Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
Remembering filmmaker Roger Corman, king of B-movies
Corman, who died May 9, made hundreds of films, including the cult classics House of Usher and A Bucket of Blood. We listen back to a 1990 interview, plus critic John Powers offers an appreciation.
Lori McKenna Brings Plainspoken Modesty And Intimate Acoustics To 'The Tree'
by Ken Tucker
A Massachusetts native who struck gold further South as a country music songwriter, McKenna solidifies her status as a recording artist in her own right on her latest album.
Growing Up Black, Gay And Catholic In Texas, Memoirist Put His Faith In Beyoncé
by Terry Gross
Michael Arceneaux's new book, I Can't Date Jesus, is a collection of essays about his early years. Beyoncé, he says, taught him a valuable lesson: "Just be yourself and be very good at what you do."
Remembering Adrian Cronauer, The DJ Who Inspired 'Good Morning Vietnam'
by Terry Gross
Cronauer, who died last week, hosted an armed forces radio show in Saigon during the Vietnam War and later was the subject of a film starring comic Robin Williams. Originally broadcast in 1988.
Sleep Scientist Warns Against Walking Through Life 'In An Underslept State'
by Terry Gross
"Human beings are the only species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep for no apparent gain," says sleep scientist Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep. Originally broadcast Oct. 17, 2017.
How Dark Money, Gerrymandering And Democratic Complacency Altered Wisconsin Politics
by Dave Davies
Dan Kaufman, author of The Fall of Wisconsin, says the state's experienced a conservative transformation in recent years — despite a tradition of progressive politics dating back to the 19th century.
Virtual Band Gorillaz Brings Intimacy And Eager Energy To 'The Now Now'
by Ken Tucker
Co-created by visual artist Jamie Hewlett and musician Damon Albarn, Gorillaz is fronted by four animated characters — but critic Ken Tucker says there's "nothing cartoonish" about the new album.