Chris Benderev
Narrative Audio Producer
Over the past decade, Chris has reported, produced and edited narrative audio on staff at This American Life and at NPR's documentary podcast Embedded. He spent five years before that working across NPR's newsroom.He makes stories that are thoroughly reported and — often the trickier part — keep you listening until the end.
This American Life
Chris reported many stories including this one about death and comedy:
(13 minutes)
... this story about an inexperienced food stand's first day at the Iowa State Fair:
(19 minutes)
...and this news explainer turned in less than 48 hours: (7 minutes)
He also produced numerous stories by reporters new to radio, including this one which won an EWA award:
(27 minutes)
NPR's Embedded
Chris helped launch NPR's Embedded podcast and produced many host stories. He also reported his own, including a five-part series that followed the survivors of a mass shooting over two years. It won a Murrow award and was a DART and Third Coast finalist. Here's Part 1:
(34 minutes)
He also made stories on much shorter turnaround, like this one about couples struggling with lockdown:
(11 minutes)
NPR Newsroom
Chris worked as a producer at every NPR newsmagazine but spent the longest time at Weekend Edition. He also reported digital & radio stories for NPR's Science Desk, including this investigation into a franchise claiming to alleviate autism and ADHD in children:
(12 minutes)
He reported breaking news too. Here's a superspot:
(2 minutes)