Terry Gross
Stories
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Music
Pete Seeger's 'Fresh Air' interview
The folk singer, who died in 2014, was famous for his songs about working people, unions and social justice. In this 1984 interview, Seeger cited Woody Guthrie as one his most important influences.
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Music
Whether you're merry or miserable, David Byrne's holiday playlist will resonate
The singer-songwriter and Talking Heads frontman presents some of his favorite holiday music — including songs by The Pogues, James Brown and LCD Soundsystem. Originally broadcast Dec. 20, 2023.
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Arts & Life
A Jon Batiste holiday jam session
In part two of our interview, Batiste joins us from the piano and plays some of his favorite Christmas songs. He's the former band leader and music director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
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Music
'Fresh Air' presents: Christmas with Questlove
Roots co-founder Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson shares his Christmas playlist, which includes songs by DRAM, James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Originally broadcast Dec. 21, 2022.
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Arts & Life
To make 'The Godfather' his way, Francis Ford Coppola waged a studio battle
Coppola was 29 when he signed on to direct a film. "I was young and had no power," he said in 2016, "so [the studio] figured they could just boss me around." Coppola is a 2024 Kennedy Center honoree.
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Arts & Life
Miranda July talks 'All Fours' -- and the risks and rewards of changing your life
July's novel, about a 45-year-old married woman who has an erotic affair, grapples with themes of perimenopause and sexuality. "Fear in general is why I wrote the book," the filmmaker/writer says.
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Arts & Life
Billie Eilish thought she'd always have a soft voice. Singing lessons changed that
The Grammy Award-winning singer says working with a vocal coach "honestly changed my life." Eilish and her brother/collaborator Finneas talk about their new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft.
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Arts & Life
Why comic Ronny Chieng initially didn't tell his parents about his 'Daily Show' gig
"I didn't want to brag," the Malaysian-born comic says. "I just wanted to do the work." Chieng now costars in the series Interior Chinatown, and has a new Netflix comedy special, Love to Hate It.
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Arts & Life
'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo says she often sings 'with a bit of a smile'
The British actor and singer played abolitionist Harriet Tubman in Harriet, and Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha. Now she's defying gravity as Elphaba in Wicked. Originally broadcast Oct. 18, 2021.
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Food
'Does This Taste Funny?' is a Colbert family cookbook
What do cooking and a nightly TV show have in common? Both require "a little care, a little love and a little imagination," says Stephen Colbert. He and his wife Evie Colbert have written a cookbook.
