Terry Gross

An interview with composer Philip Glass by his cousin Ira Glass, the host of "This American Life." The conversation was recorded on-stage in Chicago earlier this month.

Actor David Hyde Pierce plays Frasier's brother, Niles Crane, on NBC's sitcom "Frasier". He just received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting actor in a Comedy Series. Pierce has also appeared in the films: "Bright Lights, Big City," "Little Man Tate," "The Fisher King," "Crossing Delancy," "Sleepless in Seattle, and "Nixon." His voice can be heard in the movie "A Bug's Life." (REBROADCAST from 11/5/98)

Comedian Chris Rock. His HBO show "The Chris Rock Show" just won an Emmy for writing for a Variety or Music Program. Rock grew up in Brooklyn. He got his start in show business performing stand-up comedy routines in Manhattan. He spent three years on "Saturday Night Live" and appeared in a few films, including the recent "Beverly Hills Ninja." (REBROADCAST from 2/6/97)

An interview with TV producer David E. Kelly held before an audience at the Writers' Guild Foundation conference in L.A. in June. Kelly created the TV shows "Ally McBeal" and "The Practice" which were both big winners at Sunday's Emmy awards. The interviewer is Brian Lowry, who covers the television industry for the L.A. Times. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

Science writer James Gleick ("GLICK"). His new book "Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything" (Pantheon) is about the accelerating pace of modern life. He writes about how technology has created the feeling that life moves too fast, but that we have become "addicted" to the pace and might as well learn to enjoy it.

Writer Philippe Wamba ("Phil-EEP WAM-bah"). He is the son of an African father and a African-American mother. His new book looks at the affinity between African-Americans and Africans, the things that divide them, and they myths they each hold about the other. It's called "Kinship: A Family's Journey in Africa and America" (Dutton). Wamba has lived in both countries. His father, Prof. Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, is currently leader of the rebel faction in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Composer and jazz pianist Uri Caine (ER-ee CANE). He's fronted and/or played with a number of groups. On his first two CDS as he a leader, "Sphere Music" and "Toys" he played homage to jazz pianists Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock. He's worked in groups led by Don Byron, Dave Douglas, Buddy DeFranco, Clark Terry and others. His latest release is "The Sidewalks of New York" which plays homage to turn of the century New York city and the songwriters of tin pan alley. (Winter & Winter label).

Pakistani writer Bapsi Sidhwa (Bop-see SEED-wah). Her novel Cracking India," which tells the story of the Partition of India through the eyes of an eight-year-old girl is the basis of the new film "Earth." The director is Deepa Mehta. (REBROADCAST from 10/29/91)