Segments by Date

Last spring, when the news broke that the newly elected pope had Creole roots in New Orleans and that his own grandparents had quietly become a white family in Chicago, journalist SUSAN SAULNY recognized the story immediately. Her family had lived a version of it. Her grandfather, George was a Black bricklayer who raised his children in New Orleans. George’s brother, Edward, was Black too, but light enough to leave for Chicago in the early 1920s and start a new life as a white man.

O'Farrell's new novel is based on the story of her own great, great-grandfather, and tells the story of a father and son mapping 19th-century Ireland after the devastation of the Great Famine

Mary Beard taught classics for most of her life at Cambridge, but her career has also included popular TV shows and books that reach a wide audience. Our book critic Maureen Corrigan says Beard's latest book, "Talking Classics," illuminates a lot about the ancient world and our own.

Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor. Her new book is called "Something We Said: Richard Pryor, A Notorious Word, And Me."

Rollins, who died May 25, had for decades been hailed as the greatest living jazz musician. Kevin Whitehead offers an appreciation, and we listen back to Rollins' 1994 interview with Terry Gross.

The Cannes Film Festival has been a launchpad for some of the most acclaimed films in recent years, including "Drive My Car," "The Zone Of interest," "Anora" and last year's "Sentimental Value" and "The Secret Agent." Our film critic, Justin Chang, returned from the festival earlier this week. He says that although it wasn't a banner year for Cannes, there still were many good movies, and even a few great movies, to look forward to.

Alfre Woodard stars in the new Netflix sci-fi series "The Boroughs."

Ben Rhodes was a speechwriter and security adviser for President Obama. His book, All We Say, is a collection of 15 speeches — from Ben Franklin to Trump — about what it means to be American.

John Powers reviewed the new Apple TV series "Widow's Bay."

Last night, Stephen Colbert said goodbye to The Late Show after 11 years. We listen back to his '16 interview, in which he talked about embracing his "sharp and satirical and highly opinionated" side.

Frank, who died May 19, was known for being the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay. He also co-authored the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. Originally broadcast May 16, 2026.

Rose Byrne spoke with FRESH AIR producer Ann Marie Baldonado. Byrne is starring in the Broadway revival of the Noel Coward play "Fallen Angels."

Colbert has approached the last weeks of his show on his own terms, with A-list guests like Tom Hanks, David Letterman and David Byrne — but the guests for tonight's finale remain a mystery.

D.O.J. gave Trump and his family immunity from tax audits and set up a $1.8 billion fund for victims of "government weaponization." Former government lawyer Andrew Weissmann explains the settlement.

Jesmyn Ward's new essay collection is called "On Witness And Respair."

Reid's quartet makes music that seems inspired by a variety of sources, ranging from modern dance to children's games. Her latest album is one of her most compelling.

Zayd Ayers Dohrn is the author of the new memoir "Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, And Young: A Fugitive Family In The Revolutionary Underground."

John Powers reviewed "The Wizard Of The Kremlin," now in theaters.

Caputo, who died May 7, wrote the acclaimed 1977 memoir A Rumor of War, about leading a Marine platoon during the Vietnam war. He went on to a career in journalism. Originally broadcast in 2005.

Attenborough began hosting and producing nature documentaries for the BBC in the 1950s. He spoke to Terry Gross in 1995 about about traveling the world to film Life on Earth.