Life After News

Jason Ball
  • 4.6 (17)
  • CAREERS

What happens when the newsroom lights go out—and life begins again? Life After News explores the raw, funny, and deeply human stories of journalists who’ve walked away from the adrenaline of breaking news to reinvent themselves in surprising ways. Hosted by former TV news director Jason Ball, the podcast goes behind the headlines to talk with anchors, reporters, producers, and executives about identity, resilience, and what it takes to start over. From career pivots to personal awakenings, these conversations reveal how the skills learned under deadline pressure translate into entirely new chapters of life. It’s not just about leaving the news—it’s about discovering what comes after. Whether you’re in media, on the edge of a career change, or just fascinated by reinvention, Life After News is your invitation to listen in, learn, and maybe imagine your own next chapter.

  1. 5D AGO

    🎙️ He Ran WABC at Its Peak and Became My Mentor. Bart Feder’s Life After News

    Send a text “Sometimes good guys do finish first.” ✅ In this episode, I sit down with Bart Feder, former News Director at WABC, former SVP at CNN, and one of the most influential mentors I’ve ever had (and the mentor to dozens of news directors across Tribune). Bart is now living his true Life After News as a certified executive coach, helping leaders grow without burning out and without turning into the kind of boss nobody wants to work for. 🙌 This is a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, reinvention, stress, purpose, Cambodia, presidential history, and what actually matters when the adrenaline fades. ⭐ What we talk about 📰 The peak era of local news (including the time WABC pulled a million viewers a night at 6pm) 🚪 Why Bart had an exit strategy and why so many of us don’t 🎥 The FeedRoom: “We were this close to being YouTube” (and the lessons that still sting) 📺 CNN in 2008 and why Bart says CNN is at its best as a history network 🏙️ Local news vs national politics: “Local, local, local” 🤝 Tribune’s “loose confederation” culture:  trust, collaboration, and relationships that lasted 🎤 The legendary New Orleans karaoke night (and why those moments build real teams) 🧠 Emotional intelligence, executive presence, and the coaching tools Bart uses (360s + EQ assessments) 🔥 Stress tolerance, self-awareness, and why reacting too fast can change your career 🧘 Yoga, meditation, and the decision to build life on well-being first 🇰🇭 Bart and Karen’s 16-year commitment to education in Cambodia — and what hope looks like up close 🇺🇸 Presidential biographies, Teddy Roosevelt, and what Bart believes the presidency should be 💥 Quote-worthy moments ✅ “To give somebody an hour of your undivided attention is a gift.”  ✅ “I decided to build my life on my well-being, not on my career.”  ✅ “You can be a successful news director… and not be an a*****e.”  ✅ “We were this close to being YouTube.” 📣 Quick favor (this helps more than you think) If you liked this episode, please: ⭐ Rate & review Life After News (especially on Apple Podcasts) 📲 Share this episode with one friend who needs a nudge, a plan, or a way out 🔁 Post it to your socials and tag me so I can thank you Your reviews and shares are how this show grows.  🔥 Next week A TV news anchor turned lawyer — she got her JD after leaving the business, and she’s bringing real insight about what’s possible after the newsroom. ⚖️📺 #LifeAfterNews #ExecutiveCoaching #NewsDirectors #TVNews #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerTransition #BurnoutRecovery #LocalNews #MediaIndustry #Mentorship #SecondAct #WellBeing #Cambodia #PodcastRecommendations         Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    47 min

  2. FEB 16

    🎙️ Special Monday Episode: Remembering Sam Rubin 💛🎂

    Send a text We normally drop new episodes on Tuesdays but today is a special Monday. Today would’ve been Sam Rubin’s 66th birthday. Sam was the entertainment reporter for KTLA 5 Morning News for decades until his untimely death in 2024.  And it felt like the right day to pause, remember him, and talk about something we don’t always give enough space to in newsroom life: what it really means when a coworker dies. Because in TV news, your coworkers aren’t just coworkers. You spend long hours together, you rely on each other, you laugh, you grind, you argue, and sometimes you spend more time with them than your own family. When someone in that world is suddenly gone, the grief can hard to process. In this episode, I’m sharing a collection of moments from the last year of Life After News—people who knew Sam best describing his impact, his energy, his generosity, and his mischief. Plus, you’ll hear a throwback interview I did with Sam back in February 2019 during Oscar season, when he was absolutely in his element. 🎬✨ 💬 You’ll hear stories from: ⭐ Carlos Amezcua — Sam “auditioning” on-air and instantly becoming the guy ⭐ Michaela Pereira — Sam making her feel welcome… and recruiting her as a “carpool dummy” 🚗😂 ⭐ Sharon Tay — Sam helping her shine (and also… blowing up her dating life) 😳💥 ⭐ Dorothy Lucey — junkets, hot chocolate, hikes, and a classic Sam parenting panic story 🧸😅 This one’s funny, tender, and real because Sam was all of those things. ✅ If Sam Rubin mattered to you (or if you ever worked with someone who changed your life), this episode is for you. 📲 CTA: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating + a thoughtful review—it helps more than you know. And share it with one friend who loved Sam, loved KTLA, or understands newsroom life. 🙏💛 #LifeAfterNews #SamRubin #KTLA #KTLA5 #NewsroomLife #BroadcastNews #TVNews #EntertainmentNews #OscarSeason #RememberingSamRubin #MediaIndustry #JournalismLife #GriefAndWork #LosAngelesMedia #PodcastRecommendation 🎧✨     Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    22 min

  3. FEB 10

    🎙️ Storyteller Is the Job Title: Michaela Pereira is back and she brought a friend

    Send a text Last week was a tough one for journalism. The Washington Post laid off 300+ employees—about a third of its staff cutting deep, including foreign bureaus. 💔📰 So, this episode is about something we all need right now: two real-life “Life After News” success stories. ✨ Michaela Pereira returns with a big career update (and a big reminder that reinvention can happen at any age). Then we’re joined by her longtime friend Sumi Das—former TechTV / MSNBC / CNN journalist, now Senior Communications Manager at LinkedIn. And yes… Sumi drops a very useful nugget for anyone job hunting right now: one word that’s showing up more and more in job descriptions—and it should make journalists feel a whole lot more confident. 👀🧠 ⏱️ Episode Highlights ✅ Michaela’s major update: She’s now the Executive Producer of “Amazing America” 🇺🇸✨ 🍔🚗 “Let’s Eat” and “Amazing Itineraries” — stories from the highways and byways, small towns, and the heartland 💥 Real talk on leadership whiplash: the creative dream + budgets + HR + performance reviews = “three jobs in one” 🧠 Imposter syndrome, learning curves, and why taking the leap at 55 is its own kind of power ✅ Sumi Das on her pivot: From on-air + field reporting to tech communications 📺 TechTV → MSNBC → CNN → tech journalism → in-house storytelling 🧩 How “connecting the dots backward” actually makes career changes make sense 🤝 The cross-functional culture shock in big tech: stakeholders, approvals, and learning who really needs to be in the thread (“adding for visibility” 👋) ✅ The LinkedIn insight you’ll want to steal: 📈 Sumi shares that “storyteller” is appearing far more often in job descriptions—great news for journalists looking to pivot. ✍️🎯 Because storytelling isn’t a “soft skill.” It’s a marketable advantage. 😂 Bonus: Michaela and Sumi’s legendary YouTube moment  ⚔️ Search: “When Michaela Pereira Attacks” (lightsaber battle included) 🔥🪄 🎧 Listen + Take Action If you (or someone you love) just got laid off and you’re trying to figure out what’s next: reach out. Jason wants to talk to you. 💬 ⭐ If you enjoy the show, please give us GOOD RATINGS + GREAT REVIEWS + SHARE. 📲 Send this episode to a friend who needs a little hope (or a little shove). #LifeAfterNews #Journalism #MediaJobs #CareerPivot #Layoffs #LinkedInTips #Storytelling #Communications #DigitalMedia #TechCareers #Podcast #JournalistToComms #NewBeginnings #Reinvention #WomenInMedia #ExecutiveProducer #CareerTransition   Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    45 min

  4. FEB 3

    🎙️ 58 Years in the News: Hal Eisner on Accidents, Survival, and Letting Go

    Send a text Hal Eisner spent 58 years in TV and radio news, then retired (without going cold turkey) and did what a lot of us talk about doing… he wrote the book. 📚 In this episode, Hal shares the incredible, often wild, sometimes heartbreaking moments that shaped his career and his Life After News including the day he went from covering the story to being the story. ✨ What you’ll hear in this episode 🚗 The Hollywood DUI crash that seriously injured Hal and his cameraman—and why the public response helped carry him through recovery 📺 How Hal ended his LA TV career and why he recommends weaning off the job instead of quitting cold 📬 The literal postcard that launched it all: a Dallas radio contest that turned a marching band kid into a reporter 🎧 Why radio was his first love (and how writing for radio vs. TV changes everything) 🌎 The stories that defined an era: Northridge, O.J., Rodney King, Michael Jackson, Columbine, Las Vegas, and more 🤝 “Schmooze-ability,” trust, and the responsibility of telling people’s stories on what may be the worst day of their lives 🛡️ The “guard-all shield” mindset reporters develop—and why the job still takes a real toll 🏛️ Union leadership, newsroom politics, and how Hal navigated regime changes over decades 🏕️ Camp News: the hands-on training program Hal created to open doors for the next generation of journalists (in English and Spanish) 🔥 A jaw-dropping Woolsey Fire moment: finding Martin Sheen at Zuma Beach and helping him reassure his family on camera 📘 Featured: Hal’s book “An Accidental Career” — Hal Eisner Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble 🛒 (And yes, the cover art is hand-painted. 🎨) 🔥 Quick takeaway Hal makes the case that careers aren’t always built by a grand plan. Sometimes they’re built by accidents, instincts, and saying yes at the right moment. And after a lifetime of telling other people’s stories, he decided it was time to tell his own. 💡 🏕️ Learn more about Camp News 📲 Follow: @CampNewsTV (most platforms) ✅ If you enjoyed this episode… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rate the show 📝 Review it (it helps more than you think) 🔔 Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next And share this one with the newsroom friend who still can’t imagine what Monday looks like after the job. 😉 #LifeAfterNews #HalEisner #BroadcastJournalism #LocalNews #TVNews #RadioNews #Journalism #NewsroomLife #Media #CampNews #SAGAFTRA #Retirement #AuthorInterview #Podcast #PodcastShowNotes #JournalismEducation #Storytelling Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    37 min

  5. JAN 27

    🎙️ From Global Newsrooms to Local Impact with Julie Makinen

    Send a text Guest: Julie Makinen (journalist, editor, newsroom leader, and local news advocate) Julie Makinen has done the rare thing in journalism: she’s worked at the highest levels of national and international newsrooms and chosen to bring that experience home to local journalism in the Coachella Valley. In this episode, Julie walks through her unexpected path from Stanford human biology major (med school was the plan… until it wasn’t) to a career that took her from the Washington Post to the LA Times, the New York Times ecosystem, and reporting/editing roles across Hong Kong and Beijing before leading The Desert Sun newsroom in Palm Springs. Jason and Julie also dig into the big question: how local journalism survives now and what philanthropy, community support, and organizations like the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation can realistically do to keep reporting alive. CVJF’s mission includes celebrating journalists, funding more reporting, and connecting the public to the work.  In this episode How a Stanford biology major became a lifelong journalistThe internship moment that changed everything (Washington Post “big league” initiation)Why foreign correspondence is exhilarating and clarifyingWhat it’s like running a newsroom covering a massive desert region with limited staffThe uncomfortable truth about philanthropy supporting for-profit newsroomsWhy “going nonprofit” isn’t a magic fixThe business mistake that trained audiences to expect “free” newsWhy great journalism takes teams (not just solo newsletters and podcasts)The mission and future of the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation Mentioned in the conversation Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation (CVJF) CVJF’s mission: promote and support sustainable community journalism in the Coachella Valley. CVJF’s Hall of Fame honors media professionals and supports the future of local reporting. Hall of Fame keynote: Tonya Mosley Tonya Mosley co-hosts Fresh Air alongside Terry Gross.  Call to action If you care about local reporting—city halls, schools, public safety, water, development, the stories that shape daily life—support the people doing the work. Learn more, donate, and get on the CVJF mailing list: https://cvjf.org/Check the Hall of Fame page for the latest event details and tickets https://cvjf.org/cvjf-hall-of-fame/And wherever you live: find a local journalism support org, subscribe to a local outlet you trust, and show up. Local news doesn’t survive on applause.     Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    37 min

  6. JAN 20

    🎙️ Life After News (Special Episode): Midlife Awakening with Marianne Williamson 🌅✨

    Send a text This week’s episode is a little different. Instead of a traditional “journalism pivot” story, Dorothy Lucey and I sit down with Marianne Williamson, presidential candidate, author, spiritual teacher, and longtime activist, to talk about what happens after the title, the role, and the identity fall away. Her newest book, Midlife Awakening, reframes what we’ve long called a “midlife crisis” as something else entirely: not a breakdown… but an invitation. not an ending… but a shift from me to we. 🤝 We talk candidly about:  🔥 Why midlife can be a beginning, not a collapse 💡 Letting go of fear-based and survival-driven identities 🧠 How to interrupt the treadmill of anxiety with purpose and service ❤️ Why “love is active” and showing up matters now more than ever 🕊️ Forgiveness—especially after political disappointment and betrayal ⏳ That moment when you realize: “We were out… and now we’re in.” One of the most powerful moments comes when Marianne opens up about the aftermath of her presidential campaign—the resentment, grief, and anger she carried, and the deliberate work it took to forgive. Not to excuse what happened. Not to forget it. But to refuse becoming “a bitter, angry old woman” trapped by grievance. It’s an honest, unsparing conversation about choosing inner freedom over righteous fury—and why that choice is essential if we’re going to stay engaged, awake, and useful in this moment. If you’ve ever walked away from a career, questioned who you are without the role, or felt the pull to become something deeper—this episode will land. 🎧🌵 👉 WATCH the full interview playlist on YouTube (Life After News) 👉 LISTEN wherever you get your podcasts ✅ SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss what’s next 📲 SHARE with someone navigating their own “what now?” #LifeAfterNews #MarianneWilliamson #MidlifeAwakening #DorothyLucey #ChasingFaith #Forgiveness #SecondAct #Reinvention #Purpose #FaithInAction #Identity #MidlifeShift #Activism #Podcast #YouTubePodcast #WatchListenSubscribe Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    25 min

  7. JAN 6

    🎙️ The Makeup Room Advice That Changed Everything: Lisa Breckenridge’s Life After News

    Send a text Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of the year. Jason Ball sits down with longtime TV journalist and beloved morning-show personality Lisa Breckenridge to talk about what happens when the newsroom chapter ends, but the storyteller isn’t finished. Lisa opens up about her unexpected exit from Fox, the identity shift that comes with leaving television, and the advice Maria Shriver gave her in a makeup room that helped change everything. Lisa shares how the very thing many journalists once resented—social media—became her new platform, her new community, and a real business. From cold-DM’ing brands like she used to mail out tapes, to building a content mix rooted in her personal “pillars” (inform, educate, entertain, inspire), Lisa breaks down how she turned Instagram and TikTok into a money-making career with more freedom and a better quality of life. Along the way: a viral on-set scooter crash that landed on TMZ, a candid conversation about reinvention at midlife, and why she created “Happily Lisa” after years of covering difficult, sometimes haunting stories in news. In This Episode The shock of being “restructured” after 18 years at Fox and what it does to your sense of selfThe Maria Shriver advice that reframed social media as something you own, not the stationHow Lisa learned to monetize: media kits, engagement, and outreach (and why brands now come to her)What “Happily Lisa” is really about: choosing joy after seeing the darkest parts of humanityBuilding a sustainable creator business: long-term partnerships, UGC, and doing the work yourselfThe unglamorous side of entrepreneurship: invoices, tracking deliverables, and learning the business muscleThe Good Day LA era and why that time in television felt like “lightning in a bottle”The infamous live-TV scooter crash (and what happened after)What’s next: long-form writing, newsletters/Substack, and getting paid to travel (Africa + dream-train goals)Memorable Moments “This is your platform. It’s something that’s yours.” — the Maria Shriver turning pointLisa’s honest laugh about midlife, reinvention, and building a career on her own termsThe scooter crash story: live TV chaos, concussion, and an accidental viral momentThe shift from hard news to “sharing the happy” and why that choice matteredConnect with Lisa Instagram / TikTok: “Happily Lisa” (search @HappilyLisa)More from Jason / Life After News Follow the show for new episodes and behind-the-scenes updatesJason’s newsletter (Beehiiv) + Palm Springs-focused writingClosing Notes Jason closes the episode with an open invitation: Maria Shriver, if you’re listening, come on the show. And next week, Jason’s taking a short break to visit family in Arkansas—expect “greatest hits” from the last year of Life After News while he’s away. Subscribe / Review / Share If you enjoyed this episode, follow Life After News, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s navigating a career pivot of their own.   Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    36 min

  8. 12/30/2025

    🎙️ Every Election Year That Changed My Life

    Send a text In the final episode of the year, Jason Ball takes a moment to look back not just at 2025, but at a life shaped by big transitions, many of them coinciding with presidential election years. From high school to his first job in television to becoming a news director, to finally stepping away and building something new, this episode is about evolution, reinvention, and what comes after the headlines. Jason reflects on launching Life After News and Desert Dispatch, joining the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation, becoming managing editor of Oasis magazine, and what it’s like to build momentum in a second (or third) act. He also shares updates on several past guests and their own Life After News journeys from creative breakthroughs to retirement, travel, new babies, and new chapters. Then, Jason is joined by friend and former TV journalist Dorothy Lucey to talk about their newest project, Chasing Faith with Dorothy Lucey, a podcast born out of conversations about faith, purpose, community, and doing good over chasing ratings. Together, they discuss what faith means now, the guests who’ve inspired them most, and why making change where you are matters. This episode is a year-end check-in, a celebration of growth, and an honest look at what it takes to keep going even when reinvention is uncomfortable. In This Episode: How major life changes have aligned with election yearsLaunching Life After News and Desert DispatchStaying connected to journalism after leaving the newsroomWhy most podcasts don’t last and how to fight “pod fade”Updates on past guests and their Life After News chaptersThe origin and mission of Chasing Faith with Dorothy LuceyFaith, purpose, and choosing impact over metricsWhat might be coming nextLinks & Mentions: Subscribe to Desert Dispatch: https://desertdispatch.beehiiv.com/Follow Desert Dispatch: @DesertDispatchPSFollow Jason on Instagram: @MrJasonBallFollow the podcast: @LifeAfterNewsPodListener Note Jason wants to hear from you. What’s working? What isn’t? Who should be on the show next? The best way to reach him is via Instagram DMs. Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.

    16 min
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4.6
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

What happens when the newsroom lights go out—and life begins again? Life After News explores the raw, funny, and deeply human stories of journalists who’ve walked away from the adrenaline of breaking news to reinvent themselves in surprising ways. Hosted by former TV news director Jason Ball, the podcast goes behind the headlines to talk with anchors, reporters, producers, and executives about identity, resilience, and what it takes to start over. From career pivots to personal awakenings, these conversations reveal how the skills learned under deadline pressure translate into entirely new chapters of life. It’s not just about leaving the news—it’s about discovering what comes after. Whether you’re in media, on the edge of a career change, or just fascinated by reinvention, Life After News is your invitation to listen in, learn, and maybe imagine your own next chapter.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Ball
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Life After News
  • Show Website
    Life After News

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