Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
'I can only give the best': Bon Jovi on vocal surgery and the road to recovery
by Terry Gross
A few years ago, Jon Bon Jovi stopped performing due to a vocal cord injury. The Hulu docuseries Thank You, Goodnight offers a career retrospective, plus a view of his surgery and return to the stage.
'Portable Veblen' Puts A Quirky Spin On Marriage And Family
by Maureen Corrigan
Elizabeth McKenzie's new novel about the pitfalls of approaching marriage is a sharply written romantic comedy with elements of experimental fiction. Maureen Corrigan calls it "totally endearing."
Deconstructing Gov. Chris Christie's 'Bridge To Redemption'
Journalist Matt Katz discusses Christie's rise to power in New Jersey, the "Bridgegate" scandal and his performance in the '16 Republican presidential primary. Katz is the author of American Governor.
'Leave Me Alone' Blends Harshness With Beauty
by Ken Tucker
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the debut album by the Spanish quartet Hinds. "These four women revive the notion of do-it-yourself punk musicianship," Tucker says of Leave Me Alone.
'I Regret Everything': Toni Morrison Looks Back On Her Personal Life
"It's not profound regret," Morrison tells Fresh Air. "It's just a wiping up of tiny little messes that you didn't recognize as mess when they were going on." Originally broadcast April 20, 2015.
Messy And Absurd, 'London Spy' Mixes Espionage With Genuine Emotion
by John Powers
Fresh Air critic John Powers says the five-part BBC America show pulls off something ambitious: It keeps viewers enthralled with its intensity, while catching them in "a lingering emotional undertow."
Groove Master Benji Hughes Sings 'Songs In The Key Of Animals'
by Ken Tucker
The singer-songwriter plays most of the instruments himself on his new album. Critic Ken Tucker says you can hear a love for pop music in Hughes' silly sentiments and artful arrangements.
'Hidden History' Of Koch Brothers Traces Their Childhood And Political Rise
Jane Mayer, author of Dark Money, says the Kochs didn't grow up in "the usual cozy, all-American family." Their parents were away much of the time, and competition between the brothers was fierce.