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
Lee Zeldin’s tenure as head of the Environmental Protection Agency marks a fundamental shift in the agency’s mission, moving away from public health protection toward a deregulatory agenda that prioritizes fossil fuel interests. The dismantling of the Office of Research and Development, a scientific arm previously inde...
Flea, co-founder of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, reflects on his evolution as a musician and human being while discussing his first solo album, Helen Burns. The conversation traces his early exposure to jazz through his stepfather, a talented but volatile addict, and how that complex upbringing shaped his approach to mus...
Nick Offerman explores the emotional complexities of his recent acting roles, particularly his portrayal of Jinx, a former professional wrestler battling addiction and attempting to reconnect with his daughter in Margo's Got Money Troubles. He contrasts this with his Emmy-winning performance as Bill in The Last of Us, ...
Malala Yousafzai reflects on her transition from a targeted schoolgirl activist in Pakistan to a global advocate, detailing the profound psychological impact of surviving a Taliban assassination attempt and the challenges of balancing public expectations with personal recovery at Oxford University. The conversation hig...
Schmigadoon satirizes classic Broadway musicals by placing modern characters in a magical, musical-governed town, using parody to explore the nature of true love. Co-creator Cinco Paul notes that the show’s songs, such as "Corn Pudding," intentionally mimic and subvert traditional musical theater tropes to advance the ...
American white supremacist movements have historically utilized grievance politics and media-savvy stunts to recruit disaffected individuals, a trend that persists from post-World War II groups like the Columbians to contemporary organizations. Jewish advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, historically ...
Linda McMahon’s tenure as Secretary of Education represents a strategic dismantling of the agency, a mission rooted in her background as a savvy executive in the professional wrestling industry. Her experience managing the WWE—a business built on intellectual property, scripted conflict, and the manipulation of public ...
Oscar Isaac examines the psychological complexities of his roles in the second season of Beef and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, revealing how he bridges disparate characters through physiological mindfulness. In Beef, Isaac portrays Josh, a country club manager grappling with class-based resentment and a crumbling...
Malala Yousafzai reflects on her journey from a young activist in Pakistan’s Swat Valley to a global advocate for girls' education, detailing the personal evolution captured in her memoir, Finding My Way. The conversation highlights the tension between her public persona as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and her private ...
Actor and writer Amanda Peet navigates the intersection of professional aging, personal health crises, and the complexities of motherhood. Reflecting on her role in Fantasy Life, she examines the industry's narrow expectations for women and the psychological toll of aging in the public eye. This dialogue extends to her...
Multimedia artist and filmmaker John Waters reflects on his career as a "filth elder" and his lifelong commitment to championing outsiders and eccentricity. Born into a conventional Baltimore family, Waters recounts how his early obsessions with car accidents, juvenile delinquency, and rockabilly culture fueled his tra...
Maoz Inon, an Israeli entrepreneur whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7th, and Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian activist who lost his brother to violence in an Israeli military prison, advocate for peace and reconciliation as a necessary alternative to cycles of retaliation. Despite their profound personal loss...
Actor and writer Amanda Peet reflects on the intersection of professional aging, personal loss, and the creative process. Navigating the challenges of middle age in an industry that often prioritizes youth, she discusses the vulnerability of playing characters who grapple with career stagnation and shifting family dyna...
The six-week conflict between the United States and Iran has reached a volatile impasse following the failure of recent negotiations in Pakistan and President Trump’s announcement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Veteran diplomat Aaron David Miller argues that the lack of a structured diplomatic framework, combine...
Toni Morrison’s literary legacy often suffers from a disconnect between her iconic status and the actual substance of her writing, a gap that Harvard professor Namwali Serpell addresses in her book On Morrison. The critical discourse frequently fixates on Morrison’s biography and perceived "difficulty," often masking u...
The podcast features interviews with Arsenio Hall and Jeff Ross, exploring their careers and personal experiences. Arsenio Hall discusses the challenges he faced navigating racial perceptions while hosting his late-night show, the pressures from Paramount to appeal to a broader audience, and his relationships with gues...
The podcast features an interview with St. Vincent, a singer-songwriter and guitarist, focusing on her musical influences, creative processes, and recent work. St. Vincent discusses how formative experiences like discovering Nirvana at a young age and touring with her aunt and uncle, the jazz duo Tuck and Patty, shaped...
The interview explores Dr. Mary Fariba Afsari's transition from a traditional OBGYN practice to establishing a mobile gynecology clinic in an RV, aiming to provide accessible reproductive care to underserved communities. Dr. Afsari discusses the increasing restrictions on abortion access and the implicit racism within ...
Annabelle Gurwitch discusses her memoir, "The End of My Life Is Killing Me," which explores her experiences and existential dread following a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis. Gurwitch details how she coped with the initial shock, the breakdown of her marriage, and the challenges of facing an uncertain future. Rejecting t...
Jeff Ross, known as the Roastmaster General, discusses his new Netflix comedy special, "Take a Banana for the Ride," which delves into personal and autobiographical material. Ross shares stories about his family's catering hall, Clinton Manor, and his experiences working there. He reflects on his mother's death from le...
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