Host Diane Rehm sat behind the mic at our home station, WAMU, for nearly 40 years. Her eponymous news talk program aired from 1979 to 2016 to nearly 3 million listeners each week.
In some ways, her success in radio defied the odds. In 1998, she was diagnosed with the neurological condition spasmodic dysphonia. That causes spasms of the vocal chords and makes speech more halting and difficult. It gave her the distinct voice that over time became synonymous for many with civil conversations on frequently tough topics.
In 2014, President Barack Obama presented Diane with a National Humanities Medal in recognition of her work. The White House citation for the award said, "Ms. Rehm's incisive, confident, and curious voice has deepened our understanding of our communities and our culture."
In 2016, she stepped away from her live show, handing the reins to 1A and making the move to her own weekly podcast.
Now, she's saying goodbye to public radio for good, with the end of her podcast and the start of new independent projects.
She joins the show to talk about what her tenure in radio and news can teach Americans all about civil discourse, listening well, and even finding hope in dark times.
Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Copyright 2025 NPR