Loren Baritz, Executive Vice President of Empire State College (part of the State University of New York), discusses the purpose of higher education and the relationship between higher education and work. Topics of discussion include the current state of student apathy driven by economic insecurity, vocationalism, the structure of higher education institutions, and how the generation gap affects learning. Baritz also discusses the redefining of work in American culture and ideas for making liberal arts education more relevant to work.

Discussing the book "There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing up in the Other America" with author Alex Kotlowitz. Includes excerpt from WFMT doumentary, "Born to Live".

Content Warning: This conversation includes racially and/or culturally derogatory language and/or negative depictions of Black and Indigenous people of color, women, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Rather than remove this content, we present it in the context of twentieth-century social history to acknowledge and learn from its impact and to inspire awareness and discussion. Almost all the characters in Robert Kotlowitz's book, "The Boardwalk" are fictitious with the exception of Teddy, a Jewish, 14-year-old boy, who Kotlowitz explains is Robert Kotlowitz.

The biographer discusses the early life of comedian Groucho Marx, his stage career, his brothers, and their mother/manager, all further described in the book, Hello, I Must be Going: Groucho & His Friends.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The investigative journalist and culinary historian talk about how the pleasures of eating have been affected not just by packaging and mass production, but also by the fanciful tastes of television chefs. They discuss with Studs their book, The Taste of America.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The American author of fiction and nonfiction talks about her memoir, Minor Characters, and the time that she spent with Jack Kerouac and the other artists that made up the Beat Generation. The program includes clips from an earlier conversation with Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, and Peter Orlovsky.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The English writer discusses her semi-autobiographical novel, The Long Way Home (Keepers of the House), loosely based on some of her life experiences, having been married to a Venezuelan man and having lived and worked on a farm.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The British poet takes on the 1981 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas as the setting for his book, The Biggest Game in Town. He and Studs talk about the many people that inhabit Las Vegas at any given time - the tourists, the gamblers, the professional poker players, and everyone else.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The history professor shares some of the voices that are collected in his book, Down and Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the Forgotten Man. Included in the program are clips from interviews with working mother Jane Yoder, Chicagoan Clifford Burke, Appalachian resident Peggy Terry, and Virginia Durr of Montgomery, Alabama.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Discussing the book, "Free schools," and interviewing the author Jonathan Kozol. Jonathon Kozol also discusses education. Includes interview clip of Kermit Eby.