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Culture

John Leguizamo attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

John Leguizamo attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

'Wait Wait' for September 7, 2024: With Not My Job guest John Leguizamo

This week, Wait Wait is live in Chicago with special guest John Leguizamo and panelists Hari Kondabolu, Helen Hong, and Tom Bodett

'Wait Wait' for September 7, 2024: With Not My Job guest John Leguizamo

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John Leguizamo talks moms and sloths

John Leguizamo attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

John Leguizamo talks moms and sloths

This week, John Leguizamo joins panelists Tom Bodett, Helen Hong, and Hari Kondabolu to talk about sloths, moms, and Bob the Builder

John Leguizamo talks moms and sloths

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Sergio Mendes speaks at the event

Sérgio Mendes speaks at the event "Reel To Reel: Sérgio Mendes — In The Key Of Joy" at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on March 11, 2020. Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Obituaries

Brazilian music legend Sérgio Mendes dies at 83

The Grammy-winning musician, whose hit “Mas Que Nada” helped make him a global ambassador for Brazilian music, died after months battling the effects of long COVID.

Turns out Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) hasn't changed much in 30-odd years — he's less of a villain, but still a pain in the neck.

Turns out Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) hasn't changed much in 30-odd years — he's less of a villain, but still a pain in the neck. Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

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Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. Pictures

Review

Movie Reviews

Beetlejuice is back, in a supernatural screwball sequel

Director Tim Burton seems more interested in updating than duplicating his 1988 hit. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice demonstrates affection for the characters and genuine curiosity in how they’re doing now.

Beetlejuice is back, in a supernatural screwball sequel

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Television

Celebrating 25 years of 'The Sopranos,' the series that changed TV

Fresh Air

David Bianculli reviews Wise Guy, a documentary about the landmark HBO series. Plus, we listen back to archival interviews with creator David Chase, and actors Michael Imperioli and Lorraine Bracco.

Celebrating 25 years of 'The Sopranos,' the series that changed TV

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A high-angle, close-up photograph shows a person holding and reviewing a grocery store receipt in the parking lot, and their grocery cart full of purchased food sits in the background.

A practical tip from NPR reader Lisa Gluskin: check your receipt before you leave the parking lot of the grocery store. If you spot an error at home, you will be less likely to go back to the store to right the wrong. urbazon/Getty Images hide caption

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urbazon/Getty Images

Life Kit

10 more clever and commonsense ways to save money on groceries

Check your receipt. Grow your own veggies. Ask about senior discounts. NPR readers share their top tips on cutting costs at the grocery store.

Machine Dazzle in his Jersey City studio

Machine Dazzle in his Jersey City studio Amy Touchette hide caption

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Amy Touchette

TED Radio Hour

Minimalism is in...but maximalist fashion can change your outlook on life

Minimalist style evokes efficiency and order... which designer Machine Dazzle finds boring and futile. He challenges us to embrace the colorful joy and abundance of a maximalist wardrobe.

The State of Fashion - Machine Dazzle

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American rapper and actor LL Cool J poses for a portrait in New York, NY, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

American rapper and actor LL Cool J poses for a portrait in New York, NY, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. He joined Morning Edition to discuss his return to rap after 11 years. Shuran Huang/NPR hide caption

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Shuran Huang/NPR

Interview highlights

LL Cool J goes back to his roots in his new album

LL Cool J is out with his first album in over a decade. He says on Morning Edition, "I've been here for years, baby. How are you going to call it a comeback?"

LL COOL J RETURNS TO RAP

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Is there any juice left in 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?'

Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Warner Bros Pictures hide caption

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Warner Bros Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is there any juice left in 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?'

There's a reason Beetlejuice was a hit back in 1988: it delivered both the spectacle and big stars of a major studio film, and the hilarious, weird vision of director Tim Burton. Now he returns with the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — which stars Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Michael Keaton, and Jenna Ortega. But does Beetlejuice Beetlejuice capture any of the original's silly, surreal, singular magic? Should it even try?

Is there any juice left in 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?'

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Gen Z asks: what is school for? Plus, rebranding gentrification

A student waits to walk across the stage to receive her diploma during a graduation ceremony at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School in Bradley, Illinois. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Gen Z asks: what is school for? Plus, rebranding gentrification

It's September, which means millions of young learners across the country are dusting off their backpacks and heading back to school. But a new study from Gallup and The Walton Family Foundation has shown that students are less engaged, and feel less challenged than last year, and about half of them have no plans to get a Bachelor's degree right after high school. Host Brittany Luse is joined by Karin Klein, education reporter and author of Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree, and NPR Education Desk correspondent and Senior Editor Cory Turner to parse through what has next generation feeling despondent and if we need to rethink the purpose of high school.

Gen Z asks: what is school for? Plus, rebranding gentrification

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The history of the Bronx with writer Ian Frazier

Ian Frazier's Paradise BRonx Farrar, Straus and Giroux hide caption

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Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

The history of the Bronx with writer Ian Frazier

Ian Frazier, is a writer who, for lack of a better term, does the thing. If there is a place that fascinates him he goes to that place, immerses himself in it, and writes about it. And that's exactly what he did for his new book about the Bronx called Paradise Bronx. He joins us to talk about the history of the New York borough and even tells us how he mapped out the radius in which residents can smell cookies from a local bakery. Plus, he shares what items he brings with him when he goes out to explore a city.

Listen to this Episode

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Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) are whisked to Los Angeles where a legendary film studio intends to adapt their podcast in Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building.

In Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, Charles (Steve Martin), left, Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) are whisked away to Los Angeles, where a legendary film studio intends to adapt their podcast. Eric McCandless/Disney hide caption

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Eric McCandless/Disney

Review

TV Reviews

The real ‘Only Murders’ crime is that it hasn’t won more Emmys

Fresh Air

Season 4 brings a fresh influx of guest talent to Only Murders in the Building — but the new faces don’t outshine the crimefighting, podcasting stars: Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.

Kacey Musgraves says a past boyfriend helped her become more accepting

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Getty

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Kacey Musgraves says a past boyfriend helped her become more accepting

From the beginning of her career, Grammy-winning musician Kacey Musgraves has been doing what feels authentic to herself. She sings about familiar country themes like falling in love and heartbreak. But she also sings about smoking pot and queer relationships. Musgraves talks to Rachel about not being defined by anyone but herself, becoming more open-minded and living with the ghost of her grandma.

Kacey Musgraves says a past boyfriend helped her become more accepting

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Songs to boost your confidence

The Spice Girls attending the 1997 MTV Video Awards at the Radio City Music Hall. Brenda Chase/Getty Images hide caption

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Brenda Chase/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Songs to boost your confidence

Maybe you're going up for a promotion, or just got out of a bad relationship. Whatever it is, your mood needs a boost. Today, we're recommending three songs that make for great motivators and pick-me-ups when you need them most.

Songs to boost your confidence

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People wait out an air raid alarm at the Teatralna metro station during the massive Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Aug. 26.

People wait out an air raid alarm at the Teatralna metro station during the massive Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Aug. 26. Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

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Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

In Ukraine, turning air raid sirens into a piece of music

When an air raid siren went off recently in Kyiv, a young singer spontaneously began harmonizing with the alarm. The result went viral on social media.

The sound of air raid sirens in Ukraine have been turned into music

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The cover of the Yup'ik alphabet coloring book.

The cover of the Yup'ik alphabet coloring book. Courtesy of Nikki Corbett hide caption

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Courtesy of Nikki Corbett

Education

These Alaska moms couldn’t find a Yup’ik children’s book. So they made one themselves

Yup’ik is the most spoken Native language in Alaska, but finding Yup’ik books for young children can be almost impossible. These moms created their own – and now they’re fielding nearly 1,000 orders.

Yup'ik mom in Alaska creates her own books to teach her kids the Yup'ik language

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