Renata Sago

Reporter

SHORT BIO

Renata Sago is a former reporter for Marketplace. She covered food culture and consumption. You could catch her on a pea farm in rural Minnesota, at a new burger spot in town, or in the alternative pasta aisle of a local grocery store with a microphone and a camera. Her stories explored new trends in food, including health, safety, disruption and moneeeeey.

What was your very first job?

I started a production company when I was 6 years old. I ran it from my grandmother's porch, with occasional assistance from my cat.

What do you think is the hardest part of your job that no one knows?

Making magic on tight deadlines is a mutha.

What advice do you wish someone had given you before you started this career?

Stay hydrated (also life advice).

What is something that everyone should own, no matter how much it costs?

You should own your voice, and every single bit of your story, past and present. They are priceless. Never give those up. They are what make you unique. (Existential, huh?)

Latest Stories (154)

Sneakers get the high-end art treatment

Jul 22, 2019
It was the first auction of its kind for Sotheby's.
A view of sneakers on display for "The Ultimate Sneaker Collection" online auction at Sotheby's on July 15, 2019 in New York City.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

"Alt-doc" mortgages are booming. Some analysts are worried.

Jul 5, 2019
People who don't qualify for traditional mortgages can get "unconventional" loans. But what if the economy slips?
A for sale sign is posted in front of a home as interest rates for home loans climbed to nearly 4% in the wake of the election of Donald Trump to be the U.S. president on November 17, 2016 in Miami, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Deal between sushi giants highlights "grocerant" trend

Jul 3, 2019
It just might be that the American grocery store is the new mall food court.
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Lifetime

CFPB is taking a fresh look at bank overdraft fee rule

Jul 2, 2019
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is reviewing a 2009 rule that regulates how banks charge customers who overdraw their checking accounts.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

With trade tensions high, Trump and China's Xi prepare to meet

Jun 28, 2019
What's at stake for the U.S. economy?
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping leave a business leaders event in Beijing in 2017.
NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images

For the first time, Spanish-speaking voters can tune in to Telemundo for Democratic primary debates

Jun 27, 2019
With Telemundo co-moderating the debates, candidates will get a chance to directly address Latino voters across the nation.
Democratic presidential hopeful former US Representative for Texas' 16th congressional district Beto O'Rourke prepares for an interview in the Spin Room after participating in the first Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida, June 26, 2019.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
A McDonald's sign outside a restaurant in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Can YouTube address parents' concerns about children's videos?

Jun 19, 2019
Searching for kids' videos can turn up some not-very-kid-friendly content.
YouTube is reportedly looking into disabling its autoplay feature after coming under fire for exposing kids to some not-so-kid-friendly content.
Alain Jocardo/AFP/Getty Images

Why is more plastic showing up in processed foods?

Jun 18, 2019
In the past two weeks alone, polymers have shown up in branded pasta sauces and chicken products.
There's been an uptick in the plastic contaminating processed foods recently.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

I’ve Always Wondered: How did pepper get married to salt?

Jun 14, 2019
Americans import more black pepper than anyone else. Some folks are mystified by that.
Mario Tama/Getty Images