Journalist Bob Greene joins Studs Terkel to talk about his book “Billion Dollar Baby” and about his experience on tour with rock and roll band Alice Cooper. Greene talks about the band’s inception and their grotesque performance style, and comments on society’s (particularly the youth’s) acceptance and adoration of this band despite their violent message, and the irony of that adoration. Studs connects the band’s success to the society’s acceptance to the Vietnam War.

Sandra Lieb discusses the book "Mother of the Blues: A Study of Ma Rainey." Includes songs sung by Ma Rainey such as "Runaway Blues," "See See Rider," "Moonshine Blues," and "Oh, Papa Blues." Includes poem "Ma Rainey" by Sterling Brown. Includes "Oh, Daddy," by Ethel Waters. Includes "Young Woman's Blues" by Bessie Smith.

Studs Terkel discusses life in the Vietnam era with children from Father Charles Pond's St. Timothy Episcopal Church Parish in Chicago. Rose is the featured speaker at 16 years of age she is no longer in school but is very well spoken. Acknowledging that people with mental illnesses are not always able to make sound decisions which are needed for individuals to make group decisions. She sees one of the problems in the world being that people are losing their individuality to a group mentality.

Licia Albanese discusses her performance preparations, advice to young new opera singers, the conductor techniques from Fausto Cleva, and the late Arturo Toscanini.

Studs Terkel interviews Lawrence "Bud" Freeman about his career in jazz.

Aaron Copland discusses his music, his colleagues, contemporaries, musicians, and composers.

Studs Terkel interviews soprano Teresa Stich-Randall about her musical performances of Don Giovanni. Some of the interview is spoken in German.

Studs Terkel sits down to interview American Violinist Isaac Stern. Stern performs for Terkel on the radio.

Terkel comments and presents a musical performance of the Kronos Quartet

Bill Russo talks about the commedia dell'arte production being staged at the Center for New Music at Columbia College Chicago. The production includes two pieces, "Pedrolino's Revenge" and "Isabella's Fortune".