Collections (A-Z)

From James Baldwin and Maya Angelou to Toni Morrison and Ta-Nehisi Coates, this collection includes a host of America's most celebrated black authors speaking candidly about how race and racism inform their writing.

Celebrate the excellence of Black History Month through Fresh Air's interviews with some of America's most prominent figures in film, sports, culture and beyond.

Whether you're a cat person or a dog person, you've probably wondered what's going on inside the head of your furry friend. In this collection, animal experts share their insights inside the minds of cats and dogs.

Hear from the singers, songwriters and musicians who have defined the sound of country music.

For years Dave Davies has contributed at least one interview a week to Fresh Air, and oftentimes more — especially when the topics concern sports, investigative journalism or history. After 22 years of interviews, the longtime Fresh Air contributor and fill-in host is cutting back on his workload. Listen to some of Davies most compelling interviews including conversations with Frank Calabrese Jr. (2011); novelist Kate Christensen (2013); biographer Robert Caro (2019); and sports announcer Joe Buck (2017).

Feminist leaders, activists and writers paint a picture of the movement's history. Hear from activists like Gloria Steinem and artists like Viv Albertine on what the struggle for equal rights has meant to them. 

Listen to award-winning chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, and writers discuss the foods that inspire them. The only thing better than talking about food is eating, but since that doesn't translate to radio, this collection delivers the next best thing.

A running list of the interviews and features included in every Fresh Air+ bonus episode. Fresh Air+ is a premium feed of our show, offering every episode sponsor-free -- and exclusive bonus episodes once a week with behind-the-scenes insight and stories from Terry, Tonya and the Fresh Air staff. Find out more, and join for yourself, at https://plus.npr.org/freshair

From Brooklyn block parties to the world stage, hip-hop is a true American art form. Terry may not have turntables, but she's got a microphone  ... and she's used it to interview some of the biggest names in the rap game. 

Fresh Air looks at how political tides have shaped the history of America's highest court.

Listen as writers, journalists, and legal scholars look at the politics behind the selection and confirmation process, as well as the way that polarization has influenced the direction of the Supreme Court in recent decades. In this collection, you'll also hear from several present or former justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, Sandra Day O'Connor, and John Paul Stevens, who offer an inside look at how the Supreme Court makes decisions that define our democracy.

The human brain is among the most complex objects in the known universe. In this collection, neuroscientists discuss our advancing understanding of the mind and how it helps to explain human behavior.

Hear the history behind the protests. 

In this collection, you'll find interviews with authors like James Baldwin, activists like Bobby Seale, and artists like Nina Simone as they discuss their struggle for humanity against American racism. Listen to first-hand accounts from a Black police officer and a Black lawyer as they reflect on the fight for justice.

Fresh Air remembers its longtime language commentator, who died on August 11, 2020. He was 75-years-old. 

Fresh Air is deeply connected to the jazz world, and Terry has had the opportunity to interview many legends in their own time. 

In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr founded Tamla Records in Detroit, MI, and within a year, he rebranded it Motown. Over the next decade, this small, black-owned record label pioneered an entirely new sound and launched the careers of some of the most famous performers in American music, including The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder (pictured). 

Miles Davis changed the course of modern Jazz throughout his remarkable career. Swing into the world of Miles Davis and his charismatic style that influenced musicians for decades to come.

How do contagious diseases spread and what can we do to stop them? Hear from epidemiologists, historians and reporters as they look back at past outbreaks that have threatened public health, including bird flu, AIDS, malaria and the Ebola virus. This collection discusses how public policy, media coverage and paranoia have shaped our response to previous pandemics.

Fresh Air has played host to some legendary in-studio performances by some of the world's greatest pianists. This collection includes Harry Connick, Jr., Regina Spektor, Jon Batiste and others tickling the ivories and talking about the music the make.

Baseball is our national pastime and its stars, critics, and storytellers are no stranger to Fresh Air. Over the years, Terry Gross and frequent Fresh Air contributor Dave Davies have interviewed some of baseball biggest names, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson.

Celebrate change-making women like Toni Morrison (pictured in 1977) who have passed the baton from the early Women’s Rights Movements to the leaders of our modern day society.