Terry Gross

Filmmaker Marlon Riggs. His film about gay black men,"Tongues Untied," was shown on PBS last year, and it unleashed a storm of outrage in powerful right-wing circles. Sen. Jesse Helms (R, NC) even put together and distributed a seven-minute tape of scenes from the film, which, taken out of context, completely distorted Marlon Riggs' intentions. The documentary is often used by Congresspeople as an example of what's wrong with public broadcasting, and why it shouldn't be federally funded.

Writer Francisco Goldman. He was born in Guatemala, and was raised outside of Boston. His family often returned to Guatemala for visits. After college, he returned to Guatemala to live and write, and was awakened to the brutal political reality there. He then began a career in political journalism, writing for Harper's, The New York Times Sunday Magazine and Playboy.

Creators and Executive Producers, David Crane and Marta Kauffman for the HBO comedy series, "Dream On." The show's main character is a divorced father who often doesn't do the right thing. The voice of his conscious is played out -- using clips from old TV shows which are edited into the show. "Dream On," won the CableACE Award for Best Comedy Series in 1991. Crane and Kauffman have been writing together for over ten years.

Drummer and composer Bobby Previte. He's ranks among the best known of Jazz's new generation of composers. In 1991 "Rolling Stone Magazine," named him their "Hot New Jazz Artist." His most recent project is the score for the Moscow Circus. He was in Russia late last summer working with the Circus's musicians when the coup attempt took place. He's collaborated on albums with such musicians as John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, Butch Morris, and Elliot Sharp, and has released six albums for his own bands.

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.

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).