Fresh Air

Humorist Annabelle Gurwitch faces stage 4 cancer, finds ‘unexpected joys’

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, writer Annabelle Gurwitch went to urgent care for a COVID-19 test and learned she had stage 4 lung cancer. She writes about life as a "cancer...

Comic Jeff Ross on roasting, loss and his epic bar mitzvah

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Known for his ruthless celebrity roasts, Ross turns inward in his Netflix special, ‘Take a Banana for the Ride,’ which details the loss of his par...

Arsenio Hall

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hall grew up in Cleveland dreaming of being the next Johnny Carson. He got close – closer than anyone expected – and then he walked away. Thirty y...

Best Of: John Lithgow / Sondheim’s tumultuous life

04 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We talk with John Lithgow, veteran of hundreds of performances on stage, screen and television. He’s currently starring in the play ‘Giant’ on B...

Julio Torres spins immigrant stress into satire

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As a gay, atheist teenager in El Salvador, Julio Torres felt like an alien. He was legally labeled “alien” when he came to the U.S. on a student v...

John Lithgow

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lithgow, 80, plays an intelligence agent in the FX action series 'The Old Man,' and he's currently starring in the Broadway production of 'Giant,' abo...

An exposé of the plastic industry

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In award-winning journalist Beth Gardiner’s new book, ‘Plastic Inc.,’ she traces how plastic went from a wartime miracle to the survival strateg...

Inside the training camps for “alpha males”

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump era has brought a resurgence of the “alpha male.” ‘New Yorker’ writer Charles Bethea reports on camps where men crawl through mud an...

Former Infowars employee on Alex Jones' conspiracy machine

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Josh Owens spent four years as a video editor and field producer for Jones' Infowars media company. "It was all about making things look cinematic," h...

Best Of: Jill Scott / Riz Ahmed

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

R&B artist Jill Scott shares some of the lessons she learned from the legends who came before her, including the moment she first met Aretha Franklin....

Remembering Action Hero Chuck Norris

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We remember martial arts champion turned Hollywood action hero Chuck Norris, who died last week at age 86. In addition to his many kung fu and action ...

America's first AI-fueled war is unfolding. How'd we get here?

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

‘Project Maven’ is the story of how the U.S. spent a decade building an AI warfare system that's now being used in the war in Iran. Author and Blo...

Bryan Stevenson says facing our racist past is a path, not punishment

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In his second term, President Trump has ordered the removal of monuments, plaques and exhibitions related to slavery, and the history of racial injust...

Will President Trump act on his threat to take Cuba?

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Yorker writer Jon Lee Anderson describes conditions in Cuba, why it's vulnerable now — and what regime change would mean — considering the Ca...

Riz Ahmed is chasing acceptance in 'Bait'

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In his new Prime Video series, ‘Bait,’ Riz Ahmed plays an actor auditioning to be the next James Bond. Ahmed says Bond is a "symbol of aspiration,...

Best Of: Harrison Ford / Novelist Francis Spufford

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Harrison Ford spoke with Terry Gross about his role in the Apple TV series ‘Shrinking,’ as a therapist who has Parkinson's Disease. He also talks ...

‘Jury Duty’ star James Marden / Remembering Roy Book Binder

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

‘Jury Duty’ is the Prime Video series about one unwitting regular guy who becomes part of a staged fake jury, not knowing that everyone around him...

Jill Scott is in her ‘auntie’ era

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Grammy-winning R&B star spoke with co-host Tonya Mosley about making her new album, ‘To Whom This May Concern,’ finding inspiration in the poe...

The Blitz, romance, and time-traveling fascists

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In Francis Spufford’s new novel, ‘Nonesuch,’ magical, time-traveling fascists want to go back in time and murder Winston Churchill before he sho...

Could the Iran war lead to WWIII?

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, policy expert Karim Sadjadpour says the war in Iran is becoming increasingly complicated: "I don't think President ...

The tumultuous life of Stephen Sondheim

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Okrent’s new biography, ‘Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn’t Easy,’ offers new insights into the renowned Broadway composer and lyricist. Okren...

Best Of: Delroy Lindo / Tayari Jones on ‘Kin’

14 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Delroy Lindo stars as Delta Slim, a gifted and haunted blues musician, in ‘Sinners.’ It's a performance that has earned Lindo his first Academy Aw...

Benicio del Toro

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Benicio del Toro is nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘One Battle After Another,’ where he plays a karate sensei wh...

Inside the explosive growth of sports betting

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As part of his investigation into sports betting, Atlantic journalist McKay Coppins gambled $10,000 during last NFL season. He spoke with co-host Tony...

Harrison Ford

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After playing some of the most recognizable and beloved characters in cinematic history, Harrison Ford is not interested in retiring. "I really do lov...

Jamilah Lemieux on the complicated beauty of being a ‘Black. Single. Mother.’

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As a culture critic, Lemieux has spent years pushing back against the stereotypes and stigma that follow single mothers. Her new book blends her own m...

The hidden history of blackface in America

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2013, historian Rhae Lynn Barnes was researching blackface in America at the Library of Congress when she encountered something strange: Various pr...

Best Of: ‘Hamnet’ star Jessie Buckley / Documentarian Morgan Neville

07 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Irish actor Jessie Buckley is nominated for an Oscar for her starring role as Shakespeare’s wife in ‘Hamnet.’ She talks about the film and how m...

Remembering pop songwriter Neil Sedaka

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sedaka, who died last week at 86, wrote and recorded hits in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s – songs like “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking up is...

Delroy Lindo is claiming victory

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Delroy Lindo is Oscar-nominated for his role as Delta Slim in Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners.’ In a wide-ranging conversation with co-host Tonya Mosley...

From Beatles break-up to John’s murder, a look at Paul’s transformation

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville tells us about his new film, ‘Man on The Run.’It begins when the Beatles end,...

A look at Trump's plans to restrict voting

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is promoting tighter restrictions on mail-in ballots as well as passage of the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote. ...

Jessie Buckley loves the ‘shadowy bits’ of her characters

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jessie Buckley spoke with Terry Gross about her role as Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, in ‘Hamnet,’ directed by Chloé Zhao. She’s nominated for a...

Best Of: Kate Hudson / Stellan Skarsgård

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Hudson is up for an Oscar for her role as Claire in the film ‘Song Sung Blue,’ starring opposite Hugh Jackman as one half of Lightning & Thun...

The voice of SpongeBob, Tom Kenny

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We take a trip to Bikini Bottom and revisit our interview with Tom Kenny, who plays SpongeBob on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series, and in the ne...

Is the U.S. headed toward military conflict with Iran?

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New York Times journalist David Sanger discusses how we got here, the state of Iran's nuclear weapons program, the likelihood of U.S. military force a...

Stellan Skarsgård doesn’t believe in bad guys

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Aside from the evil Baron Harkonnen in ‘Dune,’ actor Stellan Skarsgård doesn’t really believe in bad guys. He looks for nuance in every role. H...

Tayari Jones on friendship, writing, and choosing your ‘Kin’

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Eight years after her bestseller 'An American Marriage,' Tayari Jones has written a new novel, 'Kin,' set in the Jim Crow South. It follows two girls,...

Kate Hudson

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Hudson has had a hugely successful career as an actor and entrepreneur, but knew she'd always regret it if she didn't try her hand at music. Fina...

Best Of: The life and legacy of Fela Kuti / Michael Pollan on consciousness

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Nigerian musician Fela Kuti used his music in the ‘70s as a weapon against colonial values and his country’s brutal dictatorship. The danceabl...

Remembering actor Robert Duvall & filmmaker Frederick Wiseman

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The great actor Robert Duvall made his mark starring in epic movies and intimate dramas including ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Tender Mercies,’ ‘The Gr...

Michael Pollan’s journey to understand consciousness

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Science journalist Michael Pollan has written extensively about the therapeutic benefits of mind-altering psychedelics. His new book, ‘A World Appea...

A look at the ethical implications of AI

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The AI chatbot Claude can help you write an email, challenge a hospital bill, or publish a novel. It was also reportedly used by the U.S. military in ...

A daughter's rebellion against a regime and her father

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Photojournalist Loubna Mrie grew up in Syria in a wealthy and abusive home. Her father was part of the regime, allegedly an assassin for Bashar al-Ass...

The American Presidency, Redefined

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Jon Meacham talks with Dave Davies about Trump's impact on democracy. Meacham's latest book, ‘American...

Best Of: Mixed Marriage Project / How Racism Costs Everyone

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dorothy Roberts’ father was a white anthropologist who studied interracial marriages and her mother was a Black woman from Jamaica. She always assum...

‘Sinners’ Songwriter Raphael Saadiq

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Singer, songwriter, and producer Raphael Saadiq is known for his work as a member of Tony! Toni! Toné!, as a solo artist, and for his work producing ...

Fela Kuti and the music of political resistance

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Considered the father of Afrobeat, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti used his music in the 1970s to combat colonial values and brutal dictatorship. Former R...

Excavating the Epstein files

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

British journalist Vicky Ward first profiled sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 for Vanity Fair. The experience was so alarming and stressful that s...

Love, Race & the ‘Mixed Marriage Project’

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Almost a decade after her father's death, legal scholar Dorothy Roberts had to confront the 25 boxes of his research collecting dust in her office. Ro...

The Ruby Ridge siege & conspiracy-laced politics in America

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We look back at the 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge in Idaho, where gunfire left two civilians and a deputy U.S. Marshal dead. Chris Jennings’ new book exp...

Best Of: Fighting for free press in Russia / ‘Fear and Fury’

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Julia Loktev’s latest documentary, ‘My Undesirable Friends - Part 1: Last Air in Moscow,’ follows independent Russian journalists in the months ...

A 50th anniversary celebration of ‘Taxi Driver’

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Martin Scorsese's masterpiece about loneliness, urban decay, and vigilantism is 50 years old this month. We’re revisiting archival interviews about ...

Following independent journalists fighting for free press in Russia

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Julia Loktev's acclaimed documentary, ‘My Undesirable Friends,’ follows young Russian journalists in the months before and after Putin's invasion ...

Is America headed toward dictatorship?

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Atlantic writer Robert Kagan says as President Trump violates norms, laws and the Constitution, including his call to nationalize elections, we’re o...

How Rupert Murdoch built an empire and broke his family

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We go inside the real succession story within the Murdoch family media empire. It includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. In...

Ethan Hawke

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

"Every now and then you bump up against a part that presses you to the wall of your ability," Hawke says of playing lyricist Lorenz Hart in ‘Blue Mo...

Best Of: Novelists Liz Moore & Julian Barnes

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Moore’s bestselling book, ‘Long Bright River,’ was set in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood where she’d worked on a photo essay. “My ...

Guillermo Del Toro would ‘rather die’ than use generative AI

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro was a kid growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, he would draw monsters all day. His deeply Catholic grand...

Former NBC producer on silence, shame and finding words after #MeToo

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brooke Nevils was a young NBC producer working the 2014 Sochi Olympics when, she says, ‘Today Show’ host Matt Lauer sexually assaulted her. Lauer ...

Inside the U.S. reversal on climate change action

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump calls global warming "a hoax." As the U.S. faces more severe storms and extreme weather events, New York Times climate reporter David ...

How Tucker Carlson Became Right-Wing Media’s Most Significant Voice

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

‘New Yorker’ staff writer Jason Zengerle says after Tucker Carlson was let go from CNN and MSNBC, and joined Fox News, Trump’s 2016 presidential...

The Rebirth Of White Rage

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Heather Ann Thompson talks about the 1984 New York City subway shooting, when Bernhard Goetz, a white man, shot fou...

Best Of: Writers Rachel Eliza Griffiths & Quiara Alegría Hudes

24 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When writer Rachel Eliza Griffiths married Salman Rushdie in 2021, she expected her wedding  day to be joyful. But the joy was invaded by tragedy, wh...

A Mel Brooks Appreciation!

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

He’s the subject of a new two-part HBO documentary by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio called ‘Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!’ It looks at h...

Writer Quiara Alegría Hudes On ‘White Hot’ Rage

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright has written a debut novel that asks a provocative question: What if a woman claimed the right to a spiritual que...

Are ICE Agents In Minneapolis Breaking The Law?

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As protestors clash with some 3,000 federal immigration agents in the Twin Cities, we look at the legal issues with law professor Emmanuel Mauleón an...

Poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths On Love, Tragedy & ‘Survivor Mode’

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On the day Griffiths married author Salman Rushdie, her long time best friend died unexpectedly. Eleven months later, Rushdie was stabbed multiple tim...

How Racism Costs Everyone

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Four years ago, Heather McGhee examined a question at the heart of American life: Why do so many Americans believe that progress for one group means l...

Best Of: Jodie Foster / Tessa Thompson

17 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jodie Foster has been acting since she was 3. At 12 she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Scorsese’s ‘Taxi Driver.’ This year marks the...

Remembering Grateful Dead Founding Member Bob Weir

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We remember Bob Weir, founding member of the Grateful Dead, who died last week at 78. The guitarist spoke with Fresh Air Executive Producer Sam Briger...

Novelist Julian Barnes Faces Mortality Without Fear

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Man Booker Prize-winning writer says his new book, ‘Departure(s),’ will be his last. He spoke with Terry Gross about blending genres, moving t...

Marco Rubio’s Shift From Trump Critic To Champion

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Marco Rubio once called Trump a "con artist." He’s now among his most loyal defenders. New Yorker staff writer Dexter Filkins describes Secretary of...

Jodie Foster

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Foster was just 12 years old when she starred in Scorsese’s 1976 film ‘Taxi Driver.’ "What luck to have been part of that, our golden age of cin...

‘The God of the Woods’ Author Liz Moore

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Moore says writing is mostly labor, but "2% of the time, usually at the very beginning of a book and the very end of a book, it feels like flying." Sh...

Best Of: Will Arnett / ‘Song Sung Blue’ Director Craig Brewer

10 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Will Arnett stars in the new film ‘Is This Thing On?’ about a man going through a divorce, who finds himself onstage doing stand-up. He spoke with...

Neil Diamond / Noah Wyle On ‘The Pitt’

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The new film ‘Song Sung Blue’ is about a Neil Diamond tribute band and stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. Before Diamond began recording his own ...

Tessa Thompson

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Thompson is nominated for a Golden Globe for her starring role in ‘Hedda.’ She spoke with co-host Tonya Mosley about her collaboration with direct...

The Growing Power & Influence Of White Supremacy In America

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Eric Lichtblau says President Trump's incendiary rhetoric has stoked a "new age of hate." His book, ‘American Reich,’ centers on a murd...

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Puzzling Political Turn, Explained

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Once a fierce advocate for Trump and his MAGA base, Marjorie Taylor Greene has broken with the president and resigned from Congress. ‘New Yorker’ ...

Investigating The Great Los Angeles Fires

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

MS NOW journalist (and Palisades native) Jacob Soboroff says covering the 2025 wildfires was the most important assignment he's ever undertaken. His n...

Ben Stiller / Pedro Pascal

03 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Stiller talks about his new Apple TV+ documentary about his actor/comedian parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, they we...

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The WWE superstar considered pursuing a career in mixed martial arts before realizing, "I don't like getting punched in the face." Johnson plays MMA f...

Jeff Hiller’s Big Break Came In His 40s

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hiller spent years scraping by in Hollywood by taking on various small roles and commercials. Then he landed the role of Joel on HBO's ‘Somebody Som...

Richard Kind Is Glad He’s Not Super Famous

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kind is the announcer and host sidekick on the Netflix show ‘Everybody's Live with John Mulaney.’ "I don't know what the hell I'm doing. You must ...

Malala Finds Her Way

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After surviving the Taliban's 2012 attempted assassination, activist Malala Yousafzai didn't back down. She continued to advocate for girls' education...

Comic Cristela Alonzo

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first seven years of her life, Cristela Alonzo lived in an abandoned diner in a South Texas border town. She spoke with Terry Gross about ICE ...

Bluegrass Star Billy Strings / Laufey

27 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Billy Strings has one foot in traditional bluegrass and another in improvisational jam music. He has a new album, ‘...

Jane Fonda

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Early this year, Fonda made headlines for delivering a fiery critique of the Trump administration during a SAG-AFTRA award acceptance speech. "This is...

The Making Of ‘Born To Run’

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bruce Springsteen's groundbreaking album, ‘Born to Run,’ came out 50 years ago this year, marking a turning point for rock and roll — and for "T...

‘Morrie’ Writer Mitch Albom On Second Chances

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Albom's 2025 novel, ‘Twice,’ asks a question most of us have daydreamed about: what if you could go back and relive any moment of your life? In th...

Will Arnett

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Arnett stars in Bradley Cooper’s new film, ‘Is This Thing On?’ as a man who turns to the New York comedy scene as he grapples with his divorce. ...

Dir. Craig Brewer Is Chasing ‘Purple Rain’ Magic

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Director Craig Brewer has made a career of telling stories about dreamers and misfits chasing something bigger than themselves, from ‘Hustle & Flow’...

The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate the holidays, we’re looking back at four archive Fresh Air interviews discussing popular Christmas songs: First, jazz singer Mel Torme ...

Best Of: Lucy Liu / Zadie Smith

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lucy Liu joins Tonya Mosley to talk about her new film ‘Rosemead,’ where she stars as a terminally ill woman grappling with her teenage son’s es...

John Le Carré’s Son Revives His Late Dad's Spy

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Nick Harkaway grew up hearing his dad read drafts of his George Smiley novels. He picks up le Carré's beloved spymaster character in the novel...

Lucy Liu

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The child of Chinese immigrants, Liu grew up in Queens where she spoke Mandarin at home and didn't learn English until she was 5. She returns to the l...

A Revealing Profile Of Trump Chief Of Staff Susie Wiles

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

'Vanity Fair' writer Chris Whipple interviewed Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles 11 times, getting her view on cabinet members, Trump's revenge tour,...

Remembering Rob Reiner

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The great filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were killed in their home Sunday. Their son Nick has been arrested on suspicion of murder. It’s ...

Zadie Smith Asks, What Makes Us Feel Alive?

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Zadie Smith returns to talk with Terry Gross about her new collection of essays, 'Dead and Alive.' She reflects on the "nonsense" of generational disc...