How Chicago's comedians are adapting to the changing political landscape
NPR's Scott Simon visits The Second City Theater in Chicago to talk with comedians about the challenges of improv.
Arts
Harriet Constable on her historical fiction novel 'The Instrumentalist'
NPR's Scott Simon talks with Harriet Constable about her debut novel, "The Instrumentalist." It's historical fiction centered on Antonio Vivaldi and a violin virtuoso named Anna Maria della Pieta.
Carol Kane on her new movie 'Between the Temples'
NPR's Scott Simon talks with Carol Kane about her new movie, "Between the Temples." Kane has acted in greats over the years, "Annie Hall," "Taxi," "The Princess Bride."
'Interpretations of Love' is debut novel for 82-year-old author
Two years ago, Cat Brushing, a collection of provocative stories about older women still very much in touch with the sensual side of life, put Jane Campbell on the map.
A new mail-voting exhibition is a reminder that its use dates back to the Civil War
A new exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum is a reminder that voting by mail with absentee ballots in the U.S. goes back more than 160 years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Remembering pioneering film star Gena Rowlands
Rowlands, who died Aug. 14, was known for the raw and improvised independent films she made in the 1970s and 1980s with her husband, John Cassavetes. Originally broadcast in 1996.
Maxwell: Tiny Desk Concert
The soul singer seduces the Tiny Desk audience with his tender songs of love and heartbreak.
Quietly transcendent 'Close Your Eyes' may be among the best films you see all year
Over the past 50 years or so, Spanish filmmaker Víctor Erice has directed just four features. His latest, about a filmmaker who revisits a past project, has the pull of a well-crafted detective story.
Remembering Phil Donahue, the pioneering king of daytime talk shows
Donahue, who died Aug. 18, hosted an issue-oriented, afternoon talk show that paved the way for Oprah and others. David Bianculli offers an appreciation, and we listen back to a 1985 interview.
How to cut your grocery bill: Tweak your recipes and freeze leftovers
Food prices are still high, but your grocery bill doesn't have to be. Beth Moncel, founder of Budget Bytes, shares smart tips how to save money at the supermarket.