Audio

Isla Public Media/KPRG News

I've reported and produced news stories and features for Isla Public Media's charter regional newsroom.

The Philippines and Japan sign defense pact agreement

Palau president reflects on challenges facing his island nation: Part III

Palau president reveals strategy for Compact negotiations with U.S.: Part II

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. on balancing environmental leadership and increased military presence: Part I

Nauru outlines 'ambitious' relocation plan amid climate crisis

Guam's Muslim community faces food challenges during a sacred month

Micronesia's extreme drought: Relief efforts underway as conditions worsen

U.S. invests $8.48 million in new Chuuk hospital

Ocean Mother: A journey of identity and expression through poetry

Senate's budget Snub: $71.B COFA Renewals Excluded

Taiwan's top diplomat to Guam on Nauru's switch and Pacific relations

Summit unveils Guam's critical cybersecurity threats and solutions

NPR

Reporter bylines:

Julian Assange pleads guilty, walks out of court and heads to Australia a free man

Rooted in Motown, Detroit style skating rolls on into the next generation

A Look Into How The Pandemic Will Change Lunar New Year Celebrations

How Hindus In Wyoming Are Celebrating Diwali, the 'Festival Of Lights,' Amid Pandemic

Selected pieces I've produced for the network's flagship newsmagazine, Morning Edition, and the podcast Up First.

India became the first country to land a spacecraft near the moon's south pole

Lahaina residents worry developers will scoop up land after the recent wildfires

'Give yourself grace': Camp Fire survivors offer advice to people in Maui

Soccer champion Brandi Chastain assesses the U.S. team and what's ahead for them

Lawsuit against Lizzo is a problem because it cuts against her image, PR expert says

Scientists are abuzz - they've figured out where bees originated

NYC's Mayor Eric Adams proposes suspending shelter right amid migrant crisis

Author Susan Casey takes readers along her to profound depths of the ocean

Researchers study cricket courtship to understand sexy behavior in other animals

How beavers are helping restore wetlands and create buffers against wildfires

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to retire after 30 years of service

As 'Shark Week' becomes more sensational, a look at some misconceptions about sharks

Key takeaways from this week's NATO summit, according to the group's leader

'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' is the 3rd re-recorded album by Taylor Swift

Indonesia's new criminal code sparks international outcry for restrictive sex laws

China Protests, Congress' Lame Duck Agenda, Georgia Senate Runoff: Up First

The Nord Stream leaks are a wake-up call for countries with vulnerable pipelines

Selected pieces I've produced for the Culture Desk.

The hidden world of an opera prompter

It's kids who are the stars of the Grammy-nominated Alphabet Rockers

Community bands are back after being battered by the pandemic

Chautauqua Institution re-examines security after Salman Rushdie attack

Discovering the forgotten women of silent cinema

Against the odds: How Blondie shattered the conventions of punk and pop

Exiled writers reflect on freedom of speech in America in light of Rushdie attack

The rise of the 'Morally Dubious Podcaster' in pop culture

For this 89-year-old Gullah Geechee chef, cooking is about heart

Authors and bookstore owners worry a big publishing merger will affect diversity

Super Fly at 50: A blaxploitation classic that remains a powerful pop culture force

A group of Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn is reviving the golden age of cantorial music

Jordan Peele mixes science fiction and thrills in 'Nope'

Questions linger over 'Where the Crawdads Sing' author as film adaptation is released

Dreaming of Dior, a charwoman follows her bliss in 'Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris'

In 'Thor: Love & Thunder,' the hammer-throwing hero takes on Gorr the God Butcher

Elvis songwriter Mike Stoller looks back on his hits

Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'Fat Ham' takes 'Hamlet' in unexpected directions

Mo Willems' naked mole rates owe their rock 'n' roll sound to this composer

Ticking down a checklist of qualifications in 'Mr. Malcolm's List'

How Elizabeth Cotten's music fueled the folk revival

Frustrated by societ's erasure, the Lesbian Avengers fought back

Austin Butler brings the King's moves, mannerisms and voice in 'Elvis'

Some states are changing the laws that govern community libraries

Oh, what a beautiful archive: Oscar Hammerstein's letters reveal his many sides

An Arab American singer reframes music about the Crusades

Movie review: Pixar's 'Lightyear'

'Cha Cha Real Smooth' is a great calling card for actor-writer-director Cooper Raiff

Life-lessons abound in 'Lightyear,' an origin story about Buzz from 'Toy Story'

The theme to 'Jurassic Park' hasn't aged a day

The only beast 'Jurassic World: Dominion' doesn't reference is a the-saurus

How the arts can help children think about gun violence

For 50 years, Alexander's been having terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days

'Top Gun: Maverick' boasted a record opening weekend. Where'd the numbers come from?

A preview of this summer's biggest movies

A new app guides visitors through NYC's Chinatown with hidden stories

Tom Cruise returns to the danger zone in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

In 'A New Era,' Dame Maggie Smith remains the best reason to watch 'Downton Abbey'

Spoken word and sonic rituals: East LA exhibit features Latinx artists using sound

A slavery-era instrument is on the National Mall, singing 'songs of liberation'

'Happening' takes place in France in the 1960s, but speaks to this particular moment

Review: Doctor Strange and the Scarlet Witch take on the 'Multiverse of Madness'

How one book influencer championing Black authors is changing publishing

For the artist Guadalupe Maravilla, sound is healing

Mazel Tov Cocktail Party: Take an ounce of hip hop, dash of polka, then square dance

The 'Gandalf of pizza' speaks to the spiritual side of comfort food

Wyoming Public Media

In addition to hosting Morning Edition, I reported and produced news stories, features and interviews for Wyoming Public Radio.

Wyoming Public Media • 4th June 2021

Mother And Son Reunite To Write Their Latest Book Addressing Mental Health Challenges

Wyoming-based mother and son duo published their first fiction novel, titled A Divided Mind, together back in 2019. The book largely centers around topics and impacts of mental health. Now, Mary Billiter and Kyle Thomas are back with a sequel and shared how they got started as well as why this was important to them.

Wyoming Public Media • 1st June 2021

Award Recognizes Educators Using Innovative Ways To Incorporate Arts In Education

Wyoming Public Media • 19th May 2021

Returning To 'Normal' Is A Different Reality For Many Immigrants

As more people across the U.S. are getting vaccinated for COVID-19, talks of 'returning to normal' are growing. This can look like attending concerts with friends to gatherings with family for holidays and traditional events. But this depiction of normalcy isn't the same for everybody.

Wyoming Public Media • 23rd April 2021

New Mothers Discuss Becoming A Parent During A Pandemic

Without a guidebook, millions of women who were expecting and had to give birth during this pandemic had to navigate foreign territories on their own, some with their loved ones.

Wyoming Public Media • 12th April 2021

What Anti-Asian Sentiment Looks Like In Smaller, Rural Areas, And Why It Matters

The past year has shown evidence of an increase in Anti-Asian violence in major cities. All of that escalated when six Asian women were murdered in the March Atlanta spa shooting. But has that anti-Asian sentiment permeated into smaller, rural areas in the U.S.? And what does it look like?

Wyoming Public Media • 29th March 2021

Synagogue Plan To Host Passover Events In Alternative Ways As Pandemic Continues Into 2021

Wyoming Public Media • 19th March 2021

Best-Selling "Diary Of A Wimpy Kid" Author Comes To Wyoming With His Latest Book

Originally published online in 2004, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a series of fiction books that share the story of Greg Heffney, a teenage character, and his journal entries as he navigates middle school. When it was published into a print series in 2006, it became an instant bestseller across the world. Now, author Jeff Kinney is trying something different.

Wyoming Public Media • 12th March 2021

Wyoming Arts Council Announces March As Youth Art Month

Wyoming Public Media • 12th March 2021

What To Expect From Wyoming Public Media's Upcoming Podcast Series, 'Carbon Valley'

Coming this month, Wyoming Public Media will be releasing Carbon Valley, a bi-monthly limited series following the race to develop an unlikely climate solution. Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao sat down with energy reporter Cooper McKim, who developed this series, on how Carbon Valley came about, and what drove the decision to create it.

Wyoming Public Media • 5th March 2021

Late Japanese Artist's Legacy Reflects Hope Over Dark Times

The pandemic has put uncertainty at the forefront of many people's lives. It's forced many to believe and hope for better days, even if there's no end in sight. In the town of Superior, Wyoming, near Rock Springs, there's a mural that reflects this resilient spirit.

Wyoming Public Media • 25th February 2021

Black Studies Center, UW President, Hold Town Hall Meeting After Racist Attack

Wyoming Public Media • 16th February 2021

Relative Theatrics Announces New Virtual Play After Changes Due To Pandemic

Wyoming Public Media • 2nd February 2021

Wyoming Arts Council Hosts 'Creative Aging' Training

Wyoming Public Media • 22nd January 2021

UW Art Museum Director Talks About Insurrection's Impact On Art, History And Museums

When an insurrection mob violently pushed through the entrance of the Capitol building on January 6, the American Alliance of Museums issued a statement condemning the violence that occurred. They did so because the Capitol is more than a workplace, it's a living museum.

Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao spoke to University of Wyoming's Art Museum director, Nicole Crawford, on her perspective regarding the aftermath and effects the insurrection has made on art, history, and museums.

Wyoming Public Media • 21st January 2021

Art 321 Hosts The Wyoming Creative Collectives Exhibit

Wyoming Public Media • 20th January 2021

New Coalition Plans To Boost Arts & Culture In Rock Springs

Wyoming Public Media • 4th January 2021

University Of Wyoming Law Professor, Law Student And Art Museum Director Explore Race Theory

Wyoming Public Media • 23rd December 2020

Wyoming's Poet Laureate Shares What He's Thankful For This Year

It's safe to say that 2020 has been a very difficult, trying year for a lot of people across the world. Wyoming's Poet Laureate, Eugene Gagliano, agrees. But the pandemic also made him realize a different perspective—how grateful he was to be living in the state of Wyoming.

He shared his perspective by writing a poem, called The Blessing of Wyoming. And it got published in the New York Times. He recited the poem during his conversation with Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao.

Wyoming Public Media • 22nd December 2020

Funeral Homes Experience Increase In Services During Pandemic

The numbers of cases and deaths related to COVID-19 have dominated most media headlines this year. And funeral homes in Wyoming are included in that story.

Wyoming Public Media • 6th November 2020

An Audio Postcard: The Journey To Get Basic Cultural Amenities

For people of color and immigrants living in Wyoming, getting a haircut, shopping for groceries, or celebrating holidays can be difficult. I shared how it's been, making trips between Laramie, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado to get the basic cultural amenities I need for my lifestyle through this audio postcard.

Wyoming Public Media • 4th November 2020

Award-Winning Poet And Writer, Camille T. Dungy, Shares Her Story

The University of Wyoming Libraries hosted award-winning poet and writer, Camille T. Dungy, for a virtual reading of her work on October 24, 2020. Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao spoke with her about how she got started with poetry, and what she thinks about the state of society today.

Wyoming Public Media • 10th July 2020

How Local Businesses Are Adapting To 'New Normal'

St. Patrick's Day is usually a popular day for bars to make money. And that's what Scott Lair, who owns the Great Untamed bar in Laramie, was expecting this year. But it was also around the time COVID-19 started hitting Wyoming.

Wyoming Public Media • 10th July 2020

UW International Student "Ready For Anything" As ICE Announces New Orders

When the University of Wyoming announced that it will resume in-person classes and re-open campus in the fall, international student Aina Farid Shah was worried. "At first I was shocked, because, isn't that unsafe?"

Wyoming Public Media • 8th June 2020

How Did Wyoming's Suffrage Movement Affect Women Of Color?

Even though women in Wyoming were allowed to vote, run for office and get involved in politics back in 1870, it took much longer after that for women of color to get elected.

WAMU 88.5 FM

1A

As 1A's associate producer, I was responsible for research, pre-interviews, production, finalizing guest bookings and pitching story ideas for the show.

1A • 21st November 2019

Gordon Sondland Sounds Off

The E.U. ambassador gave public testimony in the impeachment inquiry regarding the president’s orders, quid pro quo, A$AP Rocky, and beyond. We recap his testimony and answer your questions about how it might affect the impeachment inquiry.

1A • 21st November 2019

Democratic Debate: Atlanta Edition

The candidates spent more time criticizing the president than they did each other. What were the night’s big takeaways? How will this affect the Democratic primary going forward?

Feet in 2 Worlds

'A Better Life?' Podcast

Feet in 2 Worlds is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to telling the stories of today's immigrants. I pitched, reported, and produced a long-form narrative podcast episode for the second season of 'A Better Life?' show about how COVID-19 has impacted the idea of the 'American Dream'.

Feet in 2 Worlds • 21st October 2021

I Want to Stay Here, Just Not Forever: “A Better Life?” Podcast

Mohammed Ahsanul is an international student at the University of Wyoming about to complete his Ph.D. in applied mathematics. Once he finishes his degree, he expects to return home to Dhaka, Bangladesh—but not before his family reunites with him for the first time since the pandemic began. In the latest episode of A Better Life?, Producer Naina Rao joins Mohammed and his family for a trip to see America as she examines the ways a better life in the U.S. doesn’t always mean a permanent stay.

VOICES

I served as the Audio team mentor and editor for AAJA's VOICES program. In this role, I worked, mentored, and edited two early-career reporters respectively in 2021 and 2022 to report and produce their first radio news feature.

Voices Los Angeles 2022 • 28th July 2022

Non-white English teachers in Asia face discrimination

All you really need to be hired as an English teacher in Asia is a passport from the right country, or in some cases just look white.

“I’ve met like people who are just like ‘I was backpacking through Southeast Asia and I fell in love with Thailand and I just wanted to stay, so I just started teaching English,” said Tessa Charupatanapongse, who was born in Thailand and attended American school there. After finishing her Bachelor’s in the U.S., she returned to Thailand thinking that she could te