Fresh Air

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Fresh Air episodes

June 13 Best Of: 'Book of Mormon' turns 15 / Actor Clarke Peters
Fifteen years after ‘The Book of Mormon’ made its Broadway
debut, original cast members Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad once again took the
stage as Mormon missionaries — this time at the 2026 Tony Awards. The musical
is a satirical — sometimes affectionate, sometimes offensive — look at
Mormonism and youthful naïveté. Rannells and Gad spoke with Terry Gross about
their first impressions of the show, how their voices have changed, and how the songs in 'The Book of Mormon' are a tribute to musical theater.

Also, Clarke Peters played Det. Lester Freamon in ‘The
Wire’ and now plays a retiree in the supernatural thriller ‘The Boroughs.’ He
spoke to Terry Gross about both series, and about his continued work as an
actor. “I picked this profession so that I would have longevity, so that I
could still be acting at 100, if it comes to it,” he says.

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49 min
June 12 Andrew Scott/Remembering author Marjane Satrapi
In the new film 'Pressure,' Scott plays an Army
meteorologist advising military officials on the date for the D-Day invasion.
He spoke to Terry Gross in 2024 about playing a killer conman in ‘Ripley’ and
the “hot priest” in ‘Fleabag.' Plus, we listen back to Terry Gross’ 2003 interview
with French-Iranian artist and writer Marjane Satrapi, who died June 4. Satrapi's
groundbreaking graphic novel ‘Persepolis’ introduced readers to life
in Iran during the Islamic revolution and the Iran/Iraq war. And Justin Chang
reviews ‘Disclosure Day.'

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47 min
June 11 'Daily Show' comic Josh Johnson
Johnson says he’s not shy about sharing his insecurities on
stage. "One of the most connected attributes of the human condition
... is just being flawed," he tells Terry Grosss. "We really
connect with people on their faults." Johnson’s new comedy special
is Symphony.

Also,
Martin Johnson reviews ELEPHANT, a new album by jazz trumpeter Adam
O'Farrill.

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45 min
June 11 Josh O'Connor takes the lead in 'Disclosure Day'
O'Connor stars as a cybersecurity expert who decides the
world deserves to know the truth about alien life in the Steven Spielberg film Disclosure
Day. He speaks with Tonya Mosley about preparing in secret to star in the
summer Blockbuster, why he initially had no interest in playing Prince Charles
in The Crown, and why he gets sick after completing almost every role.

David Bianculli reviews new documentaries about Martin Short and Lorne
Michaels.

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45 min
June 09 How sky-high ticket prices, war & politics could impact the World Cup
The biggest World Cup ever starts this week. Laura Williamson, editor in chief of The Athletic, describes how sky-high prices, travel restrictions, politics and the Ebola outbreak are impacting fans. Williamson also discusses President Trump’s UFC event on the White House lawn.

Ken Tucker reviews Kacey Musgraves’ album ‘Middle of Nowhere,’ which he says pairs well with the music biography ‘Gary Stewart: I Am From the Honky-Tonks.’

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46 min
June 08 Andrew Rannells & Josh Gad look back on 15 years of ‘Book of Mormon’
Fifteen years after ‘The Book of Mormon’ made its Broadway debut, original cast members Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad once again took the stage as Mormon missionaries — this time at the 2026 Tony Awards. Created and written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the duo behind ‘South Park’), along with veteran Broadway composer Robert Lopez, ‘The Book of Mormon’ follows two young missionaries sent to try and bring Mormonism to a Ugandan village. The musical is a satirical — sometimes affectionate, sometimes offensive — look at Mormonism and youthful naïveté. Rannells and Gad spoke with Terry Gross about their first impressions of the show, mishaps onstage, and regretting their decision to leave when they did.

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45 min
June 06 Best Of: Novelist Maggie O’Farrell / A personal history of the N-Word
Maggie O’Farrell wrote the novel ‘Hamnet’ and co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation. She has a new book called ‘Land,’ about a father and son mapping 19th-century Ireland after the devastation of the Great Famine.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the latest by classics scholar Mary Beard.

Also, we hear from historian Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor. She has spent much of her career tracing the N-word through slavery, Jim Crow, the civil rights movement, and hip hop. For a long time she kept it a secret that her father was Richard Pryor, the man who put the word at the center of American comedy. "I was a scholar of the N-word — and so, obviously, is he." Her new book is ‘Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me.’

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49 min
June 05 Alan Cumming / Angela Lansbury
The Tony Awards are this Sunday. To celebrate, we’re listening back to two award-winners from our archive: Alan Cumming, who played the emcee in ‘Cabaret’ in three different productions, and Angela Lansbury, who starred in Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Sweeny Todd,’ as Mrs. Lovett who baked Sweeney’s victims into pies.

Also, Justin Chang reviews two new horror films: ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms.’

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47 min
June 04 Clarke Peters: From ‘The Wire’ to ‘The Boroughs’
Peters’ credits include police Detective Lester Freamon in ‘The Wire,’ a Vietnam veteran in Spike Lee’s ‘Da 5 Bloods,’ and now a retiree in the supernatural thriller ‘The Boroughs’ on Netflix. Peters spoke with Terry Gross about his long career on stage and screen, his singing voice, and why he relocated to London in the ‘70s. “I picked this profession so that I would have longevity, so that I could still be acting at 100, if it comes to it,” he says.

Also, David Bianculli reviews the Apple 10-part miniseries ‘Cape Fear.’

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45 min
June 03 How a single decision made a century ago split a family by race
Pope Leo XIV’s Creole family roots inspired New Orleanian journalist Susan Saulny to research her Creole great-uncle who moved to Chicago, identified himself as white and never returned. She describes her journey to reunite her family. Her piece in the New York Times is called "A Family Secret No More."

Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the Netflix series ‘The Boroughs.’

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45 min

About Fresh Air

From the publisher's feed

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…

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FAQ about Fresh Air

What's this show about?
Fresh Air, hosted by Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, features intimate conversations with luminaries in contemporary arts and issues.
What's it like to listen to?
The show delivers in-depth interviews in a conversational format. Expect a focus on the guest's work and life, with thoughtful questions and a relaxed atmosphere.
What are recent episodes about?
Recent episodes feature Jessie Buckley discussing her role in the film *Hamnet*, Delroy Lindo reflecting on his career, and discussions about Paul McCartney's post-Beatles life and plans to restrict voting in the U.S..
Who's behind the mic?
Terry Gross has hosted Fresh Air since 1975, winning a Peabody Award and countless other honors for her insightful interviews. Tonya Mosley is a Peabody Award-winning journalist and co-host of Fresh Air.
How long is each episode?
Each episode is typically around 45 minutes to an hour.
When do new episodes drop?
The show releases new episodes regularly.
What are the main topics?
Arts, books, film, society, culture, interviews, music, politics
Who should listen to this?
Listeners interested in the arts, film, music, and society, as well as those who enjoy in-depth interviews with a wide range of notable figures.