The new president of Hunter College, Nancy Cantor, is a champion of “social infrastructure.” Here’s how to recognize it: “It’s a public good. Everybody uses it, nobody owns it.” Cantor also discusses Central Park’s Great Lawn and an Anita Hill op-ed.

This week's episode features a fascinating conversation with Zalmen Mlotek and Steven Skybell, who share insights into their work on “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish, a triumph of heritage and performance. Mlotek recalls how Isaac Bashevis Singer once called his mother the "Sherlock Holmes of Yiddish songs," a tribute to her dedication to preserving this rich tradition. The podcast is presented by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, with special mentions of Joel Grey, The Museum of Jewish Heritage, and three volumes of Yiddish songs that have helped shape their musical journey. Plus, Randy reflects on Achilles and Athena in his "People" segment.

Actor Charles Busch says “My life was a bit like the plot of Auntie Mame.” Busch has stories about Linda Lavin, Christopher Isherwood, Lily Tomlin, Angela Landsbury, Vivien Leigh, Marlene Dietrich, and tells us about Gritti Palace, Venice. Plus, he sings.

Conservationist and adventurer Peter Fong led an expedition down Mongolia’s Selenge River, described in his book “Rowing to Baikal.” “To me the river is like a god, a god that I can be in conversation with. I feel like it’s alive. I don’t always understand it, but I don’t understand god either.” A conversation at the Explorers Club.

In addition to being a much admired writer, Ann Patchett owns Parnassus Books in Nashville. “Because I own a bookstore, I get a copy of just about every book that comes out. It’s like being pelted to death with books,” she says. Patchett tells us about Meg Mason, her bookstore, and her father’s watch.

Movie and TV writer Andy Breckman, creator of “Monk,” shares his love for public radio, tells us about Ken Freedman and his place, his local movie theater. Tune in to hear Breckman’s stories and how he has a show on his public radio station.

Jelani Cobb is the dean of Columbia University’s school of journalism and a staff writer for “The New Yorker.” “When people ask what I think is the foundational institution of democracy, I always say: the public library.” Cobb tells us about David Levering Lewis and the Queens Public Library.

To be a great architect — or painter or poet or almost anything — do you need a great patron? Certainly that helps, but according to architects Sara Caples and Everardo Jefferson, you have to bring the talent and vision and invention. The conversation takes places at the Louis Armstrong Center, a building they designed.

Now what? Post-election ideas from political thinker Norman Ornstein astute about structural changes — size of congressional districts, term limits for Supreme Court justices — that can make our democracy more democratic.

Architect and urban planner Vishaan Chakrabarti strives to address broader problems in his designs—climate change, housing costs, income inequality—and to “create civic delight.” That word "delight" is seldom applied to the current Penn Station.