Architect John Vinci, art and architectural historian David Van Zanten, and curator Wim de Wit discuss Louis Sullivan and the Chicago Historical Society’s exhibition “Louis Sullivan: The Function of Ornament.” The group discusses Sullivan’s use of ornament to add an organic element to his architecture; as well as some of Sullivan’s most prominent work, including the Chicago Stock Exchange Building, the Auditorium Building, and the Sullivan Center. This program includes a clip from 1956 of Frank Lloyd Wright discussing Sullivan and his impact on architectural design.

Ray Patlan and Mark Rogovin discuss mural art and the community engagement surrounding this artform. This program includes an audio clip of passers by commenting on the 1967 unveiling of Pablo Picasso’s Chicago sculpture and what they think it represents and the conversations it is meant to evoke. Studs reads Pete Seeger's introduction from Mark Rogovin, Marie Burton, and Holly Highfill’s book “Mural manual: How to paint murals for the classroom, community center, and street corner.”

Union official Ed Sadlowski, along with Joe Gutierrez, discusses the changing culture and values of union workers, their families, and management with Studs Terkel.

Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko discusses his book "Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago" and its subject, former Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley.

Non-fiction author Carl Smith discusses his latest work which focuses on the history of Chicago. Topics covered include labor movements, specifically the Pullman strike and the 1970's case trial with the Chicago Seven.

Norman Pellegrini interviews Studs Terkel to discuss his life and career as a radio personality. Studs recalls a specific moment walking through the streets of Chicago and hearing blues music coming through the window of someone’s home. As Studs recalls, this moment is one that jump-started his interest in music and radio and inspired him to leave his life of studying law and move into the unknown of music radio. Technical engineer and producer of the show, Jim Unrath, joins the conversation to recount previous interviews and programs of Studs'.

Bandleader, jazz musicologist and composer James Dapogny discusses his work in reviving the sound and art of jazz. Dapogny's work is mainly associated with his group James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band and his career in publishing lost works of Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton.

Dr. Young talks about his policy about addictive medications at Cook County Hospital, and about the financially driven connections between pharmaceutical companies and doctors.

A reporter for WMAQ-TV, an NBC affiliate, Pat Thompson talks about her background and her TV reporting career. Ms. Thompson loved to read books, to be in other locales. Going into TV was the result of realizing she received her news mostly from the television.