Fresh Air

By NPRTV & Film Society & Culture Arts Books

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Typical duration
46 min
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56%
finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Fresh Air episodes

November 18, 2021 Why The Autocrats Are Winning
Historian and 'Atlantic' journalist Anne Applebaum talks about how authoritarian rulers have joined together, creating a network of economic and political support that counteracts the impact of sanctions, while suppressing the spread of democracy.

Also, John Powers reviews HBO Max's comedy series 'Sort Of.'
47 min
November 17, 2021 Nikole Hannah-Jones On 'The 1619 Project'
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones says the contributions of Black people are often left out of the American story. Her mission, with 'The 1619 Project,' is to reframe U.S. history through the lens of slavery. She spoke with contributor Arun Venugopal about the project, the term "woke," and how she handles the backlash to her work.

David Bianculli reviews the IFC documentary 'Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time.'
47 min
November 16, 2021 Dogsledder Blair Braverman
Braverman says you never ask a musher how many dogs they have, because between puppies, fosters and retirees, you'll never get a straight answer. "The secret" she says, "is to ask, 'How many dogs are you feeding?'" For Braverman, that number right now is 24. Braverman and her racing partner / husband Quince Mountain have a book, 'Dogs on the Trail,' that profiles their team of Alaskan huskies. We talk about the Iditarod race, her dogs' personalities, and her experience on the Discovery reality show 'Naked and Afraid.'

Also, Ken Tucker reviews 'Breaking Point' by Jackson+Sellers.
45 min
November 15, 2021 Dawn Turner On Race, Fate & Sisterhood
How do two sisters, just 3 years apart, take extremely divergent paths in life? That's the story Dawn Turner tells in her new memoir, 'Three Girls of Bronzeville.' Turner grew up to be an author and a columnist at The 'Chicago Tribune.' Her sister Kim died of chronic alcoholism at age 24. Turner's childhood best friend Debra was convicted of murder and served over 20 years in prison.

Film critic Justin Chang reviews 'Belfast,' Kenneth Branagh's semi-autobiographical film about growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
46 min
November 13, 2021 Best Of: Andie MacDowell / Gary Shteyngart
Actor Andie MacDowell co-stars opposite her daughter Margaret Qualley in the Netflix series 'Maid.' We talk about how her own mother's struggle with alcohol addiction and mental illness helped her understand her character, as well as her early films, like 'Groundhog Day' and 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape.'

Maureen Corrigan reviews Louise Erdrich's new book, 'The Sentence.'

Gary Shteyngart's new novel, 'Our Country Friends,' is about a group of eight friends who hole up in the country home of a Russian-born writer. He drew on his experience of his pandemic pod for the book.
49 min
November 12, 2021 Remembering Vietnam Veteran & Former Senator Max Cleland
We remember former Georgia senator Max Cleland, the Vietnam War vet and triple amputee who rebuilt his life after the war, but later lost his Senate seat when Republicans, led by Karl Rove, questioned his patriotism. Cleland died Tuesday at the age of 79.

Also, we talk about the battle to keep independent local journalism alive in small-town America. A new PBS documentary profiles 'The Storm Lake Times,' which serves a rural community in northwest Iowa. We hear from the editor, Art Cullen.

Justin Chang reviews 'Belfast,' Kenneth Branagh's autobiographical film, shot in black and white.
48 min
November 11, 2021 A Marine Reflects On War, Love & Finding Purpose
Elliot Ackerman served five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, during which time, he says, he witnessed the absolute worst — as well as the absolute best — that human beings are capable of. Ackerman is also a journalist, novelist, memoirist and National Book Award nominee. This Veterans Day we talk about the lure of war, how war gave him a sense of purpose, the fear and heartbreak that went along with it, and the search for meaning when he stopped fighting. His Silver Star is for leading a platoon in the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq.
46 min
November 10, 2021 Will Smith
The blockbuster movie star, comedian and musician spoke with guest interviewer Tonya Mosley about how he crafted a joyful image to cover up for a trauma that happened when he was 9. He saw his father beat his mother. He reflects on how that moment has impacted his life, how he and his family have worked through this history, and his own parenting style. He has a new memoir called 'Will.'

Also, podcast critic Nick Quah reviews Spotify's 'Music + Talk.'
46 min
November 09, 2021 The Impact Of Trump's 3 Supreme Court Picks
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Linda Greenhouse says the new Court has given conservatives less than they'd hoped for, though critical cases on abortion and other issues are still pending. Her book is 'Justice on the Brink.'Also,

Maureen Corrigan reviews Louise Erdrich's new novel, 'The Sentence.'
47 min
November 08, 2021 Andie MacDowell
MacDowell co-stars opposite her daughter Margaret Qualley in the Netflix series 'Maid.' We talk about how her own mother's struggle with alcohol addiction and mental illness helped her understand her character, her early films (like 'Groundhog Day' and 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape'), and embracing her wrinkles and gray hair.

Also, David Bianculli reviews 'Dexter: New Blood' on Showtime.
48 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…

Best of Fresh Air

Ranked by our users in the last 21 days

Number 1: Is Jared Kushner a 'walking conflict of interest'?
Sep 1647 min
Number 2: The Roy Cohn Playbook, from McCarthyism to Trump
Sep 1746 min
Number 3: Investigating the system that protected Sean “Diddy” Combs
Sep 2446 min
Number 4: Inside the 'modern slavery' where cyber scammers are victims themselves
Sep 2246 min
Number 5: Kyle MacLachlan was David Lynch’s ‘submersible’ into dark places
Sep 2846 min

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.