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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"Stop the Road" author E. Evans Paull and architect/urban planner Klaus Philipsen recount Baltimore's decades-long battles — some won, some lost — to stave off massive, community-destroying highway projects. -
Maryland voters approved sports betting in 2020, the House passed enabling legislation last year, and online betting premiered last month. We talk about the new mobile gambling option with a political journalist, a sports betting reporter and a licensed gambling addiction counselor. -
Maryland's Democratic senior senator discusses last month's UN climate conference in Egypt, why Ukraine aid must continue, and the high stakes in Tuesday's Senate runoff election in Georgia. -
The emergency physician, educator and public health advocate discusses the prospect of new spikes in COVID-19 infections this winter; plus, advances in telemedicine, and making US football safer. -
Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck reviews the macabre — and funny — new musical revue shaking things up at the Stillpointe Theatre. -
Midday's movie maven — Maryland Film Festival founder Jed Dietz — joins us for our monthly chat about movies and film biz trends, including sad news about the 2023 MD Film Festival. -
The veteran Maryland congressman and Democratic House Majority Leader discusses the new generation of Democrats now taking leadership roles in the US House — and in Maryland's State House. -
In our monthly Midday with the Mayor conversation, Mayor Scott discusses the city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy, why he vetoed the City Council's pension bill, and his accomplishments as he marks his 2nd anniversary as mayor. -
Baltimore City's top cop discusses key issues facing the city and its police force, from curbing gun violence to recruting new officers. -
Three prominent Black thinkers discuss a proposal to convene a summit of elected leaders to address the unique challenges confronting African American men.
