Susan Stamberg

Susan Phoebe Stamberg (; September 7, 1938 – October 16, 2025) was an American radio journalist. She was co-host of NPR's flagship program All Things Considered from 1972 to 1986. In that role Stamberg was the first female host of a national news broadcast. She was considered one of NPR's "Founding Mothers" along with Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer, and Cokie Roberts. She worked for NPR in a variety of roles, including as a special correspondent, until her retirement in 2025.

Early life and education Susan Stamberg was born Susan Levitt in Newark, New Jersey, on September 7, 1938. She was an only child to parents both of Lithuanian-Jewish descent. Stamberg worked for the American ambassador's wife and wrote stories for Voice of America.

NPR Stamberg was hired by NPR prior to its broadcast debut. Her first job was cutting audiotape. She and Linda Wertheimer shared an office, after insisting they have their own space. Stamberg went on to become a producer of All Things Considered, the evening news magazine.

In October 1979, she hosted Ask the President, a two-hour live radio event in which callers could ask questions of then-President Jimmy Carter.

She was the host of Weekend Edition Sunday from January 1987 to October 1989.

After her departure from Weekend Edition Sunday, Stamberg worked as a special correspondent for NPR. She also was a guest host on Morning Edition, Weekend Edition Saturday, and Weekly Edition.

A recording of Stamberg's voice is used to announce elevator floor arrivals at NPR's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The recipe is known as "Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish Recipe". The elder Stamberg got it from a 1959 cookbook by Craig Claiborne, who in 1993 gave Stamberg his permission to continue sharing the recipe. In later years, Stamberg added an additional recipe for cranberry chutney, which was Stamberg's personal favorite cranberry recipe.

PBS Stamberg was the first host of the PBS arts series Alive from Off Center, hosting from 1985 to 1986. She is the narrator on the award-winning American Public Television documentary Sharon Isbin: Troubadour.

Publications

1994 induction into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame. 1996 induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame

Personal life and death Stamberg was married to Louis C. Stamberg, who died on October 9, 2007. She was a distant cousin to All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro.

Stamberg died on October 16, 2025, of undisclosed causes, at the age of 87.