Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns joins 'Conversations from Penn State'

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns joins 'Conversations from Penn State'

University Park, Pa. -- American history is not just dates and places. It is the story of people and their hopes, dreams, problems and accomplishments. Prolific filmmaker Ken Burns, in what he calls “emotional archaeology,” takes those stories and brings them to life through documentary storytelling. On the next episode of "Conversations From Penn State," Burns talks about what it’s like to “wake the dead” by bringing to light a diverse assortment of American stories and presenting them in a way that can appeal to everyone.

“I’m curious about how my country ticks,” Burns said. “I want to speak to all Americans -- red state and blue state, black and white, male and female, young and old, east and west. That's my mandate.”

"Conversations from Penn State" is a series hosted by veteran interviewer Patty Satalia. The program offers thoughtful, in-depth exchanges with a broad range of remarkable people.

The show will air at noon on Monday, Aug. 23 on the Big Ten Network. It also will air at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12 on WPSU-TV.

The show also can be viewed at http://conversations.psu.edu online.

Ken Burns has spent more than 30 years making documentary films about subjects including Thomas Jefferson, The Civil War, the American west, Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Bridge. Burns was the first filmmaker inducted into the Society of American Historians. His most recent film is “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” a six-episode series that took six years to film.

For more than 20 years, Patty Satalia has engaged dynamic individuals from all walks of life and areas of expertise. No matter the guest, Satalia approaches each conversation with the same dedication to research and with a passion for helping people share their stories and insights with the world.