March 21, 1981 - On this episode of the KCUR program Letters on the Air, a profile of poet John Knoepfle, who talks briefly about his poetry and reads a number of his poems, including those entitled “After Gray Days,” “Pilgrims' Day,” and a found poem based on speech by an old chief of the Winnebago Indians in 1836.
April 4, 1981 - On this episode of the KCUR program Letters on the Air, an interview and reading with writer and artist George Hitchcock. New Letters on the Air is an audio literary magazine exploring the works of American writers and comes from New Letters magazine, a literary quarterly of fine writing published at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
June 19, 1981 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten and MPR reporter Dick Daly discuss the impact of letter written by St. Cloud student Donna Gallus to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart. The letter asked why Justice Stewart was still on the court after so many years. Connected or not, Justice Stewart retired shortly after.
June 20, 1981 - An excerpt of American poet and educator Ai Ogawa reading from her work.
October 7, 1981 - MPR's Nancy Fushan interviews 1980 Nobel Prize for Literature winner Czeslaw Milosz. Born in Poland but now living and teaching in the United States, Milosz talks about his poetry, the United States, his native country of Poland, and writing.
January 1, 1982 - MPR’s Connie Goldman goes to the Nantucket to visit poet Linda Pastan. The two talk and read poetry along the sea shore.
January 14, 1982 - Noted environmentalist and author Sigurd Olson passed away on January 13, 1982 in Ely, Minnesota. This All Things Considered news feature honors his passing by airing his own words.
January 14, 1982 - Radio Talking Book presents this episode of Perspective, where Marilyn Alcott interviews author and radio personality Garrison Keillor. The two discuss Keillor’s book Happy to Be Here. He also reads from the book.
February 13, 1982 - Minnesota poet Robert Bly performs reading about winter during intermission of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra broadcast of Baroque Series Concert V.
July 25, 1982 - MPR’s Connie Goldman visits Taos to meet author John Nichols. The two talk at his kitchen table about his background and his writing.