Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
Pete Seeger's 'Fresh Air' interview
by Terry Gross
The folk singer, who died in 2014, was famous for his songs about working people, unions and social justice. In this 1984 interview, Seeger cited Woody Guthrie as one his most important influences.
Bruce Springsteen: On Jersey, masculinity and wishing to be his onstage persona
In 2016, Springsteen spoke about New Jersey, masculinity and wishing to be his stage persona: "People see you onstage and, yeah, I'd want to be that guy. ... I want to be that guy myself very often."
Whether you're merry or miserable, David Byrne's holiday playlist will resonate
The singer-songwriter and Talking Heads frontman presents some of his favorite holiday music — including songs by The Pogues, James Brown and LCD Soundsystem. Originally broadcast Dec. 20, 2023.
A Jon Batiste holiday jam session
by Terry Gross
In part two of our interview, Batiste joins us from the piano and plays some of his favorite Christmas songs. He's the former band leader and music director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
'Fresh Air' presents: Christmas with Questlove
Roots co-founder Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson shares his Christmas playlist, which includes songs by DRAM, James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Originally broadcast Dec. 21, 2022.
To make 'The Godfather' his way, Francis Ford Coppola waged a studio battle
Coppola was 29 when he signed on to direct a film. "I was young and had no power," he said in 2016, "so [the studio] figured they could just boss me around." Coppola is a 2024 Kennedy Center honoree.
Bonnie Raitt shares her blues inspirations
The singer/songwriter is one of the 2024 Kennedy Center honorees. In 1996, Raitt spoke to Fresh Air about about the musicians that inspired her, including Mississippi Fred McDowell.
Interview
Interview
'Lights on a Satellite' revisits a three-set Sun Ra show from 1978
by Kevin Whitehead
The Philadelphia bandleader didn't always connect with traditional jazz audiences, but he found a second home doing so in Baltimore. A new double album revisit a show he and his "Arkestra" gave there.
Miranda July talks 'All Fours' -- and the risks and rewards of changing your life
by Terry Gross
July's been surprised by the reaction to her novel, which centers on a 45-year-old married woman who has an erotic affair: "I've had people tell me that ... it was all there, all their true feelings."
With a January ban looming, TikTok's future in the U.S. is more uncertain than ever
by Tonya Mosley
A new law gives TikTok a Jan. 19 deadline to sell to a non-Chinese company or face a nationwide ban. Law professor Alan Rozenshtein explains what this means and how President-elect Trump might intervene.