kathryn fink

audio journalist & writer based in washington, dc

radio highlights

NPR •

D.C. opens its first LGBTQ senior home

Mary's House for Older Adults in Washington, D.C., is a new affordable housing project that is trying to ease the barriers LGBTQ seniors face when looking for safe, affordable housing.MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Finding affordable housing is challenging for nearly any American. It can be harder for senior citizens and even harder for seniors who are part of the LGBTQ community. A new affordable housing project here in Washington is trying to address that. NPR's Kathryn Fink visited Mary's House fo...
NPR •

One story of finding love in the height of the pandemic

It's been five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. This week, we're bringing stories of people who found an unexpected dose of joy amid so much devastation.MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: This week marks five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. There was so much loss and devastation but also, occasionally, moments of hope. We are sharing some of those moments this week, starting with Sharla Riddle (ph), a 63-year-old...
NPR •

Actor Josh Gad on three performances that shaped his career

Actor Josh Gad, best known for his roles in Frozen and Book of Mormon, is out with a new memoir about his life and career.SCOTT DETROW, HOST: From an endearing Mormon missionary to a goofy animated snowman who likes warm hugs, Josh Gad has made a name for himself through offbeat characters. He's out with a new memoir called "In Gad We Trust." And recently, we asked him to tell us about three performances that have shaped him as an actor. The first one takes us all the way back to 1998. And that...
NPR •

The next generation of firefighters learned how to fight fires while in prison

California has long relied on its prison population to help fight wildfires. It is one of at least 14 states that operates fire camps for incarcerated people to train to fight fires. It's an alternative sentencing option — an opportunity to serve the public as wildfires become increasingly urgent. For some who attend fire camp, it becomes a pathway to a life calling. “I didn't really know, like, you know, what a wildland firefighter was. But once I got there, as time went on, I actually em...
NPR •

The representation of climate change on-screen is scant, but growing

The representation of climate change on-screen is scant, but growing

Researchers says the movies of the last decade are a missed opportunity, as very few of them address the urgency of climate change. They surveyed 250 of the most popular movies between 2013 and 2022.

Movies can be powerful cultural messengers for ideas, behaviors and values. But a team of researchers says the movies of the last decade or so have missed an opportunity because very few of them address the urgency of climate cha
NPR •

This airport has never lost a bag. For one chief handler, it's all about respect

This airport has never lost a bag. For one chief handler, it's all about respect

As the summer travel season begins, thousands of bags will go missing at airports all over the world. It's a given at this point. But not at one particular airport in Japan that makes a stunning claim: it has never lost a piece of luggage.

Kansai International Airport opened in September 1994, on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, and its records state it has maintained a perfect baggage streak since.

That's a lo
NPR •

From tweet to three-book deal, this author wants to transform the fantasy genre

From tweet to three-book deal, this author wants to transform the fantasy genre

A new young adult novel called Blood at the Root follows a Black teen learning to harness his ancestral magic. Before it was a novel, it was a failed TV pilot. Before that, it was a tweet.

The new young adult novel "Blood At The Root" follows a Black teen learning to harness his ancestral magic. But before it was a novel, it was a failed TV pilot. And before it was a failed TV pilot, it was a tweet. NPR's Kathryn F