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Ayesha Rascoe

@ayesharascoe

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Host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and The Sunday Story podcast. Editor and author of HBCU Made

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This week, producer Ryan Benk and I took a deep dive into the psychology of fear and why some people seek it out through haunted attractions and horror movies. We went to Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Maryland and got scared half to death. We also talked to researchers who have studied the brain and fear and the idea of recreational fear.

📷: @photobenkdc

#hauntedhouse #horror #fear #spookyseason #npr by @ayesharascoe

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I still don’t like birds, but I have no problems with bird lovers. And I don’t wish any harm on birds. Thanks to National Geographic for the book. It kind of terrifies me, but that’s ok.

#npr #birds #birdwatching #birdsarescary by @ayesharascoe

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The odds were in our favor at the 2026 MPA Awards!  This year, we honored remarkable leaders who believe in what film and TV can mean for creators, casts, crews, and fans in the U.S. and across the globe:

• Filmmaker Francis Lawrence with the MPA Creator Award
• Egypt’s Ministry of Interior with the MPA Creative Protector Award
• Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and Georgia Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock with the MPA Industry Champion Awards

Check out the highlights of an epic night that brought Hollywood and Washington together to celebrate the power of great stories, well told.
#mpaawards taken in Motion Picture Association by @ayesharascoe

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I asked Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence the important question: which of his OWN movies could he survive? 😂 His pick: The Hunger Games, maybe — but The Long Walk? “I don’t think I could make five days of non-stop walking.” More from our conversation at the 2026 MPA Awards 🎬
#FrancisLawrence #HungerGames #TheLongWalk #MPAAwards #Cinema by @ayesharascoe

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I am proudly HBCU Made and it was such an honor to be at Norfolk State University yesterday. My book, HBCU Made, is NSU’s common reader this year. That means students all over campus are reading and studying my book! Shout out to NSU faculty and administrators who put the lovely program together and Shawn Zachery, one of the book’s contributors, who was also on the panel.

#hbcu #norfolkstateuniversity #hbcupride #hbcumade by @ayesharascoe

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We’re getting ready for the Common Reader event at Norfolk State!! #hbcumade by @ayesharascoe

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I spoke with rapper Quavo this week about his new album Qromelife, the loss of Takeoff, reuniting with Offset and his legendary ad libs.

#newmusic #quavo #migos #npr by @ayesharascoe

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I do not like birds. Listeners are trying to change that. It’s not working so far, but I wish them well.

#npr #birds #birdwatching #birdsarescary taken in Washington D. C. by @ayesharascoe

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I was honored to interview film director Francis Lawrence at the Motion Picture Association awards this week. Lawrence was awarded the MPA Creator Award for directing films including The Hunger Games franchise, The Long Walk and I am Legend.

@motionpictures

📷: Kris Tripplaar
Make up: @hairrayz_glowin

#movies #francislawrence #hungergames #thelongwalk

I asked director Francis Lawrence which of his dystopian movies did he think he would be able to survive: The Hunger Games, The Long Walk or I am Legend.
His answer: Hunger Games, bc he said he thinks he could figure out some strategies.

@motionpictures

📷: Kris Tripplaar
Make up: @hairrayz_glowin

📷: Kris Tripplaar

📷: Kris Tripplaar

📷: Kris Tripplaar taken in Washington D. C. by @ayesharascoe

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Off this Sunday after a reporting trip. Will be back on Weekend Edition next week!

#happysunday #momlifevibes #sundaybest #church by @ayesharascoe

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Stories loading … Took a reporting trip to Arizona this week. I’m excited for everyone to hear the stories we reported. Stay tuned! ✨✨

#npr #arizona #arizonalandscape #route66 #greenbook taken in Flagstaff, Arizona by @ayesharascoe

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It’s very weird to find out that I have people impersonating me in order to scam people. Just know NPR doesn’t seek money or your personal passwords.

#npr #scam #fraud #psa by @ayesharascoe

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