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Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie: NPR's Founding Mothers

President Jimmy Carter is pictured with Susan Stamberg just before broadcast of a National Public Radio call-in program from Washington, Oct. 13, 1979 in Washington. The president was slated to answer questions called in by listeners.
Charles Tasnadi
/
AP
President Jimmy Carter is pictured with Susan Stamberg just before broadcast of a National Public Radio call-in program from Washington, Oct. 13, 1979 in Washington. The president was slated to answer questions called in by listeners.

Back in May, NPR celebrated its 50th anniversary and all of the pioneers who helped build the broadcast empire back in its early days. Four instrumental members of the earliest days of NPR are Susan Stamford, Linda Wertheimer, Nina Totenberg and Cokie Roberts. These so-called “Founding Mothers” who helped chart new trails, open doors, lead the way for women in the field of radio journalism.

Lisa Napoli is a journalist, and the author of Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie. She joined Colorado Edition to discuss her new book and the lives of these NPR trailblazers.

As a radio producer, I help make the Colorado Edition program come to life. I help to schedule guests, produce interviews, edit audio, and write for our weekly newsletter.
As the host of KUNC’s new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.