Rock historian Ed Ward explains how American record companies repeatedly tried to capitalize on the popularity of blues music by repackaging it for pop audiences.
Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews poet Robert Bly's new book Iron John, which explores what he sees as a crisis of masculinity affecting men today. She says it's a fascinating but far from perfect counterpoint to feminist writings of the 1970s and '80s.
The actor started his career during the era of the Hollywood studio system. In 1988, he went to China in 1988, and directed an all Chinese production of "The Caine Mutiny." Heston's written about that project in a new book, Beijing Dairy. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his decades-long career in cinema.
Journalist Dan Noyes is part of the Center For Investigative Reporting, and was in charge of the Center's investigation into the international traffic in toxic waste. Their findings reveal environmentally damaging practices and unethical business practices. The investigation resulted in the PBS documentary "Global Dumping Ground," reported by Bill Moyers, and companion book by the same name.
National Organization for Women vice president Patricia Ireland says that the cultural place and treatment of women both in Arab countries and the American military is evidence of a gender apartheid. She joins Fresh Air to explain her organization's positions.
Critics say Carter has no equal. Her career has spanned four decades, and she's earned three Grammy nominations. Carter's new album is called "Droppin' Things.
Linguist Geoff Nunberg explores the place factoids have in our lives -- those bits of information that pass off for facts but aren't actually verifiable.
Classical Music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews new CD reissues of original cast recordings of classic Broadway musicals, including Oklahoma, Carousel, and Annie Get Your Gun.
Roger Fisher, director of the Harvard Negotiation Project and Professor of Law at Harvard, joins Fresh Air by phone to talk about alternatives to military intervention in the current conflict between Iraq and Kuwait.
Kevin Whitehead reviews "Charles Mingus: The Complete Debut Recordings," featuring music from 1951 through 1957. Both legendary and unknown jazz musicians make appearances on these little-heard recordings.
Ed Pressman produced movies like "Wall Street," "Conan the Barbarian," and "Badlands." Three of his newest films out now are "Reversal of Fortune," "To Sleep With Anger," and "Waiting for the Light."
John Leonard reviews Salman Rushdie's new book, Haroun. It's an adventure-filled children's book, one Leonard wouldn't have expected Rushdie to write in exile.
Barkalow was among the first women to enter the military academy at West Point. Her new memoir, "In the Men's House," chronicles her rise from cadet to commander. She currently works in the Pentagon as a special assistant to the Army Chief of Staff.
Whitelaw is well-known in Britain, but she's little-recognized in America. She can be seen in the new gangster movie, The Krays. Whitelaw also worked with playwright Samuel Beckett.
Television critic David Bianculli reviews the TV game show special featuring celebrity guest stars answering easy and often poorly researched trivia questions. He says he hates this stuff.
Reverend Theodore Hesburgh has just published a new memoir about serving as the University of Notre Dame's president for 35 years. His tenure overlapped with the 1960s student movements; Hesburgh did his best to strike a balance between allowing for freedom of expression and maintaining an environment conducive to learning.
Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the sequel to the very popular Three Men and A Baby, which he thought was bland. The new movie might not be great, but it's got an enjoyable, clash of cultures story.
