Terry Gross

Milt Bearden spent 30 years in the CIA. He ran the CIA covert operations in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, and helped train the Afghan freedom fighters. Bearden also was station chief in Pakistan, Moscow, and Khartoum. He received the CIA highest honor, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Since the Sept. 11th attacks, Bearden has been a frequent commentator on TV and in print. He is also the author of the novel, The Black Tulip: A Novel of War in Afghanistan (paperback, Random House).

Terry Gross interviews journalist, novelist and satirist Carl Hiaasen. Mystery writer Tony Hillerman once called Hiaasen "the Mark Twain of the crime novel." His latest novel is Basket Case. Hiaasen, the author of eight novels, also writes a twice-weekly column for The Miami Herald. He got his start at the Herald 25 years ago as an investigative reporter going after unscrupulous developers and narco-traders, which helped him hone his skills for writing crime novels.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett. In her latest film Charlotte Gray she plays a courier behind enemy lines during World War II, directed by Australian director Gillian Armstrong. She also in three films out now: The Shipping News, Bandits and The Lord of the Rings. Blanchett was nominated for an Academy Award for her starring role in Elizabeth. Her other films include Pushing Tin, Oscar and Lucinda, The Talented Mr Ripley, and The Gift.

Ted Demme died Sunday at the age of 38 from a heart attack. He was playing basketball when he died. Early in his career he produced Yo! MTV Raps. He won an Emmy in 1999 for co-producing the civil-rights TV movie, A Lesson Before Dying. Demme film credits include Who the Man, The Ref, Snitch, and Blow. Ted Demme was the nephew of film maker Jonathan Demme.

President Clinton's former budget director and chief of staff Leon Panetta.

President Clinton's former campaign strategist and political advisor Paul Begala talks about life in the Clinton Whitehouse.

Abstract painter Frank Stella. The 64-year-old artist was first well known in the late 1950s for his Black Paintings series — striped monochrome works that helped touch off the minimalism movement. Over the years his work evolved from the canvas to colorful geometrical configurations of sculpture and architectural dimension. His 31-foot-high sculpture, "Prinz Friedrich von Homburg, Ein Schauspiel" was recently unveiled in front of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Juan Garcia Esquivel was the icon of space age bachelor music, producing innovative recordings of pop music in the 1950s and sixties. He died in his home in Mexico on January 3rd at the age of 83. In 1994 his work was re-issued on the CD, Esquivel!: Space Age Bachelor Pad Music (Bar/None). Yvonne de Bourbon, one of Esquivel's ex-wives, and a former performer in his live show.

Irwin Chusid, the producer of Esquivel!, the icon of space age bachelor music.

Journalist Paul Eisenstein covers the automotive industry and is publisher and editorial director of the The Car Connection Web site, which publishes automotive industry news, opinions and car reviews. Hel talk about the latest car trends (the station wagon is back — though they don like to call it that) and the economic outlook for automakers. The North American International Auto Show — where most manufacturers unveil their new products — takes place in Detroit Jan. 12-21.