Life After News
🎙️ Life After News is the podcast that dives deep into what happens after the headlines fade. Hosted by former broadcast journalist Jason Ball, this series explores the personal journeys, surprising reinventions, and powerful lessons from those who’ve stepped away from the newsroom. Through candid conversations and behind-the-scenes stories, Jason and his guests share what it really takes to find purpose and identity beyond a career in news. If you’ve ever wondered what comes next after chasing the story—this podcast is for you.
Life After News
🎙️ When Breaking News Hits Home: Ellen Leyva on Surviving the Eaton Fire
🎙️ When Breaking News Hits Home: Ellen Leyva on Surviving the Eaton Fire
Veteran news anchor Ellen Leyva spent nearly 30 years reporting breaking stories — but nothing prepared her for when breaking news struck her own home. In this conversation, just weeks after her retirement from KABC, Ellen opens up about surviving the Eaton Fire, the emotional toll of seeing her community threatened, and how it redefined her understanding of the news she once reported.
Ellen also reflects on:
· Covering the OJ Simpson trial, 9/11, and decades of history
· Her enduring on-air partnership with David Ono
· Balancing career and motherhood while anchoring the morning show
· Early encounters with Justin Timberlake and Donald Trump
· Why she walked away from the anchor desk
· How painting, travel, and love are shaping her life after news
This is Ellen’s most personal story yet — raw, real, and revealing.
📌 Chapters
00:00 Ellen Leyva's Journey in News Broadcasting
08:58 Memorable Moments in Journalism
11:59 The Dynamics of Anchoring
15:00 Personal Life and Balancing Career
17:59 Life After Retirement and New Beginnings
21:30 A Serendipitous Reunion
23:07 Navigating Life Changes
23:46 The Eaton Fire Experience
28:01 Reflections on Retirement
32:10 Finding Peace and Purpose
35:03 The Art of Transition
38:07 Advice for Aspiring Journalists
👉 Follow Ellen on Instagram: @abc7ellen
🔗 Stay Connected to Life After News
• 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more
• 📺 Watch full episodes: YouTube.com/@LifeAfterNews
• 📱 Instagram: @MrJasonBall & @LifeAfterNewsPod
• 💼 LinkedIn: Jason Ball
• 🏨 Visit: Old Ranch Inn – A boutique retreat in Palm Springs
• 🗞️ Read: Desert Dispatch – Stories of reinvention
• 📅 New Episodes: Every Tuesday
• 🙌 Love the show? Share it with a friend! Give us 5-star ratings!
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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.