Andy Park revealed as new RN Drive host

Award-winning broadcaster and journalist Andy Park has been announced as the new host of RN Drive in 2022, bringing listeners home each weekday with a fresh and in-depth perspective on national and international stories.

Park will be part of Radio National’s new line-up in 2022, which will stir the mind and senses with ideas and insights across history, politics, arts, science, religion and ethics and society and culture – including an extended time-slot for Between the Lines and a new show about Australia’s weird and wonderful plants and animals and new weekend destination for book lovers.

Park, who started his career in radio, will join ABC RN on 24 January from ABC TV’s 7:30, where he has covered major stories on everything from fires, floods, war games, government policy and politics. He has also reported in the field for the ABC’s Foreign Correspondent.

Prior to joining the ABC, Park was part of the original line-up for SBS Viceland’s The Feed and a news anchor for SBS World News. He has also worked at The Age newspaper and in radio in Melbourne and regional Australia. Park is an AFTRS Radio Course graduate.

Outside of work, he loves motorcycling, the great outdoors and chasing after his young family. He takes over the RN Drive spot from Patricia Karvelas, who will present the agenda-setting RN Breakfast from January.

“I’m delighted to return to my radio roots on a show of such significance, in such a critical election year,” Park said.

“RN Drive audiences expect to be taken beyond the headlines and I’m excited to bring them the best conversations about politics, news, arts and culture, alongside coverage of the big, complex issues facing Australia and the world.”

ABC RN’s engaging 2022 line-up will also see Tom Switzer’s Between The Lines expanded to an hour, to showcase a greater range of independent thinkers and distinguished Australian and international guests.

“As conventional wisdoms become increasingly overwhelming and orthodoxies are quickly set into the news and current affairs narrative, it’s important to air a program that puts contemporary events in both a global and historical context,” Switzer said.

“It’s a great honour to be part of RN’s commitment to showcase distinguished Australian and international guests to the world.”

ABC RN Manager Cath Dwyer said the network would offer even more to listeners in 2022.

“In an important election year, ABC RN will continue to bring quality, in-depth journalism and analysis to our listeners, alongside great conversations across a range of specialist subjects, connecting audiences with great ideas, people and stories,” Dwyer said.

“We are especially excited to bring Andy Park to listeners as the new host of RN Drive. Andy is an outstanding ABC journalist with a fresh, engaging take on national and international issues, who will take audiences beyond the headlines to explore the ideas and stories that matter to Australians. PK in the morning and Andy in the afternoon is a perfect way to bookend your day.”

Also in 2022, Dr Ann Jones will present ABC RN’s lively new show What The Duck?!, about the curious and fascinating creatures around us. Each week, she will uncover an astonishing fact about the natural world and unpack it for listeners, with the help of expert researchers and scientists.

Other changes to ABC RN’s 2022 line-up include:

• Speaking Out, hosted by Gamilaroi/Eualeyai broadcaster and academic Professor Larissa Behrendt, moves to a new timeslot on Fridays at 12pm.
• Lost and Found move to a new special package of seasonal episodes, focusing on fascinating places around the world
• All in the Mind moves to Mondays at 1:30pm and The Philosopher’s Zone will move to Thursdays at 1:30pm

A complete RN schedule for 2022 will be available in the New Year.

(Photo credit: Daniel Boud)