The Washington Post: Elahe Izadi named co-host of ‘Post Reports’

“In each episode, we try to take listeners along a journey of discovery around the defining stories of the day, but also the unexpected ones. Having Elahe on board allows us to expand this ambition and pursue our coverage in a different way — something that has already been evident from her contributions to our team,” said Powers.

Izadi’s past collaborations with the podcast include a portrait of the baby formula shortage’s impact on families; unraveling what really happened when the U.S. evacuated from Kabul’s airport; and a gripping tale of how local journalists uncovered the story of a 10-year-old’s abortion after the fall of Roe v. Wade. Izadi will continue to cover the media industry while taking on this new role in audio.

"Elahe’s innate sense of curiosity and impressive breadth of reporting experience have produced some of the most memorable recent episodes of the podcast. There is no better person suited to join Martine and the team in this moment as we find new ways to cover the biggest stories of our time,” said Maggie Penman, executive producer of “Post Reports.”

Izadi joined The Washington Post in 2014 as a general assignment reporter before becoming a pop culture writer for the Features section in 2016, and then a media reporter in 2020. She has covered politics, race and local news for outlets including National Journal and WAMU 88.5, D.C.’s NPR station. She will continue to cover the media industry while taking on this new role in audio.

“I have long been in awe of the way Martine and the whole team who bring to life The Post’s range of storytelling — from the aftermath of the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack to Peloton’s rise and fall during the pandemic — in vivid detail,” said Izadi. "It is an honor to now join “Post Reports” and expand its capacity to tell the stories that stick with listeners and help us all better understand our rapidly evolving world.”

Since its launch in 2018, “Post Reports” has taken listeners inside reporting from the newsroom, drawing on the insight of Post journalists to get close to the stories driving the news cycle. It has attracted a growing audience, achieving more than a 50 percent increase in downloads in the last year. The show has been recognized with some of the most prestigious industry awards including a Peabody in 2021 for the audio documentary “The Life of George Floyd,” an Online Journalism Association award for “Four Hours of Insurrection,” and honors from the Webby Awards and the National Association of Black Journalists. Its episodes probing the causes and aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack were part of a collection of Post coverage that was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize in 2022.

Learn more about the hosts of ‘Post Reports’

You both bring such distinct perspectives as hosts. What can listeners expect from the show with both of you at the helm?

Elahe: At the heart of “Post Reports” is the incredible journalism you can only get from the Washington Post. We want to create an inviting place to delve into that coverage. Martine and I are unafraid to be ourselves, and we can explore complex topics without being stuffy about it. And with two hosts, we can expand the kinds of stories we tackle. The “Post Reports” team is also just so special; behind each episode is a collaborative group of dedicated journalists, who also happen to be mostly women and people of color. Our combined perspectives help enrich the show . As a listener, I’ve long appreciated how the team unpacks the big news of the day that everyone is talking about, while also raising questions you might not be hear on similar platforms.

Martine: Our podcast consistently tells the most significant stories of the news moment, relying on our deep bench of reporting power from expert correspondents all over the country and the world. And yet, at the same time, we’re not afraid to be personal and authentic. Sometimes we laugh, or gasp, or giggle, or even snort. We demonstrate every day that embodying the voice of the news — especially as women, and as women of color — doesn’t require a fake sense of gravitas or phony airs, but that we can be ourselves and be relatable and also serve as a voice of authority while we pursue ambitious narrative journalism.

What are some of the stories you’ve most enjoyed working on?

Elahe: There are so many episodes I’ve loved working on, even though I’ve only been contributing regularly since the spring. We delved into how a Maine farming couple lives were turned upside down by “forever chemicals;” what Vladmir Putin’s 2000 book and other writings tell us about his aims in Ukraine; and the heart-wrenching decisions mothers were making because of the baby formula shortage, an episode that so moved a listener in Boston that she started a mutual aid fund.

Martine: Over the course of the 2,000+ interviews we’ve done on the show over the last four years, it’s very difficult to pick a favorite! But the stories I tend to really enjoy are the ones that surprise me — narratives or conversations that end in places or with big ideas that I never could have imagined at the outset. At least in the past year, that’s how I’ve felt in particular about episodes like “George Floyd and the ‘duty to intervene,” “When an OB/GYN is antiabortion,” and “The Zebra Files.” And that’s been part of the DNA of our show all the way back to the beginning: I still think about the surprising moments in stories we’ve done on the global e-scooter recall, non-binary pregnancies and also one of my favorite interviews ever, with Tan France!

Elahe, what coverage are you most excited to delve into as co-host?

One of my favorite things about the podcast is the range of stories it dives into. The Post covers every facet of life, and we’re fortunate to be at a time when our newsroom is growing coverage in important areas like technology and climate. It just means that there will be even more illuminating journalism to engage our listeners in. I am also especially interested in bringing more stories about children and youth, global stories that demonstrate our inherent connectedness and even pop culture stories, which I think help illuminate our society’s values.