Roman on the Radio

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...

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 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...

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...