Fresh Air Plus
Episodes
Bluegrass virtuoso Billy Strings
Billy Strings discusses his new album, *So Much for Goodbyes*, inspired by his mother's death from an overdose, and reflects on his childhood trauma and addiction struggles.
Investigating the system that protected Sean “Diddy” Combs
Rolling Stone reporter Cheyenne Roundtree discusses her book "Bad Boy for Life," which chronicles Sean Combs’s history of violence and his ability to reinvent his public image to evade accountability.
Global power, rivalry, and A.I.; a preview of the U.S./China summit
Rush Doshi analyzes the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, arguing that China’s rare earth leverage has shifted the power dynamic, forcing the U.
Inside the 'modern slavery' where cyber scammers are victims themselves
Terry Gross interviews Wired senior writer Andy Greenberg about his investigation into "pig butchering" scam compounds in Laos, where trafficked victims are forced to run AI-assisted romance scams.
Rhiannon Giddens traces the banjo from her ancestors to Beyoncé
Rhiannon Giddens discusses her new album, "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers," and her role as artistic director of the Silk Road Ensemble.
Richard Pryor taught Gene Wilder how to improvise on camera (NPR+)
Gene Wilder discusses his new memoir, *Kiss Me Like a Stranger*, and reflects on his collaborations with Mel Brooks and Zero Mostel.
Best Of: Colin Kaepernick / Danielle Brooks
Colin Kaepernick discusses his new memoir, "The Perilous Fight," reflecting on his childhood as a Black boy adopted by white parents and the lasting…
Looney Tunes animator Chuck Jones / Remembering singer Cassandra Wilson
This episode of Fresh Air salutes the film *Coyote vs.
The Roy Cohn Playbook, from McCarthyism to Trump
Fresh Air host Terry Gross interviews historian Kai Bird, author of the new biography "American Scoundrel," to explore the life of Roy Cohn, the unethical lawyer who mentored Donald Trump.
Is Jared Kushner a 'walking conflict of interest'?
Dexter Filkins examines the blurring of lines between Jared Kushner’s diplomatic roles and his private equity firm, funded by Gulf states.
Actor Danielle Brooks has blessings to count
Danielle Brooks discusses her career, from playing Tasty in Orange Is the New Black to starring in The Color Purple and Peacemaker.
Colin Kaepernick is still fighting – for justice and for his football career
Colin Kaepernick discusses his new memoir, The Perilous Fight, with Tanya Mosley, revealing the true origin of his anthem protest and correcting the narrative around Nate Boyer.
Keri Russell on the downsides of acting with your partner (NPR+)
In this Fresh Air Plus bonus episode, host Sam Brigger revisits his 2023 interview with actress Carrie Russell ahead of her sixth Emmy nomination for The Diplomat.
Best Of: Life in the Mojave Desert / Director of ‘The Uprising’
Terry Gross interviews author Claire V.
Stories of survival & loss at Ground Zero
For the 25th anniversary of 9/11, host David Bianculli revisits archival interviews with former FDNY Deputy Chief Jay Jonas, who recounted rescuing a…
How the WNBA became a political prop in the culture wars
Sports reporter Sabrina Merchant discusses the WNBA's record-breaking year, marked by new teams and a massive media deal, alongside growing cultural controversies.
How Sept. 11 changed American life
Writer Richard Beck discusses how the post-9/11 "war on terror" reshaped American life, arguing that the expansion of surveillance, executive power,…
Casey Gerald says ruining his reputation saved his life
Writer Casey Gerald discusses his new book, The Great Refusal, exploring his decision to abandon his high-profile career and nonprofit to reclaim his identity.
Rosanne Cash on the gift her father, Johnny Cash, gave her
In this 2009 Fresh Air interview, Roseanne Cash discusses her album *The List*, which features songs from a list of 100 essential country tracks her father, Johnny Cash, gave her in 1973.
When Billie Jean King knew she would fight for equality (NPR+)
In this Fresh Air Plus bonus episode, host Sam Brigger revisits a 2021 interview with tennis legend Billie Jean King, recorded by Dave Davies to promote her memoir *All In*.
Best Of: ‘Wonder Man’ actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II / John Coltrane centennial
Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II discusses his Emmy nomination for Marvel's "Wonder Man," the show's cancellation, and how his career pivot from city planning to acting began after a layoff.
Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem
Fresh Air host David B.
Filmmaker Paul Greengrass on rage, rebellion and ‘The Uprising’
Paul Greengrass discusses his new film, The Uprising, which depicts the 1381 Peasants' Revolt and its connection to the Robin Hood legend.
Back-to-school with Big Tech
Terry Gross interviews New York Times reporter Natasha Singer about her book, *Coding Kids*, which examines how big tech giants like Google and Microsoft have influenced public education.
A centennial celebration of John Coltrane
To mark John Coltrane’s centennial, his son Ravi Coltrane discusses editing a new photo book and reflects on his father’s legacy, his mother Alice’s…
How the government wastes our time
Annie Lowry discusses her book *The Time Tax*, arguing that bureaucratic hurdles disproportionately harm the poor and sick.
Why Mark Wahlberg originally resisted becoming an actor (NPR+)
Mark Wahlberg discusses his Oscar-nominated role in The Departed, drawing on his Boston upbringing and past legal troubles to portray a police sergeant.