Fresh Air

Yousafzai talks about life before and after being shot by a Taliban gunman. Maureen Corrigan reviews three gutsy new novels. Isaac struggled with Beef, so he turned to Frankenstein for help.

Sophy Romvari's semi-autobiographical drama touches on her childhood in British Columbia and her family's experience of tragedy. Blue Heron has won numerous prizes at international film festivals.

Cinco Paul loves musicals — unlike his long-time writing partner. Their Apple TV+ series, now on Broadway, centers on a couple who become trapped in a musical town. Originally broadcast Aug. 23, 2021.

In The Secret War Against Hate, Steven J. Ross details the racist, anti-Semitic groups that sprang up in the latter half of the 20th century — and the spy network that worked to bring them to justice.

A former pro-wrestling executive, McMahon is now the education secretary Trump tasked with abolishing the agency. New Yorker writer Zach Helfand explains how her WWE experience led her to this role.

In Season 2 of Beef, Isaac plays Josh, a country club manager whose life is unravelling. He got into character by imagining how Victor Frankenstein would feel trapped inside Josh's "small life."

This TV adaptation of Rufi Thorpe's 2024 novel is a wild ride from start to finish. Its all-star cast includes Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman and Nicole Kidman.

As a teen, Yousafzai risked her life speaking out against the Taliban. "At the time, what scared me more was a life without an education as a girl," the Nobel-winner told Terry Gross at a live event.

Actor Amanda Peet says she's "cancer-free and extremely lucky." David Bianculli reviews Margo's Got Money Troubles. A new book by Harvard professor Namwali Serpell dives into Toni Morrison's work.

In Steven Soderbergh's new dark comedy, Ian McKellen plays a famous painter, and Michaela Coel is an art restorer hired to infiltrate his home by his greedy grown-up children.