Fresh Air

Latest Episodes:

Inside a mobile OB/GYN clinic Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Mary Fariba Afsari's book, ‘Labor,’ is a portrait of reproductive healthcare in post-Dobbs America, serving a community in Oregon with an RV clinic. She also talks about her Iranian heritage and her grandmother's death from an illegal abortion.
Also, Ken Tucker reviews ‘After the Flood,’ by Robert Polito, a book about Bob Dylan’s past 30 years.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Humorist Annabelle Gurwitch faces stage 4 cancer, finds ‘unexpected joys’ Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

In 2020, writer Annabelle Gurwitch went to urgent care for a COVID-19 test and learned she had stage 4 lung cancer. She writes about life as a "cancer slacker" in her memoir, ‘The End of My Life is Killing Me.’ The humorist spoke with Terry Gross about facing her mortality, divorce, and going on a tour with her boyfriend and a young heavy metal band.
Also, John Powers reviews the Nordic noir series ‘Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole’ on Netflix.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Comic Jeff Ross on roasting, loss and his epic bar mitzvah Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Known for his ruthless celebrity roasts, Ross turns inward in his Netflix special, ‘Take a Banana for the Ride,’ which details the loss of his parents and grandfather. The comic spoke with Terry Gross about working at his family’s catering business, his breakthrough ‘Letterman’ set, and living with alopecia. And, upon Terry’s request, he roasts her.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Arsenio Hall Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Hall grew up in Cleveland dreaming of being the next Johnny Carson. He got close – closer than anyone expected – and then he walked away. Thirty years later, he's finally telling the full story in a new memoir. “I wanted to do this show that didn't exist when I was a kid and I knew the talent was out there,” he tells Tonya Mosley. I found Bruno Mars and put him on the show when he was two feet tall. I wanted those things that Johnny didn't do.” He talks about some of the iconic moments of 'The Arsenio Hall Show,' his decision to end it, and his friendships with Jay Leno and Richard Pryor.
Jazz historian Kevin Whitehead marks the 100th birthday of the composer Randy Weston.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Best Of: John Lithgow / Sondheim’s tumultuous life Apr 04, 2026

Show notes

We talk with John Lithgow, veteran of hundreds of performances on stage, screen and television. He’s currently starring in the play ‘Giant’ on Broadway. He plays renowned children’s book author Roald Dahl, caught in a public controversy after he wrote an article laced with antisemitic statements. Also, we’ll talk about Stephen Sondheim’s life and music with Daniel Okrent, author of a new book ‘Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn't Easy.’
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Julio Torres spins immigrant stress into satire Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

As a gay, atheist teenager in El Salvador, Julio Torres felt like an alien. He was legally labeled “alien” when he came to the U.S. on a student visa, and then tried to get a work visa. The comic/filmmaker drew on those experiences to write, direct, and star in the satirical film, ‘Problemista.’ He spoke with Terry Gross in 2024 about immigrant stress, his odd form of comedy, and why he's attracted to difficult people. “I don't see difficult people as nightmares to escape. I'm really drawn to them like a moth to a flame,” he says. His new comedy special on HBO is called ‘Color Theories.’
Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews ‘The Drama.’
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

John Lithgow Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Lithgow, 80, plays an intelligence agent in the FX action series 'The Old Man,' and he's currently starring in the Broadway production of 'Giant,' about a dark side of children's book author Roald Dahl. He spoke with Dave Davies.
Also, John Powers reviews 'Stay Alive' by Ian Buruma, about daily life in Nazi Berlin.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

An exposé of the plastic industry Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

In award-winning journalist Beth Gardiner’s new book, ‘Plastic Inc.,’ she traces how plastic went from a wartime miracle to the survival strategy of the fossil fuel industry. What Gardiner found after years of reporting is that while millions of us were recycling and using less fuel, the companies that make plastic are producing more to make up for it. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about recycling, microplastics in the human body, and the environmental impact.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album from Megan Moroney, ‘Cloud 9.’
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Inside the training camps for “alpha males” Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

The Trump era has brought a resurgence of the “alpha male.” ‘New Yorker’ writer Charles Bethea reports on camps where men crawl through mud and sit in ice baths, in an effort to reclaim masculinity. Bethea says what he found underneath all the warrior posturing surprised him: men in genuine pain who felt lonely and desperate for connection. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about his reporting.
Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new novel by Tana French, ‘The Keeper.’
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Former Infowars employee on Alex Jones' conspiracy machine Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Josh Owens spent four years as a video editor and field producer for Jones' Infowars media company. "It was all about making things look cinematic," he says. Owens' memoir is ‘The Madness of Believing.’ He spoke with Dave Davies about how he got into Infowars, the “nonsense” and “lies” the company sold, and how he got out.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Fresh Air

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6