Happy Beyond 40
Are you 40+ and still trying to figure out what, who, or where you want to be, when you grow up? Then you are in the right place. This is Happy Beyond 40… Together, we are connecting with guests and listeners to discuss ways to live authentically while honoring our inner child, and genuine spirit, all while aging and adulting. Our intention is to support each other through shared stories, lived experiences and meaningful questions to help all of us uncover our paths forward. Beware of dry humor, sarcasm, vulnerability, and everything in between.
Happy Beyond 40
Becoming a Truthteller in a Noisy World
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mischa Geracoulis, Senior-level media professional, human rights advocate, and Outreach & Engagement Officer at Project Censored, for a conversation about truth, press freedom, and the personal convictions that shape a life’s work.
Mischa shares how her career — which may have looked nonlinear from the outside — was deeply connected by a consistent thread: a commitment to justice, ethical journalism, and elevating underreported stories. From her early work in coalition building and policy to reporting on Capitol Hill and eventually teaching and pursuing graduate studies in media, each chapter built toward her current role at the intersection of education, academia, and watchdog journalism.
A defining influence in her life was her Armenian heritage and her grandfather’s lived experience of genocide — stories that shaped her understanding of truth, historical erasure, and the power of naming what has happened. She reflects on pivotal global moments, including 9/11, that solidified her commitment to becoming what she calls a “truthteller,” even when the landscape feels dark or overwhelming.
We also explore the current state of journalism: media monopolization, partisan divides, the growing influence of PR over investigative reporting, and the risks of journalism drifting toward influencer culture. Mischa offers thoughtful insight into the urgent need for historical context, ethical grounding, and collaborative efforts to rebuild public trust in the press.
Beyond the headlines, Mischa speaks candidly about what sustains her: a growth mindset, the joy of continual learning, meaningful collaboration, and staying grounded in difficult times. She shares the inspiration behind her book, Media Framing and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage, and leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: when facing uncertainty or disinformation, return to the basics, stay steady, and act from a place of clarity and stability.
This episode is a compelling reflection on courage, media literacy, and the enduring belief that truth, even when challenged, ultimately finds its way forward.
Project Censored: https://www.projectcensored.org/
Connect with Mischa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-geracoulis/