Accessibility links
CultureArt and entertainment commentary plus interviews, book reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, comedy, and visual art. Subscribe to podcasts and follow trends in music, painting, art, architecture, photography, and design.

Culture

Author Jamil Jan Kochai and his former second-grade teacher, Susan Lung, were reunited after more than 20 years at a reading for the writer's second book, The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories, in Davis, California. Jamil Jan Kochai hide caption

toggle caption
Jamil Jan Kochai

Education

After decades, author Jamil Jan Kochai reunites with the teacher who changed his life

The writer searched for more than a decade for Susan Lung, who taught him to read and write English when he was a 7-year-old in 1999. On Saturday, she surprised him at one of his book readings.

Comedians Ziwe, Joel Kim Booster and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. Myles Loftin/SHOWTIME, Taylor Miller and East 2 West Collective hide caption

toggle caption
Myles Loftin/SHOWTIME, Taylor Miller and East 2 West Collective

Code Switch

Three comedians share their thoughts on what makes a great joke about race

What makes a great joke about race? In the first of two episodes, Code Switch talks to comedians Ziwe, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes and Joel Kim Booster about their favorite race joke they tell: What's its origin story? Why is it so funny? And what does it say about race in America?

Three comedians share their thoughts on what makes a great joke about race

Listen · 31:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1117714492/1117801478" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Geena Davis star in A League Of Their Own. Alamy Stock Photo hide caption

toggle caption
Alamy Stock Photo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

After 30 years, is 'A League Of Their Own' still a home run?

The 1992 film A League Of Their Own is a beloved sports movie classic – thanks to a memorable all-star cast led by Geena Davis and Tom Hanks, and repeat showings on cable TV. It's a fictionalized account of The Rockford Peaches, the real-life professional women's baseball team that was formed during World War II. With a new TV series adaptation on Amazon, now seems like the perfect time to revisit the original and reflect on its enduring legacy.

After 30 years, is 'A League Of Their Own' still a home run?

Listen · 20:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1117727668/1117739743" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Star of the upcoming movie The Flash, Ezra Miller, seen in 2018, has announced that they will get mental health treatment after a series of arrests. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Actor Ezra Miller is getting mental health treatment after erratic behavior

Miller was arrested twice in Hawaii, including for disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar. The second incident was for second-degree assault. They also face a burglary charge in Vermont.

A star for late rapper Nipsey Hussle was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Aug. 15. The ceremony included speeches and remarks from members of the late rapper's family, including his sister, Samantha Smith (third from right), and his grandmother Margaret Boutte (fourth from right), who accepted the star on behalf of the family. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Damian Dovarganes/AP

Nipsey Hussle gets Hollywood star on what would have been his 37th birthday

The late rapper's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is the 2,729th placed to date.

Melanie Field, Abbi Jacobson and D'Arcy Carden star in the Amazon Prime series A League Of Their Own. Nicola Goode/Prime Video hide caption

toggle caption
Nicola Goode/Prime Video

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is it a hit? 'A League Of Their Own' comes back to the plate

The professional women's baseball team the Rockford Peaches were immortalized in the 1992 box office hit A League Of Their Own. Thirty years later, they're back in a new Amazon Prime series of the same name. Co-created by and starring Broad City alum Abbi Jacobson, the series showcases a new set of fictionalized characters, played by Chanté Adams, D'Arcy Carden, and more. While exploring queer themes and racial segregation, the show is a fresh take that both pays homage and stands on its own.

Is it a hit? 'A League Of Their Own' comes back to the plate

Listen · 25:30
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1115615075/1117538968" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Dallas Goldtooth as Spirit in Reservation Dogs Shane Brown/FX hide caption

toggle caption
Shane Brown/FX

It's Been a Minute

Joyful protests and funny rituals with Reservation Dogs' Dallas Goldtooth

In FX's Reservation Dogs,Dallas Goldtooth plays the character "Spirit" — a Native American warrior in feathers and buckskin who curses and makes dirty jokes. Dallas also brings his irreverence to the frontlines of protests against oil pipelines. He talks to guest host Tracie Hunte about merging his passions for comedy and organizing, and how he's changing stereotypes with heaps of joy.

Joyful protests and funny rituals with Reservation Dogs' Dallas Goldtooth

Listen · 23:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1116992735/1117645600" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Audrey Plaza plays a an art-school dropout who resorts to credit card fraud in Emily the Criminal. Courtesy of Sundance Institute hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Review

Movie Reviews

Aubrey Plaza plays a fraudster in the mostly engrossing 'Emily the Criminal'

Fresh Air

An art-school dropout seizes control of her life and livelihood by branching out into credit card fraud in this Los Angeles noir. Plaza is both vulnerable and fierce as a woman on the take.

Aubrey Plaza plays a fraudster in the mostly engrossing 'Emily the Criminal'

Listen · 5:34
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1116939182/1117562995" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Emily Meggett, the author of Gullah Geechee Home Cooking. Meggett published her cookbook at age 89. Clay Williams/Courtesy of Abrams hide caption

toggle caption
Clay Williams/Courtesy of Abrams

For this 89-year-old Gullah Geechee chef, cooking is about heart

Emily Meggett has spent decades caring for her community and family with her delicious, traditional Gullah Geechee food from South Carolina. Now, she's sharing that cuisine with the world.

For this 89-year-old Gullah Geechee chef, cooking is about heart

Listen · 7:10
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1116289080/1117484490" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sima Taparia in the Netflix series Indian Matchmaking. Netflix hide caption

toggle caption
Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Make a second date with 'Indian Matchmaking'

There's marriage, and then there's love marriage. That's the philosophy of Sima, the matchmaker at the center of the Netflix reality series Indian Matchmaking. The show has gotten a lot of attention, but also some critiques. It recently returned for a second season, so in this encore episode, we thought we'd revisit our conversation about the show's first season.

Make a second date with 'Indian Matchmaking'

Listen · 18:20
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1116991390/1117152955" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Rafael López poses with his mariachi stamps in a classroom at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum. The set was launched in August. Gabriel J. Sánchez/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Gabriel J. Sánchez/NPR

Art & Design

For the first time, the Postal Service features mariachi musicians on stamps

Artist Rafael López used his upbringing in Mexico City for inspiration. It took two years of development before the set launched, and each stamp will carry on a cultural legacy forever.

For the first time, the Postal Service features mariachi musicians on stamps

Listen · 4:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1116953193/1117472842" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

'Wait Wait' for August 13, 2022: Live from the Past!

It's summertime and the living is still sort of complicated. While we enjoy our summer break, we bring you a show filled with some of our favorite in-person guests!

'Wait Wait' for August 13, 2022: Live from the Past!

Listen · 45:17
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://joweel.com/npr/player/embed/1117182527/1117357285" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org