For nearly three years, if you were driving home in the afternoon, cooking dinner or just going about your day, chances are good that Jose Sandoval was right there with you. His warm, familiar voice and his signature sign-on, "soy Jose Sandoval," became a part of the daily rhythm of life in western North Carolina. Now he's heading to a new chapter as Latino communities reporter at WXXI Public Media in Rochester, N.Y., through Report for America.
Before his last show, Morning Edition host Helen Chickering sat down with him in Studio B – the same studio where he's spent hundreds of afternoons with you – to talk about what BPR has meant to him.
You came here in the fall of 2023 from Illinois, not knowing anyone. What was it like trading the Chicago area for the mountains of western North Carolina?
“Those first few months were a tough adjustment. I missed my family a lot. I also just missed the culture around me. I was used to being around a suburban area larger than the city of Asheville. It was a tough adjustment, a lot of lonely days. But I think at the same time that was very helpful because I had to learn how to be by myself and take care of things on my own. I think it ended up becoming the best thing I could have ever done.”
About a year into your time here, Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina. It was the biggest story any of us had ever covered. And you helped make sure the Latino community wasn't left behind, by getting vital briefings and information on the air in Spanish.
“Both of my parents are from Mexico and it was just very important to have real representation on air of people who actually do live here in our region. Even before Helene I say "soy Jose Sandoval" because it is a way to honor my roots but also honor the folks that do live here. That was super important for me from the get go; it's something I want to stay with me in my public radio career. Because representation does matter.”
“Some of the most heartfelt moments especially after Helene were people coming up to me when I was out in the field reporting in different counties saying ‘’thank you so much, your voice was the first one I heard in days and it was comforting to know that you guys were there.’ Those moments, when you're able to be there for people. You may not know them personally, but they have a connection with you.”
What do you want the people who have been listening to you every afternoon to know?
Just thank you all for inviting me into your homes, into your cars, making me a part of your daily routine. The kind words, the encouragement. Anytime I would get "soy Jose Sandoval" from random people out in the community, it made my day.
One of the hardest parts is leaving the news team, because I've really built great bonds with my co-workers – we are really close. And this region is just so beautiful. From spending time here in Asheville, going all the way to Cherokee, down to Franklin, over to Sylva, over to Bryson City, to Hendersonville, to Tryon. I'm going to miss the heck out of living in western North Carolina.
Jose Sandoval's last day at Blue Ridge Public Radio was on June 18, 2026. He begins his new role at WXXI Public Media in Rochester, N.Y., later this summer.
