She has been my morning radio companion for many years, http://thedianerehmshow.org/. For about 15 years, I had a 45 minute commute in the morning and got to hear all of one show or a good chunk of two shows. The last few years, my drive has been shorter, but I still experienced many a “driveway moment,” when I sat in the car and waited for the show to end.
Diane has been a charming, smart, gracious host, demonstrating every day that civility and intelligent discussion were not dead on the airwaves. She always kept control of the discussion, at the same time letting her guests fully express themselves without cutting them short or interrupting like some media hosts I could name (I’m lookin’ at you, Oprah).
If you have only heard her voice and have never seen her, you might be surprised to find that she is drop-dead gorgeous, and looks much younger than her voice sounds. She has a vocal condition called spasmodic dysphonia, ironic for someone who made a career in radio.
I know she wants to retire to take up the cause of dying with grace and dignity after her husband’s recent painful death, but she will be missed by many.
I started a thread a while back after she announced her upcoming retirement. I’ve been a regular listener of her show for many years. I listen to it via podcast.
It’s a great show. Many news and political talk shows are mostly about the host and his or her opinions. Not so with Diane. She’s always had an excellent array of guests, with many different viewpoints. They are usually people very knowledgeable in their fields. Her role is always as an interviewer–not a pundit or bloviator. She treats everyone with respect–even when her opinions may differ from theirs. She doesn’t shy from asking pertinent, tough questions and pressing the point if her guest tries to evade.
Her Friday shows in particular–the Domestic News Roundup and the International News Roundup–are a must-listen for me.
I had a chance to hear her speak in person earlier this year, and was glad I got that opportunity before she goes off the air. I also often listen to her show in the a.m. and really hope another sane, sober show on important news takes its place.
Agree. I am a long time fan. Her Friday News Roundups are the best in analyzing the weeks news with rational debate and no talking over each other by the panelists. Respectful, reasoned discussion of current domestic and world events. That’s what everyone claims to want but the people I have tried to turn on to her show couldn’t get past her voice. I will miss her very much. I hope her successor holds to her standards.
She will be doing podcasts, not sure how that works, exactly but I will investigate.
That’s me, for sure. I listen to all kinds of public radio (live and podcasts), but I just find her unlistenable. I don’t think that’s really an unfair standard, though: it is radio, after all. I wouldn’t tell people not to listen to her because of her voice if it doesn’t bother them, but I don’t think those of us who “can’t get past” it should be ashamed of ourselves or something.
Just FYI - Diane’s podcast started on Friday. I got it in the same feed as the podcasts of her now-ended radio show. It was relatively short (~30 minutes) but it is a welcome continuation of her discussions on current events with people in-the-know.
Did something happen to her voice at some point? I’m sorry, but it’s like fingernails on a blackboard for me. I couldn’t listen for more than a few minutes.
I didn’t get to listen to her show as much as I would have liked, but I loved it. Fair and balanced and respectful discussion. What a novelty!
A few years ago, I got tickets to see her as part of a promo for donating to our local public radio station. Along with all attendees (several hundred) I was invited to submit questions for her to answer. I’m proud to say that they selected 2 of my questions (out of about a dozen).
“Is there any topic that you won’t discuss?”
IIRC, her answer was Yes. Abortion is one of them. It’s too emotionally charged and no one’s mind is ever changed.
“How has the advent of the 24/7 news stations changed the way she does business?”
She hates it as much as the rest of us. It puts her at a disadvantage because a lot of reporting is done before verifying. And she HATES unverified reporting.
She gave her on-air farewell message today. I almost cried while I was driving.
