Fresh Air

by NPR

Fresh Air is a podcast that features in-depth interviews and insightful conversations with a wide range of guests from various fields of expertise. Hosted by Terry Gross, the show provides an engaging mix of cultural commentary, news analysis, and thought-provoking discussions on topics that matter to people around the world. From acclaimed writers and artists to prominent politicians and social activists, every guest on Fresh Air offers unique perspectives on issues that shape our lives. With an emphasis on intelligent, engaging conversation, Fresh Air is the perfect podcast for anyone who loves to be informed, entertained, and challenged by ideas that matter.

Episodes

Best Of: A Journey Through The South / The Genius Of Buster Keaton

49m · Published 29 Jan 05:15

Princeton African American Studies professor Imani Perry says the South can be seen as an "origin point" for the way the nation operates. Her book, South to America , reflects on the region's history and traces the steps of an enslaved ancestor.
Ken Tucker reviews Neil Young's newest album, Barn .
Buster Keaton was a silent film star in the 1920s, but he was far more than an actor and stuntman. He conceived and directed his films, cited by some of America's leading filmmakers as inspirations. We speak with Slate film critic Dana Stevens, whose new book, Camera Man , examines Keaton's work and influence, and chronicles his colorful life.

Remembering Comic Louie Anderson

46m · Published 28 Jan 18:43

Anderson grew up poor in Minnesota, in a family with 11 children. His Emmy-winning performance in the FX series Baskets was based upon his own mother. Anderson died Jan. 21. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2016 about his family, mortality, and how his material onstage has evolved.
Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the four-part documentary series We Need to Talk About Cosby , created by W. Kamau Bell.

A Journey Through The American South

45m · Published 25 Jan 20:40

Princeton African American Studies professor Imani Perry says the South can be seen as an "origin point" for the way the nation operates. Her book, South to Americ a, reflects on the region's history and traces the steps of an enslaved ancestor. "The South in some ways becomes the repository for the nation's sins, right?" she says. "And then it allows the rest of the country to conceive of itself as relatively pristine."
Also, Justin Chang reviews the Finnish film Compartment No. 6 .

A Marine-Turned-Journalist Returns To Afghanistan

45m · Published 20 Jan 21:07

Thomas Gibbons-Neff served two tours in Afghanistan in the Marines, and is now a New York Times reporter and Kabul bureau chief. He recently interviewed a high-level Taliban commander about a battle they had both been engaged in.
Ken Tucker reviews Neil Young's new album Barn.

Benedict Cumberbatch

44m · Published 19 Jan 20:34

Cumberbatch stars in Jane Campion's Western The Power of the Dog as Phil Burbank, a hyper-masculine cattle rancher living on the plains of Montana in the 1920s. We talk about how body odor helped him channel the character, toxic masculinity, and filming on location in breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. Cumberbatch also shares stories from his past — like his experiences teaching English at a Tibetan monastery and getting kidnapped in South Africa in 2005.

Attorney Laura Coates On The Fight For Voting Rights

45m · Published 17 Jan 05:10

While working for the Department of Justice, attorney Laura Coates says she saw voter rolls being purged and instances where polling places were moved to known Klan locations. She also worked as a prosecutor and had to grapple with her own relationship with law enforcement, as a Black woman. Coates is a CNN analyst and hosts a SiriusXM show. Her new memoir is 'Just Pursuit.'

Best Of: Sidney Poitier / Nicole Kidman

48m · Published 15 Jan 05:10

Sidney Poitier, who paved the way for Black actors in film, died last week at 94. He was the first Black man to win an Oscar. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2000 about growing up in the Bahamas and breaking into acting. A leading man in the '50s and '60s, some of his best-known films include Lilies of the Field , In the Heat of the Night , Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and To Sir, with Love .
In Being the Ricardos, Nicole Kidman shifts back and forth between Lucille Ball and her character Lucy of I Love Lucy . We talk with the Australian actor about the challenges of the role and about ageism in Hollywood.

The Unreported Civilian Deaths In The U.S. Air War Against ISIS

44m · Published 13 Jan 20:48

New York Times reporter Dave Philipps says a top-secret special ops unit disregarded official protocols to pick targets for airstrikes, resulting in the death of thousands of farmers and families.

Remembering Joan Didion & Betty White

45m · Published 07 Jan 19:30

We remember writer Joan Didion, known for her cool, unsentimental observations and distinctive writing. After the sudden death of her husband in 2003, she turned her gaze on her own grief in the memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking . Didion died last month. She spoke with Terry Gross in 1987 and 2005.
Also, we remember legendary TV actor Betty White. Her television career spanned the history of TV itself – and that's no exaggeration. She was best known for her roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls . She died Dec. 31, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

Why Dan Bongino Is Building A Right-Wing Media Infrastructure

44m · Published 06 Jan 20:54

New Yorker writer Evan Osnos says no one in the media has profited more from the Trump era than Dan Bongino, who hosts the country's fourth most listened to radio show and has 8.5 million weekly listeners. Bongino has also helped create and fund right-wing platforms that replicate Twitter, PayPal and YouTube, to lay the groundwork for the 2024 presidential election.

Fresh Air has 734 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 564:48:13. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on June 16th 2022. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on June 2nd, 2024 17:10.