Fresh Air with Terry Gross, September 26, 2011: Interview with Peter Van Buren; Review of the new music album 'Sweetheart of the sun.'

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR.
(1.) Foreign Service Officer PETER VAN BUREN. His new book is called We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People. Van Buren has served the US Department of State for over 23 years, working in Thailand, Japan and Iraq. (DAVE DAVIES INTERVIEW) (2.) Rock critic KEN TUCKER reviews Sweetheart of the Sun the first album in seven years by The Bangles.