Sewell Chan Reflects on Queens Roots and Journalistic Path in New "Your History Teacher" Podcast Episode

New York, NY – Journalist Sewell Chan, known for his extensive career in prominent newsrooms, is the featured guest on a new episode of Kevin Burke's "Your History Teacher Podcast." The episode delves into Chan's formative years growing up in Queens during the 1980s and 1990s, exploring the origins of his curiosity and his eventual calling in journalism.

Sewell Chan has held significant editorial positions across American journalism. He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune and held senior roles at the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times. Most recently, Chan was the executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review from 2024 to April 2025, a role he departed from following staff complaints.

The "Your History Teacher Podcast," hosted by historian Kevin Burke, focuses on how individuals' hometowns and early experiences shape their lives and careers. Burke, also the founder and CEO of Kevin Burke Productions and director of research at the Hutchins Center at Harvard University, aims to illuminate the profound impact of an NYC childhood on its notable residents.

In this latest installment, Burke engages Chan in a discussion about his upbringing in the outer boroughs of New York City, where his father worked as a taxi driver. According to Kevin Burke's tweet announcing the episode, "Journalist @sewellchan and I share a passion for the history of places, and his insights about NYC are so sharp. In this ep. of @YHTPodcast, Sewell talks about growing up in Queens in the '80s/90s, and what it was that ignited his curiosity and drew him to his calling."

The episode offers listeners a rare glimpse into the personal history of a journalist who has shaped public discourse through his work at some of the nation's most influential publications. It highlights the podcast's ongoing mission to connect the personal narratives of prominent New Yorkers with the places that defined their early lives.