Tracee Ellis Ross co-stars in the new movie American Fiction, which is nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture. For eight seasons, she starred in the ABC comedy series Black-ish. Ross played the mother, Bow, and she  worked with the writers to make sure her character wasn't just what she calls "wife wallpaper." She spoke with Tonya Mosley about those roles. 

Also, Dr. Uché Blackstock talks about her new book, Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons With Racism In Medicine. 

Maureen Corrigan reviews the debut novel Martyr! from Iranian American poet Kaveh Akbar.

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Best Of: Tracee Ellis Ross / Racism In Medicine

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Wallace is known for his celebrity profiles, but his new memoir, Another Word For Love, is about his own life, growing up unhoused, Black and queer, and getting his start as a writer at the age of 40.

David Bianculli shares an appreciation of John Mulaney's six-part live Netflix talk show, Everybody's in L.A.

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Writer Carvell Wallace On Pain, Processing & Letting Go

The Economist Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom explains why some Arab leaders hate Hamas, fear Iran and have some sympathy for Israel — although not for how Israel is waging the war.

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Regional Complexities Of The Israel/Hamas War

Williams was thrust into the public eye as a kid, when he starred in Everybody Hates Chris. Now, playing a teacher on Abbott Elementary, he strives to make the child actors on set feel comfortable. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about the trauma of fame as a kid, his Crohn's diagnosis, and tuning out online chatter. 

Justin Chang reviews the Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist, by Drive My Car director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi.

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'Abbott Elementary' Actor Tyler James Williams

Kathleen Hanna's band Bikini Kill was the epicenter of the riot grrrl feminist punk movement of the '90s. Their song "Rebel Girl" was the anthem. Now Hanna has a memoir (also called Rebel Girl) about her time in the punk scene, her childhood, and finding joy in expressing anger in public. 

Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Claire Messud's new novel, This Strange Eventful History. 

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Kathleen Hanna's 'Rebel Girl' Life

WNBA star Brittney Griner talks about the physical and emotional hell of her nearly 300 days in Russian prisons. Russian authorities apprehended Griner at the Moscow Airport when she was found carrying a tiny amount of medically prescribed cannabis — then charged her with drug smuggling. Her memoir is Coming Home. 

Jazz historian Kevin Whitehead reviews a 1959 Sonny Rollins reissue. 

And we'll talk about plant intelligence with climate journalist Zoë Schlanger. Her book is The Light Eaters.

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Best Of: Tracee Ellis Ross / Racism In Medicine

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