Fresh Air

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Fresh Air episodes

November 06, 2021 Best Of: Paul McCartney / Filmmaker Edgar Wright
Paul McCartney talks about his life through some of his songs. His new two-volume book collects his lyrics and the stories behind them. We'll also talk about the new documentary, 'Get Back,' which has previously unseen footage from the period The Beatles wrote, rehearsed and recorded the songs on their album 'Let it Be.' The album was released just after The Beatles broke up.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the revival of Dexter, called 'Dexter: New Blood.'

Edgar Wright, director of 'Baby Driver' and 'Shaun of the Dead,' talks about his new thriller, 'Last Night in Soho.' It's about a young woman who is transported in her dreams into the swinging '60s of London: "The film is sort of about having nostalgia for a decade that you never lived in." Wright spoke with 'Fresh Air' producer Sam Briger about venturing back to the '60s.
50 min
November 05, 2021 British Actor Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp, who became an icon in London in the 1960s, is now in the film 'Last Night in Soho,' a ghost story that takes place, in part, in '60s swinging London. Stamp grew up in poverty in London and was one of the first working class British actors to make it in theatre. He's known for his film roles in 'Billy Budd,' 'Far From the Madding Crowd,' and 'The Collector,' as well as '90s films like 'The Limey' and 'Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.' Terry Gross talked with him in 2002.

Film critic Justin Chang reviews 'Spencer,' starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana.
47 min
November 04, 2021 Before, During & After The Jan. 6 Attack On The Capitol
Why did our intelligence agencies — the FBI, the Capitol Police, the Secret Service — all fail to protect the Capitol from being attacked on January 6th? We talk with Carol Leonnig, a 'Washington Post' National Investigative Correspondent, who contributed to this week's three part series in the 'Post' investigating what happened before, during and after the Capitol siege. She'll tell us how Trump froze in place key federal agencies whose job it was to investigate and stop threats to national security. Leonnig is also the co-author of two books about the Trump presidency: 'A Very Stable Genius,' and 'I Alone Can Fix It,' as well as a recent book about the rise and fall of the Secret Service.
46 min
November 03, 2021 Paul McCartney
The 1969 film 'Let It Be' created the impression that McCartney was responsible for The Beatles' disbanding. Now, the forthcoming Disney+ documentary 'Get Back' revisits the same time — and tells a different story. McCartney spoke with Terry Gross about his songwriting process with John Lennon, the early years of Beatlemania, and how the band broke up. He also has a new book called 'The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present.'
47 min
November 02, 2021 Gary Shteyngart On His Pandemic Novel
There's the saying "write what you know," and Gary Shteyngart did just that. His 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. We'll also talk about his work as a consultant on the HBO series 'Succession,' and the botched circumcision that left him with debilitating pain.

Maureen Corrigan reviews 'My Monticello' by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson.
46 min
November 01, 2021 Filmmaker Edgar Wright On 'Last Night in Soho'
Wright's new movie, 'Last Night in Soho,' centers on a young woman who is transported in her dreams into the swinging '60s of London: "The film is sort of about having nostalgia for a decade that you never lived in." Wright spoke with 'Fresh Air' producer Sam Briger about the soundtrack, his vision of the '60s, and working with late actress Diana Rigg.

Justin Chang reviews 'The Souvenir Part II.'
47 min
October 30, 2021 Best Of: Oscar Isaac / Katie Couric
Oscar Isaac stars in the latest Paul Schrader movie, 'The Card Counter,' co-starred with Jessica Chastain in HBO's limited series 'Scenes from a Marriage,' and now is one of the stars of 'Dune.' We'll talk about growing up in an evangelical Christian family that was preparing for the apocalypse and how the death of his mother was quickly followed by the birth of his first child.

John Powers reviews the new documentary 'The Velvet Underground.'

Former 'Today Show' anchor Katie Couric spoke with Terry Gross about her early career in news and why she's done trying to appeal to everyone. "My goal in life isn't to please people anymore. ... I think if you're just likable, you're not very interesting," she says. Her new memoir is 'Going There.'
49 min
October 29, 2021 Ricky Jay / Remembering Peter Scolari
This week Sotheby's auctioned off The Ricky Jay collection — a portion of the rare books, posters, and objects chronicling the world of magic, carnivals and eccentric characters — which the master sleight-of-hand artist had collected over his life. We're revisiting portions of our interviews with Ricky Jay.

Also, we remember comic actor Peter Scolari, best-known for his roles in the 1980s TV sitcoms 'Bosom Buddies,' opposite Tom Hanks, and 'Newhart,' with Bob Newhart. Scolari died last week at the age of 66.

John Powers reviews the new Netflix movie 'Passing.'
47 min
October 28, 2021 The Capitol Insurrection & Why Our Democracy Is In Peril
Robert Costa's book 'Peril,' which he co-wrote with Bob Woodward, goes inside Trump's "war room" on the eve of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Costa reports on Trump's calls to his team, the tension between Pence and the president, and the ongoing threat to our democracy. The strategy of calling for an alternate slate of electors didn't work in January, but next election it might. "Imagine if in January 2025 Republicans are much more organized and they have alternate slates of electors ready in many states. What happens then?"
46 min
October 27, 2021 Inside The Attica Prison Uprising
A new documentary goes behind the walls of the deadly 1971 uprising. More than a thousand prisoners organized to overtake the notorious prison, hold guards hostage, and use them as a bargaining chip to get better living conditions. Filmmaker Stanley Nelson and former prisoner Arthur Harrison reflect on the five-day revolt, and its lasting legacy. The film is 'Attica.'

Kevin Whitehead reviews 'Skyline,' an album featuring trio Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jack DeJohnette and Ron Carter.
47 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.