Fresh Air

New York Times media reporter John Koblin discusses the Hollywood writers' strike — and how streaming has upended every element of TV and film production, leading to deteriorating working conditions.

James Beard Award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich fled the Italian peninsula of Istria, as a child, after it was handed over to Communist Yugoslavia following WWII. She spoke with Terry Gross about her family's journey to America, her first TV dinner, and how food became her "connector." Her new PBS show is Lidia Celebrates America.

Lloyd Schwartz reviews a CD set of opera singer Renée Fleming.

Louis-Dreyfus stars in the new film You Hurt My Feelings. She spoke with Dave Davies about her first big laugh as a kid, receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and her new podcast, Wiser Than Me.

Also, John Powers reviews the British crime series Happy Valley, now available in the U.S.

Legendary comic Wanda Sykes spoke with Tonya Mosley about the WGA strike, portraying Moms Mabley in the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and raising white kids as a Black mom. Her new Netflix special is I Am an Entertainer.

Also, David Bianculli reviews a new HBO documentary about Mary Tyler Moore, and book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Goodnight, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea.

Joel Edgerton stars as a horticulturist with a secret past as a white nationalist in Paul Schrader's Master Gardener. He spoke with Terry Gross about the film and how his small role in Star Wars changed his career.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new Netflix docuseries Working, hosted by President Barack Obama.

Humorist and TV writer Samantha Irby spoke with Tonya Mosley about her new book of essays, Quietly Hostile. She says it's like a survival guide, of sorts.

The Queen of Disco's hits of the 1970s and early '80s included "Hot Stuff," "Last Dance," "Heaven Knows," "On the Radio," "Bad Girls," and "She Works Hard for the Money." She had three consecutive No. 1 platinum albums, and 11 gold albums. She's now the subject of a new HBO documentary, titled Love to Love You: Donna Summer. She died in 2012. Originally broadcast in 2003.

Also, we remember Chris Strachwitz, the founder of Arhoolie records...

When Sara Bareilles got the role of the Baker's Wife in Sondheim's Into the Woods, she thought she was signing up for a two-week limited run. But the show became a sensation, and is now a Grammy award-winning Broadway musical with six Tony nominations. She spoke with Ann Marie Baldonado about the show, writing the music for Waitress, and poking fun at the music industry in the series Girls5eva.

Also, Kevin Whitehead reviews Arturo O'Farrill's album Legacies.

Matthew Dallek says the John Birch Society, which was active from the late '50s through the early '70s, propelled today's extremist takeover of the American right. His new book is Birchers.

John Powers reviews the award-winning French crime drama The Night of the 12th.

Humorist and TV writer Samantha Irby is not afraid to tell you about her bowel movements, her mental health struggles or about the "glamorous hoarding" in her house. She's made a career out of writing about these things, and spinning them into comedy. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about her new book, Quietly Hostile.

Also, David Bianculli reviews the new Netflix docuseries Working, hosted by Barack Obama.

Edgerton stars as a horticulturist with a secret past as a white nationalist in Master Gardener. We talk about what he learned from director Paul Schrader, his small role in Star Wars: Revenge of the Clones, and working with his brother, who is a stunt man.