Best Of: Malala Yousafzai / Oscar Isaac

In this special Fresh Air Weekend episode, host Terry Gross interviews Malala Yousafzai, reflecting on her journey from a young activist in Pakistan’s Swat Valley to a Nobel laureate and Oxford graduate. Malala recounts her early defiance against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, her near-fatal shooting at age 15, and the profound psychological toll of PTSD and panic attacks years after the attack. She shares how her identity as a 'brave' icon clashed with her internal struggles, leading her to seek therapy and prioritize mental and physical health—challenging the myth of the unbreakable activist. Her memoir, *Finding My Way*, reveals her humanity, including her desire to live a normal teenage life, her struggles with academic pressure at Oxford, and her growth through vulnerability. The episode also features actor Oscar Isaac, discussing his dual roles in *Beef* and Guillermo del Toro’s *Frankenstein*. He reveals how channeling his character Victor Frankenstein helped him embody the emotional complexity of Josh, a country club manager trapped in a life of privilege and emotional repression. Isaac reflects on the deep connection formed with del Toro through working in Spanish, calling him a 'Mexican Buddha,' and shares the joy of making music with his sons in their punk band Fleece. Both guests underscore the importance of emotional honesty, self-care, and authentic connection in their work and lives.