Terry Gross

Derek Black once promoted a racist agenda by making speeches, hosting a radio show and starting a website. His change of heart is the subject of a new book, written by journalist Eli Saslow.

"I don't think we do Ali any good by treating him as a saint," says biographer Jonathan Eig. "He was a human being, and he was deeply flawed." Originally broadcast Oct. 4, 2017.

When the creators of HBO's The Deuce approached Gyllenhaal about starring as a sex worker on the show, she accepted the role — but only if she could produce as well as act.

New York Times reporter Ken Vogel says that Paul Manafort engaged in illegal lobbying to burnish the image of Viktor Yanukovych, the authoritarian president of Ukraine.

In Pure, Linda Kay Klein reflects on the "deep, long-lasting shame" caused by churches that claim women and girls are responsible for the sexual desires of men.

The Turtles All The Way Down author says OCD "starts out with one little thought, and then slowly that becomes the only thought that you're able to have." Originally broadcast Oct. 19, 2017.

The SNL head writers have different attitudes toward co-hosting the Emmy awards Monday night. Jost admits to being nervous, but Che says, "It's comedy! ... There's nothing to be afraid of."

After writing biographies of Charles Dickens and Mary Wollstonecraft, Tomalin turned to memoir. Her new work tells of her conflicting desires to have children and to lead a meaningful working life.

The veteran journalist was shocked by the tactics White House staff use to circumvent Trump: "I've never heard in any way of staff going around a president this way." Woodward's new book is Fear.

The James Beard award-winning chef started out preparing food for doctors and nurses. Then calls started pouring in from across the island. The message was clear, he says: "The island is hungry."

Finn Murphy has logged over a million miles hauling people's belongings across the country. He describes life on the road as a "reaction against regimentation." Originally broadcast Feb. 14, 2018.

Reynolds, who died Thursday, appeared in scores of films, including Deliverance and Boogie Nights. He spoke to Terry Gross in 1994 about growing up the son of a sheriff in a small Florida town.

Norm Eisen's new book, The Last Palace, tells the story of the mansion he lived in as America's ambassador to the Czech Republic and of Europe's ongoing struggle between democracy and illiberalism.

During the 2004 presidential election, opponents used falsehoods to attack Kerry's military record. He reflects on that campaign — and on the current state of American politics — in a new memoir.

Khalida Brohi grew up in tribal Pakistan, where her 14-year-old cousin was murdered by an uncle after she refused an arranged marriage. Her new memoir is I Should Have Honor.

A self-described "awkward black girl," Rae is now nominated for an Emmy for her starring role on Insecure, the HBO series she created. Originally broadcast Nov. 8, 2016.

The host of the Emmy-nominated Daily Show revisits his childhood in apartheid-era South Africa in the memoir, Born a Crime. Originally broadcast Nov. 22, 2016.

Baldwin is nominated for an Emmy for playing the president on SNL. In 2017, he told Fresh Air that he plays the character in a exaggerated way: "It's kind of the Macy's Day Parade [version] of Trump."

Taylor, who died Wednesday, began dancing when he was 22 and worked with some of the world's most renowned choreographers before establishing his own dance troupe. Originally broadcast in 1987.

Henry is nominated for an Emmy for his role as Alfred, aka the rapper "Paper Boi," on the FX series Atlanta. Originally broadcast April 18, 2018.