Interviews

Charles Blow is a New York Times columnist. Before that, he worked at the paper as the graphics director and design director for news.

Books
Arts

After Childhood Abuse, 'Times' Columnist Says He Chose Life Over Vengeance

3:33pm September 29, 2014

Charles Blow says he was 7 years old when he was sexually abused by a cousin. His new memoir, Fire Shut Up In My Bones, is about what he says happened, his recovery and his bisexuality.

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André Benjamin plays Jimi Hendrix in the new film Jimi: All Is By My Side.

Fresh Air Weekend: Jimi Hendrix Movie, 'Transparent' And Ron Perlman

12:30pm September 27, 2014

Director John Ridley and star Andre Benjamin discuss the film Jimi: All Is By My Side; David Bianculli reviews the new drama Transparent; Ron Perlman talks about his book Easy Street (The Hard Way).

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Culinary Diplomacy Takes Texan Chef To The Land Of Grilled Yak

7:03am September 27, 2014

by Allison Aubrey

Is food the oldest instrument of diplomacy? The U.S. State Department just sent award-winning chef Tim Byres to Kyrgyzstan, where he ate a sheep's eye and wowed his hosts with Texan spices.

Charles Wright, a retired professor at the University of Virginia, has been named the nation's next poet laureate.

Books
Arts

New Poet Laureate: 'The Meaning Has Always Stayed The Same'

7:01am September 23, 2014

by NPR Staff

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Charles Wright, who will serve as the next poet laureate, tells NPR's Melissa Block that his inspirations — landscape, language and God — have stayed constant for 50 years.

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Arts

Australian Comic Finds Humor In Humiliation For His Sitcom 'Please Like Me'

2:19pm September 15, 2014

Josh Thomas, 27, stars in the show geared toward 20-somethings on the new cable channel Pivot. He talks about coming out to his dad via text message and dealing with his mom's suicide attempts.

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Smoking has declined by about 4 percent annually in Uruguay since the country required graphic warnings on cigarette packages.

Philip Morris Sues Uruguay Over Graphic Cigarette Packaging

8:08am September 15, 2014

by NPR Staff

The country requires photos of decaying teeth and gruesome hospital scenes on every pack. Philip Morris sees this as a violation of a trade agreement and is suing Uruguay for $25 million.

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World News

Islamic State Was Fueled By 'Epic American Failure In Iraq,' Reporter Says

11:56pm September 11, 2014

The New York Times Baghdad bureau chief Tim Arango has been reporting from Iraq for five years and has watched the rise of the Islamic State militants. He gives Fresh Air his take on the situation.

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'Ask The White Guy' About The Hawks

8:58am September 11, 2014

by Michel Martin

Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson's email about the diversity of the team's fans could end his run in the NBA. But were his comments really out of bounds?

Dana Goldstein has reported on education for several years, including in The Atlantic and The Daily Beast. Her new book is The Teacher Wars.

Fresh Air Weekend: Neil Oxman, The New Pornographers, Dana Goldstein

12:09pm September 06, 2014

Neil Oxman, who has managed political ad campaigns, talks about what works and what doesn't; Ken Tucker reviews The New Pornographers' new album; Dana Goldstein talks about her book The Teachers Wars.

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Joan Rivers attends the Tribeca Film Festival in 2010 in New York.

With Age, Joan Rivers Learned To Say Anything: 'It Has Freed Me Totally'

4:17pm September 05, 2014

The comedian died Thursday at the age of 81. Rivers talked with Fresh Air in 1991, 2010 and 2012 about how her comedy evolved — and why she didn't care what others thought of her.

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