Part One:  The time for the evning prayer is different than the time for saying the Shema.  The Jerusalem Talmud describes saying the evening Shema at bedtime, in contrast to the Babylonian Talmud which prescribes saying it before the evening prayer.

Two common mistakes when bringing in Shabbat early - saying the Shema too soon and saying the brachot of the Shema too early.  Why rabbis didn't stop the community from doing the wrong thing.

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Part Two:  "There is no fixed time for the evening prayer."  Hear what this statement really means.  Also:  There is an opinion by which you eat your Shabbath meal at 11:30 at night.  The advantage of saying the evening Shema at home - the minhag of Eress Yisrael, endorsed by Rav Hie Gaon and the Rosh.  The Gra rules to pray at home rather than with a evening minyan that says Shema too early.

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Part Three:  Why the Babylonian Talmud does not always follow the mishnah.  It's still light when the stars come out.  Must you refrain from eating before saying the Shema?

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