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.
Adam McKay Of 'Funny Or Die' Dissects The '08 Economic Crash In 'The Big Short'
Not only do the characters in McKay's Oscar-nominated film warn about the collapse of the global economy — they make money off of it. Originally broadcast Dec. 23, 2015.
Going For Broke: Atlantic City Falls On Hard Times
Once a grand seaside destination, Atlantic City now faces the prospect of a takeover by the state of New Jersey. Historian Bryant Simon and reporter Amy Rosenberg discuss the city's rise and fall.
'All My Yesterdays' Captures The Beginning Of A 50-Year Engagement
by Kevin Whitehead
Music from Thad Jones and Mel Lewis' first and seventh Mondays at the Village Vanguard is out on a new two-CD set. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says All My Yesterdays explodes with creative energy.
'Hap And Leonard' Creator Needed To 'Burn Bridges' To Make It As A Writer
Joe R. Lansdale grew up poor in east Texas and worked as a janitor and in a potato field before finding success as a writer. Honky Tonk Samurai is the latest book in his mystery series.
Maggie Smith On The Pressures Of Acting: 'You Want So Much To Get It Right'
Known for her recent work in Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter films, the Oscar-winning actress now stars in The Lady in the Van, a film about an elderly woman who lived in a van for 15 years.
Bonnie Raitt Explores Her Roots In 'Dig In Deep'
by Ken Tucker
Raitt's new album is dominated by uptempo songs, R&B sounds and complex emotions. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the singer's distinctive style gives Dig In Deep a "vital glow."
'Doubter's Almanac' Is A Family Saga, Plus Algebraic Equations
by Maureen Corrigan
Ethan Canin traces the complicated lives of two generations of mathematical geniuses in his new novel. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls it an "elegant and devastating novel."
Frame-By-Frame, Filmmakers Make The Mundane Miraculous In 'Anomalisa'
Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson discuss their Oscar-nominated film. Anomalisa's stop-motion "communicates fragility and humanity and brokenness," Kaufman says. Originally broadcast Dec. 22, 2015.
It's All In Your Head: Director Pete Docter Gets Emotional In 'Inside Out'
The director's Oscar-nominated film illustrates the inner workings of an 11-year-old's mind, and includes the characters Sadness, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Joy. Originally broadcast June 10, 2015.