Abbie Fentress Swanson has a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from San José State University, with a focus on public library programs and archival preservation. She is an Adult Librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library Pico Union Branch. Previously, Abbie was a Messenger Clerk at LAPL's Central Library Science, Technology & Patents Department and an English conversation volunteer teacher at LAPL's Lincoln Heights Branch. While in library school, her graduate work also included managing SJSU’s video podcasts on YouTube.

Before becoming a librarian, Abbie was a journalist for 15 years. From 2021 to 2023, she was executive producer of CNN Audio’s development unit where she helped create "The Assignment with Audie Cornish," "The Prince Mixtape," "The James Brown Mystery," "Downside Up," "Very Scary People: The Amityville Murders," "Diversifying" and the sixth season of "Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta." This slate brought millions of listeners to CNN every month. “The Assignment” won a 2023 Ambie Award for Best Interview Podcast. “Very Scary People,” hosted by Donnie Wahlberg, was CNN’s first No. 1 hit on Apple Podcasts.

Prior to CNN, Abbie was EP of audio and podcasts at the Los Angeles Times. There she helped develop, edit and launch "Chasing Cosby," "Man in the Window," "Asian Enough," "The Times," "The Trials of Frank Carson," "Coronavirus in California," "The Battle of 187" and "Detective Trapp." Before working at the LA Times, Abbie developed and edited the first season of "I, Survivor" for Wondery, was supervising producer of KCRW’s "Good Food” with Evan Kleiman, and covered the farm beat for KBIA and Harvest Public Media in Missouri. Abbie started her journalism career in New York at WNYC, booking guests for “The Takeaway,” writing newscast copy for WQXR, and editing WNYC's culture coverage.

Abbie was a 2015 Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan. She’s won several Edward R. Murrow awards for stories that have aired on the NPR shows “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered” and “Here & Now.” Abbie has also written essays for the Washington Post Magazine, Modern Farmer, The Salt and the Virginia Quarterly Review. Her reporting on food has been nominated for James Beard and International Association of Culinary Professionals awards. She received her Master’s in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley and her Bachelor’s degree in Italian Studies from the College of William & Mary.

Abbie lives with her partner and wild black dog Kona in Los Angeles.