As far back as 2007 (the year of this program) lots of American professors began expressing alarm and anger over the reduction of intellectual standards, the abandonment of “high culture” and the leftwards politicization of most American universities. Three critics joined us one memorable night in voicing the indictment and specifying the disturbing details.

…or, as the famous Albert Schweitzer put it, “Der Besuch dem Historichen Jesu.” It has occupied the full careers of many biblical scholars. One of the foremost in our time is John Dominic Crossan. He is joined in this conversation by Ray Pickett of the Lutheran School of Theology.

…whether in radio or television are provided by “voice-over actors,” many of whom pursue their special trade (it’s really a very special art!) in Chicago. Here are four of them telling the secrets of the trade, invoking their many voices and having a good gossip session one night back in 2002. One of them is the famous Joel Corey who was the snap in Kellog’s  “snap, crackle and pop.”

Here’s a famous linguist who disagrees with contemporary advocates of the simple, minimalist style whether in writing or in oratory. To the contrary, John McWhorter tells us, in this spirited conversation from 2003, that he favors and misses the “elevated speech” that once marked the public utterances of great political figures and great writers. The conversation abounds with examples of memorable quotations. A very good time was had by both guest and host.

What’s the connection? We assert nothing more than on one fine night in 2008 we did a two part program with two biographers who had done excellent and separate books about these two men of great (and incomparable) attainment. It rather makes one wish that we could get Disraeli and Buffett together in a live, trans-chronological radio discussion.