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

Fresh Air Weekend: America's 'pronatalist' movement; Daria Burke on overcoming trauma
NPR reporter Lisa Hagen and sociologist Karen Guzzo discuss the movement to boost the birth rate. Justin Chang reviews The Shrouds. Burke looks back on a difficult childhood in Of My Own Making.
Understanding the resurgence of jobs in America's 'left behind' counties
by Tonya Mosley
David Madland of the Center for American Progress says new, “good” jobs are on the rise, but many of the workers don’t realize it’s a result of Biden’s new industrial policies.
'Madoff' takes account of the biggest financial Ponzi scheme in history
by Terry Gross
Disgraced financier Bernie Madoff scammed investors out of approximately $68 billion. Journalist Richard Behar spoke to Madoff in prison more than 50 times for his book, Madoff: The Final Word.
Taffy Brodesser-Akner explores wealth and family trauma in 'Long Island Compromise'
by Tonya Mosley
Brodesser-Akner's novel centers on the kidnapping of a rich businessman, and the impact, decades later, on his grown children. Her previous book is Fleishman Is In Trouble.
For David Byrne, Talking Heads was about making emotional sense — not literal sense
by Terry Gross
In November 2023, Byrne spoke about the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense and described the band's hit song "Burning Down the House" as a compilation of "non-sequiturs" with an emotional impact.
A retired federal judge reflects on going blind and losing faith in the Supreme Court
by Terry Gross
David Tatel, a former judge on the nation’s second highest court, shares his concerns about the state of our democracy and our judiciary. His new book is Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice.
‘The Bear’ remains as delicious as ever in Season 3
by David Bianculli
If you saw the first two seasons of the Hulu series, you probably agree that it deserved every Emmy it won. Now The Bear is back, and serving up just as brilliant and beautiful a concoction as before.
Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä thrills both in person and on recording
by Lloyd Schwartz
The 28-year-old conductor has been making news lately — getting rave reviews for renditions of Stravinsky and Debussy, and also for being the music director of more than one major orchestra.
Debate between Biden and Trump is expected to be a test of competence and character
by Tonya Mosley
New York Times political correspondent Shane Goldmacher says the debate will look different from the one four years ago, with no audience and mics that can be muted should things get unwieldy.
50 years later, Steely Dan's 'Pretzel Logic' still sounds fresh
by Ken Tucker
By 1974, Steely Dan's two albums had helped established the band as a viable business proposition. With Pretzel Logic, they began a quest for studio perfectionism that would last for decades to come.
3 exhilarating songs showcase music genres being explored in new ways
by Ken Tucker
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs' “Dare To Dream," Tommy Richman's "Million Dollar Baby" and Jeff and Steven McDonald's “Born Innocent" feature spontaneous sounds rooted in deep knowledge of the past.