Fresh Air
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Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
St. Vincent offers tension, release and sonic 'jump scares'
by Terry Gross
"I'm not playing with persona," St. Vincent says of All Born Screaming. "It's a really a record about life and death and love. That's it. That's all we got."
It's All In Your Head: Director Pete Docter Gets Emotional In 'Inside Out'
The director's Oscar-nominated film illustrates the inner workings of an 11-year-old's mind, and includes the characters Sadness, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Joy. Originally broadcast June 10, 2015.
Long-Term Devastation Springs From A Hasty Judgment Call In 'A War'
by David Edelstein
Tobias Lindholm's Oscar-nominated film tells the story of a Danish commander's error in judgment during the war in Afghanistan. Critic David Edelstein says A War will "leave you in pieces."
'Strange Gods' Chronicles The History Of Secularism And Conversion
Journalist Susan Jacoby tells Fresh Air that more than half of Americans will change religion at least once in their adult life time. Her new book is Strange Gods: A Secular History of Conversion.
New Recording Revives Ravel's 'L'Enfant Et Les Sortileges'
by Lloyd Schwartz
The opera, by the late composer Maurice Ravel, spins a modern fairy tale about a naughty child at bedtime. Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of it by conductor Seiji Ozawa.
Westerberg And Hatfield Aim For The Heart With 'Wild Stab'
by Ken Tucker
The debut album by the I Don't Cares features two familiar voices — Paul Westerberg and the singer-songwriter Juliana Hatfield. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the songs on Wild Stab "will grab you."
Bob Odenkirk Mixes Laughter And Law In 'Breaking Bad' And 'Better Call Saul'
The actor's fast-talking, sleazeball character Saul Goodman has been known to bend the law — and to break it. The second season of Better Call Saul begins Feb. 15. Originally broadcast Aug. 6, 2013.
'Better Call Saul' Breathes New Life Into 'Breaking Bad' Characters
The show's co-creator says it was a writers' room joke that if something didn't fit on Breaking Bad, it would go on the Saul Goodman show (now Better Call Saul). Originally broadcast March 9, 2015.
'Deadpool' Gleefully Lampoons The Marvel Universe
by David Edelstein
Ryan Reynolds stars as a soldier-turned-mutant-super-hero in Marvel's Deadpool. Critic David Edelstein calls the film an "unprecedented R-rated ... romp with dirty sex talk and tons of splatter."