Studs Terkel interviews Rachel Barton, Wendy Warner and Peggy Wise during the preparation for a benefit concert at the James R. Thompson Center. The benefit concert will be held on March 22, 1997.

Susan Nussbaum, founder of Access Living and Michael Pachovas founder of Disabled Prisoners Program discuss the upcoming Disabled Americans Freedom Rally in the backdrop of the International Year of the Disabled Persons and President Reagan's budget cuts. Society needs to understand that expenditures are required to secure the rights of disabled people to live active, productive lives. They need to be able to get out of their apartment buildings or homes, travel on sidewalks and ride buses. That may require access ramps, working elevators, cut curbs, and hydraulic buses to lower steps.

Interviewing ragtime pianist-composer Eubie Blake, Bill Bolcolm and Bob Kimball. They discuss the musical "Shuffle Along." Songs include "Gee I'm Glad I'm From Dixie," "Dream Rag," "Brittwood Rag," "He May Be Your Man," "Brass Knuckles," and "Memories of You."

Content Warning: This conversation includes racially and/or culturally derogatory language and/or negative depictions of Black and Indigenous people of color, women, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Rather than remove this content, we present it in the context of twentieth-century social history to acknowledge and learn from its impact and to inspire awareness and discussion. While aboard a train with 803 passengers, Studs Terkel spoke to various people about what this train meant to them. A female passenger said she was so happy to be on the train.

Marion Anderson, soloist, and James DePreist, conductor, sit down with Studs Terkel prior to their Grand Park Weekend Concert where "Berjack Symphony No. 2 or 7" will be played with the 'Copland Preamble for Solemn Occasion" as well as a group of Negro Spirituals with "Ava Maria". Marian Anderson begins the interview by singing "Erlkonig" and concludes with "Ava Maria". She discusses the early influence of the first Negro arts singer, Roland Hayes had on her in Philadelphia and his "He Never Said a Mumberlin' Word" is played. Both Anderson and DePreist discuss how song becomes drama.

Interview with Jim Bolle and young musicians Cheryl Griffin, Clyde Jennings, Lotilda Hudson, Joseph Johnson, Stephen Graham.

Interviewing George Wald, biologist and philosopher, on the hazards of pollution, the environment, and peace. Wald talks about his speech at MIT "A Generation in Search of a Future".

Discussing the book "Race hoss: big Emma's boy" with the author Albert Race Sample. Includes Sample reading a section of the book.

Part 3. Alec Wilder and Harry Bouras discuss Wilder's book "American popular songs", published in 1972.

Part 2. Alec Wilder and Harry Bouras discuss Wilder's book "American popular songs", published in 1972.

Part 1. Alec Wilder and Harry Bouras discuss Wilder's book "American popular songs", published in 1972.

Interviewing Ulla, a Finnish girl living in Stockholm; Karl Selander; and Thomas Cremer, an ombudsman for Swedish Laplanders, while Studs was in Sweden.