First published 2010
Terry Gross sits across from another guest in the NPR studio. The microphones are live. Her preparation shows in every question she asks. She has studied their work. She knows their history. The comedians and writers who visit her show arrive guarded, but Gross breaks through their defenses. Her questions are sharp but never cruel. She respects her guests even as she pushes them to reveal more than they planned. The conversations flow naturally. Laughter fills the studio. These performers, used to being the smartest people in the room, find themselves challenged by an interviewer who matches their intelligence. The humor never stops, but neither does the insight. Gross creates a space where brilliant minds can be both funny and honest.
Genres: contemporary, non-fiction, biography-memoir, comedy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: intimate, thought-provoking
Setting: NPR Studio
4 pages · Audio CD · Highbridge Co