The Washington Post today announced the addition of Elahe Izadi as host of “Post Reports,” joining Senior Audio Host Martine Powers to helm the organization’s flagship podcast. Izadi, a media reporter for The Post, will debut her expanded role on September 26 after regularly guest hosting since the spring.
“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 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.