Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
In this haunted house horror you see what the ghost sees — and it's terrifying
In Steven Soderbergh's supernatural thriller Presence, a family finds they aren't alone in their new house. It's a ghost story told masterfully from the ghost's point of view.
Whose Side Was She On? 'American Heiress' Revisits Patty Hearst's Kidnapping
Legal expert Jeffrey Toobin says Hearst, who was abducted in 1974 and declared allegiance to her captors, "responded rationally to the circumstances." Originally broadcast Aug. 3, 2016.
Film Adaptation Of 'The Circle' Is Part Satire, Part Moralistic Melodrama
by David Edelstein
Emma Watson and Tom Hanks star in the remake of Dave Eggers' novel about a giant social media company. Critic David Edelstein says he found much of the acting overheated and the ending confusing.
For 'New York Times' Obit Writers, 'Death Is Never Solicitous Of A Deadline'
Bruce Weber and Margalit Fox have written obituaries for thousands of people, ranging from heads of state to the inventor of the Etch-a-Sketch. They are featured in the new documentary Obit.
Kendrick Lamar Extends His Vocal And Emotional Range On 'DAMN.'
by Ken Tucker
Emotions like lust and love serve as metaphors for social and political struggles on Lamar's new album. Critic Ken Tucker says the music on DAMN. signals the artist's bold refusal to back down.
'Veep' Executive Producer On Making A Show About The 'Craven Desire For Power'
The HBO series is now in its sixth season. Producer Frank Rich also writes a column for New York magazine about the intersection of politics and popular culture.
Hulu's 'Handmaid's Tale' Delivers A Timely And Feminist Message
by David Bianculli
A new 10-part adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1986 novel stars Elisabeth Moss as a woman living in a totalitarian state. Critic David Bianculli says the miniseries depicts a bleak and haunting future.
Celebrating The Centennial Of Jazz Legend Ella Fitzgerald
by Kevin Whitehead
Fitzgerald, who died in 1996, had her first hits with Chick Webb's big band before going out on her own in the 1940s. Critic Kevin Whitehead says Fitzgerald at her best is as good as it gets.
For Baseball's Rick Ankiel, Losing His Pitching Ability Led To An Unusual Comeback
Ankiel entered the major leagues in 1999 as a gifted pitcher, but one day suddenly lost that gift. He talks about his pitching demons, his troubled childhood and his way back to baseball.
'Girls & Sex' And The Importance Of Talking To Young Women About Pleasure
Author Peggy Orenstein says that when it comes to adolescent sexuality, the subject of girls' pleasure is often left unspoken. Originally broadcast March 29, 2016.