Terry Gross appears in the following:
Remembering Peter Schickele, the satirical composer behind P.D.Q. Bach
Friday, January 26, 2024
Claiming to be a musicologist, the composer and arranger performed premieres of "newly unearthed" works by the nonexistent Bach. Schickele died Jan. 16. Originally broadcast in 1985.
Remembering Mary Weiss, lead singer of The Shangri-Las
Friday, January 26, 2024
The Shangri-Las mixed a tough image with songs about teen love. Weiss, who died Jan. 19, left the group in the late '60s, and released her fist solo album in 2007. Originally broadcast in 2007.
How the war between Israel and Hamas widened into a regional conflict
Thursday, January 25, 2024
New York Times correspondent David Sanger says that Iran and its proxies are posing new challenges: "We're seeing outbreaks of low-level but highly damaging conflict all over the region."
Talking 'Succession' with Jesse Armstrong, Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen
Friday, January 19, 2024
The HBO series recently won six Emmy awards. We talked about the show with head writer/creator Armstrong in 2023, plus we listen back to conversations with Cuklin and Macfadyen from 2021 and 2022.
Remembering Tom Shales, a TV critic with a biting wit
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Known for his strong opinions, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post critic also reviewed films on Morning Edition for two decades. Shales died Jan. 13. Originally broadcast in 1989.
Remembering Tom Smothers, TV pioneer and satirist
Friday, January 05, 2024
Tom Smothers, who died Dec. 26, was one half of the comedy duo The Smothers Brothers. We listen back to an interview with Tom and Dick Smothers from 1985, and an interview with just Tom in 1997.
Barbra Streisand shares her secret for keeping performances honest
Monday, January 01, 2024
When she was starring in Funny Girl on Broadway, Streisand says she'd alter the music slightly each night. Her new memoir is My Name is Barbra. Originally broadcast Nov. 8, 2023.
Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Russell plays tracks from 'The Returner'
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
Russell talks and sings about the physical and sexual abuse she endured from her racist adoptive father — and about how she learned she was worthy of being loved. Originally broadcast Sept. 27, 2023.
A roots and rockabilly holiday concert with JD McPherson and his band
Monday, December 25, 2023
McPherson never thought he'd make a Christmas album. Then, he says, "I got a bug in my ear." He and his band perform live in studio from Socks. Originally broadcast Dec. 11, 2018.
'Fresh Air' presents: Christmas with Questlove
Monday, December 25, 2023
Roots cofounder Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson shares his Christmas playlist, which includes songs by DRAM, James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Originally broadcast Dec. 21, 2022.
Remembering Andre Braugher, star of 'Homicide' and 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine'
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Braugher, who died Dec. 11, trained at Julliard and performed in many Shakespeare productions. He won Emmy Awards for Homicide: Life on the Street and Thief. Originally broadcast in 1995 and 2006.
Remembering Norman Lear, creator of 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons'
Friday, December 15, 2023
Lear, who died Dec. 5, used humor to address racism and politics. Terry Gross spoke with Lear in 2014; Good Times actor Esther Rolle in 1983; and All in the Family director John Rich in 2006.
'Rustin' star Colman Domingo says the civil rights activist has been a 'North Star'
Monday, December 11, 2023
Domingo plays Bayard Rustin, who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, but was forced into the background because he was gay. Domingo also stars as the abusive husband in The Color Purple.
Barry Manilow reflects on writing songs — and making the whole world sing
Friday, December 08, 2023
Manilow was one of the biggest pop hitmakers of the '70s and early '80s. He now has a Broadway musical, Harmony. "I like emotional productions," he said in '02. I like to take the listener on a trip."
Rachel Maddow uncovers a WWII-era plot against the U.S. government
Friday, December 01, 2023
In her book, Prequel, Maddow describes ultra-right plots to overthrow the government in the days leading up to WWII — a subject she covered in her podcast Ultra. Originally broadcast Dec. 15, 2022.
How support for Trump is causing a rift in the evangelical church
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Atlantic writer Tim Alberta grew up in the evangelical church, the son of a pastor. His book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, examines why so many evangelicals are ardent Trump supporters.
Remembering First Lady Rosalynn Carter
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Carter, who died Nov. 19, grew up in Plains, Ga., and met her husband, Jimmy, when she was 17. In 1984, she spoke to Fresh Air about life before and after the White House.
Pianist Jason Moran reaches for 'the drama, the comedy and the tragedy' of music
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Moran plays from his latest recording, which borrows from the music of James Reese Europe, the composer who led the Harlem Hellfighters regiment band during WWI. Originally broadcast Aug. 7, 2023.
Albert Brooks finds humor in everyday life: 'I never told jokes'
Friday, November 17, 2023
The comic/filmmaker is the subject of a new HBO documentary, Defending My Life, directed by his longtime friend Rob Reiner. In 1996, Brooks spoke about his early career in stand-up.
How will China's economic stagnation impact its relations with the U.S.?
Thursday, November 16, 2023
New Yorker writer Evan Osnos explains the contentious relationship between China and the U.S. and discusses the significance and possible results of Wednesday's meeting between Biden and President Xi.