A look at the realities of growing up poor in America, filmed over 14 years with children from three families.

Frontline “Born Poor” airs Tuesday, October 7 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

An indelible look at the realities of growing up poor in America. Filmed over 14 years with kids from three families, from adolescents to adults with kids of their own, navigating an economy with more obstacles than opportunities.

Caption: An indelible look at the realities of growing up poor in America.
Credit: FRONTLINE (PBS)

Inventors and inventions are all around us, proving that we all have the power in our minds and hands to shape the world.

Pathways to Invention airs Monday, October 6 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Inventors and inventions are all around us, proving that we all have the power in our minds and hands to shape the world. However, even the most accomplished makers and creators often hesitate to identify as “inventors.” Pathways to Invention explores the workshops, garages, laboratories and offices of accomplished inventors in the fields of materials, software, hardware, biotech and agriculture to understand the tools and traits of both successful invention and entrepreneurship. The program follows 12 different award-winning early to mid-career inventors to understand what makes them tick and to answer the question: “Are inventors born or are they made?”

Two old friends, politician-turned-journalist Brian Walden and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, sit for one of the most famous political exchanges of all time.

Brian and Maggie concludes Sunday, October 12 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

1989. Two old friends, politician-turned-journalist Brian Walden and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, sit for one of the most famous political exchanges of all time, one that would end a political era and a long-term friendship as it reshaped national opinion and triggered the downfall of the Iron Lady.

Explores the world through the life and lens of filmmakers in their thirties.

Cinema Nomad airs Saturdays, October 4-November 1 at 11:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Explore nations through the country’s cinematic past, present and future. Cinephile host, Stephanie Gardner, takes viewers on a journey around the world to meet directors in their thirties, delving into their hopes, dreams and desires. Viewers experience the filmmakers’ daily lives, visit their homes, neighborhoods, hangouts, and the locations that inspire their creativity.

An aging vaquero who lives in the heart of Baja, guards much of the Old Californio traditional knowledge in his mind and soul.

La Recua: The Mule Pack Train airs Saturday, October 4 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

It’s all about cowboys, mules and desert trails… but it’s so much more! An aging vaquero who lives in the heart of Baja, guards much of the Old Californio traditional knowledge in his mind and soul…. and he wants to tell his story!

Broadcast in Spanish with English subtitles.

Discover Grace Bumbry’s inspiring rise to global opera fame.

Great Performances: The Magic of Grace Bumbry airs Friday, October 3 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

The Magic of Grace Bumbry recounts the story of the African American Missouri native who rose to fame in the 1960s international opera scene. Bumbry’s rise began in the 1950s when she won a radio competition at the age of 17. Encountering racism when she was prevented from studying at the St. Louis Institute of Music, she nevertheless achieved international renown with her breakthrough performance in Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” at the 1961 Bayreuth Festival, in which she appeared for 40 performances. The film explores Grace Bumbry’s groundbreaking career, featuring performances from her early career leading up to her role in the 1966 Salzburg Festival production of “Carmen,” directed by German conductor Herbert von Karajan.

The film follows the format of previous documentaries from Great Performances’ “Magic of” series, including The Magic of Spirituals highlighting opera stars Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman and The Magic of Nureyev, which explored the career of ballet dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev. Featuring interviews with singer and vocal coach David Lee Brewer, opera singer Felicia Weathers, opera singer Anna Tomowa-Sintow and La Scala general director Dominique Meyer.

What do the buildings we create say about us? How does a musical interpretation change our perception of a building?

Songs About Buildings and Moods, Season 2 airs Sunday, September 28 at 3:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

How does a musical interpretation change our perception of a building? Songs About Buildings and Moods, a five-part series uses storytelling and performance to create a unique series exploring the connection between music and architecture. The buildings include Saarinen’s masterpiece for TWA, Calatrava’s Milwaukee Art Museum and a Black church in Chicago among others.

Episode titles & dates:
9/28 Ex Teresa Arte Actual and George Peabody Library Discover Ex Teresa Arte Actual in Mexico City and the George Peabody Library in Baltimore.
10/5 Estudios Churubusco and the Fisher Building Visit the birthplace of Mexico’s Golden Era of Cinema, the Estudios Churubusco.
10/12 Biblioteca Vasconcelos and Ohio State Reformatory Get a glimpse of Mexico City’s Biblioteca Vasconcelos with their floating shelves.
10/19 Brooklyn Tower and the Wrigley BuildingExplore Brooklyn’s first super-tall tower and Chicago’s Wrigley Building.
10/26 Stony Island Arts Bank and Cranbrook Academy of Art Discover Stony Island Arts Bank and the Cranbrook Academy of Art.