Episodios

  • Comic Atsuko Okatsuka Is Owning Her 'Freak'

    Comic Atsuko Okatsuka Is Owning Her 'Freak'
    Jun 9 2025
    Okatsuka is known for her bowl haircut — and for finding humor in the dysfunction of her immigrant family. Her new standup special, Father, is about her dad, who reappeared in her life after decades away. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about being a caretaker, her signature style, and following in the footsteps of Margaret Cho.

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    45 m
  • Best Of: The Innovation Of 'I Love Lucy' / Mark Hamill

    Best Of: The Innovation Of 'I Love Lucy' / Mark Hamill
    Jun 7 2025
    Playing Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy, made Desi Arnaz a star. Behind the scenes, he created what became standard procedures for producing, shooting, lighting and broadcasting TV sitcoms. Author Todd Purdum talks about his new book Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television.

    Also, we hear from Mark Hamill. He's in the new movie The Life of Chuck and is known for playing the iconic hero Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movies. He talks about auditioning for the film and acting with puppets.

    Plus, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new HBO documentary, Pee-Wee as Himself.

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    49 m
  • Why We Remember / 'Simpsons' Composer Alf Clausen

    Why We Remember / 'Simpsons' Composer Alf Clausen
    Jun 6 2025
    Do you have trouble remembering names and faces, or where you put your keys? Neurologist Dr. Charan Ranganath talks about the latest research into memory. His book is called Why We Remember.

    Alf Clausen, the Emmy-winning composer, arranger and orchestrator behind the music and song parodies on The Simpsons, died at 84. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1997.

    And Justin Chang reviews the new film The Life of Chuck, based on a novella by Stephen King. TV critic David Bianculli recommends an upcoming live TV production of George Clooney's Broadway hit, Good Night, and Good Luck.

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    47 m
  • Ocean Vuong Sees Himself More As A Teacher Than A Writer

    Ocean Vuong Sees Himself More As A Teacher Than A Writer
    Jun 6 2025
    Poet and novelist Ocean Vuong joins us to discuss his new novel, The Emperor of Gladness. Set in a fictional small town in Connecticut, it follows a 19-year-old grappling with addiction and despair, who forms an unexpected bond with an 82-year-old widow living with dementia. Together, they navigate memory and survival. He also talks about teaching and why he's put an end date on the number of books he'll write in his lifetime.

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    44 m
  • The Face-Off Between Harvard & The Trump Administration

    The Face-Off Between Harvard & The Trump Administration
    Jun 4 2025
    The Trump administration has frozen around 3 billion dollars in Harvard grants and contracts, and is trying to stop the university's ability to enroll foreign students. In response, Harvard is suing. Terry Gross talks with Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman.

    TV critic David Banculli previews CNN's live telecast of the broadway production of Good Night, and Good Luck, starring George Clooney as TV journalist Edward R. Murrow.

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    45 m
  • To Shed Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill Turned To Voiceover Work

    To Shed Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill Turned To Voiceover Work
    Jun 3 2025
    Mark Hamill played Luke Skywalker, one of the most iconic heroes in movie history. His latest film, The Life of Chuck, is an adaptation of a Stephen King novella. He spoke to Fresh Air about auditioning for Star Wars, voiceover work, and the advice Carrie Fisher gave him.

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    46 m
  • With 'I Love Lucy,' Desi Arnaz Changed TV Forever

    With 'I Love Lucy,' Desi Arnaz Changed TV Forever
    Jun 2 2025
    The success of I Love Lucy is often credited to Lucille Ball's comedic talent, but biographer Todd Purdum says Desi Arnaz was more than just "second banana" to Lucy. He also helped shape the modern sitcom.

    Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews a documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

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    45 m
  • Best Of: Sarah Silverman / Cole Escola

    Best Of: Sarah Silverman / Cole Escola
    May 31 2025
    Comic Sarah Silverman talks about her new Netflix special, PostMortem, about the death of her father and stepmother, 9 days apart. She talks with Terry Gross about how the special came to be.

    Also, we hear from Cole Escola, creator and star of the hit Broadway comedy Oh Mary! It's an intentionally ridiculous reimagining of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. It portrays her as having become addicted to alcohol, not because of the Civil War, but because she's desperately yearning for her only true love, cabaret.

    Plus, Ken Tucker reviews new albums by Willie Nelson and Ken Pomeroy.

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    48 m
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