Best Marion Roach Smith Podcasts (2026)

1
Ben Stiller / Pedro Pascal 48:15

Play Pause

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…

1
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson 45:47

1d 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…

1
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…

1
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…

1
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…

1
Bluegrass Star Billy Strings / Laufey 48:25

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…

1
Jane Fonda 45:34

30m 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…

1
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…

1
‘Morrie’ Writer Mitch Albom On Second Chances 43:37

11d 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…

1
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…

1
Dir. Craig Brewer Is Chasing ‘Purple Rain’ Magic 48:11

13d 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…

1
The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs 43:51

14d 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…

1
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…

1
John Le Carré’s Son Revives His Late Dad's Spy 46:27

16d 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…

1
Ep. 156 Jane Hamilton 28:33

13d ago28:33

28:33

Today my guest is writer and author Jane Hamilton. Her first novel, The Book of Ruth, won the PEN/Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award for best first novel and was a selection of the Oprah Book Club. Her second novel, A Map of the World, was an international bestseller, and the fine novels kept on coming so that now comes the publication of her eighth…

1
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…

1
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…

1
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 …

1
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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Best Of: Michael Shannon / ‘Pluribus’ Star Rhea Seehorn 47:44

22d 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…

1
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…

1
A Courtside Look At NBA Legends, From Jordan To Kobe 43:20

24d ago43:20

43:20

Legendary NBA head coach Phil Jackson and sports journalist Sam Smith talk about the stars who helped define the sport, including Jordan, Kobe, and Shaq. They spoke with Tonya Mosley about their new book, 'Masters of the Game.' Also, Justin Chang shares his picks for the 10 best films of 2025. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoice…

1
Can The Lessons Of 1929 Prevent Another Crash? 47:07

15d ago47:07

47:07

New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, a student of past financial calamities, talks about the likelihood the U.S. economy could be headed toward another crisis. He says there are concerns about the impact of AI, crypto currencies and shadowy investment firms operating outside the regulated banking system. How the nation fares, he says, depen…

1
Star Of ‘Pluribus’ Rhea Seehorn 45:34

16d ago45:34

45:34

The new Apple TV+ series was created by Vince Gilligan, who also created ‘Breaking Bad’ and co-created ‘Better Call Saul.’ He liked her work in ‘Saul’ so much, he wrote the lead in ‘Pluribus’ for her. The story has a sci-fi premise, but the themes of the show are more existential – like what is happiness? What is the importance of individuality? Se…

1
Homelessness In The New Gilded Age 47:13

17d ago47:13

47:13

In New York City, 100,000 people sleep in shelters every night. Patrick Markee has spent decades fighting for them with the Coalition for the Homeless. He’s written a new book that gives an on-the-ground view of what he’s learned. It’s called ‘Placeless: Homelessness in the New Gilded Age.’ He asks, what if homelessness isn't a personal failing, bu…

Marion Roach Smith Podcasts

151
QWERTY: A Podcast for Writers on How to Live the Writing Life

Marion Roach Smith

1
Fresh Air

NPR

1
Ben Stiller / Pedro Pascal 48:15

1
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson 45:47

1
Jeff Hiller’s Big Break Came In His 40s 44:49

1
Richard Kind Is Glad He’s Not Super Famous 45:30

1
Malala Finds Her Way 46:10

1
Comic Cristela Alonzo 45:58

1
Bluegrass Star Billy Strings / Laufey 48:25

1
Jane Fonda 45:34

1
The Making Of ‘Born To Run’ 47:07

1
‘Morrie’ Writer Mitch Albom On Second Chances 43:37

1
Will Arnett 47:25

1
Dir. Craig Brewer Is Chasing ‘Purple Rain’ Magic 48:11

1
The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs 43:51

1
Best Of: Lucy Liu / Zadie Smith 48:42

1
John Le Carré’s Son Revives His Late Dad's Spy 46:27

1
Ep. 156 Jane Hamilton 28:33

1
Lucy Liu 44:48

1
A Revealing Profile Of Trump Chief Of Staff Susie Wiles 46:01

1
Remembering Rob Reiner 48:29

1
Zadie Smith Asks, What Makes Us Feel Alive? 47:56

1
Best Of: Michael Shannon / ‘Pluribus’ Star Rhea Seehorn 47:44

1
Remembering Architect Frank Gehry 44:27

1
A Courtside Look At NBA Legends, From Jordan To Kobe 43:20

1
Can The Lessons Of 1929 Prevent Another Crash? 47:07

1
Star Of ‘Pluribus’ Rhea Seehorn 45:34

1
Homelessness In The New Gilded Age 47:13