Elaine Pagels, author of The Gnostic Gospels, joins us to discuss her new book, Why Religion?: A Personal Story. Drawing on the perspectives of neurologists, anthropologists, and historians, as well as her own research, Pagels opens unexpected ways of understanding persistent religious aspects of our culture. On November 7, Pagels has an event at the Barnes & Noble on 82nd Street and Broadway.

WNYC's planning editor, Kate Hinds, joins us (at 20:30) for this week's "Living Here with Kate."

New York Public Radio’s director of archives, Andy Lanset, joins us (at 26:00) for this week’s “Andy in the Archives.”

L.A. Kauffman joins us (at 32:55) to discuss her new book, How to Read a Protest: The Art of Organizing and Resistance, which looks at the history of protest in the US and how the way movements are made affects the impact they have. On November 28, Kauffman will be in conversation with Astra Taylor at Bluestockings.