The popular philosopher and bestselling author Alain de Botton of The Consolations of Philosophy and How Proust Can Change Your Life presents a deeply provocative argument for benefiting from the wisdom and power of religion—without having to “believe” in any of it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:52 — 26.0MB)

Glee‘s Sue Sylvester
In conversation with San Francisco Chronicle‘s David Wiegand

Calling all Gleeks! Since its debut, Glee has become a bona fide cultural phenomenon. Now in its third season, the award-winning musical comedy has broken the record for the most single entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:59 — 25.6MB)

In conversation with Daniel Matt

Poet Peter Cole brings his remarkable gifts as a translator and scholar of Hebrew poetry to the world of Jewish mystical literature in his new book of mystical poems in translation, The Poetry of Kabbalah.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:56 — 25.6MB)

With Jonathan Safran Foer, Nathan Englander and Daniel Handler

In conversation with Nathaniel Deutsch

The Haggadah—the sacred story of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt—has been read around the Seder table as part of the Jewish celebration of Passover for hundreds of years. Now, Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything Is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) orchestrates a new way of experiencing and understanding this text. His unique and absorbing rendition is beautifully designed and illustrated by the acclaimed Israeli artist and calligrapher Oded Ezer with a new translation by Nathan Englander (For the Relief of Unbearable Urges), and brings together some of the pre-eminent voices of our time with provocative commentary by major Jewish writers and thinkers, including Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), Nathaniel Deutsch, Jeffrey Goldberg and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:21:10 — 37.2MB)

In conversation with Peter Stein

The idiosyncratic writer, filmmaker and performance artist is best known for her quirky films Me and You and Everyone We Know and most recently The Future. Her latest book It Chooses You explores the richness of people’s lives through their personal items found on sale in classified ads.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:15 — 22.5MB)

Why did the Nazis save a trove of books from seventeenth-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza’s personal library? What did they want with the books of a Jewish thinker whom they reviled? Acclaimed psychotherapist and bestselling author Dr. Irvin Yalom (When Nietzsche Wept) unravels the origins and meaning of this mystery in his new novel, The Spinoza Problem.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:20 — 23.5MB)

Featuring Joyce Carol Oates and Benjamin Taylor with Peter Orner

Gain insights into the lasting legacy of Saul Bellow, whose works include The Adventures of Augie March, Henderson the Rain King and Herzog. Author Benjamin Taylor has edited Bellow’s prolific collection of personal letters into Saul Bellow: Letters. He joins acclaimed writer Joyce Carol Oates in a discussion of this brilliant and complex artist. Peter Orner (Love and Shame and Love) hosts.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:28 — 28.1MB)