Skip to main content

Segments by Date

Recent segments within the last 6 months are available to play only on NPR

Select Topics

Select Air Date

to

Select Segment Types

Segment Types

22,241 Segments

Sort:

Newest

22:55

Why So Many American Department Stores are Going Out of Business.

Financial reporter John Rothchild. Rothchild's new book, "Going For Broke," is the story of Canadian financier Robert Campeau ("camp-o" with a long "o"). In the space of a few years, Campeau became one of the most powerful retailers in the world, having bought Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, Bonwit Teller, Jordan Marsh, Bloomingdales, and Filene's. He acquired his empire with seven billion dollars in loans and junk bonds, and when his empire collapsed, 50,000 creditors were after him and 8,000 workers lost their jobs.

Interview
14:23

Comedian Chris Rock.

Comedian Chris Rock. Rock's a cast member on Saturday Night Live. He also played the junkie in the movie "New Jack City."

Interview
22:40

Musician Bruce Thomas Discusses his Life and Career.

Elvis Costello's former bass player, Bruce Thomas. He was with Elvis Costello and the Attractions, from 1977-1987. Thomas has just written a journalistic book about touring with a band based on his own experiences, "The Big Wheel: Rock & Roll and Roadside Attractions." (published by Faber & Faber).

Interview
04:18

"Backtrack" is Interesting in More Ways than One.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "Backtrack." It's a thriller movie starring Jodie Foster and Dennis Hopper (who also directed the movie). The film was made back in 1989, and intended for theatrical release, but it's been sitting on the shelf for the past two years. It premieres this Saturday on the Showtime cable network.

Review
14:32

Comic Book Artist Diane Noomin.

Comic book artist Diane Noomin. She's the editor of (and a contributor to) a new collection of underground comics drawn by women. It's called "Twisted Sisters." It's published by Penguin.

Interview
06:11

Indonesian Popular Music.

World music critic Milo Miles checks out popular music from Indonesia. (He plays selections from the album "Indonesian Popular Music: Kroncong, Dangdut, & Langgam Jawa" on the Smithsonian Folkways label).

Commentary
22:50

Excessive CEO Salaries.

Business consultant and professor Graef (rhymes with "waif") Crystal. Crystal spent many years telling CEOs of major corporations how to get bigger salaries. Now he's taking the exact opposite tack, speaking out against the astronomical salaries many executives receive, whether or not their companies do well. That's the subject of his new book, "In Search of Excess."

Interview
23:34

Musician Donald Fagen.

Co-founder of the 1970s rock group Steely Dan, Donald Fagen. Their hits included "Rikki, Don't Lose that Number," "Deacon Blues," and "Josie." Since then he's issued a solo album and some singles, and worked at film scoring. He's just come out with a new all-star album, "New York Rock & Soul Revue -- Live at the Beacon," featuring Fagen, Michael McDonald, Phoebe Snow and Boz Scaggs. (Giant Records).

Interview
06:16

The Underrated Julie London.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Time For Love: The Best of Julie London." It's a new reissue of songs by Julie London, who was a sex-kitten singer back in the 50s and 60s. (It's on Rhino Records).

Review
15:01

The Fine Art of Negotiating.

Ambassador Max Kampelman. He was head of the U.S. delegation to the Geneva negotiations on nuclear and arms reduction. He also headed the U.S. delegation at the Madrid East-West Conference on Human Rights. Though a moderate Democrat, he worked for the Reagan and Bush administrations. And he was a pacifist until the end of World War Two when he realized that nuclear weapons changed the way wars would be waged. He's written a memoir, "Entering New Worlds: The Memoirs of a Private Man in Public Life." (HarperCollins Publishing).

Interview
23:00

Film Director Peter Medak.

Film director Peter Medak. Medak's new movie, "Let Him Have it," is the true-life story of two London teenagers who shot a policeman in 1952. What makes the case controversial is that the boy who actually pulled the trigger was a minor, and therefore couldn't get the death penalty. The other boy was put to death, even though there's evidence that he was trying to surrender.

Interview
01:50

Joining the Sedentary Lifestyle.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan tells us about her latest concession to the sedentary lifestyle...the purchase of a La-Z-Boy recliner.

Commentary
22:23

Caring for a Dying Person at Home.

Medical anthropologist Andrea Sankar. She's written a new book that explains how to take care of a dying loved one at home. It's called "Dying At Home: A Family Guide for Caregiving." It's published by the Johns Hopkins University Press.

Interview
15:29

Actor Alan Rickman.

Actor Alan Rickman. Rickman stars in the new drama, "Close My Eyes." In recent years, he's played a couple of great bad guys...the suave terrorist Hans Gruber in "Die Hard," and the Sheriff of Nottingham in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."

Interview
04:52

The Fiftieth Anniversary of Pearl Harbor on Television.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews two of the many specials commemorating the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Tonight's two hour special on ABC, "Pearl Harbor: Two Hours That Changed the World," and Saturday's special on CBS, called "Remember Pearl Harbor."

Review
23:12

Perspectives on Haitian Refugees.

In light of the current dilemma over the fate of Haitian refugees, we examine the U.S.'s current immigration policy.
First we talk with Representative Lamar Smith, vice chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration.

Then Terry talks with Frank Sharry, the executive director of the National Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Forum, a group that works for the rights of new immigrants.

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Advertisement

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue