Fresh Air

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Carol Leonnig's new book, 'Zero Fail,' examines how the Secret Service is underfunded, overworked, and increasingly relying on luck. "They strongly believed that it was a matter of time before a president was shot on their watch," Leonnig says. We talk about the impact of JFK's assassination on the agency, the prostitution scandal in Colombia ahead of Obama's trip there, and how Trump's golf trips drained the agency's resources...

We talk with 'Moonlight' filmmaker Barry Jenkins about his new series, 'The Underground Railroad.' Adapted from Colson Whitehead's novel, the series follows Cora, an enslaved young woman who has escaped a plantation and heads North on a literal railroad train. Jenkins says the series made him feel closer to his ancestors.

Maureen Corrigan reviews Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's latest book, 'Notes on Grief...

The singer Tom Jones, who became a pop star and sex symbol in the 1960s with "It's Not Unusual," "Delilah," and "What's New Pussycat?" has a new album. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2003. Also, we remember dancer Jacques d'Amboise, who was with the New York City Ballet for decades. He died May 2.

And Justin Chang reviews 'The Woman in the Window.'

It's estimated that one in 10 women experience endometriosis during their reproductive years, a condition where cells from the uterine lining go rogue, move to other organs and grow there, leading to terrible pain. Many women who have the disorder struggle to be properly diagnosed. Dr. Linda Griffith spent years in debilitating pain before she was finally diagnosed. "I was told it was normal. I was told that I was under stress ... [that] I was rejecting my femininity," she says...

Smart's breakout role was on the '80s sitcom 'Designing Women.' She's had recent great roles as the head of a crime family on 'Fargo' and as an FBI agent on 'Watchmen.' Now she co-stars in the HBO series 'Mare of Easttown' and stars in HBO Max comedy 'Hacks,' as a veteran comic forced to update her act. Smart talks about meeting her late husband, learning the Delaware County accent for 'Mare of Easttown' and the 'Fraiser' line fans quote back to her.

The son of a Jewish father and a Guatemalan mother, Goldman grew up mostly in working class suburbs of Boston. His new novel, 'Monkey Boy,' draws on his own experiences, including being physically abused by his dad. "I wanted to go back and look at some very difficult years of my childhood and adolescence," Goldman says.

Barry Jenkins says filming his new series about an enslaved girl who escapes from a plantation was the most difficult project of his career — and one that made him feel closer to his own ancestors. "It was incredibly difficult, partly because we were standing in places where ... these atrocities had occurred," he says. Jenkins directed 'Moonlight,' which won the 2017 Oscar for Best Picture, as well as the 2018 adaptation of James Baldwin's novel, 'If Beale Street Could Talk...

As a pregnant teenager, Nicole Lynn Lewis felt ashamed. Now she knows many pregnant teens share the problems she had — including an abusive boyfriend, and being temporarily homeless. She says the odds against pregnant teens going to college and having a career are even greater, if you're Black, like she is. We talk about her new memoir, 'Pregnant Girl.'

Also, we hear from Alison Bechdel...

We celebrate Mother's Day with stories of mom from past interviews with 'Daily Show' host Trevor Noah, Martin Scorsese and filmmaker Albert Brooks. And Lorna Luft remembers her mother, Judy Garland.

Also, David Bianculli reviews 'Attenborough's Journey,' a BBC America special that salutes the nature broadcaster.

There is a 30-year gap in the life expectancy of some Black and white Chicagoans. Journalist Linda Villarosa talks about the link between racism and health outcomes, and tells her own family's story.

Also, we remember rock historian Ed Ward, who died this week.