Food Editor for the Los Angeles Times, Russ Parsons. He examines the science of cooking in his new book, How to Read a French Fry: and other Stories of Intriguing Kitchen Science.
Historian David Mccullough is the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Truman. His new book is the biography of founding father and second President of the United States. The book is John Adams.
Dancer/Choreographer Mark Morris. Early in his career, Morris performed with a variety of companies. In 1980, he founded the Mark Morris Dance Group creating over 90 works for the troupe. He has also staged over a dozen commissions for other ballet companies, including the San Francisco Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and the American Ballet Theatre. From 1988-1991, Morris was Director of Dance for the national opera house of Belgium in Brussels. Morris was named a MacArthur Fellow in 1991, and he is the subject of a biography by Joan Acocella (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
Conductor Benjamin Zander, of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been called "a Pied Piper" of classical music and "one of music's evangelists." His passionate performances have earned him quite a following. Through his teaching and his pre-concert discussions, he has tried to spread his love of classical music to a wider public. He has conducted the Boston Philharmonic for over 20 years. He leads the Philharmonia Orchestra on a new CD Mahler: Symphony No. 5 and he has a new book, The Art of Possiblity: Transforming Professional and Personal Life.
Astronaut Jim Newman. Dr Newman has logged many days in space, including many space walks. In 1998 he was a member of one of the first crews to work on the International Space Station, Endeavor. He'll talk about what it was like doing construction in space. Next year, NEWMAN will go back to space to work on and repair the Hubble Telescope.
Documentary filmmakers Chris Hegedus & Jehane Noujaim. Their new film Startup.com is a Cinema Verite look at the rise and fall of an internet startup company. The film premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and is now opening in theaters. Hegedus has been making documentaries with veteran filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker for over 20 years. Their films include, The War Room, which chronicles Bill Clintons presidential campaign. Startup.com is Jehane Noujaims first feature film.
He plays Josh Lyman, the Deputy Whitehouse Chief of Staff on the NBC drama The West Wing. The show's season finale airs Wednesday, May 16th. Whitford began his acting career on the stage. He has also appeared in many films including Scent of a Woman, Philadelphia, A Perfect World, Revenge of the Nerds II, and Billy Madison. He'll talk about his role on the West Wing, and what it's like playing a high-ranking staff member in a fictitious White House.
Film critic Henry Sheehan talks to Terry Gross about this year's Cannes Film Festival. Sheehan, who is currently in Cannes for the festival, will talk about the festival's film, and the buzz. The Cannes Film festival began last week and ends this weekend.
Psychologist Daniel Schacter is the author of the new book The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers. The book looks at memory loss and age, arguing that gaps in memory are normal if not necessary to a sharp mind. He's a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University.
Journalist Michela Wrong is the author of the new book In the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu's Congo. The book examines the 1960 CIA plot to murder Patrice Lumumba who was then leader of newly independent Congo. The plot led to Lumumba's removal from power and the ascension of Mobutu Sese Seko. Wrong is a staff reporter with The Financial Times.
Writer David Rakoff is a regular contributor to Outside, the New York Times Magazine, and public radios This American Life. One of his peers, writer Paul Rudnick says of him, –Rakoff is a comic saint... an ideal mix of the crabby and the debonair.— Rakoff has a new collection of essays, Fraud. He's also appearing in Amy & David Sedaris new off-broadway show.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the hit debut single of the girl-group Edens Crush and the new comeback CD God Bless the Go-Gos by (of course) the Go-Gos.
Meadows was a regular on TVs Saturday Night Live for some 9 years. Leon the Ladies Man, a swinging politically incorrect radio love doctor that he played on the show, is featured in the film The Ladies Man which is now out on video.
She's been called The Queen of Swing and The First Lady of Las Vegas. Smith is perhaps best known as the duet partner and wife of Louis Prima. Smith and Prima drew crowds to the lounges of Las Vegas in the 1950s. Their hits include Jump, Jive, an Wail, Just a Gigolo, Ive Got You Under My Skin, and That Old Black Magic. Smith talks about her marriage to Prima, the music they made together, and her career. Smiths newest CD is Keely Sings Sinatra
