Studs Terkel comments on folk music entertainers Stever Goodman and John Prine. He discusses a little about their life and names a variety of their song titles. The musical performances have been erased from this edited version of the recording. Includes an excerpt from a previous interview with John Prine who speaks about his grandfather and a song he wrote about him.

The opening song is a rebroadcast from a previous recording with Studs Terkel. John Prine talks about his family history in Paradise, Kentucky and when he was born and raised in Maywood, Illinois (Chicago Greater Area). Prine is known for humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs with social commentary, or which recollect melancholy tales from his life. All the songs are played in the studio from his albums "John Prine" and "Diamonds in the Rough"

Studs and John briefly discuss coal mining in Appalachia, specifically Blackey, Kentucky. Includes an interview with Joe Begley a coal miner from Blackey.

Maggie Kuhn, founder of the Gray Panthers, discusses the elderly and nursing homes. Kuhn notes the separation we currently see of older generations from the rest of the population, often in the form of separate housing and how this only enforces negative stigmas of the elderly. Studs plays "Hello in There" - John Prine (1971) and "Me and Bobby McGee" - Janis Joplin (1971) which have been removed due to copyright.

The chair of General Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago, Dr. Christine K. Cassel, discusses gerontology and the problems the field currently faces, such as patient access to, and knowledge of, healthcare. Dr. Cassel is a strong advocate for giving agency back to the patient, primarily by allowing the patient to become knowledgeable of their own health in order to promote successful aging and self-sufficiency when confronted with health concerns. Studs plays “Hello In There” - John Prine (1971).

In order to write her book, "Nobody Ever Died of Old Age", Sharon R. Curtin went undercover and pretended to be interested in nursing homes in order to visit the facilities. Curtin's book also offers praise for older people and outrage for their loneliness.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

In his book, "Home From the War: Learning from Vietnam Veterans", Robert Jay Lifton reflects on what he's learned from talking with soldiers who came home from the Vietnam War. For some men, guilt and betrayal were common issues -- guilt in what they had done while in Vietnam and betrayal of what their superiors and the government had told them about the war itself.

Interviewing Maggie Kuhn of the Gray Panthers about the roles of senior citizens and the welfare of the aged in the United States. Kuhn talks about how society thinks once a person has retired, he or she is set aside or put to pasture. To the contrary, older people have a lot to offer with their wisdom, their knowledge and their experiences, says Kuhn.

The author and photographer discusses companionship, intimacy, friendship, and love among the abled and disabled, as further described in his book, Incurably Romantic.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations