His total love for the theatre began when Alan Ayckbourn worked backstage, and then worked the lights. He eventually began writing plays. To date, he has written 47 of them. Ayckbourn admits that his plays may be dark but he explained that he tries to add some humor into them, too. When writing a play, and without any notes, Ayckbourn said, he'll take four or five days to write out an entire play on a word processor.

Poet, critic and writer Al Alvarez talks about his personal experiences and how it interlaces with literature and poetry.

Akumal Ramachander discusses the film “The Painter and the Pest” by documentary filmmaker Salman Rushdie. The film details Ramachander's quest to introduce the art world to the talent and works of unknown, abstract expressionist painter Harold Shapinsky.

Author, professor, and John Keats biographer, Aileen Ward, discusses and reads from the biography “John Keats: The Making of a Poet.” Ward discusses Keats’ schooling, his relationship with Fanny Brawne, and Keats’ work in comparison to his contemporaries such as Percy Bysshe Shelley. Ward reads Keats’ 1818 poem entitled “Isabella, or the Pot of Basil.” Studs plays a recording of Ralph Richardson reading Keats’ 1819 poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn.”*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations

The two Welsh poets, on a tour of America, join Studs to talk about their own work and their appreciation for the work of Aeronwy's father, Dylan Thomas.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations

Editor and writer Abe Peck discusses and reads from his book “Uncovering the Sixties: The Life and Times of the Underground Press.” Peck discusses the social and political forces, such as the lack of questioning authority forces seen during this time, that drove the alternative press to formation. This program includes audio clips of Studs interviewing attendees of a Vietnam War protest in Chicago. Studs also includes a clip of British journalist James Cameron discussing the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. Studs plays "The Times They Are A-Changin'" - Bob Dylan (1964).

Studs Terkel leads a panel discussion on global education and the issues immigrants face in the American educational system. Panel members include Marilyn Turkovich, Dennis Brutus, Joe Elder, Daphne Maijorca, and Liu Zongren.

Studs joins the British novelist at his Chicago hotel room to discuss his latest book, Daniel Martin.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The archaeologist and author discusses the controversial theory that modern humans may have originated in North America, further explored in his book, American Genesis.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The celebrated author of The Ginger Man joins Studs to share some of the inspirations for his latest book, The Unexpurgated Code: A Complete Manual of Survival & Manners.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Studs sits down with a musicologist and jazz musician, an American violinist, and a Russian violinist to discuss their cross-cultural and musical genre-bending collaboration - the American Soviet Youth Orchestra (AKA the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra).*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The British poet, translator, and novelist discusses his best-selling novel, The White Hotel, which was loosely based on the case studies of Sigmund Freud.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The co-authors join Studs to discuss their book, East to America: A History of the Japanese in America, and to give some perspective on the lives of those affected by the actions of the United States government in the days before, during, and after World War II.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and historian discusses her book, A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, and its historical background.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The American journalist and broadcaster spent years researching the history of the Middle East for her book, From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine. It has since been praised and criticized by a wide range of scholars.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations