Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
'I wanted to buy her time': A mother looks back on her daughter's terminal cancer
Sarah Wildman's daughter Orli died at age 14. "She would sometimes ask me, 'What do you think I did to deserve this?' And of course, that's not an answerable question," Wildman says.
'The Sparsholt Affair' Confirms Alan Hollinghurst's Status As A Literary Master
by John Powers
Hollinghurst's new domestic epic leapfrogs across seven decades to examine how the laws of social propriety shape the destinies of a father and son. Critic John Powers says the novel is fascinating.
From Refugees To Politics, Mohsin Hamid Writes The Change He Wants To See
"All of us who are writers are doing something that actually matters," Hamid says. His novel, Exit West, follows a couple deciding whether to flee their homeland. Originally broadcast March 8, 2017.
With Go-For-Broke Exuberance, 'A Wrinkle In Time' Celebrates The Power Of Love
by Justin Chang
Ava DuVernay's adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's novel assets that a young girl's imagination can change the world. Critic Justin Chang says despite some gaudiness, the film has its own kind of magic.
New Collection Catches Jazz Bassist Charles Mingus 'Live at Montreux 1975'
by Kevin Whitehead
A new 2-CD set features a decades-old recording of Mingus and his quintet at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival. Citic Kevin Whitehead says the album showcases one of Mingus' most explosive bands.
'Jessica Jones' Returns, Her Rage Especially Resonant In The #MeToo Era
by David Bianculli
Netflix's drama about a woman who rebels against conformity and power structures returns for a second season on Thursday. Critic David Bianculli says Jessica Jones "transcends the superhero genre."
Remembering Barry Crimmins, A Comic Who Advocated For Survivors Of Sexual Abuse
by Terry Gross
Crimmins, who died last week, mentored Bobcat Goldthwait when they were up-and-coming comics in the '80s. The two men spoke to Fresh Air in 2015 about their documentary Call Me Lucky.
Oscar-Nominated 'Phantom Thread' Focuses On Fashion's 'Most Obsessive'
Paul Thomas Anderson's film about a renowned fashion designer landed six Oscar nominations, but the director says making sewing look dramatic wasn't easy. Originally broadcast Jan. 23, 2018.