Alan Chartock has interviewed lawmakers, newsmakers, and tastemakers of all stripes. Presented here is a selection of these conversations. They are among the most popular, most profound, and above all, the most informative conversations that Dr. Chartock has recorded.

Ken Burns
Celebrated documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has been directing and producing films for over 25-years.His 1990 mini-series for Public Television The Civil War became the first documentary to gross over $100-million dollars. His work has been honored with Emmy awards, Academy Award nominations and several other distinctions, and has earned him a reputation as a dynamic and pioneering filmmaker.

 

Jeffrey Deskovic and David Kaczynski
Jeffrey Deskovic was convicted in 1990 at age 16 of raping and murdering a high school classmate. In 2006 Deskovic's conviction was overturned and he was released. David Kaczynski is the Executive Director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, a coalition of individuals and organizations who seek abolition of capital punishment.

 

Ralph Nader
Alan Chartock and presidential candidate Ralph Nader engage in a heated discussion about Nader's effect on the outcome of the 2004 election. Alan also brings up the 2000 election, which elicits a sharp response from Nader. This very special edition of WAMC's Capitol Connection program shows a side of Nader rarely seen, as he and Alan duke it out on a variety of issues. It is likely that this interview will be remembered by both Nader fans and foes alike for years to come.

 

Greg Palast
BBC nvestigative journalist Greg Palast is back to talk about the 2004 Presidential election and how he has documents to back up that this election was stolen. He also talks about the war in Iraq.

 

Tom Paxton
BBC nvestigative journalist Greg Palast is back to talk about the 2004 Presidential election and how he has documents to back up that this election was stolen. He also talks about the war in Iraq.

 

Scott Ritter
Scott Ritter is well known to listeners of WAMC and around the world as one of the most vocal critics of U-S foreign policy in the Middle East. Ritter served from 1991 to 1998 as a United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq. He was chief inspector in fourteen of the more than thirty inspection missions in which he participated. Ritter repeatedly stated that Iraq possessed no significant weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Because of the prevailing political climate in the United States at the time, Ritter was widely condemned for this position, which later proved to be largely accurate. An addtional conversation with Mr. Ritter is available by clicking here.

 

Earl Scruggs and Rosanne Cash
In this archive edtion of WAMC's "In Conversation with..." series, Alan first speaks with bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs. In the second half hour, Alan talk with country music star Rosanne Cash. Earl Scruggs is considered by many to be the greatest banjo player alive. A pioneer of the three finger technique on the 5 string banjo, Scruggs rose to fame as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. Grammy winner Rosanne Cash is the daughter of the late country music great Johnny Cash. Since her appearance on the national music scene in the late 1970's, Rosanne Cash has blurred the lines between Country, Rock, Folk and Blues music.