Best Pioneers Post Archive Podcasts (2025)

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Rising Floods, Cuts To FEMA And Future Chaos 44:47

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12h ago44:47

44:47

ProPublica Editor-at-Large Abrahm Lustgarten says the deadly flooding in Central Texas — which has killed over 130 people — underscores the dangers of a more volatile climate. Despite clear scientific evidence, the federal government has made cuts to research and forecasting, even threatening to dismantle FEMA. "We could talk about the floods in Te…

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Stacey Abrams On American Autocracy & Her New Chapter 44:32

1d ago44:32

44:32

Abrams isn't running for office — but she's not ruling it out, either. "Politics is a tool ... for getting good done, but it's not the only one." Her new thriller novel is Coded Justice. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about voter suppression, her faith, and collaborating with her siblings on her books. Also, David Bianculli reviews the BritBox period …

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The 'Jailhouse Lawyer' Who Freed Innocent People — Including Himself 44:19

3d ago44:19

44:19

While serving a life sentence for a murder he didn't commit, Calvin Duncan studied law, hoping to appeal his case. In the process he became a jailhouse lawyer. We'll talk about how he managed to help free many wrongly convicted prisoners, including himself, while facing countless legal obstacles confronting people who are poor and Black. His memoir…

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Best Of: A 'Failed' Child Star / A Novel About Pregnancy Post-Roe 48:43

5d ago48:43

48:43

Tamara Yajia grew up Jewish in Argentina, intent on becoming a child star. But just when her break was coming along, her family emigrated to California. Her new memoir is Cry for Me, Argentina. TV critic David Bianculli reviews a new HBO Max documentary about Ms. magazine. Leila Mottley's novel The Girls Who Grew Big follows a group of teenage moth…

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Danzy Senna Writes Herself (& Other Mixed-Race People) Into Existence 44:22

6d ago44:22

44:22

Novelist Danzy Senna spoke with Terry Gross about racial identity, growing up with a Black father and white mother in an era when "mixed-race" wasn't a thing. "Just merely existing as a family was a radical statement at that time," she says. Her latest book is Colored Television. Also, Justin Chang reviews the new Superman movie. Learn more about s…

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SCOTUS & The Reconception Of American Constitutional Order 44:51

6d ago44:51

44:51

New York Times reporter Adam Liptak discusses the Supreme Court's decisions to limit the power of lower courts while expanding presidential power, and its consequential use of the so-called shadow docket. "It's it's not an overstatement to say that in a matter of months American democracy has been transformed," he tells Terry Gross. Learn more abou…

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Doula & Novelist Leila Mottley On The Nuance Of Young Parenthood 44:42

7d ago44:42

44:42

Leila Mottley gained critical acclaim at 19 with her debut novel Nightcrawling, which was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Now, she returns with her second novel, The Girls Who Grew Big. It follows a group of teenage mothers in the Florida Panhandle who form a close-knit community to support each other through the challenges of young motherhood. Mo…

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Raphael Saadiq's Secret To Creative Success: 'Dare To Suck' 45:39

8d ago45:39

45:39

Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Raphael Saadiq talks about his process — from collaborating with Beyoncé and Solange, to his song in Sinners, to his R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! He just announced an extended tour of his one-man show, No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits. Learn more about spons…

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Can't Sleep? You're Not Alone 45:11

9d ago45:11

45:11

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jennifer Senior has had insomnia for 25 years. Her new piece in The Atlantic, "Why Can't Americans Sleep?," is about her often futile attempts to fall asleep, and about the latest research into insomnia and the medications and therapies used to treat it. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews a new HBO Max documentary…

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Best Of: 'Hamilton' Producer Jeffrey Seller / Ebon Moss-Bachrach On 'The Bear' 47:13

12d ago47:13

47:13

Jeffrey Seller has been a key behind-the-scenes figure for some of the Broadway's biggest hits including, Hamilton and RENT, but he got his start on a much smaller scale. He looks back in a new memoir called Theater Kid. Ebon Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmys for his portrayal of Cousin Richie, the abrasive and ornery cook/maître d' on the FX series …

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How Louis Armstrong Became The First Black Pop Star 45:19

13d ago45:19

45:19

Author Ricky Riccardi says Armstrong's innovations as a trumpeter and vocalist helped set the entire soundtrack of the 20th century. His book about Armstrong's early life is Stomp Off, Let's Go. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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A 'Failed Child Star' Looks Back On Her Unconventional Childhood 43:57

14d ago43:57

43:57

Tamara Yajia grew up Jewish in Argentina, intent on becoming a child star. But just when her break was coming along, her family emigrated to California. Her new memoir is Cry for Me, Argentina. Also, Ken Tucker reviews a new release of "lost" Bruce Springsteen music. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy…

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How Communities, Families & The Economy Are Impacted By ICE 45:22

14d ago45:22

45:22

Jacob Soboroff of NBC News says the Trump administration promised to deport the "worst of the worst" criminal immigrants, but is now detaining undocumented workers with no serious criminal record. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about the condition of some detainment centers, the impact on L.A. communities, and child separation. Learn more about sponsor…

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Remembering Renowned Broadcaster Bill Moyers 45:46

16d ago45:46

45:46

Longtime TV correspondent and commentator Bill Moyers died last week at age 91. Before he began his long career in broadcasting, he was presidential aide to Lyndon B. Johnson and later became White House press secretary. In a compilation of archival interviews with Terry Gross, we hear Moyers reflect on his career, his upbringing, and the polarizat…

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A Theater Kid's Path To Broadway Producer 46:31

17d ago46:31

46:31

Jeffrey Seller has been a key behind-the-scenes figure for some of the Broadway's biggest hits including, Hamilton and RENT, but he got his start on a much smaller scale. He looks back in a new memoir called Theater Kid. Seller spoke with Terry Gross about his path from poverty in Michigan to the epicenter of musical theater. Learn more about spons…

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Best Of: 'Hysterical' Podcaster / 'Seinfeld' Writer 48:21

19d ago48:21

48:21

What happens when a former federal government employee turns his lens on the psychology of panic? You get Hysterical, a podcast series from Dan Taberski. In it, Taberski investigates a mysterious illness that swept through a group of high school students in upstate New York. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about his award-winning podcast. Book critic Ma…

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Remembering War Correspondent Rod Nordland 45:41

20d ago45:41

45:41

After surviving many close calls as a war correspondent — from bullets, mortars and the threat of execution — Rod Nordland was diagnosed with a lethal brain tumor in 2019. He died last week, at the age of 75. In his interview with Terry Gross last year, he spoke about facing his mortality as a war correspondent and as a terminal cancer patient. Nor…

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Virgil Abloh's Unconventional Path To Luxury Fashion 46:14

21d ago46:14

46:14

Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Robin Givhan talks with Tonya Mosley about her new book, Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh. It's a powerful look at the life and influence of the late designer, who made history as the first Black American artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton. Givhan reveals how Abloh, the son of G…

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Ebon Moss-Bachrach Takes Us Inside 'The Bear' Kitchen 46:03

22d ago46:03

46:03

Ebon Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmys for his portrayal of Cousin Richie, the abrasive and ornery cook/maître d' on the FX series The Bear. The show is known for kitchen chaos, but he says the set is calm. He spoke with Fresh Air contributor Ann Marie Baldonado about the show, his character on GIRLS, and his venture into the Marvel Universe. TV crit…

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Will Israel And The U.S. Attacks On Iran Affect Tehran's Regime? 45:15

23d ago45:15

45:15

Iran expert Karim Sadjadpour has called Trump's bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities a once-in-a-generation event that could transform the Middle East. While the impact of the conflict may not be clear for years, Sadjadpour says the attacks by the U.S. and Israel do raise a more immediate question: Will they strengthen the authoritarian regime in T…

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Gen Z Is Having Less Sex. Why? 46:28

24d ago46:28

46:28

Journalist Carter Sherman says Gen Z — people ages 13 to 28 — are having less sex than previous generations. As part of her research, Sherman interviewed more than 100 teenagers, college students, and sexual health experts. She argues that miseducation, porn, digital disconnection, and political pressure have combined to reshape how young people ex…

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Best Of: Benicio del Toro / Molly Jong-Fast 48:31

26d ago48:31

48:31

Benicio del Toro talks about his leading role in Wes Anderson's new film, The Phoenician Scheme. He'll look back on his acting career, and tell us about moving from Puerto Rico to Pennsylvania in his teens. His other movies include The Usual Suspects, Traffic and Sicario. Justin Chang reviews the new rom-com Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson. M…

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Remembering Pioneer Of Gay Lit, Edmund White 46:16

27d ago46:16

46:16

Edmund White, one of the most eloquent and perceptive chroniclers of gay life and culture, died June 3. He was 85. His 1982 semi-autobiographical novel, A Boy's Own Story, became an international bestseller. White wrote over 30 books, fiction and nonfiction and co-authored the guide The Joy of Gay Sex. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1985, 1994, 1997,…

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Painter Titus Kaphar On 'Exhibiting Forgiveness' 43:40

28d ago43:40

43:40

When painter, sculptor, and installation artist Titus Kaphar's life was upended by his estranged father, he turned to film. First he decided to tell his story in a documentary, but scrapped the project when it felt unsatisfying. His feature film, Exhibiting Forgiveness, tells his story and brings his paintings to life. Kaphar talked to Tonya Mosley…

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Podcaster Dan Taberski's Investigation Into An Outbreak Of A Mysterious Illness 43:57

29d ago43:57

43:57

Dan Taberski's award-winning podcast Hysterical investigates a bizarre and unsettling phenomenon: a mysterious illness that swept through a group of high school students in upstate New York. Taberski unpacks the story behind this modern-day case of possible mass hysteria and reflects on his approach to investigative storytelling. We also dig into h…

Pioneers Post Archive Podcasts

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Fresh Air

NPR

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Pioneers Post archive

Pioneers Post archive

1
Rising Floods, Cuts To FEMA And Future Chaos 44:47

1
Stacey Abrams On American Autocracy & Her New Chapter 44:32

1
The 'Jailhouse Lawyer' Who Freed Innocent People — Including Himself 44:19

1
Best Of: A 'Failed' Child Star / A Novel About Pregnancy Post-Roe 48:43

1
Danzy Senna Writes Herself (& Other Mixed-Race People) Into Existence 44:22

1
SCOTUS & The Reconception Of American Constitutional Order 44:51

1
Doula & Novelist Leila Mottley On The Nuance Of Young Parenthood 44:42

1
Raphael Saadiq's Secret To Creative Success: 'Dare To Suck' 45:39

1
Can't Sleep? You're Not Alone 45:11

1
Best Of: 'Hamilton' Producer Jeffrey Seller / Ebon Moss-Bachrach On 'The Bear' 47:13

1
How Louis Armstrong Became The First Black Pop Star 45:19

1
A 'Failed Child Star' Looks Back On Her Unconventional Childhood 43:57

1
How Communities, Families & The Economy Are Impacted By ICE 45:22

1
Remembering Renowned Broadcaster Bill Moyers 45:46

1
A Theater Kid's Path To Broadway Producer 46:31

1
Best Of: 'Hysterical' Podcaster / 'Seinfeld' Writer 48:21

1
Remembering War Correspondent Rod Nordland 45:41

1
Virgil Abloh's Unconventional Path To Luxury Fashion 46:14

1
Ebon Moss-Bachrach Takes Us Inside 'The Bear' Kitchen 46:03

1
Will Israel And The U.S. Attacks On Iran Affect Tehran's Regime? 45:15

1
Gen Z Is Having Less Sex. Why? 46:28

1
Best Of: Benicio del Toro / Molly Jong-Fast 48:31

1
Remembering Pioneer Of Gay Lit, Edmund White 46:16

1
Painter Titus Kaphar On 'Exhibiting Forgiveness' 43:40

1
Podcaster Dan Taberski's Investigation Into An Outbreak Of A Mysterious Illness 43:57