Books

Fresh Air

1

Fresh Air

NPR
The Book Review

2

The Book Review

The New York Times
Myths and Legends

3

Myths and Legends

Jason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
Zero to Well-Read

4

Zero to Well-Read

Book Riot
Catholic Bible Study

5

Catholic Bible Study

Augustine Institute
The New Yorker: Fiction

6

The New Yorker: Fiction

The New Yorker
Fantasy Fangirls

7

Fantasy Fangirls

Fantasy Fangirls

Books

Books

Updated 07/02/2024
Books

Books

Updated Weekly
Books

Books

Updated Bimonthly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Weekly Series
Books

Books

Updated Weekly
Books

Books

Updated Weekly
Books

Books

Updated Semiweekly

20H AGO

1

Will Arnett

Arnett stars in Bradley Cooper’s new film, ‘Is This Thing On?’ as a man who turns to the New York comedy scene as he grapples with his divorce. The ‘SmartLess’ podcast co-host talked with Terry Gross about voicework, how ‘Arrested Development’ changed his life, and being a troublemaker in school. Also, critic David Bianculli shares his picks for best TV of 2025. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

20h ago

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47 min
3D AGO

2

The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs

To celebrate the holidays, we’re looking back at four archive Fresh Air interviews discussing popular Christmas songs: First, jazz singer Mel Torme tells Terry Gross about co-writing “The Christmas Song” on a hot summer day, in an interview from 1977. Then we hear from songwriters Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane in 1989 about making “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and then Martin drops in again in 2006 to discuss the song’s long impact. Finally, musician Jon Batiste sits at the piano with Terry in 2024 to play some other favorite holiday tunes live. Listen to an episode of NPR's All Songs Considered podcast on the origin and impact of “The Christmas Song.” Listen to 40+ years of Fresh Air's archives at FreshAirArchive.org. To access bonus episodes, sponsor-free listening and to support public radio, become a Fresh Air+ supporter at plus.npr.org/freshair. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

3d ago

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44 min
1D AGO

3

Dir. Craig Brewer Is Chasing ‘Purple Rain’ Magic

Director Craig Brewer has made a career of telling stories about dreamers and misfits chasing something bigger than themselves, from ‘Hustle & Flow’ to ‘Dolemite Is My Name.’ Now he's back with ‘Song Sung Blue,’ a film based on the true story of a Milwaukee couple who became local legends performing as a Neil Diamond tribute band. He spoke with Tonya Mosley. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1d ago

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48 min
6D AGO

4

A Revealing Profile Of Trump Chief Of Staff Susie Wiles

'Vanity Fair' writer Chris Whipple interviewed Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles 11 times, getting her view on cabinet members, Trump's revenge tour, Venezuela policy, and why she says Trump has an "alcoholic's personality." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

6d ago

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46 min
5D AGO

5

Lucy Liu

The child of Chinese immigrants, Liu grew up in Queens where she spoke Mandarin at home and didn't learn English until she was 5. She returns to the language in her new film, ‘Rosemead.’ It’s about a terminally ill mother grappling with her teenage son’s escalating mental health crisis and the impossible choices she faces to help him. Liu spoke with Tonya Mosley about rejection, representation, and the first time she heard her name in OutKast’s hit “Hey Ya.” Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

5d ago

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45 min
4D AGO

6

John Le Carré’s Son Revives His Late Dad's Spy

Writer Nick Harkaway grew up hearing his dad read drafts of his George Smiley novels. He picks up le Carré's beloved spymaster character in the novel ‘Karla's Choice,’ now out in paperback. He spoke with Sam Briger about choosing his own pen name, channeling his dad's writing style, and his stint writing copy for a lingerie catalogue. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

4d ago

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46 min
4D AGO

7

What Did 2025 Mean for Books?

From political tell-alls to the continued triumph of romantasy novels, it’s been an eventful year in the publishing world. On this week’s episode, host MJ Franklin talks with his Book Review colleagues Alexandra Alter, Tina Jordan and John Maher about the biggest book stories and most significant reading trends of 2025. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

4d ago

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47 min
DEC 16

8

Remembering Rob Reiner

The great filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were killed in their home Sunday. Their son Nick has been arrested on suspicion of murder. It’s a shocking and tragic end to a life that brought joy to so many. Reiner’s contributions to American film include canonical movies such as ‘The Princess Bride,’ ‘Stand By Me,’ ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and ‘This Is Spinal Tap.’ He spoke with Terry Gross this past September about his reunion with the ‘Spinal Tap’ guys, growing up among comedy legends, and collaborating with his son Nick on a film inspired by Nick’s struggle with addiction. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Dec 16

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48 min
5D AGO

9

Unwrapping the Holidays

Meg Wolitzer presents three unexpected stories that let us see the holidays’ associations—family, friends, food, gifts, and goodwill—in different ways. Amy Krouse Rosenthal presents a playful encounter with the Almighty in “Interview with God,” performed by Jayne Atkinson and James Naughton. In Sherrie Flick’s “Heidi is Dead,” read by Adina Verson, a second wife tries to tune in with her in-laws. And John Cheever’s “Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor” is a richly comic and warmhearted look at giving and receiving. Teagle F. Bougere reads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5d ago

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58 min
4D AGO

10

Best Of: Lucy Liu / Zadie Smith

Lucy Liu joins Tonya Mosley to talk about her new film ‘Rosemead,’ where she stars as a terminally ill woman grappling with her teenage son’s escalating mental health crisis and the impossible choices she faces to protect him. It’s based on a true story. Also, writer Zadie Smith talks with Terry Gross about her new collection of essays, ‘Dead and Alive.’ She reflects on aging and generational discourse. Film critic Justin Chang shares his list of the best films of the year. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

4d ago

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49 min

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Updated Aug 24
Personal Journals

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Essentials

Will Arnett

The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs

Dir. Craig Brewer Is Chasing ‘Purple Rain’ Magic

A Revealing Profile Of Trump Chief Of Staff Susie Wiles

Lucy Liu

John Le Carré’s Son Revives His Late Dad's Spy

What Did 2025 Mean for Books?

Remembering Rob Reiner

Unwrapping the Holidays

Best Of: Lucy Liu / Zadie Smith

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