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Fresh Air

Writer John Vercher trained in mixed martial arts as a young man. His novel, After the Lights Go Out, centers on a veteran MMA fighter who is experiencing memory loss, severe mood swings and tinnitus. The book is also about the fighter's biracial identity. Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Less is Lost by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer.

MMA Fighting, Memory Loss & Identity

The FX/Hulu series Reservation Dogs follows four teens on an Oklahoma Indian reservation who are frustrated and alienated, caught between what's left of traditional Native culture on the reservation and the broader pop culture. We talk with co-creator and showrunner Sterlin Harjo about his own upbringing in Indian Territory and how he was inspired by the storytellers in his family. Ken Tucker reviews some previously unreleased early Lou Reed demos. Also, Buzz Bissinger, author of the classic high school football book, Friday Night Lights, tells the story of college football stars-turned Marines who endured some of the most savage fighting in World War II. Bissinger's new book is The Mosquito Bowl.

Best Of: 'Reservation Dogs' Showrunner / The Mosquito Bowl Of WWII

Science writer Mary Roach (Stiff, Gulp) explores scenarios where animals are the ones committing "crimes" — and how society deals with it. We talk about bear attacks, drunk elephants, and monkey thieves. Her book is Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law. Justin Chang reviews the Marilyn Monroe biopic, Blonde.

Inside The Weird World Of Animal Crimes 

Washington Post reporter Brady Dennis warns our aging infrastructure systems weren't built to withstand the stresses of climate change: "There is a certain amount of suffering that we can't avoid."

How Climate Change Supercharged The Weather

Edward Enninful grew up in Ghana, assisting his seamstress mother in her dressmaking shop. "For me, fashion was always such an inclusive, beautiful thing," he says. We talk about making the fashion industry more diverse, the famous "all Black" issue of Vogue Italia, and modeling as a teen. Enninful's memoir is A Visible Man. And David Bianculli reviews Reboot on Hulu.

'British Vogue' Editor-In-Chief Edward Enninful

Geoffrey Berman served as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. In his memoir, Holding the Line, he describes how the Dept. of Justice demanded he use his office to aid the Trump administration. "The Department of Justice has to remain independent of politics," Berman says. "It's supposed to be unbiased. And what happened was President Trump treated the Department of Justice like his own personal law firm, and he put people in charge there who did his bidding."

How Trump's DOJ Pressured The SDNY To Aid The White House

The FX/Hulu series Reservation Dogs follows four teens on an Oklahoma Indian reservation who are frustrated and alienated, caught between what's left of traditional Native culture on the reservation and the broader pop culture. We talk with co-creator and showrunner Sterlin Harjo about his own upbringing in Indian Territory and how he was inspired by the storytellers in his family.

'Reservation Dogs' Showrunner Sterlin Harjo

NPR's longtime legal affairs correspondent, Nina Totenberg, talks about her long friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which began years before Ginsburg became a Supreme Court Justice. Her book is Dinners with Ruth. Sheryl Lee Ralph just won her first Emmy for role as a no nonsense kindergarten teacher in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary. Sidney Poitier gave Ralph her first screen role in his 1977 film A Piece of the Action. At the age of 24, Ralph starred in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls. But there were many difficult years when she was told there was nothing for her because she was Black. Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album by three notable veteran musicians combining free jazz and electric funk.

Best Of: Nina Totenberg / Sheryl Lee Ralph

The British actor played the brooding Mr. Darcy in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. Now he's won an Emmy for playing scheming Midwesterner Tom Wambsgans on Succession. Kevin Whitehead remembers jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, who had the 1965 crossover hit "The In Crowd." Justin Chang reviews The Woman King starring Viola Davis.

'Succession' Actor Matthew MacFadyen

Friday Night Lights author Buzz Bissinger tells the story of Marines in 1945 who, while waiting for the Battle of Okinawa to begin, staged a football game broadcast on Armed Services Radio throughout the Pacific. Bissinger's book is The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II. TV critic David Bianculli reviews Ken Burns' new documentary, The U.S. and the Holocaust.

Buzz Bissinger On 'The Mosquito Bowl'

The NPR legal affairs correspondent met the future SCOTUS justice in the early '70s, when Totenberg interviewed Ruth Bader Ginsburg for a story about a decision pertaining to women's rights. Her memoir about her life and friendship is Dinners with Ruth. Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Ling Ma's new collection of stories, Bliss Montage.

Nina Totenberg On Her Friendship with RBG

Servants of the Damned author David Enrich says lawyers for the firm of Jones Day were deeply embedded in the Trump White House — and helped create policy designed to limit the federal government.

How One Law Firm Influenced The Trump Administration 

Sheryl Lee Ralph is Emmy-nominated for her role as the veteran teacher Barbara Howard on the hit ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary, about an under resourced Philly school. We talk about her long career in showbiz — from Dreamgirls on Broadway to Moesha, and how she made her own way in an industry that didn't offer many parts to Black women.

Actor Sheryl Lee Ralph

Tennis legend John McEnroe talks about his career, his outbursts on the court, and his new job as a TV tennis analyst and voice-over artist on the hit Netflix Series, Never Have I Ever. McEnroe is the subject of a new Showtime documentary. Also, songwriter and singer Amanda Shires performs a few songs and talks about her life. Her latest album, Take it Like a Man, has songs about a rocky period in her marriage to singer songwriter Jason Isbell. Shires also founded the Highwomen, a supergroup featuring country stars Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby.

Best Of: John McEnroe / Amanda Shires

NPR international correspondent Anne Garrels died Wednesday at 71. She was known for fearless reporting in conflict zones, empathy for the victims of war, and a host of prestigious awards. We'll hear about her experiences in Iraq in 2003, chronicled in her book, Naked in Baghdad. Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Book critic Maureen reviews If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery.

Remembering War Correspondent Anne Garrels

Like, Comment, Subscribe author Mark Bergen says YouTube has ushered in a world of abundant content and creativity, of influencers and hustlers, of information overload and endless culture wars. Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews The Funky Freqs' album Hymn of the Third Galaxy. And John Powers reviews the new sequel series American Gigolo.

YouTube's Chaotic Rise To World Domination 

Singer-songwriter and fiddle player Amanda Shires opens up about a rough time in her marriage and how she turned to songwriting to process her feelings. Her new solo album is Take it Like a Man. We talk about playing the songs for her husband, Jason Isbell, performing fiddle as a teen with the Texas Playboys, and founding the country supergroup The Highwomen. Shires plays some songs in-studio.

Amanda Shires

John McEnroe is remembered as one of the most talented — and hotheaded — tennis players of all time. Over the course of his career, he won 155 combined titles — more than any man in the game's modern era. We talk about wins, losses and notorious moments on the court. He's the subject of a new Showtime documentary called McENROE.

Tennis Legend John McEnroe

On this Labor Day, we feature Terry Gross's 1984 interview with folk singer Pete Seeger, who was famous for singing songs about workers, unions and social justice. And we'll hear her 2016 interview with Bruce Springsteen — recorded after the publication of his memoir Born to Run.

Pete Seeger / Bruce Springsteen

We continue our series of great music interviews from our archive with "The Godfather of Soul," "the Hardest Working Man in Show Business," "Soul Brother #1" — James Brown. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2005. Also, we hear Terry's 1986 interview with songwriter Ellie Greenwich. She collaborated on teenage pop hits from the early '60s like "Be My Baby," "Leader of the Pack" and "Da Doo Ron Ron." And, Justin Chang reviews the new film Three Thousand Years of Longing by director George Miller who made the Mad Max films. It stars Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton.

James Brown / Ellie Greenwich

Our week of archival music interviews continues with Smokey Robinson, one of the greatest soul singers ever, and one of the most important figures in the development of Motown Records. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2006. The movie Shaft helped launch the blaxploitation genre of the '70s. The academy award-winning theme was composed and performed by Isaac Hayes. In the '60s, Hayes helped shape the sound of Memphis soul music, as a songwriter, arranger, producer and singer for Stax records. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1994. Also, David Bianculli reviews the new Lord of the Rings prequel, The Rings of Power.

Smokey Robinson / Isaac Hayes

We continue our weeklong series of great music interviews from the archive with singer and songwriter Rosanne Cash. When she was 18, her father, Johnny Cash, gave her a list of 100 essential country songs he thought she should know. After recording many great songs of her own, in 2009 she made an album in which she performed a dozen songs from that list. She spoke with Terry Gross about that record.

Rosanne Cash

We continue our weeklong series of favorite music interviews from our archives with Jay-Z and Lizzo. Jay-Z grew up in a housing project in Brooklyn, and sold drugs before hitting it big as a rapper. He talks about his life and career. Lizzo grew up thinking she would become a professional, classical flute player. She talks about she how pivoted to pop and hip hop, how Prince helped her, growing up in the church, and making body positivity a theme in her work.

Jay-Z / Lizzo

We're continuing our weeklong series of some of our favorite music interviews from our archive. We'll hear several interviews recorded with the late Charlie Haden, one of the greatest bass players in the history of jazz. Haden grew up singing in his family's country music radio shows but turned to the bass when polio damaged his vocal cords. He helped lead a musical revolution in the late 1950s and early '60s, performing in the Ornette Coleman Quartet. He formed his own jazz bands but also returned to traditional music when he recorded with his triplet daughters, wife and son. Also, David Bianculli reviews HBO's The Patient, starring Steve Carell.

Jazz Legend Charlie Haden

We're kicking off a weeklong series of some of our favorite music interviews from our archive. We'll begin with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who was our guest in 2010. He'll tell us about cofounding the band, writing songs with Mick Jagger, and how things changed when the Stones became famous. Later, we'll hear our 2010 interview with Brian May, a founding member of Queen, and their lead guitarist. May wrote one of the band's most famous songs, "We Will Rock You." He'll tell the stories behind that song and Freddie Mercury's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Keith Richards / Brian May

Comedian Mo Amer is of Palestinian descent, but he grew up in Kuwait and Houston. So besides his native Arabic, he learned to speak Spanish, and the kind of English that sets Texans at ease. Amer stars in a new Netflix comedy about his life, called Mo. Also, veteran cold case investigator Paul Holes talks about pursuing serial killers, and the emotional toll of obsessing over gruesome crime scenes. He played a key role in tracking down the Golden State Killer. He has a new memoir called Unmasked: My Life Solving Cold Cases. John Powers reviews the documentary Three Minutes: A Lengthening, which shows a jewish neighborhood in Poland before it was erased by the Holocaust.

Best Of: Comic Mo Amer / Cold Case Investigator Paul Holes

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist talks about Harlem, hooligans, race and class in the '60s. His novel Harlem Shuffle, now out in paperback, is about a furniture store owner in Harlem who's sideline is fencing stolen goods. Also Justin Chang reviews the new film Three Thousand Years of Longing by director George Miller, who made the Mad Max movies. It stars Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton.

Colson Whitehead On 'Harlem Shuffle'

Journalist Jesse Eisinger says a trove of IRS data acquired by ProPublica shows that many of America's billionaires avoid paying any taxes — sometimes by claiming big deductions from posh hobbies. Also, John Powers reviews the German series Kleo on Netflix, which he says is reminiscent of Killing Eve.

How The Ultrawealthy Avoid Taxes

China scholar Michael Beckley says China is engaged in the largest military buildup since World War II, and is being increasingly aggressive with its Asian neighbors and with the U.S. Beckley's book is Danger Zone. Ken Tucker reviews a reissue by Roger Miller.

The Growing Conflict Between China & The U.S.

Amer stars in a new Netflix comedy about his life called Mo. His family is Palestinian, and fled the first Gulf War, so Amer grew up in Houston from age nine. "Palestinian culture is a folksy farmer kind of mentality and life," Amer says. "And when I came to Texas, one of the things that was really attractive to me was the country music, the folksy music, the storytelling tradition of that." Amer also has two Netflix comedy specials, and co-starred in the Hulu series Ramy. Also, Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album from jazz drummer Billy Drummond's quartet.

Comedian Mo Amer

Tim Miller is a former Republican communications operative who held moderate views and backed moderate candidates for years. But he says in practicing the dark arts of opposition research and planting negative stories about rival candidates, he worked with increasingly extreme right-wing media outlets and fed populist outrage that would radicalize much of the Republican voter base. Miller examines his past work, and considers why so many Republicans who thought Trump unfit for office nonetheless backed him, in a new book, called Why We Did It.

Former GOP Operative On Enabling Trump's Rise

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank examines how the GOP got to where it is today, with some elected leaders and candidates still endorsing the lie that Trump won. His book is The Destructionists. Film critic Justin Chang reviews Emily the Criminal starring Aubrey Plaza. Robin Thede's HBO series, A Black Lady Sketch Show, is the first sketch comedy show solely written, directed and starring Black women. She spoke with contributor Tonya Mosley.

Best Of: What Happened To The GOP / Robin Thede

We remember actor Anne Heche, who died Sunday at age 53. She starred in Donnie Brasco, Wag the Dog, Six Days, Seven Nights, and Walking and Talking. Early in her career, she made headlines when she had a relationship with Ellen Degeneres. She spoke with Terry Gross in 2000. Also, we listen back to our 2015 interview with actor Jonathan Banks, who co-starred as fixer and hitman Mike Ehrmantraut on Better Call Saul. Ken Tucker reviews the new album by Loudon Wainwright III about growing older, and John Powers reviews the new documentary Three Minutes: A Lengthening.

Remembering Actor Anne Heche

2020 election deniers won key races in the Arizona GOP primary. New York Times Magazine journalist Robert Draper says the swing state is a bellwether for the rest of the nation.

Arizona's Anti-Democracy Experiment

The CDC estimates over 1 million Americans have died of overdoses since Oxycontin went on the market in the mid '90s. Dopesick author Beth Macy and harm reduction specialist Michelle Mathis talk about grassroots and community efforts to address the opioid crisis. Macy's latest book is Raising Lazarus. TV critic David Bianculli reflects on the series finale of Better Call Saul.

Harm Reduction & The Opioid Crisis

Congressman Adam Schiff talks about the investigations of Donald Trump, and the significance of the top secret documents that the FBI seized from Mar-a-Lago last week. Schiff was the lead manager of the first impeachment and senate trial of President Trump, and now serves on the House Committee investigating January 6th and attempts to overturn the election. We'll also talk about what it's been like to work with colleagues who amplify falsehoods and conspiracy theories, and to be the constant target of threats. Schiff's memoir is Midnight in Washington.

Rep. Adam Schiff On Jan. 6, Mar-a-Lago Raid & Impeachment Hearings

Thede's HBO series, A Black Lady Sketch Show, is the first sketch comedy show solely written, directed and starring Black women. "It is a nonstop job," she says of the various hats she wears. Thede spoke with guest interviewer Tonya Mosley. Also, Justin Chang reviews the noir thriller Emily the Criminal, starring Aubrey Plaza. And Lloyd Schwartz a reissue of Judy Garland films.

Robin Thede On 'A Black Lady Sketch Show'

Over this past year, the Taliban have broken their promises to allow girls to continue their schooling and women to keep their jobs. Many girls and women are disappearing — arrested for violating the morality code, or abducted and forced to marry one of the Taliban. We talk with British/Iranian journalist Ramita Navai, who went undercover to speak to women who were victimized by the Taliban, and women working underground to help women escape brutality. Her new PBS Frontline documentary is called Afghanistan Undercover. Also, we talk with Will Bunch, author of After the Ivory Tower Falls, about how college tuition became so expensive, driving students and parents into debt. Justin Chang reviews the film Ali & Ava.

Best Of: Women In Afghanistan / How College Broke The American Dream

Lamont Dozier was one third of the Motown songwriting team Holland Dozier Holland. He died Monday at the age of 81. Along with brothers Brian and Eddie Holland, he helped define the Motown sound, writing 10 Number One top hits for The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, and Marvin Gaye — songs like "You Can't Hurry Love," "Baby Love," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Can't Help Myself," "Heatwave," and "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch." They spoke with Terry Gross in 2003. Justin Chang reviews The British romantic drama Ali & Ava.

Remembering Motown Songwriter Lamont Dozier

Atlantic journalist Caitlin Dickerson spent 18 months filing lawsuits for documents to put together the story of the Trump administration's policy of separating migrant families at the border.

The Secret History Of Family Separation At The Border 

Investigator Paul Holes spent his career cracking cold cases. His work led to the arrest of the so-called Golden State Killer in 2018. He spoke with us about the case the the impact the work has had on his mental health. His memoir is Unmasked. Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Mohsin Hamid's latest novel, The Last White Man.

Cold Case Investigator Paul Holes

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank examines how the GOP got to where it is today, with some elected leaders and candidates still endorsing the lie that Trump won. His book is The Destructionists.

How This Political Era Of Partisan Warfare & Conspiracies Came To Be

Melanie Lynskey spoke with Fresh Air producer Ann Marie Baldonado about coming up as an actress in the '90s and 2000s, when she was typecast as the best friend. Now she's the lead in the Showtime series Yellowjackets. John Powers reviews the second season of Reservation Dogs.

'Yellowjackets' Star Melanie Lynskey

The first time women's soccer was included in the Olympics, in 1996, the U.S. team won the gold, and Briana Scurry was the team's goalie. She went on to win a second gold medal and a World Cup. Her soccer career was ended by a severe concussion, in a collision on the field. Unable to work, broke and in despair, she pawned her gold medals. She got them back–and got the surgery she needed– with the help of the woman who became her wife. Also, we'll talk with Washington Post reporter Scott Higham about how America's opioid industry resembled a drug cartel. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead will review a new album by the Tyshawn Sorey Trio.

Best Of: Soccer Star Briana Scurry / How The Opioid Industry Operated Like A Cartel

Russell, who led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA titles, died Sunday at the age of 88. He was also the first Black head coach in the NBA and a civil rights activist. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2001. Also, we remember a champion of traditional Irish music, Mick Moloney. He died last week at 77. He was a musician and a musicologist who revived forgotten Irish songs. His passion was finding connections between Irish, African and American roots music. And Ken Tucker reviews Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE.

Remembering Celtics Legend Bill Russell

Journalist Ramita Navai went undercover in Afghanistan to film her new PBS Frontline documentary and found that girls and women are being arrested for violating the morality code. Also many girls are abducted and forced to marry Talibs.

Undercover Journalist Finds Afghan Women Are Being Abducted & Imprisoned By Taliban  

Journalist Will Bunch says instead of opening the door to a better life, college leaves many students deep in debt and unable to find well-paying jobs. His new book is After the Ivory Tower Falls. Podcast critic Nick Quah reviews two podcasts about counterculture, Mother Country Radicals and I Was Never There. Also, we remember radio pioneer Larry Josephson.

How College Broke The American Dream

It's estimated that more than 107,000 people in the United States died due to opioid overdoses in 2021. Washington Post journalist Scott Higham says it's "the equivalent of a 737 Boeing crashing and burning and killing everybody on board every single day." In the new book, American Cartel, Higham and co-author Sari Horwitz make the case that the pharmaceutical industry operated like a drug cartel, with manufacturers at the top; wholesalers in the middle; and pharmacies at the level of "street dealers."

How The Opioid Industry Operated Like A Cartel

Kirk Wallace Johnson tells the story of a bitter conflict that arose along the Gulf Coast of Texas when Vietnam War refugees began trawling for shrimp in the area. His book is The Fishermen and the Dragon.

Xenophobia & The Klan On The Texas Gulf Coast 

Better Call Saul, the prequel and spin-off to Breaking Bad, has only a few episodes left. We talk with the show's star, Bob Odenkirk, and showrunner/co-creator Peter Gould. While filming Better Call Saul, one scene was interrupted for the worst imaginable reason: Odenkirk had a heart attack that was nearly fatal. He'll tell us about returning to life–and to that scene. Cory Silverberg's new book, You Know, Sex, touches only briefly on reproduction. Instead, it centers on young people and the questions they might have about pleasure, power and identity.

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Latest episode: Mon Sep 26 2022