Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso)

Fresh Air

NPR

Tv & Film, Arts, Society & Culture, Books

4.4 • 34.4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 September 2025

⏱️ 101 minutes

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Summary

This month marks 50 years of Terry Gross as the host of Fresh Air. What began in 1975 as a local experiment at WHYY in Philadelphia has since grown into a national institution—one that not only transformed public radio, but laid the groundwork for the world of podcasting.To commemorate a half-century on the air, Terry Gross joins us for a rare appearance in the interview seat. At the top, we discuss her Brooklyn upbringing (11:39), early memories of writing (14:13), and her improbable road to public radio (30:51). Then, Terry walks us through the formative years of Fresh Air (34:50) and its seminal conversations with Kurt Vonnegut (41:34), John Updike (47:43), Monica Lewinsky (50:43), Joan Didion (1:02:08), and more.On the back-half, Gross reflects on forty-seven years of partnership with her late husband, jazz writer Francis Davis (1:04:37), their shared affinity for reading and music (1:07:10), the future of public media (1:20:29), and why she continues to have faith in (and love for) the long-form interview (1:32:48).

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Transcript

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0:00.0	We all wonder about life's big questions. Why are we here? What are we to do and how to make sense of it all?
0:05.9	On Ye' Gods with Scott Carter, I talk with Politico's priests, actors, and atheists on how they wrestle with life's mysteries.
0:13.2	Their stories will spark reflection, challenge assumptions, and maybe even bring you some clarity on your own journey.
0:20.0	Listen to Ye gods, part of the NPR Network wherever you get your podcasts.
0:24.3	Hi, it's Terry Gross.
0:26.0	I'm here to introduce something a little different.
0:28.2	It's an interview where I'm the guest.
0:30.0	The person asking the questions is Sam Fregoso for his podcast Talk Easy.
0:35.2	The occasion for the interview is my 50th anniversary hosting fresh air.
0:40.4	Just saying 50th makes me think, what? When I started hosting the show back in September,
0:46.6	1975, it was a local show that only listeners to W.HYY in Philadelphia could hear. It was three
0:53.5	hours long, five days a week,
0:55.5	and at the time, the only staff was me. Yikes. I managed to hang in there until Danny Miller
1:02.8	came along and became my longtime radio partner. Years later, in 1987, Fresh Air became a daily
1:10.3	NPR show heard around the country. So to mark this
1:14.0	anniversary, Sam came to Philly to interview me. I really like a show and I think he's a great
1:19.5	interviewer. By the way, I recommend the episode with Ira Glass. Sam does a lot of research and
1:25.8	put so much care into shaping his interviews, so I was really curious what he'd ask me.
1:30.7	I really enjoyed our conversation, so here it is, my interview on Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso.
1:36.2	So...
1:37.5	...and-talk-easy with Sam Fragoso. This is Talk Easy. I'm Stan Forgo, so welcome, Terry Gross.
2:11.2	This month marks the 50th anniversary of her show, Fresh Air.
	...

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