Best Of: Laverne Cox /Comic Ali Siddiq

Legendary record producer & manager Peter Asher

Jul 7, 202646 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross interviews legendary music producer and manager Peter Asher. The conversation explores Asher’s multi-faceted career, beginning with his rise to fame as one half of the British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon. Asher shares behind-the-scenes stories from the era, including his unique perspective on living with the Beatles and Paul McCartney, who famously penned the duo’s number-one hit, A World Without Love. The discussion highlights Asher’s transition from a performer to a pivotal industry figure. After his stint with the Beatles’ label, Apple Records—where he signed a then-unknown James Taylor—Asher moved to Los Angeles. He reflects on his success as a producer and manager, detailing his long-standing creative partnerships with artists such as James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. Asher also recounts his experiences in London’s underground art scene, including his role as a gallery co-owner during the time John Lennon first met Yoko Ono. Throughout the interview, Asher offers insights into the evolution of the music industry, his early days as a child actor, and the personal dynamics of the iconic musicians he helped shape.

Writer Rachel Aviv explores the complexity of the mother-daughter bond

Jul 6, 202645 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Tanya Mosley sits down with New Yorker staff writer Rachel Aviv to discuss her latest book, You Won’t Get Free of It: Stories of Mothers and Daughters. The conversation explores the profound evolution of Aviv’s perspective on the mother-daughter bond, shifting from the vantage point of a daughter to that of a mother. Aviv reflects on how her own life experiences—specifically the shift in her identity after becoming a parent—caused her to re-examine journalistic pieces she wrote years earlier. The discussion delves into the complex narratives of women like Hannah, a teacher who suffered from dissociative fugue, and Emma, a Filipina domestic worker who sacrificed proximity to her own children to support them from abroad. Aviv also engages with the controversial legacy of Nobel Prize-winning author Alice Munro, whose daughter revealed years of sexual abuse by her stepfather, highlighting the tension between an artist’s public image and their private failings. Throughout the episode, Aviv and Mosley investigate themes of sacrifice, the desire for self-actualization, and the often-painful psychological realities that lie beneath conventional family narratives. Aviv shares how her early childhood experiences with mental health struggles uniquely shaped her commitment to documenting complex, non-linear stories, ultimately offering listeners a nuanced exploration of the inextricable ties that define mothers and daughters.

Best Of: Tennis stars Chris Evert & Martina Navratilova / American Culture Wars

Jul 4, 202649 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross sits down with tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova to discuss their historic rivalry, deep friendship, and their recent personal battles with cancer. The two icons, who dominated the sport in the 1970s and 80s, reflect on their journey from fierce competitors—whose relationship was once strained by professional pressure and outside influences—to supportive confidantes who stood by one another while facing near-simultaneous cancer diagnoses. The conversation also navigates the broader cultural landscape. Isaac Butler, author of The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars, joins the program to explore the roots of the modern culture wars, tracing how ideological attacks on art and education began in the 1970s and continue to shape current political discourse. Additionally, critic John Powers provides an analysis of the British comedy series Alice and Steve, exploring the show's complex portrayal of aging, friendship, and the messy, often contradictory nature of human relationships. Throughout the episode, the guests offer insights into how resilience—whether in sports, art, or personal health—defines the human experience.

Steven Spielberg

Jul 3, 202646 minSummary

In this insightful interview, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg reflects on his prolific career and the deeply personal experiences that shaped his artistic vision. The discussion centers on the 2022 release of The Fablemans, a semi-autobiographical film that explores his childhood, his parents’ divorce, and his developing passion for cinema. Spielberg candidly shares how his early life was defined by fear, noting how he turned to filmmaking as a way to gain control over traumatic experiences. He explains how recreating terrifying moments—such as train crashes or war scenarios—helped him process his anxieties. The conversation delves into the profound influence of his father’s stories about World War II, which later inspired his own unflinching look at conflict in films like Saving Private Ryan. Beyond his technical brilliance, Spielberg discusses the emotional complexities of his upbringing, including the burden of secrets regarding his family life and his personal journey toward understanding the Holocaust. This episode offers a poignant look at how one of history’s most influential directors translated his private struggles and haunting memories into the shared language of the American popular imagination.

Writer Kennedy Ryan uses romance novels as a vehicle for discourse

Jul 2, 202645 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, the host sits down with bestselling author Kennedy Ryan to discuss her unique approach to the romance genre. Ryan, who transitioned into fiction after a career in journalism and autism advocacy, explains her philosophy of using romance as a Trojan horse for important social discourse. While the genre is often dismissed by critics, Ryan views it as an accessible vehicle to center marginalized voices, including Black, Indigenous, and queer women, as well as those living with disabilities or mental health challenges. Ryan details her research-heavy process, which mirrors her background in investigative reporting. She emphasizes that she starts with the conversation she wants to have—whether about domestic violence, chronic illness, or systemic inequality—and then builds characters equipped to carry that narrative. She also challenges the common disparagement of romance novels, arguing that the genre's focus on women’s desire and its promise of a happily-ever-after provide hope, joy, and agency to readers navigating difficult real-world realities. Throughout the conversation, Ryan highlights the importance of creating space for diverse stories that historically have been left on the periphery of literature.

The “bullies of the tick world” are on the hunt

Jul 1, 202645 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross speaks with New Yorker staff writer Burkhard Bilger about the Lone Star tick and the growing threat of alpha-gal syndrome. Unlike other ticks that passively wait for hosts, the Lone Star tick is described as an aggressive, hunting pest that has expanded its territory from the American Southeast to reach as far north as Maine and as far west as Oklahoma. Bilger explains that the tick transmits alpha-gal syndrome, a mysterious condition that triggers a severe, potentially life-threatening allergy to red meat and mammalian products. The discussion highlights how the syndrome is difficult to diagnose, with symptoms including hives, respiratory distress, and gastrointestinal issues often emerging hours after exposure. The episode explores how modern medical treatments, such as certain medications or vaccines containing animal-derived ingredients, can inadvertently trigger reactions in those affected. Bilger also details the environmental factors driving the tick’s spread, such as climate change, reforestation, and the rising deer population. The conversation concludes with insights on the lack of a cure, the importance of prompt tick removal, and the necessity for public vigilance in identifying this increasingly common but misunderstood health risk.

Banned books, shocking art & the birth of the culture wars

Jun 30, 202645 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross sits down with cultural historian and author Isaac Butler to discuss his latest book, The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars. The conversation explores the origins of modern political polarization, tracing the roots of contemporary battles over education and artistic expression back to the 1970s and 80s. Butler highlights the 1974 textbook protests in Kanawha County, West Virginia, as a foundational template for modern grievance politics, where organized groups successfully pressured school boards to remove diverse curricula. The discussion moves into the 1980s and 90s, focusing on how figures like Donald Wildmon and the American Family Association weaponized public outrage against artists such as Andres Serrano and David Wojnarowicz. Butler analyzes the strategic use of selective out-of-context misrepresentation to target federally funded art, noting the devastating impact these campaigns had on the National Endowment for the Arts. By bridging the gap between past controversies and present-day curriculum debates, the episode provides a compelling look at how these ideological conflicts continue to reshape American society.

Tennis rivals Chris Evert & Martina Navratilova team up against cancer

Jun 29, 202645 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross sits down with tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova to discuss their storied careers, their complex evolution from friends to fierce rivals, and their shared battle against cancer. The conversation centers on a recent documentary, Chris and Martina: The Final Set, which chronicles the dynamic between these two athletes who dominated the sport throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The discussion explores the personal and physical toll of professional tennis, the pressure of early fame, and the intense training regimens that redefined the women’s game. Both women reflect on the period when their friendship cooled due to the pressures of competition and external influences, as well as the deep bond they rebuilt later in life. A significant portion of the interview highlights their recent, simultaneous journeys through cancer diagnoses and treatment. Navratilova and Evert offer a poignant look at how they supported one another through recovery, demonstrating a level of trust and mutual care that has anchored their relationship for over fifty years. Their candid dialogue provides a powerful testament to resilience, friendship, and the strength required to navigate both athletic triumphs and personal hardship.

Remembering master of the TV sitcom, James Burrows

Jun 26, 202647 minSummary

This episode of Fresh Air honors the life and career of James Burrows, the legendary television director who shaped the modern sitcom. Following his passing at the age of 85, the program looks back at a remarkable five-decade career that included helming over a thousand episodes of iconic series such as Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, and Will & Grace. The episode features an insightful 2006 interview where Burrows discusses his creative process, noting how he absorbed his father’s theatrical wisdom through osmosis. He explains his transition from stage management to television, revealing his philosophy that successful sitcoms rely on ensemble chemistry and the ability to listen rather than just watch. Burrows famously discusses the mechanics of live-audience tapings, his innovation of adding a fourth camera to sitcom production, and his dedication to shaping characters from their inception. Through his collaboration with writers and actors, Burrows helped define the comedic tone of some of television’s most beloved shows. This tribute serves as a testament to his legacy as a master storyteller who viewed great comedy as an exploration of human connection, truth, and community.

Playwright Anna Deavere Smith turns to her family’s history for inspiration

Jun 25, 202645 minSummary

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Tonya Moseley interviews celebrated actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith about her unique career and her latest creative endeavor. Smith, a pioneer of documentary or verbatim theater, is known for interviewing real people caught in the center of national crises and performing their exact words on stage. Her iconic works, including Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, examine societal fractures through deeply human perspectives. The discussion centers on her new play, Basil Biggs, which departs from her usual method by focusing on her own family history. The play explores the life of her great-great-grandfather, a free Black man who was a key figure in Gettysburg during the Civil War. Smith recounts the challenges of researching a subject who left no written records, describing how visiting his original farmstead provided the emotional anchoring necessary to bring his story to life. Throughout the episode, Smith reflects on the evolution of her craft, the power of listening, and her desire to find human commonality by engaging with diverse, often opposing, viewpoints.