Juana Summers' career in journalism began as a reporter for the student newspaper at St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City. Now, she's one of the co-hosts of "All Things Considered," NPR's flagship daily afternoon news program.
Summers returned to her hometown for KCUR's 2025 Radioactive Gala on Friday.
She told Up To Date that she's drawn to public media because it allows her to bring listeners closer to the political process and make everyday people feel connected.
"We as journalists have an opportunity to make (people) feel seen and heard and feel closer to the process, because I truly do feel — and this will sound very 'Schoolhouse Rock' — that the process is meant to serve the people."
"If I can do anything to bring those ties closer together, or to demystify a complicated policy issue, or to help a person feel like they walked away with a better understanding of an issue or a topic than they had the day before, that's when I think I'm at my best."
- Juana Summers, co-host of NPR's All Things Considered
