Samantha Balaban
Samantha Balaban is a producer at Weekend Edition.
After receiving her M.A. in Journalism and Latin American studies from New York University, she got her start in public radio covering the for WBUR as an intern. Since coming to NPR in 2014, she has reported on a , traveled to Mexico to meet actor (and cover the elections), ridden with border patrol officers along the , eaten very well in , interviewed a and used her waterproof fanny pack to help keep her mic dry during hurricanes. She's also responsible for , a series of conversations with authors and illustrators.
Most days, you can find her under a pile of books and mail coordinating Weekend Edition's book coverage. On weekends, she's hanging out with her dog, Winnie.
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Recent stories about high-profile politicians in Virginia having worn blackface have caused many people to recount their own experiences and how it made them feel unwelcome, or unsafe. -
Renowned Iraqi conductor and cellist Karim Wasfi tells NPR's Scott Simon about his music, the challenges of his work and his commitment to his country. -
Wildlife officials in India are trying to catch a tiger thought to be responsible for the deaths of several people. So far, no luck. But could the secret to success be under their noses? -
Before his death in 2015, the subject of the hit podcast made music inspired by painter and ambient musician Tor Lundvall. Now, Lundvall is paying tribute to McLemore in return. -
Fifty years ago this week, three people were killed and more than 20 wounded during a demonstration against racial segregation in Orangeburg, S.C., in what became known as the Orangeburg Massacre. -
Genesis Blu is both a psychotherapist who works with teenagers and a rapper. "I love them equally," she says. -
Chef Kaiser Lashkari's Pakistani restaurant has become a Houston institution. It's also emblematic of the multi-ethnic city itself, with flavors that borrow happily from other culinary traditions. -
The singer, who used to perform with her brothers, the hip-hop duo Calle 13, has now struck out on her own as iLe. She speaks with Lulu Garcia-Navarro about her debut album, iLevitable. -
Caitlin Doughty, whose Los Angeles funeral home specializes in alternative ceremonies, traveled the world to collect stories about how different peoples send loved ones off to the great beyond. -
The pop star will release her sixth studio album later this month. She speaks to Lulu Garcia-Navarro about staying honest, confronting controversy and learning from her godmother, Dolly Parton.
