Kitty Felde is out as ‘Talk’ host

“Talk of the City,” the weekday afternoon public-affairs show on KPCC-FM (89.3), is getting a new host.

Kitty Felde, who hosted the program for the Pasadena-based public radio station for five years, learned this week that Thursday would be her last day on the job. KPCC has offered Felde a reporting position in the news department, but Felde hasn’t decided whether to take it.

Felde said she was “totally surprised and heartbroken” by the station’s decision to replace her.

KPCC programming director Craig Curtis said the recent departure of the show’s producer, Christal Smith, for a job at National Public Radio West, led management to think about the station’s overall direction.

“This is an opportunity to make some changes to the radio station,” Curtis said. “In the last few years, we’ve grown very quickly, hired a lot of staff and, for a variety of reasons, felt this is probably the best thing for the station. This wasn’t a case of the station thinking she’s a bad host. We do think she’s probably stronger for us as a reporter.”

KPCC newsman John Rabe will serve as “Talk of the City’s” interim host until the new team is selected, probably within the month, Curtis said.

Maria Elena Fernandez