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Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
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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.
How A Medically Induced Coma Led To Love, Marriage And The Oscar-Nominated 'Big Sick'
Comic Kumail Nanjiani didn't think of marrying then-girlfriend Emily V. Gordon until he saw her in a coma. The couple co-wrote a romantic comedy based on the story. Originally broadcast July 12, 2017.
Remembering Cabaret Star Wesla Whitfield
Whitfield, who died Feb. 9, started in the San Francisco Opera in the 1970s before moving on to piano bars. She later performed regularly at New York's Algonquin Hotel. Originally broadcast in 1988.
Mythic 'Black Panther' Is A Momentous Event In Pop Culture History
by David Edelstein
As originally conceived in 1966, the Black Panther was an African king who fought crime in a high-tech panther suit. David Edelstein says Marvel's new film about the character was worth the wait.
Trump Uses MS-13 To 'Sell Draconian Overhauls Of Border Issues,' Journalist Says
by Terry Gross
New Yorker writer Jonathan Blitzer says President Trump uses the notorious gang to paint a portrait of rampant criminality among immigrants — and to frame the broader immigration debate.
Long Haul Trucker Was 'Completely Seduced' By The Open Road
by Terry Gross
Finn Murphy has logged over a million miles hauling people's belongings across the country to their new homes. He describes life on the road as a "reaction against regimentation."
Kendrick Lamar Channels A Superhero's Conflicts And Strength On 'Black Panther'
by Ken Tucker
Lamar plays a prominent role on the soundtrack for the new Marvel film. Critic Ken Tucker says the songs on Black Panther are are shrewd, passionate and "almost ridiculously entertaining."
Remembering Pakistani Activist And Human Rights Lawyer Asma Jahangir
by Terry Gross
Once known as "Pakistan's bravest citizen," Jahangir, who died Sunday, co-founded the country's first all-women's law firm and pushed for women's rights and democracy. Originally broadcast in 2001.
A Stage-4 Cancer Patient Shares The Pain And Clarity Of Living 'Scan-To-Scan'
by Terry Gross
Religion scholar Kate Bowler used to believe God had a plan for her life. Then she was diagnosed with incurable colon cancer. "I really had to rethink what trust and hope looks like," she says.
Clint Eastwood Celebrates Old-Fashioned Heroism In 'The 15:17 To Paris'
by David Edelstein
In 2015, three Americans on a Paris-bound train stopped a terrorist attack in progress. Eastwood recreates the incident — and audaciously casts the real-life heroes as themselves — in his new film.
Remembering John Mahoney, The Tony Award-Winning Actor And 'Frasier' Star
Mahoney, who died Sunday, was born in Britain and didn't start acting until he was 37. He went on to appear in films like Say Anything and Barton Fink. Originally broadcast 1990.