Fresh Air with Terry Gross & Tonya Mosley

With 'WTF' ending, podcaster Marc Maron still wants to talk, but outside the studio As Maron winds down his podcast, he reflects on what he'll miss most. "These conversations [on WTF] are very real conversations for me ... and that is kind of nourishing for the spirit and the soul."

As he winds down his podcast, WTF, after 16 years, Marc Maron reflects on what he'll miss: "These conversations are very real conversations for me ... and that is kind of nourishing for the spirit and the soul."

Listen, when you finally fulfill your absolute lifelong dream of talking to Terry Gross on @nprfreshair.bsky.social, you get to ask her some of your burning questions, too. ✨ www.npr.org/2025/07/23/g...

You'll find a gripping new internet thriller in the 'Cloud' The internet and its discontents run wild in a new film by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, a prolifically offbeat Japanese filmmaker who's spent the last four decades putting subversive spins on traditional genres.

Review: The internet and its discontents run wild in a new film by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, a prolifically offbeat Japanese filmmaker who's spent the last four decades putting subversive spins on traditional genres.

How did Condé Nast go from dominance to decline? A new book explains For decades, Condé Nast publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair were consequential tastemakers. Writer Michael Grynbaum explores the heyday of these magazines and how they lost their footing.

For decades, Condé Nast publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair were consequential tastemakers. Writer Michael Grynbaum explores the heyday of these magazines and how they lost their footing.

Hold the yelling: Ebon Moss-Bachrach says 'The Bear' set is 'very loving' Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmys for his portrayal of an abrasive and ornery cook/maître d on the FX series The Bear. The show is known for kitchen chaos, but he says the set is calm and well run.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmys for his portrayal of an abrasive and ornery cook/maître d on the FX series The Bear. The show is known for kitchen chaos, but he says the set is calm.

'Law & Order' star investigates her own family's tragic car crash in 'My Mom Jayne' Mariska Hargitay has only the vaguest memories of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, the sex-symbol movie star who died in the 1967 crash. Now, Hargitay examines her family history in a new documentary.

Review: Mariska Hargitay has only the vaguest memories of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, the sex-symbol movie star who died in the 1967 crash. Now, Hargitay examines her family history in a new documentary.

Looking for summertime suspense? Turn up the heat with these 4 mystery novels Maureen Corrigan recommends four great reads: El Dorado Drive, by Megan Abbott; The House on Buzzards Bay, by Dwyer Murphy; King of Ashes, by S.A. Cosby; and Murder Takes a Vacation, by Laura Lippman.

We've got four summertime suspense novels for you.

Thomas Mallon's NYC diaries get to the 'Very Heart' of the AIDS crisis Mallon has been keeping diaries for most of his life. The Very Heart of It collects entries from the years 1983 to 1994, when he had recently come out as gay and moved to New York City.

Review: Thomas Mallon has been keeping diaries for most of his life. The Very Heart of It collects entries from the years 1983 to 1994, when he had recently come out as gay and moved to New York City.

Cold case mystery 'Dept. Q' focuses more on the characters than crime An Edinburgh police detective and a team of misfits search for a woman who vanished several years earlier. Critic John Powers says the byplay of characters makes Dept. Q worth watching.

Review: An Edinburgh police detective and a team of misfits search for a woman who vanished several years earlier. Critic John Powers says the byplay of characters makes Dept. Q worth watching.

Growing up, comic Atsuko Okatsuka felt like 'a freak' -- now she's owning it Okatsuka is known for her bowl haircut — and for finding humor in the dysfunction of her immigrant family. Her standup special Father is about her dad, who reappeared in her life after decades away.

"People show up wearing wigs of my bowl cut to my shows now. I've started a movement." - Atsuko Okatsuka

'The Life of Chuck' might leave you brushing away tears -- or scratching your head Mike Flanagan's new film, a maudlin mystery about a man dying of cancer, feels hobbled by its extreme faithfulness to the Stephen King novella on which its based.

Review: Mike Flanagan's new film, a maudlin mystery about a man dying of cancer, feels hobbled by its extreme faithfulness to the Stephen King novella on which its based. @justincchang.bsky.social

After his mother's death, Ocean Vuong wrote his way out of grief Vuong's new novel, The Emperor of Gladness, is the first he's written, from start to finish, since his mother died in 2019. He says writing it was a way to honor her memory.

Ocean Vuong's new novel, 'The Emperor of Gladness,' is the first he's written, from start to finish, since his mother died in 2019. He says writing it was a way to honor her memory. @tonyamosley.bsky.social

'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' doesn't live up to its namesake Laura Piani's amiable new romance is weighed down by all its allusions and borrowings — and ultimately fails to deliver on Austen's wit.

Review: Laura Piani's amiable new romance is weighed down by all its allusions and borrowings — and ultimately fails to deliver on Jane Austen's wit.

Mark Hamill used to downplay his 'Star Wars' past. Now he's embracing it Hamill played Luke Skywalker, one of the most iconic heroes in movie history. His latest film, The Life of Chuck, is an adaptation of a Stephen King novella.

.@markhamillofficial.bsky.social spoke to Fresh Air about auditioning for Star Wars, voiceover work, and the advice Carrie Fisher gave him.

With 'I Love Lucy' and beyond, Desi Arnaz helped shaped TV as we know it The success of I Love Lucy is often credited to Lucille Ball's comedic talent, but biographer Todd Purdum says Arnaz was more than just "second banana" to Lucy. He also helped shape the modern sitcom.

The success of I Love Lucy is often credited to Lucille Ball's comedic talent, but biographer Todd Purdum says Desi Arnaz was more than just "second banana" to Lucy. He also helped shape the modern sitcom.

Wes Anderson peers into the hollowness of extreme wealth in 'The Phoenician Scheme' Benicio Del Toro plays a globe-trotting tycoon trying to convince his estranged daughter (Mia Threapleton) to be his heir. The film is darker, angrier and more violent than Anderson's usual fare.

Review: Benicio Del Toro plays a globe-trotting tycoon trying to convince his estranged daughter (Mia Threapleton) to be his heir. The film is darker, angrier and more violent than Anderson's usual fare. @justincchang.bsky.social

Her parents died 9 days apart, but Sarah Silverman gets the last laugh in 'PostMortem' Silverman's father and stepmother are buried under one tombstone that reads: "Janice and Donald, who loved to laugh." The loss was a starting point for Silverman's "cathartic" Netflix comedy special.

"[My mom] was looking up at me and she smiled, and then she had this concerned look on her face, and she reached up and she said, 'Your hair. It's so dry.' That was the last thing she said to me." -Sarah Silverman

Overblown and inanely plotted, Mission: Impossible's 'Final Reckoning' still thrills The two hour, 49 minute conclusion to the seven-sequel franchise is boundlessly self-congratulatory. But, as always, it's fun to watch Tom Cruise, now 62, execute eye-popping stunts.

Review: The two hour, 49 minute conclusion to the seven-sequel franchise is boundlessly self-congratulatory. But, as always, it's fun to watch Tom Cruise, now 62, execute eye-popping stunts.

Mary Todd Lincoln as a cabaret star? How Cole Escola's 'stupid' dream came true Escola gives the former first lady a wild second act in the Tony-nominated play Oh, Mary! "This play is about a woman with a dream that no one around her understands," Escola says.

Cole Escola gives the former first lady a wild second act in the Tony-nominated play Oh, Mary! "This play is about a woman with a dream that no one around her understands," Escola says.

'Caught by the Tides' turns discarded documentary scraps into a remarkable drama This documentary-drama hybrid is one of the best new movies our critic's seen this year. It draws on archival footage to tell a story of two lovers separating and reuniting over roughly two decades.

Review: This documentary-drama hybrid is one of the best new movies our critic's seen this year. It draws on archival footage to tell a story of two lovers separating and reuniting over roughly two decades.

Sept. 11 turns life upside down for a 'Happy Family' in Ramy Youssef's animated show Youssef was in fifth grade and living in New Jersey when the Twin Towers fell. His new show, #1 Happy Family USA, draws on the experiences of his own Egyptian American family during that tense time.

Actor Ramy Youssef was in 5th grade and living in New Jersey when the Twin Towers fell. His new Amazon Prime animated show, #1 Happy Family USA, draws on the experiences of his own Egyptian American family navigating Islamophobia after Sept. 11.

'Thunderbolts*' is an unwieldy jumble, and also the best Marvel film in a while Thunderbolts* is unapologetically formulaic. And yet, Florence Pugh is terrific; the action is coherent; and the character dynamics strike the right balance of earnest sincerity and glib humor.

Review: Thunderbolts* is unapologetically formulaic. And yet, Florence Pugh is terrific; the action is coherent; and the character dynamics strike the right balance of earnest sincerity and glib humor. @justincchang.bsky.social

Michelle Williams' biggest takeaway from 'Dying for Sex': Pleasure belongs to you Williams' FX/Hulu series follows a woman with terminal cancer who decides to pursue her own sexual pleasure. She says the show is about sex, friendship and "being scared and brave at the same time."

Michelle Williams stars in the FX series 'Dying For Sex,' about a woman who leaves her sexless marriage to pursue pleasure and live out her final months with her best friend.

1 show, 26 characters: Sarah Snook shares the stage with herself in 'Dorian Gray' Snook, who played Shiv Roy on Succession, was just nominated for a Tony for playing all the characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway. "I don't know what comes after this," she says.

Sarah Snook has been busy since 'Succession' ended. She's on Broadway now in Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and plays all 26 characters. @ambaldonado.bsky.social

Today on Fresh Air, a special remembrance of Terry's husband, Francis Davis. They were together for 47 years. He died April 14.
Listen to Terry's piece: tinyurl.com/29udnvz3

A new documentary checks out the many ways libraries are a 'Free For All' By examining the value of libraries in the distant and recent past, this PBS film makes a compelling case for the importance of the American public library system today.

Review: By examining the value of libraries in the distant and recent past, this PBS film makes a compelling case for the importance of the American public library system today.

This Hollywood memoir is an expertly mixed cocktail of history and family drama Matthew Specktor grew up the son of a famous Hollywood agent. In The Golden Hour he serves up family saga, cultural criticism, fictionalized biography, history and lament for a vanishing world.

Review: Matthew Specktor grew up the son of a famous Hollywood agent. In The Golden Hour he serves up family saga, cultural criticism, fictionalized biography, history and lament for a vanishing world.

'The Shrouds' introduces a new stage of grief: Watching your loved one decompose David Cronenberg's thriller centers on an unusual technology that allows people to watch their loved ones decompose in real time. The Shrouds is both deeply morbid and disarmingly funny.

Review: David Cronenberg's thriller centers on an unusual technology that allows people to watch their loved ones decompose in real time. The Shrouds is both deeply morbid and disarmingly funny. @justincchang.bsky.social

Harvard professor of government Steven Levitsky studies how healthy democracies can slip into authoritarianism. He says the Trump administration has already done grave damage.
Listen: tinyurl.com/495bnzbb

After years of avoiding the ER, Noah Wyle feels 'right at home' in 'The Pitt' After 11 seasons on ER, Wyle thought he was finished with medical dramas: "I spent 15 years avoiding — actively avoiding — walking down what I thought was either hallowed ground or traveled road."

Noah Wyle, star of The Pitt, talks to us about the making of the show. "It's really less important the audience understands and more important that the audience sees that the doctors know what they're talking about. It's competency porn."