Terry Gross

To celebrate Christmas, Fresh Air listens back to a concert given by the late singer and actress on Feb. 11, 1997. Clooney spoke about her childhood and working with Bing Crosby and Billy Strayhorn.

"You have a group of 650 people whose wealth has gone up a trillion dollars since mid-March," says Chuck Collins of the Institute for Policy Studies. He recommends taxing a portion of those gains.

The Family Ties star was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease in 1991. He says that if he doesn't know if he can do something, he fakes it — a strategy that works 80 percent of the time.

In 2019, John told Fresh Air that his father's early misgivings about his chosen career became a source of motivation: "He gave me the determination to make something of myself."

Atlantic writer Ed Yong says the COVID-19 vaccination program will be the most complicated the U.S. has ever attempted: "It's going to be a slow process, and there are a lot of possible roadblocks."

Ahmed plays a drummer who loses his hearing in Sound of Metal. To prepare for the role, he immersed himself in deaf culture — an experience that changed the way he thought about communication.

Le Carré, who died Dec. 12, worked for MI5 and MI6 early in his career and later drew on that experience in thrillers like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Originally broadcast in 1989 and 2017.

Richard Nixon's first vice president resigned amid charges of bribery and tax evasion. Maddow and Mike Yarvitz revisit Agnew's story in the podcast (and now book) Bag Man. Originally broadcast in '19.

"[Trump] can't handle the concept of the label 'loser,' " Haberman says. "He has never before encountered a problem that he couldn't sue away through the court system or spin away."

Brittany Barnett works on behalf of people serving harsh sentences as a result of the war on drugs. Nine of her clients have been granted clemency. Her new memoir is A Knock at Midnight.

The legendary aviator, who died Dec. 7, served as a fighter pilot in World War II. Later, as a test pilot, he was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. Originally broadcast in 1988.

Winslet plays real-life fossil hunter Mary Anning in a film that imagines an affair between Anning and another woman. "It's storytelling that normalizes and expresses same-sex love," Winslet says.

Brubeck, who died in 2012, was a celebrated pianist. His 1959 album Time Out was the first jazz album to sell a million copies. Sunday marks the centennial of his birth. Originally broadcast in 1999.

New York Times journalist Eric Schmitt says the president's threats against Iran and his recent purge at the Pentagon, in which he ousted his secretary of defense, could undermine national security.

Wainwright and Giordano collaborated on the 1920s and '30s style music for the series Boardwalk Empire and the film The Aviator. Now they've gotten together again on the album I'd Rather Lead a Band.

After spending much of his career playing the male lead in romantic comedies, Grant is shifting into darker roles. In the HBO series The Undoing, he plays a narcissistic doctor accused of murder.

The Carol Burnett Show, which aired from 1967-1978, recently started streaming. We listen back to Terry Gross' 2003 interview with Burnett, and TV critic David Bianculli checks in with her now.

After 28 years of hosting late-night shows, O'Brien is moving to HBO. He spoke to Fresh Air in 2019 about getting his start and how late-night TV has changed over the years.

Morris, who died Nov. 20, transitioned to female in 1972 when she was 46. She later reflected on gender in her memoir, Conundrum. Originally broadcast in 1989.

The Momofuku chef says COVID-19 has introduced "seismic" changes to his industry. "We're doing anything and everything to stay afloat," he says. Chang's new memoir is Eat a Peach.