Best Hacking The Red Circle Podcasts (2025)

1
Best Of: Education & A.I. / Having A Child In The Digital Age 48:24

6h ago48:24

48:24

Professors and educators are now turning to A.I. to prepare lessons, teach, and even grade students' work. We talk with New York Times tech reporter Kashmir Hill about the ongoing debate in higher-ed about A.I.. TV critic David Bianculli reviews One to One, a new documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Also, writer Amanda Hess talks about mothe…

1
Remembering Broadway Composer Charles Strouse 46:46

1d ago46:46

46:46

We remember Broadway composer Charles Strouse, who died May 15 at age 96. He wrote the music for the hit musicals Bye Bye Birdie and Annie, which included such songs as "Put On a Happy Face," "A Lot of Livin' to Do," and "Tomorrow." Jay-Z sampled "Hard Knock Life," from Annie, on a Grammy-award-winning rap recording. Strouse understood why: "I want…

1
Walton Goggins Was Raised By A Village 45:07

2d ago45:07

45:07

Walton Goggins talks with Tonya Mosley about growing up poor in the Deep South, the travel that changed him, and collaborating with his wife. He says his unconventional childhood shaped his approach to acting, from Justified to The White Lotus and The Righteous Gemstones. David Bianculli reviews a new two-part HBO documentary about Paul Reubens, wh…

1
Professors Are Using A.I., Too. Now What? 44:14

3d ago44:14

44:14

Colleges and universities have been trying to fight against students using tools like ChatGPT to do class assignments and communicate. But here's a twist: Professors and educators are now turning to A.I. to prepare lessons, teach, and even grade students' work. We talk with NYT tech reporter Kashmir Hill about these conflicts on campus. Also, she s…

1
Inside The "Cover-Up" Of President Biden's Decline 44:11

4d ago44:11

44:11

CNN host Jake Tapper's book, Original Sin, co-authored by Alex Thompson, describes a president who struggled to function: "One person told us that the presidency was, at best, a five-person board with Joe Biden as chairman." Tapper spoke with Terry Gross about moderating the disastrous Biden/Trump debate, George Clooney's op-ed calling for the pres…

1
Cole Escola's 'Stupid' Dream Came True With 'Oh, Mary!' 45:35

5d ago45:35

45:35

Escola gives former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln a wild second act in the Tony-nominated play Oh, Mary! "This play is about a woman with a dream that no one around her understands," Escola says. The actor spoke with Ann Marie Baldonado about growing up in rural Oregon, the inspiration for the play, and making sense of its surprise success. Maureen …

1
Best Of: Ramy Youssef / Danny McBride 48:31

8d ago48:31

48:31

Ramy Youssef's new animated comedy series, #1 Happy Family USA, is about an Egyptian American Muslim family living in New Jersey, after 9/11, trying to blend in and doing everything they can to avoid being seen as a threat. Youssef spoke with Terry Gross about the series and his own experience during that time. Also, Danny McBride talks with Tonya …

1
Zombies Frontman Colin Blunstone 46:22

8d ago46:22

46:22

There's a new documentary about the '60s British band The Zombies. It's called 'Hung Up on a Dream' and it's streaming on Amazon Prime. We're listening back to Terry's 1998 interview with lead singer of The Zombies, Colin Blunstone. The band had a reputation for being clean cut and well mannered. "People want rascals and rogues and naughty boys. So…

1
Navigating The 'Wellness' Epidemic 45:35

9d ago45:35

45:35

Journalist Amy Larocca says our society's obsession with optimization and self-care has reached a fever pitch. She unpacks what it really means to take care of ourselves in How to Be Well. Also, Justin Chang reviews the Chinese film Caught by the Tides. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

1
His Cancer Meds Were Nearly $1K A Pill. How Did That Happen? 46:22

10d ago46:22

46:22

ProPublica reporter David Armstrong began investigating the pharmaceutical industry when he learned a single pill of his cancer treatment costs about the same as a new iPhone — but costs 25 cents to make. His investigation into the discovery and marketing of the drug Revlimid revealed strategies employed by pharmaceutical companies to ward off comp…

1
Ramy Youssef Animates A Muslim Family's Post-9/11 Life 45:10

11d ago45:10

45:10

Actor Ramy Youssef was in 5th grade and living in New Jersey when the Twin Towers fell. His new Amazon Prime animated show, #1 Happy Family USA, draws on the experiences of his own Egyptian American family navigating Islamophobia after Sept. 11. Conan O'Brien was the recipient of this year's Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. David…

1
'Righteous Gemstones' Creator Danny McBride's Love Letter To The South 44:34

12d ago44:34

44:34

The Georgia native has seen how Hollywood traffics in stereotypes about the American South. He talks with Tonya Mosley about making creative work that challenges them. His HBO show The Righteous Gemstones, which satirizes televangelists, just wrapped its fourth and final season. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Dude Wipes, Chief Executive Dude & President, Sean Riley 1:05:13

12d ago1:05:13

1:05:13

What do a Shark Tank smack down and a life-sized foam butt on MTV have in common? They built Dude Wipes—a $200M empire that turned baby wipes into a pop culture phenomenon. In the premiere of Zeitgeist, Cameo co-founder Steven Galanis sits down with Dude Wipes CEO Sean Riley, who didn’t just break the DTC mold—he set it on fire. Armed with frat-boy…

1
Best Of: Michelle Williams / Sarah Snook 48:28

15d ago48:28

48:28

Michelle Williams talks about starring in Dying For Sex — a dark but funny TV series based on a true story about a woman with stage four cancer who, facing death, decides to take ownership of her sexual pleasure. Also, we hear from Sarah Snook. She's best known for her role on HBO's Succession as Shiv Roy. She tells us why she almost didn't auditio…

1
R. Crumb, King Of Underground Comics 46:38

15d ago46:38

46:38

R. Crumb created Zap Comix and such characters as Mr. Natural and Fritz the Cat. His comics were a staple of the 1960s counterculture, and came out of his nightmares, fantasies and fetishes. There was a time when he wanted to censor that part of himself — but then he took LSD. He told Terry Gross about that experience in a 2005 interview. We'll als…

1
Having A Child In The Digital Age 45:56

16d ago45:56

45:56

When NYT critic-at-large Amanda Hess learned her unborn child had an abnormality, she turned to the internet — but didn't find reassurance. "My relationship with technology became so much more intense," she says. She talks with Tonya Mosley about pregnancy apps, online forums, and baby gadgets. Her new book is Second Life: Having A Child In The Dig…

1
President Trump's Conflicts Of Interest 46:04

17d ago46:04

46:04

New York Times reporter Eric Lipton says the Trump family businesses, including their crypto company, are capitalizing on the President's position, and creating unprecedented conflicts of interest. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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Michelle Williams Insists On Finding Pleasure & Humor Alongside Pain 44:43

18d ago44:43

44:43

Michelle Williams' FX/Hulu series Dying For Sex follows a woman with terminal cancer who decides to pursue her own sexual pleasure. She says the show is about sex, friendship and "being scared and brave at the same time." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

1
Sarah Snook Almost Didn't Audition For 'Succession' 44:29

19d ago44:29

44:29

Snook, who played Shiv Roy on Succession, was just nominated for a Tony for playing all the characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway. "I don't know what comes after this," she says. She talks about playing 26 different parts in Dorian, why she almost didn't audition for Succession, and the word she could never quite say in an American a…

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Best Of: Inside The Pronatalist Movement / Making Sense Of Trauma 47:59

22d ago47:59

47:59

We're diving into the resurgence of the pronatalism movement, the belief that having more babies will save a failing civilization. With new Trump-backed policies promising "baby bonuses" and even a "National Medal of Motherhood," pronatalists are warning that falling U.S. birth rates could mean economic collapse, or even extinction. Sociologist Dr.…

1
A Story Of Shipwreck, Mutiny And Murder 45:48

23d ago45:48

45:48

David Grann's book, The Wager, is about an 18th century British warship that wrecked on an island after passing through the treacherous waters of Cape Horn. The castaways faced terrible conditions and starvation, and descended into chaos, including cannibalism and mutiny. 81 sailors escaped the island on a makeshift boat, and sailed nearly 3000 mil…

1
Terry Gross Remembers Her Late Husband, Francis Davis 45:36

23d ago45:36

45:36

Fresh Air host Terry Gross lost her husband, acclaimed writer Francis Davis, on April 14. They were together for 47 years. Today, she shares some of Francis with the audience, including the story of how they met and became a couple. Also, we listen back to our 2005 interview with George Clooney. He just received a Tony nomination for his role as Ed…

1
Baby Bonuses, Trad Wives & The Pronatalist Movement 44:54

24d ago44:54

44:54

A once-fringe movement claims having more babies is the only way to save civilization. NPR reporter Lisa Hagen and sociologist Karen Guzzo explain who's empowering pronatalism today. Plus, jazz critic Martin Johnson reviews a new album from Wilco guitarist Nels Cline. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privac…

1
How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America 44:34

25d ago44:34

44:34

Journalist David Graham says the aim of the creators of the conservative action plan Project 2025 aim is to push the federal government "as far to the right as they can." His new book is The Project. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews a new PBS documentary about libraries. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices …

1
How Trauma Shapes Us 45:35

26d ago45:35

45:35

Daria Burke spent several years digging into the science of how our brains and bodies carry the imprint of early experiences. She wanted to understand the trauma she lived through growing up in 1980s Detroit with a mother who battled addiction. She suffered years of neglect before finding stability through school and rising in the corporate world. …

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Best Of: 'The Pitt' Star Noah Wyle / 'Sinners' Director Ryan Coogler 48:43

29d ago48:43

48:43

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler's movies include both Black Panther films and Creed. His latest fillm, Sinners, is a vampire thriller about twins, both played by Michael B. Jordan, opening a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. The film explores race, faith, and American history through the lens of horror. Also, Noah Wyle talks about his starrin…

1
Merle Haggard On Hopping Trains And Doing Time 45:03

29d ago45:03

45:03

Before he became a musician, Merle Haggard lived the kind of life that's often mythologized in song: Hopping freights and doing prison time. When he became a star, he acquired his own observation car. Now that coach is part of the Virginia Scenic Railway. Terry Gross spoke with Haggard in 1995. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two albu…

1
Are Kids With ADHD Being Treated Effectively? 45:00

1M ago45:00

45:00

ADHD has been considered a medical disorder, treatable with drugs like Ritalin, but New York Times Magazine writer Paul Tough says recent studies question that assumption and treatment options. Also, Martin Johnson reviews a new tribute to Anthony Braxton, who Johnson says is one of the most polarizing figures in jazz. Learn more about sponsor mess…

1
Ryan Coogler Paid A Steep Price For The Films He Made 43:50

1M ago43:50

43:50

The director of Black Panther and Creed talks about his new genre-bending vampire movie that takes place in the Jim Crow South. It's called Sinners and it stars Michael B. Jordan as twins working a juke joint in Mississippi. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about blues music, the supernatural, and why he wanted to own the movie outright after 25 years. A…

1
America's Path To 'Competitive Authoritarianism' 45:39

1M ago45:39

45:39

Harvard professor of government Steven Levitsky studies how healthy democracies can slip into authoritarianism. He says the Trump administration has already done grave damage: "We are no longer living in a democratic regime." David Bianculli reviews season 2 of Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices…

1
Noah Wyle Is At Home In 'The Pitt' 45:29

1M ago45:29

45:29

After 11 seasons on ER, Noah Wyle thought he was finished with medical dramas: "I spent 15 years avoiding — actively avoiding — walking down what I thought was either hallowed ground or traveled road." But then COVID happened, and he felt compelled to tell more of these stories. He spoke with Dave Davies about the making of The Pitt, the medical ja…

1
Best Of: Richard Kind / Melinda French Gates 48:18

1M ago48:18

48:18

You've seen Richard Kind on countless TV shows and films during his 40-year career — Only Murders in the Building, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, and A Serious Man, just to name a few. He's now the announcer and sidekick on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney. He spoke with Terry Gross about the new gig and why he's glad he's not that famous. Meli…

1
A Love Story At The Center Of The Civil Rights Movement 45:07

1M ago45:07

45:07

MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid tells the story of Medgar Evers and his wife Myrlie. Medgar was the NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, a state that lynched more Black people than any other. The risks of the job created a lot of tension in their marriage — and after Medgar's 1963 assassination, Myrlie's fury drove her to be an activist herself. And film …

1
Starvation In American Jail Cells 44:27

1M ago44:27

44:27

New Yorker staff writer Sarah Stillman says she's discovered dozens of cases where people in county jails across the U.S. have died of starvation, dehydration, or related medical crises. Many were people with mental health issues arrested for minor crimes who languished behind bars without treatment, unable to make bail. Also, we remember renowned …

1
The Real-Life Russian Spies Who Inspired 'The Americans' 45:09

1M ago45:09

45:09

In The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West, journalist Shaun Walker shares how agents were trained to blend into a target country and posed as citizens. Walker tells the story of Andrei Olegovich Bezrukov, aka "Donald," and Elena Vavilova, aka "Tracey," who were embedded in Cambridge, Mass. …

1
Melinda French Gates On Giving Away Her 'Absurd' Wealth 45:44

1M ago45:44

45:44

In a new memoir, billionaire Melinda French Gates writes about the end of her marriage to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and her ongoing philanthropic work, directing funds and attention to women's health initiatives. Her book is The Next Day. Also, David Bianculli reviews the new season of Black Mirror. Learn more about sponsor message choices: …

1
Richard Kind Is Glad He's Not That Famous 46:07

1M ago46:07

46:07

Kind is the announcer and host sidekick on the Netflix show Everybody's Live with John Mulaney. "I don't know what the hell I'm doing. You must understand — it's anarchy," he says of the show. He spoke with Terry Gross about having ego but no confidence, working with Sondheim, and working in his father's jewelry store as a teen. Ken Tucker reviews …

1
Best Of: Jason Isbell / David Tennant 48:59

1M ago48:59

48:59

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jason Isbell sings about his split from musician Amanda Shires on his latest album, Foxes in the Snow. "What I was attempting to do is document a very specific time where I was going through a lot of changes," he tells Terry Gross. David Bianculli reviews the FX/Hulu series Dying for Sex. When Scottish actor David T…

1
'Hacks' Returns! With Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs 46:31

1M ago46:31

46:31

The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedy series returns for a fourth season this week. It's about two women — a successful comic/TV personality in her 70s, and her 20-something comedy writer — and the generational clashes that ensue. We're revisiting interviews with stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, and Paul W. Downs who co-created the series…

1
The Dark Secrets Of Johnson & Johnson 44:32

1M ago44:32

44:32

Johnson & Johnson recently lost a bid to settle lawsuits that claimed its talc powder products, including baby powder, caused cancer. Author Gardiner Harris says the company's defense "is beginning to crumble." His book is No More Tears. Also, John Powers reviews the new Apple TV+ series Your Friends & Neighbors, starring Jon Hamm. Learn more about…

1
Trump's Tariffs & The Radical Remaking Of The Global Economy 44:53

2M ago44:53

44:53

President Trump's sweeping tariff policy has upended the global economy. Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor-in-chief of The Economist, likens it to The Art of the Deal — on steroids. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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The 'Fog Of Delusion' In Biden's Inner Circle 44:56

2M ago44:56

44:56

Author Chris Whipple says Biden's family and closest advisors operated in denial regarding his ability to serve another term: "There's no doubt that they were protecting the president." Whipple spoke with campaign insiders to get a behind-the-scenes look at what happened in 2024. His book is Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in …

1
At 3 Years Old, David Tennant Knew He Wanted To Be Doctor Who 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

When David Tennant was three, he told his parents he wanted to grow up to play Doctor Who on TV. As a teen, he held onto that dream: "I was quite weedy and I wore glasses and I had a terrible haircut, so all those things still felt possible in the world of the Doctor. There was something about that character I could be," Tennant tells Sam Briger. H…

1
Best Of: Amanda Knox / 'Adolescence' Co-Creator & Actor Stephen Graham 48:36

2M ago48:36

48:36

Amanda Knox was convicted — and ultimately exonerated — for the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher while studying abroad in Italy. Now in a new memoir, Knox explains why getting out of prison was not the end of her saga. Also, we hear from British actor Stephen Graham. He stars in the Netflix miniseries Adolescence as the father of a 13-year-o…

1
Celebrating 20 Years Of 'The Office' 47:05

2M ago47:05

47:05

It's been 20 years since the debut of NBC's hit mockumentary sitcom The Office. To celebrate the anniversary, we're listening back to Terry Gross' archival interviews with some of the key players: Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling and executive producer Greg Daniels. We'll also hear from Ricky Gervais, who co-c…

1
Jason Isbell On Love, Heartbreak & Songwriting 44:08

2M ago44:08

44:08

Isbell sings about his split from musician Amanda Shires on his latest album, Foxes in the Snow. "What I was attempting to do is document a very specific time where I was going through a lot of changes," he says. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

1
ICE Campus Arrests & The 'Struggle For The Soul' Of America 44:34

2M ago44:34

44:34

As ICE agents arrest international students at campuses across the U.S., immigration law professor Daniel Kanstroom discusses the human cost. He says the round-ups are designed to "send a message... to scare people, and it's working." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

1
Writer, Critic & Curator Hilton Als Looks For The Silences 44:10

2M ago44:10

44:10

As a longtime staff writer at The New Yorker, Hilton Als's essays and profiles of figures like Toni Morrison, Joan Didion, and Richard Pryor have redefined cultural criticism, blending autobiography with literary and social commentary. Als is also a curator. His latest gallery exhibition is The Writing's on the Wall: Language and Silence in the Vis…

1
'Adolescence' Co-Creator/Actor Asks Not Whodunnit, But Why 44:50

2M ago44:50

44:50

The Netflix miniseries follows a 13-year-old accused of murdering a girl from his school. Co-creator and star Stephen Graham says he read about similar crimes and wanted to know: "Why is this happening?" Graham spoke with Sam Briger about the crime that inspired the show, fatherhood, and the unusual way the show was shot — in one single take. Graha…

1
Best Of: A Writer Grapples With A Life-Changing Accident / The Post WWII 'Red Scare' 48:25

2M ago48:25

48:25

Hanif Kureishi began his new memoir just days after a fall left him paralyzed. He describes being completely dependent on others — and the sense of purpose he's gained from writing. The memoir is called Shattered. David Bianculli reviews the British series Ludwig. Writer Clay Risen describes a political movement which destroyed the careers of thous…

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