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Fresh Air podcast

Fresh Air

·

  NPR  

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, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.Subscribe to Fresh Air Plus! You'll enjoy bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening - all while you support NPR's mission. Learn more at plus.npr.org/freshair

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, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.Subscribe to Fresh Air Plus! You'll enjoy bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening - all while you support NPR's mission. Learn more at plus.npr.org/freshair

 

#300

Putting Female Bodies At The Center Of Evolution

When it comes to biological and medical research, female bodies have historically been under-studied. Author Cat Bohannon traces the female body through evolutionary history in her new book, Eve. She talks about how women process opioids and painkillers differently, human menstruation, and the difference between male and female brains. ... Read more

8 hrs Ago

45 MINS

45:50

8 hrs Ago


#299

Producer/DJ TOKiMONSTA

Music producer and DJ Jennifer Lee — aka TOKiMONSTA — underwent two brain surgeries in 2016 that temporarily stripped her of her ability to understand words or music. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about that life-altering experience and being in the male-dominated field of electronic music. Also, Kevin Whitehead shares an appreciation of tenor saxophonist Von Freeman. ... Read more

Yesterday

45 MINS

45:58

Yesterday


#298

Best Of: Leslie Jones / Kerry Washington

In her new memoir, comedian Leslie Jones writes about being on Saturday Night Live – and the years she spent working odd jobs to get by before she was famous. Ken Tucker reviews Allison Russell's new album, The Returner. Award-winning actor, producer, and activist Kerry Washington also has a new memoir. In Thicker Than Water, she examines her life, career and the discovery of a secret about her origins that her parents revealed to her just a few years ago. ... Read more

30 Sep 2023

48 MINS

48:40

30 Sep 2023


#297

Remembering Actor David McCallum / Allen Ginsberg

Scottish actor David McCallum played an eccentric medical examiner on the CBS crime series NCIS, but he found fame nearly 60 years ago in his role as Russian agent Illya Kuryakin on the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He died Sept. 25 at age 90. Also, we feature our interview with Allen Ginsberg. A tribute album of musical interpretations of his poems will be released next week. Film critic Justin Chang reviews the new futuristic action thriller The Creator. ... Read more

29 Sep 2023

46 MINS

46:59

29 Sep 2023


#296

Inside The Secretive AI Company That Knows Your Face

The secretive company Clearview AI scans unidentified faces, and finds a match in their database of billions of photos. The pics are scraped from websites and apps, including Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn, without the companies' permission. NYT tech reporter Kashmir Hill found that once your face is identified for a client, Clearview can quickly connect the client to a lot of information about you. Chances are your face is in Clearview's database, without your knowledge or permission. Clearview's clients include many police departments and some government agencies. Hill says it could spell the end of privacy. Her new book is Your Face Belongs To Us. ... Read more

28 Sep 2023

43 MINS

43:38

28 Sep 2023


#295

Musician Allison Russell

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. Her new album is The Returner. ... Read more

27 Sep 2023

47 MINS

47:07

27 Sep 2023


#294

How Roads & Highways Affect Wildlife

Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb says cars are killing animals, while highways cut off them off from their food sources and migration paths. His new book about road ecology is Crossings.Maureen Corrigan reviews C Pam Zhang's Land of Milk and Honey. ... Read more

26 Sep 2023

46 MINS

46:23

26 Sep 2023


#293

Kerry Washington's Self-Discovery

Award-winning actor and producer Kerry Washington was an adult when she learned that she had been conceived via artificial insemination and the man she considered her father was not her biological dad. Her new memoir about her journey of self-discovery is Thicker than Water. Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead celebrates Sam Rivers on what would've been his 100th birthday. ... Read more

25 Sep 2023

46 MINS

46:17

25 Sep 2023


#292

Best Of: Casting Dir. Allison Jones / The Nazi's Jazz Propaganda

Casting director Allison Jones is considered one of the greatest comedy casting directors of our time. Her credits include films and TV shows like Freaks and Geeks, The Office, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Bridesmaids, and now Barbie. She spoke with Terry Gross about some of these projects. Maureen Corrigan reviews Lauren Groff's new novel, The Vaster Wilds. Also, NPR's Scott Simon gives the history of why jazz was banned in Hitler's Germany, and how it was repurposed as propaganda on shortwave radio. His new audiobook is Swingtime for Hitler. ... Read more

23 Sep 2023

48 MINS

48:23

23 Sep 2023


#291

Actor Billy Crudup

Billy Crudup stars in The Morning Show, now back for its third season. We also talk about going to rock star camp for his role in Almost Famous and his iconic Mastercard commercials.Also, Justin Chang reviews A Haunting in Venice. ... Read more

22 Sep 2023

46 MINS

46:26

22 Sep 2023


#290

Leslie Jones

Leslie Jones says performing stand-up for the first time as a freshman in college felt like putting on a shirt that fit perfectly: "It was just so natural." She talks with Tonya Mosley about the best advice she got, her bittersweet time at SNL, and why she loves physical comedy. Her memoir is Leslie F*cking Jones.Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Lauren Groff's new novel, The Vaster Wilds. ... Read more

21 Sep 2023

44 MINS

44:11

21 Sep 2023


#289

How The Nazis Used Jazz As A Propaganda Tool

Hitler's Germany banned jazz because it was deemed degenerate music made by Jews and Black people. But NPR host Scott Simon says the Nazis used it abroad to weaken British and American resolve. His new audiobook about this history is Swingtime for Hitler. ... Read more

20 Sep 2023

44 MINS

44:54

20 Sep 2023


#288

Comic Aparna Nancherla

Comedian, writer, and actor Aparna Nancherla has starred in the TV shows BoJack Horseman, Master of None, and Corporate. She's written for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, and Late Night with Seth Meyers, and has comedy specials on Netflix and Comedy Central. She spoke with Ann Marie Baldonado about her anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome, despite her career success. Her new book is Unreliable Narrator.John Powers reviews the Paramount TV+ heist drama series The Gold. ... Read more

19 Sep 2023

46 MINS

46:15

19 Sep 2023


#287

How Saudi Arabian Oil Money Is Influencing Men's Pro Golf

New York Times reporter Alan Blinder says the kingdom poured millions into a pro golf circuit to rival the PGA. The two sides recently announced a joint venture, raising anti-trust issues. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new season of The Morning Show. ... Read more

18 Sep 2023

45 MINS

45:48

18 Sep 2023


#286

Best Of: 'Barbie' Music Producer Mark Ronson / Model Bethann Hardison

Grammy and Oscar-winning music producer Mark Ronson is known for his party hits, pop songs, soulful arrangements, and producing for stars like Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, and Adele. His latest project is the Barbie soundtrack and score.We talk with Bethann Hardison about her 50+ year career as a trailblazer in the fashion world. She started modeling in the late '60s during the height of the Black is Beautiful movement. There's a new documentary about her life and career called Invisible Beauty. ... Read more

16 Sep 2023

49 MINS

49:12

16 Sep 2023


#285

Does China Have Hollywood In An Economic Muzzle?

Wall Street Journal reporter Erich Schwartzel says that film studios increasingly rely upon Chinese audiences to break even — which can result in self-censorship. His book is Red Carpet. Also, Justin Chang reviews the film Cassandro. ... Read more

15 Sep 2023

45 MINS

45:46

15 Sep 2023


#284

Inside The Biden White House

Atlantic staff writer Franklin Foer tells stories behind some of the Biden administration's biggest successes and failures. Foer's new book is The Last Politician. ... Read more

14 Sep 2023

44 MINS

44:55

14 Sep 2023


#283

The Military's Struggle To Modernize

The Army and Navy are testing weapons with remarkable capabilities, using cutting edge technology and AI. Terry Gross spoke with Eric Lipton of the New York Times about his investigation into the weapons, the need to modernize, and the obstacles in the way. ... Read more

13 Sep 2023

46 MINS

46:28

13 Sep 2023


#282

Hollywood Casting Director Allison Jones

The Barbie movie is just the latest example of why Allison Jones is considered one of the greatest comedy casting directors of our time. She casted films and TV shows like Freaks and Geeks, The Office, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Superbad and Bridesmaids. We talk about casting Steve Carell in The Office, auditioning Jason Segel as a teenager, and what she's learned about acting from doing cameos of herself. Also, Ken Tucker reviews Allison Russell's new album, The Returner. ... Read more

12 Sep 2023

46 MINS

46:31

12 Sep 2023


#281

Trailblazing Black Model Bethann Hardison

We talk with Bethann Hardison about her 50+ year career as a trailblazer in the fashion world. She started modeling in the late '60s during the height of the Black is Beautiful movement. With her brown skin and short afro, Hardison describes herself as being the first "Black Black" looking model. Later, she was one of the first Black women to own a modeling agency. There's a new documentary about her life and career called Invisible Beauty.John Powers reviews two films about the 1973 coup in Chile. ... Read more

11 Sep 2023

45 MINS

45:17

11 Sep 2023