Host and Staff | 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. Nnamdi is also seen on WHUT-TV at 8:00 p.m., Fridays and at 7:30 p.m., Sundays, as the host of Evening Exchange with Kojo.

"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. Since 1985, he has 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.

Tara Boyle, Producer

Tara Boyle joined The Kojo Nnamdi Show in July 2005. She began her career in public radio at WBUR in Boston as a producer and writer for Morning Edition and Weekend Edition. She also previously worked as a reporter for the Boston Globe. Tara holds a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and bachelor's degrees in French and journalism from Boston University.

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 has also written for 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.