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. Will D. Campbell, minister, activist, and author of “Providence," discusses religion, civil rights, and American history.

Lies, violence and history repeating itself are all topics covered in Russell Banks' book, "Affliction." Banks points out that his novel is about the men's complicated attempt to transcend their burdens.

Back in his day, there was no journalism school, explained Russell Baker. He spent time with the police and that's how he often got his stories about the underclass or the superfluous. Baker pointed out when a paper didn't want to print one of his stories, Baker was told the subject matter was in poor taste.

With his book, "A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam", Neil Sheehan wanted to tell what happened in Vietnam and why it happened through telling the story of Lt. Colonel John Paul Vann. Sheehan said Vann had a keen sense of reality. Vann knew if they didn't change the Saigon government into something decent that would appeal to its own people, they'd never succeed at anything other than getting American soldiers killed for nothing. Although readers will find painful experiences in the book, Sheehan explained that his book is not an anti-war book.

Monsters, imagination and violence in children's literature are all topics of Maurice Sendak's book, "Where the Wild Things Are." When writing the book, Sendak used his own experiences as a little boy, remembering that the monsters in the family were relatives on his mother's side. There are two excerpts of composer Oliver Knussen.

"Table Money," is Jimmy Breslin's novel about Owney and Dolores Morrison and their relationships with one another, with God, with the union job in Queens and with the local tavern.

Interviewing Jack Beatty, author and editor of the Atlantic Monthly.

Hoagy B. Carmichael discusses his father and legendary jazz musician, Hoagy Carmichael. He also explores his work as a music producer, author, bamboo fly rod builder, and manager of his father’s music. Includes a test tone that lasts 25 seconds. music.

Eric Bogosian discusses and displays acting techniques he picked up throughout his career. He also performs readings from his book “Notes from Underground.” 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.

Author Burton Bernstein discusses his latest work and his experiences with learning how to fly, and the inspiration that drove him to explore the unknown parts of the United States. Sections of the work include the discussion of air travel, types of aviation, and how the airports have changed over the years. A featured part of the work reflects privatized airports run by families, such as the O'Briens and the Nutts.

Scientists, women, birth control, religion and ethics are among the topics covered in Bernard Asbell's book, "The Pill: A Biography of the Drug that Changed the World"