Rachael Norden
Announcer/ProducerHailing from the not-so distant land of the Sac-Osage Ozarks, Rachael Norden is a renaissance woman of the road less-traveled.
After forging her own path through a diverse mosaic of career experiences, Rachael joined the KBIA team in May 2023 with background in music/theatre performance and live stage production, emphasized by administrative and nonprofit management, marketing and design, and media production. Today she hosts on 91.3 FM, the Thinking Out Loud podcast, and curates programming on KBIA's sister station, Classical 90.5 FM, with shows such as Game On Air and Dinner with Brahms.
Growing up, Rachael formed an appreciation for voiceover and broadcasting from car rides narrated by Delilah, and in her later years through podcast figures Dan Carlin (Hardcore History) and Last Podcast Network’s Marcus Parks. When she's not behind the mic, Rachael hosts bar trivia and enjoys pinball, crafting, gaming, and tons downtime with her fur-babies.
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KBIA's Rachael Norden kicks off a new season with the Department of Human Development and Family Science on Thinking Out Loud with Dr. So Young Park, Assistant Professor at HDFS on the Certificate in Pre-Family Law Advocacy & Policy offered through HDFS, a certificate course designed to offer HDFS students context of how laws affect and interact with the work they’re preparing to do. -
KBIA’s Rachael Norden speaks with Dr. Clay Hurdle, Assistant Professor and 4-H State Specialist in Leadership and Civic Engagement at HDFS on the history of land grants in Missouri and how they impacted Mizzou’s identity, as well as the 4-H Extension, and how those seemingly unrelated things come together annually during the Missouri State Fair, happening this year August 13-23 in Sedalia. -
KBIA’s Rachael Norden speaks with Dr. Bryon Wiegand, Division Director of Animal Sciences at CAFNR-MU on the long-awaited opening of the new Michael L. Parson Meats Education & Training Lab – or Meat Lab – and the long and winding journey that took this vision from its previous iteration as the Mizzou Meat Market, to the state of the art learning facility and public market that formally opens in July. -
KBIA’s Rachael Norden speaks with Dr. Kantha Channaiah, Assistant Professor of Food Science and State Extension Specialist of Food Processing and Safety at CAFNR on the food safety training programs offered through CAFNR and the importance of proper food handling - not only for manufacturers and businesses, but also individuals who work with popular methods of food handling such as canning. -
In an episode dedicated to all things bugs, KBIA’s Rachael Norden is joined by KBIA Health Reporter Rebecca Smith to speak with Dr. Emily Althoff, Assistant Extension Professor and State Extension Specialist of Urban Entomology at CAFNR on the relationships between pollinators and pests – how they’re often one and the same – and how people can play a vital role in stewarding local environments to not only help our flying friends survive, but thrive. -
KBIA's Rachael Norden speaks with Dr. Rick Relyea, inaugural director of the Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands, and Aquatic Systems at CAFNR-MU on his vision in workforce development and regional collaboration as he sets the stage for this new institute at Mizzou. -
In celebration of International Day of Play happening June 11, KBIA's Rachael Norden speaks with Dr. Rachel Thibodeau-Nielsen, Associate Professor at HDFS on the importance of play for children – namely, the evolving narratives around childhood play versus adulthood preparation, how play styles exist across a spectrum, and how adults can help facilitate true playtime for children, founded in a joy for play within themselves. -
KBIA's Rachael Norden continues her conversation with Dr. Kale Monk, Associate Professor at HDFS, on all things relationships – the good, the bad, and the lonely. In this episode, we explore loneliness, breakups, and what it can look like to navigate the natural ebb and flow of our relationships. Plus, resources for rural community members through HDFS’ new ShowMe Connection project. -
KBIA's Rachael Norden speaks with Drs. Shinyoung Jeon and Aileen Garcia on National Childcare Provider Appreciation Day, or Provider Appreciation Day, happening May 8th – a worldwide celebration meant to recognize the work of childcare providers, teachers, and other educators of young children. -
KBIA's Rachael Norden speaks with returning guest, Dr. Melissa Herzog, Associate Teaching Professor at HDFS on National Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week (APAW), happening April 20-24, 2026 as a time to recognize, appreciate, and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours and make a profound difference in the lives of youth.
