To define genius may be madness, but our guests – a nascent professor of English and, of all things, an economist – take on the challenge. The guiding theme is that the burning brilliance of the young genius and the steadiness of the Old Master are virtually non-overlapping. The argument in this 2006 conversation is illustrated by quotations from great poets and novelists, and audio from some films by genius-level movie directors.

The French really do admit getting joy out of life. Two who seem to make that claim with authenticity are Mirais Guiliano, author of “French Women Don’t Get Fat,” and Dominick Toigne, Parisian chef. Here in 2006 they ruminate joyfully on cuisine and then wander into the sociology or philosophy of actual real life in modern yet still-traditional France.

Scott Berg at the age of 33 had a scheduled interview with Hepburn which turned out to be a close friendship that lasted till her death. He then went on to do an insightful and fascinating biography of her as “one smart cookie” who managed to be a movie star for 60 years. Here is our 2003 conversation, including one delightful clip from “The Philadelphia Story.”

That is the actual title of a wonderful book of short stories by  Joseph Epstein who is, in fact, a good friend of the host. Interestingly, one of his best known books is titled “Friendship: An Expose.” He is as well one of the great talkers and story tellers – as is well evident in this conversation from 2003.

All you need to know about the English language is to be found in the great Oxford dictionary, except the tale of the strange genius who conceived and organized it and the many unusual assistants – including a murderer and a madman – who worked with him. All of that is to be found in Simon Winchester’s book on the subject and in this extended 2003 conversation.