That was the task brilliantly performed by Nobel Laureate Gary Becker, recently deceased at 83. This wide-ranging conversation with him was conducted in 2005.

With Donald Kagan of Yale University we discuss the great conflict between Athens and Sparta, as originally reported and explained by one of the generals, Thucydides, who is still regarded as “the father of history.” This 2003 conversation illuminates the causes, nature and consequences of war as they were 2,500 years ago and still are today.

Our guest is the brave woman from Somalia who has – to understate the case – courted some danger in criticizing and leaving Islam. A former member of the Dutch parliament, she has recently been disinvited as commencement speaker at Brandeis University. Her appearance on our program in 2007 is memorable for the depth of her analysis and the force of her life story.

Our guests are the former Anglican Bishop of Scotland (who lost his faith), the founder of the Jesus Seminar and two other “men of the cloth.” In this vivid 2002 discussion these four present and former clergymen trade their doubts and certainties – and their historical hypotheses about the origins and present credibility of the master narrative and modern meaning of Christianity.

Veteran members of the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists go to town with a number of classic radio scripts rendering old time radio new again. This show is from 2007.