Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
Beetlejuice is back, in a supernatural screwball sequel
Director Tim Burton seems more interested in updating than duplicating his 1988 hit. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice demonstrates affection for the characters and genuine curiosity in how they’re doing now.
Jacqueline Woodson On Growing Up, Coming Out And Saying Hi To Strangers
Woodson won the National Book Award for young people's literature in 2014 for her memoir Brown Girl Dreaming, and is a finalist for another NBA this year. Originally broadcast Dec. 20, 2014.
Remembering Noted Civil Rights Attorney Jack Greenberg
Greenberg, who died Wednesday, was the last surviving attorney to argue the cases that led to the Brown v. Board of Education school desegregation decision. Originally broadcast in 1994 and 2004.
Vegan Chefs Show How To Make Even A Carrot The Centerpiece Of A Meal
V Street, the new cookbook by married chefs Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, features recipes inspired by global street food. Jacoby says the right techniques can coax "amazing flavor" out of vegetables.
Revisiting The Off-Center, Oddly Eccentric Pop Music Of The Chills
by Ed Ward
The New Zealand band began releasing records on the Flying Nun label in the 1980s. Four decades later, they are still at it. Rock historian Ed Ward tells story of The Chills.
How The 'Cannabis Catch-22' Keeps Marijuana Classified As A Harmful Drug
Author John Hudak says federal law makes it hard to prove the medicinal value of marijuana. "As a Schedule 1 drug, it is very difficult to do research on the plant," he explains.
Bob Weir Sings About Pinto Ponies And Ghost Towns On 'Blue Mountain'
by Ken Tucker
Best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, Weir goes solo on his new album, which was inspired by his time working as a ranch hand in Wyoming as a teen. Critic Ken Tucker has a review.
A Coming-Of Age Melodrama Is Steeped In Social Politics In 'The Mothers'
by Maureen Corrigan
Britt Bennett's debut novel centers on three African-American friends dealing with their community's expectations and their own mistakes. Critic Maureen Corrigan says it is full of "mini epiphanies."
Jonathan Safran Foer On Marriage, Religion And Universal Balances
Safran Foer's new novel, Here I Am, is told from the points of view of different members of a Jewish family. He says it's about things falling apart — but also about "people trying to mend things."
A Neurosurgeon Reflects On The 'Awe And Mystery' Of The Brain
In his memoir Do No Harm, Henry Marsh confesses to the uncertainties he's dealt with as a surgeon and reflects on the enigmas of the brain and consciousness. Originally broadcast May 26, 2015.