Terry Gross

Retired CIA intelligence officer, Antonio J. Mendex was the agency's Chief of Disguise. He retired in 1990. In his 25 year career with the agency, he participated in many missions. In 1980 he helped six American diplomats escape from Tehran. Masquerading as a movie producer, he entered Iran supposedly to scout locations for a science-fiction movie. He then coached the diplomats to pose as the film crew, allowing them to leave the country. His new book is "The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA." (William and Morrow Company).

Producer Rick Schmidlin. He's reconstructed the masterpiece 1924 silent film "Greed" by director Erich von Stroheim, which has been considered the "Holy Grail" of lost films. The American Film Institute deemed it number one on it's list of the Ten Most Wanted Lost Films. The director's first cut of the film was over nine hours long; he then cut it down to be released as a four and 1/2 hour, two-part film. However, the studio insisted on a shorter cut and the final edit was two hours. None of the original cut footage was saved.

Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton is an expert on cult groups. His new book is about the Japanese cult group that released sarin nerve gas in the Tokyo subways: "Destroying the World to Save It: Aum Shinrikyo, Apocalyptic Violence, and the New Global Terrorism" (Metropolitan Books).

Film writer and director Kevin Smith. His controversial new independent film "Dogma" is a comedy/parable about faith and the Catholic Church. It stars Ben Affleck, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, and George Carlin. Smith also wrote and directed the films "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy."

The Manager of the New York Yankees, Joe Torre. He just clinched his third World Series as the manager of the Yankees. Torre is the author of the new book, "Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners: 12 Keys to managing Team Players, Tough Bosses, Setbacks, and Success" (Hyperion).

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. He stars as a drag-queen in the new movie "Flawless" which also stars Robert DeNiro. Hoffman also had parts in the films "Happiness," "Next Stop Wonderland," and "Boogie Nights."

The founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine Hugh Hefner. He founded the magazine 46 years ago. Hefner wrote the forward and edited the new book "The Century of Sex: Playboy's History of the Sexual Revolution 1900-1999" by James R. Peterson, who wrote and edited the "Playboy Advisor" sex-advice column.

Rhythm and blues singer Bobby Womack. His R&B and pop hits include "It'a All Over Now," "Lookin' For A Love," and "That's The Way I Feel About Cha." Recently his recording "Across 110th Street" was used in the Quentin Tarantino film, "Jackie Brown." Womack began his career singing gospel with his brothers. They were discovered by Sam Cooke. On his new release he returns to his gospel origins, "Back To My Roots" (The Right Stuff label/EMI).

Actor Liev Schreiber. The 32-year old's film credits include "The Daytrippers," "A Walk on the Moon," and the "Scream" movies. He's currently starring in New York in the Public Theatre's new production of "Hamlet." And he plays Orson Welles in the HBO drama "RKO 281" about the clash between Welles and William Randolph Hearst over the making of Welles's masterpiece, "Citizen Kane." It premiered last night.

To celebrate the centennial of the birth of composer Hoagy Carmichael we feature a tribute to him, as part of our American Popular Song series. Carmichael wrote, "Star Dust," "Heart and Soul," "The Nearness of You," "Skylark" and many more. We feature performances by singer Rebecca Kilgore and pianist Dave Frishberg. We'll also talk with Richard Sudhalter, who has written a forthcoming biography of Carmichael. And we talk with Carmichael's son, Hoagy Bix Carmichael who now manages his father's music catalogue.