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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A survey of top sports news with Baltimore Banner writer Alejandro Danois, and Jerry Coleman, co-host of the Banner's Adam Jones Podcast. -
The city's flagship violence interruption program has been effective in curbing crime, says a new report by Hopkins' Center for Gun Violence Solutions. Lead author, Dr. Daniel Webster, joins us. -
The public health advocate discusses new evidence of COVID's origins, FDA OK of OTC Narcan, and America's epidemic of loneliness. -
Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck reviews Adam Rapp's 2018 drama, on stage now at Everyman Theatre, about a fateful intertwining of art and life. -
The internationally acclaimed concert pianist joins us to talk about her life in music and her special love for J.S. Bach's piano works, ahead of her Candlelight Concert at Howard Community College on Saturday. -
The celebrated hip hop and spoken word composer, recording artist and educator discusses his local youth training projects and his non-profit educational venture, Rise With a Purpose. -
Tuesday's appellate court reinstatement of Syed's 2000 murder conviction, four months after it was vacated by another judge, has raised new questions about the case, and how justice is being served. Legal scholar David Jaros shares his insight. -
NAACP's Baltimore Branch President Rev. Kobi Little and VP Joshua Harris join us with perspectives on the city's conduit deal with BGE, violence reduction efforts, fair housing legislation and other ongoing racial equity issues. -
The head of BCPS discusses gun violence and school security concerns, plus student overcrowding, teacher shortages, and the school system's poor academic report card. -
Dr. Timnit Gebru, a computer scientist and outspoken tech reformer, joins us to discuss her efforts to ensure that ethical and racial equity considerations guide the development of artificial intelligence.
