Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
Rachel Kushner's new espionage thriller may be her coolest book yet
In Creation Lake, a hard-drinking American spy infiltrates a radical farming collective in a remote region of France. Kushner challenges readers to keep up with her and not to flinch.
Cult Icon John Waters On Breaking Taboos And Embracing Villains
The filmmaker behind Hairspray and Pink Flamingos made his name setting new lows in bad taste. The Baltimore Museum of Art now has a retrospective of his work. Originally broadcast 2004 and 2010.
'First Man' Captures The Upheaval Leading Up To Armstrong's 1969 Moon Landing
by Justin Chang
Justin Chang says a new film about the space race is one of the "noisiest, clunkiest, most inelegant movies about space travel ever made" — all of which helps convey the chaos of space travel.
'Sing Me Back Home' Showcases The Partnership Between Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard
by Ken Tucker
Dickens and Gerrard were successful solo folk musicians who also shared an eclectic approach to music. A new album of previously unreleased recordings feature the pair "unvarnished" and "unplugged."
How Notions Of Sex, Power And Consent Are Changing On College Campuses
by Terry Gross
Blurred Lines author Vanessa Grigoriadis says female college students were once told to protect themselves from sexual assault by learning self defense. Now, the focus is on changing men's behavior.
Yo-Yo Ma Presents Bach As A Wise And Spellbinding Storyteller In 'Six Evolutions'
by Lloyd Schwartz
Ma began learning Bach's famous cello suites when he was 4. Now in his 60s, Ma has released his third recording of the pieces. Critic Lloyd Schwartz says this latest iteration may be his favorite.
The 'Weaponization' Of Social Media — And Its Real-World Consequences
by Dave Davies
P.W. Singer and Emerson Brooking say social media has been manipulated to fuel popular uprisings and affect the course of military and political campaigns. Their new book is LikeWar.
New Collection Showcases Leonard Cohen Was 'Preoccupied With Brokenness'
by Terry Gross
Musician and writer Leonard Cohen died in 2016, leaving behind many unpublished poems and lyrics. His son Adam Cohen discusses The Flame, a collection of some of Leonard's final works.
Bradley Cooper And Lady Gaga Shine In A Winning Remake Of 'A Star is Born'
by David Edelstein
Critic David Edelstein says that despite the film's "mushy" story arc, it's hard to resist Cooper's remake of the classic film about an up-and-coming superstar.