Author and pianist Russell Sherman discusses his book “Piano Pieces” and the philosophical concepts associated with listening to and playing music. Sherman plays a selection of compositions in the studio.

Charles M. Schultz gave high praise to Robert L. Short's book, "Parables of Peanuts". Long explained Schulz's comic strips and his thoughts of cruelty among children. Short further explained that Schulz's comic strips turns the readers back to themselves and gives the readers the opportunities to see their own lives as they really are.

Novelist Oriana Fallaci discusses and reads from her book "Inshallah", a fictional book chronicling the experiences of a group of Italian soldiers on a 1983 peace keeping mission in Beirut. The interview focuses on the book, its characters, and the larger themes at play throughout the novel. Studs Terkel briefly discusses Fallaci's previous book, "Interview with History." Studs plays "Hajartak Part 3 Start (Your Love is Heartless Gives You Hell Poem)" - Oum Kalthoum.

This interview contains two parts. The first focuses on writer and John Henry Faulk biographer, Michael Burton, in which Burton discusses John Henry Faulk’s life as an American storyteller as well as his book entitled “John Henry Faulk: The Making of a Liberated Mind.” Burton makes mention of how the Hollywood Blacklist affected Faulk’s career.

Author Madeleine L’Engle discusses her book “A Wrinkle in Time”, a young adult novel that wrestles with spirituality, science fiction, and fantasy. L’Engle discusses how difficult it was for publishers to see her writing as young-adult, as she was often told adolescence would not be able to handle these challenging topics. This program includes an excerpt of a 1961 interview with Madeleine L’Engle in which she discusses the difference between fact and fiction, or lack thereof, in children’s literature.

Lawrence Weschler discusses his book “Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder” and the Museum of Jurassic Technology. Weschler discusses the director of this museum, David Hildebrand Wilson, and the surreal and often humorous exhibits on display in the museum. Studs plays "Suite Anglaise No. 2 in A Minor: II. Bourrée 1 et 2" - Jean-Frédéric Neuburger.

Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, psychiatrist and psycho-historian, discusses the acceptance and embrace of nuclear disaster, doctors' opposition to nuclear weapons, difference in Americans' and Europeans' opposition to nuclear weapons, psychological impact of nuclear bombings in Japan, and the mental disconnect experienced by those who build atomic weapons who then see the bombs' effects.

Dr. Jacob Bronowski, a mathematician and philosopher, discusses how the study of science has changed since the onset of government regulation or the military industrial complex. He also talks about humanity and explains how humans are the best species and therefore should come together to continue progress instead of killing each other. Content Warning: This conversation has the presence of outdated, biased, offensive language.

Evolution and the future of the human race are among topics in Carl Sagan's and Ann Druyan's book, "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are." Included is an excerpt of the astronomer Harlow Shapley speaking at the beginning. Carl Sagan also reads an excerpt from the book at the end.