The Kojo Nnamdi Show

Kojo Nnamdi, Host

Kojo Nnamdi is host of The Kojo Nnamdi Show, a live talk show produced by WAMU 88.5 that airs weekdays at noon. On Fridays at noon, Nnamdi hosts The Politics Hour on WAMU 88.5.

"Maybe the best radio interviewer in town" according to The Washington Post, host Kojo Nnamdi welcomes a lineup of interesting and provocative guests who offer new perspectives about current events, political issues, social policy, art, science, and other topics. The show encourages listener calls, creating a dynamic dialogue about issues that are important or interesting to the Washington, D.C., region.

Nnamdi is a native of Guyana who immigrated to the United States in 1968 to attend college and explore the civil rights movement. From1985 to 2011, he hosted Evening Exchange, a public affairs television program broadcast by WHUT-TV at Howard University. From 1973 to 1985, Nnamdi worked at WHUR-FM, where he served as news editor and then news director, producing the award-winning local news program The Daily Drum.

In 2003, the Library of Congress selected Nnamdi as the keynote speaker for African American history month, and in 2001, he was honored as a civil rights hero by the National Council for Community Justice.

In 2005, he was named a "Washingtonian of the Year" by Washingtonian magazine, saying, "Radio is more fun, more intimate than TV. I always want to make sure people are listening to something that helps them make intelligent decisions about their lives." DCist, "a website about the Washington, D.C. area and everything that happens there," named Nnamdi one of "DC’s Most Influential People" in 2007. Also in 2007, Washingtonian named Nnamdi one of the “150 Most Influential People in Washington.”

In addition to his hosting duties, Nnamdi has chaired the board of the Public Access Corporation of Washington, D.C., since 1997. He is also active in Guyaid, an organization devoted to the welfare of children in Guyana.

Kojo served on the Board of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center from 2003-2008. A proud nationalized American citizen for more than 20 years, Kojo's passions include cricket, Caribbean Carnival, poetry, jazz, and jogging.

Diane Vogel, Managing Producer

Diane Vogel was appointed Managing Producer of Public Interest (now The Kojo Nnamdi Show) in August 2000, having worked with the show in various capacities since 1997 when it was known as The Derek McGinty Show. Prior to joining WAMU 88.5, Diane was an attorney with the Washington, D.C., firm of Brustein & Manasevit, a law practice specializing in civil rights, education, and administrative law.

Brendan Sweeney, Producer

Brendan joined The Kojo Nnamdi Show in fall 2004. Raised on three continents, Brendan attended New York University and was introduced to radio through a part-time job at WBAI. After receiving a bachelors degree in history and politics from NYU, Brendan received his masters degree in international development from the London School of Economics.

Michael Martinez, Producer

Michael Martinez joined The Kojo Nnamdi Show in February 2008. He previously worked for three years writing about the intersection of politics and technology for the National Journal Group, and his writing has appeared in the Washington City Paper, the Current newspapers, and The Star Tribune. Michael holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was born in Brussels, Belgium, grew up in Washington, D.C., and lived for three years in Amman, Jordan.

Ingalisa Schrobsdorff, Producer

Ingalisa joined the Kojo Nnamdi Show in the fall of 2009. After a stint at KQED in San Francisco with the Forum program, she moved east and was a producer with Washington Monthly on the Radio. Prior to working in radio, Ingalisa directed international programs at New York University, including developing journalism programs in three countries. Ingalisa was born in Berlin, and has lived in Japan and France. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Barnard College and an MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Tayla Burney, Producer

Tayla Burney joined The Kojo Nnamdi Show in spring of 2011. For three and a half years she produced a public affairs program on public radio station WHRV-FM in Norfolk, Virginia. Before beginning her radio career she worked for the historical association in Coronado, California. She was born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts and attended Suffolk University in Boston. While at Suffolk she was a member of the Archer Fellows program there and spent a semester in London before receiving her BA in English.