The United Nations estimates that 4.2 billion people — more than half of the world's population — live without any access to safely managed sanitation. No septic systems. No waste treatment plants. In 'Pipe Dreams,' Chelsea Wald examines the health issues related to sanitation and looks at global efforts to manage human waste, including turning it into fuel and fertilizer.

Also, John Powers reviews the novel 'The Netanyahus,' by Joshua Cohen, and Kevin Whitehead reviews a newly released 1969 concert recording by Sarah Vaughan.

Global Sanitation & Transforming The Toilet

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, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.

Subscribe to Fresh Air Plus! You'll enjoy bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening - all while you support NPR's mission. Learn more at plus.npr.org/freshair

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

TV & Film

Books

Alua Arthur works with families, caretakers, and people close to death who want to be intentional about the end of life. She's learned through her work and her own experiences with loss that facing the inevitable can help lessen the anxiety and fear so many of us have around death. Her new book is called, Briefly Perfectly Human. 

Also, we remember painter Faith Ringgold, who died Saturday at the age of 93.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

A Death Doula Says 'Get Real' About The End

Rushdie was onstage at a literary event in 2022 when he was attacked by a man in the audience: "Dying in the company of strangers — that was what was going through my mind." His new book is Knife.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Salman Rushdie On Surviving Attempted Murder

Growing up, when Diarra Kilpatrick watched murder mystery shows with her grandmother, she never saw Black women driving the narrative. Her new BET+ series seeks to change that. It's called Diarra From Detroit.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

A First Date Turns Into A Whodunit In 'Diarra From Detroit'

Andrew Scott stars as a con artist with no conscience in the new Netflix series Ripley. It's an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. He spoke with Terry Gross about tapping into his darker side for the role — and playing the "hot priest" in Fleabag.

Also, we hear about how cars became our most gendered technology. Women used to be considered unqualified to drive, or just terrible drivers. Glamorous women were used to advertise cars. And yet cars have been designed for male bodies, in ways that put women drivers at risk. Journalist Nancy Nichols is the author of Women Behind the Wheel. 

Maureen Corrigan reviews Lionel Shriver's latest novel, Mania.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Best Of: Andrew Scott / Women Behind The Wheel

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is the latest film starring two of cinema's biggest monsters. Today we take a look at the first time they were introduced to audiences. Film  historian Rudy Behlmer tells us about the 1933 film King Kong. And Steve Ryfle wrote a book about the making of the 1954 Japanese film Godzilla.

Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews Civil War.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Global Sanitation & Transforming The Toilet

Download our free app to listen on your phone