Jonathan Spence, author and Yale University history professor, talks about his book "God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan." He discusses Hong Xiuquan who believed himself to be the son of God. Spence begins his interview explores how Christianity came to China and how Hong came into contact with its teachings. He explains Hong's belief that the Qing dynasty was an enemy government that needed to be overthrown which led to the Taiping Rebellion.

David Halberstam, writer and historian, talks about his book, "The Fifties." The conversation includes Brown v. Board of Education, atomic weapons, the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, consumerism, birth control, suburbs, television and the start of the counterculture. Halberstam reads several passages from his book.

Alfred McCoy discusses the history of heroin trafficking within the context of American foreign policy.

Alfred McCoy discusses the history of heroin trafficking within the context of American foreign policy.

The American radio host discusses his part in the popularization of folk music, the fight against the blacklisting of the 1950s, and the corporatization of media outlets.*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