Terry Gross

Film Director Katt Shea (Cat Shay). She's an alumna of the Roger Corman film factory. And has a new film out "Poison Ivy," about a sexy manipulative teenager who insinuates herself into the lives of a rich, dysfunctional L.A. family and wreaks havoc. Shea co-wrote the screenplay along with the film's producer, Andy Ruben who Terry also interviews. Reviews of the film have varied from "laughingly bad," to "brilliant and powerfully disturbing."

Executive Director of the human rights group Asia Watch, Sidney Jones. In light of the pro-democracy demonstrations in Thailand, Terry talks with Jones about the state of democracy and human rights in Asia.

Paul Theroux ("Thuh-RUE") is no ordinary travel writer: his books are about exotic voyages, some by train, and others by foot. His work includes "The Great Railway Bazaar," "The Old Patagonian Express," and "The Kingdom By The Sea." He's also a novelist, perhaps best known for "The Mosquito Coast," which became a film starring Harrison Ford. In his latest book, " The Happy Isles of Oceania," Theroux explores the far-off Pacific Islands, traveling from island to island in a one-man, collapsible kayak.

Nahid Rachlin. ("na-HEED ROCK-lin") She was born in Iran, but came to the United States to go to school. She decided to stay, and today lives and writes in New York. She's just published her 3rd book; her novels and stories weave together the lives of two kinds of Iranians: those who stay in their country, and those who come to America. Her first two novels, "Foreigner," and "Married To a Stranger," are both critically acclaimed. Her latest book, a collection of short stories, is called "Veils." (City Lights Books)

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is an African-American historian. He attended Yale University in the late '60s. The New York Times describes Gates as "a 41-year-old academic entrepreneur who has been one of the most sought-after scholars in the country in the last decade." Gates has taught at Yale, Cornell and Duke. Now he's been recruited to revitalize Harvard's African-American studies department, serving as its new chairman. He's written for Newsweek, Time, and The Nation.

Actor David McCallum. He's still known for the TV role he had back in the 60s, as secret agent Illya Kuryakin in "The Man From UNCLE." Since then, he's had dozens of stage, TV, and movie roles. Currently, he has a supporting role as a police detective in the new English movie "Hear My Song." (REBROADCAST. ORIGINALLY AIRED 2/13/92)

Pro Golfer Charlie Sifford. He was the first black admitted to the PGA in 1961. Even so, he's found that blacks are still not welcome in the game of golf. His new book is "Just Let Me Play," written by Sifford with James Gullo (by British American Publishing, 19 British American Boulevard, Latham, New York, 12110).

Composer John Corigliano, Composer-in residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His composition "Symphony No. 1" is Corigliano's personal statement about the AIDS crisis. The first three movements of the Symphony are dedicated to three of his lifelong musician-friends who died of AIDS. Corigliano was inspired to write the composition after seeing the AIDS memorial quilt. (Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim -- on the Erato Label, #2292-45601-2).

Author and Senior Fellow at the World Wildlife Fund, Roger D. Stone. He's on his way to Rio de Janeiro for the Earth Summit. His book, "The Nature of Development: A Report from the Rural Tropics on the Quest for Sustainable Economic Growth," (by Knopf) in which he theorizes that the only way to protect an environment is to provide economically viable, ecologically sound alternatives for the the people who live there.

Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer, chief nurse of the Washington National Guard. Last week she was discharged from the army for being a lesbian. Cammermeyer is one of the highest ranking members of the military ever to be removed because of her sexual orientation. She served in Vietnam where she received the Bronze Star and in 1985 was chosen from 34,000 candidates to be the Veterans Administration's Nurse of the year. She is challenging her dismissal in Federal Court.