Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including weekly bonus episodes and curated playlists of archive interviews from Fresh Air. And subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Fresh Air Weekly, to get interview highlights, staff recommendations, gems from the archive, and the week's interviews and reviews all in one place. Sign up at www.whyy.org/freshair
In this episode of Fresh Air, we dive into archival interviews with two musical icons, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen, both of whom were significantly influenced by Bob Dylan, coincidentally as his new biopic premiered. Seeger shares stories from his career as a folk singer, touching on his activism and the challeng...
In this Fresh Air segment, David Byrne shares his thoughtfully curated Christmas playlist, featuring an eclectic mix of songs that go beyond the usual holiday cheer. His selection includes vibrant tracks with poignant lyrics that delve into themes of loneliness, economic disparity, and the bittersweet nature of the sea...
This episode of Fresh Air dives into the world of Christmas music with two captivating segments. The first features an interview with Jon Batiste, who shares and discusses his favorite holiday songs, revealing the emotional spectrum of the genre—from cheerful to melancholic. The second segment highlights Questlove as h...
This episode of Fresh Air Weekend features two captivating interviews. First, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell discuss their creative collaboration, Billie's evolving vocal style, and the influences that shape her distinctive persona. The second conversation features Stephen and Evie McGee Colbert, who s...
In a 1996 Fresh Air interview, Bonnie Raitt, a Kennedy Center Honoree, opens up about her musical influences and career journey. She reflects on her close ties with iconic blues artists like Mississippi Fred McDowell and Sippie Wallace, explaining how they shaped her style and perspective. Raitt shares captivating stor...
In this Fresh Air interview, Miranda July discusses her novel All Fours, which delves into a woman's journey through perimenopause and her reevaluation of life and marriage. Initially worried about how readers would react to the book’s explicit themes and focus on midlife struggles, July has been pleasantly surprised b...
In a recent Fresh Air interview, the ongoing legal dispute over a potential TikTok ban in the U.S. is explored. Lawmakers and lower courts have labeled TikTok a national security threat due to its Chinese ownership and the risk of data exposure. However, TikTok counters that such a ban violates free speech rights. The ...
In this Fresh Air interview, siblings and musical partners Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell share insights into their journey in music. They delve into their evolution as artists and their distinctive approach to songwriting, while Billie reflects on the challenges of being a teenage star and the intricacies of thei...
In this Fresh Air interview, comedian Ronny Chieng opens up about his new Netflix comedy special, his role on The Daily Show, and his journey as a Chinese Malaysian comedian navigating life in America. He shares his parents' initial reactions to his career choice, discusses his unexpected path to The Daily Show through...
In this bonus episode of Fresh Air, we hear highlights from two captivating interviews with Elton John. The first, from 2019, delves into his memoir "Me," where he shares his experiences with fame, his challenging childhood, battles with addiction, and the musical influences that shaped him. The second segment, dating ...
In this episode of Fresh Air Weekend, host Terry Gross interviews Jon Batiste about his new album, "Beethoven Blues," where he reinterprets Beethoven’s works through a blues perspective. Batiste shares his insights on the rhythmic similarities and emotional resonance between Beethoven's compositions and the blues. The ...
In this Fresh Air interview, Cynthia Erivo opens up about her career, musical influences—especially from Aretha Franklin and Stephen Sondheim—and her personal life. She discusses the vital role of breath control in singing, sharing memorable stories from her training. Erivo also reflects on her upbringing and her close...
Stephen and Evie Colbert, a married couple who collaborate professionally, chat about their new cookbook, "Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves." They share insights from their show business journey, Stephen's recent appendicitis ordeal, and the contrasts in their religious backgrounds. Their discussion expl...
In a Fresh Air interview, housing expert Ben Keys delves into the ongoing housing crisis in the U.S., marked by high prices and a lack of available homes. He traces the roots of this crisis back to the 2008 financial collapse, which has been compounded by soaring material and labor costs, daunting financing challenges ...
In this Fresh Air interview, actress Danielle Deadwyler shares insights about her performances in Netflix's adaptation of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson and the film Till. She delves into her acting process, highlighting her emphasis on physicality and thorough preparation, often drawing from her own life experiences...
In this Fresh Air interview, Jon Batiste, a celebrated multi-Grammy-winning musician, talks about his latest album, "Beethoven Blues," which offers a fresh take on Beethoven's works. He delves into the intriguing links between Beethoven's music and the blues, pointing out their shared rhythms and emotional resonance. B...
In this Fresh Air interview, filmmaker Werner Herzog shares insights into his life and career, which are deeply rooted in a fascination with extremes. He explains that his interest lies not in risk itself, but in delving into the darker sides of human nature, often requiring intense settings for his films. Herzog refle...
This Fresh Air Weekend episode features an engaging interview with folk musician Jerron Paxton, who shares insights about his new album, "Things Done Changed." He draws on older musical styles while weaving in contemporary themes. The episode also includes a review of the Beatles' new Disney+ documentary, "Beatles 64,"...
In this Fresh Air interview, Caroline Crampton, author of "A Body Made of Glass," delves into the complexities of hypochondria, drawing from her own experiences and historical insights. Having faced cancer twice, Crampton shares her thoughts on illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder, highlighting the fin...
In a Fresh Air interview, David Wessel explores the possible economic effects of a second Trump administration. He examines Trump's proposed policies, such as imposing high tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, implementing tax cuts, and reducing government spending. Wessel expresses doubt about the effectiveness ...
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