Episodes

  • Best Of: Louis Armstrong's Early Years / Our Anti-Social Century

    Best Of: Louis Armstrong's Early Years / Our Anti-Social Century
    Feb 22 2025
    We talk with author Ricky Riccardi about how Louis Armstrong became the first Black pop star and provided the foundation of improvisation for other musicians. Riccardi's book is Stomp Off, Let's Go.

    Also, we hear from Atlantic writer Derek Thompson. He's done a deep dive into our nation's loneliness epidemic and how our phones have become a barrier to real human connection.

    Critic-at-large John Powers reviews the Brazilian film I'm Still Here.

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    49 mins
  • Andrew Scott Doesn't See Ripley As A Monster

    Andrew Scott Doesn't See Ripley As A Monster
    Feb 21 2025
    In the series Ripley, Andrew Scott plays a con artist with no conscience. The actor says it was important to humanize his character. "For me, I think your first job is to sort of advocate for the character and try not to judge them." Scott's up for a SAG Award for his portrayal of Tom Ripley.

    David Bianculli reviews Netflix's new six-part drama series Zero Day, starring Robert De Niro.

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    44 mins
  • A Family Forged By Haiti's Coup

    A Family Forged By Haiti's Coup
    Feb 20 2025
    Rich Benjamin's grandfather, Daniel Fignolé, was a popular Haitian labor leader who became Haiti's president in 1957. After just 19 days in office, he was overthrown by a military coup, and was sent to the U.S. His 13 year-old daughter (Benjamin's mother) was taken by soldiers and sexually assaulted. She was eventually reunited with her parents in America, where they were refugees. Rich Benjamin talks with Terry Gross about his family's history and resilience. His memoir is Talk to Me.

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    44 mins
  • How Regime Change Happens In America

    How Regime Change Happens In America
    Feb 19 2025
    During President Trump's first term, journalist Anne Applebaum reported on how he was moving toward authoritarianism. Now she's describing Trump's actions as regime change. "Our imagination of a coup or regime change is that there are tanks and violence and somebody shoots up the chandelier in the presidential palace," she says. "Actually, nowadays, that's not how democracies fail. They fail through attacks on institutions coming from within." Applebaum also talks about the dismantling of America's civil service system and how the Trump administration is distancing itself from NATO, while getting closer with Putin. Applebaum is a staff writer at the Atlantic and author of Autocracy, Inc.

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    45 mins
  • What Measles Outbreaks Tell Us About Public Health In America

    What Measles Outbreaks Tell Us About Public Health In America
    Feb 18 2025
    "Measles thrives on being underestimated," Dr. Adam Ratner says. The highly infectious disease was thought to be a "solved problem," until a 2018 outbreak in New York City. "When we start to see measles, it's evidence of the faltering of our public health systems and of fomenting of distrust of vaccines." Ratner talks about the implications of RFK's Health and Human Services Dept. appointment, National Institute of Health budget cuts, and spreading distrust and skepticism in science. His new book is called Booster Shots.

    Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Geraldine Brooks' memoir Memorial Days, about grieving her husband, Tony Horwitz.

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    45 mins
  • Are Trump's Executive Orders Legal?

    Are Trump's Executive Orders Legal?
    Feb 17 2025
    Constitutional scholar, historian, and New York Times staff writer Charlie Savage joins us this President's Day to talk about the scope of executive power. Savage takes us through the legal challenges, the power of Congress and the Supreme Court, and how previous presidents have pushed the bounds.

    TV critic David Bianculli reviews Star Trek: Section 31 and Planet Earth: Asia.

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    44 mins
  • Best Of: Sebastian Stan / Questlove On The Genius Of Sly Stone

    Best Of: Sebastian Stan / Questlove On The Genius Of Sly Stone
    Feb 15 2025
    Musician and documentary filmmaker Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson is back to talk about his new Hulu documentary about Sly Stone. It's called SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius).

    Also, actor Sebastian Stan talks about portraying Donald Trump in the film The Apprentice. Stan is originally from Romania, born during a communist dictatorship.

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    48 mins
  • 'SNL' Turns 50: Aykroyd, Franken, Zweibel & Lovitz

    'SNL' Turns 50: Aykroyd, Franken, Zweibel & Lovitz
    Feb 14 2025
    For Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary, we're featuring interviews with some of the early cast members/writers. Dan Aykroyd talks about the moment he and John Belushi came up with the Blues Brothers. Writer Alan Zweibel talks about working with Gilda Radner on two of her most iconic characters. And Al Franken tells us about a sketch he wrote that didn't make it past the censors. Jon Lovitz tells Terry how his character Master Thespian came to be.

    Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews The Annihilation of Fish, a romantic comedy starring James Earl Jones, Lynn Redgrave and Margot Kidder, made in 1999 and released now for the first time.

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    47 mins