Studs interviews Marian McPartland, who is in Chicago to perform at Rick's Cafe and the Chicago Public Library. They discuss her various performances and recorded albums. McPartland shares techniques of playing Jazz with a piano. She discusses people and events that influenced her music. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.

Marian McPartland discusses jazz music, her husband Jimmy McPartland, and her career.

Marian McPartland discusses her career, the role of women in jazz, and jazz music.

Studs interviews Jimmy and Marian McPartland. The McPartlands reflect on the people who influenced their music in Jazz. Studs quotes Jimmy McPartland and reads part of a critic's column about Marian in the Chicago Sun Times. Marian shares a little about what it is like to be a female musician in Jazz. Both discuss their past career and their futures. Jimmy reflects on his hard times in the 1920s-1930s. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.

Studs interviews Marian and Jimmy McPartland. The McPartlands reflect on those in Jazz who have influenced them. Studs talks to Marian about women in Jazz. They discuss the Jazz audience. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.

Marian Anderson talks about her singing career, including her singing in Sunday School and her first singing experience in 4th grade. She shares how she interprets the songs she sings. Includes Studs reading the poem "Gertrude" by Gwendolyn Brooks. The interview takes place in Anderson's suite in the Sheraton Blackstone in Chicago.

Marian Anderson recalls singing on stage for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1957 and how it was the realization of a dream come true. Marion's nephew, James DePreist remembers being able to conduct a piece of music he had never conducted before because his aunt Marion had exposed him to it when he was a child. James said when his aunt Marion sung spirituals, he couldn't help but feel religious and he's an atheist.

Margie Adam, singer, songwriter, pianist and activist discusses her latest album (1980) Naked Keys which features her solo piano music.

Margie Adam, musician, activist, and composer, discusses how events such as the women's movement and the lesbian-feminist movement inspired her to create music for her new album, Another Place. The album reflects on Adams's life and on topics such as her sexuality.

Marge Guthrie, Woody Guthrie’s second wife and Arlo Guthrie’s mother, joins Studs Terkel to discuss her late husband’s music and the lasting impact it made. Marge calls Woody a “chronicler,” remarking on his great ability to write songs about and for the common man, and informs Terkel of honors that Woody received from the state and federal government to commemorate his contribution to conservation efforts.

Margaret Barry and Michael Gorman, discuss traditional Irish music and their careers as musicians.

Singer Margaret Barry and fiddler Michael Gorman reminisce about singing and playing at the Bedford Arms pub. Barry talks about how's she's travelled all over Ireland. She talks about how sad it is to not be doing as many live performances because times are changing to the jukebox.

Marcel Marceau, world renown mime, talks about when he performed in prisons in France, Germany, and Chicago, including death row inmates who he could not see. He also discusses moments where he met famous silent actors such as Charlie Chaplin, Harpo Marx, and Stan Laurel. They then discuss childhood and aging. Content Warning: This conversation has the presence of outdated, biased, offensive language. 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.

Marcel Marceau, a French mime, discusses the art behind mime including silence, humanity, and astonishment. Parts of an earlier interview with Marceau are also played.