Sam Fragoso

Terry Gross, the legendary host of Fresh Air, shares her journey through grief and creativity after losing her husband. In a heartfelt conversation with Sam Fragoso, she reflects on the power of autobiographical interviews and the nuance of connecting art with personal experience. Terry also recounts her early days in radio, the evolution of Fresh Air, and insights on public media's cultural significance. From hitchhiking adventures to profound wisdom about loss, she reveals how these experiences shaped her interviewing craft and life.

Sam Fragoso chats with the legendary Terry Gross, reflecting on her incredible 50-year journey redefining public radio. They discuss her Brooklyn roots, the challenges of merging personal and professional life, and the impact of feminist literature on self-advocacy. Terry shares stories from iconic interviews that shaped her career, touching on the emotional complexities of intimate conversations, like the one with Monica Lewinsky. Amid funding cuts to public media, she expresses an unwavering dedication to the art of long-form interviews and storytelling.

This week, Lilah compares notes on interviewing with podcaster Sam Fragoso. Sam's show Talk Easy features in-depth conversations with some of the biggest names in culture: from Cate Blanchett and Judd Apatow, to Noam Chomsky. He tells Lilah about his highlights and difficult moments, and they discuss what makes a great conversation. Then, we challenged listeners to submit boring topics for us to make interesting, and this week we take on the UK citizenship test. To become a British citizen, you have to pass a uniquely esoteric test about "British customs, traditions and laws". What do the questions suggest about what it means to be British? And should these tests exist at all?Note: After this podcast was aired, Jonathan Majors was arrested for assault. His lawyer says he is "completely innocent".--------------Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Links:– Sam’s podcast, Talk Easy, is available to listen wherever you get your podcasts, and is on Instagram at Twitter @talkeasypod– Sam and Lilah discuss conversations with Ke Huy Quan and Kara Swisher. Sam also recommends his conversations with Norman Lear and journalist Maria Ressa. Lilah recommends Sam's conversation with Lena Dunham: https://talkeasypod.com/lena-dunham/ – Professor Thom Brooks’ Ted Talk: ‘Should the British citizenship test be a barrier or a bridge?’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNHpyJPbXNI – A guide to passing the citizenship test, by the FT’s Federica Cocco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn9k29PWmMU – The FT’s Alan Livsey on his experience of the test: ‘For Better or Worse, I’m British now’: https://on.ft.com/3JCRQtj —-------------Our US edition of the FTWeekend Festival is back! Join Jamie Lee Curtis, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alice Waters, your favourite FT writers and more on May 20 in Washington, DC, and online. Register now and save $20 off using promo code weekendpodcast at ft.com/festival-usSpecial offers for Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast.--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Special shout out to producer Lulu Smyth.Additional clips from Pushkin and the BBC’s Live at the Apollo. ------------Audio changed to include an edit on 3/24/2023.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Fragoso, host of Talk Easy, is renowned for his insightful interviews with celebrities and family members. In this discussion, he highlights the art of meaningful interviews and the importance of creating a comfortable space for dialogue. Sam shares challenges of personal interviews, especially with family, emphasizing their power in preserving personal histories. He reflects on his parents' legacies and encourages listeners to explore their own motivations for documenting stories, advocating for authenticity in capturing the essence of loved ones.

In this engaging conversation, host Sam Fragoso interviews Wesley Morris, a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic known for his insightful cultural commentary. They unpack Stevie Wonder's legendary five-album run from 1972 to 1976, exploring his artistic transformation and independence. Morris shares how his relationship with Wonder's music evolved while producing a podcast dedicated to the icon. The duo also reflects on Wonder's enduring impact in today's social climate, emphasizing his music's role in uplifting communities and its significance in the civil rights movement.