This Memorial Day, we start with a new interview on the history and meaning of the holiday, then some of our recent favorite conversations:

• More than the start of summer, Memorial Day is about honoring those who died in service to the country. Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy (Henry Holt and Company, 2020), talks about the holiday's post-Civil War origin and America's contested history in general.
• Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), talks about his new book, plus offers analysis of legal news.
• Erik Singer, dialect coach for film and television, breaks down where the distinctive features of regional accents originate, as listeners share their own accents and why they have, or have not, sought to change them.
• Edward Sorel, illustrator and author of Profusely Illustrated: A Memoir (Knopf, 2021), talks about his life and his lefty political commentary, delivered through his art.
• Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022), talks about some of the women whose cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker over the years, plus how the field has changed through its history.  (You can follow along with the cartoons they discuss at the link below.)

The first interview with Ken Davis is newly recorded for today's show.  The others were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

Elie Mystal 'Retorts' (Mar 1, 2022)

What Your (Regional) Accent Says About You (Jan 26, 2022)

A New York Illustrator's Personal—and Political—Life (Mar 21, 2022)

The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists (Mar 23, 2022)