WBEZ Names Three Interim Hosts for In the Loop
Mariah Woelfel, Araceli Gómez-Aldana and Susie An will rotate hosting duties after Sasha-Ann Simons departs the show.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
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WBEZ has named three interim hosts for its 'In the Loop' program following the exit of host Sasha-Ann Simons. Mariah Woelfel will host in November, Araceli Gómez-Aldana in December and Susie An in January.
Why it matters
Simons is leaving because she and her family are moving back to the East Coast, leaving the Chicago public radio station to fill the show while it searches for a permanent replacement. WBEZ has not announced a timetable for that hire.
WBEZ is covering the show with three hosts over three months, and Simons' tenure at the station spanned six years, beginning with 'Reset' in 2020 before she took over 'In the Loop' in 2025. The station has not said when a permanent host will be chosen.
The players
WBEZ
WBEZ is the public radio station in Chicago that produces 'In the Loop' and is operated by the Chicago Public Media organization.
Sasha-Ann Simons
Sasha-Ann Simons is a Chicago public radio host who joined WBEZ in 2020 and previously hosted the show 'Reset' before taking over 'In the Loop'.
The details
Executive producer Dan Tucker announced the interim lineup in a statement. The rotation runs through January while the station searches for a permanent host for the program, which launched just over a year ago as part of a major overhaul of WBEZ's local programming.
Timeline
Simons joined WBEZ in 2020 to host 'Reset'.
Simons moved to 'In the Loop' in 2025 and delivered her final broadcast on a Friday in early November 2026.
Mariah Woelfel hosts 'In the Loop' in November 2026.
Araceli Gómez-Aldana hosts in December 2026.
Susie An hosts in January 2027.
Market Landscape
The change comes just over a year after WBEZ's 2025 overhaul of its local programming introduced 'In the Loop', the show Simons moved to that year. Turnover in the host chair now falls on a program that is still new within the station's lineup.
Listeners of 'In the Loop' will hear a different host each month through January. The station has not said when a permanent host will be named, so the lineup could change again after that rotation ends.
The takeaway
A rotating interim lineup often signals a station is taking time to choose a lasting host rather than rushing the decision. For listeners, the near-term change is simply a new voice each month.
What happens next
Simons is expected to announce her next career move soon, and WBEZ will name a permanent host after the interim rotation ends in January 2027.
Further reading
For more on personnel moves in the city's media scene, see People in Chicago coverage.
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