Added 10.24.18. Milt interviews the Peabody Award-winning film documentarist Joseph Dorman upon the 2011 release of his film, “Sholom Aleichem: Laughing In The Darkness.” To many, Aleichem is known mainly as the writer who work gave rise to “Fiddler On The Roof.” Accordingly, Dorman tells Milt, he thought of Aleichem as “a dusty Jewish humorist of the past.” But looking more closely, he says he discovered “the greatest Jewish writer of the modern era.” The conversation explores the how and why, including historical and social context of Aleichem’s work, as Jewish immigrants to the U.S. were bridging the gap between the old and new worlds. The film was one of the top-grossing documentaries of 2011. Dorman co-wrote a famed 2001 documentary on Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton; produced the 1998 documentary “Arguing The World;” and is at work on new documentaries – one about Israel and the Middle East, and another on a noted AIDS pediatrician. He teaches at NYU, and is a former PBS news magazine senior producer.

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 10.2.18. Dating to not later than the mid-90s, this episode focuses on archaeology tied to the biblical lands and times. With eminent experts rich in field-dig experience and historical perspective, Milt explores whether, in fact, the walls of Jericho really may have come tumbling down as Joshua led the attack. Or does the evidence suggest otherwise? And what about Baby Jesus? Was he really born in a manger? The larger framework around which this episode is centered is the fascinating and painstaking process by which archaeology reveals – confirms, alters, denies – historical or allegorical tales which may have been taken as truth, if not always “gospel truth.” Milt’s guests included Dennis Groh, then a Professor of the History of Christianity at Garrett Theological Seminary; and Walter Rast, then a Professor of Old Testament and Palestinian Archaeology at Valparaiso University.

Added 9.18.18. Milt in this vintage 1980 broadcast talks with noted philosopher, educator and author Mortimer Adler about his then-new book, “How To Think About God: A Guide For The 20th Century Pagan.” His central contention is that “there are rational grounds for believing that God exists.” Milt, a self-admitted “20th Century Pagan,” spars in a friendly but probing manner with Adler about how non-believers should approach the idea of God, if at all. Adler was a prolific writer and influential popular intellectual of the 20th Century. Early in his career he was appointed a professor of the philosophy of law at the University of Chicago Law School. Among many other pursuits, he later co-founded the Great Books Of The Western World program, and served as an editorial director for Encyclopedia Britannica. Among his dozens of other books were, “How To Read A Book,” “The Capitalist Manifesto,” “The Idea Of Freedom,” “Reforming Education,” and “How To Think About The Great Ideas.”

Added 9/10/18. Milt in this 2012 episode interviews popular science author Dava Sobel about the subject of her then-latest book, “A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized The Cosmos.” The Renaissance mathematician and astronomer played it cagey on proofs and details after in 1510 issuing notice that the universe revolved in fact, around the sun, not the earth, as had been long supposed. Frustratingly, he kept the details private for several decades thereafter. So how was it that he eventually came to “show his work” in 1542? Sobel in her book sandwiches a provocative fictional treatment of the subject in the form of a play, in between nonfiction sections. She and Milt explore the life and times – and informed speculation surrounding – the man behind the Heliocentric breakthrough.