From the archives: Andrew Blechman, author of "Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird."

We preview the Racine Theater Guild's production of Jonathan Larsen's RENT, which opens tonight, with music director Rob Kroes and music director Mary Leigh Sturino.

Today's conversation is about new ways to farm that can be enormously restorative to both our soil and water. Nan Calvert's guests are Kirsten Jurcek from Glacierland Resource Conversation and Development - and Paul Maggio, who owns and operates Starry Nights Farm in Burlington- and is the leader of the Kenosha Regenerative Producers Group, talking about the benefits of regenerative farming practices (such as rotational grazing, no-till farming, and more.)

Jonathan Scott, author of "Into the Groove: The Story of Sound from Tin Foil to Vinyl." Plus a Podcast exclusive- a survey of some noteworthy early recordings.

Robert L. Harris, author of "Returning Light: 30 Years on the Island of Skellig Michael."

We catch up with Kristen Singer and Carly Mikula (who were on the program on June 14th) - talking about Carly's thrilling experience of singing in the Jimmys, an event in New York City featuring 96 exceptionally talented high school music theater students from all across the country. Carly ended up being named a semi-finalist.

From 2006- Vivian Goldman, author of "The Book of Exodus- The Making and Meaning of Bob Marley and the Wailers' Album of the Century." (The interview is followed by the title track from the album.)

From 2007 - Jane Stern and Michael Stern, co-authors of "Two for the Road: Our Love Affair with American Food." UPDATE: The Sterns divorced about a year after this interview was recorded- but they continue to write as a team.

In memory of Oscar and Tony Award-winning actor Alan Arkin, who died on June 29th at the age of 89, we replay a 2011 interview we recorded after the publication of "Alan Arkin- An Improved Life: A Memoir."

We preview this Saturday's Secret Garden Walk in Kenosha with Lynda Guttormsen Guy, past president and publicist for the Four Seasons Garden Club, and Tim Garland, owner of Garland Alliance (landscape architects/ sustainable land management) whose own home garden is part of this year's tour - and who designed the St. Matthew's Lakefront ElderGarten, which is a bonus offering on the tour.