A conversation with R. Crumb, the king of underground comics
Crumb's comics were staples of 1960s counterculture. He's now the subject of a new biography. Crumb spoke to Fresh Air in 2005, and again, with his wife, fellow comic Aline Kominsky Crumb, in 2007.
CNN anchor Zain Asher looks back on the tragedy that helped drive her success
Asher's father died in a car crash in Nigeria when she was 5. Afterward, her mom raised four children on her own in a crime-ridden London neighborhood. Asher's memoir is Where the Children Take Us.
'The Northman' is a brutal revenge story marked by violence, vengeance and vastness
Mostly set in 10th-century Iceland, The Northman tells the story of a Viking prince who sets out to avenge his father's death at the hands of his uncle — a legend that inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet.
For classical pianist Jeremy Denk, life is like a series of music lessons
Denk talks about what he learned from his teachers, and his failures, frustrations and pivotal moments as an artist. His new memoir is Every Good Boy Does Fine. Originally broadcast March 21, 2022.
'Fresh Air' marks the centennial of jazz great Charles Mingus
Critic Kevin Whitehead reflects on the legacy of the musician who would have been 100 on April 22, 2022. Mingus died in 1979, leaving behind a catalog of music that reflected his outsized personality.
'Navalny' documentary spotlights the Russian who dared to take on Putin
Daniel Roher's film about Russian dissident Alexei Navalny offers intimate, sometimes amazing access to the bravery — and human cost — of opposing a despot.
Fairport Convention band cofounder Richard Thompson looks back on his life in music
The British singer/guitarist talks about his formative years, and about pioneering a new musical genre that blended rock with traditional music of the British isles. Thompson's new memoir is Beeswing.
Comic Jerrod Carmichael bares his secrets in 'Rothaniel'
The comic, actor and writer opens up about his name, his family tree and his sexual orientation in a new HBO special. "The more honest I am, the freer I am," Carmichael says.
Remembering jazz pianist and composer Jessica Williams
Williams was a dazzling player and a favorite at Fresh Air. She died March 10 at 73. We'll listen back to her 1997 performance and interview.