Episode 273: Zoe Chace

Radio reporting requires finding human-centric narratives that cut through the noise of political events. Zoe Chace, a reporter for *This American Life*, traces her path from a period of personal loss and professional aimlessness to mastering the art of the interview. Her approach centers on identifying individuals who embody the internal conflicts of a broader cultural moment, such as the evangelical voters grappling with Donald Trump’s rise or high school students forming identities around political polarization. This process demands persistent, empathetic questioning to move beyond scripted talking points and reach sincere, reflective moments. Despite her success, the work remains fraught with the constant anxiety of maintaining relevance and the difficulty of extracting genuine human emotion from political figures who are inherently guarded. Ultimately, the pursuit of these stories serves as both a professional mandate and a personal anchor.