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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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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
36:17

'The Wire' actor Clarke Peters explains why he couldn't say no to 'The Boroughs'

Actor CLARKE PETERS is one of the stars of the new Netflix series “The Boroughs”. In HBO show “The Wire” he played police detective Lester Freamon. He also co-starred in the HBO series “Treme”. In Spike Lee’s 2020 film “Da 5 Bloods”, Peters was one of the 4 Vietnam Veterans who returned to Vietnam decades after the war. He’s also been in London stage productions of the musicals “Guys and Dolls”, “Porgy and Bess”, and “Chicago”. He co-wrote and co-starred in the original production of the musical “5 Guys Named Moe”, which was first staged in London.

Interview
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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
16:13

A new 'Cape Fear' remake rolls out one surprise after another

DAVID BIANCULLI reviews the new Apple TV miniseries Cape Fear, based on the 1957 novel by John D. MacDonald There have already been two intense films about an ex-convict terrorizing his former attorney. The first two episodes premiere Friday, June 5, with the rest streaming weekly.

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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
15:38

Sinister forces invade an upscale retirement community in 'The Boroughs'

DAVID BIANCULLI reviews the new Netflix series The Boroughs. The Duffer Brothers, the team behind the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” are executive producers. The Boroughs is also a show about sinister forces, mysterious creatures, and a group of neighborhood misfits who emerge as heroes. The series was created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews.

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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
36:52

How a single decision made a century ago split a family in half by race

Last spring, when the news broke that the newly elected pope had Creole roots in New Orleans and that his own grandparents had quietly become a white family in Chicago, journalist SUSAN SAULNY recognized the story immediately. Her family had lived a version of it. Her grandfather, George was a Black bricklayer who raised his children in New Orleans. George’s brother, Edward, was Black too, but light enough to leave for Chicago in the early 1920s and start a new life as a white man.

Interview
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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
52:30

Richard Pryor's daughter studies the N-word — a word he used, then disavowed

Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor. Her new book is called "Something We Said: Richard Pryor, A Notorious Word, And Me."

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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
43:35

Remembering tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, a titan of modern jazz

Rollins, who died May 25, had for decades been hailed as the greatest living jazz musician. Kevin Whitehead offers an appreciation, and we listen back to Rollins' 1994 interview with Terry Gross.

Obituary
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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
52:30

'Look to your elders': Alfre Woodard shares her secret to Hollywood longevity

Alfre Woodard stars in the new Netflix sci-fi series "The Boroughs."

Interview
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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
52:30

Former Obama adviser reflects on the 'Battle for American Identity'

Ben Rhodes was a speechwriter and security adviser for President Obama. His book, All We Say, is a collection of 15 speeches — from Ben Franklin to Trump — about what it means to be American.

Interview
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Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
33:50

Colbert initially avoided discussing politics on 'Late Night.' Then he leaned in

Last night, Stephen Colbert said goodbye to The Late Show after 11 years. We listen back to his '16 interview, in which he talked about embracing his "sharp and satirical and highly opinionated" side.

Interview
Exclusively on
Due to the contractual nature of the Fresh Air Archive, segments must be at least 6 months old to be considered part of the archive. To listen to segments that aired within the last 6 months, please click the blue off-site button to visit the Fresh Air page on NPR.org.
08:02

Remembering Rep. Barney Frank, a trailblazing advocate for LGBTQ rights

Frank, who died May 19, was known for being the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay. He also co-authored the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. Originally broadcast May 16, 2026.

Obituary

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