Best Billy Strings Podcasts (2026)

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Bluegrass Star Billy Strings / Laufey 48:25

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1m ago48:25

48:25

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Billy Strings has one foot in traditional bluegrass and another in improvisational jam music. He has a new album, ‘Live at the Legion,’ and he brought his guitar to our studio. He spoke with Sam Briger about healing himself through songwriting. Also, Icelandic jazz-pop star Laufey spoke with Terry Gross about her cl…

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Billy Strings Tiny Desk Concert! 7:29

14d ago7:29

7:29

I've been a big fan of Billy Strings for quite a while now. I've also always loved NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, and I was stoked to see that Billy was on the show. Join me for a quick breakdown of his Tiny Desk conert!By Will Houk

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Ben Stiller / Pedro Pascal 48:15

11m ago48:15

48:15

Ben Stiller talks about his new Apple TV+ documentary about his actor/comedian parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, they were famous as the comedy duo, Stiller and Meara. Ben talks about growing up in a showbiz family, where there was no separation between work and personal lives. Chilean-born actor Pedro Pascal has faced cou…

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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson 45:47

23h ago45:47

45:47

The WWE superstar considered pursuing a career in mixed martial arts before realizing, "I don't like getting punched in the face." Johnson plays MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's ‘The Smashing Machine.’ He spoke with Terry Gross about his many injuries, his relationship with his late father, and his wrestling personas. Learn more about sponso…

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Breaking down the best music of 2025! 25:50

38m ago25:50

25:50

I feel like this year gave us some incredible music from a variety of artists. I wanted to share with you some of the bands and songwriters that were on repeat for me this year. We'll be talking about Tyler Childers, Margo Price, Nathan Evans Fox, Wednesday, Turnstile, Scowl, Lucy Dacus and Jay Som. I hope you dig it!…

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Jeff Hiller’s Big Break Came In His 40s 44:49

15m ago44:49

44:49

Hiller spent years scraping by in Hollywood by taking on various small roles and commercials. Then he landed the role of Joel on HBO's ‘Somebody Somewhere’ and everything changed. His memoir is ‘Actress of a Certain Age.’ Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

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Richard Kind Is Glad He’s Not Super Famous 45:30

3d ago45:30

45:30

Kind is the announcer and host sidekick on the Netflix show ‘Everybody's Live with John Mulaney.’ "I don't know what the hell I'm doing. You must understand — it's anarchy," he says of the show. He spoke with Terry Gross about having ego but no confidence, working with Sondheim, and working in his father's jewelry store as a teen. Jazz historian Ke…

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Malala Finds Her Way 46:10

8m ago46:10

46:10

After surviving the Taliban's 2012 attempted assassination, activist Malala Yousafzai didn't back down. She continued to advocate for girls' education across the globe. In 2014, Yousafzai became the youngest person to win a Nobel Prize, an honor that weighed on her when she went off to college. In ‘Finding My Way,’ she writes about her life at Oxfo…

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Comic Cristela Alonzo 45:58

27m ago45:58

45:58

For the first seven years of her life, Cristela Alonzo lived in an abandoned diner in a South Texas border town. She spoke with Terry Gross about ICE raids, being mentored by labor activist Dolores Huerta, and the culture shock of having money after growing up so poor. Her recent Netflix stand-up special is called ‘Upper Classy.’ Learn more about s…

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SOB 521 Features: Robben Ford, Drew Zingg, Enrico Crivellaro, Grover Washington Jr. & a fond farewell to Mick Abrahams 4:06:27

5d ago4:06:27

4:06:27

Artist Song Album Label Notes - Wales, Saunders w/Garcia & Roberts Wales & Saunders w/Garcia + Twilight Zone Theme w/Howard Roberts guitar TV Classic Tunes - 25th Anniversary Edition - 2CD's Breakable Records + SOB Twilight Zone Theme - Blodwyn Pig See My Way by Mick Abrahams Pigthology - Compilation - 1974 Chrysalis Mick Abrahams - R.I.P. at 82 - …

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Jane Fonda 45:34

5d ago45:34

45:34

Early this year, Fonda made headlines for delivering a fiery critique of the Trump administration during a SAG-AFTRA award acceptance speech. "This is not the time to go inward," Fonda says. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about her career onscreen and off, as an activist. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Priva…

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The Making Of ‘Born To Run’ 47:07

36m ago47:07

47:07

Bruce Springsteen's groundbreaking album, ‘Born to Run,’ came out 50 years ago this year, marking a turning point for rock and roll — and for "The Boss." Before he made that record, Springsteen's label, Columbia, was on the verge of dropping him because his first two albums, though critically acclaimed, had sold poorly. Biographer Peter Ames Carlin…

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‘Morrie’ Writer Mitch Albom On Second Chances 43:37

10d ago43:37

43:37

Albom's 2025 novel, ‘Twice,’ asks a question most of us have daydreamed about: what if you could go back and relive any moment of your life? In the book, a man is born with that exact power, but every second chance comes with a cost. Albom talks with Tonya Mosley about his new book, and the lasting influence of Morrie Schwartz, his old college prof…

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Will Arnett 47:25

1d ago47:25

47:25

Arnett stars in Bradley Cooper’s new film, ‘Is This Thing On?’ as a man who turns to the New York comedy scene as he grapples with his divorce. The ‘SmartLess’ podcast co-host talked with Terry Gross about voicework, how ‘Arrested Development’ changed his life, and being a troublemaker in school. Also, critic David Bianculli shares his picks for be…

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Dir. Craig Brewer Is Chasing ‘Purple Rain’ Magic 48:11

12d ago48:11

48:11

Director Craig Brewer has made a career of telling stories about dreamers and misfits chasing something bigger than themselves, from ‘Hustle & Flow’ to ‘Dolemite Is My Name.’ Now he's back with ‘Song Sung Blue,’ a film based on the true story of a Milwaukee couple who became local legends performing as a Neil Diamond tribute band. He spoke with Ton…

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BRAND NEW: SOB 520 - Merry Christmas - 2025 4:02:57

3d ago4:02:57

4:02:57

BRAND NEW: SOB 520 - Merry Christmas - 2025 Artist Song Album Label Notes - The Crusaders Scratch (live) by Wayne Henderson Scratch - 1974 Blue Thumb Records - MCA CD Reissue Alternate SOB ID - Suzy Bogguss & Delbert McClinton Baby, It's Cold Outside by Frank Loesser Baby, It's Cold Outside - 2003 Compadre Records Merry Christmas - 2025 - Lyle Love…

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Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas is a damn delight! 23:29

3d ago23:29

23:29

I have loved this movie since I was a little kid. It's campy, and honestly kinda bad but in the best way possible. The songs are fun, the puppets are bad, but the nostalgia lives on. I hope I can inspire you to make this classic a part of your Christmas tradition!By Will Houk

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Billy the Kid — Part 7: The Siege Holds 47:48

4d ago47:48

47:48

On the second day of a siege, the gunfire matters less than the waiting. Day Two of the Battle of Lincoln (July 16, 1878) does not erupt—it calcifies. The town seals itself shut. Civilians barricade behind adobe walls. Gunmen hold positions they cannot abandon. And law enforcement, unable to compel surrender, begins looking upward for force it cann…

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This Episode Goes To 11! Remembering Rob Reiner And His Classic Film This Is Spinal Tap! 7:25

11d ago7:25

7:25

Rob Reiner was an incredible director and genuinely hilarious. He passed away this week under really tragic circumstances. But the art he left us with will live on. This Is Spinal Tap is one of the funniest movies ever made in my opinion. So I wanted to share some of its best moments with you. RIP Rob Reiner. You were a genius.…

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The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs 43:51

13d ago43:51

43:51

To celebrate the holidays, we’re looking back at four archive Fresh Air interviews discussing popular Christmas songs: First, jazz singer Mel Torme tells Terry Gross about co-writing “The Christmas Song” on a hot summer day, in an interview from 1977. Then we hear from songwriters Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane in 1989 about making “Have Yourself a Me…

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Best Of: Lucy Liu / Zadie Smith 48:42

5d ago48:42

48:42

Lucy Liu joins Tonya Mosley to talk about her new film ‘Rosemead,’ where she stars as a terminally ill woman grappling with her teenage son’s escalating mental health crisis and the impossible choices she faces to protect him. It’s based on a true story. Also, writer Zadie Smith talks with Terry Gross about her new collection of essays, ‘Dead and A…

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John Le Carré’s Son Revives His Late Dad's Spy 46:27

15d ago46:27

46:27

Writer Nick Harkaway grew up hearing his dad read drafts of his George Smiley novels. He picks up le Carré's beloved spymaster character in the novel ‘Karla's Choice,’ now out in paperback. He spoke with Sam Briger about choosing his own pen name, channeling his dad's writing style, and his stint writing copy for a lingerie catalogue. Learn more ab…

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Lucy Liu 44:48

7d ago44:48

44:48

The child of Chinese immigrants, Liu grew up in Queens where she spoke Mandarin at home and didn't learn English until she was 5. She returns to the language in her new film, ‘Rosemead.’ It’s about a terminally ill mother grappling with her teenage son’s escalating mental health crisis and the impossible choices she faces to help him. Liu spoke wit…

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A Revealing Profile Of Trump Chief Of Staff Susie Wiles 46:01

7d ago46:01

46:01

'Vanity Fair' writer Chris Whipple interviewed Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles 11 times, getting her view on cabinet members, Trump's revenge tour, Venezuela policy, and why she says Trump has an "alcoholic's personality." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

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Remembering Rob Reiner 48:29

9d ago48:29

48:29

The great filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were killed in their home Sunday. Their son Nick has been arrested on suspicion of murder. It’s a shocking and tragic end to a life that brought joy to so many. Reiner’s contributions to American film include canonical movies such as ‘The Princess Bride,’ ‘Stand By Me,’ ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and …

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SOB 381/Replay - Features: Barbara Lynn, Joe Sample, Bo Diddley, John Belushi, Nicky Hopkins, Merl Saunders, Martin Fierro, with a 1-hour tribute to Burt Bacharach covered by various artists 4:07:11

19d ago4:07:11

4:07:11

Artist Song Album Label Notes - Twilight Zone by Marius Constant Twilight Zone w/Howard Roberts guitar TV Classic Tunes - 25th Anniversary Edition - 2CD's Breakable Records + SOB Twilight Zone Theme - Pat Metheny Alfie by Burt Bacharach & Hal David - 1966 Movie What's It All About? - 2011 Nonesuch Burt Bacharach - R.I.P. - 94 - Stevie Wonder Alfie …

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Zadie Smith Asks, What Makes Us Feel Alive? 47:56

10d ago47:56

47:56

Zadie Smith returns to talk with Terry Gross about her new collection of essays, 'Dead and Alive.' She reflects on the "nonsense" of generational discourse, being raised by TV, and her obsession with time. Also, Martin Johnson has an appreciation of drummer and composer Jack deJohnette, who died in October. Follow Fresh Air on instagram @nprfreshai…

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Amanda Shires dives deep into her divorce with Jason Isbell on her new album "Nobody's Girl." 12:41

14d ago12:41

12:41

I have been a fan of Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell for over a decade now. Like many others I was surprised to hear about their divorce. And it's never easy to deal with something like that in the public eye. This album, produced by Shooter Jennings, takes a look into her heartbreak, and what it's like to rebuild after a difficult breakup.…

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Best Of: Michael Shannon / ‘Pluribus’ Star Rhea Seehorn 47:44

21d ago47:44

47:44

Michael Shannon understands he’s associated with some intense, menacing characters he’s played, like Agent Nelson Van Alden in ‘Boardwalk Empire.’ “I’m a big fella, and I got this giant head, and it’s not too difficult for me to seem intimidating I suppose, but it couldn’t be further from what I’m actually like,” he tells Dave Davies. In two new pr…

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Remembering Architect Frank Gehry 44:27

13d ago44:27

44:27

Frank Gehry, whose steel and titanium curved structures seemed more like sculptures than buildings, died last week at age 96. His masterpiece was the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2004 about finding his design voice. Also, we remember Raul Malo, the lead singer and songwriter of The Mavericks, the country band wit…