Added 11.27.18. Here in the fast and furious times of late 2018, the Catholic Church’s priest sex scandal has led to intensifying debate about the legitimacy of the faith itself. But, argues one current analyst in The Federalist, it’s a problem of conduct, not doctrine. There remains much that is timeless and beneficial – and yes, ripe for change – within Catholicism, it’s present-day supporters posit. In this episode from several years back, Milt with three guests explores the nature of the Catholic faith, current issues facing the church, and why and how it is that Catholic schools can be so effective in raising the bar on academic expectations and performance for at-risk minority youth. He is joined by Patrick McCloskey, author of “The Street Stops Here: A Year At A Catholic High School In Harlem;” former Canadian broadcaster Michael Coren, author of “Why Catholics Are Right;” and Rev. Thomas Baima, then Vice-Rector of Mundelein Seminary and author of “What Is A Parish? Canonical, Pastoral And Theological Perspectives.”

Added 10.16.18. Milt interviews celebrated playwright, author and essayist David Mamet in 2006 upon the publication of Mamet’s book, “The Wicked Son: Anti-Semitism, Self-Hatred And The Jews.” The book is dedicated by Mamet, “To the Jews…whose favorite Jew is Anne Frank…who bow the head reverently at a baptism and have never attended a bris – to you, who find your religion and race repulsive, your ignorance of history a satisfaction, here is a book from your brother.” A lively and rich discussion between Mamet and Milt ensues.

Added 10.10.18. In this 2011 episode Milt talks with two authors about the 2008 financial meltdown in the U.S. and necessary course corrections going forward, as economy-builders traverse the slippery slopes of growth. One guest is Economist columnist and former Financial Times writer Philip Coggan. He is author of “Paper Promises: Debt, Money, And The New World Order.” Another is former Wall Street investment banker and hedge fund partner, later an adjunct professor at the International Affairs School of NYU, Ann Lee. She is author of “What The U.S. Can Learn From China: An Open-Minded Guide To Treating Our Greatest Competitor As Our Greatest Teacher.” Flashing forward: As of late August 2018, the U.S. public debt had grown 50 percent since this episode aired, from $14 trillion to $21 trillion. Seventy percent of that more recent U.S. public debt was owned by either the U.S. government, the U.S. Federal Reserve, or U.S. investors. The rest was owned by foreign investors, foremost those in China and Japan. Coggan accents in the episode that rising public debt means many public health care and Social Security beneficiaries will not be paid all or most of what they are owed. Meanwhile, context around China’s impressive economic growth over recent decades has advanced since the episode aired. This 2017 PBS analysis pinpoints three big risks for China: financial instability from bad lending; accelerating private de-capitalization; and growth constraints stemming from authoritarian mis-rule.

Added 10.2.18. Beware of any story that starts out like this: “A friend of my cousin’s wife’s brother’s co-worker saw this happen and could not believe it.” You probably shouldn’t believe it, either. But how tall tales become more or less accepted truth reveals much about us – and our fears, foibles and prejudices, which are all now depth-charged by light-speed digital communications. In this vintage-1986 episode Milt delves back into urban legends with their then-leading chronicler, Jan Harold Brunvand. He had just authored his third related volume, “The Mexican Pet: More New Urban Legends And Some Old Favorites.” The first two were “The Vanishing Hitchhiker” and “The Choking Doberman.” Brunvald was a professor of English at the University of Utah.

Added 7.26.18. Milt is joined in this 2010 conversation by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson, who had just authored “The Warmth Of Other Suns: The Epic Story Of America’s Great Migration.” It brings to life the travails, hopes and dreams of more than six million African-Americans who moved from the U.S. South to the cities of the north between 1915 and 1970. Wilkerson calls it one of the most under-reported stories of all time. She earlier won the Pulitzer while serving as the Chicago bureau chief for The New York Times, for feature articles on the great Midwest floods of 1993, and one about a 10-year-old boy who had to take a single-parent role to care for his four siblings.