In the wake of national protest and unrest in Egypt, archeologists around the world are concerned about the safety of Egypt’s collection of historical treasures. Brian Vastag, science reporter for The Washington Post, and Alex Joffe, who writes about archeology and politics, join us to to explain how the country’s museums have fared amid widespread protests.

The long-running public radio show “A Prairie Home Companion” is closely associated with Garrison Keillor, the writer and performer who has hosted the show since it first aired in 1974. But recently the show did something it hasn’t done in decades: it used a guest host. The singer-songwriter and fiddle player Sara Watkins joins us to talk about stepping into the role.

Since his emergence in 1994, guitar toting troubadour Todd Snider has toured far and wide, from the “sofa circuit” to Lincoln Center. He brings his country-folk and his trademark humor to the Soundcheck studios – along with a new, live double-album called “The Storyteller.”

Click through to see today's Soundcheck playlist!

Out of the deserts of Tucson, Arizona, the rock band Giant Sand has released its latest album, Blurry Blue Mountain. Download the sleepy track “Chunk of Coal” here.