Gregory Warner
Gregory Warner is the host of NPR's Rough Translation, a podcast about how things we're talking about in the United States are being talked about in some other part of the world. Whether interviewing a Ukrainian debunker of Russian fake news, a Japanese apology broker navigating different cultural meanings of the word "sorry," or a German dating coach helping a Syrian refugee find love, Warner's storytelling approach takes us out of our echo chambers and leads us to question the way we talk about the world. Rough Translation has received the Lowell Thomas Award from the Overseas Press Club and a Scripps Howard Award.
In his role as host, Warner draws on his own overseas experience. As NPR's East Africa correspondent, he covered the diverse issues and voices of a region that experienced unparalleled economic growth as well as a rising threat of global terrorism. Before joining NPR, he reported from conflict zones around the world as a freelancer. He climbed mountains with smugglers in Pakistan for This American Life, descended into illegal mineshafts in the Democratic Republic of Congo for Marketplace's "Working" series, and lugged his accordion across Afghanistan on the trail of the "Afghan Elvis" for Radiolab.
Warner has also worked as senior reporter for American Public Media's Marketplace, endeavoring to explain the economics of American health care. He's used puppets to illustrate the effects of Internet diagnostics on the doctor-patient relationship, and composed a Suessian poem to explain the correlation between health care job growth and national debt. His musical journey into the shadow world of medical coding won a Best News Feature award from the Third Coast International Audio Festival.
Warner has won a Peabody Award and awards from Edward R. Murrow, New York Festivals, AP, and PRNDI. He earned his degree in English from Yale University.
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Nearly 30 years ago, Kenya burned 12 tons of ivory to try to halt the illegal ivory trade. Today it's burning 100 tons. How much difference does burning ivory make? -
Infrared thermal cameras have revolutionized the way rangers can see into the dark. But sometimes, experience trumps technology. -
Terrorist groups in Kenya are trying to lure smart recruits who can give orders and boost their brand on social media. A high-school teacher is battling them in the classroom. -
Serving as a U.N. peacekeeper can be a lucrative profession for young Africans. But Burundians seeking such work must pledge loyalty to their government, which is implicated in human rights abuses. -
Two weeks ago, Kenyans finally got access to Netflix. But we still don't know if they'll binge happily every after. -
John Magufuli, the new president of Tanzania, aims to cut over-the-top government spending and improve services. Opponents hope he fizzles out. -
Political violence in the African nation of Burundi has forced an estimated 200,000 people to flee. Some are musicians who are bringing the country's diverse styles together in one band. -
Paul Kagame is the only president the country has had since 2000. He's already served two terms, and voters support amending the constitution to allow him to stay in office another 17 years. -
Two years ago, the United Nations made a spur-of-the-moment decision to open its bases to hundreds of thousands who sought refuge from war. Today, those bases resemble permanent communities. -
Millions of South Sudanese have been displaced by two years of civil conflict. They've lost touch with family. Now they have a rare chance to call home.
