Fresh Air

Episodes

• Poetic And Expansive, 'City On Fire' Ultimately Falls Short Of Its Reach

  Garth Risk Hallberg's 900-page debut novel is an intricately-plotted story set in chaotic 1970s New York. Critic Maureen Corrigan says City On Fire has much to admire, even if its ending falls flat.

  Oct 20, 2015 at 11:53 am
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  'Becoming Nicole' Recounts One Family's Acceptance Of A Transgender Child

  When Kelly and Wayne Maines adopted identical twin boys in 1997, they didn't anticipate raising one of their sons as a daughter. They tell their story, with author Amy Ellis Nutt, in Becoming Nicole.

  Oct 19, 2015 at 11:15 am

• 'Dope' Director On Geekdom, The N-Word And Confronting Racism With Comedy

  Rick Famuyiwa's film, Dope, is about a black high-school student who's into 90s hip-hop and Japanese comic books. Originally broadcast July 1, 2015.

  Oct 16, 2015 at 11:47 am
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  As One Of 'The Leftovers,' Actor Justin Theroux Explores Loss And Spirituality

  In the HBO series, Theroux is a man trying to make sense of the disappearance of 2 percent of the world's population. He describes Season 2 as moving into "spiritual territory."

  Oct 14, 2015 at 12:06 pm

• 'Fargo' Returns, With An Oddball Style Reminiscent Of 'Twin Peaks'

  The FX-drama series Fargo begins its second season Monday with a new story and cast. TV critic David Bianculli says the new season is full of charm, and "ridiculously loaded" with great performances.

  Oct 12, 2015 at 9:52 am

• 'Bloom County' And Opus The Penguin Return After A 25-Year Hiatus

  Comic strip creator Berkeley Breathed tells Fresh Air's Sam Briger that a 2008 letter from author Harper Lee inspired him to re-launch his famous strip on Facebook. It's now called Bloom County 2015.

  Oct 12, 2015 at 9:52 am

• Donna Karan On Motherhood, Fashion And Designing The Perfect Pair Of Jeans

  When Donna Karan started her brand in 1984, she thought it would be "a little company." Four decades later, she looks back on her life, her legacy and leaving her company. Her memoir is My Journey.

  Oct 12, 2015 at 9:52 am

• Steve Jobs: The Story Of The Man Behind The Personal Computer

  The Apple founder spoke with Fresh Air's Terry Gross in 1996. Later, after he was diagnosed with cancer, Jobs asked Walter Isaacson to write his biography. Isaacson spoke to Fresh Air Oct. 25, 2011.

  Oct 09, 2015 at 12:41 pm

• 'Steve Jobs' Shrinks Its Subject To Fit Hollywood's Simplistic Template

  Aaron Sorkin's new film follows the rise of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Critic David Edelstein says the film begins with an overflowing, Shakespearean quality, but turns banal by its third act.

  Oct 09, 2015 at 12:41 pm

• 'Son Of Saul' Brings Viewers To The Heart Of The Nazi Death Machine At Auschwitz

  Son of Saul, set in a Nazi death camp in 1944, won the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Director László Nemes and star Géza Röhrig discuss the film with Fresh Air's Terry Gross.

  Oct 07, 2015 at 9:51 am

• 'Gates Of Gold' Showcases Los Lobos' Musical Influences And Extends The Band's Sound

  Now in its fourth decade of music-making, Los Lobos just released its first studio album since 2010. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Gates of Gold is "full of thick, mysterious music."

  Oct 06, 2015 at 11:02 am

• Singer Blurs The Lines Between East And West On 'Sounds And Cries Of the World'

  Singer Jen Shyu was born in Illinois, but spent years in East Asia, studying regional music, languages and literature. Critic Kevin Whitehead says that Shyu's research echoes throughout her new album.

  Oct 05, 2015 at 1:18 pm