Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
'Without Arrows' follows a tribe member's return to the Sioux reservation
by David Bianculli
The filmmakers of this emotionally powerful documentary followed Delwin Fiddler Jr. as he returned home to South Dakota after years in Philadelphia — then kept revisiting him for more than a decade.
From Anorexia To Dystopia, New Operas Eloquently Tackle Contemporary Topics
by Lloyd Schwartz
Ellen West, a new one-act chamber opera presented by Opera Saratoga, is based on a tragic poem by Frank Bidart, while Poul Ruders' The Thirteenth Child draws on Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.
Reissue Captures Nat King Cole Before He Broke Through To Mainstream
by Kevin Whitehead
Early in his career, Cole formed a trio with guitarist Oscar Moore and bassist Wesley Prince. Hittin' the Ramp, a new 7-CD roundup, showcases the band that help catapult Cole to stardom.
Apple TV Plus Debuts With An Opening Line-Up That's Not Yet Worth Paying For
by David Bianculli
None of the new shows available on Apple's new streaming service seem like hits — though "For All Mankind" might get there. But all is not bleak; Apple plans to add new titles each month.
Remembering Robert Evans, Producer Of 'The Godfather' And 'Chinatown'
by Terry Gross
Evans, who died Oct. 26, had a long and storied career as a studio head and producer at Paramount. In 1994, he talked about his career in film, which started when he was discovered poolside in 1956.
Punk Icon And Memoirist Viv Albertine On A Lifetime Of Fighting The Patriarchy
by Terry Gross
"We weren't going to try and be this constructed ideal of femininity," the Slit's guitarist says of the band. Albertine's memoir is To Throw Away Unopened. Originally broadcast July 16, 2018.
Ukrainian President 'Trying Hard To Stay On The Fence' Regarding Impeachment
by Dave Davies
New York Times reporter Andrew Kramer says impeachment puts Volodymyr Zelensky in a tough spot: "He may be dealing with a President Biden next year, or he may be dealing with President Trump."
Jon Pardi's 'Heartache Medication' Offers A Healthy Dose Of Traditional Country
by Ken Tucker
Country music has take a turn towards pop of late, but Pardi's new album goes back to the genre's roots, with a collection of excellent honky-tonk songs — many of which are about booze.