Pop Culture
From Steph Curry to 'Squid Game,' this year-end list will surprise and delight you
As 2021 comes to an end, John Powers singles out for praise seven revelatory people or things that he hasn't talked about but that surprised him, or filled him with delight.
RuPaul's Recipe For Success? Love Yourself And Stay Flexible
In a March 2020 interview, the Emmy-nominated host of RuPaul's Drag Race said his drag look was "one-part Cher, two-parts David Bowie, one-part Diana Ross and two heaping spoonfuls of Dolly Parton."
Fresh Air Remembers Beatles Photographer Astrid Kirchherr
Kirchherr, who died May 12, who took the first publicity photos of the Beatles and is credited with giving the group their signature "mop-top" haircuts. Originally broadcast in 2008.
Remembering Spiritual Leader Ram Dass
Dass, who died Dec. 22, was a practitioner of Eastern-inspired philosophy who became interested in the religious potential of LSD in the '60s and '70s. Originally broadcast in 1990.
'Beautiful Day' Director On Mister Rogers' 'Radical Notion': Telling Kids The Truth
Marielle Heller's film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood centers on Fred Rogers' unlikely friendship with a cynical journalist. Originally broadcast Nov. 20, 2019.
Lizzo On Feminism, Self-Love And Bringing 'Hallelujah Moments' To Stage
The flute-playing pop star reflects on self-acceptance in this May 23, 2019, interview: "About 10 years ago, I made the decision that I just wanted to be happy with my body."
Howard Stern On 'Fresh Air': Part 2
In the second half of our two-part interview, Stern talks about his 2017 cancer scare, his thoughts on retirement and his mother's depression. His new book is Howard Stern Comes Again.
Howard Stern Tells Terry Gross His 'Pure Id' Days Are Behind Him
Looking back on his early career, Howard Stern remembers being "petrified" that he wasn't going to be able to make a living. "All the sexual antics, the religious antics, the race antics — everything that I talked about, every outrageous thing that I did — was to entertain my audience and grow my audience," he says. "Whether you liked it or not, or the person down the street liked it or not — I didn't care as long as I kept growing that audience."
How 'A Star Is Born' Became One Of Judy Garland's 'Biggest Heartbreaks'
Judy Garland's daughter Lorna Luft talks about what her mother went through while making the 1954 film. The movie was produced by Sid Luft, who was Lorna's father and Garland's husband at the time.
'Ghost List' Revisits The TV, Books And Movies A Critic Wishes He Covered
Critic-at-large John Powers tells us about the TV shows, films, and books he didn't get to earlier this year, but wishes he had.