Mary Roach is the author of several best-selling books of science journalism, including Stiff (about cadavers) and Bonk (about sex). Her most recent is Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. It's an investigation of the science of human travel in space, from the high-minded (cosmic rays, interpersonal relationships, muscle degeneration) to the less-high-minded (farts, poops, barfs).

Simon Rich imagines the conversation at Mount Sinai. Featuring Seth Morris and Paul Scheer. Simon's new novel is Elliott Alagash.

Comedian Chelsea Peretti performed at our live show in Washington, DC. She was recently named one of Variety's Comics to Watch for 2010. She recently appeared on the FX series Louie, and has also been seen on Last Call with Carson Daly, The Sarah Silverman Program and Comedy Central's Live at Gotham.

The Sound of Young America was in Alberta, Canada for the Calgary Folk Music Festival, four days of performances and workshops from folk, indie, rock, country, and blues musicians.

The singer-songwriter Annie Clark, performing as St. Vincent, sat down with us before performing at the festival. She got her start playing guitar for The Polyphonic Spree and in Sufjan Stevens' touring band, then struck out on her own, playing almost every instrument on her debut album, Marry Me. In 2008, Clark won the PLUG Independent Music award for Female Artist of the Year.

Clark's most recent album, Actor, is a striking blend of beautiful vocals, orchestration, and distorted guitar.

The Sound of Young America was in Alberta, Canada for the Calgary Folk Music Festival, four days of performances and workshops from folk, indie, rock, country, and blues musicians. Before the festival, we talked to the headliner Roberta Flack for a new feature on the show, "The Song That Changed My Life."

Roberta Flack is a legendary singer, songwriter and pianist. She won back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year for her songs "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly With His Song."

Andrew Noz is the blogger behind Cocaine Blunts & Hip-Hop Tapes, one of the internet's most successful hip-hop blogs. He's also a contributor to NPR, Complex and The Washington City Paper, among other outlets.

The College Years is a look deep into the vaults of The Sound of Young America. Take a journey with us every week as we post a new program or two from our salad days.

Today's theme: It's All Politics!

First up, Jesse Thorn and guest-host Maria Schell welcome writer Kristin Gore. Kristin talks about her book, Sammy's Hill, her beginnings in comedy with Harvard's National Lampoon, and her time as a writer at Futurama.

Following that, Jesse interviews the great Art Spiegelman. Listen as Mr. Spiegelman reveals some of his motivations for his book about 9/11, In the Shadow of No Towers. It is fantastic. Do yourself a favor and find more of his work.

Lastly, Jesse talks to friend of the show, Patton Oswalt. In the world's shortest interview, Patton drops some funny, Jesse tries to demonize the Chipmunks, and Maria describes what she's wearing. Owe yourself another favor and go to one of his upcoming shows.

Nathan Rabin and Josh Modell join Jesse to recommend the best of popular culture. Nathan chooses Louis CK's Louie and the new film The Kids Are All Right. Josh Modell chooses Inception and Children's Hospital.

Standup comedian Nick Adams is the author of Making Friends with Black People and a writer on the upcoming NBC sitcom Perfect Couples. He performed this set at The Sound of Young America Presents: Laugh Night at Art Share in Los Angeles.

Samantha Bee is the Daily Show's longest-tenured correspondent, having joined the program in 2003. She's also the author of a new memoir, I Know I Am But What Are You?

Bee grew up in an unusual tripartite family, splitting time between a matronly grandmother, a conservative, re-married father and a bohemian, Wiccan mother. She met her husband, the Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones, while working in a Sailor Moon-themed stage show at the Canadian National Exposition.

She talked with us from New York City.