Fresh Air

Best Of: 'BoJack Horseman' Creator / 'Hey, Kiddo' Author

Raphael Bob-Waksberg's animated comedy series for Netflix, 'BoJack Horseman,' satirizes Hollywood using a mix of human and animal characters. "Part of the original pitch was like, 'What's Mr. Ed like behind the scenes?'" BoJack (a horse) is a depressed, alcoholic, sexist former sitcom star in the #MeToo era.Justin Chang reviews 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' starring Melissa McCarthy as a con artist who forges letters from famous authors. Jarrett J. Krosoczka's National Book Award-nominated graphic memoir 'Hey, Kiddo' is about growing up with a mother addicted to heroin. Krosoczka initially didn't want to write about his childhood because he felt it was too dark. "It took it took a long time for me to gain that courage to make this book," he says.

Trump's Tax Schemes, Explained

Investigative reporters Susanne Craig and David Barstow say the president received today's equivalent of $413 million from his father's real estate empire, with the help of schemes to avoid paying taxes, including fraud. Also, critic Ken Tucker reviews the album 'Desperate Man' by Eric Church.

Graphic Memoirist Grapples With Family Addiction In 'Hey, Kiddo'

Jarrett J. Krosoczka's National Book Award-nominated graphic memoir 'Hey, Kiddo' is about growing up with a mother addicted to heroin. Krosoczka initially didn't want to write about his childhood because he felt it was too dark. "It took it took a long time for me to gain that courage to make this book," he says. "I share that for those young readers out there who are dealing with heavy issues at home. ... I feel like I owe it to these readers to put myself out there."

Best Of: 'First Man' Dir. Damien Chazelle / Leonard Cohen's Legacy

The Oscar-winning director ('La La Land') talks about his new film, 'First Man,' which stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong in the 10 years leading up to the moon landing. Chazelle wanted to show how loud, rickety, and nauseating space travel was at the time. He used full-scale replicas that spun and shook violently — with the actors and cameras inside. "The sweat you see on screen will be real. The shaking will be real. Even some of the terror will be real. The nausea will be real. And, by extension, the audience will really feel that they themselves are in that capsule too."Leonard Cohen died in 2016, leaving behind many unpublished poems and lyrics. His son Adam Cohen discusses 'The Flame,' a collection of some of Leonard's final works.

'Rethinking Sex, Power, And Consent On Campus'

Journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis, author of 'Blurred Lines,' says one of the challenges when it comes to handling sexual assault cases on college campuses is that there isn't a universally agreed-upon definition of what sexual assault is. She spent three years reporting on college campuses for the book. Grigoriadis talks about the Kavanaugh hearings, rape culture, and how she sees the national conversation about sexual assault shifting. Also, Ken Tucker reviews an album by bluegrass musicians Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, and Justin Chang reviews 'First Man,' the new Neil Armstrong biopic starring Ryan Gosling.

'The Weaponization Of Social Media'

P.W. Singer and Emerson Brooking say social media has been manipulated to fuel popular uprisings and affect the course of military and political campaigns. Their new book is 'LikeWar.'The story of the 2011 terror attack on a Norwegian summer camp is the subject of a new movie by Paul Greengrass, the British filmmaker best known for such acclaimed docudramas as 'United 93,' and 'Captain Phillips.' John Powers reviews '22 July,' streaming on Netflix.

Best Of: Infertility And 'Private Life' / What Does Mark Zuckerberg Believe In?

Filmmaker Tamara Jenkins drew on her own "by-any-means-necessary" effort to have a child for her new film 'Private Life.' It stars Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti as a couple in their 40s who are struggling with IVF. Critic David Edelstein reviews 'A Star is Born.' 'New Yorker' staff writer Evan Osnos talks how Facebook became vulnerable to spreading disinformation, how Zuckerberg is attempting to combat fake news, and the inherent problems in monitoring political content without violating users' free speech.

'Can Mark Zuckerberg Fix Facebook Before It Breaks Democracy?'

'New Yorker' staff writer Evan Osnos talks how Facebook became vulnerable to spreading disinformation, how Zuckerberg is attempting to combat fake news, and the inherent problems in monitoring political content without violating users' free speech. "Over and over again Mark Zuckerberg believed that being at odds with the public was not a sign that you were doing something wrong, it was a sign that you were doing something innovative," Osnos says.

Michael Lewis On 'The Fifth Risk'

Lewis, author of 'Moneyball' and 'The Big Short,' examines the energy, agriculture and commerce departments under President Trump. Lewis warns that half of the top 700 positions in the administration remain unfilled, and some of the people who have been appointed have conflicts of interest, or are unqualified, making them unprepared to deal with risks. "Many of them are potentially catastrophic risks — the risk of a pandemic, or the risk of a nuclear accident, or the risk of a terrorist attack — one after another. And many of these are not risks that most people are thinking about," Lewis says. His new book is 'The Fifth Risk.'

Best Of: Jon Batiste / Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis

Jon Batiste, the musical director for 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' sits at the piano and demonstrates his "everything in the pot" style of playing. He tells Terry Gross about his influences — from Thelonious Monk to Bach. Batiste's new album is 'Hollywood Africans.'Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis come from different generations, but both play the old style of country music — her brother is Jerry Lee Lewis. They share stories and songs from their new album, 'Wild! Wild! Wild!'

'Is Democracy Dying?'

'Atlantic' journalist Anne Applebaum says the changes taking place in Poland — including a rise of conspiracy theories and attacks on the free press — mirror similar shifts happening in the U.S. TV critic David Bianculli reviews the return of 'Murphy Brown.'

Musicians Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis

Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis come from different generations, but both play the old style of country music — her brother is Jerry Lee Lewis. They share stories and songs from their new album, 'Wild! Wild! Wild!' They performed for Terry Gross in the 'Fresh Air' studio.

The 'Radical' Life Of Muhammad Ali

Jonathan Eig's biography of Ali draws on hundreds of interviews and previously unreleased FBI and Justice Department files. "I don't think we do Ali any good by treating him as a saint," Eig says. "He was a human being, and he was deeply flawed, but ... he had the spirit of a rebel." 'Ali' is out in paperback. (Originally broadcast Oct. 2017)Also, John Powers reviews the HBO documentary 'Jane Fonda in Five Acts,' and film critic Justin Chang reviews 'The Sisters Brothers,' starring John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Gyllenhaal stars in the HBO series 'The Deuce' as Candy, a sex worker who becomes a porn actress and then porn director in 1970s New York City. She says the series is about the "imbalance of power between men and women — in terms of sex, in terms of art, in terms of business." Gyllenhaal talks to Terry Gross about why she insisted on being a producer for the show, the #MeToo movement, and how she and her colleagues addressed the allegations against co-star James Franco. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new 10-part Netflix series 'Maniac,' starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone.

Breaking Free From The Evangelical Purity Movement

In her book 'Pure,' Linda Kay Klein reflects on the "deep, long-lasting shame" caused by churches that claim women and girls are responsible for the sexual desires of men. "It was all about how [a woman] needed to be a good Christian by protecting [men] from the threat that is you — the threat that is your body. The threat that is your sexuality." Klein left the evangelical church in her 20s and is the founder of Break Free Together, an organization that tries to help people escape the sexual shame from their upbringing.

Best Of: Colin Jost & Michael Che / Chef José Andrés

Jost and Che are the co-head writers and 'Weekend Update' anchors for 'Saturday Night Live.' They talk about doing the show in the Trump era, why they hate Twitter, and hosting the Emmys Monday, Sept. 17. When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017, chef José Andrés and his team sprung into action. "After a hurricane, you see a lot of chaos, and people go hungry and people go thirsty. But what [chefs] are very good at is understanding the problem and adapting," Andrés says. "And so a problem becomes an opportunity." His new memoir is 'We Fed an Island.'

SNL's Colin Jost & Michael Che

The co-head writers talk with Terry Gross about doing 'Saturday Night Live' in the Trump era, Twitter, and hosting the 2018 Emmys. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new Hulu series 'The First,' about a mission to Mars set in the near future, starring Sean Penn.

Journalist Bob Woodward

Woodward has written books on every U.S. president since Richard Nixon — nine in total. But in all his years covering politics, he says he's never encountered a president like President Trump. Woodward's sources describe situations that reveal the president as uninformed and unaware of the possible consequences of his actions. "We are at a pivot point in history," Woodward says. His new book is 'Fear: Trump in the White House.'

Best Of: Women's Rights Activist Khalida Brohi / John Kerry

Growing up in tribal Pakistan, Khalida Brohi knew of several honor killings of women in her village. Her cousin's death motivated Brohi to become an activist. Brohi's new memoir is 'I Should Have Honor.' Also, film critic David Edelstein reviews 'Blaze,' directed by Ethan Hawke. And during the 2004 presidential election, John Kerry's opponents used falsehoods to attack his military record. The former secretary of state reflects on that campaign — and on the current state of American politics — in his memoir, 'Every Day is Extra.'

Obama's Former Ethics Czar

Norm Eisen's new book, 'The Last Palace,' is about his years as America's ambassador to the Czech Republic and the spread of illiberalism in Europe — a trend, he says, that's now crossed the Atlantic. He talks about President Trump, the Mueller investigation, and Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings. Also, film critic David Edelstein reviews 'Blaze,' directed by Ethan Hawke.

Activist Khalida Brohi On Honor Killings In Tribal Pakistan

Growing up in tribal Pakistan, Khalida Brohi knew of several honor killings of women in her village. When she was just 14 years old, Brohi's cousin Khadija was murdered by their uncle because she fell in love with a man who was not her betrothed. Her death motivated Brohi to become a women's rights activist. Brohi's new memoir is 'I Should Have Honor.' Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews 'Lake Success' by novelist Gary Shteyngart.

Best Of: John Oliver / Allison Janney / Neil Simon

John Oliver, host of HBO's 'Last Week Tonight,' spoke with Terry Gross in in March about covering the news "no one in their right mind wants to hear about," like the Italian parliamentary elections, NRATV, and tax-exempt religious organizations. 'Last Week Tonight' is nominated for four Emmys, including Outstanding Variety Talk Series.Allison Janney is nominated for an Emmy for her role on CBS' 'Mom.' She told Terry Gross in 2014 that her relationship with her brother, who was an addict, helped inform her character. She also talks about playing C.J. Cregg on 'The West Wing.' Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews a tribute album to Roger Miller, and we listen back to a 1996 interview with playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon, who died Aug. 26.

Jake Tapper / W. Kamau Bell / Stephen Colbert

Our week of interviews with 2018 Emmy nominees continues. CNN anchor Jake Tapper is nominated for his live interview with Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. He talked to Terry Gross about the difficulty of knowing how and when to cut off guests, and the 'SNL' spoof of him and Conway. Also, we'll hear from comic W. Kamau Bell, who is nominated for his CNN series 'United Shades of America,' and CBS 'Late Show' host Stephen Colbert, who spoke to Gross in 2016, when he was figuring out his out-of-character voice.

John Oliver / Neil Simon

All this week we're replaying selected interviews with 2018 Emmy nominees. John Oliver, host of HBO's 'Last Week Tonight,' spoke with Terry Gross in in March about covering the news "no one in their right mind wants to hear about," like the Italian parliamentary elections, NRA TV, and tax-exempt religious organizations. 'Last Week Tonight' is nominated for four Emmys, including Outstanding Variety Talk Series. Also, we listen back to a 1996 interview with playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon who died Sunday.

Best Of: Actor André Holland / 'Crazy Rich Asians' Author Kevin Kwan

The 'Moonlight' actor now stars as a death row lawyer on the Hulu series 'Castle Rock.' He's also played a surgeon facing racial discrimination in 'The Knick,' and civil rights leader Andrew Young in 'Selma.' He says many of the characters he plays are wrestling with "that question of identity and where they fit." Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Andy Biskin's 'Songs From The Alan Lomax Collection.'Kevin Kwan thought the screen adaptation of his bestselling novel 'Crazy Rich Asians' might be a small independent film — instead it's been hailed as a groundbreaking moment for Hollywood casting. He tells Terry Gross about his upbringing in Singapore and how it inspired the book.