Roman on the Radio

Public radio veteran Jed Kim isn't one to get too comfortable. After a short time as a news producer in New York, he headed to LA to be a reporter. Jed then jumped at the chance to be one of the first hosts of "Million Bazillion" - the "Marketplace" podcast that teaches kids about money.  His latest public radio challenge is editing the daily interview program "Soundside" at KUOW/Seattle - a job Jed does from his Connecticut home. We'll talk with Jed Kim about his travels across public radio - and how life might have been different had he aced his chem final in college.    

This week, we meet former public radio reporter Priska Neely - the training manager for Report for America. Each year, she helps prep dozens of young journalists to fill the nation's crying need for more in-depth local news. And with crying in mind, Priska looks back at the long and tearful days she spent building the Gulf States Newsroom from an NPR idea into a public radio news powerhouse in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

We're back with "Roman on the Radio" - Season 3! And we start with science reporter Sanden Totten - one of the ingenious and inventive brains driving the popular kids science podcast "Brains On!" Sanden reveals his radio tricks for transforming nerdy researchers into science cheerleaders for "Brains On!" - and how his start as a kid reporter for Minnesota Public Radio nearly got squashed on Day 1. 

The reporters, producers, editors and hosts we've met in the past year talk about how they got started in public radio. They also look back on the funny moments on air - and a few scary reporting assignments.

Before Makenna Sievertson joined LAist 89.3 as a reporter, she worked at the U.S. Capitol for the House of Representatives Radio and TV Correspondents Gallery. It's the office that assists broadcast reporters covering Congress.  Makenna talks about the reporters who ignored personal risks to cover the January 6th Capitol riot - and how their courage convinced her to be a journalist.  

For more than a decade, Sáša Woodruff built a sparkling reputation in LA's public radio world as a skilled editor and producer. Boise State Public Radio noticed, and brought her on board in 2019 to be its news director. Sáša talks about how she stretched her small staff of reporters to cover all of Idaho. She'll also talk about the hard choice she made to overcome her family's cancer history.        

Rob Schmitz looks back at 10 years as an NPR international correspondent, first in China and now in Germany. He talks about Europe's relationship now with the US; how Chinese EVs have left German automakers in the dust; and a scary night in an Israeli bomb sghelter, Ron also remembers the life lesson from his father that led him to an award-winning career as a public radio reporter.

In the first of two episodes, NPR international correspondent Rob Schmitz looks back at his decade in China, first as a Peace Corps volunteer and later as a reporter for "Marketplace" and NPR. Rob recounts his life as one of few Westerners in Sichuan province in the 1990s; traveling with Arnold Schwarzenegger on a China trade trip; and moving to Germany for a new NPR assignment a few weeks before COVID-19 exploded across China.  

For nearly 30 years, Chery Glaser kept morning commuters in LA up-to-date - first on commercial radio, and later on Southern California public radio powerhouse KCRW. She was so well-known as KCRW's local host of NPR's "Morning Edition" that a Santa Monica kid who listened before school put Chery's name on her punk rock band. Chery Glaser talks about public radio news - and that namesake punk band Cherry Glazerr.

Jane Lindholm's life in public radio began as a kid in the backseat of her dad's car, listening to Click & Clack on NPR's "Car Talk." Backseat kids still listen today, but now Jane does the talking in her "But Why?" children's podcast for Vermont Public Radio. We'll talk with Jane about "But Why?" - and about her years reporting local news as the "Vermont Edition" host. She'll also look back at the time she listened to hours of elephant grunts for an NPR story!

Julie Slater's dream was to be a rock 'n roll DJ on a big radio station in a big market, and she was in New York and Los Angeles. But 17 years of formats that demanded she play the same songs over and over wore her down. Julie is now the music director at The SoCal Sound - LA's indie music public radio station - where she chooses and plays what she wants! Julie talks about how commercial rock radio has changed - and how she's found freedom and joy in public radio.

For more than a decade, public radio stations in California could depend on reporter Ben Adler at Capital Public Radio to keep track of the state legislature in Sacramento.  Ben looks back on his time covering California state government now that he's moved from broadcast journalism to politics. And he'll remember his summer as a minor league baseball broadcaster fresh from college.

For 27 years, Boston's WBUR was home to "Only A Game" - the hour-long sports program that aired on more than 250 public radio stations each week. And right up until it ended its run in 2020, Karen Given had a hand in nearly every show as a reporter, editor or host. Storytelling in sound is still Karen's only game as a freelance editor and writing coach. She'll talk about her love of storytelling - and how she won awards for sports reporting when she's not really a sports fan!    

It's our second season of stories from the people who make public radio magic! You'll hear from more of the talented reporters, editors, producers and hosts who create the sounds that keep you tuning in every day. Season 2 of "Roman on the Radio" debuts Friday, December 12. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your favorite podcasts!

For decades, Susanne Whatley has been one of Southern California's most popular news voices on the air. She traveled across the radio dial before settling in as the local host of "Morning Edition" on LAist 89.3 in Los Angeles. After six years of waking up before dawn, Susanne stepped away from the microphone last summer. Now rested and revived, she'll look back at her years in commercial and public radio - and her on-air visit with a black bear!

It takes 17 producers at Boston's WBUR to prep its national news program "Here & Now" for air on 450 NPR stations. Senior producer Ashley Locke takes us inside to show how the staff tackles breaking news on a tight broadcast deadline. Ashley also looks at the challenges she faces as a working mom trying to balance her work and her home life.

A latecomer to public broadcasting, Elaine Cha preferred to work behind the scenes. But with some encouragement, she decided she was ready to take the microphone as host of STL Public Radio's daily "St. Louis on the Air" interview show. Elaine explains why she brought out her on-air voice. She'll also look at how STL Public Radio has covered the tornado that blasted St. Louis in May - and the total solar eclipse that captivated the city last year.

This week, KQED senior editor Rachael Myrow reveals how she creates gripping "driveway moments" on public radio. Public media consultants Michelle Faust-Raghavan and Alisa Barba show where public radio is falling short. And KRVS GM Cheryl Devall has an update on how her Cajun and blues public radio station in Louisiana is shoring up its budget now that Congress has erased public broadcasting dollars.

In her 8th grade science class, Andrea Kissack was too squeamish to dissect a frog. In time, she overcame the "yecch!" to become a science reporter - and the editor in charge of NPR's Science Desk. Andrea looks back at her time as NPR's chief science editor - and explains how the network "reinvented" science reporting to cover the COVID-19 pandemic.

KTOO managing editor Claire Stremple is shepherding her team of four reporters in Juneau through public radio's biggest crisis in 50 years: the move by Congress to erase $1.2 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Claire talks about covering news in Alaska, why public radio is so important to her state - and how she held her reporters together after the vote to end federal support for public broadcasting. 

For more than two decades, Gail Eichenthal was LA's voice for classical music on public radio powerhouse KUSC - and for news on commercial all-news giant KNX. She returned to KUSC 20 years ago - and now works behind the scene to bring classical music to new listeners. Gail talks about her love of classical music and rock 'n roll, her time anchoring the live KNX broadcasts of the OJ trial, and what's great - and not so great - about the famed Hollywood Bowl.

Former NPR editor Alisa Barba says public media can help save local news - but only if it starts listening to the people it wants to serve. That means changing the decades-old way local public radio covers news.  Alisa talks about convincing public radio newsrooms that change is good - and needs to happen fast.  

Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Malaysia, back to Dubai - and then one more stamp on reporter Yusra Farzan's passport: Los Angeles to join LAist 89.3. She brought with her a global view of news, her Muslim identity - and at least 100 fashionable hijabs. We'll talk with Yusra about her life in four different Asian countries, choosing journalism over the career in science her parents preferred, and how she selects which of her many hijabs to wear - a collection she jokes is a "real problem."

Public radio news stations often air a daily program all about the local community. On Seattle's KUOW, it's "SoundSide" - with Seattle native Libby Denkmann as host. Back in her college days, Libby wanted to be an international diplomat - until she sat behind a microphone at a summer news radio job.  We'll talk with Libby about how radio grabbed her, and how her worst moment on air went viral - in a good way.

A friendly voice on the radio helps smooth out the bumpy morning traffic. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Brian Watt is that friendly voice. He's the local host of NPR's "Morning Edition" on public radio giant KQED. We'll talk with Brian about getting up before the sun's up to be on the air, giving up a dream of a Hollywood career, and raising up his Little League son to share his love of baseball.

During a public radio career than spans nearly 40 years, Cheryl Devall has been an award-winning reporter and editor. But about three years go, she set that aside to run public radio station KRVS in Lafayette, Louisiana and its music mix of jazz, blues, Cajun and zydeco. Cheryl says the switch was no surprise when you consider her Louisiana roots. love of dancing - and devotion to "handmade radio."

During his public radio career, reporter Steven Cuevas has covered several deadly and destructive wildfires in Southern California. But January's Eaton Fire was different. It burned across Altadena - and right into his neighborhood. Steven takes you through the fire's first scary night - and what he saw when the sun came up the next morning.  

Former public radio reporter and host Kitty Felde is podcasting's librarian for teens and 'tweens. For her acclaimed "Book Club for Kids" podcast, they tell her about the books they love - and Kitty interviews the authors who wrote 'em. We'll talk with Kitty about what she loves about books for younger readers. We'll also look back at her time reporting from two historic legal cases in Los Angeles history: the trial of LAPD officers in the Rodney King beating and the OJ Simpson murder trial. 

Public radio reporter and consultant Michelle Faust-Raghavan has paused her career so she can complete her studies for a graduate degree in social work. She'll explain why social work will help her better connect newsrooms with listeners and readers. Michelle also talks about how a family tragedy more than a decade ago changed the way she covers news.

During her more than two decades in public radio, Rachael Myrow has been a producer, reporter, host and editor. But what's never changed is her lyrical storytelling - and it's no surprise: Rachael comes from a family of songwriters!  We talk with Rachael about beautiful writing, why people love talking to her, and what she sees ahead for public radio news.

Jacob Margolis covers science for LAist 89.3 in Los Angeles. But since he has a natural attraction to natural disasters, he also serves as the public radio station's in-house expert on earthquakes, wildfires, even tsunamis. You'll hear Jacob's tips to help you get ready for "The Big One" - the giant earthquake overdue to hit Southern California. He'll also look at what drastic federal budget cuts could do to disaster recovery and climate science.