Fresh Air: Remembering NPR ‘Founding Mother’ Susan Stamberg

Broadcast Date: October 24, 2025
Host: Dave Davies (with interviews by Terry Gross)
Guests: Susan Stamberg (excerpts from 1982, 1993, and 2021 interviews), Bill Siemering
Main Theme:
A rich, affectionate retrospective honoring Susan Stamberg—pioneering NPR journalist, beloved “Founding Mother,” and trailblazer for women in broadcasting—drawing on decades of conversations about her legacy, methods, and philosophy, as well as personal reminisces.

Episode Overview

The episode reflects on the life, career, and influence of Susan Stamberg, who passed away at 87. Through archival interviews and fresh commentary, host Dave Davies and Terry Gross trace Stamberg’s journey from NPR’s early days to her iconic status—highlighting her innovations in journalism, her role as a barrier-breaker for women, her distinctive style, and the human warmth at the core of her broadcasting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Susan Stamberg’s Trailblazing Path (00:15–02:21, 14:56–16:39, 35:45–38:05)

• First Woman Anchor: Stamberg became the first woman to host a nightly national news program in the U.S. with All Things Considered (1972).
• Breaking Barriers: She entered NPR when few women were in authoritative news roles, facing skepticism about women’s voices as authoritative (02:21–03:26, 16:39–18:36).
• Quote (02:40, Susan Stamberg):
  “The objection in the beginning was you don’t sound like CBS … His point was that’s right, because there is a CBS. We don’t need to sound like that … some of us are women, they’re real people too.”

2. A Literary Approach to News (03:26–05:22)

• Humanizing Stories: Stamberg came to news from an arts background, emphasizing character, emotion, and impact on ordinary people.
• Quote (03:31, Susan Stamberg):
  “I want to know … what difference that event is making in all our lives as citizens. … That kind of tension and conflict and the effect on personality and character … is much more interesting to me.”
• Fascination with Personal Reactions: Noted a national call-in with President Carter and her interest in his body language and demeanor beyond his words.

3. Building Rapport vs. Journalistic Distance (05:22–09:13)

• Gentle Interrogation: Stamberg’s preference for warmth and “disarming” sincerity in interviews—contrasted with colleagues more comfortable with confrontation (07:36–09:13).
• Revealing Example: Her soft approach with John Ehrlichman led to unexpected candor about Nixon-era paranoia:
• Quote (08:56, Ehrlichman via Stamberg): “In this town [Washington], there’s one king of the mountain and everybody else is out to shoot him off that mountain. That was Watergate in a nutshell.”

4. Honesty and Editing in Journalism (09:13–11:43)

• Ethical Dilemmas: Balancing journalistic integrity with kindness—recounted editing a meandering interview with a beloved but troubled writer.
• Quote (11:10, Susan Stamberg): “Life—you know, unedited life—is fairly rambling … and editing imposes that structure. But it was troublesome to me … there was a certain kind of dishonesty to that.”

5. Grappling with Criticism and Difference (16:39–19:48)

• Facing Sexism & Antisemitism: Recalled complaints about women’s voices on-air and perceptions of her New York/Jewish accent.
• Quote (18:43, Susan Stamberg): “No, they don’t say ‘Jewish’—they say ‘New York,’ and I always hear that as Jewish, and maybe more than a little antisemitic.”

6. Evolving Style and Confidence (14:56–15:47, 19:03–19:48)

• Self-Editing & Growth: Noted her progression from formality (“imitating men”) toward a more relaxed, personal style.
• Quote (14:56, Susan Stamberg): “In those early days … I was lowering my voice to sound as authoritative as I could. … I hear … a growth of confidence, which I hope happens to you.”

7. Work/Life Balance and Resilience (24:33–27:35, 47:12–48:31)

• Stepping Back: Left daily hosting after a breast cancer diagnosis, noting the grind and stress.
• Privacy and Support: Maintained privacy about her illness—preferring work as salvation, not wishing for sympathy.
• Work as Solace: “I needed to keep working … work has been important to me at a lot of rough times in my life.”
• Motherhood: Balancing raising her young son with radio—praised NPR’s flexibility for part-time work and open-mindedness in early days.

8. Empathy in Interviewing & Personal Boundaries (27:35–32:45)

• Ethics of Interviewing: Turns off recorder if someone cries—prioritizes dignity and privacy over “broadcasting pain.”
• Learning from Others: Cancer experience deepened interest in human resilience, bringing more empathy to interview choices.
• Professional Disclosures: With maturity, learned limits on what personal experiences to share.

9. Public Radio Innovation & Legacy (38:05–41:27, 44:58–47:12)

• Bill Siemering’s Vision: Siemering, creator of All Things Considered, hired Stamberg for her curiosity and soulful voice, defying expectations for an “authoritative male.”
• Arts & Culture Voice: Brought celebration of the arts, poetry, and “air presence” to news radio.
• Notable Experiment: During Watergate, organized “ordinary citizens” nationwide to reflect on the hearings—amplifying grassroots voices.
• Quote (37:25, Bill Siemering): “Her curiosity and her energy and she has this wonderful voice … expressive, has rich tone color … it’s the sound that I still think represents NPR the best.”

10. Lasting Impact and Role Model Status (22:49–24:17, 42:19–43:30)

• Inspiring Other Women: Terry Gross credits Stamberg as proof that women could achieve prominence in national news.
• Quote (22:49, Terry Gross): “She was proof that a woman could have a prominent and powerful position on a news show … that for me and so many women was affirming and inspiring.”
• Balancing Niceness and Professionalism: Stamberg described the lasting internal conflict (and evolution) from being raised to be a “good girl” to learning to toughen up as a journalist and ask hard questions.

Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 02:40 | Susan Stamberg | “The objection in the beginning was you don’t sound like CBS … There is a CBS. We don’t need to sound like that … some of us are women, they’re real people too.” | | 03:31 | Susan Stamberg | “I come to news from a background in the arts … what interests me isn’t just what happened, but what difference does it make … to all of our lives as citizens.” | | 08:56 | John Ehrlichman (via Stamberg) | “In this town, there’s one king of the mountain and everybody else in this town is out to shoot him off that mountain. That was Watergate in a nutshell.” | | 14:56 | Susan Stamberg | “In those early days … I was lowering my voice to sound as authoritative as I could. … Confidence grows over the years.” | | 18:43 | Susan Stamberg | “No, they don’t say ‘Jewish’ … they say ‘New York’, and I always hear that as Jewish, and maybe more than a little antisemitic.” | | 37:25 | Bill Siemering | “Her curiosity and her energy and she has this wonderful voice … it’s the sound that I still think represents NPR the best.” | | 22:49 | Terry Gross | “She was proof that a woman could have a prominent and powerful position on a news show … for me and so many women, that was affirming and inspiring.” | | 41:27 | Bill Siemering | “Susan has air presence … when Susan comes on, you listen.” |

Memorable Moments & Anecdotes

• On-the-Fly Broadcasting Chaos (19:54–20:40):
  Stamberg describes tape mishaps in early NPR broadcasts, sometimes having to fill air while a director frantically fixed a backward or foreign-language tape.
• Personal Courage Became Professional:
  After breast cancer, Stamberg was more drawn to stories of resilience; her empathy increased the power—and boundaries—of her interviews.
• Balancing Family and Career:
  NPR’s early openness allowed part-time work; Stamberg shared stories of scheduling around her son’s nap, modeling family-career balance before it was common.

Important Segment Timestamps

• Intro & Career Retrospective: 00:15–02:21, 14:27–16:39
• On Gender & Authority: 02:21–03:26, 16:39–18:36
• Philosophy of Journalism: 03:26–05:22, 09:13–11:43
• On Voice and Authenticity: 14:56–15:47, 19:03–19:48
• On Editing and Ethics: 09:13–11:43
• Personal Resilience/Illness: 24:33–27:35
• Empathy in Interviewing: 27:35–32:45
• Public Radio Origins (w/ Siemering): 35:45–41:27
• Balancing “Good Girl” & Journalist: 41:58–43:30
• Watergate Coverage Innovation: 44:58–47:12

Conclusion

The episode is an emotional and thorough commemoration of Susan Stamberg: journalist, mentor, innovator, and cultural icon. Through decades of interviews and affectionate remembrance—by colleagues, by the woman herself, and by one of her most prominent successors—the program makes clear that Stamberg’s voice, curiosity, warmth, and willingness to break the news mold defined not only NPR’s sound but the very spirit of public radio.

Her story is not only about groundbreaking journalism, but also about empathy, creativity, ethical dilemmas, and the ongoing struggle to balance humanity with the professional rigor demanded of public figures. By including her reflections on vulnerability, maternity, resilience, and the “novel within the story,” the tribute underscores her multidimensional impact on both her field and her listeners.

Final Quote (48:45, Susan Stamberg):
“Thank you so much, Terry.”