Life After News

Jason Ball
  • 4.6 (18)
  • 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

    🎙️ From the Fall of the Soviet Union to “Superpower California,” Markos Kounalakis has seen it all

    Send a text What does the collapse of the Soviet Union teach us about the world today? And why might California be one of the most powerful places on Earth even without an army? In this episode of Life After News, Jason sits down with Markos Kounalakis, journalist, scholar, Hoover Institution fellow, and author of several books including Freedom Isn’t Free: The Price of World Order. Kounalakis reported on Soviet forces in Afghanistan and was in Moscow during the final days of the Soviet Union. Today he studies geopolitics, media power, and the surprising global influence of California. Their conversation spans decades of global history and the urgent challenges facing journalism today. 🌍 In This Episode 🧱 Reporting history as it happened Markos recalls covering the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union from Moscow moments that seemed to unfold almost overnight. ✈️ Inside Soviet-era Afghanistan What it was like flying into Kabul with the Soviet military while planes corkscrewed to avoid missiles. ⚡ Energy and geopolitics Why energy insecurity continues to drive global conflicts from World War II to today. 🌎 Russia, Ukraine, and shifting global power How the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia’s ability to influence countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, and Iran. 📉 The dangerous decline of foreign correspondents Why fewer reporters overseas could weaken national security and limit the information available to policymakers. 📡 Media as a geopolitical weapon How Russia and China are expanding global media operations while Western newsrooms shrink. 🏛️ “Superpower California” Why the state’s economy, culture, technology, agriculture, and venture capital make it comparable to a nation even without traditional tools of power like an army. 🗳️ Why freedom depends on an informed public Markos explains why democracy requires active citizenship and a strong press. 🎧 Why This Conversation Matters Freedom isn’t automatic. It requires engaged citizens, strong institutions, and a press that can explain the world clearly. From Moscow to Silicon Valley, this episode explores how journalism, geopolitics, and democracy intersect and why understanding the world has never mattered more. 🔗 Learn More Explore Markos Kounalakis’s work: 🌐 markoskounalakis.com ⭐ Enjoy the show? If you liked this episode of Life After News: ✅ Follow the podcast ⭐ Leave us a 5-star rating and review 📲 Share this episode with a friend Your support helps more people discover the show and keeps these conversations going. #LifeAfterNews #Journalism #ForeignCorrespondent #Geopolitics #Media #Democracy #California #Podcast #PressFreedom 🎙️   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.

    31 min

  2. MAR 10

    🎙️ Paul Magers on Sobriety, Newsroom Successes, and a Night with Paul McCartney

    Send a text What happens after the anchor desk? For longtime Los Angeles and Minneapolis news anchor Paul Magers, life after news has been meaningful, reflective, and surprisingly joyful. Paul joins Jason for a candid conversation about leaving television news in 2017, getting sober, and finding purpose in helping others. Along the way, the two share stories from their newsroom days, what really makes great TV news, and what it’s like to trade big-city broadcasts for the small-town charm of Palm Springs. They also revisit a surreal moment at the Beverly Hills Hotel… when Paul McCartney walked up and started singing “Dear Prudence.” Yes, really. In this episode:  📺 What Paul really misses about the newsroom  🧠 The moment he realized he needed help with alcoholism  🙏 How a 12-step program changed his life  🎥 The tornado coverage that transformed a TV station  👔 The legendary purple suit  🎸 Singing with a Beatle at the Beverly Hills Hotel  🌴 Why Palm Springs feels like a modern-day small town Paul also shares a powerful story about kindness, connection, and a simple wallet that became one of the most meaningful gifts he’s ever received. It’s an honest, funny, and thoughtful look at life after the newsroom lights go out. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. ⭐ If you enjoy Life After News, please leave us a rating and review — it really helps others discover the show. 📣 Share this episode with a friend who loves news, journalism, or a great behind-the-scenes story. #LifeAfterNews #PaulMagers #BroadcastJournalism #TVNews #Journalism #PalmSprings #SobrietyJourney #Podcast #MediaLife #NewsroomStories 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

  3. MAR 3

    🎙️ From Anchor to Attorney: Hema Mullur’s Reinvention Story

    Send a text Jason joins this week from Arkansas, where he’s helping his parents through health challenges and he opens the episode with a blunt reality check about the state of the news business. Layoffs are accelerating. Nexstar. The Washington Post. CBS. If you think it won’t happen to you, think again. The canary in the coal mine is gone. Jason challenges everyone still in the industry: Make a plan. Whether it’s building a niche, transitioning into communications, becoming an entrepreneur, retiring early, or pivoting entirely, you need to prepare for your life after news. He points to past guests who did just that: Bart Feder, who prepared for yearsAundrea Cline-Thomas, who built a three-year transition planFernando Hurtado, who found his niche covering U.S. LatinosJosh Rubinstein and Sumi Das, who moved into communicationsLaura McLaughlin, Lisa Breckenridge, and Liberty Chan, who built brands as influencersYour skills are transferable. But you have to use them. Then, Jason sits down with former Austin anchor Hema Mullur, whose path took an unexpected turn after she was laid off. Hema Mullur: From Breaking News to Employment Law Hema traces her journalism calling back to the 2000 presidential election, the chaos of hanging chads and late-night coverage that showed her the power of real-time storytelling. She built a 17-year career: Started in Midland, Texas, earning $21,000 and covering Friday Night LightsWorked in DenverReturned home to Austin, where she anchored for nine yearsThen life shifted. After returning from maternity leave, her second day back coinciding with the Uvalde massacre, her perspective changed. The demands of the newsroom, the emotional toll, and growing misalignment with station leadership led to her departure. But here’s the twist:  she had already started law school. What began as intellectual curiosity during the pandemic, a desire to “exercise her brain,” became her second career. Today, Hema is an employment attorney advocating for workers, including journalists navigating contracts, layoffs, and toxic workplace environments. Key Takeaways from Hema’s Story Journalists Are Built for Law Hema argues that lawyers are storytellers, or they should be.  Journalists already know how to: Translate complex information into plain languageBuild narrative structureLead with a compelling hookAdvocate through factsThose skills translate directly into legal writing and courtroom advocacy. You Don’t Have to Practice Law to Work in Legal Spaces Law firms need: StorytellersPR professionalsMedia strategistsCommunications expertsA law degree isn’t the only path into the legal world. The Bigger Message Many journalists don’t leave because they’re bad at the job.  They leave because the industry pushes them out. But the skills don’t disappear. Hema’s journey is proof that reinvention is possible even after 17 years in one career, even with a newborn, even when the decision to leave isn’t yours. What’s Next Jason returns to California next week with a conversation featuring former KCBS and KARE anchor Paul Magers. Until then: Start your plan.  Figure out your niche.  Know your worth.  Build your life after news.       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.

    32 min

  4. FEB 24

    🎙️ 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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4.6
out of 5
18 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
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Life After News
  • Show Website
    Life After News

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