The Women On Top

Morgan Parrish: 'Good Day Orlando' Reporter Discusses What It Takes to Succeed in the World of Media

• Valerie Lynn

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What does it take to wake up at 3 AM every morning, craft compelling stories, and maintain a positive outlook despite the challenges of the news industry? Join us on the Women on Top podcast as we welcome the inspiring Morgan Parrish, a seasoned news reporter from Good Day Orlando. Morgan shares her incredible journey into journalism, starting from her childhood passion for storytelling to her high school morning announcements and formative internships in New York. Discover how she balances the demands of writing and reporting with her dedication to uplifting community profiles and positive stories.

Morgan takes us behind the scenes of a morning show reporter’s life, where dedication and discipline are paramount. Learn about the sacrifices and rewards of this demanding career path, including the ultimate dream of anchoring a top morning show in a major city. Morgan opens up about her experiences with balancing hard news and fun segments, emphasizing the importance of maintaining enthusiasm and resilience in the face of difficult stories.

The conversation also delves into Morgan's experiences as a woman of color navigating various newsrooms. From feeling isolated in Fargo to finding a supportive community in Orlando, Morgan discusses the importance of diversity, inclusion, and the role of organizations like the National Association of Black Journalists. She shares practical tips for fostering connections and engaging in meaningful conversations, highlighting the power of curiosity and personal storytelling. Celebrate the joy and fulfillment Morgan finds in her work, and the significant impact she has in empowering women and spreading positivity through media.

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Speaker 1:

Hello, gorgeous, and welcome to the Women on Top podcast. I'm your host, valerie Lynn, and with over 15 years of business experience, I became truly passionate about finding ways to support and hear from way more women, and what we know to be true is that women thrive when they are in their favorite position on top on top in business, in relationships, in personal growth and on top in being real and authentic to who the hell they are. So I invite you to sit back and enjoy the Women on Top podcast. Oh, my goodness, I am so just happy to be sitting here with this woman who is sitting in front of me.

Speaker 1:

So, first off, welcome back to the show, everybody. I'm really excited to be here with you for another episode of the women on top, and I am sitting down with Morgan Parrish today, who is a news reporter on good day Orlando in Florida, which is amazing. She has over eight years of experience as a news reporter and is really passionate about working with kids as well, really passionate about the youth has been doing news stories circled around kids and school. So we're going to dive into everything today. But first off, welcome, morgan, to the show.

Speaker 2:

Thank you for having me. I'm literally so excited to be here, Love everything that you're doing and I was like we have to connect.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I love that. You know, this is one of the reasons I really love the podcasting world is just because of the connections and I feel like there's like a different energy just being able to sit down with you and like share stories in such a different way. So I'm so glad that you're here and you get to share stories in a whole different world when it comes to your career.

Speaker 1:

So I want to just like start there and focus in on how did you come into this world of being a news reporter? Is it something that you can like look back on your childhood and kind of connect some dots, or what's that journey been like for you?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a hundred percent. You know, I feel like I'm one of the people that, like I've always known I've wanted to do this since I was a kid, like because being a news reporter kind of boils down to being a storyteller, right, and so I've always loved like reading classes, like writing classes, and as a kid, I literally used to have my mom buy like blank books and I would just write stories in them like all day like illustrate them, write them. Like my family, we grew up watching the news like while eating dinner. Um, I like watched good morning America as a kid. So, like it's like been instilled in my brain, I'm like, okay, I have to do this, I have to become a, a writer, I have to be on the news and yeah, like in high school, I did like the morning announcements.

Speaker 2:

I was that kid.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing, yeah it was just so fun.

Speaker 2:

I did it in college. I went to Rutgers and, um, we had a tv station there, rutv, and I worked there and like hosted the show called Inside Rutgers. It it was really fun. Yeah, did like several internships in New York and I think doing my internships like solidified it for me, like just being in New York Right and like the top news market and being in the Rockefeller Center and seeing how they operate and people walk in and out of that building. It was just like a feeling that I was like okay, I have to do this and just like ran with it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, this is like where you feel like you were meant to be. Um, how much you know, cause, I think, of news reporting. I don't know what the career field is like because I've never really been in that world. So how much of it involves writing, like you mentioned, you always were writing stories, so how much of it is that?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a lot. So I write stories every day for work. So basically I'll wake up and I'll get assigned the story like a topic and I'll have to write it for like my live report. So you know, I'm writing like an intro, like that's me on camera, and then like the body of it, and then like the outro, me back on camera, and then I'll also write packages like full, longer length stories that will like air throughout the day. Um, so I try to pick the topic if I can. You know I really like to do like profile pieces on, like you know, just people thriving, the community, like doing well, and so I'm just literally sharing their story and putting it into my own words and writing it and then like handing it out on a silver platter. So I love writing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I never really realized how much writing would be involved in it, but I think even you know, doing a different interview with somebody that we know you know she mentioned that a lot of reporters end up like writing, and you know it's, there's a big piece around of course, journalism, and you have to kind of go and create your own content. So what's been something that's been challenging about that? You know, like, looking back, I feel like we have a lot of moments that kind of shape us. So what have been some of the times that you've kind of run into I don't know just like some of your moments of of challenge, and how did you get through those?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, probably, um, just some of the hard stories that I have to cover, right, you know, part of the job. Why I love it is I get to meet new people every day. I get to do fun stories. You know I'm doing anything you know covering today I was like on a new restaurant opening. Or like you know, I'm at Disney covering like the 5k Disney run or whatever, and like that's super fun. But then sometimes you do get assigned stories that are like a bit challenging, right, like crazy court cases, homicides, murder, like things that are very deep and dark, and sometimes I'm like, oh, this is not what I want to focus on today, but when you're given an assignment, you have to do it and you still have to do it well and you can't let your emotions and feelings get involved, right, and like you still have to like run with it.

Speaker 2:

So, that's always a challenge. Or I would say also, you know, writing and like making sure that I'm still staying like unbiased Right, like something maybe I don't necessarily agree with, but I can't incorporate that, you know, into my story. I have to be fair on both sides. That's probably one of the like biggest challenges.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that must be actually really hard emotionally to walk away at the end of the day with all of that going on inside of you. So how do you, how do you manage that? How do you make sure that you balance your energy so that then you can come back tomorrow with your positive self and your smile? Maybe you're not always feeling that way.

Speaker 2:

Honestly, that has to do with after work, right. So like I'm somebody when I'm at work I'm super focused. Like you know, I'm into the story, I'm into getting my stuff done on time, I'm very efficient. But when I come home, like the work phone it's down. I'm not looking at my work phone, I'm honestly turning on Disney Plus. I'm not going to lie. That's like my feel good, like moment for the afternoon. I'm like, okay, no more like death and destruction. Like let me just turn on something light.

Speaker 2:

Like I'm really really big on self-care and there's a lot of reporters that are actually like looking up stories like all day.

Speaker 2:

They're like you know, they're on their work phone, they're sending emails and like I respect it so much.

Speaker 2:

But like I'm also really big on mental health and like I don't like to carry like the heaviness from the workday home with me. I know how much that can affect people and I'm just like I have to come in super positive because I'm on a morning show, so I can't come into work at 4am in a bad mood, you know, because people are turning on the news when they're getting ready for work, right, and so they're starting their day with us. So like if I have some negative energy like projecting through the TV screen. Like I don't want that to affect our viewers, who are like just starting their day. I've always said this from the start like I want to be the person that, like you're getting ready for work, I'm bringing you like the good vibes and like the positivity you know so you start your day feeling good. Right, it's just like a matter of you know knowing when to detach and to like separate, like work from home and like just don't let it hinder your day.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I feel like those boundaries that you've put into place are really crucial just to being able to manage all of that, because I can, I can tell that if you're you know, if you're an empath which I feel like you kind of are probably it's easy to take on a lot of those emotions and the stories and everything.

Speaker 1:

I just, yeah, I feel like there's so much more there than probably what meets the eye for us, because, of course, we see you being so cheerful and we, you know, probably make the assumption that, like you just wake up like that every day when that might not really be the reality.

Speaker 1:

And so I'm kind of curious, like also, if you can walk us through and this is partially my own selfish, selfish curiosity but like what's a day in the life of a reporter? Like so, are you getting up at super crazy hours, or like yeah, just kind of walk us through a day in the life.

Speaker 2:

Okay, so, um, I'm on the morning show, so I wake up at 3. Okay, so I'm on the morning show, so I wake up at 3am. Ooh, yeah, I know, it's very like. Sometimes, honestly, like on a Friday, people go out on my apartment building on like a Thursday night. They're coming home and I'm like leaving my apartment, I'm like hey guys like oh my gosh yeah.

Speaker 2:

So I wake up at three. I have to be into work at 3 30. Luckily I live so close to I live like five minutes from work, so that's perfect. I kind of just like roll out of bed, check my email and like go to work and I do my makeup and all that there. Um, I see what my story is. I'll meet up with my photographer and then we drive to the location, like wherever it is, and typically I'm writing my story in the car. Like I bring my laptop. Um, unless it's breaking news, which sometimes that happens, and then I really don't have much to go off of it. Hey, go to this area in Orlando, like we heard shooting, two people transported. So we're just going out there and then I'm just trying to like talk, to please connect the dots, and then a story like that I'm kind of just like describing the scene, what I'm seeing, because I don't have much information to like write a story. You know, yeah, so I'm doing that. I usually have live shots. Like throughout the morning, from 5 to 11 am, I'm writing my story, I'm sending it to producers. If I get an update, I'm sending an updated script, sending it to them, typically on our morning show.

Speaker 2:

I would say I do a hard story from like 5 to 8 am and then 9 to 11, that's kind of when I switch gears and I'll get the fun things. And you know, usually that's a story that I've pitched or like set up and that will be the SeaWorld event or like I'm at Universal or I think tomorrow is like I don't know. Know it might be like national pollinators day or something, so I'm going to be with like a bunch of bees and butterflies, you know. So yeah, yeah. So it's a nice little balance. It's like hard news, you know, serious. But then I can kind of let loose later in the morning, have some fun, and then usually I will put together a story for the day side team so they can have just some extra content, and it's usually either my second story or the big story from the morning is big enough. I'll like put together a story for them. And then I'm usually done by like 1130 noon and I have my whole day, which is kind of nice.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, probably you're going to bed super early, I feel like, because my bedtime is 8 PM.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

It would have to be right, um, like with all of that, that you've had to kind of sacrifice certain things or give up certain things that are. I mean, it feels like that would be hard lifestyle to keep up. So what's that?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, oh my gosh, sacrifice is like the name of the game with this. I cannot even stress the amount of sacrifice I always look at it Sacrifice now, rewards later. You know going out with my friends and like I would have to go to bed for work, or like you know, missing holidays with my family because I my schedule wouldn't work out, where I would have to be back and wake up at 3am. You know I can't come home for Christmas because I have to work the day after Christmas. You know little things like that. Or even just you know know events going on weeknights and I'm like, oh, I really can't stay for this because I mean I could but I don't want to look tired on air in the morning and so maybe I'm not staying for the full event. You know just little things. But like I also know that I just have to do what I have to do to get to where I want to be and I also love being on a morning show.

Speaker 2:

I've done the other shifts, I've done like the day side, like the nine, the five, and like I've done night side and I'm like mornings is my jam. I can get through it, you know, but it is. It is a lot of sacrifice and it's a lot of discipline. Right, like I have to force myself to go to sleep at eight, Like I don't want to, I want to watch the bachelorette that comes on at nine. I want to watch the NBA finals that I've missed every single game, this you know series because they come on so late. So you know. But I think it's all worth it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a. That's a lot of discipline and a lot of sacrifice, like you said. And then you were saying, you know, with that comes great reward. So what is the reward for you?

Speaker 2:

I think just like continuing to climb the ladder and get, you know, a super top morning show and like a bigger city, that's kind of the goal. So I've been like steadily climbing the ladder. This is my fourth city in eight years and so I think I have like maybe like one or two more cities left in me. You know, like I can't keep moving every couple years, but again, like it's all paid off because I keep climbing markets and I keep getting on bigger morning shows. And so I'm like if I keep going at this pace, it's just it's gonna make sense. And then hopefully ultimately I won't be waking up at three, but like if I keep going at this pace, it's just it's going to make sense. And then hopefully, ultimately I won't be waking up at three but like maybe I could wake up at like five, you know, and like anchor, like a noon show or like an eight, you know, something like that would be super ideal. So I feel like I'm getting a little bit closer.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's amazing. I love kind of hearing the journey of you being just so steadfast and pursuing this thing. That sets your heart on fire. So what is it? What is it for you Like? I mean more than more than it being fun. What is the deeper meaning of this work? What does it allow you to do that? You sharing your voice, you being seen on the news, like what is your mission? What is Morgan's mission?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think I really just like to share other people's stories. Right, you know people who are going through things in the community and maybe they don't have, you know, the platform to share their story. Or my biggest thing I love telling stories of, like people going through tragedy and end up like with triumph, right, like, because we all go through things, and like I'm just such a people person. Like the best part of it is just meeting people every single day. Like I'm meeting a new person every day and like nine times out of 10, I'm connecting with them. I'm learning something new every day.

Speaker 2:

Like some people I've interviewed and I've stayed friends with, or I'm like I've crossed paths with you for a reason, right, or like somebody has become like a mentor, like maybe that day they offered me some positivity that I needed, you know, to meet them and just like being able to share their story and knowing, like how much it means to them yeah, makes me feel so good. Like that's all I want to do. I just want to be a positive impact in, like everybody's life.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I love that. Who have you pulled inspiration from? You know who pulls you forward? Who have you continually looked up to, especially maybe on days where you just want to throw in the towel and be like I am done. I'm not doing this whole three in the morning, bs.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, no for sure. Robin Roberts is like my idol. Good morning America. She started in sports, she started in a small market. She worked her way to the top. You know, just like being a woman of color on like the top morning show in America is just so inspiring. And like I watch her do her interviews or one-on-one interviews and like some of them are obviously difficult conversations, and like just seeing the way that she holds herself with like such poise and doesn't let her emotions get the best of it and she asks the hard hitting questions and she gets people. I think Robin Roberts gets people to really open up to her and that's always my goal. I just want people to feel comfortable with me where they can open up to me and they can tell their story and then we can share it together in a way that's kind of like beautiful. You know, I just I love her.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, she, she is wonderful and I love that you mentioned her. I'm curious to you know you mentioned that she's a woman of color on the news, like in that limelight has. How has that been for you? What's that experience been like being?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's been a lot like, um, I've been in four different newsrooms, right, and I've been in newsrooms that have been like super diverse and it's like, oh, I feel like so comfortable, but then, like starting out, I think, in my first. So my first station was in Fargo, north Dakota, actually.

Speaker 1:

Yes, oh my gosh. Yeah, that is a totally different weather pattern than where you are now.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I know I went from one extreme to the other, which is so funny, but when I worked there I was the only black person in the newsroom and was a small newsroom, but still, you know, like, and so for me, like, sometimes that definitely felt a little bit uncomfortable and like you know, just like kind of like walking on eggshells, like don't want to say the wrong thing, or like sometimes I'm like, do I feel like I'm being looked at differently? Or like I remember feeling like my boss treated me differently. It was so crazy. I was actually supposed to stay out there for two years. I only stayed for one because I just didn't feel comfortable in the newsroom and like I felt like my news director treated me a little bit differently.

Speaker 2:

Also, again, like being a storyteller and like being a newsroom, we have to tell all different types of stories, right. So, like I think newsrooms need to be a melting pot of backgrounds, because we need to get inspiration from different backgrounds and cultures and have different story ideas and you know, when it's not diverse, it's very hard to feel like you are not just telling the same type of story. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so it's gotten better.

Speaker 2:

I do like one period of time that like really sticks out to me. Twenty, twenty Black Lives Matter movement, that was a lot, because my newsroom I was working in Pennsylvania Newsroom was not diverse at all and I remember sometimes I would like be sent out to cover like the protests. That was the moment where I was like I cannot be biased, right. That was a moment where I was like I cannot be biased, right, like I still have to be a reporter but I'm resonating with what's going on so hard and so for me like I always think about that Like that was a moment where I was like wow, like this is a bit tough.

Speaker 2:

I remember like watching like CNN and like seeing, like you know, like really some of the crazy riots in like the bigger cities, right, like seeing, like you know, like really some of the crazy riots and like the bigger cities, right, like Philly, atlanta and like LA, and just it was just, it was a lot to take on like personally and I felt like I didn't have like any co workers that I could really like talk to, like oh my gosh, this is going on because it's like I don't know how they're feeling.

Speaker 2:

Like tensions were high, you know, but got through it and I moved to Cincinnati and I had a super diverse newsroom, so great and like it's super diverse here at my station in Orlando, and so you know it's, it's worked out, but it's definitely been a little bit of a journey to like get to this point and like kind of makes me sad or just like feel some kind of way when I hear you talk about that, because, wow, I mean and I of course, like you know, I don't experience the same level of things that go on, especially, you know, I'm not the news and I'm not a woman of color- for sure.

Speaker 1:

So there's a whole different gamut of things that I feel like you've dealt with and not even like, um, what am I trying to say? It's like something you can feel without them even having to say it directly.

Speaker 2:

You just get this feeling 100%.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I feel like it's like palpable. Anytime you're there, you can just sense that kind of energy.

Speaker 2:

I will say so. I'm a part of the National Association of Black Journalists and that has become like we're like a family, right. So like actually, when all of that was going on, like we would kind of like all like talk, like together and like different groups, like we would hop on like group FaceTimes and like I remember one girl was hosting like a prayer circle and we would like all be in that and we would just like talk about our feelings and it was just like so nice and so like. Now I'm just like I have my NABJ family. I love them. I see them every summer because we have a convention this summer. It's in Chicago, and so it's like our one time a year to like really, you know, just like get together, talk about what's been going on, you know in our newsrooms and like how we're feeling and it's like a safe space. Honestly, it's made like such a difference.

Speaker 1:

That's, that's wonderful. I was going to say, you know, there's gotta be things that you can lean on when you're experiencing something like that. Um, and just having that kind of community, having people that resonate and understand it, and also gosh, it just makes me feel like we have so much more work to do in America, and I mean we just know that but it's like just hearing you now is like such a powerful reminder of that too. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

It's like we've come a long way, but like let's keep moving forward. Right, like I, I, I just like crazy to me that it's 2024, because I just always think of 2020. I mean, there's just so much going on, right pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement and.

Speaker 2:

I feel like during the Black Lives Matter movement, like there was so much momentum and like we were seeing change, but then I feel like we became stagnant again, right, and it's like I don't want another tragedy to happen where that momentum picks up, like I don't think it needs to be some like horrific incident for everybody to like jump back on board, right, and so I'm like let's just like keep it going without anything crazy happening.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

That's what I'm seeing.

Speaker 1:

What are some things that we can do? You know especially as, as women, like listening in where we can help lock arms with different groups, different backgrounds, different cultures and races. What are? Some things in your mind that we can do to really continue that momentum and not lose sight of.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think, just like you know, maybe checking in on people more right, like I think that's a big thing, like I remember I had a lot of people checking in on me during that time, like people from like high school and like friends from like my neighborhood, and it was like actually really great to connect and I felt so good. But then it's like, oh, now I actually haven't heard from them in like a couple years. You know what I'm saying. So I think, just like checking in and, like you know, just supporting like local you know businesses and you know local Black-owned businesses, or maybe highlighting them.

Speaker 2:

You know I try to highlight, you know, black-owned businesses or Black entrepreneurs whenever I can, just to make sure I'm still being like, hey, we're still community, we're still here for you, my news station, my bosses, like we care about what you're doing, we still want to get your story out right, like we're not going to wait until something happens. Or it doesn't just have to be like Black History Month right, it can be every month. You know I'm working on several stories right now, like the first black female firefighter out here. Like I'm working on that I'm working on like the first black woman who is like integrated in the school system out here and like my County, you know, just like cool pieces like that, that like people can see and like become inspired again and like you know, it's just so compelling.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I like, um what you said about kind of highlighting some of these, um like businesses or stories or just different things that we can do on a regular basis and this is really like weird relate. But it kind of reminds me of how, like, if you're in a romantic relationship, you don't want your guy or gal or whoever to like just bring you flowers on Valentine's day. You want them to like.

Speaker 1:

I mean that's like a, probably. I don't know where that came into my mind, but I was like I feel like this is like the same, a similar theme of like we should like show the love just like we would want shown to us in many different scenarios.

Speaker 2:

Of course it's very different, but you get probably no, I think that's like the perfect, like analogy, like truly, that's like it's so real and I'm glad that happened to you.

Speaker 1:

But I really liked the message too of like let's not wait for a tragedy to happen Um and I think this is a good reminder for me too for a tragedy to happen. And I think this is a good reminder for me too, honestly, because sometimes I forget and I feel like ashamed a little bit of that, but I should bring it more to the front of my mind to really like support some of these businesses or have certain conversations and just really be maybe more aware and show more curiosity.

Speaker 1:

I think, too, I love that. I mean any like. That's why I was asking you for tips too, because maybe it's even things I haven't thought of, you know about yet. But I like the idea of also like seeking out certain stories too.

Speaker 2:

I think that's amazing Like there's so many stories that can be told. You know, it's like just do a little digging. Like I talk to people in the hair salon and I get stories, or like you know, getting my nails done, and like I'm here, I'm overhearing conversations, I'm like, oh, this lady sounds interesting. You know like, just like little things like that, and I just like you can tell anybody's story.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, how do you? That was going to be. My next question is like, how do you find these stories? And it sounds like you just go out into the community but truly like, what are some other tips for, um, I don't know conversation starters or how you connect, because I think it's a rare gift or trait or skill and I really want to hear this from you, just because I don't think everyone's like so good at just approaching people or saying hey, I want to hear more about that, you know most people, I feel like stick to themselves and connection is kind of the life force, energy that we're missing right now in the world.

Speaker 1:

So what's your secret sauce?

Speaker 2:

Honestly, I think I'm just like a curious person and mix that in with being an extrovert and a people person. Like I have no shame, like I'm genuinely just like always curious about things. I always want to know more. I always want to know how can I get involved, like how can I help? I'll give you a prime example.

Speaker 2:

I found this new gym the other day and I found it like on social media, like an ad like popped up on my Instagram. I was like I'm going to go try it out. And I went and after the class, I'm just talking to my trainer, just like having a normal conversation, right. I'm like oh, I see your wife owns the hair salon next door. Tell me about that. Right. And we ended up talking for like an hour, ended up getting like five story ideas. I now want to do a profile piece on him. Now he wants to collab with me on some things and it's just like just talking to people and like just being genuine. I think that just goes such a long way, right. Like I don't know, I love talking and I love listening. At the same time, I like just having conversations and connecting with people and so, if I can ask questions, and I think that's cool, like I'm just going to sit and hear your story for like an hour. I have nothing to do, right, because I'm done work at 12.

Speaker 1:

gets well. Yeah, I feel like you kind of captured, um, you know, just asking good questions, and that seems like a piece that you've definitely got a natural knack for, but I think people also. It's like a skill that has to be honed a little bit too.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think so for sure.

Speaker 2:

I mean, I think it's also like confidence you know, I could think, like when you have a lot of confidence and you don't mind going up to somebody, like I can, like I like honestly going out and doing things by myself, like I will go to a restaurant by myself, like bring a book, I'll sit by my pool by myself, like I'll go out and like have a glass of wine by myself and I don't know to have that confidence and be there, like people actually sometimes will want to come up to you and, like you know, talk to you and, you know, maybe form a friendship.

Speaker 1:

That's great. And you know, something you pointed out that I think is a really critical piece is that when you have more confidence and self-assuredness, you attract people differently. How did you build that? How do you? You know again, like, how have you worked to make sure you're at that place where you feel comfortable going out by yourself?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, let me tell you I'm still working on it. Like there's definitely days where I feel super confident and then there's some days where, like I'm like, ooh, I don't know about that. Like today, today at work, I did a story and it did not go how planned. Like you know, did not go as planned my live shot. And I just remember feeling like oh gosh, like did this look crazy? Like you know, I like called my producer, like my executive producer, like right away, like after the show, and I was like I feel like that was chaotic and blah blah. She was like she's like no, she was. It definitely looked much better on TV, like than how you felt.

Speaker 2:

But like I think it's a lot of like self pep talk, right. Like every time I start to feel like a little bit insecure about something, I just like have to hype myself back up and I also have to remember that, like not every live shot is going to be good. Right, like everybody fumbles, everybody makes mistakes. Robin robert makes mistakes sometimes you know it's rare, but like it happens. Um.

Speaker 2:

So like just like a lot of self-pep talk and like also sometimes I have to remind myself of like how far I've come and like how much I've grown. And then I'm like okay, like you're good, you know what I'm saying and like jillian, I think also I don't I kind of want to tie this in Like when I feel like I'm focusing on like self-care, like working out, like eating right, feeling good in my clothes, like that's when I'm the most confident and I think so that's why I'm so big on like self-care and like getting my rest, so I can feel energized, so I can go out and do a million things and meet a million different people. You know it's like feel good, look good. You know you're getting like that immaculate energy.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a really good um. It's a really good tie-in and really good reminder too, because I think I used to associate self-care with, like this, external um. You know different external things Like how am. I, am I taking a bath or how do I look like physically look, but the actual, like putting in the time and the energy and actually like going to the gym, like you said, and resting is more about the energy and the feeling than it is about the external look of it all you know.

Speaker 2:

I think it's such a performance related tactic.

Speaker 1:

I think it's such a performance related tactic.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and so I have to recharge all the time.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, especially you, yeah, especially you in this role.

Speaker 2:

This is my weekend of recharging.

Speaker 1:

I know that you also have this passion. You know, at the beginning we were talking about kids and making sure that you're sharing some of those stories and really advocating for the youth. So where does that come from?

Speaker 2:

I've just always loved kids and honestly I feel like I'm just like a kid myself, stuck in like a 30 year old body.

Speaker 1:

Like I'm not kidding.

Speaker 2:

Like I told you, I come home I turn on Disney plus. I just I just think kids like have this like innocence to them and, in a world that can be so dark sometimes and like upsetting and you know the so divided, and a kid is like just so innocent to it, all right, like has such a happy spirit, genuine like generally. Um, I love that and I feel like it's so cliche when people are like. It sounds cliche when people are like you know, kids are our future, but it's like they're literally our future and like they're going to be the ones like shaping how we go about things, and so I just like seeing kids like thriving and like in a positive light. Again, like I cover a lot of sad stories, sometimes involving kids kids being shot, like kids losing parents, a fire, like things you can't even imagine right and so I'm a big advocate of making sure that there's a safe space for kids to go to right, whether it's an after-school program where they're not out on the streets and maybe a neighborhood that's not the best or where there's like a lot of crime right, or like going to like a summer camp, or like just making sure that they have some type of guidance, a mentor, a role model, like to me that's super important.

Speaker 2:

I was a part of Big Brother, big Sister for like the last three years. I had a little sister and you know she lived in a not so good neighborhood and I would see her every other Sunday and I would just take her to like the ice cream or like take her to the park or the movies, or like a baseball game, a football game, disney on ice. You know it's just like so important to me because I just want kids to feel like the light and there are good things and like I just I just want them to be happy. My dream in life is literally to open up a summer camp for kids. Like that's literally my ultimate dream.

Speaker 1:

I love it. I was going to say, like, what's, what's your goal? Cause I feel like there's a bigger mission for the, for kids, you know, of course you want to continue growing in your news career.

Speaker 2:

But that makes so much sense, right, right? Yeah, you know summer camp super hard to achieve, but like I'm going to keep manifesting me like somehow doing that, but like probably on a smaller scale, just like starting a charity for kids, right, especially a Christmas charity. I love Christmas. If I could just start a charity and, you know, be able to give back to communities, that would just like make me so happy. So that's, that's the small goal. Summer camp is like the big goal.

Speaker 1:

That's great. Well, we have to put it out there, we have to speak it into existence.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we're just moving it into action. Um, I am so just grateful for your energy, for your time, for your willingness to share on this platform and to use your platform for good, because I think it's really unique. I feel like women who have sometimes had like pretty good upbringing, there's a tendency to just kind of sleepwalk through life a little bit, because I don't, and not always, but I like to see that you have used the positive to create more positive, and I think that that's an actual choice, and so I give you huge kudos for doing that.

Speaker 2:

Oh, thank you, I'm trying. I love it.

Speaker 1:

So, as we uh, kind of are coming to a close of the conversation, something I've been doing with all of my guests, which maybe you know, but is I have the last person that I interviewed leave a quote for the next person that I interview, not knowing who they are. So the last woman that I interviewed left this quote and then I'll allow you the chance to leave something. It doesn't have to be a quote quote, it can just be any piece of wisdom, like anything that maybe comes to you for whatever reason. That's, that's welcome here. So she said very simple, but your light is magnetic and once you shine your light, you attract all of what is meant to be. And I just feel like after meeting, you now and knowing you today, I'm like dang.

Speaker 1:

Your light is magnetic.

Speaker 2:

That quote like couldn't be for a better person, oh, my God. Okay, what is compelling me right now? Something I would say. I mean, this might be simple too, but like, maybe, like, don't let yesterday's sadness, like, affect tomorrow's happiness. You have a bad day, shake it off. Tomorrow's a new day. I'm always like, if I'm waking up, it's a good day because I'm still here and I feel blessed.

Speaker 1:

So I would just leave it at that that's really powerful, though, I mean I think that that's something that we all need to remember is like you're on this side of the dirt.

Speaker 2:

It's like the little things. I always feel like that and it's like you know, again, like I just feel like sometimes it sounds like so cliche, but it's just like somebody always has it worse. Right, you're still waking up, you still can breathe and walk and talk and see and smell and like, do all these things right, you? You woke up in a bed, you woke up with a roof over your head. To me, that's a million reasons to be grateful and happy.

Speaker 1:

You're just such a beacon for so many women out there. Thank you for doing the work that you do for sharing your time. This has been so fun and just like life giving, so I really appreciate you being on the show.

Speaker 2:

I'm just so excited for this episode, so thank you oh my gosh.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for having me.

Speaker 2:

I'm just so excited for this episode, so thank you, oh my gosh, thank you for having me. I'm honestly so happy that we connected Like. I think this is great and I love the work that you're doing. You're obviously spreading so much positivity and uplifting women in the community, of all ages, all backgrounds, different, you know professional careers and I think to me that's super inspiring in itself.

Speaker 1:

Oh, I love that. To the show on. I'm trying really hard to level up the content and deliver unique value and amazing guests and just hitting that follow button is the magic that will help continue to empower that and remember that the world deserves to hear your voice and your stories and you deserve a place at the top.

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Valerie Lynn

Producer