Liane Hansen, Weekend Edition Host

This was the easiest interview I have ever done, thanks in no small part to some of YOU who sent in questions. Susan Wood in Lancaster, PA started us off nicely with a question about Joan's mom. She is 95, and Joan's new CD is dedicated to her. Sarah's dad had gone to school with Joan's mom and wanted to know if she was still living. Perfect. And it provided an opening to ask about her mother's influence on her.

Shelia Sullivan in Santa Fe, New Mexico's asked whether Joan was a feminist - which led Joan to talk about her causes and how she approaches them. Her cause now is her family. Anna Hagget in Dillon, Montana asked about the song Deportees. Her answer provided a nice resonance in the show since we are doing a segment on illegal immigration. Serendipity is a wonderful thing.

Here is a video of Joan Baez perform in our New York Bureau (I was in our Washington D.C. studios) Thanks to Producers Gemma Watters and Charla Bear and NPR's Manya, John Guardo and Brian McCabe in New York.

I had interviewed Joan many years ago with Dar Williams ( I'm interviewing Dar next week in NY) so my acute awe of Joan was tempered somewhat. However, when we were setting up and checking levels I said "Hi, Joan, it's Liane" and she replied " I know your voice very well". You know, it never ceases to amaze me that people know who I am. I know our research shows that millions of people listen every Sunday. But for me, I'm alone in a studio. I lead a rather solitary life, so it is easy to forget that I have so many radio friends. So when there are days that I don't want to get out of bed I remember you and don't want to let you down.

Next week, I'm in New York to see the new production of Equus. In the near future, I will be interviewing Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths - the stars of the show.... What do you want to know from them?

1:10 - September 6, 2008

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