Terry Gross

New Yorker writer Jonathan Blitzer has been in El Paso, Texas, reporting on immigration and family separation. "I've been meeting women who are crying so violently they can barely speak," he says.

Bell's new Netflix special is called Private School Negro. He says the word "negro" offends some people, but he has embraced it: "It takes me right back to the height of the civil rights movement."

Author Alissa Quart writes that the costs of housing, child care, health care and college are outpacing salaries and threatening the livelihoods of middle class Americans.

After warning of elevated lead levels in her patients in Flint, Mich., Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha faced a backlash: "The state said that I was an unfortunate researcher, that I was causing near-hysteria."

In Raven Rock, Garrett Graff describes the bunkers designed to protect government leaders and the roles for various agencies in the event of catastrophe. Originally broadcast June 21, 2018.

Journalist Emily Jane Fox focused on Trump's three marriages and five children when writing her new book. "His presence is overwhelming," she says of the president's role in the family.

McCauley's novel, My Ex-Life, is a comedy about a couple whose marriage ended years ago when the husband came out as gay. "All relationships evolve — even for people who stay together," he says.

The singer, songwriter and guitarist underwent surgeries in 1996 and 2013 that affected his throat and voice. He likes his voice better now: "It dropped down lower and feels friendlier."

Jonathan Olshefski spent 10 years filming Christopher Rainey and his family, who run a recording studio in North Philadelphia. Then their daughter was shot. Originally broadcast Dec. 20, 2017.

Fontana, who died Wednesday, played on some of Presley's biggest hits, including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up." Originally broadcast in 1987.

Duncan, who died at 102, was a Marine officer and combat photographer during World War II. Later he photographed the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Originally broadcast in 1990.

The women's history scholar, who died June 1, grew up on a remote Australian sheep farm and later went on to write three memoirs, including True North. Conway spoke to Fresh Air in 1989, '94 and '98.

Journalist Howard Bryant discusses the history of social protest among African-American athletes. His new book, The Heritage, traces the tradition back to Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali and others.

Ethan Hawke's performance is purposefully understated in the film written and directed by Paul Schrader. At 47, Hawke has "a number of lessons in his face that he doesn't have to act," Schrader says.

Carl Zimmer wondered what secrets lurked in his genetic code — so he decided to have his genome sequenced. He writes about the implications of the study of genetics in She Has Her Mother's Laugh.

Perrotta's most recent novel was inspired by the upheaval he experienced when his kids grew up and moved out of the house. Originally broadcast July 31, 2017.

Talley felt like a misfit growing up — until he stumbled upon a copy of the iconic fashion magazine. Paging through Vogue, he says, was like traveling down a "rabbit hole" into "a world of glamour."

Calypso features stories about family, aging and mortality. In his 61 years, Sedaris says he's learned two things: Be careful when you buy scented candles, and always have a joke in your back pocket.

Todd Purdum's new book is about the creative partnership and strained personal relationship behind such hit shows as Carousel, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Originally broadcast April 9, 2018.

The influential novelist won almost every major literary award, but still found the writing process was full of discovery. "Each and every sentence is a revelation," he said. Roth died Tuesday at 85.