Michael York went from Shakespeare to “Cabaret”and “Austin Powers” and back again to Shakespeare. This discussion from the late ’90s attempts to define the nature of the actor’s art and to show how it can be mastered.

Religious historian Stephen Prothero joined us in 2007 to discuss his just-published book on religious illiteracy. The conversation begins with a quiz testing what people do or don’t know about the major religions. You can test yourself, get your grade and then go on to a quite informative conversation about religion in national and international politics.

The broadcasters, stations, talent, programs and sponsors of early radio – with lots of illustrative sound clips, and beginning with the coverage of the national election of 1920!

The ultimate “achiever” in western history may well have been Napoleon. Here, in 2006, two historians examine his astonishing career and its consequences for the history that followed.

Charles Murray locates some 4000 eminent persons and asks of the available biographical data: what explains their super-significant contributions? His answers in this 2003 conversation, are fascinating and surprising.