranteed returns, break down real disclosure numbers, and expose the enormous commissions driving these “recommendations.” Listener questions spark insights …

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May 28, 2025 - Ron Chernow, Tara Roberts, and the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 55:29

6d ago55:29

55:29

Ron Chernow―prizewinning author of seven books, including the National Book Award winner “The House of Morgan,” the Pulitzer Prize winner “Washington: A Life,” and the George Washington Book Prize winner “Alexander Hamilton”―joins The Culture Show to talk about his new biography “Mark Twain.” On June 2nd he’ll be at the First Parish Church at a boo…

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Target Date Truth 27:49

7d ago27:49

27:49

Tom takes a break from vacationing to join Don in a deep dive on target date funds—the good, the mediocre, and the fee-loaded ugly. They break down performance data, highlight major fund differences, and remind listeners why understanding your own risk tolerance still matters. Listener questions spark advice on Roth IRAs for young investors and str…

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May 27, 2025 - The Arrival Art Fair, Tituss Burgess, and Jane Eaglen 55:29

7d ago55:29

55:29

Arrival - a new biannual art fair. The inaugural edition features exhibitors from across the country. It kicks off on June 12th and runs through June 15th and is situated in North Adams at the TOURSITS hotel. Two of the founders join The Culture Show for an overview. Yng-Ru Chen is owner of the Boston-based Praise Shadows Art Gallery and Crystalle …

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From the Archives: Mick Fleetwood Skates Back into the Charts 41:50

8d ago41:50

41:50

Mick Fleetwood is the drummer and a founding member of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful rock bands of all time. Fleetwood talks to Alec about how dyslexia led him to the drumming, how supportive parents encouraged his talent and his move to London as a teenager, how his friendship with the band’s founder, guitarist Peter Green, evolved to …

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May 26, 2025 - Marianne Leone, Erik Andrade, and Eric and Will 55:29

8d ago55:29

55:29

Actor and author Marianne Leone joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book, “Five-Dog Epiphany: How a Quintet of Badass Bichons Retrieved Our Joy,” From there New Bedford poet Erik Andrade joins The Culture Show to talk about poetry as activism. Erik Andrade is an award winning spoken word poet. Recently his work was included in “Black Fi…

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Episode 145: Mental Health Month Tangent- The Boys Talk One Piece 1:17:52

10d ago1:17:52

1:17:52

*Audio Note* The First thirty minutes of this episode was recorded with the wrong mics, The issue clears up around the thirty minute mark The boys take a much needed mental health break this week and discuss the world of the ongoing Manga and anime: One Piece. Rubin and Josh finally beat Don down enough that he gave it a chance and now they are all…

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Queries and Clarity 25:29

11d ago25:29

25:29

In this lighter (but still info-packed) Friday Q&A episode, Don tackles a mixed bag of real-world money questions—from Roth conversions and selling the family home to foreign tax credits and the emotional overload of trying to do everythingat once. Listeners wrestle with software vs. strategy, gifting real estate to their kids, and finding financia…

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May 23, 2025 - Week in Review: Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese, Springsteen vs Trump, and remembering George Wendt 55:29

11d ago55:29

55:29

Edgar B. Herwick III, Callie Crossley and James Bennett II co-host our arts and culture week in review. First up, reconstructing the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese feud timeline, focusing on how the media are fanning the flames and how outside commentary about race is making this an ugly rivalry. From there it’s an analysis of another feud, Bruce Sp…

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Back for More: Julia Max and Ian McDonald talk 'The Surrender' 20:11

12d ago20:11

20:11

We have a delightful treat for you today as we welcome back Julia Max and Ian McDonald to discuss ‘The Surrender,’ which you can now watch on Shudder. This episode is extra special because they are our very first returning guests—yes, you heard that right! Ian joined us last fall to discuss the screenplay for ‘Woman of the Hour,’ while Julia first …

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Alternative Adversities 29:42

12d ago29:42

29:42

Don shares a deeply personal tale from 2007 when, as an HOA treasurer, he dodged a financial landmine involving auction-rate securities—just before the 2008 crisis froze their liquidity. That real-life scare flows into a fierce takedown of today’s institutional obsession with illiquid assets like private equity, especially in university endowments.…

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May 22, 2025 - George Takei, B. Dylan Hollis, and a preview of Boston Calling 55:29

12d ago55:29

55:29

Actor and activist George Takei joins The Culture Show to talk about his debut with the Boston Pops. He’s narrating a multimedia program that explores the intersection of music, space, and science fiction. This program was developed in partnership with the Museum of Science, Boston and its Center for Space Sciences. This concert also offers a post-…

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Multicultural Communications & Media with Jatinder Rai 1:17:16

13d ago1:17:16

1:17:16

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 🏨🌄 Kate, Mike and Geoff welcome Jatinder Rai, CEO of Response Advertising, to Hotel Pacifico to discuss BC’s growing diverse communities and how political and media strategies play out differently, including why the Conservatives have…

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Downgrade Impact 45:34

13d ago45:34

45:34

Tom and Don open the show with tech woes and quips before diving into a serious discussion about the U.S. credit rating downgrade and its implications for borrowing costs and long-term debt. They offer practical investing advice in light of the downgrade—think short- and intermediate-term bonds and global diversification. Listener calls bring a col…

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May 21, 2025 - Sebastian Smee, Dr. Greg Skomal on Jaws at 50, and the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Chelsea Creek 55:29

13d ago55:29

55:29

Sebastian Smee is a Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic at The Washington Post. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his recent piece, which breaks down Bob Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man.” Sebastian Smee’s latest book is “Paris in Ruins: Love, War and the Birth of Impressionism.” From there Dr. Greg Skomal joins The Culture Show to talk about prep…

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$8 Trillion Turnaround 45:38

14d ago45:38

45:38

Don returns from a exhausting, comedy-of-errors flight to discuss how the markets pulled an equally wild round trip—plunging, then rebounding to the tune of $8 trillion. He and Tom break down the April stock and bond tantrum, laugh off predictions of recession, and offer practical guidance for scared investors, risk-takers, and those tempted by ann…

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May 20, 2025 - The Michelin Guide in Boston, JaJa's African Hair Braiding, and Mahesh Daas 55:29

14d ago55:29

55:29

Marc Sheehan, Executive Chef and Owner of Northern Spy in Canton and Will Gilson, Chef and Partner of Cambridge Street Hospitality Group, join The Culture Show to talk about the Michelin Guide coming to Boston and what it will take for local restaurants that are contenders to prepare. From there playwright Jocelyn Bioh joins The Culture Show to tal…

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Patrick Radden Keefe: From the New Yorker to the bookstore to the screen 44:34

15d ago44:34

44:34

Patrick Radden Keefe is a writer and investigative journalist known for books such as Chatter, Say Nothing, and The Snakehead. His work has been recognized with the National Magazine Award, the National Book Critics' Circle Award, and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The New York Times named Say Nothing one of the 20 best books of the 21st C…

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A Dimensional Mind 31:04

15d ago31:04

31:04

Don and Tom welcome Weston Wellington of Dimensional Funds for a rare and richly insightful conversation covering market volatility, media noise, diversification, and the enduring wisdom of index investing. Weston compares Spam to Motorola, skewers financial hype, and champions simplicity in investing—and yes, he might just sing if you let him. The…

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May 19, 2025 - Josh Simpson and Cady Coleman, the Boston Public Art Triennial, and Shakespeare in ASL 55:29

15d ago55:29

55:29

The Sandwich Glass Museum is featuring the artistry of Josh Simpson in the exhibition “50 Years of Visionary Glass.” Josh and his wife, retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, will be signing books and giving a joint presentation on May 31st. Cady Coleman’s new book is “Sharing Space: An Astronaut’s Guide to Mission, Wonder and Making Change.” Josh Si…

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Episode 144: Sarah Winchester and the Winchester Mystery House 1:02:45

17d ago1:02:45

1:02:45

Today, we look at the fascinating story of Sarah Winchester and her famous mansion, supposedly built to confuse the spirits of those killed by her husband's invention, the Winchester repeating rifle. But is it really haunted? Does its labyrinthine design keep the spirits at bay? Or is it just the work of a woman who was enamored by architectural de…

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May 16, 2025 - Week in Review: The Michelin Guide in Boston, Pete Rose, and the Giacometti bust 55:30

18d ago55:30

55:30

Today Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III and Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons – artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Festival and program manager at Mass Cultural Council– go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week in review. First up, the Michelin guide will officially debut in Boston. From there Way…

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You Ask. Don Rants. 24:44

18d ago24:44

24:44

Don’s back from NYC with pride (and maybe jet lag), tackling a full slate of thoughtful listener questions. From Roth conversions and the TSP G Fund to cash balance plan gimmicks, RMD timing, overpriced 401(k) plans, and yes, the eternal question: Are annuities ever worth it? Don delivers straight talk, a little outrage, and no-nonsense advice—with…

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The Sonic Bridge: Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan on Nature, Sound, and Storytelling 21:56

19d ago21:56

21:56

Today, we're diving deep into the world of sound and its uncanny ability to bridge the chasm between humanity and nature with the incredibly talented Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan! We kick off our chat with a thought-provoking observation: nature is not just a backdrop, but an active participant in our emotional narratives. As we unravel the layers …

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May 15, 2025 - Alison Bechdel, A Radical Welcome: Source Code, and Kayla Tabb, the BPL's new Chef-in-Residence 55:29

19d ago55:29

55:29

“New York Times” bestselling author Alison Bechdel joins The Culture Show to talk about her new comic novel “Spent.” Bechdel will be at The Brattle Theatre on May 22nd at an event sponsored by Harvard Book Store. Tickets to this event are sold out but there will be a stand-by line at the Brattle Theatre. To learn more go here. From there it’s a cel…

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Diversify or Die (Poor)? 29:57

19d ago29:57

29:57

Don and Tom launch into a globe-trotting episode—complete with multilingual greetings and a cameo from Cookie Monster—before diving into the serious question of global investing. They challenge the "home country bias" that keeps investors overly concentrated in U.S. stocks, highlight the recent performance gap favoring international small-cap value…

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May 14, 2025 - Snowy owls at Logan Airport and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition 44:55

20d ago44:55

44:55

Every year snowy owls fly from the Arctic to Boston's Logan Airport to find food. Norman Smith catches them and releases them far away to keep the owls and passengers safe. While he is the only owl catcher at Logan Airport, other airports are following his lead. Norman Smith is a raptor specialist who has worked at Mass Audubon for nearly 60 years …

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Western Alienation with Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes 1:07:43

20d ago1:07:43

1:07:43

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 🏨🌄 This week we've got a crossover pod of sorts, with the hosts of Alberta's "The Discourse" with Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes, to discuss a serious and hot topic... Western Alienation. Consider it a second in a row #SuperStrategyS…

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There's an Easier Way 42:35

20d ago42:35

42:35

In this episode, Don and Tom rewind to the not-so-golden era of Wall Street paperwork, bringing a modern perspective to old-school investing habits. They tackle listener questions around dividend investing, the allure of individual stocks, and whether the 'buy and hold forever' mindset still holds up in the era of ETFs. Along the way, they dismantl…