Stephen S. Hall, author of "Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience," talks about the ability we have to change the activity in our brain by exercising it like a muscle.  The full interview from a 2010 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts.

Roya Hakakian, author of "Journey from the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran," talks about what it was like to live through the Iran revolution, how everything changed later on, and how difficult it was for her father to leave everything behind in coming to America.  The full interview from a 2004 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: royahakakian.com.

Jennifer Haigh, author of "The Condition," talks about how a woman named Gwen with Turner's syndrome overcomes unusual obstacles that come along with the diagnosis, and how her mother and father struggle to protect and raise their daughter.  The full interview from a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: jennifer-haigh.com.

Lev Grossman, author of "The Magicians," talks about the difference between Quentin Coldwater, the main character in his novel, from that of Harry Potter.  The full interview from a 2009 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: levgrossman.com.

Linda Greenlaw, author of "Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea," reads an expert from the book illustrating her relationship with swordfish and what they are all about.  The full interview from a 2010 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: lindagreenlawbooks.com.

Amy Greene, author of "Bloodroot," reads several short excerpts from the novel set on remote Bloodroot Mountain within the eastern Tennessee mountains.  The full interview from a 2010 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts.

Peter Greenberg, author of "Hotel Secrets from the Travel Detective: Insider Tips on Getting the Best Value, Service, and Security in Accomodations from Bed-and-Breakfasts to Five-Star Resorts," talks about how a traveler can find the best deal for a hotel room by calling hotels directly.  The full interview from a 2005 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts.

Joe Gores, author of "Glass Tiger," discusses an excerpt of the novel in which an assassination was attempted on a newly-elected President, and how American politics changed over the years in how many elected officials stay in public office for their entire lives.  The full interview from a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts.

Linda Gordon, American Historian and Author of "Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyond Limits," talks about how photographer Dorothea Lange helped show that documentary photography could also be art, and also discusses Lange's unique ability to capture her subject's natural state.  The full interview from a 2009 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts.

Allegra Goodman, author of the novel "Intuition," talks about the pressure that scientists in the book face in order to fund their important research projects at their independent science labs.  The full interview from a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: allegragoodman.com.