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Terry Gross at her microphone in 2018

Terry Gross

Terry Gross is the host and an executive producer of Fresh Air, the daily program of interviews and reviews. It is produced at WHYY in Philadelphia, where Gross began hosting the show in 1975, when it was broadcast only locally. She was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2016. Fresh Air with Terry Gross received a Peabody Award in 1994 for its “probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insight.” America Women in Radio and Television presented her with a Gracie Award in 1999 in the category of National Network Radio Personality. In 2003, she received the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Edward R. Murrow Award for her “outstanding contributions to public radio” and for advancing the “growth, quality and positive image of radio.” Gross is the author of All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians and Artists, published by Hyperion in 2004. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and received a bachelor’s degree in English and M.Ed. in communications from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She began her radio career in 1973 at public radio station WBFO in Buffalo, NY.

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11:28

Determining the Culpability of Soldiers in the Holocaust

Daniel Jonah Goldhagen is the author of the controversial book "Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust." He offers evidence that ordinary Germans knowingly cooperated in the Holocaust, that they were motivated by anti-Semitism, not by economic hardship, coercion, or psychological pressures, as usually put forth by historians. Goldhagen is Associate Professor of Government and Social Studies at Harvard University.

21:41

Writer Julie Hecht on Living in the World as a Normal Person

Hecht's stories have appeared in "Harper's" and "The New Yorker." All of the stories in her debut collection "Do the Windows Open?" were first published in the "The New Yorker." The book features one narrator: a married, childless, 40-something photographer who takes pictures of flowers in decline. One reviewer writes, "the stories are breathtakingly funny. . . like other classic deadpan talkers. . . she doesn't even seem to realize how funny she is."

Interview
21:34

Anticipating How China Will Treat Hong Kong

Journalist Stan Sesser is a former staff writer for the New Yorker and the senior fellow of the Human Rights Center at the University of California at Berkeley. He's been following the imminent takeover of the British-ruled Hong Kong by the Chinese government. He says while Hong Kong will most likely preserve its economic freedom, the July 1 takeover calls into question the future of its democratic government and civil-liberties laws.

Interview
13:31

A Married Couple on the Politics of Names

Justin Kaplan and Anne Bernays are the authors of the new book, "The Language of Names: What We Call Ourselves and Why It Matters." Both have written previous books: Ms. Bernays is the author of eight novels, including the award-winning "Growing Up Rich" and "Professor Romeo," as well as numerous short stories. Mr. Kaplan won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography, "Mr. Clemens and Mark Twain." He's also the General Editor of Barlett's Familiar Quotations.

35:17

"Graduate" Screenwriter Buck Henry

Henry was also screenwriter for the popular film "Get Smart" with Mel Brooks, "Catch-22," "What's Up Doc," and other films. He also co-wrote the script for the 1967 film "The Graduate" and played the role of the hotel clerk. It is now 30 years later and an anniversary presentation of the film is being held at the New York Film Forum February 14th to the 27th. (This interview was held before an audience at the Film Forum, Feb 13th).

Interview
16:54

Director David Lynch on His Fascination with the Body

Lynch is the director of "Eraserhead," "The Elephant Man," "Dune" and "Blue Velvet," all of which have received critical acclaim and attained cult status. He is also the creator of the popular but short-lived TV series, "Twin Peaks." Lynch published a book of photographs of his movies and his art, called "Images" (Hyperion, 1994). (REBROADCAST from 12/15/94)

Filmmaker David Lynch
19:36

Actress and Author Carrie Fisher

Actress and author Carrie Fisher. She's best-known for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the Star War movies, which are currently being rereleased. She wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of her novel, "Postcards From the Edge." Fisher's other roles have been in the films, "Soapdish" and "When Harry Met Sally." Terry spoke to her in 1990, when the film version of her novel "Postcards from the Edge" was released. (REBROADCAST from 9/11/90)

Interview
21:43

A Mourning Family Finds Justice in the Simpson Civil Trial

Fred & Kim Goldman, father and and sister of the late Ron Goldman, who was murdered in June 1994. They were present throughout the criminal trial against O.J. Simpson, who was charged with the crime, and recently won their case against him at the civil trial. In a new book "His Name is Ron: Our Search for Justice," the family recounts their experiences at the criminal trial and shares their memories of Ron Goldman.

27:16

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on the Social and Artistic Lives of Black Americans

Gates is the W.E.B. DuBois Professor of Humanities and chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies at Harvard University as well as a staff writer for "The New Yorker." In his new book, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man," Gates records the thoughts of some of society's most revered black American men. The men debate the current state of black men and the difficulties of race and gender relations in American society.

44:55

Actress Mia Farrow on the History of Her Life

Farrow has a new memoir called "What Falls Away." She's the daughter of actress Maureen O'Sullivan and writer John Farrow. As a young actress she starred in "Peyton Place" and "Rosemary's Baby." She was married to Frank Sinatra and then Andre Previn, and has 14 children, many of them adopted. Her 12-year relationship with Woody Allen ended with his affair with Farrow's adopted daughter Soon-Yi.

Interview

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