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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Bestselling author Jonathan Eig joins us to discuss his new book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the first comprehensive biography of the slain social justice activist in nearly 40 years. -
The two Chinese American sisters — veterans of a thriving family food enterprise — join Tom to discuss their latest book, "Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking." -
In The Making of Another Major Motion Picture, the veteran movie star-turned-novelist pays homage to the grit, the gore, and the glory of modern Hollywood filmmaking. -
The acclaimed essayist and travel writer discusses his latest book, a globe-spanning exploration of sacred cities and mankind's endless search for spiritual fulfillment. -
Journalist Wesley J. Lowery discusses "American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and The Cost of Progress," his disturbing new probe of the rising tide of white supremacist violence in the United States. -
Bestselling author Ann Patchett discusses her ninth novel, "Tom Lake," and first-time novelist Lindsay Lynch joins us to talk about her debut work, "Do Tell." -
The nation's massive $1.7 trillion student-loan debt — and the efforts to help many of the 43 million borrowers burdened by that debt — are fueling a volatile political debate. An education reporter, a student debt advisor and a Maryland lawmaker join us today to discuss some equitable paths out of the crisis. -
Midday theater critic J, Wynn Rousuck spotlights playwright Lauren Yee's compelling drama about war-torn Cambodia's once-flourishing rock music culture, and a Cambodian refugee family's long-buried secrets. -
The Baltimore-based rap artist and two New Song Academy student actors talk about Wordsmith's original theater piece spotlighting the history of hip hop. -
Baltimore Museum of Industry is celebrating Baltimore City Public Schools' food service workers with an exhibition called "Food for Thought." The multi-media show focuses on the essential role these food and nutrition specialists play in the well-being of young students.
