Robert Siegel

The native New Yorker came to NPR in Washington, D.C., 40 years ago on what he hoped was an unfortunate but necessary detour. Now, after three decades hosting All Things Considered, he's retiring.

The longtime All Things Considered host describes how being a New Yorker, and his parents' experiences as first-generation English speakers, helped shape his interest in language and voice.

Siegel has spent more than 40 years at NPR — and more than three decades as host of All Things Considered. He says he will be leaving that role in January to "begin a new phase of life."