Hey, it's Anna. Here in the U.S., it's now after Labor Day during a presidential election year.

And that means that over the coming months, all of us are going to be barraged with messages about what it means to be an American and about the problems and potential of our government.

When I reflect on that, it's not long before I think about this conversation

between Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Sonia Manzano, the actor you might know as

Maria from Sesame Street. This was recorded back when I was on maternity leave in 2016, so it was

the rare occasion I got to discover an episode as a listener first, and I can still remember where I was when I first heard it.

It's really special, so we're sharing it with you again. Enjoy.

Through and through, I'm a lawyer and a judge, but my life experiences do permit me to see things that others may not.

This is death, sex, and money.

Biford, don't you remember we told you? Mr. Hooper died.

The show from WNYC about the things we think about a lot.

You do still love each other, don't you?

And need to talk about more.

I'm sad because I need more money.

I'm Sonia Manzano in for Anna Seale.

Last year, I was a guest on this show.

It was right around the time that I announced my retirement from

Sesame Street, where I played the role of Maria for more than 40 years.

Hi, Snuffy.

Hi, Maria.

And I just finished writing my memoir called Becoming Maria Love and Chaos in the South Bronx.

When the death, sex, and money team asked me to come back and guest host an episode

...