Fresh Air

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Fresh Air episodes

December 10, 2019 Trump & His Generals
CNN analyst Peter Bergen reflects on Trump's soured relationships with Generals Mattis, McMaster and Kelly. "He's gotten rid of the most competent people he had in his circle," Bergen says. "Trump is now running his cabinet like he ran his real estate company. ... It's a bunch of yes men supporting a one-man show." His book is 'Trump and His Generals: The Cost of Chaos.'

Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews 'Trio Plus,' from Todd Marcus.
51 min
December 09, 2019 'Maisel' Actor Alex Borstein
Borstein's won back-to-back Emmys for playing a tough, street-wise talent manager on the Amazon series, 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.' She says the character reminds her of her mother and grandmother. She talks about her roles on 'Mad TV,' 'Getting On,' and being the comic relief in her family.

Also, critic Ken Tucker picks his top 10 albums of 2019 — all by women.
50 min
December 07, 2019 Best Of: Edward Norton / 10 Best books / David Harbour
Edward Norton wrote, directed and stars in the film noir 'Motherless Brooklyn,' about a private investigator with Tourette's syndrome who discovers corruption in the world of New York City planning. He talks about the movie and his own personal connection to the world of urban planning.

Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan picks her top 10 books of 2019.

David Harbour talks about working alongside teen actors in 'Stranger Things,' and his bipolar disorder. "Acting allowed me to channel this neurosis into a character," he tells 'Fresh Air' producer Sam Briger.
51 min
December 06, 2019 Symphony Conductor M. Tilson Thomas
This weekend Tilson Thomas will receive the Kennedy Center Lifetime Artistic Achievement award. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1995 and 2012 about his work and growing up in the theater.

Also we remember Mary Previte, who worked for 30 years with teenagers in detention in Camden, NJ where the center she ran became a model for others across the country. "We took terror out of their lives," she says, "When boys and girls come in, one of the first messages the officers will say is, 'We will not let you hurt somebody while you're here, and we will not let anyone hurt you.'" Previte died last month at the age of 87.
49 min
December 05, 2019 What Ukraine's President Thinks Of Trump, Putin & The Impeachment Hearings
After six months in office, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky is "quite cynical" and feels "there are no reliable allies," journalist Simon Shuster says. Shuster recently interviewed Zelensky for 'Time.'

Also, John Powers reviews the French film, 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire.'
51 min
December 04, 2019 What Happens To The Stuff You Donate?
"Your average thrift store in the United States only sells about one third of the stuff that ends up on its shelves," Adam Minter says. "The rest of the stuff ends up somewhere else." His book, 'Secondhand,' follows the things that don't sell — from cheap and soiled clothes to old gym equipment.

Also, Ken Tucker reviews a new album from Hootie & the Blowfish, their first in over a decade.

The best way to support Fresh Air is by donating to your local station. Go to donate.npr.org/freshair.
50 min
December 03, 2019 Living At The 'Interface Of Life And Death'
When BJ Miller was a college sophomore he was out late with some friends and climbed onto a parked commuter train. In a freak accident, he was electrocuted and eventually lost both legs below the knee and half of one arm. The experience led him to pursue a career in end-of-life care and palliative medicine, which he describes as "the treatment of suffering." He talks about how he draws inspiration from his disability, and how he helps patients in their final moments. His book is 'A Beginners Guide to the End.'

Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan picks her top 10 books of 2019.

The best way to support Fresh Air is by donating to your local station. Go to donate.npr.org/freshair.
51 min
December 02, 2019 'Stranger Things' Actor David Harbour
Harbour talks about working alongside teen actors in 'Stranger Things,' and his bipolar disorder. "Acting allowed me to channel this neurosis into a character," he tells 'Fresh Air' producer Sam Briger. Harbour plays the skeptical police chief of a sleepy town besieged by supernatural events in the Netflix series.

Also, we remember late 'New Yorker' cartoonist Gahan Wilson. When Terry Gross spoke with Wilson in 1986, he told her he was fascinated by monsters and thought they were great metaphors for human fears and weaknesses.
50 min
November 30, 2019 Best Of: Novelist Kevin Wilson / Actor Willem Dafoe
For novelist Kevin Wilson, Tourette's syndrome means living with intrusive thoughts that flash disturbing images without warning. His novel, 'Nothing to See Here,' was inspired by visions of people bursting into flames. Wilson talks about his experience of Tourette's and how writing gives him a reprieve from his tics.

Also, Kevin Whitehead reviews some reissues of music performed by the late jazz pianist Erroll Garner.

Willem Dafoe has played villains, soldiers, van Gogh and Jesus. He's earned four Oscar nominations and appeared in more than 100 films — including, most recently, 'Motherless Brooklyn' and 'The Lighthouse.' He talks about being a 'good bad guy.'
51 min
November 29, 2019 Director Marielle Heller On Mister Rogers & Telling Kids The Truth
"He wasn't afraid of any of the hardest parts of childhood," Marielle Heller says. Her film, 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,' centers on Fred Rogers' unlikely friendship with a cynical journalist. Heller talks about casting Tom Hanks as Rogers, capturing his slow style of speaking, and a profound experience she had with her young son because of the show. (Originally aired Nov. 20, 2019)
49 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: The Roy Cohn Playbook, from McCarthyism to Trump
Sep 1746 min
Number 2: Investigating the system that protected Sean “Diddy” Combs
Sep 2446 min
Number 3: Inside the 'modern slavery' where cyber scammers are victims themselves
Sep 2246 min
Number 4: New drones, deadlier attacks: Dystopian reality in Ukraine
Sep 3046 min
Number 5: Is Jared Kushner a 'walking conflict of interest'?
Sep 1647 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.