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Back in 1973, Erica Jong was tired of the silent, seething housewife, so she introduced a new kind of female protagonist: one who loved sex and wasn't ashamed to admit it. Jong joins NPR's Susan Stamberg to talk about hook-ups, Fifty Shades of Gray, and of course, the "zipless f - - - ."

On Sept. 27, President Obama called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, ending 34 years of silence between the leaders of the U.S. and Iran. A phone call between the leaders was greeted with great hope and deep skepticism, born from decades of bad blood, mistakes and sometimes outright aggression.

When the Supreme Court overturned part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act in June, it granted federal benefits to many couples married in states that have legalized same-sex marriage. This set off phase two of litigation: a flurry of lawsuits in Pennsylvania and other states which have not.

But the prime minister maintained Israel's bottom line of "full dismantlement" of Iran's enrichment program and called the new rhetoric from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani "hogwash."

The Egyptian military operation to destroy most of the tunnels used to smuggle goods into neighboring Gaza has led to a shortage of cheap fuel and building materials. It also has led to more sewage flowing into the sea. Change is afoot, however, for the first time in six years.

Pardit Pri left her job as a legal assistant when she had a baby. She thought she'd be able to find a new job with health insurance, but so far has found only contract work with no benefits. She's not sure if her state's new health exchange will make sense for her, given her uncertain income.

Herman Wallace was released from prison in Louisiana on Tuesday after more than 40 years in solitary confinement. A judge overturned his conviction on the grounds that Wallace had been denied a fair trial. Wallace died just three days later.

Even as hundreds of thousands of federal workers stay home, some members of Congress have kept most or all of their own staffs working. With no end to the government shutdown in sight, that's put Republicans on the defensive.

Britain's Conservative-led government has unveiled proposals to change the social benefits system, moving ever closer to workfare. One measure under the plan requires the long-term jobless to do community work. Another plan would ax automatic housing and other benefits for unemployed Brits under 25.

Earlier this week, All Things Considered asked you to submit your questions about the shutdown, then assembled a crack team of NPR reporters to answer them. Find out what the government shutdown means for food safety, military pay and more.