
Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.

Conan O'Brien proves a worthy recipient of Mark Twain award in a new Netflix special
by David Bianculli
Back in March, a group of comic luminaries — from John Mulaney to Nikki Glaser — gathered at the Kennedy Center to celebrate O'Brien for receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Remembering Gary Paulsen, author of 'Dogsled' and 'Hatchet'
by Terry Gross
The Newbery award-winning author, who died Oct. 13, wrote over 200 books, many of which were tales of adventure aimed at young adults. In 1994, Paulsen talked about Alaska's Iditarod dog sled race.
Velvet Underground documentary gets to the heart of the band's radical magic
by John Powers
Todd Haynes' inventive, immersive movie is full of interesting ideas. The Velvet Underground neatly sidesteps the usual rock-doc banalities as it plunges us into the Velvets and their world.
'Genius' actor Cynthia Erivo opens up her voice on 'Ch. 1 Vs. 1'
by Terry Gross
The British actor and singer played abolitionist Harriet Tubman in Harriet, and Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha. Now Erivo has a debut album. "I sing often with a bit of a smile," she says.
'Fresh Air' remembers Colin Powell, former secretary of state
by Terry Gross
The U.S.'s first Black national security advisor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs and secretary of state died on Oct. 18. Powell spoke to Fresh Air in 1995 about how the army had shaped his life.
In 'Maid,' a single mother struggles to make it on minimum wage
by Terry Gross
While raising her young daughter, Stephanie Land cleaned houses to scrape by. It was back-aching work for low pay. Her memoir inspired the Netflix series, Maid. Originally broadcast Jan. 29, 2019.
The 'Pandora Papers' expose the secret financial dealings of the global elite
by Terry Gross
Greg Miller of The Washington Post is part of the team that sifted through millions of documents to reveal how dictators, oligarchs, drug dealers and others hide assets in secret accounts.
Tubist Richard Antoine White shares his unlikely path to the stage 'I'm Possible'
by Dave Davies
White spent his early childhood in poverty in Baltimore, at times sleeping in abandoned houses. He's now principal tubist in the Santa Fe Symphony and the New Mexico Philharmonic.
Questlove spins the soundtrack of his life in 'Music is History'
by Terry Gross
In his new book, Roots co-founder Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson starts in 1971 and moves year-by-year through his life, writing about memories, turning points and the songs he listened to.