Showing results by author "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain and music legend Johnny Cash on this edition of Fresh Air. Her first novel, My Dream of You.

Actors Paul Giamatti and Mark Webber on this edition of Fresh Air. Paul Giamatti stars in the Todd Solondz film Storytelling. He plays an aspiring filmmaker who sets out to document the empty life of a New Jersey high school senior and his well-to-do parents. Giamatti's film credits include Planet of the Apes, Big Momma's House, Saving Private Ryan, and The Truman Show. Mark Webber, 21, is Giamatti's costar in Storytelling.

Voice and acting coach Patsy Rodenburg and fashion journalists Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine on this edition of Fresh Air. Rodenburg has worked with some of the world's leading English-speaking actors, including Judi Dench, Daniel Day-Lewis, Maggie Smith, and Nicole Kidman.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and actor Greg Kinnear on this edition of Fresh Air. Sondheim was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein, and went on to revolutionize musical theatre. His first major success was writing lyrics for West Side Story. He also composed the music and wrote the lyrics for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Follies, and A Little Night Music to name a few.

Writer Alain de Botton and novelist David Benioff on this edition of Fresh Air. Alain de Bottom is the author of several books including How Proust Can Change Your Life, and The Consolations of Philosophy. His latest book, The Art of Travel, is a reflection on travel, the anticipation versus the reality, how one often travels to escape the familiar and mundane - but can't escape oneself, and an examination of the art and literature of travel. David Benioff is the author of 25th Hour. His book, about a former drug dealer in New York City out on the town on...

Writer Jon Krakauer talks about his new book about Mormon Fundamentalism, Mormon practitioner Richard Turley and Nigerian-born actor Chiwetel Ejiofor on this edition of Fresh Air. Jon Krakauer is the author of the book Into Thin Air about the disastrous Mt Everest Climb in 1996 in which eight climbers were killed.

On this edition of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross speaks with screen writer and director Chris Nolan. Nolan's latest film is Memento, about a man set on avenging his wife's murder. Plus, reviews of a new CD set from Buffalo Springfield and of Woody Allen's latest.

British actor Colin Firth on this edition of Fresh Air. Firth is co-starring in the new romantic comedy/holiday feel-good film, Love Actually. Firth is probably best known for his role as Mr. Darcy in the BBC/A&E production of Pride and Prejudice. The film turned him into a heartthrob.

Singer/songwriters Barry Manilow and Tom Waits on this edition of Fresh Air. Barry Manilow made the pop charts in the 1970s and early 80s with love ballads such as "Mandy," "Looks Like We Made It," "I Write the Songs" and "Copacabana (At the Copa)." Before becoming a singer he was Bette Midler's accompanist and arranger.

Professor of Islamic law Khaled Abou El Fadl and English professor Leo Litwak on this edition of Fresh Air. Khaled Abou El Fadl is the professor of Islamic law at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. He's also the author of a number of books including, Conference of the Books: The Search for Beauty in Islam a collection of essays about the problems and challenges that confront Muslims in the contemporary world.

Writer Joyce Johnson talks about her relationship to Beat icon Jack Kerouac, and her new book, Door Wide Open: A Beat Love Affair in Letters on this edition of Fresh Air. In 1957, Johnson started a relationship with the then little-known writer Kerouac. Nine months later, Kerouac's Beat classic On the Road was published. Johnson will talk about her two-year, tumultuous love affair with Kerouac, how the publication of On the Road changed Kerouac, and she'll talk about what it was like being young and female and part of the Manhattan bohemian scene.

Remembering film critic Pauline Kael on this edition of Fresh Air. Pauline Kael died yesterday at the age of 82. William Whitworth was her editor at The New Yorker.

Voice and acting coach Patsy Rodenburg on this edition of Fresh Air. She's worked with some of the world's leading English-speaking actors, including Dame Judi Dench, Daniel Day-Lewis, Maggie Smith and Nicole Kidman. Her new book is The Actor Speaks: Voice and the Performer. Rodenburg is the Director of Voice at London's National Theatre and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Writer Stephen King on this edition of Fresh Air. King has just received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at this year's National Book Award ceremony. Author of several best sellers, he is credited with ushering in a whole new era of horror with his first novel, Carrie, published in 1974.

The Broadway musical The Producers has opened on Broadway, based on the Mel Brooks movie. It stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

Writer Michael Pollan. His book, The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World takes a look at four plants cultivated by humans: the apple, the tulip, potatoes and marijuana. Pollan demonstrates that plants and humans have developed a reciprocal, co-evolutionary relationship: Do we plant potatoes, or do potatoes seduce us into planting them? Pollan questions the assumption that we are in charge of our agriculture.

Journalist Naomi Klein and American Film Institute founder George Stevens, Jr. on this edition of Fresh Air. Klein, author of No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies, takes a look at the global reach of multinational corporations, their pervasive use of branding to sell a concept, the impact on culture and society, and the protest movement that's resulted. Stevens was a production assistant on the 1952 classic western Shane, directed by his father George Stevens.

Journalist Raphael Lewis and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Moats on this edition of Fresh Air. Lewis is the Boston Globe's State House reporter. He'll discuss the ruling by the Massachusetts high court yesterday that gay couples in Massachusetts will be accorded full equal marriage rights rather than civil unions.

Screenwriter/actress Polly Draper and jazz pianist Michael Wolff on this edition of Fresh Air. Polly Draper and jazz pianist Michael Wolff have co-produced The Tic Code.

Veteran CBS 60 Minutes and 60 Minutes II producer George Crile and retired congressman Charlie Wilson on this edition of Fresh Air. George Crile is the author of the new book, Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History. It's about the CIA's secret war in Afghanistan, and their support of the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet Union.