On-Air Authenticity

For NPR Music’s Anamaria Sayre, no two days are alike. The podcaster, producer and reporter could be interviewing Latin music legend Rosalía one day and producing a new episode of Tiny Desk Concerts the next. Or she might be flying to Spain to report on a music conservatory’s attempt to re-establish musical identity after the fall of Francisco Franco’s authoritarian regime, or heading to Nashville, Tenn., to moderate a panel on songwriting as an expression of activism in Latin America. 

“The chaos of my job is reflective of the chaos that lives within me,” says Sayre ’21, who lives in New York City. 

Alt.Latino co-hosts Anamaria Sayre, left, and Felix Contreras. Photo Credit: Mike Morgan

At Northwestern, Sayre studied cognitive science and history. But she also produced Nine Lives, an unscripted podcast sharing stories of significant moments in the lives of Wildcats. Despite not majoring in journalism, Sayre loves storytelling. During her senior year she landed a production internship with NPR Music and quickly became an essential team member. 

Sayre, who is Mexican American, is now co-host of NPR Music’s Alt.Latino, a podcast celebrating Latinx culture and heritage through interviews with musicians from around the world. In 2022 she became the youngest full-time host in NPR history, at age 23, bringing new energy to a show that had been led by her co-host, Felix Contreras, since 2010. Sayre is also a producer for El Tiny, the Latin music version of Tiny Desk Concerts. 

Sayre was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Media 2024 list, and her NPR team has earned Webby and People’s Voice awards. The pieces she’s produced for El Tiny have garnered over 115 million YouTube views.   

Sayre credits her rapid rise to one simple ethos: staying true to herself. 

“Many people in both music and journalism try to mold themselves into someone they think is marketable,” she says. “In reality, authenticity is what’s most valuable. You’re the only one who can offer up the exact thing that you are. Why would you try to present yourself as anything different?”  

Through her work on Alt.Latino and Tiny Desk, Sayre has brought Camila Cabello, Karol G, Maluma and other artists to NPR Music. Her Alt.Latino interview with guitarist Carlos Santana was especially memorable.  

“He told me that the more you experience gratitude, deep appreciation and thankfulness, the more the universe will reward you,” Sayre recalls. “I have this incredible opportunity, and at the end of the day, I always want to remain grateful.”