“I also often ask my guests about what they consider to be their invisible weaknesses and shortcomings. I do this because these are the characteristics that define us no less than our strengths. What we feel sets us apart from other people is often the thing that shapes us as individuals. This may be especially true of writers and actors, many of whom first started to develop their observational skills as a result of being sidelined from typical childhood or adolescent activities because of an infirmity or a feeling of not fitting in. Or so I’ve come to believe from talking to so many writers and actors over the years.” ― Terry Gross, All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists
I rather stumbled across Fresh Air accidentally. I have always enjoyed talk radio and, as an extension, podcasts. I do not, however, enjoy political rants, regardless of which side of the party line the come from. Unfortunately, politics seem to be the order of the day for most talk radio hosts. Instead, I want to hear stories of real people and what they are doing. I want to, for a time at least, see the world through someone else's eyes. When I came across NPR's Fresh Air (technically it all started at WHYY), I was very intrigued.
The show's host, Terry Gross, has been presenting and producing the show since 1975. Now, 40 years later, it is a one-hour look into the lives of today's most influential artist. Actors, artists, and musicians all share the stories of their lives.
I won't pretend that Gross' politics don't sometimes leak through, but not so much that one can't enjoy the trip into the lives of our most creative members.
Fresh Air plays new episodes Monday - Thursday and re-airs old shows on Friday. The show can be download as a podcast as well. Gross also published a collection of her favorite interviews, entitled All I Did Was Ask, in 2004.
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