Best Fresh Air From WHYY Podcasts (2025)

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Best Of: Samin Nosrat / Elizabeth Gilbert 48:09

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9m ago48:09

48:09

After the tremendous success of Salt Fat Acid Heat, chef and author Samin Nosrat realized she needed to recalibrate her life. "I really believed on some level if I achieved all of these things, that that would fill this hole of loneliness in my heart," she tells Fresh Air's Sam Briger. Nosrat's new book, Good Things, is about sharing food with the …

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Jimmy Kimmel's Path To Late Night 44:37

26m ago44:37

44:37

With Jimmy Kimmel Live! at the center of a free speech debate, we're revisiting Kimmel's 2013 interview with Terry Gross. The late night host talked about his David Letterman obsession as a teen and the pressure of putting on a late night show. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews House of Guinness, the new Netflix series by Stephen Knight, who …

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Scarlett Johansson & June Squibb On 'Eleanor The Great' 43:54

3d ago43:54

43:54

Actor Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with Eleanor The Great, about a 94-year-old woman who claims her dead friend's Holocaust story as her own. "It's rare to feel surprised when you read a script," Johansson says. Squibb stars as Eleanor. They spoke with Tonya Mosley about Squibb's Broadway nickname, Johansson's memories of working …

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Samin Nosrat Is Embracing 'Good Things' 45:39

5d ago45:39

45:39

After the tremendous success of Salt Fat Acid Heat, chef and author Samin Nosrat realized she needed to recalibrate her life. "I really believed on some level if I achieved all of these things, that that would fill this hole of loneliness in my heart," she tells Fresh Air's Sam Briger. Nosrat's new book, Good Things, is about sharing food with the …

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Elizabeth Gilbert On Love, Loss, And Liberation 44:43

1d ago44:43

44:43

Elizabeth Gilbert's new memoir, All the Way to the River, is an unflinching personal account of addiction, grief, and healing. The book tells the story of her relationship with Rayya Elias, first her hairstylist and friend, and later her romantic partner, who died of pancreatic and liver cancer in 2018. Gilbert writes about leaving her marriage for…

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Best Of: Jude Law / Pedro Pascal 47:18

4d ago47:18

47:18

Jude Law now stars in the thriller series Black Rabbit on Netflix. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about the show, working with a dialect coach, and why he worked with a perfumer to play Henry VIII. Rock critic Ken Tucker shares some of his favorite music releases of the fall, and Pedro Pascal talks about how his dance training helped him become a bette…

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Robert Redford, Over The Years 45:12

5d ago45:12

45:12

The legendary actor died Tuesday at age 89. He spoke with Terry Gross about his movies, creating the Sundance Film Festival and Institute, and why he couldn't wait to leave school and Southern California. "I wasn't learning the way I was supposed to learn. I realized that my education was going to happen when I got out in the world." Interviews are…

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Jude Law 43:45

6d ago43:45

43:45

Jude Law's new Netflix series Black Rabbit with Jason Bateman follows two brothers in New York City, one a successful restaurateur, the other on the run and in debt. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about the series, using a perfumer to get into character to play Henry VIII and why he almost turned down his break-out role in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Lear…

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How Charlie Kirk Became A Voice Of Conservative Youth 44:15

11d ago44:15

44:15

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination on Sept. 10, NYT reporter Robert Draper talks with Terry Gross about the conservative activist's rise and legacy. Draper profiled Kirk earlier this year and stayed in touch up to the day before his death. We also discuss right-wing extremist Nick Fuentes, a rival of Kirk’s with a large following. Learn mo…

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Mary Roach On Our Remarkable, Replaceable Bodies 46:10

8d ago46:10

46:10

Science writer Mary Roach is fascinated by the human body, especially, she says, the "gooey bits and pieces of us that are performing miracles on a daily basis. Roach has done deep dives on human cadavers, the digestive system and the science of sex. Now, in Replaceable You, she chronicles both the history of body part replacement (including prosth…

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The Cost Of Gun Violence On Black Life 45:07

9d ago45:07

45:07

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Trymaine Lee's new memoir, A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America, is part history, and part personal. He traces the bloody history Black Americans have with firearms, recalls the gun violence in his own youth and follows his ancestors’ path back to Ghana. The book reads like a p…

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Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso) 1:40:34

14d ago1:40:34

1:40:34

This month marks 50 years of Terry Gross as the host of Fresh Air. What began in 1975 as a local experiment at WHYY in Philadelphia has since grown into a national institution—one that not only transformed public radio, but laid the groundwork for the world of podcasting.To commemorate a half-century on the air, Terry Gross joins us for a rare appe…

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Best Of: Rob Reiner On 'Spinal Tap II' / Billy Strings 48:37

15d ago48:37

48:37

Rob Reiner talks with Terry Gross about directing the new sequel to Spinal Tap, the mockumentary about a heavy metal band. He’ll also talk about his remarkable life and career, like directing When Harry Met Sally and starring in All in the Family. Also, singer songwriter and guitarist Billy Strings is one of the rare bluegrass musicians who can fil…

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Inside Netflix's 'Adolescence' 44:19

16d ago44:19

44:19

The Netflix miniseries follows a 13-year-old accused of murdering a girl from his school. Co-creator and star Stephen Graham says he read about similar crimes and wanted to know: "Why is this happening?" Graham spoke with Sam Briger about the crime that inspired the show, fatherhood, and the unusual way the show was shot — in one single take. Adole…

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NSA Whistleblower Reality Winner 44:52

13d ago44:52

44:52

Veteran Air Force linguist Reality Winner was working at the NSA in 2017 when she leaked a classified document to the press about Russian election interference. Soon after, the FBI showed up at her door. She was sentenced to five years in prison and was released in 2021. Winner's new memoir is I Am Not Your Enemy. She spoke with Terry Gross. Also, …

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The Future Of Free And Fair Elections 45:45

18d ago45:45

45:45

Before 2026's midterms, President Trump wants to ban mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines, and change voting rules. Legal expert Richard Hasen discusses the future of free and fair elections in America. "What's it going to mean to have to stand up to the government to make sure that people have their right to vote?" Hasen says. "I think i…

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Rob Reiner's 'Spinal Tap' Still Goes To 11 45:30

19d ago45:30

45:30

Reiner's 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap sparked a new genre of satire. Now, more than 40 years later, the band is back in a new sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. "They have grown neither emotionally or musically," Reiner says. The filmmaker spoke with Terry Gross about When Harry Met Sally, growing up around comedy legends, and starri…

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Bluegrass Star Billy Strings 44:58

16d ago44:58

44:58

The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist 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, performing the day his mom died, and how being a father has changed h…

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Best Of : Jane Fonda / Spike Lee 48:21

18d ago48:21

48:21

At 87, Oscar-winning actor Jane Fonda is pouring her energy into activism. She’ll reflect on her decades-long career, and how she first began her fitness empire to fund her activist work. Also, we hear from Spike Lee. His latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, but through the lens of modern-day America…

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Noah Wyle, Star Of 'The Pitt' 44:10

23d ago44:10

44:10

After 11 seasons on ER, Noah Wyle thought he was finished with medical dramas: "I spent 15 years avoiding — actively avoiding — walking down what I thought was either hallowed ground or traveled road." But then COVID happened, and he felt compelled to tell more of these stories. He spoke with Dave Davies about the making of HBO's hit show The Pitt,…

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How Does Pain Work? Dr. Sanjay Gupta Explains 45:26

24d ago45:26

45:26

CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta's new book examines the world of pain — why we feel it, and how we can treat it. He says distraction and meditation can be useful tools for managing pain. He spoke with Terry Gross about how the brain gets pain signals wrong, alternatives to painkillers, and how a family of circus performers inspired…

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RFK Jr.'s Impact On Americans' Health 45:30

25d ago45:30

45:30

We look at the stormy tenure of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg discusses how RFK Jr.'s cuts to government staff and expert groups will impact everyday Americans. A vaccine skeptic, Kennedy fired the CDC director last week. Also, John Powers reviews the Prime Video thriller serie…

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Jane Fonda Is Not Backing Down 45:15

22d ago45:15

45:15

Earlier 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 Pri…

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Roots of Rock and R&B: Dion and Allen Toussaint 46:40

28d ago46:40

46:40

All week we're revisitingarchival interviews with key figures in early rock and roll, rockabilly andR&B. We listen back to a 2000interview with former teen idol Dion. Plus we’ll hear an interview Terry Grossrecorded in 1988 with New Orleans songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint. Andjazz critic Kevin Whitehead profilesjazz saxophonist Art Pepper, …

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Roots of R&B: Charles Brown & Ray Charles 49:06

30d ago49:06

49:06

All week we're revisiting archival interviews with keyfigures in early rock and roll, rockabilly and R&B. We listen back to a 1989 interview with singer and pianistCharles Brown. Brown iscredited with creating an expressive style of music that blended rough Texasblues with the soft glamour of Hollywood. And we revisit a 1998 interview withsoul sing…

Fresh Air From WHYY Podcasts

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Fresh Air

NPR

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Fresh Air From WHYY

Fresh Air From WHYY

1
Best Of: Samin Nosrat / Elizabeth Gilbert 48:09

1
Jimmy Kimmel's Path To Late Night 44:37

1
Scarlett Johansson & June Squibb On 'Eleanor The Great' 43:54

1
Samin Nosrat Is Embracing 'Good Things' 45:39

1
Elizabeth Gilbert On Love, Loss, And Liberation 44:43

1
Best Of: Jude Law / Pedro Pascal 47:18

1
Robert Redford, Over The Years 45:12

1
Jude Law 43:45

1
How Charlie Kirk Became A Voice Of Conservative Youth 44:15

1
Mary Roach On Our Remarkable, Replaceable Bodies 46:10

1
The Cost Of Gun Violence On Black Life 45:07

1
Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso) 1:40:34

1
Best Of: Rob Reiner On 'Spinal Tap II' / Billy Strings 48:37

1
Inside Netflix's 'Adolescence' 44:19

1
NSA Whistleblower Reality Winner 44:52

1
The Future Of Free And Fair Elections 45:45

1
Rob Reiner's 'Spinal Tap' Still Goes To 11 45:30

1
Bluegrass Star Billy Strings 44:58

1
Best Of : Jane Fonda / Spike Lee 48:21

1
Noah Wyle, Star Of 'The Pitt' 44:10

1
How Does Pain Work? Dr. Sanjay Gupta Explains 45:26

1
RFK Jr.'s Impact On Americans' Health 45:30

1
Jane Fonda Is Not Backing Down 45:15

1
Roots of Rock and R&B: Dion and Allen Toussaint 46:40

1
Roots of R&B: Charles Brown & Ray Charles 49:06