Pop art godfather Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928–February 22, 1987) may be as much of a cultural icon as one could hope to be and one of only seven artists in the world to have ever sold a canvas for $100 million, but tethered to the myth there remains an ever-enigmatic, ever-elusive man — a profound diarist, little-known children’s book illustrator, the originator of screen tests continually interpreted and reinterpreted.

On March 17, 1981, BBC aired a radio broadcast of Warhol in conversation with British writer, poet, art critic, curator, and broadcaster Edward Lucie-Smith, in which Warhol discusses — reluctantly, awkwardly, yet revealingly — his painting process, happiness, why routines appeal to him, loving everybody, his soft spot for opera, the cyclical nature of fashion, why Liza Minnelli was his favorite subject (despite having painted Jackie O and Marilyn), and more:

ELS: Do you ever feel affectionate about people, or is that against feeling, too?
AW: I like everybody, so, that’s affection.
ELS: What, the great thing is to feel affectionate towards everybody in the world?
AW: Yeah.
ELS: Do you ever allow yourself to dislike people, then?
AW: No, I really try not to.
ELS: And why is this — because it’s bad for you, or because it’s bad for them?
AW: No, I just… I don’t, really, try to think about it… Somebody’s funny, I try to leave.
ELS: And what do you think is the characteristic of a really nice person? Some people you obviously do like more than others.
AW: Well… if they talk a lot.
ELS: What, and don’t make you talk?
AW: Yeah, yes, that’s a really nice person.
ELS: Thank you, Andy.

Complement with The Autobiography and Sex Life of Andy Warhol and the indispensable The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again).