A conversation between Mary Lucia and Bob Collins

Mary Lucia and Bob Collins on May 30, 2019 - Hour 1

Mary Lucia and Bob Collins on May 30, 2019 - Hour 2

Mary Lucia and Bob Collins on May 30, 2019 - Hour 3 (35 minutes)

On May 31, 2019, MPR News editor and NewsCut blogger Bob Collins will retire after more than 27 years at Minnesota Public Radio. Listeners of The Current know Bob Collins from his daily 4:20 p.m. news breaks with Mary Lucia.

In the run-up to Bob's retirement, Mary Lucia and Bob Collins sat down for a thoughtful — and frequently funny — conversation in which they look back on Bob's 45-year career in radio, including his most memorable on-air faux pas and about what he calls "the best week [he's] spent in the radio business." We also hear about what some of Bob's plans may be once he is retired.

All who have listened to Mary Lucia and Bob Collins on the air know the two share a palpable chemistry and friendship, so we'll get to hear Mary and Bob share a couple of their favorite (read: laughter-inducing) moments from their years of doing news breaks together, and on a more serious note, they share their fondness for a well-written obituary.

We've also archived the Mary and Bob's final air shift together. Listen to those hours, as well as the long-form interview, using the audio player above.

Your messages for Bob Collins

From the archives: listen to past news breaks with Mary Lucia and Bob Collins

Between 2005-2022, Mary Lucia earned a large fan base with her work as a broadcast personality, writer, actor, and voice-over talent at The Current. Lucia began her media career doing evenings at REV 105, co-hosted mornings on Zone 105, and hosted a talk show, Somethin' Stupid, on 1500 KSTP.


Mary Lucia

Digital Producer

Sara Fish for MPR

Luke Taylor

Bob Collins writes the News Cut blog for MPR News.  He joined MPR in 1992. He served as broadcast editor and coordinated MPR's political coverage until 1999, when he was asked to direct MPR's foray into online journalism.

He previously was vice president of programming for Berkshire Broadcasting Company in Massachusetts, and national desk editor at the RKO Radio Network in New York. He also was editor at WHDH in Boston, where he received the Edward R. Murrow Award for his investigation into the Boston mob scene.

Bob is a private pilot and is building his own airplane.


Bob Collins

In the run-up to Bob Collins's retirement, Collins and Mary Lucia sat down for a full conversation that reflects on their careers in radio as well as Bob Collins' plans for the future. And of course, there are great memories and lots of laughs from the past 14-plus years of Lucia and Collins' 4:20 p.m. news breaks.


Great Music Lives Here.

LISTENER-SUPPORTED MUSICDonate