Terry Gross

More than 6 million African-Americans moved from the South to cities in the Northeast and Midwest between 1915 and 1970. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson documents the resulting demographic and social changes in her history of the Great Migration, The Warmth of Other Suns.

Author Timothy Egan argues in The Big Burn that the forest fire of 1910 -- the largest in American history -- actually saved the forests, even as its flames charred the trees. It helped rally public support, Egan explains, behind Theodore Roosevelt's push to protect national lands.

After a lifetime of acting, the 85-year-old Hal Holbrook is still racking up new accomplishments. In 2008, he received his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Into The Wild. Last year, he starred in That Evening Sun. Now, he has a reoccurring role on the new FX series Sons of Anarchy.

Jonathan Franzen's new novel Freedom has been called "a masterpiece" by Time Magazine and has received rave reviews from critics. Franzen talks about the runaway success of his previous novel The Corrections, and the strong reaction elicited by Freedom.

Bedbugs virtually disappeared from the U.S. by the 1950s, but now they're back -- in homes, hotels and schools. Entomologist Michael Potter, who specializes in pest management, explains how to check hotel rooms for the "perfect parasite" -- and what to do if you suspect an infestation.

A new HBO documentary details Wright's experiences writing his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Looming Tower. Wright explains what he learned while interviewing sources for his book -- and talks about the challenge maintaining objectivity while researching modern terrorism.

Dolly Parton has written thousands of songs, including "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You." In a 2001 interview with Fresh Air host Terry Gross, the actress and singer-songwrter describes how she went from East Tennessee to Nashville to worldwide stardom.

Rich, who sang "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl," joined Fresh Air host Terry Gross in 1992 for a conversation about his eclectic musical choices, his rise to fame in the 1970s and his chart-toppers. Rich died in 1995.

Though they work as a traditional African-American string band, Carolina Chocolate Drops' members throw in some modern twists. The Durham, N.C.-based trio plays a wide variety of instruments, including the banjo, fiddle, jug, bones and harmonica. All of those sounds are featured on the band's newest record, Genuine Negro Jig.

In 1988, the legendary flat picker and singer of traditional folk tunes spoke to Terry Gross about starting his musical career, touring with his son Merle and playing banjo during the folk revival of the 1950s and '60s.