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African American author Maya Angelou looks off-camera in a close-up portrait
8 Segments

African American Authors

From James Baldwin and Maya Angelou to Toni Morrison and Ta-Nehisi Coates, this collection includes a host of America's most celebrated black authors speaking candidly about how race and racism inform their writing.

A Black woman smiles with her arms in the air as she dances with a Black man at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in New York City during the 1940s.
12 Segments

Black History is American History

Celebrate the excellence of Black History Month through Fresh Air's interviews with some of America's most prominent figures in film, sports, culture and beyond.

A dog driving a little car with a cat nervously riding along on the side
5 Segments

Cats and Dogs

Whether you're a cat person or a dog person, you've probably wondered what's going on inside the head of your furry friend. In this collection, animal experts share their insights inside the minds of cats and dogs.

Dave Davies
4 Segments

Dave Davies Favorites

For years Dave Davies has contributed at least one interview a week to Fresh Air, and oftentimes more — especially when the topics concern sports, investigative journalism or history. After 22 years of interviews, the longtime Fresh Air contributor and fill-in host is cutting back on his workload. Listen to some of Davies most compelling interviews including conversations with Frank Calabrese Jr. (2011); novelist Kate Christensen (2013); biographer Robert Caro (2019); and sports announcer Joe Buck (2017).

Feminist demonstrator holds a sign that says "Our bodies, our minds, our power" while wearing an American flag headscarf
11 Segments

Feminist Voices

Feminist leaders, activists and writers paint a picture of the movement's history. Hear from activists like Gloria Steinem and artists like Viv Albertine on what the struggle for equal rights has meant to them. 

Woman sprinkles spice into a pan of meat while cooking.
13 Segments

Food for Thought

Listen to award-winning chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, and writers discuss the foods that inspire them. The only thing better than talking about food is eating, but since that doesn't translate to radio, this collection delivers the next best thing.

Writer and actor Larry David
111 Segments

Fresh Air+ Bonus Episodes

A running list of the interviews and features included in every Fresh Air+ bonus episode. Fresh Air+ is a premium feed of our show, offering every episode sponsor-free -- and exclusive bonus episodes once a week with behind-the-scenes insight and stories from Terry, Tonya and the Fresh Air staff. Find out more, and join for yourself, at https://plus.npr.org/freshair

Grandmaster Flash speaking at a Hip Hop history event at the Smithsonian
11 Segments

Hip-Hop History

From Brooklyn block parties to the world stage, hip-hop is a true American art form. Terry may not have turntables, but she's got a microphone  ... and she's used it to interview some of the biggest names in the rap game. 

Female protestors stand with raised firsts in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC>
16 Segments

Holding Court: Politics and the Supreme Court

Fresh Air looks at how political tides have shaped the history of America's highest court.

 

Listen as writers, journalists, and legal scholars look at the politics behind the selection and confirmation process, as well as the way that polarization has influenced the direction of the Supreme Court in recent decades. In this collection, you'll also hear from several present or former justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, Sandra Day O'Connor, and John Paul Stevens, who offer an inside look at how the Supreme Court makes decisions that define our democracy.

A series of brain images in black and white
9 Segments

How the Brain Works

The human brain is among the most complex objects in the known universe. In this collection, neuroscientists discuss our advancing understanding of the mind and how it helps to explain human behavior.

Protestors wave Black Lives Matter flags in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in policy custody.
13 Segments

I Can't Breathe: Racism & White Supremacy

Hear the history behind the protests. 

In this collection, you'll find interviews with authors like James Baldwin, activists like Bobby Seale, and artists like Nina Simone as they discuss their struggle for humanity against American racism. Listen to first-hand accounts from a Black police officer and a Black lawyer as they reflect on the fight for justice.

Close-up of jazz legend Sonny Rollins playing his saxophone
14 Segments

Jazz Legends

Fresh Air is deeply connected to the jazz world, and Terry has had the opportunity to interview many legends in their own time. 

A young Stevie Wonder, pictured during his Motown days, plays the harmonica in sunglasses against an orange backdrop
9 Segments

Making Motown

In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr founded Tamla Records in Detroit, MI, and within a year, he rebranded it Motown. Over the next decade, this small, black-owned record label pioneered an entirely new sound and launched the careers of some of the most famous performers in American music, including The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder (pictured). 

Yellow biohazard sign in a door window
12 Segments

Pandemics and Public Health

How do contagious diseases spread and what can we do to stop them? Hear from epidemiologists, historians and reporters as they look back at past outbreaks that have threatened public health, including bird flu, AIDS, malaria and the Ebola virus. This collection discusses how public policy, media coverage and paranoia have shaped our response to previous pandemics.

Jazz legend Duke Ellington playing the piano in a spotlight at a concert hall
8 Segments

Piano Masters

Fresh Air has played host to some legendary in-studio performances by some of the world's greatest pianists. This collection includes Harry Connick, Jr., Regina Spektor, Jon Batiste and others tickling the ivories and talking about the music the make.

Baseball legend Mickey Mantle wearing a Yankees uniform before a game
15 Segments

Rounding the Bases

Baseball is our national pastime and its stars, critics, and storytellers are no stranger to Fresh Air. Over the years, Terry Gross and frequent Fresh Air contributor Dave Davies have interviewed some of baseball biggest names, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson.

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