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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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20:52

A History of the Tobacco Industry.

Journalist Richard Kluger. He's written a new history of the tobacco industry in America: "Ashes to Ashes: America's Hundred-Year Cigarette War, the Public Health, and the Unabashed Triumph of Philip Morris." (Knopf). Kluger was literary editor of the New York Herald Tribune. He also wrote for The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.

Interview
18:02

Hakeem Olajuwon Discusses "Living the Dream."

Center for the Houston Rockets, Hakeem Olajuwon He was born in Nigeria, and came to the United States on a basketball scholarship to attend the University of Houston. He helped the team reach the NCAA Final Four. He's written his memoir, "Living the Dream: My Life and Basketball," (Little, Brown).

Interview
07:11

The Dangerous Gap Between the Salaries of Workers and C.E.O.s.

Compensation expert Graef Crystal. He used to design compensation packages for CEOs. But he's since become critical of the widening gap between what top executives make and what workers do. He recently conducted a preliminary survey of executive compensation in the nation's largest corporations. The survey found that the pay of chief executives has been rising, while that of workers has stagnated.

Interview
22:32

From the Archives: Musician Pete Townsend.

Pete Townsend. In the 1960's he made waves as the lead guitarist in the British rock group The Who. He was world famous for smashing guitars during concerts. Now, years after The Who split up, Townsend is busy with solo projects. His newest CD is "The Best of Pete Townsend," (Atlantic) (REBROADCAST from 11/23/93).

Interview
21:51

From the Archives: Dr. J on Playing Ball with the Big Boys.

Former Philadelphia 76ers' forward "Dr. J" -- Julius Erving. When he retired in 1987, Erving was one of the highest scorers in professional basketball. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. Erving wrote the foreword to "The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia, Second Edition" (Villard Books). (REBROADCAST from 11/21/94)

Interview
44:04

Donald Hall Pays Tribute to His Late Wife Jane Kenyon.

Poet Donald Hall. A year ago, his wife, poet Jane Kenyon died of leukemia. There's a new collection of her work, "Otherwise: New & Selected Poems" (Graywolf Press). Hall will read from the book, including the last poems she wrote, and discuss their life together. Hall also has a forthcoming book of poetry, "The Old Life," (Houghton Mifflin) to be published in June.

Interview
08:59

Director David O. Russell.

Film writer/director David O. Russell. He made his film debut with the prize-winning independent film, "Spanking the Monkey." His latest film is "Flirting with Disaster" starring Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette.

Interview

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