[Al] My visit to NPR West

One of the great things that this contest has done for me, is give me an opportunity to meet some of the people at NPR that I really respect. I didn’t blog about this earlier, because I’ve been so busy and really wanted to give the whole experience it’s proper due. In July, when I was in LA being Adobe Software’s poet laureate, the Talent Quest people hooked up a visit for me to the NPR West studios right outside of LA.

As a card carrying nerd, I must admit to being a huge fan of Farai Chideya. That in itself doesn’t make me a nerd. Plenty of people love her work, and deservedly so. What’s makes me a nerd, is that I remember when I first read her work, 93? Reading Newsweek or Time. I was blown away that a young woman my age, was out there doing it. She was so smart, and engaging. Her work over the years has made me examine the world around me differently, and as a someone in the news industry that might be the best compliment I can give. She makes me think. I’ve read a couple of her books, watched her on TV, and I am an addict of her website www.popandpolitics.com. I was extremely happy when she took the reigns of News and Notes on NPR. (Can I say that I absolutely hate that name; News and Notes, just doesn’t roll off the lips easy. Sounds as inviting as a root canal, but the show itself is one of my favorites).

When Izzy and judge Doug Mitchell helped hook up a visit to the show, I felt like a preteen getting an audience with Corbin Bleu. (Yes I have a 9 year old daughter). The staff at NPR West was really warm and inviting. I had a good time hanging out with senior supervising producer Christabel. Christa moves at full speed, getting the show together for the week is a nonstop task. I was a little surprised at how fast it all moved. The entire time Christa was on it. The staff of News and Notes was about 5/6 people strong, who welcomed me into their little section of the studio. I got to sit in a production meeting and really see how it was all put together. The whole thing seemed really exotic to me. I’m sure if anyone watched the process of me putting a play together they would think the same thing, whereas for me, it’s just the normal way things are done. People with radio experience wouldn’t have been as enamored. With this contest going on, and the possibility of working in the medium, the whole trip was eye opening.

When the show was over, I got to sit down and have lunch with Farai, which was the highlight of the trip. We hung out for a bit, and talked about everything from filmmaking to politics. It took me about 10 minutes to settle in and stop thinking “I’m HANGING OUT WITH FARIA CHIDEYA.” Possibly it was the beer that made me chill. (Everyone that knows me will tell you I’m a lightweight). It was a great trip, and on the plane that night, I thought to myself, damn I hope I win this contest, I want to hang out with Diane Rehm next.

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