The co-founder of Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater talks about his goal to show that first-rate productions can be made outside of New York. He goes on to describe the importance of regional theater and funding for the arts.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The American author and journalist reads from and discusses his book, The Last Best Hope.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The singer, songwriter, and folk music ambassador returns to the States after a worldwide tour, and shares with Studs some of his experiences.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The English actress and the founding director of Chicago's Court Theatre discuss their staging of John Osborne's The Entertainer and the demise of music hall tradition as metaphor for the waning of the British Empire.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Paul Wilkes discusses his book, Trying Out the Dream: a Year in the Life of an American Family, about a blue-collar worker and his family adapting to suburban life in the 1970s.  Includes a clip from an interview with steelworker Mike Lefevre.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The founder and director of Chicago's Free Street Theater joins Studs to talk about bringing contemporary theater to the communities, especially those that don't ordinarily get out to theaters.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Choral director Noah Greenberg previews a performance of The Play of Herod at The University of Chicago's Rockefeller Chapel.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

In his book, Make-Believe Presidents: Illusions of Power from McKinley to Carter, the American journalist Nicholas von Hoffman examines which presidents had power and which did not.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Discussing comedy, humor, and politics with comedian Mort Sahl, upon the publication of his book, Heartland. Includes a clip from Studs' interview with Sahl in 1960.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The novelist and book publisher discusses his book, The Wallpaper Fox, part of a trilogy of novels about the privileged classes of New Haven, Connecticut.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The scholar of Irish music and bardic literature discusses some of the history behind the ancient poems and songs.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Studs visits with Mary Frances Rhymer, widow of radio scriptwriter and humorist Paul Rhymer, to reminisce about the long-running daily radio series Vic and Sade.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The English actor and singer talks about his performance in Edward Bond's The Sea, at The Goodman Theatre, which would end up being his final role on stage.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The American folk singer and political activist shares a bit of her personal history and some insight into her songwriting inspirations. Studs asks about her songs "Tungsten," "The Albatross," "D.D.T.," and "Little Boxes."*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Studs talks to the longtime literary critic, editor, and historian about his life, as told through the memoir, And I Worked at the Writer's Trade, as well as a previous book, Exile's Return: A Literary Odyssey of the 1920s.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations