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 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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Class 203 is turning old shirts, baby blankets, a stripy skirt and pink polka-dot curtains into a "Story Rug" for... -
Judy Blume wrote her last book more than a decade ago. At the Santa Fe International Literary Festival, NPR's Scott... -
On his birthday, Tad's best friend Vlad eats the very last slice of cake. Tad is mad so Tad kicks... -
When author Bruce Handy's son was young, he loved and lost an orange balloon. He and illustrator Julie Kwon talk... -
In The One About the Blackbird, a young boy learns to play guitar from his grandfather. And there's one song... -
For many people from former Soviet countries, New Year's is a big holiday feast time. A Ukrainian restaurant in Washington... -
One legacy of the former Soviet Union is the New Year's feast. Ukrainians are reclaiming Christmas and old recipes.
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After his mom died, Fry Bread author Kevin Maillard found himself wondering, "but where did she go?" So he wrote... -
Big Ma dashes off commands, pots clang, aunts and uncles shoot the breeze, little ones beg to lick the bowl,... -
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:This fall marks 80 years since the end of World War II.ALVIN BALABAN: I can talk about war...
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What would an acorn write to an oak tree? Or a coat to her button? A child to his toes?... -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe heads to the club — the Earlybirds Club — and dances until the break of 8 p.m.