DLNews Entertainment:
Palm Springs, CA—The Friends of the Palm Springs Library are rolling out the red carpet for an extraordinary evening as Mary Louise Kelly, the celebrated journalist, novelist, and co-host of All Things Considered, graces the Palm Springs Cultural Center on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 7:00 PM. This grand finale of the sixth season of Palm Springs Speaks promises an evening of riveting storytelling, sharp insights, and a glimpse into the mind of a journalist who has witnessed history unfold from the front lines.
Mary Louise Kelly has spent decades shaping national conversations. As co-host of NPR’s flagship newsmagazine, All Things Considered, she has taken audiences inside some of the world’s most pivotal moments, from the corridors of power in Washington to the shadowy realms of espionage. Her career as a national security correspondent has seen her reporting from Russia, North Korea, and even the infamous Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki. Her work has tracked the CIA, the rise of nuclear threats, and the human cost of war, with interviews conducted in locations as varied as the Khyber Pass, Hamburg mosques, and Belfast’s storied bars.
Mary Louise Kelly
In 2004, Kelly established NPR’s intelligence beat, placing her at the forefront of reporting on international security. Her experiences in the field inspired her to turn to fiction, resulting in two espionage thrillers—Anonymous Sources (2013) and The Bullet (2015). More recently, her memoir It. Goes. So. Fast. A Year of No Do-Overs became a New York Times bestseller, offering a heartfelt and unflinching look at parenthood, aging parents, and the passage of time. The paperback edition is set for release just days after her Palm Springs appearance, on April 8, 2025.
“Mary Louise Kelly is a trailblazing journalist, someone who has navigated the highest levels of political and global reporting while also tackling the deeply personal realities of hearing loss, motherhood, and career balance,” said Jeannie Kays, Director of Library Services. “Her story will resonate with many.”
Kelly’s work has been recognized with some of journalism’s highest honors, including the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award, a Gracie Award, and the Award for Outstanding Broadcast Journalist from the Washington Women in Journalism Awards. She was also part of the NPR team named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize 2021 for on-the-ground reporting from Iran.
Beyond the headlines, Kelly is a mother, a daughter, a writer, and a thinker. Depending on the moment, one of these titles takes center stage. But since 2003, when her first child was born, “Mom” has been her proudest role. A Georgia native, she launched her journalism career at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution before earning degrees at Harvard University and the University of Cambridge. Her writing has since graced the pages of The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Newsweek, and more.
Tickets for this special event are $45 for general admission and $65 for premium seating, which includes a copy of It. Goes. So. Fast. The event will occur at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262, and ADA-accessible seating will be available. Following Kelly's presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to meet her during a book signing. For tickets and more information, visit palmspringsspeaks.org
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