We are delighted to continue our Checkpoint Charlie series with author, sportswriter, and liberal blogger for Esquire.com Mr. Charles Pierce. Paul and Charlie talked politics, and of course, music.

We had a delightful chat with the Texas Songbird, Ms. Carolyn Hester. Carolyn is a legendary folksinger. She recorded with Norman Petty (Buddy Holly’s producer), the Clancy Brothers, and John Hammond, Sr. for Columbia Records. It was at one of those sessions that Hammond discovered Bob Dylan. Hear that story and more in this great interview.

We had a great chat with Pat Thomas, musician, author, and record guy, about the new book he helped publish, “Zapped By the God of Absurdity-the Best of Paul Krassner.” We talked about Krassner, Pat’s history, and played a few tracks by Pat’s band Mushroom.