One of the most recognized and trusted voices in the United States, Ari Shapiro spent a decade as a host of NPR’s flagship evening news program All Things Considered and the podcast Consider This. He has reported from above the Arctic Circle and aboard Air Force One. He has been a question on Jeopardy and an answer in the New York Times crossword puzzle. Among his many journalism accolades, he has won three national Edward R. Murrow Awards, the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, and was named Journalist of the Year by NLGJA, the association of LGBTQ+ journalists. His debut memoir, The Best Strangers in the World: Stories From a Life Spent Listening, was an instant New York Times bestseller. He also hosted the reality competition show, The Mole, on Netflix. His 12-part course for Wondrium, “The Power of Storytelling,” received a Gold Telly Award. As a performer, he has been a frequent guest singer with Pink Martini since making his debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2009. He has performed with them in some of the world’s most storied venues and recorded songs in a variety of languages. He also spent six years touring the country with the actor Alan Cumming in their two-man show, Och and Oy: A Considered Cabaret, and he continues to perform his original solo cabaret show, Thank You For Listening. Ari was born in Fargo, North Dakota and grew up in Portland, Oregon. He lives in Washington, DC, with his husband and two dogs.
