Forever35, Episode 386: Asking Better Questions with Tonya Mosley

Hosts: Doree Shafrir & Elise Hu
Guest: Tonya Mosley, Co-host of Fresh Air
Release Date: January 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt, insightful episode, co-hosts Doree and Elise welcome journalist and Fresh Air co-host Tonya Mosley for a deep dive into the art of self-care, storytelling, and, most importantly, asking better questions—of others and ourselves. Tonya discusses her passion for skincare, what it means to show up authentically at work, ways to nurture joy and resilience during life’s chaotic periods, and the behind-the-scenes realities of interviewing culture-makers on one of public radio’s most beloved shows.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tonya’s Approach to Self-Care

Timestamps: 13:37 – 16:59

• Tonya admits to a love of skincare:
  • “I buy too many facial care products and makeup products. Sephora sees me come in, they're like, here she comes.” (Tanya, 13:51)
• She’s recently gotten into Korean skincare, specifically Medicube and Paula’s Choice:
  • “I've started to use something called Medicube… what's amazing about Medicube is that the packaging is so good. How come American products aren't packaged this way?” (Tanya, 14:31)
• On embracing age:
  • Tonya, approaching her fiftieth birthday, reflects on what it means to come into herself and experience deepening confidence and comfort in her own skin.

2. Finding Joy and Coping Through Storytelling and Serving Others

Timestamps: 17:48 – 20:13

• In response to stress and overwhelm, Tonya created a virtual storytelling salon:
  • “When I feel really overwhelmed, my body almost shuts down… But then I realized, like, what makes me feel better is to be outward, to be with people, to give to people.” (Tanya, 17:48)
  • She convenes cohorts from around the world—police officers, nurses, social workers—to experiment with storytelling and find commonality.
• Tonya traces her inspiration to her mother’s traditions of community building through “salon-style” gatherings.
  • “It’s such a low touch point for us to do that for each other, to build community in these spontaneous ways.” (Tanya, 21:41)

3. Family, Parenting, and Building Connections at Home

Timestamps: 22:04 – 22:59

• Tonya tries to foster open conversation and reflection with her kids—sometimes successfully, sometimes not:
  • “I have these cards where you ask your teens a question… Do you want to do some of those? And he said, ‘No, I just want to chill, Mom.’” (Tanya, 22:41)

4. The Art of the Interview on Fresh Air

Timestamps: 23:06 – 26:19

• On her growth as a host:

  • Tonya shares that Fresh Air interviews often teach her life lessons exactly when she needs them:
    • “Every person that I'm talking to is coming to me with a lesson or information that is applicable to what I need in my life right in that moment.” (Tanya, 23:59)
  • She’s learned to trust her own curiosity and instincts, realizing that her most personal questions often resonate most with the audience.
    • “The breakthrough comes in asking the things that I really want to know.” (Tanya, 26:05)

• On the Terry Gross legacy:

  • “The magic of Fresh Air…has been because you are inside of Terri's mind. You are following her curiosities, you're following her taste…” (Tanya, 26:25)
  • Tonya describes stepping into a role where bringing her full self is not just allowed, but necessary, despite inevitable comparisons.

5. Memorable Interviews & Encountering Public Figures

Timestamps: 28:01 – 37:15

• Standout guests include Walton Goggins (“I loved him. And I will say he loved me…what a joy this is.” – Tanya, 35:05) and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (“She sounds like she would be a fun hang…But at least that's one that I wish I could do over.” – Tanya, 35:36).
• Reflections on the challenges of interviewing high-stakes guests and how being present (or nervous) can shape the conversation.

6. Authenticity and Navigating the Workplace as Women of Color

Timestamps: 37:17 – 40:37

• Both Elise and Tonya reflect on code-switching and the generational shifts in workplace authenticity:
  • “It was just expected that you would have on, like, two selves …your home self and then your work self.” (Tanya, 38:05)
  • She credits younger generations for modeling what it means to bring one’s whole self to work, and admits she’s still working to deconstruct the division for herself.

7. What’s Next for Tonya?

Timestamps: 40:49 – 43:00

• Tonya sees herself as a “holistic storyteller,” hoping to reach audiences beyond radio and experiment with new storytelling mediums:
  • “I want to be able to tell the story in the mechanism and the medium where it can have its most potency and power.” (Tanya, 42:17)
  • She’s contemplating new writing and visual projects, and is eager to “tell stories of people and where they are.”

8. Culture Recommendations from Tonya Mosley

Timestamps: 43:00 – 45:32

• Books:

  • "The White Hot" by Quiara Hudes – “You have to get it. You will read it in one sitting.” (Tanya, 44:04)
  • "Fear and Fury" by Heather Ann Thompson – “If you care about being an American, you should read it… She writes it with such clarity and research.” (Tanya, 44:18)

• Film:

  • Seurat (international, Morocco) – “It’s stunning. It’s heartbreaking. It doesn’t hold any of the conventions of storytelling that you expect, but it arrives at a conclusion that will leave you thinking about it for days.” (Tanya, 44:54)

• TV:

  • Heated Rivalry (via Elise) – A nod to cross-generational pop culture catch-up (“I made a tuna melt today, which all the heated rivalry stands out there will know exactly what that means.” – Elise, 43:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On turning 50:

  • “I’ll just say it. I’ll be 50 this year. And it was the first time that I said aloud in front of a group of people that I was going to be turning 50 and so, and now I'm saying it here, yes, you.” (Tanya, 15:33)

• On curiosity and interviewing:

  • “The breakthrough comes in asking the things that I really want to know.” (Tanya, 26:05)

• On authenticity at work:

  • “I came up in a family and in a world where it was just expected that you would have on, like, two selves …your home self and then your work self.” (Tanya, 38:05)

• On storytelling as community care:

  • “It’s such a low touch point for us to do that for each other, to build community in these spontaneous ways.” (Tanya, 21:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 13:37: Tonya’s self-care and skincare passion
• 17:48: Coping with chaos and story salon
• 23:06: Reflections on Fresh Air and growing as an interviewer
• 26:25: What Tonya learned from Terry Gross (and vice versa)
• 28:01: Tonya’s “driveway moment” interviews
• 35:05: On Walton Goggins and favorite guests
• 37:17: Being women of color in media workplaces
• 40:49: What's next for Tonya’s storytelling
• 43:00: Top book, TV, and film recommendations

Episode Takeaways

• Curiosity and courage in questioning—asking the questions you most want to know yields the richest results.
• Connecting through story—storytelling, in both formal and informal ways, is a powerful tool for healing, joy, and growth.
• Aging as evolution—embracing milestone birthdays and sharing life lessons openly cultivates deeper confidence and connection.
• Workplace authenticity is a lifelong project—younger generations are modeling new ways to show up fully, but deconstructing old habits takes intentionality.
• Joy in culture—keeping up with books, movies, music, and TV can be both self-care and a conduit for staying connected.

Credits

Forever35 is hosted and produced by Doree Shafrir & Elise Hu. Edited by Sam Hunio. Project manager: Sammy Reed. Network: AKA Podcast.