The Roundtable

National Book Award-winning author, Jonathan Kozol, has been working with children in inner-city schools for nearly fifty years and has been called “today’s most eloquent spokesman for America’s disenfranchised.”

His latest book is Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America.

Election Day is just seven weeks away, and the President and Governor Romney are working to convince swing voters -- and swing states -- to support them. Our Question of the Day: have you already made up your mind, and if not, what could change it before you vote?

We speak with Robert Sullivan about his new book, My American Revolution.

WAMC’s folk music program, “The Hudson River Sampler,” has been hosted by Wanda Fischer on the WAMC airwaves since September 18, 1982 and is one of the longest, continuously-running radio programs in the Northeast, hitting the 30-year mark with an on-air celebration planned for Saturday, September 15 from 8-10 pm. We welcome Wanda to the show to talk about her show's big 3-0!

On Tuesday, September 18th, Los Angeles based singer-songwriter, Eleni Mandell, will open for Nick Lowe at The Egg in Albany, NY.

Tune for Today: "Who You Gonna Dance With"

The Democrats’ convention in Charlotte brought a disparate party together under one roof. In today’s Congressional Corner, Vermont representative Peter Welch tells Alan Chartock that he saw enthusiasm for President Obama at the convention.

In Kat Rosenfield’s debut novel, Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, we’re brought into the lives of two young women who are trying to escape their circumstances. They both have bright futures, but only one has a chance to follow her dreams. Though Becca plans to move forward, she’s obsessed with the mysterious death of Amelia Anne and is reevaluating everything and everyone around her.

For over 3-decades, Doc Severinsen was the band leader for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The show ruled the night air for 30 years, until it came to an end in May 1992. Since then, Severinsen has been on the road, selling out tour dates and making great music.

The College of Saint Rose presents Doc Severinsen and the San Miguel 5 in concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Massry Center for the Arts in Albany on the St. Rose campus.

The Sharon Springs Harvest Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday in Sharon Springs, New York. The annual event, run by Beekman 1802, celebrates the magic of small town America with a Harvest Hop, a Harvest Feast, a Farmer’s Market and more!

We speak with Amanda Coplin about her debut novel, The Orchardist: A Novel. She will read from and sign the book at Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA on Monday, September 17th.