Terry Gross

Director James Toback. He wrote and directed his new film, "Two Girls and a Guy" about a love triangle, and an unfaithful boyfriend. It stars Robert Downey Jr. Toback's other films include "Love and Money," "Exposed," "The Pick-Up Artist," and "The Big Bang." He wrote the screenplays for "Bugsy" and "The Gambler."

Novelist Robert Stone. His new novel "Damascus Gate" is about the Middle East. Unlike most writers who write about the region, Stone is not Jewish; he's a lapsed Catholic. One reviewer writes of the book that it is "so comprehending of Israel's convoluted workings and its bifurcated culture--where the Biblical fervor of Jerusalem coexists with the disco fever of Tel Aviv--that he makes other writers on the subject seem like the breeziness of literary tourists." Stone is also the author of "Outerbridge Reach" and "Dog Soldiers."

Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm is a leading expert on food-borne illnesses, like E-coli and toxoplasmosis. Some illnesses are less serious resulting in diarrhea, and stomach and abdominal pain. Food-borne illness is on the rise, partly because of the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables in this country, and their importation from developing countries. Osterholm is State Epidemiologist and Chief, Acute Disease Epdemiology Section, of the Minnesota Department of Health.

Epidemilogist Susan Oliveria is an expert on the link between nutrition and cancer. She is one of the authors of the new book, "The Strang Cookbook for Cancer Prevention: A Complete Nutrition and Lifestyle Plan to Dramatically Lower Your Cancer Risk" (Dutton). The book includes recipes from gourmet chefs. Oliveria teaches at the Strang Cancer Prevention Center, Cornell University Medical College, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Independent film producers James Schamus and Ted Hope. They founded Good Machine the New York City production company which made "The Brothers McMullen," "The Wedding Banquet," "Eat Drink Man Woman," "Safe," "Pushing Hands," "She's The One," and "Ice Storm." In addition to serving as Co-President of Good Machine, James Schamus is Assoc Professor of film theory at Columbia University.

Peter Biskind is author of the new book "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll Generation Saved Hollywood." (Simon and Schuster) Biskind says after the success of the film "Easy Riders" Hollywood opened its doors to a wave of rebellious film makers that invigorated cinema in the 1970s with such films as "Chinatown," "Shampoo," "Nashville," "Taxi Driver," "The Godfather," and "Jaws." He also authored two previous books: "Seeing is Believing," and "The Godfather Companion.&qu

"The Far Side®️" cartoonist Gary Larson has written and illustrated the new book "There's A Hair In My Dirt! A Worm's Story" (HarperCollins). It's the story of a family of earthworms and a fair maiden in the forest. “The Far Side” was in daily syndication from 1980 to 1995 and appeared in more than 1,900 newspapers worldwide. Larson has published more than 20 books featuring his cartoons. His first animated film, “Gary Larson’s Tales From The Far Side,” aired in the U.S. as a 1994 Halloween special.

Lorna Luft new memoir is : "Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir." (Pocket Books). Luft talks with Terry about growing up as the youngest daughter to film legend Judy Garland. And as half sister to Liza Minneli. Luft made her Broadway debut in 1971 in "Promises, Promises." She toured nationally in the Broadway production of "They're Playing Our Song" in 1981-1982.

Actor Campbell Scott stars in the new film "The Spanish Prisoners." Scott is the son of George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst. In 1990, Scott gained recognition for his role in "Longtime Companion." His filmography (list of films) includes: "Dead Again," "Dying Young," "Singles," "Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle," "The Sheltering Sky," and "Big Night."

Actor Peter Coyote. He's written a memoir, "Sleeping Where I Fall" (Counterpoint) about the his experiences during the sixties and seventies. The son of an East Coast stockbroker, Coyote was part of the political street theatre, the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Later Coyote lived the communal life, experimenting with sex, drugs, and heady ideals. Coyote has performed in more than 50 films including, "Bitter Moon," "E.T.," "Jagged Edge, "Outrageous Fortune" and the new film "Sphere."