Rob Sivak
Contributing producer, MiddayRob Sivak is a contributing producer for Midday, with host Tom Hall. Recently retired after a seven-year stint as Midday's senior producer, Rob joined WYPR in 2015 as senior producer of Hall's previous show, Maryland Morning (which aired its final broadcast on September 16th, 2016). Before coming to the station, Rob enjoyed a 36-year career at the congressionally funded global broadcaster, Voice of America. At VOA, he honed his skills as a news and feature reporter, producer, editor and program host.
After reporting assignments at VOA's New York City, United Nations and Los Angeles bureaus, Rob spent two decades covering international food, farming and nutrition issues for VOA's 180-million worldwide listeners, and created and hosted several popular VOA science magazines. At Midday, he continued to pursue his passion for radio and his abiding interests in science, health, technology and politics.
Rob grew up as an ex-pat "oil brat" on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, and studied and traveled widely in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. He attended Hofstra University in New York and Boston University's School of Public Communications. Rob and his wife Caroline Barnes, a writer, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they've raised three daughters.
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The new president and CEO of the BSO discusses what's ahead for the orchestra's 2023-24 season and beyond, under the baton of its dynamic new maestro, Jonathon Heyward. -
Councilmembers Zeke Cohen (D., Dist 1) and Isaac "Yitsy" Schleifer (D., Dist 5) join us to discuss State's Attorney Ivan Bates' decisions on two controversial cases, plus leadership shakeups at DPW and the Office of Promotion and the Arts. -
NPR's Franco Ordonez, refugee services activist Krish Vignarajah and Baltimore County's new immigrant outreach coordinator Giuliana Valencia-Banks share their insights on America's intractable immigration crisis. -
The founding dean and the president of MSU's proposed College of Osteopathic Medecine — Dr. John Sealey and Dr. Barbara Ross Lee, respectively — describe the goals of the new academic facility, the first HBCU medical school to open in decades. -
The esteemed medical historian's new book recounts the history, hopes and disappointments of electronic telemedicine technology, and examines its failure to deliver health services equitably across race and income lines. -
The Washington Post's Maryland politics reporter descibes what will likely be the major legislative goals - and political hurdles - of this year's GA session, from cannabis and gun regulation to abortion rights and paid family leave. -
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D, Dist. 46) and House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D., Dist. 10) offer their unique perspectives on the major legislative priorities for the 2023 General Assembly, which begins its annual 90-day session in Annapolis on Wednesday. -
The Atlantic staff writer discusses Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy's protracted struggle to secure the House Speakership, what he promised extremists to win, and what the fractious battle portends for governing in the GOP-led House. -
Maryland's Democratic 7th District congressman weighs in on Speaker Kevin McCarthy's chaotic and troubling battle for leadership, and what it portends for the future; plus, the city's BOPA imbroglio and the value of the MLK Day Parade. -
In our monthly Midday with the Mayor, Tom Hall talks with Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott about key issues on the city's agenda, including continued efforts to curb gun violence, leadership at BCFD & DPW, and BOPA and the MLK Day parade.
