Roman on the Radio

You LOVE public radio! Listen each week to hear the reporters, editors and hosts behind the "driveway moments" that thrill millions of public radio fans - like you! New episodes on Thursdays.

WBUR's Ashley Locke is in a good place - Here & Now! 08/28/2025

WBUR's Ashley Locke is in a good place - Here & Now! 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37994260

Elaine Cha steps out of the shadows into the St. Louis Public Radio spotlight 08/21/2025

Elaine Cha steps out of the shadows into the St. Louis Public Radio spotlight 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37895680

How "driveway moments" are made; listening to listeners; and can a Cajun music station survive CPB cuts? 08/14/2025

How "driveway moments" are made; listening to listeners; and can a Cajun music station survive CPB cuts? 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37805225

Science editor Andrea Kissack on how NPR "reinvented" science reporting to cover the pandemic 08/07/2025

Science editor Andrea Kissack on how NPR "reinvented" science reporting to cover the pandemic 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37705905

On a bad day for public radio in Alaska, Claire Stremple held onto what's good 08/01/2025

On a bad day for public radio in Alaska, Claire Stremple held onto what's good 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37601575

Gail Eichenthal: The classic radio voice for classical music and news in LA 07/24/2025

Gail Eichenthal: The classic radio voice for classical music and news in LA 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37526065

Former NPR editor Alisa Barba says public radio news has to change - NOW! 07/17/2025

Former NPR editor Alisa Barba says public radio news has to change - NOW! 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37434755

Reporter Yusra Farzan brings the world to Los Angeles 07/10/2025

Reporter Yusra Farzan brings the world to Los Angeles 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." /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37354860

Talk to powerful people - and ask 'em anything? Libby Denkmann says sign me up! 07/03/2025

Talk to powerful people - and ask 'em anything? Libby Denkmann says sign me up! 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37265760

You're late! It's already Brian Watt o'clock in San Francisco! 06/26/2025

You're late! It's already Brian Watt o'clock in San Francisco! 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37140145

Allons a Lafayette! Cheryl Devall on why she gave up news for the music of Cajun country 06/19/2025

Allons a Lafayette! Cheryl Devall on why she gave up news for the music of Cajun country 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." /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/37035655

What reporter Steven Cuevas saw as a wildfire burned his neighborhood 06/12/2025

What reporter Steven Cuevas saw as a wildfire burned his neighborhood 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/36925795

Kitty Felde has a read on kids' books 06/05/2025

Kitty Felde has a read on kids' books 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/36764290

Michelle Faust-Raghavan listens to listeners 05/29/2025

Michelle Faust-Raghavan listens to listeners 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/36572995

Rachael Myrow sings the praises of storytelling 05/22/2025

Rachael Myrow sings the praises of storytelling 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/36552960

Earthquakes? Wildfires? Call Jacob Margolis! 05/15/2025

Earthquakes? Wildfires? Call Jacob Margolis! 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. /episode/index/show/ba017faf-9908-463d-9e17-e740e51e29d1/id/36552645

Roman on the Radio

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