Samantha Balaban
Samantha Balaban is 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 James "Whitey" Bulger trial for WBUR as an intern. Since coming to NPR in 2014, she has reported on a perfume-loving tiger, traveled to Mexico to meet actor Diego Luna (and cover the elections), ridden with border patrol officers along the Rio Grande River, eaten very well in Houston, interviewed a Bangle and used her waterproof fanny pack to help keep her mic dry during hurricanes. She's also responsible for Picture This, 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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NPR's Leila Fadel first met Rosa Gutierrez Lopez in January, after she sought refuge at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church. If she leaves the property, she risks being deported to El Salvador. -
The golden years are thought to be a well-earned, carefree time in life. But adults 65 and older now account for almost 1 in 5 suicides in America. -
Nicole Rikard, Kristen Clifford, Erin Gibson and Melissa Swailes were all married to officers who killed themselves. They want to end the stigma of police asking for help when facing mental illness. -
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. -
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? -
An asylum seeker is five times more likely to win a petition for asylum with the help of a lawyer. But, many asylum seekers are expected to represent themselves in court. -
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. -
A new audio exhibit at Dupont Underground breathes life into an old, subterranean trolley station in Washington, D.C. The Wind That Blows Is All That Anybody Knows is by artist Eric Dickson.
