Q&A

Former college president and longtime educator John Agresto discusses his newest book "The Death of Learning: How American education has failed our Students and What to Do about it." Dr. Agresto is a passionate champion of liberal arts education at both the high school and college level. He makes the case that political correctness and an emphasis on skills-based degrees has devalued the liberal arts. He asks how we can build contemporary liberal arts programs that educate students and benefit our society.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, writer Javier Zamora describes the treacherous, three-thousand-mile journey he made from El Salvador to the United States when he was just nine years old. Led by coyotes, he and a group of strangers made three perilous attempts to cross into the US. Javier's parents, who had earlier migrated to California to escape the violence at home, had no idea for weeks if their only child was still alive. In his debut poetry collection, Unaccompanied, and now in his bestselling memoir Solito, Javier Zamora explains that his goal is to personalize the immigration story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Appalachian Region of Eastern Kentucky has been ravaged by coal mine closings, opioid overdoses, floods, and public corruption. In this episode, Alan Maimon, a former reporter for the Lousiville Courier-Journal, talks about his book "Twilight in Hazard" which explores the impacts on the city of Hazard, Kentucky. He also talks about "Hillbilly Elegy," J.D. Vance's bestselling book about Appalachia, and Donald Trump's popularity in the region.      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hal Brands, professor of global affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and co-author of "Danger Zone," argues that the superpower competition between the U.S. and China will reach its most dangerous point during this decade. He talks about the strategy that the Chinese government is pursuing to achieve global dominance and what the U.S. and other global powers are doing, or should be doing, to curb China's influence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investigative reporters Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins, co-authors of "Salmon Wars," take a critical look at the commercial salmon farming industry, which now provides 90 percent of the salmon consumed by North Americans. They argue that these large-scale salmon hatcheries threaten the environment and produce fish that are unhealthy for humans to eat.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey all you teachers and all you parents, and all you professors and all you students: Season #2 of the C-SPAN in the Classroom podcast drops this fall!Whether you're mowing the yard, on a peaceful weekend drive, or just relaxing on the couch with your favorite blanket, make sure to tune in to the first episode of Season #2 of C-SPAN in the Classroom on September 10th, available at c-span.org, on the free C-SPAN Now app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Make sure to like, subscribe, and share, and visit us at www.c-span.org/classroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Q&A on a short break, we're sampling a few of C-SPAN's other podcasts...this week an episode of "The Weekly" podcast. C-SPAN says farewell to colorful British Prime Minster Boris Johnson by joining him at the movies. The American movies. We remember how he mixed policy and politics with references to American cinema classics such as The Terminator, The Godfather, Star Wars, Scarface, and many more Hollywood offerings -- not least of which, the Muppet Movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Q&A on a short break, we're sampling a few of C-SPAN's other podcasts...this week Booknotes+...According to Beverley Driver Eddy, little has been written about Camp Ritchie, Maryland. Dickinson College retired professor Eddy says in her book "Ritchie Boy Secrets" that on June 19, 1942, the U.S. Army opened a secret military intelligence training center. Over the next four years, it produced some 20,000 graduates, intelligence and language specialists, for service in World War Two. Some of the famous names of men who were Ritchie Boys include J.D. Salinger, former senators John Chafee and Frank Church, David Rockefeller, and Reverend William Sloan Coffin.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Q&A on a short break, we're sampling a few of C-SPAN's other podcasts...this week...you'll hear an episode of Presidential Recordings.In this episode, we hear calls between the POTUS members of Congress. Topics include the publication of The Pentagon Papers, and The War in Vietnam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Q&A on a short break, we're sampling a few of C-SPAN's other podcasts...this week, political consultant Kellyanne Conway was the first woman to manage a winning presidential campaign. She shared insights into the 2016 campaign and her time in the Trump administration and offered her thoughts on the media and the political climate in America. She was interviewed by former Democratic Party interim chair and author Donna Brazile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices