Fresh Air : About
Airs Monday through Thursday at 2pm on 93.9 FM and weekdays at 9pm on AM 820
"If you want to understand a political conflict, it helps to understand the culture in which that conflict is taking place," says host Terry Gross. Fresh Air is one of the most popular programs on public radio, breaking the "talk show" mold, and Gross is known for her fearless and insightful interviews with prominent figures in American arts, politics, and popular culture. "When there is a crisis in a foreign country, we sometimes call up that country's leading novelist or filmmaker to get the cultural perspective." Fresh Air features daily reports and reviews from critics and commentators on music, books, movies, and other cultural phenomena that invade the national psyche.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13
Show Staff
-
Terry Gross
Combine an intelligent interviewer with a roster of guests that, according to the Chicago Tribune, would be prized by any talk-show host, and you're bound to get an interesting conversation. Fresh Air's interviews, though, are in a category by themselves, distinguished by host and executive producer Terry Gross' unique approach.
Latest Stories from Fresh Air
Bradley Cooper Finds 'Silver Linings' Everywhere
Friday, February 08 2013 02:37 AM
The actor, nominated for an Academy Award for his role in David O. Russell's film, talks about watching movies with his father as a kid in Philadelphia, his childhood fascination with soldiers and being up against Daniel Day Lewis for an Oscar.
A Mystery That Explores 'The Rage' Of New Ireland
Thursday, February 07 2013 02:37 AM
Reporter-turned-novelist Gene Kerrigan sets his story in Ireland after the 2008 financial crisis. The Rage is a boundlessly readable portrait of a country in which ordinary citizens have been hit the hardest and all the old certainties have vanished.
Anat Cohen: Bringing The Clarinet To The World
Thursday, February 07 2013 02:37 AM
On her latest album, Claroscuro, the jazz clarinetist explores influences that range from Louis Armstrong to Brazilian music to that of her native Israel. It's this desire to adapt the instrument to so many musical traditions that has earned Cohen such acclaim.
Rebecca Luker Has 'Got Love' For Jerome Kern
Wednesday, February 06 2013 02:34 AM
The Broadway star has a new album, I Got Love: Songs of Jerome Kern, which features songs by the great Broadway composer. The collection came out of a live show Luker performed at the Manhattan club 54 Below.
Michael Apted, Aging With The '7 Up' Crew
Wednesday, February 06 2013 02:34 AM
Every seven years since 1964, the director has caught us up on the lives of 14 everyday people in his acclaimed 7 Up series. Apted was 22 when the series began, and the subjects were 7. In the latest episode — 56 Up — the subjects are well into middle age.
Yo La Tengo: Decades In And Far From Fading
Tuesday, February 05 2013 02:34 AM
The indie-rock favorite's new album, Fade, demonstrates that the group is all grown up but not at all stuffy. The album's music and words add up to pure affirmation of life and living.
A Barbados Family Tree With 'Sugar In The Blood'
Tuesday, February 05 2013 02:34 AM
In her new book, Andrea Stuart explores the intersection of sugar, slavery, settlement, migration and survival in the Americas. Stuart's personal history was shaped by these forces — she is descended from a slave owner who had relations with an unknown slave.
Fresh Air Weekend: Spacey, Fincher And Macy
Sunday, February 03 2013 02:33 AM
Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey and Oscar-winning director David Fincher team up for an excellent new Netflix original series that premieres Friday. As the alcoholic paterfamilias Frank Gallagher on the Showtime series Shameless, William H. Macy enjoys portraying a man with a dark side.
'Gatekeepers' Let Us Inside Israeli Security
Saturday, February 02 2013 02:33 AM
The Oscar-nominated documentary directed by Dror Moreh is not a defense of Israeli security policy, but a critique. The six Shin Bet heads Moreh interviews may believe in the tactics they devised, but it's the overall strategy they think is flawed.
How The Glock Became America's Weapon Of Choice
Saturday, February 02 2013 02:33 AM
In his book Glock: The Rise of America's Gun, Paul Barrett traces how the sleek, high-capacity Austrian weapon found its way into Hollywood films and rap lyrics, not to mention two-thirds of all U.S. police departments.
A 'Special Edition' Box Set Of Jack DeJohnette And Band
Friday, February 01 2013 02:33 AM
A new four-CD set highlighting the music of the jazz keyboardist and drummer contains two discs that are gems and another two that have their moments.
Spacey And Fincher Make A 'House Of Cards'
Friday, February 01 2013 02:33 AM
Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and Oscar-winning director David Fincher team up for a new Netflix original series that premieres Friday. House of Cards follows a Machiavellian politician as he schemes to take down the president of the United States.
'House Of Cards' Is Built To Last
Thursday, January 31 2013 02:35 AM
Two new dramas fueled by intrigue premiere this week: The Americans on FX and House of Cards on Netflix. While The Americans has its moments, House of Cards is the show that's going to make television history.
Paloma Faith's 'Fall To Grace' Is A Keeper
Thursday, January 31 2013 02:35 AM
A British singer with classic R&B; and pop influences, Faith draws comparisons to Amy Winehouse and Adele. If she keeps doing what she's doing, she's going to have lots of fans following her every musical and social cue.
William H. Macy Is 'Shameless' On Showtime
Thursday, January 31 2013 02:35 AM
As the alcoholic paterfamilias Frank Gallagher on the Showtime series Shameless, the actor enjoys portraying a man with a dark side. But he says it's Frank's better qualities that make him sustainable as a character.
'The Insurgents': Petraeus And A New Kind Of War
Wednesday, January 30 2013 02:33 AM
In a new book about Gen. David Petraeus, author and journalist Fred Kaplan looks at how theories of counterinsurgency have shaped U.S. military policy in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jane Austen's 'Pride And Prejudice' At 200
Tuesday, January 29 2013 02:37 AM
As the classic novel celebrates its bicentennial, Paula Byrne's The Real Jane Austen examines some of the key objects in Austen's life and how they reveal a much more cosmopolitan awareness of the world than is commonly credited to her.
Remembering Journalist Stanley Karnow
Tuesday, January 29 2013 02:37 AM
The veteran journalist died on Sunday at age 87. He was famous for his reporting on the Vietnam War, and in 1989 he spoke with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about another war: The Spanish-American War and U.S. involvement in the Philippines.
'Anything That Moves': Civilians And The Vietnam War
Tuesday, January 29 2013 02:36 AM
In a new book, Nick Turse says the pressure on U.S. forces to produce a body count during the Vietnam War led to mass civilian deaths. "The idea," he says, "was that the Vietnamese, they weren't really people."
Fresh Air Weekend: Scientology And Jimmy Kimmel
Sunday, January 27 2013 02:33 AM
Lawrence Wright's Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief looks at the world of the controversial church and the life of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. This month, Kimmel sets up camp in the 11:35 p.m. slot, which puts him head-to-head with Jay Leno and his idol, David Letterman.
Tina Fey: '30 Rock' Star And Creator Moves On
Saturday, January 26 2013 02:33 AM
The writer, actress and comedian has helmed the hit NBC show — which will have its series finale on January 31 — for seven seasons, during which time she's had two kids, been in a few movies and written a memoir called Bossypants.
Tracy Morgan: '30 Rock' Let Him Be Himself
Saturday, January 26 2013 02:33 AM
As the series prepares for its finale, the comedian talks about how Tina Fey created the character of Tracy Jordan specifically for Morgan and how she allowed him "to fly over the cuckoo nest once a week."
Alec Baldwin Bids Goodbye To Jack Donaghy
Saturday, January 26 2013 02:32 AM
As 30 Rock wraps up its seven-season run on NBC, the star talks about why he chose to take on the role of Jack Donaghy in the first place and about looking to NBC bigwig Lorne Michaels for inspiration in creating the character.
Tina Fey: Sarah Palin And 'Saturday Night' Satire
Saturday, January 26 2013 02:32 AM
Fey's impersonation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin helped draw record audiences to Saturday Night Live in the fall of 2008. The former head writer for SNL opens up about politics, satire and her Emmy Award-winning sitcom, 30 Rock, which will have its series finale on January 31.
'Going Clear': A New Book Delves Into Scientology
Friday, January 25 2013 02:33 AM
Lawrence Wright's Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief looks at the world of the controversial church and the life of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986.
Jimmy Kimmel: Making Late Night A Family Affair
Thursday, January 24 2013 02:32 AM
This month, the late-night talk-show host sets up camp in the 11:35 p.m. slot, which puts him head-to-head with Jay Leno and Kimmel's idol, David Letterman. Kimmel has put a personal mark on his show by bringing in his family to help him make it happen.
Involved For Life: Pregnancy Centers In Texas
Wednesday, January 23 2013 02:55 AM
Carolyn Cline, the executive director and CEO of Involved for Life (IFL), a ministry partner of First Baptist Dallas, helps run a pregnancy center that discourages women from getting abortions and offers help during unplanned pregnancies.
'We Have No Choice': A Story Of The Texas Sonogram Law
Wednesday, January 23 2013 02:55 AM
Journalist Carolyn Jones wrote about her experience with the law for The Texas Observer after having an abortion last year. The state requires that a woman seeking an abortion receive a sonogram at least 24 hours before the procedure.
Kevin Bacon, Seeking A TV 'Following'
Tuesday, January 22 2013 02:40 AM
The actor stars in a new Fox series about a former FBI agent asked to help apprehend a serial killer he once put behind bars. The series is well done, but the violence in it is alarming — especially for network television.
'Double V': The Fight For Civil Rights In The U.S. Military
Tuesday, January 22 2013 02:39 AM
In his new book, The Double V, Rawn James Jr. argues that to understand race in America one must understand the history of African-Americans in the military. While the turning point came between the world wars, the struggle began with the American Revolution.
Fresh Air Weekend: Ben Affleck And Dustin Hoffman
Sunday, January 20 2013 04:04 AM
Fresh off the Golden Globes, where Ben Affleck won for best director and Argo won for best motion picture/drama, Affleck talks about his approach to the film. Dustin Hoffman makes his directorial debut with a film about four aging opera singers who stage a concert at their retirement home.
How A 'Madwoman' Upended A Literary Boys Club
Friday, January 18 2013 02:42 AM
The National Book Critics Circle has announced that two feminist literary scholars, Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar, will receive a lifetime achievement award. Critic Maureen Corrigan says their groundbreaking 1979 book, The Madwoman in the Attic, changed the way we read.
'Grayest Generation': Older Parenthood In The U.S.
Friday, January 18 2013 02:42 AM
In an article for The New Republic, Judith Shulevitz writes that as people have increasingly waited until their 30s to become parents, there has been a rise in developmental and neurocognitive disorders. Moreover, she says that the age of both parents affects the health of the child.
'Quartet': Dustin Hoffman, Behind The Camera
Thursday, January 17 2013 02:35 AM
The veteran actor makes his directorial debut with a film about four aging opera singers who stage a concert at their retirement home. Starring Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay, the film explores friendship, memory and the time that remains.
George Saunders Lives Up To The Hype
Wednesday, January 16 2013 03:05 AM
At the beginning of January, the cover story of The New York Times Magazine declared: "George Saunders Has Written The Best Book You'll Read This Year." The stories in the author's latest collection, The Tenth of December, prove that The Times may well be right.
Affleck On 'Argo' And The 1979 Hostage Crisis
Wednesday, January 16 2013 03:04 AM
Fresh off Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, where he won for best director and his film won for best motion picture/drama, the actor and director talks about his approach to the story of six diplomats who managed to escape a hostile Iran — and the CIA operative who helped them do so.
'The Whole Nine Yards' Of What?
Tuesday, January 15 2013 03:23 AM
There are many theories about where the expression comes from — among them square-riggers with three masts, the amount of cloth in the queen's bridal train, the Shroud of Turin, and a prodigiously well-endowed Scotsman who gets his kilt caught in a door.
Retired Bishop Gene Robinson On Being Gay And Loving God
Tuesday, January 15 2013 03:23 AM
The first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church will start work with the Center for American Progress, focusing on issues of faith and gay rights. "Gay is not something we do," he says. "It's something we are." His book God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage was published in September.
Fresh Air Weekend: Civil War, 'Downton' And 'Girls'
Sunday, January 13 2013 02:39 AM
Civil War historian Bruce Levine says that from the destruction of the South emerged an entirely new country. On the hit Masterpiece Theater series, social rules are changing as the world events of the 20th century unfold. And David Bianculli reviews season two of 'Girls.'
Grant Green: The 'Holy Barbarian' Of St. Louis Jazz
Saturday, January 12 2013 03:07 AM
An album recording of the guitarist from 1959 captures the thrilling sound of Midwestern jazz.
Lena Dunham Addresses Criticism Aimed At 'Girls'
Saturday, January 12 2013 03:07 AM
The creator and star of HBO's new series Girls addresses the backlash against the show, which follows four 20-somethings as they navigate the ups and downs of life in New York City. The second season premieres January 13.
Season Two Brings Changes For 'Girls'
Saturday, January 12 2013 03:07 AM
The second season of the HBO series premieres this month, and Fresh Air critic David Bianculli says "these young women — these girls — really are changing and growing and adapting to tough life in the big city."
In 'Sliver Of Sky,' Barry Lopez Confronts Childhood Sexual Abuse
Friday, January 11 2013 02:48 AM
The nature writer has an essay in January's Harper's Magazine that details the four years of his childhood during which he says he was routinely raped and molested by a family friend.
'Nashville' Soundtrack Stands On Its Own
Thursday, January 10 2013 02:41 AM
A new album of original songs from the Golden Globe-nominated TV series about Music City reflects the tastes of the show's musical producer, T-Bone Burnett, as well as the vocal talents of stars Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere.
Bobby Cannavale, At Home On Broadway
Thursday, January 10 2013 02:41 AM
The actor, who's currently starring in Glenngarry Glen Ross opposite Al Pacino, has been acting for the stage since he was a teenager in Union City, N.J. "It was the only thing I ever wanted to do, really," he says.
The Unsung Pioneer Of Louisiana Swamp-Pop
Wednesday, January 09 2013 03:07 AM
In the early 1960s, Joe Barry combined Cajun and country music into a whole new sound. In honor of a new anthology of Barry's music titled A Fool to Care, critic Ed Ward tells the forgotten musician's story.
'The Fall Of The House Of Dixie' Built A New U.S.
Wednesday, January 09 2013 03:07 AM
In a new book, Civil War historian Bruce Levine says that from the destruction of the South emerged an entirely new country, making the Civil War equivalent to a second American Revolution. Integral to the Union's victory, he says, were the nearly 200,000 black soldiers who enlisted.
Mozart's Starring Role In 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'
Tuesday, January 08 2013 03:17 AM
The 1971 John Schlesinger film, recently released on Blu-ray, tells the story of a love triangle and makes moving use of a trio from the opera Cosi fan tutte as the film's musical theme.
Julian Fellowes On The Rules Of 'Downton'
Tuesday, January 08 2013 03:17 AM
On the hit Masterpiece Theater series, the social rules the characters have always known are changing as the world events of the 20th century unfold. The series' creator, Julian Fellowes, says his relatives who lived through that era inspired his lasting interest in class.
Fresh Air Weekend: Tarantino, Waltz, 'Downton'
Sunday, January 06 2013 02:39 AM
With his latest film, director Quentin Tarantino was inspired by spaghetti Westerns and the Civil War. Christoph Waltz, who won an Oscar for his role in Inglourious Basterds, teams up with Tarantino again in 'Django.' On Sunday, the third season of 'Downton Abbey,' takes America by storm.
'A Grain Of Truth' About Memory And Modern Poland
Saturday, January 05 2013 03:32 AM
A new mystery by novelist Zygmunt Miloszewski explores Poland's relationship to its anti-Semitic past. Teodor Szacki, the likably washed-up hero, must sprint all over town interrogating suspects, including so-called Polish "patriots" — extremists who bombard him with their anti-Semitic rants.
Remembering 'Rescue Me' Singer Fontella Bass
Saturday, January 05 2013 03:32 AM
Bass died on Dec. 27, 2012. We'll listen back to a Fresh Air interview from March 1995, in which she spoke about performing at funeral homes as a girl in St. Louis and how secular music wasn't allowed in her childhood home.
Frank Calabrese Jr. On Opening His 'Family Secrets'
Saturday, January 05 2013 03:32 AM
Frank Calabrese Jr. wrote a memoir about bringing down his father's murderous Chicago crime family. In Operation Family Secrets, Frank detailed how he helped the FBI convict his father of several murders by wearing a hidden wire and taping his father's conversations. His father died Christmas Day.
'Downton' Returns With Aristocratic Class And Clash
Friday, January 04 2013 02:55 AM
On Sunday, the PBS anthology series Masterpiece Classic begins its third season of Downton Abbey, the British period drama that has taken England — and America — by storm.
Northern Mali: A Violent Islamist Stronghold
Friday, January 04 2013 02:55 AM
Adam Nossiter, the West Africa bureau chief for The New York Times, is one of the few reporters covering the situation in northern Mali, where Islamist extremists allied with al-Qaida have taken control after a coup destabilized the country in April.
Western Star Harry Carey Jr., 1921-2012
Thursday, January 03 2013 02:31 AM
We'll listen back to a 1989 interview with actor Harry Carey Jr., who died Dec. 27. Carey co-starred with John Wayne in the classic Westerns She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Searchers and 3 Godfathers. He talked to Fresh Air about filming epic cavalry-versus-Indian scenes — and his most challenging stunts.
Quentin Tarantino, 'Unchained' And Unruly
Thursday, January 03 2013 02:31 AM
With his latest film, director Quentin Tarantino was inspired both by spaghetti Westerns and the drama of slavery and the Civil War. The movie is extremely violent — but, says Tarantino, "What happened during slavery times is a thousand times worse. ... If you can't take it, you can't take it."
'Fresh Air' At 25: A Live Musical Tribute
Tuesday, January 01 2013 02:53 AM
This year marked the 25th anniversary of Fresh Air as a daily national NPR program. This episode looks back at some of the great live musical performances from the show's archive, including songs from Shirley Horn, Loudon Wainwright III, Susannah McCorkle, Nick Lowe and Richard Thompson.
Fresh Air Weekend: Critics' Picks For 2012
Sunday, December 30 2012 02:38 AM
It's that time of year when best-of lists abound, and Fresh Air's critics get in on the game: David Bianculli chooses his top television shows, David Edelstein names his favorite films, Maureen Corrigan weighs in with notable books and Ken Tucker tunes into to some of the best albums of 2012.
Doris Day: A Hollywood Legend Reflects On Life
Saturday, December 29 2012 03:15 AM
Day started singing and dancing when she was a teenager, and made her first film at 24. After nearly 40 movies, she walked away from that part of her life in 1968, and started rescuing and caring for animals. Here, she speaks to Terry Gross in a lengthy interview about her career in film and music.
Colbert On Musical Moments And 'America Again'
Saturday, December 29 2012 03:15 AM
As part of our year-end wrap up, we are sharing the best Fresh Air interviews of 2012. Here we listen back to two interviews we did this year with Stephen Colbert. He talks about the presidential debates, his superPAC, Jesus Christ Superstar and Elvis Costello
R.A. Dickey On 'Winding Up' As A Knuckleballer
Friday, December 28 2012 02:48 AM
New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey is currently the only knuckleball pitcher in the major leagues. His memoir, Wherever I Wind Up, explains how his life — and career — have mimicked the unpredictable trajectory of the difficult pitch he throws game after game.
Aaron Sorkin: The Writer Behind 'The Newsroom'
Friday, December 28 2012 02:48 AM
HBO's new behind-the-anchor-desk drama follows in the footsteps of Sorkin's hit series The West Wing. "I like writing about heroes that don't wear capes or disguises," he says.
Catherine Russell: The Fresh Air In-Studio Concert
Thursday, December 27 2012 02:37 AM
The standards singer's solo album, Strictly Romancin', explores the ups and downs of love. Russell sings several tracks from the record during this interview and performance.
Aziz Ansari's Latest Is 'Dangerously Delicious'
Thursday, December 27 2012 02:36 AM
The comedian, who plays Tom Haverford on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, just released a new comedy special directly on his website. He's also embarking on a multicity tour, where he'll be riffing on the things that terrify him — marriage, for instance, and babies.
Joan Rivers Hates You, Herself and Everyone Else
Thursday, December 27 2012 02:36 AM
Comedian Joan Rivers hates a lot of things. Her new book, I Hate Everyone, Starting With Me, details the things Rivers can't stand, from her appearance to obituaries to younger comedians who steal her gigs.
David Edelstein's Top 12 Movies of 2012
Tuesday, December 25 2012 11:15 AM
Fresh Air's movie critic does not think any masterpieces were made this year, but he does compare Daniel Day-Lewis to Julius Caesar and have some choice thoughts on the movie version of Les Mis.
David Edelstein's Top 12 Movies of 2012
Tuesday, December 25 2012 09:07 AM
Fresh Air's movie critic does not think any masterpieces were made this year, but he does compare Daniel Day-Lewis to Julius Caesar and have some choice thoughts on the movie version of Les Mis.
David Edelstein's Top 12 Movies of 2012
Tuesday, December 25 2012 06:54 AM
Fresh Air's movie critic does not think any masterpieces were made this year, but he does compare Daniel Day-Lewis to Julius Caesar and have some choice thoughts on the movie version of Les Mis.
David Bianculli Says 2012 Brought No New TV Favorites
Tuesday, December 25 2012 04:44 AM
Fresh Air's television critic says there weren't any new shows this year that wowed him and that all the shows he watched and loved this year were ones that have been on for at least a season. His No. 1 favorite remains Breaking Bad.
David Edelstein's Top 12 Movies of 2012
Tuesday, December 25 2012 02:34 AM
Fresh Air's movie critic does not think any masterpieces were made this year, but he does compare Daniel Day-Lewis to Julius Caesar and have some choice thoughts on the movie version of Les Mis.
Fresh Air Weekend: Barbra Streisand, Pizzarelli
Sunday, December 23 2012 09:15 AM
Barbra Streisand plays a well-meaning if overbearing Jewish mom in The Guilt Trip. The star says her own mother both encouraged her talents and was jealous of them. In his new book, guitarist, singer and songwriter John Pizzarelli shares stories from life growing up in a musical household.
Fresh Air Weekend: Barbra Streisand, Pizzarelli
Sunday, December 23 2012 09:15 AM
Barbra Streisand plays a well-meaning if overbearing Jewish mom in The Guilt Trip. The star says her own mother both encouraged her talents and was jealous of them. In his new book, guitarist, singer and songwriter John Pizzarelli shares stories from life growing up in a musical household.
Remembering Von Freeman, Lol Coxhill And Sean Bergin
Saturday, December 22 2012 02:54 AM
Jazz lost many great saxophonists in 2012, including David S. Ware, John Tchicai, Byard Lancaster, Faruq Z. Bey, Hal McKusick and Red Holloway. Critic Kevin Whitehead pays tribute to three more of his favorites.
HBO's 'Enlightened' Take On Modern Meditation
Saturday, December 22 2012 02:54 AM
Laura Dern is Amy Jellicoe, a health and beauty executive who returns from a post-meltdown retreat to pick up the pieces of her broken life in the HBO series Enlightened. Series creator Mike White talks about the tone of the show, and whether it's possible for people to really change.
Forget YOLO: Why 'Big Data' Should Be The Word Of The Year
Friday, December 21 2012 03:24 AM
"Big Data" had just as much to do with President Obama's victory as phrases like "Etch A Sketch" and "47 percent," says linguist Geoff Nunberg. Big Data is also behind anxieties about intrusions on our privacy, whether from the government's anti-terrorist data sweeps or the ads that track us on the Web.
Assault-Style Weapons In The Civilian Market
Friday, December 21 2012 03:24 AM
Senior analyst for the Violence Policy Center Tom Diaz says one of the weapons found at the site of the Newtown, Conn., shooting was a variant of a type of gun developed for troops in Vietnam.
Tunes To 'Work Hard, Play Hard, Pray Hard' To
Thursday, December 20 2012 03:06 AM
Critic Milo Miles says that in this new collection of music from between the world wars, "the currents of long-ago lives come through: the drudgery of the work that demanded the release of the party, which then required the penance of prayer."
'Not Fade': Rock 'N' Roll, Here To Stay
Thursday, December 20 2012 03:05 AM
In his new film, Sopranos creator David Chase tells a coming-of-age story about Jersey boys in the 1960s who dream of riding the wave of the British invasion all the way to stardom. Chase teams up with Steven Van Zandt — of the E Street Band and The Sopranos — to make the movie's music rock.
Ken Tucker's Top 10 Albums Of 2012
Wednesday, December 19 2012 02:35 AM
From the inescapable "Call Me Maybe" to Fiona Apple's intricate word puzzles to the strikingly gorgeous return of Iris DeMent, the Fresh Air critic counts down his favorite albums and musical moments of the year.
'Unchained' Admiration Between Actor And Director
Wednesday, December 19 2012 02:35 AM
Austrian actor Christoph Waltz won an Oscar for his portrayal of Nazi Jew hunter Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film Inglourious Basterds. Teamed up with Tarantino again in Django Unchained, he says Tarantino's writing and the rhythm of the language speaks to him as a performer.
'Guilt Trip': Streisand On Songs, Films And Family
Tuesday, December 18 2012 02:37 AM
In her new movie, singer, actor, writer, director and producer Barbra Streisand plays a well-meaning if overbearing Jewish mom. The star says her own mother both encouraged her talents and was jealous of them.
Fresh Air Weekend: Daniel Handler And Paul Lukacs
Sunday, December 16 2012 02:33 AM
In Who Could That Be at This Hour?, a prequel to A Series of Unfortunate Events, Daniel Handler satirizes pulp mysteries. Author and oenophile Paul Lukacs traces the 8,000-year history of wine. Also, David Edelstein reviews Zero Dark Thirty.
Looking For Bin Laden In 'Zero Dark Thirty'
Saturday, December 15 2012 02:48 AM
Kathryn Bigelow's film tells the story of the U.S. hunt for the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks. Critic David Edelstein says the film presents itself as a work of journalism, but that that there's no doubting its perspective: It's the story of America's "brilliant, righteous revenge."
Behind The Scenes Of The Beatles' 'Magical Mystery Tour'
Saturday, December 15 2012 02:48 AM
A new documentary on PBS about the making of the Beatles' 1967 film Magical Mystery Tour features outtakes from the original and new interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. TV critic David Bianculli calls the film "wonderfully thorough."
Ravi Shankar: Remembering A Master Of The Sitar
Saturday, December 15 2012 02:48 AM
In a 1999 interview, Ravi Shankar, who died Tuesday, talked to Fresh Air about hippies, psychedelic drugs, "Norwegian Wood," George Harrison, his fond memories of the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967 and his less-fond memories of Woodstock.
Hall Of Famer: Randy Newman Makes The Cut
Saturday, December 15 2012 02:47 AM
Known for such hits as "Real Emotional Girl", singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and pianist Randy Newman is on his way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Newman, a 40-year veteran of the music business, talked to Fresh Air in 1998 and 2004 about his life and work.
10 Books To Help You Recover From A Tense 2012
Friday, December 14 2012 02:55 AM
2012 was a very jittery year — what with the presidential election, extreme weather events and the looming "fiscal cliff." Fresh Air critic Maureen Corrigan found that her favorite fiction and nonfiction this year directly confronted the atmospheric uncertainty of the age.
'World On A String': John Pizzarelli Jazzes It Up
Friday, December 14 2012 02:54 AM
In his new book, the guitarist, singer and songwriter shares stories from life growing up in a musical household and talks about collaborating and sharing the stage with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney.
Ke$ha: A 'Warrior' In Search Of Legitimacy
Thursday, December 13 2012 03:07 AM
On her new album, the pop star tries to show she's not just in the business for the money. As critic Ken Tucker says, "Like pop stars ranging from Madonna on back to Chuck Berry, Ke$ha wants it both ways: mass-audience success and artistic acknowledgment."
Joseph Kennedy, 'Patriarch' Of An American Dynasty
Thursday, December 13 2012 03:07 AM
In a new book, biographer David Nasaw profiles the father of Robert, John and Teddy, and unpacks the elder Kennedy's influence on his children. "He told them over and over again, 'I'm making all this money so you don't have to make money, so that you can go into public service,' " Nasaw says.
Bass Note: Mingus And The Jazz Workshop Concerts
Wednesday, December 12 2012 02:46 AM
Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new, seven-disc Charles Mingus box set chronicling the jazz legend's mid-'60s live performances. The records, Whitehead says, "can be a little raw, as if the explosive music caught the engineers by surprise."
'Operation Delirium:' Psychochemicals And Cold War
Wednesday, December 12 2012 02:46 AM
In his article for The New Yorker, journalist Raffi Khatchadourian tells the story of a secret program that tested nerve gas, LSD and other drugs on 5,000 American soldiers throughout the 1950s and '60s.
Lemony Snicket Dons A Trenchcoat
Tuesday, December 11 2012 02:57 AM
In Who Could That Be at This Hour?, a prequel to A Series of Unfortunate Events, Daniel Handler satirizes pulp mysteries and uncovers the parallels between detective fiction and childhood. In both, he says, an outsider is trying to make his way in a mysteriously corrupt world.
Fresh Air Weekend: Judd Apatow, Colm Toibin
Sunday, December 09 2012 02:39 AM
Judd Apatow draws on his own experiences in a new comedy that explores family life. In The Testament of Mary, Irish author Colm Toibin imagines Mary's life after the crucifixion, as she wonders what she might have done differently to ease her son's suffering.
At Home With Dickens And Lousia May Alcott
Saturday, December 08 2012 02:34 AM
Two new biographical studies that read like novels explore the familial relationships that shaped two of the 19th century's most beloved authors. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls Great Expectations: The Sons And Daughters Of Charles Dickens "a Gothic nightmare" and Marmee & Louisa "a romance."
Celebrating The Life Of Jazz Pianist Dave Brubeck
Saturday, December 08 2012 02:34 AM
The jazz master died on Wednesday at age 91. In a 1999 interview with Fresh Air's Terry Gross he talked about his decades in the music industry and his first love: rodeo roping.
Forgotten Gems From The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Saturday, December 08 2012 02:34 AM
We remember Dave Brubeck, who died Wednesday at age 91, with a March 2012 review from jazz critic Kevin Whitehead, who wrote about a few of the more obscure titles from Dave Brubeck's quartet.
In 'This Is 40,' Family Life In All Its Glory
Friday, December 07 2012 04:05 AM
Judd Apatow draws on his own experiences as a husband and father in a new comedy that explores the ups and downs of family life. The film stays close to home, literally and figuratively. It stars his wife, Leslie Mann, as well as their two daughters, and was filmed a few doors down from his house.
A Thin Line: Economic Development Or Corporate Welfare?
Thursday, December 06 2012 03:30 AM
In her new series for The New York Times, reporter Louise Story traces the complicated relationship between localities and the corporations they want to lure to their states, counties and cities to help promote economic growth.
A Thin Line: Economic Development Or Corporate Welfare?
Thursday, December 06 2012 03:30 AM
In her new series for The New York Times, reporter Louise Story traces the complicated relationship between localities and the corporations they want to lure to their states, counties and cities to help promote economic growth.
Boxes Of TV Fun, Old And New, For The Holidays
Wednesday, December 05 2012 08:13 AM
It's holiday box-set season, and Fresh Air critic David Bianculli shares some favorites for the TV-lover on your list. "Giving someone a gift of a TV show," he says, "is somehow very personal. You're giving something that you love, and that, in many cases, will occupy many hours ... of their time."
'Inventing Wine': The History Of A Very Vintage Beverage
Wednesday, December 05 2012 08:13 AM
In his new book, author and oenophile Paul Lukacs traces the 8,000-year history of our original alcoholic beverage — from ancient times, when wine was believed to be of divine origin, to the sauvignon blanc you find in your supermarket today.
'Inventing Wine': The History Of A Very Vintage Beverage
Wednesday, December 05 2012 05:55 AM
In his new book, author and oenophile Paul Lukacs traces the 8,000-year history of our original alcoholic beverage — from ancient times, when wine was believed to be of divine origin, to the sauvignon blanc you find in your supermarket today.
Boxes Of TV Fun, Old And New, For The Holidays
Wednesday, December 05 2012 03:19 AM
It's holiday box-set season, and Fresh Air critic David Bianculli shares some favorites for the TV-lover on your list. "Giving someone a gift of a TV show," he says, "is somehow very personal. You're giving something that you love, and that, in many cases, will occupy many hours ... of their time."
A New 'Testament' Told From Mary's Point Of View
Tuesday, December 04 2012 02:33 AM
In his new novel, The Testament of Mary, Irish author Colm Toibin imagines Mary's life 20 years after the crucifixion, as she wonders what she might have done differently to ease her son's suffering. "I felt that I was Mary," he says. "I was her consciousness, watching the thing happening."
Fresh Air Weekend: Robert Zemeckis And Ken Tucker
Sunday, December 02 2012 02:50 AM
Robert Zemeckis' film tells the story of a pilot who crash-lands a plane while drunk and high. Friends and songwriters Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale just released a new album of duets. Also, Hilary Mantel has just won her second Man Booker Prize, this time for her novel Bring Up The Bodies — the sequel to Wolf Hall.
Tracey Thorn: 'Secular Carols' For The Holidays
Saturday, December 01 2012 03:28 AM
Thorn has recorded a holiday album, Tinsel and Lights, that critic Ken Tucker says might just work for warmer weather, as well. Tucker praises Thorn's voice as "bolstered by a firm intelligence," and says she avoids the fatty treacle that often weighs down Christmas albums.
'Times' Advice Guru Answers Your Social Q's
Saturday, December 01 2012 03:28 AM
New York Times advice columnist Philip Galanes details how to handle breakups, cellphone calls and food allergies — among other topics — in his book Social Q's: How to Survive the Quirks, Quandaries and Quagmires of Today.
Turning Up The Volume On The Electric Blues
Friday, November 30 2012 03:05 AM
A new 12-disc compilation traces the history of electric blues from its inauspicious start through its heyday in the 1950s and '60s. Critic Ed Ward says Plug It In! Turn It Up! does "a great job of illuminating one particular aspect of the blues."
'Flight' Takes On Questions Of Accountability
Friday, November 30 2012 03:04 AM
In the Robert Zemeckis film starring Denzel Washington, a pilot with a secret substance-abuse problem successfully crash-lands an airplane while high on drugs and alcohol. He must then ask himself some tough questions about whether his act of heroism is undermined by his addiction.
'Buddy And Jim': Friends In Life And Songwriting
Thursday, November 29 2012 03:35 AM
Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale just released a new album of duets. Critic Ken Tucker says Buddy and Jim recalls an earlier era of country music. The pair's voices, Tucker says, connect through "shared emotion in a song."
The Middle East: A Web Of 'Topsy-Turvy' Alliances
Thursday, November 29 2012 03:35 AM
Robert Malley, a program director for the International Crisis Group, analyzes the complexity of the situation in the Middle East, a region where conflicts interconnect and expand upon one another. "These alliances," says Malley, "are not clear cut ... they are alliances of convenience."
Cecilia Bartoli's New 'Mission' Unearths Baroque Gems
Wednesday, November 28 2012 03:11 AM
Critic Lloyd Schwartz welcomes the opera star's new album, Mission, which breathes new life into the work of Italian composer Agostino Steffani. Bartoli, he says, has an astonishing capacity for vocal fireworks and warm, delicate lyricism.
'The Last Refuge': Yemen, Al-Qaida And The U.S.
Wednesday, November 28 2012 03:11 AM
In his new book, journalist Gregory Johnsen charts the rise of Yemen as a haven for al-Qaida and explores the recent history of radical Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. The death of Osama bin Laden, he says, had more of an effect on the U.S. psyche than it did on people in Yemen.
Jason Kao Hwang: From The Blues To China And Back
Tuesday, November 27 2012 03:25 AM
The violinist attempts to mix jazz, classical and traditional Chinese music with his octet on Burning Bridge.
Mantel Takes Up Betrayal, Beheadings In 'Bodies'
Tuesday, November 27 2012 03:25 AM
Hilary Mantel is the first woman to win the Man Booker Prize twice, first for her 2009 novel, Wolf Hall, and now for that book's 2012 sequel, Bring Up the Bodies. The novels are part of a historical fiction trilogy about Tudor England and the events surrounding the reign of King Henry VIII.
Fresh Air Weekend: Colbert, America's Test Kitchen
Sunday, November 25 2012 02:32 AM
From "King Herod's Song" to Ben Folds Five, Stephen Colbert talks about some of his favorite music. America's Test Kitchen experts Jack Bishop and Bridget Lancaster join Fresh Air to explain what makes a great marinade. And critic David Edelstein reviews Life of Pi.
A Boy, A Boat, A Tiger: Reflecting On 'Life Of Pi'
Saturday, November 24 2012 03:52 AM
Ang Lee's meticulously controlled style makes a perfect fit for Life of Pi, a passionately overcontrolled adaptation of a wondrous adventure story with a surprisingly harsh sting in its tail.
What Happened To 'Baby Jane'? She's Turning 50
Saturday, November 24 2012 03:52 AM
On its 50th anniversary, Robert Aldrich's classic horror film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? has just been released on Blu-ray. Though it's far from a musical, classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says its musical elements are crucial to the film.
Jazz Vocalist Susie Arioli Goes 'All The Way'
Saturday, November 24 2012 03:52 AM
Listen to an in-studio concert and conversation with the Canadian singer and her longtime guitarist, Jordan Officer.
'Gershwins And Me' Tells The Stories Behind 12 Songs
Friday, November 23 2012 02:54 AM
Musician Michael Feinstein chronicles his experience working as an archivist and cataloger for legendary songwriter Ira Gershwin. The book is presented through the stories of 12 of the Gershwin brothers' songs, including "Fascinating Rhythm," "The Man I Love" and "I Got Rhythm."
The Mythic Power Of Bessie Smith
Thursday, November 22 2012 03:50 AM
"The Empress of the Blues" gave voice the listeners' tribulations and yearnings of the 1920s and '30s. A new 10-CD box set collects the complete works of the colossus who straddled jazz and blues.
A Daughter Remembers Her 'Entertainer' Father
Thursday, November 22 2012 03:50 AM
Margaret Talbot tells the story of her father, actor Lyle Talbot, in her memoir The Entertainer. He began his career as an assistant to a traveling hypnotist, and went on to star in movies with Shirley Temple and Humphrey Bogart — and played next-door neighbor Joe Randolph on Ozzie and Harriet.
Hungry Hearts And Family Matters In 'Middlesteins'
Wednesday, November 21 2012 03:43 AM
Jami Attenberg's black comedy about the fallout of one woman's food addiction is a tough but affecting story about family members putting up with each other. Critic Maureen Corrigan says the novel's fragmented narration and jumpy timeline add to its emotional punch.
The Insect Trust: An American Band Deconstructed
Wednesday, November 21 2012 03:43 AM
One of the great fantasies of the hippie era was that new combinations of music would emerge from the experimentation that was going on. Still, very few lived it. Ed Ward says The Insect Trust was one of the exceptions.
A Model Career: 'Grace' Goes From Runway To 'Vogue'
Wednesday, November 21 2012 03:43 AM
In a new memoir, Grace Coddington explains how she grew up on a remote island off the coast of Wales, started modeling as a young woman and ended up as creative director at Vogue magazine. Coddington speaks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about her life in the fashion industry.
'Life Of Pi' Star On The 'Duet' Of Acting
Tuesday, November 20 2012 03:14 AM
Actor Irrfan Khan talks about his role in the new movie Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee and based on the best-selling novel of the same name. Khan also starred in Slumdog Millionaire, The Namesake and A Mighty Heart.
'Color Of Christ': A Story Of Race And Religion In America
Tuesday, November 20 2012 03:14 AM
What did Jesus look like? In their new book, The Color of Christ, Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey explore how different groups have claimed Jesus as their own — and how depictions of Jesus have both inspired civil rights crusades, and been used to justify the violence of white supremacists.
Fresh Air Weekend: Andrew Solomon, Tony Dokoupil
Sunday, November 18 2012 04:44 AM
Andrew Solomon's new book is about families with children who are profoundly different or likely to be stigmatized. Writer Tony Dokoupil discusses what's next now that voters in two states have approved recreational marijuana use.
In 'Silver Linings Playbook,' Lawrence Is Golden
Saturday, November 17 2012 03:25 AM
David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook stars Bradley Cooper as a bipolar high school teacher trying to put his life back together. But critic David Edelstein says it's the performance of co-star Jennifer Lawrence that makes the film a hot ticket.
Finding 'Life, Death And Hope' In A Mumbai Slum
Saturday, November 17 2012 03:25 AM
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo spent more than three years in Mumbai's Annawadi slum. In her book Behind the Beautiful Forevers, she profiles people living in extreme poverty — right in the shadow of luxury hotels. On Wednesday, the book won the National Book Award for nonfiction.
'When God Talks Back' To The Evangelical Community
Saturday, November 17 2012 03:25 AM
Anthropologist T.M. Luhrmann studies the personal relationships evangelicals develop with God. In her book When God Talks Back, she explains how relationships with God are often cemented through the power of prayer. The book has just come out in paperback.
The New British Empire: Pop-Culture Powerhouses
Friday, November 16 2012 04:29 AM
James Bond and The Rolling Stones both turn 50 this year. As critic John Powers points out, both may have been born in response to a dying British Empire, but their evolving legacies have reflected the times through which these brands have lived.
Doris Kearns Goodwin On Lincoln And His 'Team Of Rivals'
Friday, November 16 2012 04:29 AM
In Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin explains how the 16th president brought into his cabinet three powerful men who politically opposed him. She spoke with Fresh Air's Terry Gross in 2005.
Kushner's 'Lincoln' Is Strange, But Also Savvy
Friday, November 16 2012 04:28 AM
Tony Kushner wrote the screenplay for the film Lincoln, which focuses on the 16th president's tumultuous final months in office. Kushner read more than 20 books before writing about Lincoln, a man who had "an enormous capacity for grief that didn't deprive him of the ability to act."
Ian McEwan's 'Sweet Tooth' Leaves A Sour Taste
Thursday, November 15 2012 03:44 AM
The novelist has won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Award. His latest novel, however, earns the ire of critic Maureen Corrigan, who usually numbers among McEwan's fans but finds herself dismayed by this book's attitudes toward women.
An Unlikely Tribute: Jamey Johnson Covers Hank Cochran
Thursday, November 15 2012 03:44 AM
The country-music star has enlisted the help of Merle Haggard, Elvis Costello and others to salute the man behind songs like "Make the World Go Away."
A Young Reporter Chronicles Her 'Brain On Fire'
Thursday, November 15 2012 03:44 AM
In her memoir, Susannah Cahalan writes about the month she descended into madness, experiencing seizures, paranoia, psychosis and catatonia. At first, her family was frightened, and her doctors, baffled. The eventual prognosis? A rare autoimmune disease that was attacking her brain.
Legalizing And Regulating Pot: A Growth Industry
Wednesday, November 14 2012 04:37 AM
On Election Day, voters in Colorado and Washington cast their ballots in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use. In his recent cover story for Newsweek, journalist Tony Dokoupil reported on the booming cannabis business in Colorado and its prospects for regulated expansion.
Parenting A Child Who's Fallen 'Far From The Tree'
Tuesday, November 13 2012 03:15 AM
Andrew Solomon's new book is about families with children who are profoundly different or likely to be stigmatized. "We all love flawed children," says Solomon, "and the general assumption that these more extreme flaws make ... children somehow unlovable — it wasn't true of most of my experience."
Fresh Air Weekend: Oliver Sacks And 'Oddly Normal'
Sunday, November 11 2012 02:42 AM
The famed neurologist talks to Fresh Air about how grief, trauma, brain injury, medications and neurological disorders can trigger hallucinations. John Schwartz and Jeanne Mixon talk about coming to terms with their son's sexual orientation and his suicide attempt in their memoir, Oddly Normal.
Historical, Fictional Icons Take To The Big Screen
Saturday, November 10 2012 11:14 AM
Two of the year's most highly anticipated movies arrive this week. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and Skyfall, the third film starring Daniel Craig as James Bond 007, directed by American Beauty Oscar-winner Sam Mendes. Film critic David Edelstein has this review of both.
Cody ChesnuTT Contains A Universe On 'Hundred'
Saturday, November 10 2012 11:14 AM
ChesnuTT is the best sort of egomaniac: On Landing on a Hundred, he's preachy but delightful.
Interrupting Violence With The Message 'Don't Shoot'
Saturday, November 10 2012 11:14 AM
Criminologist David M. Kennedy's strategy for reducing gang violence has dramatically reduced youth homicide rates nationwide. In his new memoir, Don't Shoot, Kennedy outlines how community meetings and interventions have worked to curb youth violence in more than 70 cities.
Samuel Yirga Ushers In A Golden Age Of Ethiopian Music
Friday, November 09 2012 03:57 AM
Yirga finds his way into Ethiopian standards, displays his flair for jazz over solo and ensemble pieces, and performs effortless homages to vintage soul. He holds everything together with voracious talent that helps him savor each musical flavor.
'Crushing Eastern Europe' Behind The 'Iron Curtain'
Friday, November 09 2012 03:57 AM
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Applebaum describes the tactics the Soviets used after World War II to take over and transform much of Eastern Europe. Her book Iron Curtain was recently nominated for the National Book Award.
Always A Rose: Elliott Carter Remembered
Thursday, November 08 2012 02:56 AM
Carter lived one of the most fulfilled lives any artist could wish for. What's sad about his death Monday at 103 isn't just that a whole era in music has come to an end, but that Carter was still composing, and on the highest level.
Could A Second Term Mean More Gridlock?
Thursday, November 08 2012 02:55 AM
President Obama has been re-elected. Democrats and Republicans have maintained their respective majorities in the Senate and in the House. So does this mean there will be more partisan gridlock? Fresh Air talks with political analyst Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute.
Oliver Sacks, Exploring How Hallucinations Happen
Wednesday, November 07 2012 03:03 AM
The famed neurologist talks to Fresh Air about how grief, trauma, brain injury, medications and neurological disorders can trigger hallucinations — and about his personal experimentation with hallucinogenic drugs in the 1960s.
Taylor Swift Leaps Into Pop With 'Red'
Tuesday, November 06 2012 03:53 AM
Critic Ken Tucker says that, like all good pop artists, Swift continues to evolve in a manner which challenges her diehard fans while inviting naysayers to give it another listen.
Caring For Mom, Dreaming Of 'Elsewhere'
Tuesday, November 06 2012 03:53 AM
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Russo began looking out for his mother early in life. In his new memoir, Elsewhere, Russo writes not only of his mother, but of the vanished world that shaped her. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls the book "gorgeously nuanced."
An 'Oddly Normal' Outcome For A Singular Child
Tuesday, November 06 2012 03:52 AM
From the time their son Joe was 3, John Schwartz and his wife, Jeanne Mixon, suspected he was gay. They supported him through troubles in school and when he decided to come out — but as a teen, Joe attempted suicide. Their memoir, Oddly Normal, chronicles their experiences.
Fresh Air Weekend: Katey Sagal, Sherry Turkle
Sunday, November 04 2012 01:33 AM
Katey Sagal plays Gemma, the fierce matriarch of the biker gang in the FX series Sons of Anarchy. Psychologist Sherry Turkle explains how digital devices are affecting our communication and relationships.
Rin Tin Tin: A Silent Film Star On Four Legs
Saturday, November 03 2012 03:36 AM
The orphaned German shepherd was found in the wreckage of a kennel during World War I. Writer Susan Orlean details how he became one of the biggest film stars of the silent era in Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend.
Animal Stage Trainer Makes Stars Out Of Pound Pups
Saturday, November 03 2012 03:36 AM
Bill Berloni has more than 30 years of experience training dogs, pigs, rats, cats and lambs for Broadway productions and Hollywood films. Fresh Air listens back to an interview with him from 2008.
Even Americans Find Some Britishisms 'Spot On'
Friday, November 02 2012 02:45 AM
Adding a foreign word to your vocabulary is like adding foreign attire to your wardrobe. Sometimes you do it because it's practical and sometimes just because you think it looks cool. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says Americans' use of "spot on" falls somewhere between affectation and flash.
Ricks: Firing 'The Generals' To Fight Better Wars?
Friday, November 02 2012 02:44 AM
Thomas Ricks' new book, The Generals, is about what he sees as a decline of American military leadership and accountability. He says that in World War II, generals were held accountable for their lack of success — but that started to change with the Korean War.
Sandy Raises Questions About Climate And The Future
Thursday, November 01 2012 03:02 AM
If you ask climate scientist Radley Horton, it's difficult to say that Hurricane Sandy was directly caused by climate change, but he says there are strong connections between the two. He talks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about climate change and preparing for severe weather.
Katey Sagal, Holding Court On 'Sons Of Anarchy'
Thursday, November 01 2012 03:01 AM
The actress plays Gemma, the fierce matriarch of the biker gang in the FX series. She's best-known for playing the acerbic Peg Bundy on the long-running show Married With Children.
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band: The Fresh Air Interview
Tuesday, October 30 2012 02:04 AM
Rowan got his start performing with the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. In the '70s, he formed the band Old and in the Way with Jerry Garcia. In 2010, he joined his group for an in-studio session and interview on Fresh Air.
Fresh Air Weekend: Dexter Filkins, Joe Turner, Tom Wolfe
Sunday, October 28 2012 02:15 AM
With the help of reporter Dexter Filkins, an Iraq vet seeks atonement for an early war tragedy. Critic Ed Ward reviews a new collection of hard-hitting singles from the man behind "Shake, Rattle and Roll." And Tom Wolfe takes Miami's pulse in his novel Back to Blood.
'Cloud Atlas': You're Better Off Reading The Book
Saturday, October 27 2012 04:54 AM
David Mitchell's exquisite novel Cloud Atlas has been adapted for the screen by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer. The film is never dull, but critic David Edelstein found that unlike the book, the film fails in its attempt to tie six distinct stories together.
John Cage At 100: Remembering A Revolutionary Composer
Saturday, October 27 2012 04:53 AM
September marked the centennial of the birth of composer John Cage and celebrations are being held around the world in his honor. His compositions include spoken texts, radios, toys and the sounds of vegetables being chopped. Cage died in 1992. Fresh Air listens back to an interview with Cage from 1982.
George Cables: A Heartfelt Tribute To His 'Muse'
Saturday, October 27 2012 04:53 AM
In the 1970s and '80s, Cables was the pianist of choice for saxophonists Dexter Gordon and Art Pepper; Pepper called him his favorite pianist. Critic Kevin Whitehead says Cables' new trio album, My Muse, is so unassumingly good, you could miss just how good it is.
Bob Moog: The Fresh Air Interview
Saturday, October 27 2012 04:53 AM
Moogfest, the festival of electronic and visionary music, takes place on Saturday and Sunday in Asheville, N.C., the city music pioneer Bob Moog called home. Moog was the inventor of the Moog synthesizer. He died in August 2005. Fresh Air listens to an interview from February 2000.
Portis 'Miscellany' Makes A High-'Velocity' Collection
Friday, October 26 2012 02:34 AM
True Grit author Charles Portis is the cult writer for people who hate cult writers. He hasn't published a book since 1991, and reviewer John Powers says the short pieces collected in Escape Velocity have been treasured for decades, passed around like samizdat by Portis fans.
A Journalist Chronicles Lives After Guantanamo Bay
Friday, October 26 2012 02:33 AM
Michelle Shephard has traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, more than two dozen times and has been following the stories of men who've been released from the U.S. detention center. She's the author of Guantanamo's Child and Decade of Fear: Reporting From Terrorism's Grey Zone.
Tom Wolfe Takes Miami's Pulse In 'Back To Blood'
Thursday, October 25 2012 02:23 AM
Wolfe tells Fresh Air's Dave Davies that what makes Miami exceptional is the story of how an immigrant community rose to dominate its political landscape in just over a generation. His new novel deals with racial and ethnic conflict among the city's diverse inhabitants.
Stephen Colbert's Most Meaningful Musical Moments
Thursday, October 25 2012 02:22 AM
Colbert loves music and loves to sing, so Fresh Air's Terry Gross asked him to bring a few songs that mean a lot to him and tell her why.
Iraq Vet Seeks Atonement For Early War Tragedy
Wednesday, October 24 2012 02:24 AM
In the early days of the Iraq War, during a firefight in Baghdad, Lu Lobello's Marine unit mistakenly opened fire on a family of civilians, killing three. Years later, and after enlisting the help of reporter Dexter Filkins, Lobello reached out to that family for forgiveness.
The Big Man Behind 'Shake, Rattle And Roll'
Tuesday, October 23 2012 01:57 AM
Six feet tall, weighing in at 400 pounds and in his 40s when stardom hit him, Big Joe Turner is behind a load of rock 'n' roll hits. His hardest-hitting singles have been collected on a new compilation, titled Big Joe Turner Rocks.
Ava DuVernay: A New Director, After Changing Course
Tuesday, October 23 2012 01:57 AM
In January, DuVernay became the first African-American woman to win Sundance's best directing award for her second feature-length film, Middle of Nowhere. It's about a young woman who puts her life and dreams of going to medical school on hold while her husband is in prison.
Fresh Air Weekend: Michael Feinstein, Roxy Music, Tyler Perry
Sunday, October 21 2012 01:39 AM
Michael Feinstein chronicles his experience working as an archivist and cataloger for legendary songwriter Ira Gershwin. Critic Ed Ward reviews Roxy Music's boxed set, The Complete Studio Recordings 1972-1982. And Tyler Perry talks about his new action thriller, Alex Cross.
Gary Clark Jr.: A Raucous Blues Shout
Saturday, October 20 2012 02:09 AM
On Blak and Blu, you can hear the roar in Clark's blues guitar. But critic Ken Tucker says Clark remains a work in progress.
Baratunde Thurston Explains 'How To Be Black'
Saturday, October 20 2012 02:08 AM
From the comedian and digital director of The Onion, a satirical self-help book for anyone who has a black friend, wants to be the next black president or speak for the black community.
'Master' Jefferson: Defender Of Liberty, Then Slavery
Friday, October 19 2012 02:19 AM
In Master of the Mountain, historian Henry Wiencek uses an explosive interpretation of evidence to show how, by the 1780s, Founding Father and slave owner Thomas Jefferson had gone from championing equality to rationalizing an abomination.
In Constant Digital Contact, We Feel 'Alone Together'
Friday, October 19 2012 02:19 AM
In her book Alone Together, psychologist Sherry Turkle explains how digital devices are affecting our communication and relationships. "What is so seductive about texting, about keeping that phone on, about that little red light on the BlackBerry, is you want to know who wants you," Turkle says.
'Gershwins And Me' Tells The Stories Behind 12 Songs
Thursday, October 18 2012 02:20 AM
Musician Michael Feinstein chronicles his experience working as an archivist and cataloger for legendary songwriter Ira Gershwin. The book is presented through the stories of 12 of the Gershwin brothers' songs, including "Fascinating Rhythm," "The Man I Love" and "I Got Rhythm."
Budapest Quartet Gets To The Heart Of Beethoven
Wednesday, October 17 2012 02:48 AM
Among the most central pieces of the classical-music repertoire are the 16 string quartets Beethoven composed over the course of his career. For critic Lloyd Schwartz, these quartets, especially as recorded by the Budapest String Quartet, were crucial to his own musical upbringing.
'Test Kitchen' Chefs Talk The Science Of Savory
Wednesday, October 17 2012 02:48 AM
America's Test Kitchen experts Jack Bishop and Bridget Lancaster join Fresh Air to explain what makes a great marinade — and why you might want to add an anchovy or two to your next beef stew.
More Than This: The 'Complete' Roxy Music
Tuesday, October 16 2012 02:01 AM
Ed Ward connects the dots of the British band's eight studio albums, which were just collected in a box set.
Tyler Perry Transforms: From Madea To Family Man
Tuesday, October 16 2012 02:01 AM
Best known for being the man behind Madea, Perry is now starring in the action thriller Alex Cross. He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that his Madea character is a cross between his mom, his aunt and Eddie Murphy.
Fresh Air Weekend: Tig Notaro, Louis C.K., Nate Silver
Sunday, October 14 2012 01:38 AM
Tig Notaro manages to find humor in a cancer diagnosis and Louis C.K. explains why he called Notaro's set "masterful." Statistical analyst Nate Silver says humility is key to making accurate predictions.
'Argo': Too Good To Be True, Because It Isn't
Saturday, October 13 2012 01:38 AM
Ben Affleck's Argo, which is based on the declassified story of the CIA's mission to save six American diplomats trapped in Iran in 1979, is gripping, compelling and, at times, hilarious. But, as critic David Edelstein explains, the best parts of the "true" story are the parts that aren't true at all.
The Man Who Tracks Viruses Before They Spread
Saturday, October 13 2012 01:36 AM
Nathan Wolfe travels to the viral hot spots of the world, where viruses first jump from animals to humans. The scientist spends his days tracking emerging infectious diseases before they turn into global pandemics.
'May We Be Forgiven': A Story Of Second Chances
Friday, October 12 2012 02:11 AM
In A.M. Homes' suburbia, yawning sinkholes will suddenly open up in front lawns, swallowing cliched plotlines and opening portals to other dimensions. In her latest novel, she serves up an old-fashioned American story that's more Norman Bates than Norman Rockwell.
Ron Miles Finds Wide-Open Spaces On 'Quiver'
Friday, October 12 2012 02:11 AM
For Miles, the better he knows how a tune works, the less he has to play to put it across.
In Digital War, Patents Are The Weapon Of Choice
Friday, October 12 2012 02:10 AM
New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg says that consumers and innovation are the big losers in the patent wars. "Patents have become a toll gate on the road of innovation," he says.
Iris DeMent's Emotionally Complex 'Sing The Delta'
Thursday, October 11 2012 02:33 AM
Sing the Delta is the roots-folk singer-songwriter's first album of new songs in 16 years.
'Signal' And 'Noise': Prediction As Art And Science
Thursday, October 11 2012 02:31 AM
Statistical analyst Nate Silver says humility is key to making accurate predictions. Silver, who writes the New York Times' FiveThirtyEight blog, has just written a new book called The Signal and the Noise.
One Debate, Two Very Different Conversations
Wednesday, October 10 2012 03:01 AM
Linguist Geoff Nunberg has been puzzling over President Obama's performance in the presidential debate last week. Looking at who the candidates were addressing their answers to shows that Romney was doing something unusual, he says.
When Prolonging Death Seems Worse Than Death
Wednesday, October 10 2012 03:00 AM
Counselor Judith Schwarz says that for terminally ill patients who are suffering, prolonging death can seem like a worse fate than death itself. Schwarz is a patient supporter with the nonprofit organization Compassion & Choices.
Louis C.K.'s Diagnosis: 'Masterful'
Tuesday, October 09 2012 02:14 AM
Louis C.K. decided to offer Tig Notaro: Live exclusively on his website when he saw the comedian perform a set just hours after receiving her cancer diagnosis.
Tig Notaro On Going 'Live' About Her Life
Tuesday, October 09 2012 02:12 AM
Tig Notaro walked onstage hours after finding out she was diagnosed with cancer, and talked about it in a standup comedy set that Louis C.K. described in a tweet as masterful. Notaro talks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the set, titled Tig Notaro: Live.
At College, A 'Pitch Perfect' Musical Comedy
Saturday, October 06 2012 04:15 AM
Critic David Edelstein reviews a film that may sound a lot like a campus-bound version of Glee, but has more to it than that label might suggest.
Memoirist James Wolcott Reflects On The '70s
Saturday, October 06 2012 04:15 AM
The Vanity Fair columnist wrote about his early career at the Village Voice in Lucking Out: My Life Getting Down and Semi-Dirty In the Seventies. (Rebroadcast from November 2011.)
Interview: MacArthur 'Genius' Junot Diaz
Saturday, October 06 2012 04:15 AM
His debut novel — The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao — won a Pulitzer Prize. He was recently named as one of the 2012 recipients of a MacArthur Fellowship. (Rebroadcast from December 2007)
Roving Eyes, Wandering Hands In 'How You Lose Her'
Friday, October 05 2012 02:28 AM
Junot Diaz's electric new collection of short stories centers around Yunior, a macho yet mournful Dominican-American man. In these stories about love, lust and infidelity, a good man is hard to find — and when he is found, he's always in bed with someone else.
Colbert: 'Re-Becoming' The Nation We Always Were
Friday, October 05 2012 02:27 AM
Stephen Colbert has a new book called America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't. It explores the dichotomy between thinking America is perfect — and feeling the urge to save the country from disaster at every moment.
When Words Were Worth Fighting Over
Thursday, October 04 2012 02:46 AM
Since the 1961 publication of the Third International Dictionary, people have debated the merits of dictionaries that describe language as it is and those that explain how it should be. Today the debate continues, but it doesn't hold the same cultural significance as before, writes Geoff Nunberg.
Low Cut Connie: The Self-Deprecating Bar Band
Thursday, October 04 2012 02:46 AM
The band's new Call Me Sylvia is as raucous as its debut, though it's slightly more self-conscious.
Tobolowsky: An Actor's Life 'Low On The Totem Pole'
Thursday, October 04 2012 02:45 AM
He's appeared in over 100 films and TV shows, but you still might not know his name. In his memoir, The Dangerous Animals Club, actor Stephen Tobolowsky talks about falling in love with comedy — and playing characters who are always on the story's fringes.
Paul Thomas Anderson, The Man Behind 'The Master'
Wednesday, October 03 2012 02:41 AM
The director of Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood talks to Fresh Air's Terry Gross about his new film, The Master, a tense drama with indelible performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.
Being 'Joseph Anton,' Rediscovering Salman Rushdie
Tuesday, October 02 2012 02:12 AM
John Powers reviews the author's memoir of his time in hiding — the result of a fatwah calling for his murder after the publication of The Satanic Verses.
Out Of Industrial Wasteland, The English Beat Was Born
Tuesday, October 02 2012 02:12 AM
Ed Ward reviews the reissued catalog from the multiracial, multi-generational ska band.
In Memoir, Neil Young Wages 'Heavy Peace'
Tuesday, October 02 2012 02:11 AM
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Neil Young has a new memoir titled Waging Heavy Peace. It's about his music, raising two sons with special needs, and his own medical conditions, which have included polio, epilepsy and a brain aneurysm.
Fresh Air Weekend: J.R. Moehringer, Mindy Kaling
Sunday, September 30 2012 02:06 AM
In his first novel, Sutton, J.R. Moehringer writes from the point of view of the "greatest American robber." Mindy Kaling, who was on The Office stars in a new Fox show she also runs called The Mindy Project.
Fall TV's Returning Series: A Cause To Rejoice
Saturday, September 29 2012 03:26 AM
Showtime's Homeland, which swept this year's Emmy Awards, returns this weekend — as does another Showtime drama, Dexter. Critic David Bianculli says there's a rich bounty of returning series — and Homeland is the "most topical and meaningful drama on television."
Steve Martin: From Standup To Movie Star And Writer
Saturday, September 29 2012 03:24 AM
Steve Martin went from performing in an empty San Francisco coffee house to hosting the Oscars. In between, he spent 18 years as a stand-up comic — four of them, by his account, successful years. His early standup routines, TV specials and other TV appearances have been released in a new DVD box set.
'Looper': Time-Travel Nonsense, Winningly Played
Friday, September 28 2012 01:34 AM
Rian Johnson's action-thriller can't dodge the frustrating elements of most time-travel tales, but the film's characters, performances and stylization add up to an experience that critic David Edelstein believes is the right amount of happy and tragic.
From Sweet To Steely: Amy Adams In 'The Master'
Friday, September 28 2012 01:34 AM
The Oscar-nominated actress plays the forbidding wife of a cult leader in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master. She tells Fresh Air it was an opportunity to play a character type she'd never played before.
British Scientist Driven To Find 'Spark Of Life'
Friday, September 28 2012 01:33 AM
Frances Ashcroft's new book details how electricity in the body fuels everything we think, feel or do. She tells Fresh Air about discovering a new protein, how scientists are like novelists and how she wanted to be a farmer's wife.
After 26 Years, The Sam Rivers Trio Resurfaces
Thursday, September 27 2012 03:30 AM
The freewheeling saxophonist and his small group from the 1970s came together for a live concert in 2007 — their first together in more than two decades. Now, a recording has been posthumously released on CD, and critic Kevin Whitehead says it's like they never went away.
'Sutton': America's 1920s, Bank-Robbing 'Robin Hood'
Thursday, September 27 2012 03:29 AM
In his first novel, J.R. Moehringer writes from the point of view of Willie Sutton, whom he calls the "greatest American robber." Moehringer says writing historical fiction helped him deal with the anger he felt toward banks after the global financial crisis in 2008.
A Lifetime Of Love In 'My Husband And My Wives'
Wednesday, September 26 2012 02:48 AM
Charles Rowan Beye has been married three times — to two women and a man. Now, over age 80, he looks back on his life and asks, "What was that all about?" Critic Maureen Corrigan says Beye's memoir, subtitled "A Gay Man's Odyssey," is a complex, poignant addition to the sexual canon.
Analog Players Society: A Party Cooked Up In A Studio
Wednesday, September 26 2012 02:48 AM
The Analog Players Society provides some of the best evidence since the rise of Vampire Weekend that formerly exotic international music — particularly African rhythms and accents — has become an everyday part of modern popular tunes.
Mindy Kaling Loves Rom Coms (And Being The Boss)
Wednesday, September 26 2012 02:48 AM
The actress played Kelly Kapoor on The Office, a role she also wrote and produced. Now she runs a new Fox comedy, The Mindy Project, in which she stars as an obstetrician whose personal life is a mess. Kaling tells Fresh Air that her late mother inspired her character's career.
Aimee Mann: The 'Charmer' And The Disciplined Id
Tuesday, September 25 2012 02:35 AM
Ken Tucker says that Charmer is a song cycle about getting rid of a cynical frame of mind; about distancing yourself from people who are dragging you down.
Redistricting: A Story Of Divisive Politics, Odd Shapes
Tuesday, September 25 2012 02:34 AM
Journalist Robert Draper's article for The Atlantic traces how the redistricting process has been manipulated for electoral gain. It has created increasingly solid Republican or Democratic congressional districts, which has led to more representatives who are unwilling to compromise, Draper tells Fresh Air.
The Art Of Preserving A High School 'Wallflower'
Saturday, September 22 2012 01:42 AM
Writer-director Stephen Chbosky brings his 1999 young adult novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower to the screen. Critic David Edelstein says the result may be better than the book — a project that communicates the trials of high school in a way that is both painful and elating.
Vince Guaraldi Didn't Just Play For 'Peanuts'
Saturday, September 22 2012 01:42 AM
Guaraldi had range, as well as an instrumental hit right when jazz was vanishing from AM radio.
Drew Faust On The 'Shared Suffering' Of The Civil War
Saturday, September 22 2012 01:42 AM
In her book This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War, historian Drew Gilpin Faust writes that Civil War deaths — both their number and their manner — transformed America. She is featured in PBS's American Experience called Death and the Civil War, which premiered Sept. 18.
Kelly Macdonald: Strong Woman On The 'Boardwalk'
Friday, September 21 2012 01:55 AM
The Scottish actress plays Margaret Thompson, a young Irish widow who marries a corrupt politician on HBO's Boardwalk Empire. Macdonald, who got her start in Trainspotting, tells Fresh Air that she enjoys playing a "strong character" for a change.
A Close Look At Your Bills' 'Fine Print'
Friday, September 21 2012 01:55 AM
In his new book, The Fine Print: How Big Companies Use "Plain English" to Rob You Blind, author David Cay Johnston examines the fees that companies have added over the years that have made bills incrementally larger. He tells Fresh Air that companies are misusing language to "confuse people."
Brad Mehldau: (Unlikely) Songs By Other People
Wednesday, September 19 2012 01:35 AM
The jazz trio returns to covering classic rock, folk and pop tunes on its latest album, Where Do You Start. Fresh Air critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the band's take on Elvis Costello, Nick Drake, Sonny Rollins and more.
Journalist Examines Chaotic Fighting In Syria
Wednesday, September 19 2012 01:35 AM
The Guardian's Ghaith Abdul-Ahad calls the Syrian battle fluid and complicated. "There is chaos, there is no military planning, there is no organization," he tells Fresh Air. He reported for the PBS Frontline documentary The Battle for Syria, which airs Tuesday.
How Obama, Roberts Interpret Laws In 'The Oath'
Tuesday, September 18 2012 01:42 AM
Jeffrey Toobin's new book, The Oath, explores how President Obama and Chief Justice John Roberts are at odds over constitutional law. Toobin tells Fresh Air that while Obama likes precedent when it comes to the Supreme Court, Roberts "wants to move the court in a dramatically new direction."
Fresh Air Weekend: W. Kamau Bell, Michael Lewis
Sunday, September 16 2012 01:32 AM
W. Kamau Bell, who hosts the new FX show Totally Biased, talks about how he got labeled as a "political comedian." Writer Michael Lewis was given unusual access to the president to write an article for Vanity Fair.
'The Master': Filling A Void By Finding A Family
Saturday, September 15 2012 01:38 AM
Many comparisons have been made between Paul Thomas Anderson's film The Master and the history of Scientology. But, as David Edelstein explains, the challenge of balancing the search for surrogate family with American individualism dominates the film. (Recommended)
'Chico & Rita': An Animated Film With A Cuban Beat
Saturday, September 15 2012 01:37 AM
Director Fernando Trueba talks about his Oscar-nominated animated film Chico and Rita, which follows a pair of lovers who leave Havana's music scene in the 1940s to head to New York City. It's now out on DVD.
Going Under The 'Boardwalk' With Michael Shannon
Saturday, September 15 2012 01:37 AM
The actor plays a righteous federal agent who succumbs to all sorts of temptations on the HBO drama Boardwalk Empire. To build the character of Nelson Van Alden, he says, he worked out an elaborate back story about the agent's childhood. The third season starts Sunday.
New Shows Hit Average In Fall TV Lineup
Friday, September 14 2012 02:18 AM
Critic David Bianculli says of all the new programs premiering this fall, there isn't one you have to add to your weekly viewing list. The best new show, he says, is Emily Owens, M.D., which is just like Ally McBeal if she were a doctor instead of a lawyer — but it's graded on a curve.
'Totally Biased' Comic On Race, Politics And Audience
Friday, September 14 2012 02:17 AM
Comic W. Kamau Bell's new show, produced by Chris Rock, mixes standup, sketches and interviews. Bell tells Fresh Air about the origins of his political humor and why it's important for him to have a multiracial audience.
'The Scientists': A Father's Lie And A Family's Legacy
Thursday, September 13 2012 01:57 AM
Marco Roth grew up on New York's Upper West Side in the 1980s, where a liberal Jewish culture infused with European tastes was breathing its last gasps. In his memoir, Roth describes how he learned — years after his father died from AIDS — that his father was probably gay.
In Meetings, On The Court To Discover 'Obama's Way'
Thursday, September 13 2012 01:57 AM
Writer Michael Lewis was given unusual access to the president for six months for an article for Vanity Fair. Lewis tells Fresh Air that he found a "weird disjuncture between his powers and his powerlessness."
Bob Dylan's Baffling And Sometimes Beautiful 'Tempest'
Wednesday, September 12 2012 02:01 AM
Critic Ken Tucker says that some songs on Tempest sound less like concentrated efforts than outpourings of rambling thoughts; others are as precisely crafted as any Bob Dylan has written.
New Center Trains Detection Dogs To Save Lives
Wednesday, September 12 2012 02:00 AM
A center for scientists to study what helps dogs succeed in search-and-rescue operations opens Tuesday at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Cynthia Otto, who created the center, and Annemarie DeAngelo, the center's training director, tell Fresh Air why they depend on their canine companions.
The Forgotten Story Of Memphis' American Studios
Tuesday, September 11 2012 02:32 AM
Memphis has been a music town since anyone can remember, and it's had places to record that music since there have been records. Some of its studios — Sun, Stax and Hi — are well-known, but American Studios produced its share of hits, and yet remains obscure.
Andrew Rannells: Gay And Serious In 'New Normal'
Tuesday, September 11 2012 02:31 AM
The actor stars in the comedy TV series The New Normal, about a gay couple who want a child so badly that they hire a surrogate. Rannells tells Fresh Air that he didn't want to "dumb down" the serious role with "stereotypical over-the-top gay flash and sass."
Fresh Air Weekend: Feathers, Cellphones As Trackers
Sunday, September 09 2012 01:41 AM
A new book analyzes feathers in birds. A reporter says cellphones collect more than we realize. An advocate who entered an assisted living facility at 53 talks about recording residents' final days and how death is handled "very poorly" in facilities.
'Bachelorette' Sounds Dark Comedic Depths
Saturday, September 08 2012 02:10 AM
Leslye Headland makes her directorial debut with this adaptation of her own play about three bridesmaids whose bad habits and emotional issues threaten to undermine their friend's impending wedding. It's tonally uneven but engrossing, says critic David Edelstein.
Fresh Air Remembers Lyricist Hal David
Saturday, September 08 2012 02:10 AM
Hal David, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning lyricist, died Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 91. David is best known for his many collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach between the late '50s and the mid-'70s.
Why Your Cellphone Could Be Called A 'Tracker'
Friday, September 07 2012 02:21 AM
ProPublica investigative reporter Peter Maass says cellphone companies monitor where we are, who we call, what we buy — and often provide it to law enforcement when requested. "They are collecting a heck of a lot more information than we expect them to be collecting about us," he tells Fresh Air.
Harmony, Teenagers And 'The Complete Story Of Doo-Wop'
Friday, September 07 2012 02:21 AM
Street Corner Symphonies is a 15-volume year-by-year survey of doo-wop by scholar Bill Dahl.
Advocate Fights 'Ambient Despair' In Assisted Living
Friday, September 07 2012 02:21 AM
Martin Bayne entered an assisted living facility at 53 after he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. Now he writes about long-term care reform. He tells Fresh Air about recording residents' final days and how death is handled "very poorly" in facilities.
Was Zadie Smith's Novel 'NW' Worth The Wait?
Thursday, September 06 2012 01:53 AM
Zadie Smith wrote her last novel On Beauty seven years ago — a long time in the anxious world of publishing. Her new novel NW was released in the U.S. on Monday. Critic Maureen Corrigan asks: Was it worth the wait?
Journalist Evaluates Obama, Romney Economic Plans
Thursday, September 06 2012 01:53 AM
New York Times Washington bureau chief David Leonhardt compares Obama's and Romney's tax plans, Medicare plans and conflicting claims on whether Americans are better off now than four years ago. "I think it's fair to say the typical American household isn't better off, but the country is," he tells Fresh Air.
When Ian Hunter Is 'President'
Wednesday, September 05 2012 01:53 AM
Despite its title, When I'm President isn't as political as Hunter's past couple of solo albums. Critic Ken Tucker says Hunter reaches back into rock's past while linking it firmly to the present.
Conservation Biologist Explains Why 'Feathers' Matter
Wednesday, September 05 2012 01:52 AM
Thor Hanson's new book looks at the evolutionary significance of feathers in birds. Hanson tells Fresh Air that he's amazed by birds' magnitude of feathers, how feathers grow and how they're the "most efficient insulation known."
Mickey Edwards On Democracy's 'Cancer'
Wednesday, September 05 2012 01:52 AM
In his new book, The Parties Versus the People, the former Republican congressman says party leaders have too much control over who runs for office, what bills make it to the floor and how lawmakers vote.
Miguel Zenon And Laurent Coq Play 'Hopscotch'
Tuesday, September 04 2012 01:35 AM
Julio Cortázar's book Rayuela is expansive, smart, breezy, romantic and occasionally reminiscent of a disturbing dream. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says that Miguel Zenon and Laurent Coq's Rayuela-inspired album lands on all those squares.
Joan Rivers Hates You, Herself And Everyone Else
Tuesday, September 04 2012 01:35 AM
Comedian Joan Rivers hates a lot of things. Her new book, I Hate Everyone, Starting With Me, details the things Rivers can't stand, from her appearance to obituaries to younger comedians who steal her gigs.
Fresh Air Weekend: Regina Spektor, Victor LaValle
Sunday, September 02 2012 01:36 AM
Singer Regina Spektor talks about Russia and her new album, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats. Author Victor LaValle says he drew on personal history to write his latest novel, The Devil In Silver.
Shoes: After 18 Years, The Power-Pop Band Re-Ignites
Saturday, September 01 2012 01:40 AM
The members of Shoes have cobbled together albums like stubborn craftsmen who know that their trade is at once outmoded and valuable. Ken Tucker says Ignition retains the same pop-rock rigor heard in the band's 1970s records.
Jack Black: On Music, Mayhem And Murder
Saturday, September 01 2012 01:40 AM
Actor Jack Black plays a kindly, small-town funeral director who murders a wealthy millionaire in the new film Bernie. Bernie is now out on DVD.
David Alan Grier's 'Sporting Life' On Broadway
Friday, August 31 2012 01:46 AM
The stand-up comedian and star of In Living Color played Sporting Life in the opera Porgy and Bess. The show, which won Tony Awards, closes on Broadway next month.
Audra McDonald: Shaping 'Bess' On Broadway
Friday, August 31 2012 01:46 AM
The actress plays Bess in the Broadway musical Porgy and Bess. The show, which won two Tony Awards, closes next month.
A Linguist's Serious Take On 'The A-Word'
Thursday, August 30 2012 01:48 AM
In his new book, Ascent of the A-Word, linguist Geoffrey Nunberg looks at how the term took root among griping World War II GIs — and how its meaning evolved in the '60s and '70s. He tells Fresh Air that crude words are "wonderfully revealing."
Victor LaValle On Mental Illness, Monsters, Survival
Thursday, August 30 2012 01:48 AM
In the author's latest novel, The Devil in Silver, a man is mistakenly committed to a mental hospital where a buffalo-headed monster stalks patients at night. LaValle tells Fresh Air why he picked monsters, about his family history of mental illness and how he had his own brush with psychological problems.
'Real Romney' Authors Dissect His Latest Campaign
Wednesday, August 29 2012 01:35 AM
Michael Kranish and Scott Helman's biography of Mitt Romney — The Real Romney — is now out in paperback with a new afterword. The authors discuss Romney's shift to the right, his faith and his recent comment that no one's ever asked to see his birth certificate.
In 'The Brontes,' Details Of A Family's Strange World
Tuesday, August 28 2012 01:39 AM
Juliet Barker has released a new edition of her landmark 1994 biography, The Brontes. Critic Maureen Corrigan says that even the 136 pages of footnotes are "thrilling," as readers are taken "deeper into the everyday realities" of the Brontes' "strange world."
Regina Spektor: On Growing Up A 'Soviet Kid'
Tuesday, August 28 2012 01:38 AM
Spektor spent the first nine years of her life in the Soviet Union, where she and her family faced discrimination as Jews. She talks about Russia and her new album, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats, with Terry Gross.
How Brazil Lives Now, In 'Neighboring Sounds'
Saturday, August 25 2012 01:32 AM
Brazilian culture is often portrayed as either joyful folk tradition or brutal gang violence. But Kleber Mendonca Filho's Neighboring Sounds penetrates into the daily lives of suburban Brazilians — and critic John Powers says it may be the best Brazilian film since the '70s.
'Incognito': What's Hiding In The Unconscious Mind
Saturday, August 25 2012 01:31 AM
Neuroscientist David Eagleman says everything we think, do and believe is determined by complex neural networks battling it out in our brains. His book Incognito, in which he explains what scientists are learning about this hidden world of cognition, is now out in paperback.
Paul Auster Meditates On Life, Death And Near Misses
Friday, August 24 2012 01:31 AM
The author's new memoir, Winter Journal, is a history of his body — scars, panic attacks and near-death experiences. He tells Fresh Air how he got a reputation as a dirty fighter, why he doesn't drive and how hard it was to see his mother's dead body.
Jane Mayer: Obama In 'Impossible Bind' Over Donors
Friday, August 24 2012 01:31 AM
In this week's New Yorker, the journalist details how the electoral climate since the Citizens United ruling in 2010 has negatively affected the Obama campaign's appeal to Democratic donors. Mayer tells Fresh Air that Obama has to make a "terrible choice between his principles and politics."
Bill Hader On Sketch Comedy, His Love Of Old Films
Thursday, August 23 2012 01:31 AM
Saturday Night Live's Bill Hader, nominated for an Emmy for his character Stefon, an obsessive clubgoer, says he needs a character to be funny. Hader tells Fresh Air that he doesn't know how people do standup — and that watching old films as a child sparked his interest in Hollywood.
Fresh Air Remembers Comedian Phyllis Diller
Wednesday, August 22 2012 01:30 AM
Comedian Phyllis Diller died Monday at the age of 95. In a 1986 interview with Fresh Air, Diller explains her routine when starting out, before she developed her persona as a crazed housewife.
Student 'Subversives' And The FBI's 'Dirty Tricks'
Wednesday, August 22 2012 01:30 AM
Journalist Seth Rosenfeld spent three decades pursuing government documents about the FBI's undercover operation in Berkeley, Calif., during the student protest movements in the '60s. His new book details how the FBI "used dirty tricks to stifle dissent on campus" and influenced Ronald Reagan's politics.
Mike Birbiglia, 'Sleepwalk'-ing On The Big Screen
Tuesday, August 21 2012 01:45 AM
The comedian co-wrote a film with Ira Glass, of public radio's This American Life, about his life and sleepwalking disorder. But making Sleepwalk With Me, based on Birbiglia's one-man show and comedic memoir, caused Birbiglia anxiety — which exacerbated his disorder.
Donald Ray Pollock On Finding Fiction Late In Life
Saturday, August 18 2012 01:43 AM
The author worked in a paper mill and meatpacking plant for 32 years before becoming a writer. His second book The Devil All the Time, set in his hometown of Knockemstiff, Ohio, is now out in paperback.
Sacha Baron Cohen: The Fresh Air Interview
Saturday, August 18 2012 01:42 AM
The actor and writer is famous for taking his characters — Ali G., Borat, Bruno — into the world, interacting with people who have no idea that they're dealing with a fictional character. His movie, The Dictator, a comedy about a tyrant on the loose in New York, will soon be released on DVD.
Autosalvage: The Psychedelic Band That Vanished
Friday, August 17 2012 05:24 PM
There are lots of stories about the band that got away. For rock historian Ed Ward, one of those groups has always been Autosalvage, a New York quartet who made one album and then stopped playing.
Frank Langella: A Career 'Like A Chekhov Play'
Friday, August 17 2012 05:24 PM
In the new movie Robot & Frank, the actor plays an aging ex-burglar who learns to take advantage of his robot caretaker. Langella, 74, tells Fresh Air why he was drawn to the role, and discusses the ups and downs of his long career.
How Jan Garbarek Came To Epitomize Nordic Jazz
Thursday, August 16 2012 01:38 AM
Garbarek helped the ECM label find its emerging voice 40 years ago. A new box set of early albums captures the saxophonist's forming sound — austere and astringent.
Do Voter ID Laws Prevent Fraud, Or Dampen Turnout?
Thursday, August 16 2012 01:38 AM
Thirty-three states now have voter ID laws requiring identification for voting. Some new laws requiring photo ID are being challenged in court or reviewed by the Justice Department. One supporter says these laws will prevent fraud. A critic says the claims are overblown.
With Ryan's Ascent, A Few Thoughts On 'Entitlement'
Wednesday, August 15 2012 01:58 AM
The Republican vice presidential pick wants to take another look at programs like Medicare and Social Security. Fresh Air's resident linguist parses the word "entitlement" in its political and nonpolitical contexts.
Climate 'Weirdness' Throws Ecosystems 'Out Of Kilter'
Wednesday, August 15 2012 01:58 AM
"We've had time to act — and essentially we haven't acted," says science journalist Michael Lemonick. He describes the threats posed by climate change in his new book, Global Weirdness: Severe Storms, Deadly Heat Waves, Relentless Drought, Rising Seas, and the Weather of the Future.
Looking To The 'Stars' For A Reason To Live
Tuesday, August 14 2012 01:52 AM
In Peter Heller's debut novel, The Dog Stars, a man named Hig survives a superflu that kills most of humanity. Heller, a travel and adventure writer, says that when his novel took a post-apocalyptic turn, he found himself relying on his real-life scrapes and survival skills.
Fresh Air Weekend: Chris Rock, Dan Auerbach
Sunday, August 12 2012 01:31 AM
This weekend: Chris Rock explains how doing well has affected his humor and how "the most fun thing" is being a dad. Ken Tucker says Black Keys member Dan Auerbach works wonders as a producer. And Dean Norris on playing good in Breaking Bad.
David Rakoff: 'There Is No Answer As To Why Me'
Saturday, August 11 2012 01:44 AM
Writer and humorist David Rakoff, who died Thursday at the age of 47, wrote with a perfect balance of wit and gravity about the cancer that would ultimately take his life. Fresh Air remembers Rakoff with excerpts from two interviews in 2001 and 2010.
60 Years Later, Still 'Singin' In The Rain'
Friday, August 10 2012 01:31 AM
The beloved musical celebrates its 60th birthday with a one-night screening of a newly restored print and a new reissue on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Chris Rock On The Funny Business Of Finding Success
Friday, August 10 2012 01:31 AM
The stand-up comedian says it's hard to pull off jokes about being rich, but "just because you're doing well in life doesn't mean you can't complain, too." Rock's latest project is a film called 2 Days in New York, in which he plays half of an interracial, multinational couple hosting relatives from France.
60 And Sexless, But 'Hope Springs' Eternal
Thursday, August 09 2012 02:02 AM
In Hope Springs, Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) seek out a couples therapist (Steve Carell) to try to rekindle the spark in their marriage. Critic David Edelstein says it's a post-reproductive chick flick for audiences who are no longer spring chickens.
Jazz Vocalist Susie Arioli Goes 'All The Way'
Thursday, August 09 2012 02:02 AM
Listen to an in-studio concert and conversation with the Canadian singer and her longtime guitarist, Jordan Officer.
'Dreamland': Open Your Eyes To The Science Of Sleep
Wednesday, August 08 2012 01:38 AM
Most people's after-midnight mishaps are nothing compared with what David K. Randall describes in his new book. From people committing murder while supposedly sleepwalking, to what sleep was like in medieval times, Dreamland provides a lively overview of the world's most popular nocturnal pastime.
Fresh Air Remembers Military Historian John Keegan
Wednesday, August 08 2012 01:38 AM
Keegan spent his life studying war, but he never fought in one and described himself as more or less a pacifist. The British military historian, who died last week at age 78, chronicled the history of warfare from Alexander the Great to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
'Antietam' Dissects Strategies Of North And South
Wednesday, August 08 2012 01:37 AM
In The Long Road to Antietam, historian Richard Slotkin traces how both Northern and Southern strategies changed in the summer of 1862, when both sides committed to an all-out total war, and Lincoln squared off against Gen. George McClellan.
Dan Auerbach Likes It Fast, Simple And Loud
Tuesday, August 07 2012 01:40 AM
Ken Tucker says the Black Keys member works wonders producing JEFF The Brotherhood and Hacienda.
Dean Norris On Playing Good In 'Breaking Bad'
Tuesday, August 07 2012 01:40 AM
Norris plays DEA agent Hank Schrader in the AMC series about a chemistry teacher turned meth cook. "He's a good cop, he just hasn't put the pieces together yet," Norris says.
Fresh Air Weekend: Feminists, Models, Roma Music
Sunday, August 05 2012 01:35 AM
Caitlin Moran explains How to Be a Woman. Two supermodels talk about what it's like to grow old in the HBO documentary About Face. And critic Milo Miles reviews the irresistible party music of Boban i Marko Markovic.
Crum: Lee Maynard's 'Love Letter' To His Hometown
Saturday, August 04 2012 02:14 AM
The Scummers is the last installment in Maynard's Crum trilogy. Maynard based Crum, his 1988 semi-autobiographical novel, on his small, poor West Virginia hometown. The people of Crum who know the book tend to love it or hate it. Maynard spoke with Terry Gross in 2003.
Fresh Air Remembers Writer And Critic Gore Vidal
Saturday, August 04 2012 02:14 AM
We listen back to excerpts of interviews with the acerbic writer, who died Tuesday at 86. Vidal authored the historical novels Burr and Lincoln, wrote plays and provocative essays, ran for office twice — and lost — and frequently appeared on TV talk shows.
Digging Up The 'Newly Discovered Works Of Gil Evans'
Friday, August 03 2012 01:35 AM
Scholar and fan Ryan Truesdell has turned unheard Evans scores into richly textured works.
A Moody Tale Of Murder In A 'Broken' Dublin Suburb
Friday, August 03 2012 01:34 AM
Tana French's latest novel follows Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, a police detective with a rage for order, as he investigates a young family's murder in a suburban Dublin development gone bust. Critic Maureen Corrigan says Broken Harbor is as much social criticism as it is whodunit.
Not A Feminist? Caitlin Moran Asks, Why Not?
Friday, August 03 2012 01:34 AM
Moran believes that most women who don't want to be called feminists don't understand what feminism is. Her new book How to Be a Woman is a funny take on housework, high heels, body fat, abortion, marriage and, of course, Brazilian waxes.
How Congressman Paul Ryan Is Shaping The GOP
Thursday, August 02 2012 01:35 AM
New Yorker writer Ryan Lizza profiles Rep. Paul Ryan from Wisconsin, whose radical alternatives to President Obama's economic policies have helped shape the GOP as it enters the final stage of the 2012 presidential campaign.
Boban i Marko Markovic: Irresistible Party Music
Wednesday, August 01 2012 01:46 AM
The various music styles of Eastern Europe's Roma people, formerly known as gypsies, have become favorites with audiences around the world. Milo Miles says no group does a better job of blending tradition with innovation than the ensemble led by Boban Markovic and his son Marko.
Facing The Fiscal Cliff: Congress' Next Showdown
Wednesday, August 01 2012 01:45 AM
In December, Congress is poised for another showdown on the deficit and taxes, in what is now being called the fiscal cliff. In his new book Red Ink, David Wessel explains how the federal budget got to the point where it is today — and where to go from here.
Fresh Air Remembers Actress Lupe Ontiveros
Tuesday, July 31 2012 01:41 AM
Lupe Ontiveros, known for her role in the 1997 film Selena, died Thursday at the age of 69. Fresh Air remembers the Latina actress, who was often called on to play the role of the maid, with excerpts from a 2002 interview.
This Time, R. Kelly Burns With (Relatively Chaste) Passion
Tuesday, July 31 2012 01:41 AM
The prolific, and often risque, crooner's 14th album explores sounds from earlier eras with surprising restraint.
Getting Old Is Hard, Even (And Especially) For Models
Tuesday, July 31 2012 01:40 AM
Supermodels open up about aging in a youth-obsessed industry in the HBO documentary About Face: The Supermodels Then and Now. "I really insisted that I not be retouched in Playboy," says Carol Alt. "... I'm 49 years old, and that was the point ... I let every bump and flaw show."
Fresh Air Weekend: Bishop Blair, Sister Farrell
Sunday, July 29 2012 01:32 AM
Bishop Leonard Blair talks about his Vatican-ordered assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an organization that represents 80 percent of Catholic sisters in America. Sister Pat Farrell, the president of LCWR, responds.
'Fresh Air' Bids Farewell To Melody Kramer
Saturday, July 28 2012 02:02 AM
She's never been heard on the show, but producer Melody Kramer has created a singular voice for Fresh Air online and in social media. Today we send her off, affectionately, to medical school and the next phase of her career.
Two Films Shoot Past Realism To Weirder Territory
Saturday, July 28 2012 02:02 AM
Ruby Sparks and Killer Joe tell of an author who conjures a woman from his typewriter and a corrupt detective hired to kill an aging mother, respectively. But Fresh Air's David Edelstein says the films share a common trait: Both take their stories beyond common reality to more fascinating parts of the psyche.
In '1493,' Uncovering The World Columbus Discovered
Saturday, July 28 2012 02:02 AM
When Columbus crossed the Atlantic in 1492, his journey prompted the exchange of not only information but also food, animals, insects, plants and disease between the continents. In a new book, Charles C. Mann describes the aftermath of Columbus' arrival in the Americas.
In China, A Persistent Thorn In The State's Side
Friday, July 27 2012 02:17 AM
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry follows the famous artist around the world as he repeatedly irks Chinese authorities with his art and political critiques. Fresh Air's John Powers says the documentary casts important light on the fight for greater freedom in China.
Frank Ocean's 'Orange' Revolution
Friday, July 27 2012 02:17 AM
Ocean has written songs for Beyonce, Justin Bieber and John Legend; last year, his mixtape Nostalgia Ultra attracted mainstream attention. Now, Ocean has released his first major-label album, Channel Orange. Rock critic Ken Tucker has a review of Ocean's album and career thus far.
Christopher Beha, On Faith And Its Discontents
Friday, July 27 2012 02:17 AM
The author's What Happened to Sophie Wilder features a convert to Catholicism and another character who struggles to understand her faith. Beha talks about his Catholic upbringing, irony's place in fiction and literature's therapeutic aspects.
Bishop Explains Vatican's Criticism Of U.S. Nuns
Thursday, July 26 2012 01:53 AM
Bishop Leonard Blair talks about his Vatican-ordered assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an organization that represents 80 percent of Catholic sisters in America. He says the LCWR is promoting a "new kind of theology that is not in accordance with the faith of the church."
Swearing: A Long And #%@&$ History
Wednesday, July 25 2012 01:59 AM
Middleborough, Mass., recently imposed a $20 fine for swearing in public. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says profanity makes hypocrites of us all.
'The Twilight War' Between The U.S. And Iran
Wednesday, July 25 2012 01:58 AM
In The Twilight War, historian David Crist outlines the secret history of America's 30-year conflict with Iran. Based on interviews with hundreds of officials as well as classified military archives, the book details how the covert war has repeatedly threatened to bring the two nations into open warfare.
Jill Tarter: A Scientist Searching For Alien Life
Tuesday, July 24 2012 02:06 AM
Jill Tarter works at the SETI Institute, where scientists seek evidence of extraterrestrial life in the universe by looking for some signatures of its technology. "The amount of searching that we've done in 50 years is equivalent to scooping one 8-ounce glass out of the Earth's ocean," she says.
Unraveling The Genetic Code That Makes Us Human
Tuesday, July 24 2012 02:06 AM
In The Violinist's Thumb, writer Sam Kean goes inside our genetic code, looking at the stories written by the fundamental building blocks within us. The book explains things like why some people can't handle drinking coffee and why some human babies are born with tails.
Fresh Air Weekend: Weaver, Sorkin, 'Dark Knight'
Sunday, July 22 2012 01:36 AM
HBO's new behind-the-anchor-desk drama The Newsroom follows in the footsteps of Aaron Sorkin's hit series The West Wing. Also, actress Sigourney Weaver talks about her miniseries Political Animals. And David Edelstein reviews the latest Batman movie.
Jesse Davis: Live From New York's Other Basement Club
Saturday, July 21 2012 01:42 AM
Davis' bluesy alto sax rasp is straight out of Charlie Parker's playbook, but he makes it his own in a new live recording from the Smalls Jazz Club.
Eddie Palmieri: Now A True 'Jazz Master'
Saturday, July 21 2012 01:42 AM
The great Latin band leader Eddie Palmieri has just received a Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, for his lifetime of achievement in jazz. Fresh Air honors the Latin band leader with excerpts from a 1994 interview.
When Zombies Attack Lower Manhattan
Saturday, July 21 2012 01:42 AM
Colson Whitehead's novel Zone One is a post-apocalyptic tale of a Manhattan crippled by a plague and overrun with zombies. He explains that he created the novel, in part, to pay homage to the grimy 1970s New York of his childhood.
Fresh Air Remembers Actress Celeste Holm
Friday, July 20 2012 01:39 AM
The actress of stage (Oklahoma!) and screen (All About Eve) passed away of a heart attack on July 15. She was 95 years old.
Sigourney Weaver's Stately Role In 'Political Animals'
Friday, July 20 2012 01:39 AM
The actress plays smart, tough Secretary of State Elaine Barrish in the new USA Network miniseries Political Animals. It's another strong role for Weaver, who has starred in films like Alien, Ghostbusters and Gorillas in the Mist.
A Reporter Looks At Where Egypt May Be Headed
Thursday, July 19 2012 02:03 AM
Reporter David Kirkpatrick, the Cairo bureau chief for The New York Times, reflects on his time reporting on the Arab Spring and discusses what the election of President Mohammed Morsi means for Egypt, the United States and Israel.
Ravi Coltrane: A Noble Sound, Witness To Its Heritage
Wednesday, July 18 2012 02:09 AM
The jazz musician didn't make his burden any lighter by choosing to play tenor and soprano saxophones — the same instruments his father, John Coltrane, indelibly stamped. But critic Kevin Whitehead says he speaks in his own voice on the album Spirit Fiction.
An American Nun Responds To Vatican Criticism
Wednesday, July 18 2012 02:09 AM
The Vatican recently announced that it would completely make over the Leadership Conference of Women Religious because of its "radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith." Sister Pat Farrell, who heads the organization, says many of the charges are unsubstantiated.
Aaron Sorkin: The Writer Behind 'The Newsroom'
Tuesday, July 17 2012 02:03 AM
HBO's new behind-the-anchor-desk drama follows in the footsteps of Sorkin's hit series The West Wing. "I like writing about heroes that don't wear capes or disguises," he says.
Fresh Air Weekend: Iraq, Guthrie, 'Margaret'
Sunday, July 15 2012 01:34 AM
Brian Castner commanded two Explosive Ordnance Disposal units in Iraq, where his team disabled roadside IEDs. Also, filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan on his film Margaret and Fresh Air celebrates Woody Guthrie's birthday.
'Margaret': The Tortured Journey Of A Girl, On Screen
Saturday, July 14 2012 01:34 AM
David Edelstein says the extended cut of Kenneth Lonergan's second film is "as close to a masterpiece as any American film in a decade." Never widely screened, the film, starring Anna Paquin, is out now on DVD. (Recommended)
Tanglewood Celebrates 75th With Free Web Stream
Saturday, July 14 2012 01:34 AM
Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To celebrate, the BSO is streaming a different historic Tanglewood concert on its website every day for 75 days.
Aaron Paul: Playing A Meth Dealer On 'Breaking Bad'
Saturday, July 14 2012 01:33 AM
Student-turned-drug dealer Jesse Pinkman was supposed to die in the first season of the AMC drama. But the writers decided the chemistry between high school teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul) was too good to let go.
The 'Political Animals' Running Washington, D.C.
Friday, July 13 2012 01:40 AM
Greg Berlanti's new series on the USA Network stars Sigourney Weaver as the secretary of state and former first lady. Critic John Powers says he suspects that "even a Martian" would realize Weaver's character is based on Hillary Clinton — and that's not a bad thing.
Fresh Air Celebrates Woody Guthrie At 100
Friday, July 13 2012 01:40 AM
The legendary folksinger wrote hundreds of political songs, children's tunes and ballads, including "This Land Is Your Land," "Pastures of Plenty" and "Pretty Boy Floyd." Many of his tracks appear on a new CD box set released by Smithsonian Folkways.
'A Door In The Ocean' Leads To Dark Depths
Thursday, July 12 2012 01:48 AM
In his new memoir, David McGlynn describes how his teenage years were disrupted by violence. McGlynn was a swimmer who turned to evangelical Christianity in college. A Door in the Ocean is a compelling coming-of-age story marked by random tragedy and biblical tracts, church coffee and chlorine.
'Margaret:' Inside The 'Fall' Of A Teenager
Thursday, July 12 2012 01:48 AM
Kenneth Lonergan's critically acclaimed film Margaret stars Anna Paquin as Lisa, a Manhattan teenager who tries to make sense of a bus accident she may have caused — one that resulted in a woman's death.
'St. Matthew Passion': A Monumental Bach Feast
Wednesday, July 11 2012 01:59 AM
Bach's oratorio The St. Matthew Passion has been called the Mount Everest of Western classical music. For some three and a half hours, it tells the story of Jesus' last days, based on the Gospel of St. Matthew. A new DVD deals with this monumental work in an original way.
After Troops Leave, What Happens To Afghanistan?
Wednesday, July 11 2012 01:59 AM
New Yorker reporter Dexter Filkins just returned from his latest reporting trip to Afghanistan. "The United States is leaving: mission not accomplished," he writes.
'The Life That Follows' Disarming IEDs In Iraq
Tuesday, July 10 2012 01:34 AM
Brian Castner commanded two Explosive Ordnance Disposal units in Iraq, where his team disabled roadside IEDs and investigated the aftermath of roadside car bombings. He returned home a completely different man, which he details in his memoir, The Long Walk.
Fresh Air Weekend: Summer Cooking From Top Chefs
Sunday, July 08 2012 01:50 AM
Jack Bishop and Bridget Lancaster highlight some of their favorite grilling techniques and summer recipes. Also, James Beard award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson explains what it takes to work in America's finest kitchens.
'Savages': A Violent, Drug-Induced High
Saturday, July 07 2012 02:23 AM
Oliver Stone's new film Savages is a violent thriller starring Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson as pot growers caught up in a Mexican drug war. Critic David Edelstein says the movie is deeper and more complicated than Stone's famously bloody Natural Born Killers.
Big K.R.I.T.: Music Straight 'From The Underground'
Saturday, July 07 2012 02:23 AM
A Southern hip-hop artist, Big K.R.I.T. recently released his major-label debut, titled Live From the Underground. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the album takes the audience on a trip through K.R.I.T.'s own version of Southern history.
James Murphy: The Brains Behind 156311683
Saturday, July 07 2012 02:22 AM
The pop-dance-electronic group's founder tells Terry Gross why he stopped complaining about other bands and decided to start making his own music instead.
Linda Oh: Connecting Points On A Musical Map
Friday, July 06 2012 01:46 AM
Bassist Linda Oh's story is so compelling, everyone who writes about her mentions it: how she was born in Malaysia to Chinese parents, who emigrated to western Australia when she was three. Oh's second album is out. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says her music also covers a lot of ground.
AIDS In Black America: A Public Health Crisis
Friday, July 06 2012 01:46 AM
AIDS is the primary killer of African-Americans ages 19 to 44, and the mortality rate is 10 times higher for black Americans than for whites. A new Frontline documentary explores why.
Jimmy Fallon's Tribute To Neil Young
Thursday, July 05 2012 01:41 AM
Fallon talks with Terry Gross about listening to the radio and doing impressions of people like Neil Young.
Neil Young's Fascination With 'Americana'
Thursday, July 05 2012 01:41 AM
Young's latest album with Crazy Horse, Americana, features songs many of us learned as children, like "Oh Susannah" and "Clementine."
The dB's: Still Plaintive After All These Years
Wednesday, July 04 2012 01:35 AM
The dB's, led by singer-songwriter-guitarists Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey, hasn't made an album with the original line-up in 30 years. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the band's new album, Falling Off the Sky, sweeps aside decades and nostalgia to achieve a vital sound for today.
Summer Cooking Tips From 'America's Test Kitchen'
Wednesday, July 04 2012 01:35 AM
Jack Bishop and Bridget Lancaster highlight some of their favorite grilling techniques and summer recipes — everything from meats to vegetables to, yes, even desserts.
'The Age Of Miracles' Considers Earth's Fragility
Tuesday, July 03 2012 01:45 AM
In Karen Thompson Walker's first book, climate change makes the Earth's rotation grow more and more sluggish, but this melancholy page-turner is more than just a disaster plot.
Assessing The Supreme Court's Recent Term
Tuesday, July 03 2012 01:45 AM
The health care case wasn't the only important decision rendered by the court during its recent term. New York Times reporter Adam Liptak rounds up the session's most important cases — including ones addressing immigration, campaign finance and Guantanamo detainees.
Fresh Air Weekend: Alec Baldwin, College Tuition
Sunday, July 01 2012 01:36 AM
The star of 30 Rock has two films out this summer, Rock of Ages and To Rome with Love. And we talk to a policy expert about rising college tuition. College is now four times more expensive than it was 3 decades ago. Also, Ken Tucker review's Fiona Apple's latest.
'Beasts': Taking Southern Folklore To The Next Level
Saturday, June 30 2012 02:03 AM
Beasts of the Southern Wild came out of nowhere to win the Camera d'Or at Cannes and the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. The fable-like film, starring 6-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis, takes place after a storm ravages Louisiana. (Recommended)
R.A. Dickey On 'Winding Up' As A Knuckleballer
Saturday, June 30 2012 02:03 AM
New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey is currently the only knuckleball pitcher in the major leagues. His new memoir, Wherever I Wind Up, explains how his life — and career — have mimicked the unpredictable trajectory of the difficult pitch he throws game after game.
'Louie': TV's Most Original Comedy Returns
Friday, June 29 2012 01:31 AM
Fresh Air's critic at large, John Powers, says Louis C.K.'s raunchy FX show is changing the way comedy is done — for the better. "More than any TV comedy ever, it's all about capturing moments of truth and freshness," he says.
Marcus Samuelsson: On Becoming A Top Chef
Friday, June 29 2012 01:31 AM
The James Beard award-winning chef was the youngest ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times. His new memoir, Yes, Chef, explains what it takes to be a master chef — and describes his journey from Ethiopia to Sweden to some of America's finest restaurants.
A Laugh A Minute, On Screen And In Life
Thursday, June 28 2012 01:38 AM
Nora Ephron, the essayist, novelist, screenwriter and film director, died Tuesday night in Manhattan. She was 71, and suffered from leukemia. Fresh Air remembers the creator of Silkwood and When Harry Met Sally with excerpts from a 2006 interview from WHYY's Radio Times.
Why Flying Is No Fun (And May Be More Dangerous)
Thursday, June 28 2012 01:38 AM
Airline veteran and writer William McGee says airlines' aggressive cost-cutting hasn't just added fees and hassles. He says they're taking steps that compromise safety — and regulators are letting it happen.
Taboo Revival: Talking Private Parts In Public Places
Tuesday, June 26 2012 01:36 AM
Earlier this month, there was a national uproar when a Michigan state legislator was disciplined for using a clinical sexual term during a debate. According to linguist Geoff Nunberg, it was just one of many such incidents that reflect a trend he calls the New Reticence.
Fresh Air Remembers Broadway's Richard Adler
Tuesday, June 26 2012 01:36 AM
Richard Adler, who co-wrote the musicals The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees with his partner, Jerry Ross, died Thursday at his home in Southampton, N.Y. He was 90. Fresh Air remembers the composer and lyricist with excerpts from a 1990 interview.
Alec Baldwin: A 'Rock' Throughout The Ages
Tuesday, June 26 2012 01:35 AM
The star of 30 Rock has two films out this summer. He plays a club owner in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages. And he travels to Italy with an ensemble cast for Woody Allen's To Rome with Love.
Fresh Air Weekend: Jeff Daniels, Bob Ojeda
Sunday, June 24 2012 01:39 AM
Jeff Daniels stars in Aaron Sorkin's new HBO drama The Newsroom, playing an anchorman inspired to give up fluff pieces and return to hard-hitting journalism. And major league pitcher Bob Ojeda talks about pitching through the pain.
Pixar's Fast And 'Brave' Female Comedy: 'Delightful'
Saturday, June 23 2012 02:26 AM
The movie Brave is Pixar's first feature with a female protagonist — a medieval Scottish princess named Merida (voiced by Kelly MacDonald) who asserts her independence and wreaks havoc. Critic David Edelstein says the film is "pure Pixar in its mischievousness and irreverence."
Louis C.K. On Comedy, Love, Life And Loss
Saturday, June 23 2012 02:26 AM
The comedian reflects on his award-winning TV series, his relationship with other comedians and his USO appearances.
'The Newsroom' Caught Up In A Partisan Divide
Friday, June 22 2012 01:40 AM
Aaron Sorkin's new HBO series follows the inner workings of a cable news show that sets out to challenge our hyperpartisan, 24/7 news culture. But critic John Powers says Sorkin has created a show that replicates much of what it thinks it's opposing.
Fresh Air Remembers Film Critic Andrew Sarris
Friday, June 22 2012 01:40 AM
Andrew Sarris, who popularized the auteur theory and was called the "dean of American film critics," died on Wednesday. He was 83. Fresh Air remembers the longtime film critic for The Village Voice with excerpts from a 1990 interview.
The Impossible Juggling Act: Motherhood And Work
Friday, June 22 2012 01:40 AM
Anne-Marie Slaughter left her position as the State Department's director of policy planning to spend more time with her children. Slaughter, now a Princeton professor, details what needs to change both in workplaces and in society to create equal opportunities for all working women.
Jeff Daniels: Anchoring The Cast Of 'The Newsroom'
Thursday, June 21 2012 01:39 AM
The actor stars in Aaron Sorkin's new HBO drama The Newsroom, playing an anchorman inspired to give up fluff pieces and return to hard-hitting journalism.
Ray Anderson: A Pocket-Size Suite Makes A Huge Racket
Wednesday, June 20 2012 02:04 AM
It's tricky making a little band sound this big, but trombonist Ray Anderson knows his tricks.
Edible Fermentables: Wine, Beer, Cheese, Meat
Wednesday, June 20 2012 02:04 AM
Fermentation guru Sandor Katz returns to Fresh Air for a lively discussion about cured meats, cheeses — and some fermented beverages (notably wine and beer).
Bob Ojeda: Pitching Through The Pain
Wednesday, June 20 2012 02:04 AM
Over the course of his 14-year career as a pitcher, Bob Ojeda threw more than 1,000 strikeouts and countless pitches across the plate. During that entire time, the lefty's pitching arm hurt. "The act itself is sort of violent and completely unnatural," he says. "I think most pitchers certainly feel a level of pain."
'Beautiful Ruins,' Both Human And Architectural
Tuesday, June 19 2012 01:37 AM
Jess Walter's latest novel spans decades and traverses the Atlantic to create a kaleidoscopic collection of "beautiful ruins." Characters include a hotelier, a young script reader and real-life movie star Richard Burton. NPR's Maureen Corrigan says the book is a "literary miracle."
It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A New Superman Bio!
Tuesday, June 19 2012 01:37 AM
For the past 80 years, the Man of Steel has endured in books, movies, radio serials, comic books and cartoons. "Americans embrace Superman partly because he captured so many things that are part of our psyche and part of our sense of ourselves," says biographer Larry Tye.
Fresh Air Weekend: Fermenting, Joan Rivers
Sunday, June 17 2012 02:03 AM
Comedian Joan Rivers' new book I Hate Everyone, Starting With Me details the things Rivers can't stand. And self-described "fermentation revivalist" Sandor Katz's new book, The Art of Fermentation, explores the ancient culinary art form.
'Car 54' Re-Release Drives An Old Fan To Reminisce
Saturday, June 16 2012 02:05 AM
Car 54, Where Are You?, the TV comedy series about a mythical police station in the Bronx, was created by Nat Hiken in 1961. It's just appeared for the first time on DVD to the delight of fans, including critic Lloyd Schwartz.
Ex-Wiseguy Henry Hill Always Had 'A Ringside Table'
Saturday, June 16 2012 02:05 AM
Henry Hill, the mobster-turned-informant portrayed by Ray Liotta in the film Goodfellas, died Tuesday at age 69. Author Nicholas Pileggi talks about the colorful figure he profiled in the 1986 book Wiseguy, which became the basis for Goodfellas.
On 'Banga,' Patti Smith Pays Homage To Friends
Friday, June 15 2012 01:39 AM
Banga is Smith's 11th studio album, her first collection of original material since 2004 and the first record she's released since the publication of her memoir Just Kids. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the music on Banga is marvelously uneven and frequently transporting.
Radio's Bryan Fischer Tries Pushing Romney Right
Friday, June 15 2012 01:38 AM
The evangelical radio host recently made national news for leading an attack against Mitt Romney's openly gay national security spokesman, who later resigned. But Fischer's viewpoints on abortion, gay marriage, education and taxes have been influencing his listeners long before this.
The Untold Story Of Singer Bobby Charles
Thursday, June 14 2012 01:40 AM
Charles was one of those rock 'n' roll figures whose work you're almost certainly familiar with, even if you've probably heard of him. He lived in isolation, recorded very little, didn't perform live and died in 2010. Rock historian Ed Ward looks at his memorable body of work.
At The Heart Of 'Your Sister's Sister,' A Love Triangle
Thursday, June 14 2012 01:40 AM
Indie director Lynn Shelton's latest film stars Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt as half-sisters Iris and Hannah, and Mark Duplass as Iris' best friend, Jack. The three connect — and then reconnect — on a remote island off the coast of Washington state.
'Fermentation': When Food Goes Bad But Stays Good
Thursday, June 14 2012 01:40 AM
Self-described "fermentation revivalist" Sandor Katz says "the creative space" between fresh and rotten is the root of most of humanity's prized delicacies. His new book, The Art of Fermentation, explores the ancient culinary art form.
Edmar Castaneda's 'Double Portion' Of Harp
Wednesday, June 13 2012 01:42 AM
There have been a few groundbreaking harpists in jazz and improvised music, from Dorothy Ashby to Zeena Parkins. Now, Fresh Air's jazz critic says the Colombian phenomenon joins that list with Double Portion, his new album of solos and duets.
Under The 'Nuclear Shadow' Of Colorado's Rocky Flats
Wednesday, June 13 2012 01:41 AM
Kristen Iversen spent her childhood in the 1960s in Colorado near the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons factory, playing in fields that now appear to have been contaminated with plutonium. In Full Body Burden, she investigates the environmental scandal involving nuclear contamination around her childhood home.
Book Party For One: A Loner's Summer Survival Guide
Tuesday, June 12 2012 01:45 AM
Summer is a trying time for introverts, what with the barbecues and the graduations and the picnics by the pool. If you'd always choose a good book over a good party, critic Maureen Corrigan has a list for you.
Joan Rivers Hates You, Herself And Everyone Else
Tuesday, June 12 2012 01:45 AM
Comedian Joan Rivers hates a lot of things. Her new book, I Hate Everyone, Starting With Me, details the things Rivers can't stand, from her appearance to obituaries to younger comedians who steal her gigs.
Fresh Air Weekend: Neil Young, Tom Philpott
Sunday, June 10 2012 01:30 AM
Neil Young talks about his newest album Americana. And Tom Philpott, who covers food and the agricultural industry for Mother Jones, joins Fresh Air's Terry Gross for a wide-ranging discussion about health and other issues affecting the meat industry.
In 'Dark Horse,' A Wasted Life Plays Out On Screen
Saturday, June 09 2012 01:44 AM
Todd Solondz's newest film is Dark Horse, starring newcomer Jordan Gelber along with Christopher Walken, Mia Farrow and Selma Blair. Critic David Edelstein says the uncomfortable film is a sublime work of art. (Recommended)
Ray Bradbury: 'It's Lack That Gives Us Inspiration'
Saturday, June 09 2012 01:44 AM
"I'm never going to go to Mars but I've helped inspire ... the people who built the rockets and sent our photographic equipment off to Mars," Bradbury told Terry Gross in 1988. The science-fiction writer died Tuesday at the age of 91.
Poet Laureate: 'Poetry's Always A Kind Of Faith'
Saturday, June 09 2012 01:44 AM
This week, the Library of Congress announced that Natasha Trethewey, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Native Guard, will be the next poet laureate of the United States. Trethewey, a native of Mississippi, is the first Southern poet laureate since 1986.
Paying Tribute To San Francisco DJ Cheb I Sabbah
Friday, June 08 2012 01:44 AM
For decades, San Francisco DJ Cheb i Sabbah has explored numerous fusions and reconfigurations of North African, Middle Eastern and Indian music styles. He's now in the midst of a health crisis, and many of his musician friends are lending support through a benefit album.
Assessing Consumer Concerns About The Meat Industry
Friday, June 08 2012 01:43 AM
Tom Philpott, who covers food and the agricultural industry for Mother Jones, joins Fresh Air's Terry Gross for a wide-ranging discussion about health and other issues affecting the meat industry.
Brit Wit Meets Manor Mystery In 'Uninvited Guests'
Thursday, June 07 2012 01:33 AM
A dark and stormy night, an isolated manor house and a knock at the door all play a part in Sadie Jones' delicious romp of a novel. Set in Edwardian England, it tracks a noble but cash-strapped family whose lavish dinner plans go awry when they're asked to shelter a crowd of refugees.
Making Music From Messy Relationships With 'Kin'
Thursday, June 07 2012 01:33 AM
Kin: Songs By Mary Karr and Rodney Crowell is a new collaboration between Karr, the bestselling author and poet, and the maverick singer-songwriter. Together, they've written 10 songs, which are performed on the album by a variety of singers, including Norah Jones, Rosanne Cash and Emmylou Harris.
Neil Young: The Fresh Air Interview
Thursday, June 07 2012 01:33 AM
Young's latest album with Crazy Horse, Americana, features songs many of us learned as children, like "Oh Susannah" and "Clementine."
Tracing The Evolution Of Lost Chicago Jazz
Wednesday, June 06 2012 01:32 AM
Drummer Mike Reed's quartet People, Places and Things was put together to spotlight music written in Chicago in a fertile period between 1954 and 1960. The group has since expanded its mission to include later works, which are included on a new album titled Clean on the Corner.
How Louisiana Became The World's 'Prison Capital'
Wednesday, June 06 2012 01:32 AM
Louisiana imprisons more people per capita than any other state or country in the world. One out of every 86 adults in the state is behind bars. Times-Picayune reporter Cindy Chang says the state's correctional system has created financial incentives for local sheriffs to keep prisons full.
Growing Economic Inequality 'Endangers Our Future'
Wednesday, June 06 2012 01:32 AM
In The Price of Inequality, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz argues that widely unequal societies don't function effectively or have stable economies. Even the rich will pay a steep price if economic inequalities continue to worsen, he says.
'Obama's Secret Wars' Against America's Threats
Tuesday, June 05 2012 01:41 AM
New York Times chief Washington correspondent David Sanger details how President Obama accelerated the use of innovative weapons to fight the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and sped up a wave of cyberattacks against Iran to destroy its nuclear centrifuges.
A 'Snow White' As Bleak As It Is Grimm
Saturday, June 02 2012 01:44 AM
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm first published Snow White in 1812, but the story had been around for centuries and would continue to evolve. Opening Friday is the latest and perhaps darkest treatment, Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth.
Diamond Rugs: Carefully Constructed Drinking Songs
Saturday, June 02 2012 01:44 AM
Diamond Rugs is a new group formed by members of other bands, including John McCauley and Robbie Crowell of Deer Tick, Steve Berlin from Los Lobos and Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate. Rock critic Ken Tucker says their new collaboration is positively timeless.
A Memoir About Mothers, Memory And Loss
Saturday, June 02 2012 01:44 AM
Writer Mira Bartok's memoir, The Memory Palace, is in part about the car accident that left her with traumatic brain injury and about her relationship with her schizophrenic mother. She explains how her brain injury helped her understand — and reconnect with — her mother.
2012: Not The Best Year At Cannes
Friday, June 01 2012 01:34 AM
John Powers, Fresh Air's critic-at-large and the movie critic for Vogue, returns from this year's Cannes Film Festival. Though he says it wasn't the festival's strongest year, the experience once again left him feeling rejuvenated about the movies.
The Internet: A Series Of 'Tubes' (And Then Some)
Friday, June 01 2012 01:33 AM
What does the Internet look like? Journalist Andrew Blum decided to find out. His new book, Tubes, is a journey into the Internet's physical infrastructure — where our data is stored and transmitted.
The Word 'Hopefully' Is Here To Stay, Hopefully
Thursday, May 31 2012 01:39 AM
When The Associated Press said it would no longer condemn the use of the adverb "hopefully" in its style guide, most people shrugged. But the announcement was a red flag to people who have made the adverb the biggest bugaboo of English usage over the past 50 years.
Fresh Air Remembers Traditional Music Legend Doc Watson
Thursday, May 31 2012 01:38 AM
Doc Watson, who was called "a living national treasure" for his virtuoso flat-picking and his repertoire of traditional folk and bluegrass tunes, has died. He was 89. Fresh Air remembers the blind guitar and banjo player with excepts from a 1988 interview.
Anti-Virtuoso Piano, Delicate And Despoiled
Wednesday, May 30 2012 01:33 AM
Masabumi Kikuchi's fully improvised album Sunrise features late, like-minded drummer Paul Motian.
Wes Anderson, Creating A Singular 'Kingdom'
Wednesday, May 30 2012 01:32 AM
The filmmaker's latest project, Moonrise Kingdom, recently opened the Cannes Film Festival. It's the story of a 12-year-old girl and boy who fall in love and then make a pact to run off into the woods together.
Catherine Russell: An In-Studio Fresh Air Concert
Tuesday, May 29 2012 01:45 AM
The standards singer's new solo album, Strictly Romancin', explores the ups and downs of love. Russell sings several tracks from the record during this interview and performance.
Fresh Air Weekend: David Alan Grier, Sacha Baron Cohen
Sunday, May 27 2012 01:34 AM
The stand-up comedian and star of In Living Color was recently nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Sporting Life in the opera Porgy and Bess. Also, actor and writer Sacha Baron Cohen on Borat, Bruno, Ali G., and his latest character, The Dictator.
A Wes Anderson 'Kingdom' Full Of Beautiful Imagery
Saturday, May 26 2012 02:18 AM
Wes Anderson's latest film is the story of a 12-year-old girl and boy who merge their imaginative worlds on an island off the coast of New England. Critic David Edelstein says Moonrise Kingdom will appeal to Anderson's longtime fans as well as anyone who appreciates good cinematography and design.
James Burton: The Teen Who Invented American Guitar
Saturday, May 26 2012 02:17 AM
You've heard guitarist James Burton even if you don't know it. Ever since he was 15, he's been recording behind a bewildering number of artists, from Ricky Nelson to Ray Charles. He also managed to put out some records on his own. Rock historian Ed Ward shares his story.
Examining 'The Leftovers,' After The Rapture
Saturday, May 26 2012 02:17 AM
What if the rapture actually occurred? That's the plot of Tom Perrotta's novel The Leftovers, which examines the aftermath of an unexplained rapturelike event in which millions of people around the globe inexplicably disappear into thin air.
How Wes Anderson Soundtracks His Movies
Friday, May 25 2012 01:30 AM
You might not recognize the name Randall Poster, but you're likely familiar with his work. Poster picks out and licenses music used in commercials, TV and film. He's worked closely with director Wes Anderson on films like Rushmore and Moonrise Kingdom.
Keeping Your Kids Safe Online: It's 'Common Sense'
Friday, May 25 2012 01:30 AM
Parents should be paying very close attention to the digital media their children are using, says child advocate James Steyer. "Young people in particular often self-reveal before they self-reflect," he says. "There is no eraser button today for youthful indiscretion."
John Fullbright: How To Connect 'From The Ground Up'
Thursday, May 24 2012 01:18 PM
It's a good sign when you get 11 songs into an album and the quality remains high.
Sacha Baron Cohen: The Fresh Air Interview
Thursday, May 24 2012 01:18 PM
Actor and writer Sacha Baron Cohen is famous for taking his characters — Ali G., Borat, Bruno — into the real world, interacting with people who have no idea that they're dealing with a fictional character. But his new movie, The Dictator, is a scripted comedy about a tyrant on the loose in New York.
Happy Feet: Tips For Healthier Running
Thursday, May 24 2012 01:46 AM
Have you thought about switching to barefoot running? New York Times exercise columnist Gretchen Reynolds did — and promptly injured herself. She details what she did wrong — and how to keep your own feet healthy — in her new book, The First 20 Minutes.
Remembering Baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Thursday, May 24 2012 01:46 AM
The classical music world lost one of its legendary figures last week. The German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau died ten days short of his 87th birthday. He was one of the most recorded classical singers in recording history. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz was one of his admirers.
Jeremy Denk: Playing Ligeti With A Dash Of Humor
Thursday, May 24 2012 01:46 AM
The pianist's new album features some of the most difficult etudes ever written for solo piano by the Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti. "Ligeti took the piano to places it had never been before," he says, "and makes demands of the pianist and the mind that had never been made before."
'Right-Hand': A Lush Prequel To 'Mason's Retreat'
Wednesday, May 23 2012 01:52 AM
In The Right-Hand Shore, Christopher Tilghman returns to the racially charged landscape and the crumbling plantations of his book Mason's Retreat. Fresh Air critic Maureen Corrigan calls the prequel "the real deal."
David Alan Grier's 'Sporting Life' On Broadway
Wednesday, May 23 2012 01:51 AM
The stand-up comedian and star of In Living Color was recently nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Sporting Life in the opera Porgy and Bess. "I think the character of Sporting Life is a salesman so he has to be flamboyant, the life of the party," he says.
Fresh Air Weekend: Audra McDonald, 'Weight Of The Nation'
Sunday, May 20 2012 01:37 AM
Actress Audra McDonald talks about her Tony-nominated role in the Broadway musical Porgy and Bess. And obesity expert Kelly Brownell weighs in on a new HBO documentary series, The Weight of the Nation.
A Conversation With Author Carlos Fuentes
Saturday, May 19 2012 01:42 AM
Carlos Fuentes, one of the most influential writers in the Latin American world, died Tuesday at a hospital in Mexico City. He was 83. Fresh Air remembers the prolific author with excerpts from a 1987 interview.
Remembering Vidal Sassoon, An Iconic Hairdresser
Saturday, May 19 2012 01:42 AM
The British hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, who created some of the most iconic hairstyles of the 20th century, died on May 9 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 84. Fresh Air remembers the trendsetter with excerpts from a 2011 interview.
Fresh Air Remembers Donna Summer, Queen Of Disco
Saturday, May 19 2012 01:42 AM
In 2003, Donna Summer appeared on Fresh Air to talk about her memoir, Ordinary Girl, her hit Love to Love You Baby and her collaborator, record producer Giorgio Moroder. We remember Summer — who died Thursday at the age of 63 — with excerpts from that interview.
Why The U.S. Is Aggressively Targeting Yemen
Friday, May 18 2012 01:37 AM
Yemen is now considered to be "the greatest external threat facing the U.S. homeland in terms of terrorism," says investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill.
'The Dictator' Rules With A Satirist's Fist
Thursday, May 17 2012 01:46 AM
There was Ali G, Borat and Bruno — and now, in The Dictator, Sacha Baron Cohen has a new character to add to his repertoire: the capricious ruler of an oil-rich country who travels to the U.N. to assert his right to have nuclear warheads.
Just What's Inside Those Breasts?
Thursday, May 17 2012 01:46 AM
In her new book, Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History, Florence Williams offers her take on why breasts are getting bigger and developing earlier, why tumors seem to gravitate toward the breast, and how toxins from the environment may be affecting hormones and breast development.
Audra McDonald: Shaping 'Bess' On Broadway
Wednesday, May 16 2012 01:32 AM
The actress is nominated for her fifth Tony Award for the Broadway musical Porgy and Bess. "There's very few quiet moments for Bess," she says. "They're all very big, very emotional. ... And to commit to that night after night after night is very difficult."
Johnny Carson Gets The 'Masters' Treatment
Tuesday, May 15 2012 01:47 AM
Monday night on PBS, American Masters presents a two-hour biography of Johnny Carson. Carson retired 20 years ago this month, and vacated a throne that TV critic David Bianculli says no one has managed to claim since.
Shooting Vietnam: Remembering Horst Faas
Tuesday, May 15 2012 01:47 AM
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Horst Faas, who captured iconic moments during the Vietnam War, has died. In 1997, he talked to Terry Gross about covering the conflict. "Being in Vietnam and being around a major story of the time was always a great shot of adrenaline," he said.
Pounding Away At America's Obesity Epidemic
Tuesday, May 15 2012 01:47 AM
One-third of Americans today are obese, and another third are overweight. A new HBO documentary series, The Weight of the Nation, explores how our country got this way and what can be done to tackle the growing national health crisis.
Fresh Air Weekend: Lena Dunham, Gretchen Reynolds
Sunday, May 13 2012 01:36 AM
The creator and star of HBO's new series Girls addresses the growing backlash against the show. And New York Times "Phys Ed" columnist Gretchen Reynolds shares some simple advice for staying healthy.
Fresh Air At 25: A Live Musical Tribute
Saturday, May 12 2012 01:38 AM
Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the day Fresh Air became a daily national NPR program. To celebrate, hear two delightful medleys of impromptu musical performances, culled from Fresh Air's archives.
'Dark Shadows': A Vampire Returns, Without His Bite
Friday, May 11 2012 01:54 AM
Johnny Depp stars in Tim Burton's feature-film adaptation of the cult Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, about an 18th-century vampire transplanted to the 1970s. Critic and longtime Dark Shadows fan David Edelstein says the camp sendup of the show is lifeless and unfunny.
Horse Racing: America's Most Dangerous Game?
Friday, May 11 2012 01:54 AM
Two reporters for The New York Times detail their monthslong investigation of America's racetracks. Since 2009, more than 6,600 horses have broken down or showed signs of injury at U.S. racetracks, a rate much higher than in other countries.
Stand Up, Walk Around, Even Just For '20 Minutes'
Thursday, May 10 2012 01:36 AM
New York Times "Phys Ed" columnist Gretchen Reynolds has some simple advice for staying healthy: Stand up. Move around. In her new book, The First 20 Minutes, she explains the hazards of a sedentary lifestyle, and details some of the surprisingly simple ways to stay fit.
Creating A New Vision Of Islam In America
Thursday, May 10 2012 01:36 AM
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf was once the lead cleric associated with the proposed Islamic community center some critics called the "ground zero mosque." In his new book, Moving the Mountain, Rauf calls for moderate Muslims to step up and marginalize the voices of extremists.
Fresh Air Remembers Author Maurice Sendak
Wednesday, May 09 2012 01:42 AM
Author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, whose classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are became a perennial and award-winning favorite for generations of children, died Tuesday. He was 83. Fresh Air remembers Sendak with excerpts from several interviews.
Fresh Air Remembers Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch
Tuesday, May 08 2012 02:23 AM
Adam "MCA" Yauch, one of the group's founding members, died Friday after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 47. Fresh Air remembers the raspy-voiced rapper with excerpts from a 2006 interview.
Lena Dunham Addresses Criticism Aimed At 'Girls'
Tuesday, May 08 2012 02:22 AM
The creator and star of HBO's new series Girls addresses the growing backlash against the show, which follows four 20-somethings as they navigate the ups and downs of life in New York City.
Fresh Air Weekend: Sissy Spacek, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Sunday, May 06 2012 01:34 AM
Sissy Spacek recounts some of her favorite memories from the sets of movies such as Coal Miner's Daughter, Badlands and Carrie in a new memoir, My Extraordinary Ordinary Life. Also, Julia Louis-Dreyfus talks about her roles in Seinfeld and Veep.
A Gershwin Biopic That Ain't Necessarily So True
Saturday, May 05 2012 01:50 AM
Rhapsody in Blue, a 1945 film version of the life of George Gershwin, is out for the first time on DVD. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says it's a fascinating mixture of real facts, pure invention and memorable musical moments.
The U.S. Ambassador Inside Hitler's Berlin
Saturday, May 05 2012 01:49 AM
William Dodd served for four years as the ambassador to Germany before resigning — after repeated clashes with both Nazi Party officials and the State Department. Erik Larson chronicles Dodd's time in Berlin in his new book, In the Garden of Beasts.
'The Avengers': A Marvel-Ous Whedonesque Ride
Friday, May 04 2012 01:58 AM
In Joss Whedon's The Avengers, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor and Captain America unite in what, on the basis of advance ticket sales, promises to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the summer. Critic David Edelstein says the movie's a blast — and one that will let fanboys geek thoroughly out.
The Man Who Revitalized 'Doctor Who' And 'Sherlock'
Friday, May 04 2012 01:58 AM
TV writer and producer Steven Moffat specializes in injecting new life into old, familiar characters and stories. He first worked his magic on the revived edition of Doctor Who. Now, he's responsible for bringing to life the critically acclaimed series Sherlock.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: From 'Seinfeld' To 'Veep'
Friday, May 04 2012 01:58 AM
The actress will forever be known to millions as Elaine Benes, the character she played for nine seasons on Seinfeld. But she was also an early cast member of SNL, won an Emmy for The New Adventures of Old Christine and now stars in a new HBO comedy series called Veep.
Sherlock: A Character Who's More Than Elementary
Thursday, May 03 2012 01:41 AM
What can explain the enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes? Critic John Powers says it's that Sherlock "embodies an archetypal aspect of the human psyche" — and appeals to the part of us that loves a good mystery.
ExxonMobil: A 'Private Empire' On The World Stage
Thursday, May 03 2012 01:40 AM
In Private Empire, investigative journalist Steve Coll explains how ExxonMobil has used its money and power to wield significant influence in Washington, D.C., concerning issues like climate change.
'The Newlyweds': A Match Made Online
Wednesday, May 02 2012 02:10 AM
As accusations of sexism ricochet through the book industry, Nell Freudenberger continues to craft wonderful literary fiction, writes Maureen Corrigan. Freudenberger's latest novel, The Newlyweds, tells the story of an Internet-arranged, cross-continental marriage.
The 'Manhunt' To Capture Osama Bin Laden
Wednesday, May 02 2012 02:10 AM
Journalist Peter Bergen outlines the decade-long search for the al-Qaida leader in his new book Manhunt. Bergen is the only journalist to gain access to bin Laden's Abbottabad compound before it was razed by the Pakistani government.
Sissy Spacek's 'Extraordinary Ordinary Life'
Tuesday, May 01 2012 01:44 AM
The actress's film career has spanned more than four decades. She recounts some of her favorite memories from the sets of movies such as Coal Miner's Daughter, Badlands and Carrie in a new memoir, My Extraordinary Ordinary Life.
Sissy Spacek's 'Extraordinary Ordinary Life'
Tuesday, May 01 2012 01:44 AM
The actress's film career has spanned more than four decades. She recounts some of her favorite memories from the sets of movies such as Coal Miner's Daughter, Badlands and Carrie in a new memoir, My Extraordinary Ordinary Life.
Fresh Air Weekend: Jack Black, Hugh Laurie
Sunday, April 29 2012 01:35 AM
Actor Jack Black plays a kindly, small-town funeral director who murders a wealthy millionaire in the new film Bernie. Black is also one-half of the comedy folk-rock group Tenacious D. Also, actor Hugh Laurie talks about playing Dr. House and critic John Powers reviews a surrealistic Russian novel.
A 'Five-Year Engagement' Leaves A Bitter Taste
Saturday, April 28 2012 01:31 AM
The romantic comedy The Five-Year Engagement reunites writer-director Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel, who made Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Muppets together. This time, Segel and Emily Blunt play a couple whose relationship is tested by a major relocation.
Tracing The Divides In The War 'To End All Wars'
Saturday, April 28 2012 01:30 AM
Historian Adam Hochschild traces the patriotic fervor that catapulted Great Britain into war during the summer of 1914 — as well as the small, but determined British pacifist movement — in his historical narrative To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918.
Lillian Hellman: A 'Difficult,' Vilified Woman
Friday, April 27 2012 01:38 AM
A fierce playwright, a fiery socialist and a pioneering feminist, Lillian Hellman lived unapologetically. But today she's remembered as a fabulist and a rabble-rouser — if she's remembered at all. A new Hellman biography, A Difficult Woman, hopes to set the record straight.
Howlin' Wolf: A Blues Legend With An Earthy Sound
Friday, April 27 2012 01:38 AM
Sam Phillips once referred to Howlin' Wolf's voice as "where the soul of man never dies." Phillips, who worked with dozens of great Memphis musicians, never changed his mind. Rock historian Ed Ward examines the evolution of Wolf's singular talent.
Following Garbage's Long Journey Around The Earth
Friday, April 27 2012 01:37 AM
Americans generate more trash than anyone else on the planet: more than 7 pounds per person each day. Journalist Edward Humes explores how that happened in his new book Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash.
I, David Bianculli, Highly Recommend 'I, Claudius'
Thursday, April 26 2012 02:14 AM
I, Claudius is loaded with bloody violence, graphic sex, tales of epic battles and intrigue and characters who are in danger of being killed at any time. The British miniseries has now been remastered and is available in a 35th anniversary edition DVD.
Hugh Laurie's 'House': No Pain, No Gain
Thursday, April 26 2012 02:14 AM
For the past eight seasons, the English actor has played Dr. Gregory House on the Fox medical series. During that time, Laurie's character has diagnosed dozens of patients suffering from rare ailments, while maintaining a serious addiction to Vicodin.
'Death And The Penguin' Captures Post-Soviet Reality
Wednesday, April 25 2012 01:47 AM
Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov writes short, surrealistic stories full of dark comedic surprises. His latest is The Case of the General's Thumb, but critic John Powers suggests starting with his 1996 novel, Death and the Penguin. It's a fast-paced, witty read and what Powers calls "an almost perfect novel."
Anna Quindlen: Over 50, And Having 'Plenty Of Cake'
Wednesday, April 25 2012 01:47 AM
The Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times columnist's new memoir explores her past, present and future — her relationships with her parents and children, her faith, her career and her feelings about herself over the past five decades.
Todd Snider: 'Stoner Fables' With A Layered Worldview
Tuesday, April 24 2012 01:36 AM
Snider is a singer-songwriter with a sharp sense of humor, as evidenced by the title of his new album, Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables. Rock critic Ken Tucker says that even Snider's most pessimistic songs have a sense of humor and energy that gives them an exhilarating spin.
Jack Black: On Music, Mayhem And Murder
Tuesday, April 24 2012 01:35 AM
Actor Jack Black plays a kindly, small-town funeral director who murders a wealthy millionaire in the new film Bernie. Black is also one-half of the comedy folk-rock group Tenacious D. They've just released a new album in the style of heavy metal bands from the 1980s.
Fresh Air Weekend: Carl Zimmer, The Three Stooges
Sunday, April 22 2012 01:34 AM
Science writer Carl Zimmer profiles the scientists who are developing new antiviral drugs. Also, a conversation with the Farrelly Brothers about the new Three Stooges movie and Ken Tucker reviews a new album from Loudon Wainwright.
Levon Helm: The 2007 Fresh Air Interview
Saturday, April 21 2012 02:02 AM
Helm, the longtime drummer of The Band who backed Bob Dylan and sang with Van Morrison, died Thursday. He was 71. Fresh Air remembers Helm with excerpts from his two appearances on the show in 1993 and 2007.
From Dominican Roots, Bachata Is Here To Stay
Friday, April 20 2012 01:56 AM
During the last 20 years, bachata has risen from the back country of the Dominican Republic to take its place next to salsa in concert halls. Milo Miles considers bachata's humble beginnings and the continuing appeal of its simpler side.
Following The Lives Of Chimpanzees On Screen
Friday, April 20 2012 01:55 AM
Filmmaker Alastair Fothergill spent three years in Western Africa, following a group of wild chimps. His Disney nature film Chimpanzee showcases a baby chimp named Oscar and the relationships he develops within his clan.
The Stooges Are Back, And Nyukking Things Up Again
Friday, April 20 2012 01:55 AM
The Farrelly brothers' new film reimagines Moe, Curly and Larry in the present day, but retains the Stooges' trademark slapstick humor and sound effects. "We tried to keep it looking exactly like the Stooges did it," says Peter Farrelly.
In 'Monsieur Lazhar,' Grief Lingers In The Classroom
Thursday, April 19 2012 01:50 AM
The French Canadian film was one of five nominees for last year's Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It's now opening in theaters around the country. It's about a sixth-grade teacher who struggles to connect with students in a Montreal school following a terrible event. (Recommended)
Jenny Scheinman's 'Mayhem' Hard To Pin Down
Thursday, April 19 2012 01:50 AM
Scheinman's quartet features players raised on and accustomed to performing all kinds of music.
Stories Put Spotlight On NYPD Surveillance Program
Thursday, April 19 2012 01:49 AM
After the Sept. 11 attacks, the New York City Police Department transformed itself into an aggressive domestic intelligence unit and monitored hundreds of Muslims in their mosques, workplaces and schools. Journalist Matt Apuzzo, who helped uncover the story, just won a Pulitzer Prize.
The Jazz Drummer Who Makes Music Out Of Everything
Wednesday, April 18 2012 01:44 AM
Han Bennink hears sonic possibilities in many objects beyond the typical drum set. The Dutch drum maestro, one of the leaders in European free jazz and free improvisation, joined Fresh Air for an in-studio interview and concert. Before he left, he drummed on virtually everything in the office.
The Race To Create The Best Antiviral Drugs
Wednesday, April 18 2012 01:43 AM
Researchers want to create a widely effective drug that targets viruses much in the same way that penicillin kills a wide range of bacteria. Science writer Carl Zimmer profiles the scientists who are developing these antiviral drugs, and the technology behind it, in his latest piece for Wired magazine.
Loudon Wainwright III Looks Back At His 'Old Man'
Tuesday, April 17 2012 01:32 AM
Over the past four decades, the singer has chronicled his relationships with his ex-wife, the late Kate McGarrigle, and his children, the singers Rufus and Martha Wainwright. His new album, Older Than My Old Man Now, addresses his relationship with yet another family member: his father.
Interpreting Shariah Law Across The Centuries
Tuesday, April 17 2012 01:31 AM
In his new book, Heaven on Earth, English barrister Sadakat Kadri describes how early Islamic scholars codified — and then modified — the Shariah laws that would govern how Muslim people lead their daily lives. He then reflects on the present day, describing how today's religious scholars interpret the Shariah.
Fresh Air Weekend: R.A. Dickey, Carole King
Sunday, April 15 2012 01:34 AM
In her new memoir, A Natural Woman, Carol King details the stories behind some of her most famous songs and her relationships with songwriters like James Taylor, Gerry Goffin and Paul Simon. Also, New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey talks about being the only knuckleball pitcher in the major leagues.
Lena Dunham's 'Girls' Navigate New York City Life
Saturday, April 14 2012 01:52 AM
This Sunday, HBO premieres Girls, a new comedy series written and directed by 25-year-old Lena Dunham, who first grabbed the media spotlight with her film Tiny Furniture in 2010. David Bianculli says the series is a cross between Sex and the City and Louie.
Poet Marie Howe Reflects On The 'Living' After Loss
Saturday, April 14 2012 01:51 AM
"Poetry holds the knowledge that we are alive and that we know we're going to die," poet Marie Howe tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross. One of Howe's most famous poems, "What the Living Do," was recently included in The Penguin Anthology of 20th-Century American Poetry.
'Chico & Rita': An Animated Film With A Cuban Beat
Friday, April 13 2012 01:40 AM
Director Fernando Trueba talks about his Oscar-nominated animated film Chico and Rita, which follows a pair of lovers who leave Havana's music scene in the 1940s to head to New York City.
Welfare Overhaul's Impact On America's Poorest
Friday, April 13 2012 01:40 AM
New York Times reporter Jason DeParle recently traveled to Arizona, where many people have been dropped from the welfare program. Republican leaders now want to apply the changes made to the welfare program to other aspects of the social safety net, such as Medicaid and food stamps.
'Present': For Nadine Gordimer, Politics Hit Home
Thursday, April 12 2012 01:34 AM
Nadine Gordimer has always incorporated political themes into her novels, but her latest work turns its sights toward the domestic sphere. In No Time Like the Present, a South African activist couple struggles to find happiness in a world of their own making.
For Carole King, Songwriting Is A 'Natural' Talent
Thursday, April 12 2012 01:33 AM
Carole King wrote songs for others before becoming a performer and writing for herself. In her new memoir, A Natural Woman, she details the stories behind some of her most famous songs and her relationships with songwriters like James Taylor, Gerry Goffin and Paul Simon.
Bonnie Raitt's 'Slipstream': A Barnstorming Good Time
Wednesday, April 11 2012 01:58 AM
Slipstream is Raitt's first album since 2005's Souls Alike, and she's produced most of the tracks herself. Rock critic Ken Tucker says that this return to recording and her renewed control over her music has resulted in one of Raitt's finest albums.
'Winding Up' As The Mets' Knuckleball Pitcher
Wednesday, April 11 2012 01:58 AM
New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey is currently the only knuckleball pitcher in the major leagues. His new memoir, Wherever I Wind Up, explains how his life — and career — have mimicked the unpredictable trajectory of the difficult pitch he throws game after game.
Fresh Air Remembers Mike Wallace Of '60 Minutes'
Tuesday, April 10 2012 01:59 AM
The CBS News correspondent who became famous for his two-fisted interview style and hard-hitting interviews with politicians, celebrities and newsmakers died Saturday. He was 93. Fresh Air remembers Wallace with excerpts from a 2005 interview.
'When God Talks Back' To The Evangelical Community
Tuesday, April 10 2012 01:59 AM
Anthropologist T.M. Luhrmann studies the personal relationships evangelicals develop with God. In her book When God Talks Back, she explains how relationships with God are often cemented through the power of prayer.
Fresh Air Weekend: Paul McCartney, Aziz Ansari
Sunday, April 08 2012 01:34 AM
McCartney talks about his new album, a collection of standards he heard while growing up in Liverpool. And comedian Aziz Ansari riffs on marriage, babies — and self-deprecating rappers.
A Sublime, Impressionistic 'Deep Blue Sea'
Saturday, April 07 2012 01:34 AM
Terence Davies' newest film is a free adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play The Deep Blue Sea, starring Rachel Weisz as a woman who leaves her older, aristocratic husband for a young and penniless ex-officer. (Recommended)
Finding And Curating The Roots Of Soul Music
Saturday, April 07 2012 01:34 AM
Mike McGonigal runs the literary magazine Yeti. In his spare time, he's been collecting gospel 45s on vanity and tiny independent labels for years. He's now released a pair of three-CD sets featuring amazing, long-forgotten African-American gospel tracks from his collection.
Behind The Plate, A Baseball Catcher Tells All
Saturday, April 07 2012 01:34 AM
Brad Ausmus has been called one of the best catchers in baseball. He spent 18 seasons in the big leagues, playing for teams like the Dodgers and the Padres. He details what it's like to crouch behind home plate, deal with umps and make pitching calls.
Lionel Shriver's Not-So-'New Republic'
Friday, April 06 2012 01:38 AM
Publishers initially passed on Lionel Shriver's satire on terrorism, The New Republic. The manuscript languished in a drawer until now, but can a work written 13 years ago remain relevant today?
Debt Struggles As Old As America Itself
Friday, April 06 2012 01:38 AM
Bitter debates about the national debt date back to the earliest days of the Republic, economist Simon Johnson says. Back then, the nation's failure to borrow was the problem. In White House Burning, Johnson and co-author James Kwack explore the meaning of the national debt and prospects for managing it.
Jeffrey Gettleman: On Reporting Somalia's Crisis
Thursday, April 05 2012 01:54 AM
New York Times correspondent Jeffrey Gettleman will receive a George Polk Award this week for being the first to report that the militant Islamist group al-Shabab had prevented starving people from leaving Somalia. He details how he got the story.
There's Only 'One Direction' For This Boy Band: Up
Wednesday, April 04 2012 02:02 AM
One Direction recently became the first U.K. act to make its debut on the U.S. Billboard albums chart with Up All Night. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the new record is reminiscent of The Backstreet Boys and other pop stars.
Boycotts Simplify Ongoing Issues In West Bank
Wednesday, April 04 2012 02:01 AM
Peter Beinart's new book, The Crisis of Zionism, argues that Israel cannot be a true democratic state as long as there are settlements in the West Bank and calls for a boycott of goods made in those settlements. Gary Rosenblatt, publisher of The Jewish Week of New York, disagrees with this argument.
Should American Jews Boycott West Bank Settlements?
Wednesday, April 04 2012 02:00 AM
Journalist Peter Beinart supports Israel but thinks the Jewish settlements in the West Bank are compromising Israel's commitment to democracy. He has proposed a boycott of goods made in those Jewish settlements.
Doris Day: A Hollywood Legend Reflects On Life
Tuesday, April 03 2012 01:37 AM
Day started singing and dancing when she was a teenager, and made her first film at 24. After nearly 40 movies, she walked away from that part of her life in 1968, and started rescuing and caring for animals. Here, she speaks to Terry Gross in a lengthy interview about her career in film and music.
Aziz Ansari's Latest Is 'Dangerously Delicious'
Tuesday, April 03 2012 01:37 AM
The comedian, who plays Tom Haverford on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, just released a new comedy special directly on his website. He's also embarking on a multicity tour, where he'll be riffing on the things that terrify him — marriage, for instance, and babies.
Fresh Air Weekend: Matthew Weiner, Rachel Maddow
Sunday, April 01 2012 07:30 AM
Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner offers his thoughts on Sunday night's Season 5 premiere. Also, Rachel Maddow talks about her start in broadcasting, her life and her new book Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power.
'Thrones,' 'Killing' Return ... And Revert To Old Habits
Saturday, March 31 2012 02:54 AM
Both Game of Thrones and The Killing drew a lot of attention during their first seasons, and both are back Sunday night to start a second year — one hoping to build on the momentum from some positive late-season buzz, the other hoping to overcome some negative buzz from last year's cliffhanger.
Harry Crews On Writing And Feeling Like A 'Freak'
Saturday, March 31 2012 02:54 AM
Writer Harry Crews had a hard life and didn't make it any easier for the characters in his novels. He died Wednesday at age 76. Fresh Air remembers the Southern novelist with excerpts from a 1988 interview.
Earl Scruggs: The 2003 Fresh Air Interview
Saturday, March 31 2012 02:54 AM
Banjo player Earl Scruggs, who helped shape the sound of American bluegrass music, died Wednesday. He was 88 years old. Fresh Air remembers Scruggs with excerpts from an interview.
Paul McCartney Blows 'Kisses' To His Father's Era
Friday, March 30 2012 01:37 AM
McCartney recently released a collection of standards — songs he heard while growing up in Liverpool. He talks about several of those songs, and his own songwriting, from his home studio.
The Thomashefskys: Stars Of The Yiddish Stage
Thursday, March 29 2012 01:40 AM
Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky were mega-stars in the Yiddish theater world. Their story is told in a new documentary, written and conducted by their grandson, Michael Tilson Thomas. He also serves as music director of the San Francisco Symphony and artistic director of the New World Symphony.
The 'Illegal Procedure' Of Paying College Athletes
Thursday, March 29 2012 01:40 AM
For years, former sports agent Josh Luchs provided money and other benefits to college athletes, in clear violation of NCAA and NFL Players Association rules. He comes clean in a new memoir, Illegal Procedure.
Rachel Maddow: The Fresh Air Interview
Wednesday, March 28 2012 02:07 AM
The popular MSNBC host talks about her start in broadcasting, her life and her new book Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power, in which she argues that America's national defense has become disconnected from public oversight.
'Mad Men' Creator On What's Next For Don Draper
Tuesday, March 27 2012 01:32 AM
Matthew Weiner offers his thoughts on Sunday night's Season 5 premiere, the character development of Don Draper, and what may be in store for the staff of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
Fresh Air Weekend: Jonah Lehrer, Sonja Sohn
Sunday, March 25 2012 01:30 AM
Science writer Jonah Lehrer examines the science behind our creativity in his new book, Imagine. Also, actress Sonja Sohn explains why she chose to stay in Baltimore and start a non-profit after starring in the HBO series The Wire.
'Mad Men' Returns, Cocky And Confident As Ever
Saturday, March 24 2012 01:55 AM
The AMC series Mad Men — winner of the Best Drama Series Emmy for each of its four seasons to date — returns March 25 after a 17-month hiatus. TV critic David Bianculli determines whether it was worth the wait?
Kevin Clash: Making Elmo Come To Life
Saturday, March 24 2012 01:55 AM
For more than 20 years, puppeteer Kevin Clash has been the voice behind the lovable red monster on Sesame Street. Both Clash "and" Elmo talk with Terry Gross about performing with Jim Henson, and creating a fun, educational experience for preschool-aged children.
Making 'The Muppets Movie' Was 'Dream Come True'
Saturday, March 24 2012 01:54 AM
The filmmakers behind Forgetting Sarah Marshall have teamed up to create a new Muppet movie. "We set out to make a Muppet movie that harkened back to the late-'70s [and] early-'80s Muppets that we grew up with," says Jason Segel.
Acting Trumps Action In A 'Games' Without Horror
Friday, March 23 2012 02:34 AM
Suzanne Collins' best-seller about a televised killing tournament has come to the big screen, with a cast that includes Jennifer Lawrence, Lenny Kravitz and Stanley Tucci. Critic David Edelstein says some of the actors
As 'Murdoch's Scandal' Unravels, Many Implicated
Friday, March 23 2012 02:33 AM
Murdoch's Scandal, a new Frontline documentary, examines allegations of phone hacking and bribery that brought down Rupert Murdoch's tabloid News of the World. Criminal and parliamentary investigations are now underway in the U.K., and dozens of journalists and top executives have been arrested.
Clark Terry: Not Just A Jazz Jester
Thursday, March 22 2012 02:18 AM
From a new series, Kevin Whitehead reviews a pair of '60s LPs from the distinctive trumpeter.
On DVD: Inside Bill Clinton's Campaign 'War Room'
Thursday, March 22 2012 02:18 AM
The 1993 documentary The War Room, which offered a verite look behind the scenes of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, has just been released on Criterion Blu-ray and DVD. Critic-at-large John Powers explains why the film was revelatory — and why it could never be made today.
'Imagine' That: Fostering Creativity In The Workplace
Thursday, March 22 2012 02:17 AM
Companies like 3M allow their employees to have an hour a day to do whatever they want: work on a side project or tinker with a hobby. In doing so, they're helping their employees become more creative — and increasing their productivity, says science writer Jonah Lehrer in his new book, Imagine.
Ahmed Rashid: Pakistan Lurches From Crisis To Crisis
Wednesday, March 21 2012 03:21 AM
In his latest book, Pakistan on the Brink, journalist Ahmed Rashid writes that he fears Pakistan is on the verge of a "meltdown." Rashid explains some of the challenges facing the country, as well as the complicated relationship both Pakistan and Afghanistan have with the United States.
Two Books That Delight In New York City's Dirt
Tuesday, March 20 2012 01:57 AM
If you want to know anything about America's greatest city, you've got to be willing to get grimy, says critic Maureen Corrigan. Two new books about New York — a novel and a narrative history — do more than put up with filth, they positively wallow in it.
Hugh Masekela: Wedding Songs That Don't Sound Blue
Tuesday, March 20 2012 01:57 AM
South African trumpeter and band leader Hugh Masekela has released more than 30 albums since his American debut in 1961. The concept behind his latest album, Jabulani, is deceptively simple. It's a collection of South African wedding songs which Masekela remembers vividly from his youth.
Blurring The Line Between Life And Death
Tuesday, March 20 2012 01:57 AM
Science writer Dick Teresi and transplant surgeon Richard Freeman discuss the ethics of transplant surgery and how doctors determine the point between life and death.
Fresh Air Weekend: Drones, Homes & Dave Brubeck
Sunday, March 18 2012 01:40 AM
Brookings Institution senior fellow John Villasenor explains what drones can see — and how our privacy and national security may be affected. Also, historical curator Lucy Worsley details the intimate history of the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen in her new book. And a review of reissues from Dave Brubeck's Quartet.
David Edelstein Reviews 'Casa De Mi Padre'
Saturday, March 17 2012 02:40 AM
Film critic David Edelstein reviews the new comedy Casa de mi Padre, starring Will Ferrell. It's a Spanish-language American film created in the style of a telenovela.
Traveling To The Corners Of Our 'Frozen Planet'
Saturday, March 17 2012 02:40 AM
The team behind the documentary Planet Earth have teamed up again to explore the coldest, most isolated places on Earth. TV critic David Bianculli says watching Frozen Planet "captures images of so much majesty, artistry, and clarity, it's almost ridiculous."
Revisiting John Updike's 'Fresh Air' Interviews
Saturday, March 17 2012 02:40 AM
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist John Updike would have turned 80 on March 18, 2012. Fresh Air honors the late writer with excerpts from several interviews.
About Fresh Air
Fresh Air is one of the most popular programs on public radio, breaking the "talk show" mold, and Gross is known for her fearless and insightful interviews with prominent figures in American arts, politics, and popular culture.
Hosted by Terry Gross