Terry Gross

We celebrate the life of the legendary obit writer, who died Feb. 22, by listening back to a 1987 interview. Also, Philadelphia Inquirer editor David Gambacorta reflects on Nicholson's work.

New York Times Magazine writer Mattathias Schwartz says that when Trump's tweets take our allies by surprise, it's the secretary of state's job to "calm people down."

Mary Pipher's new book, Women Rowing North, chronicles the positive aspects of transitioning from middle age to old age: "At this life stage, women start granting themselves the power of no."

Adlon nearly stopped working on her FX show after co-creator Louis C.K. admitted to sexual misconduct with multiple women. She severed ties and, after an extended break, decided to continue the show.

Filmmaker Adam McKay spoke to Fresh Air in January 2019 about his efforts to bring the former vice president "to the foreground" in Vice. The film is up for eight Academy Awards, including best film.

"No one can sing like Freddie Mercury," Malek told Fresh Air in November 2018. The actor has been nominated for an Academy Award for playing Queen's lead singer in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

"If there was contact between the Trump campaign, or even Trump himself, and WikiLeaks, it went through [Jerome] Corsi and [Roger] Stone," says New Yorker writer Jeffrey Toobin.

The activist, filmmaker and writer chronicles sexual abuse allegations against R. Kelly in the six-part docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly, even as new allegations against him surface.

"We don't have a lot of experience with investigating presidents of the United States," McCabe says. "There is not a standard S.O.P. on the shelf that you pull down to say, 'Here's how it's done.' "

First Reformed, which Schrader wrote and directed, is up for an Oscar for best screenplay. It tells the story of a divorced minister experiencing a crisis of faith. Originally broadcast June 12, 2018.

Atlantic journalist Franklin Foer says American real estate became a "giant magnet" for Russia's kleptocratic fortunes after lobbyists pushed to allow anonymous shell companies to buy properties.

Growing up, Judith Grisel struggled with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Now as a neuroscientist, she's working to understand the biological basis of addiction. Her new book is Never Enough.

Does exercise recovery work? Science writer Christie Aschwanden examines the physiology and effectiveness of sports drinks, protein powders and other products and services in her new book, Good to Go.

The Coen brothers spoke to Fresh Air in November 2018 about The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, a Western that often subverts the expectations of the genre. The film is up for three Academy Awards.

Robinson, who died Thursday, was the first player to win both the American and National League MVP awards. He later became the first black manager of a major league team. Originally broadcast in 1988.

New York Times journalist Michael Schmidt has helped break major stories concerning special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into connections between President Trump, his associates and Russia.

The subtitle of Benjamin Dreyer's book is An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style, but "the last thing that I want to do is to pass myself off as some sort of ferocious gatekeeper," he says.

Growing up, Bridgett M. Davis' mother booked and banked bets from their home in Detroit. She writes about her experience — and the role of "the numbers" in the black community — in her memoir.

"You don't have to be a leading man" to make it in Hollywood, Miller told Fresh Air in 1990. He appeared in more than 100 films, including Gremlins and The Little Shop of Horrors.

Price is up for the 2019 Grammy Award for best new artist. She spoke to Fresh Air in 2017 about growing up in the small town of Aledo, Ill.: "Now, when I go back, I see the beauty in it."