I'm Krista Tippett.

Today we remember legendary interviewer Studs Terkel, who chronicle decades of ordinary

life and tumultuous change in American culture until his recent passing at the age of 96.

I sat down with Studs Terkel at his Chicago home a few years ago and drew out his wisdom

and warmth on large existential themes of life and death.

A lifelong agnostic, Studs Terkel also shared his thoughts on religion as he'd observed

it in his conversation partners in our culture and in his own encounters with loss and mortality.

I happen to be an agnostic.

You are an agnostic, don't you?

Cowardly atheist.

I must not believe in any after life.

I do believe in this life and what can do in this life is what it's all about.

This is speaking of faith, stay with us.

This public radio podcast is supported by the Fetzer Institute as part of its campaign

for Love and Forgiveness online at loveandforgive.org.

I'm Krista Tippett.

He was called the man who interviews America, a legendary character.

This hour we explore the late Studs Terkel's accumulated wisdom on the big questions of

life, loss and mortality.

A contented agnostic, he believed that taking death seriously means taking life seriously.

From American public media, this is speaking of faith, public radio's conversation about

religion, meaning, ethics and ideas.

...