Send us a text Headlines are loud; useful reporting is quiet and sharp. We sit with senior reporter Andy Medici (American City Business Journals) to unpack how he turns federal policy, workplace shifts and emerging tech into stories that help entrepreneurs, executives and local leaders make better decisions. From remote work battles and labor rulings to AI’s promises and pitfalls, Andy shares how he filters national news into practical insights across 45 markets—and why integrity is still the...
Send us a text A rainy Boston morning set the scene, but the real weather shift happens in the story: an English major boards her first commercial flight to Alaska at 19, discovers how far a duffel and a daring heart can go, and eventually returns to writing through the heat of a private kitchen. We trace Melanie’s winding path from private chef to freelance food-and-travel journalist, and how curiosity—not credentials—became the map legend for every bold turn. We dig into the messy art of p...
Send us a text Joe Sills never expected to become a travel writer. Growing up in a small town in West Tennessee surrounded by cotton fields and limited horizons, he couldn't imagine that the places he saw on Discovery Channel would one day become his workplace. After a winding path that included dropped college courses, pizza delivery and graphic design, a workplace shooting became the catalyst that pushed him back toward journalism and eventually into a career documenting some of the world's...
Send us a text Ever wondered what it takes to carve out a sustainable career in the ultra-competitive world of sports journalism? Yahoo Sports breaking news writer Ian Casselberry pulls back the curtain on his remarkable 15-year journey through some of sports media's biggest names. Casselberry's path defies conventional wisdom. Starting with a personal blog while at the University of Iowa, he gradually gained recognition from established publications like the Detroit Free Press before landin...
Send us a text The power of storytelling lies not just in whose stories are told, but in who gets to tell them. For Adria Walker, a seventh-generation Mississippian and race and equity journalist for The Guardian, this understanding forms the foundation of her approach to reporting on Indigenous communities across the Deep South. Walker's journey began with an unlikely childhood inspiration—the classic film "His Girl Friday" sparked her passion for journalism at just five years old. That ear...
Send us a text Step into the world of global storytelling with Mark Johanson, an American journalist who's crafted a remarkable career from his base in Santiago, Chile. With bylines in National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, The Guardian and CNN, Mark takes us beyond the typical travel narrative to share how location, language and cultural immersion shape authentic storytelling. Mark reveals the pivotal moment that transformed his career path—a quarter-life crisis that propelled him from New ...
Send us a text What happens when you tell your academic advisor you "just want to travel the world and get paid for it"? For Skye Sherman, it launched a successful career as a travel writer and journalist whose bylines appear in Travel + Leisure, Southern Living, US News and World Report and Palm Beach Illustrated. In this fascinating conversation, Skye reveals how she transformed from an undeclared college major to a respected voice in travel journalism. Rather than following a traditional ...
Send us a text Veteran journalist Pam LeBlanc takes us behind the scenes of her remarkable journey from newspaper columnist to freelance adventure writer in this captivating conversation about authentic outdoor storytelling and responsible tourism. After 32 years in newspapers, Pam made the leap to freelance writing in 2018, focusing exclusively on the muddy, mosquito-bitten adventures that fuel her passion for nature. "I only want to write about stuff that I have personally experienced myse...
Send us a text When Brian Major accidentally "fell into" travel journalism after covering home furnishings, he couldn't have imagined it would lead to a remarkable career spanning over two decades of Caribbean expertise. His journey from cruise editor to public relations director and back to journalism offers a fascinating window into how travel media has evolved. During our conversation, Brian offers rare insights from his current role as Managing Editor of Digital Guides and Publications a...
Send us a text Ever wondered what it's like to lock eyes with a wild gorilla or swim alongside marine iguanas that snort salt to regulate their bodies? Jessica Kelly takes us behind the scenes of her fascinating career as a wildlife travel journalist and photographer, revealing how an unexpected path led her from psychology studies to documenting life on all seven continents. Jessica's story begins not with journalism school, but with a simple food blog called "It's Pop, Not Soda" that unexp...
Send us a text What happens when a successful lawyer decides to follow her passion for storytelling and takes her family on a year-long journey around the world? Heather Greenwood Davis shares this remarkable story of transformation, revealing how visiting 29 countries across six continents with her husband and young sons forever changed their perspective on what matters in life. As the first Black woman to have travel columns in both of Canada's national newspapers, Heather brings a refresh...
Send us a text What happens when a veteran broadcast journalist with a passion for travel lands his dream job? Clint Henderson, Managing Editor at The Points Guy, takes us on a fascinating journey through his career transition from major news networks to the world of travel journalism. Having worked across ABC News, Fox, MSNBC and more, Clint brings a unique perspective to his role at The Points Guy. He shares how his broadcast writing skills—crafting short, punchy sentences for television—u...
Send us a text What transforms a reluctant financial reporter into an award-winning personal finance journalist with nearly a decade at one of America's top business networks? For Jessica Dickler, CNBC's veteran personal finance writer, it was the seismic economic shift of the Great Recession that changed everything. "When the economy skidded and became the Great Recession, unemployment spiked, people lost their homes, their jobs and then all of a sudden, everything was a money story," Dickl...
Send us a text Award-winning travel journalist Lisa Niver takes us behind the scenes of her remarkable career spanning all seven continents and more than 100 countries. With warmth and candor, she reveals how a former teacher and medical school student transformed personal hardship into a life of extraordinary adventure. Lisa's journey resembles a game of "Shoots and Ladders" – unpredictable, challenging and ultimately rewarding. She shares how working at Club Med and on cruise ships opened ...
Send us a text Award-winning travel writer Gwen Pratesi takes us on a remarkable journey of transformation from corporate professional to culinary explorer in this candid conversation about finding your calling through life's unexpected detours. When her husband was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer in 2009, Gwen found inspiration in a Mediterranean cruise that sparked a food blog—launching at the dawn of digital content creation alongside pioneers like Pioneer Woman and Steamy Kit...
Send us a text What's it like to spend over two decades telling the world's most captivating travel stories? Amy Alipio's journey from aspiring journalist to managing editor of National Geographic Traveler offers rare insight into the ever-evolving world of travel journalism. Amy never expected to become a travel editor or to interview Dolly Parton about conservation in the Smoky Mountains. Like many successful journalists, she discovered her path through exploration—studying broadcast journ...
Send us a text Join us in this episode as we talk with Sucheta Rawal, an award-winning South Asian travel writer who has journeyed through over 120 countries! Her compelling story begins in the world of investment banking, where she realized her passion for travel could lead to a fulfilling career in writing. She shares her surprising transition, emphasizing the balance of working hard to carve out a niche in the travel journalism world while still savoring the joy of exploration. In our eng...
Send us a text What happens when a life-altering event redirects your career path? Joanna Kalafatis, a remarkable travel writer and actress, shares her transformative journey from aspiring economist to cultural storyteller. Raised between Greece and the United States, Joanna's unique perspective reshapes how she engages with the world, offering listeners valuable insights into cultural immersion and the art of connecting with locals despite language barriers. Her stories of exploring hidden g...
Send us a text Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a major news network? Veteran booking producer Dan Holway, with over 22 years at MSNBC, pulls back the curtain on the fast-paced and unpredictable world of booking guests for live television. From his unexpected entry into journalism as a Seton Hall University student to his current role working with Anna Cabrera, Dan shares insights into the daily challenges of sourcing guests who can provide fresh perspectives on the day's news....
Send us a text Renowned journalist Neil Brown joins us to share the journey that shaped his career, from his Chicago roots to becoming the president of the Poynter Institute. Neil's childhood, surrounded by the buzz of political activism and the Watergate hearings, ignited a lifelong passion for journalism. His path took him from Skokie, Illinois, to the Miami Herald's Key West Bureau, offering a front-row seat to unique challenges, from drug dealing to cultural shifts, all the while being cl...