I'm Alan Alda, and this is clear and vivid conversations about connecting and communicating.

A lot of what I do in my life, including this podcast, had its roots in TV shows.

For 11 years, as the host of Scientific American Frontiers on PBS,

I learned a lot about interviewing in conversations with hundreds of scientists.

But even before that was another show that had an 11-year run.

Music Before that was another show that had an 11-year run. MASH went on the air in 1972, and it changed the lives of all of us who played in it.

I learned a lot on that show, and not just about theatrical skills.

The idea that good communication begins with how we relate to the other person was something I began to understand while I was acting

on MASH. So we really felt we had to do an episode of Clear and Vivid, where I could get together

with our gang of actors and talk about how we learned to relate

the way we did. It took some doing because we were all spread out around the country by then.

We connected through phone and internet, and as soon as we heard one another's voices,

the kidding and laughing kicked in again. We're replaying that episode now.

Here from 2019 are Mike Farrell, Gary Berghoff, Jamie Farr,

and Loretta Switt, who's no longer with us,

but who comes back in this recording for one more curtain call.

Jamie, Jamie, it's good to see you. How you doing? Hi, sweetie. Okay, wait, let's not leave it in the dressing room. Let's get the other guy on. Oh, here comes the great Mike Farrell. Hey, bro. Hey, kiddo. How you doing? I'm good, thank you. I'm good. Now, Gary, do we have him on the phone?

Hello.

Hello, Gary.

There he is.

Hi, Gar.

Hi, how are you?

...