🎙️ Life After News

Hosted by Jason Ball

Welcome to Life After News—the podcast where we dive into the extraordinary second acts of people who walked away from a life in local TV news to find something more.

I'm Jason Ball, and after an incredible 30-year career in local television news, I left the newsroom behind and started a new journey of reinvention. Like many others during the Great Resignation—sparked by the pandemic, social justice protests, a turbulent election, and even an insurrection—I felt the need to reassess what truly mattered. That decision led me to the Old Ranch Inn in Palm Springs, and now, to this podcast.

🧠 What We Explore

• The importance of journalism—and how to support those who stay or transition
• Reinvention after burnout and the pressure of deadlines
• The courage it takes to walk away and redefine success
• Second careers in art, coaching, business, and beyond
• Using newsroom-honed skills in deeply meaningful new ways
• Personal stories of healing, growth, and even beekeeping
• Small business and hospitality life—including our own journey buying and running a boutique hotel in Palm Springs

🎤 Sneak Peek: Meet Our First Guests

Brandon Lee – Founder, Art of Our Soul

Former Emmy-winning anchor turned healing visionary. Brandon shares how art and music therapy are transforming lives in the Arizona prison system—and how he’s using his journey of addiction recovery to train and empower others through creative expression.

Renee Washington – Executive Coach, Former News Director

Renee went from boss to coach. She’s taken the parts of journalism she loved—mentorship, development, leadership—and now helps professionals unlock their potential with the gift of time and mindset freedom.

Jillian Barberie – TV Personality

One of TV’s most vibrant personalities, Jillian opens up about leaving Good Day LA, overcoming cancer, issues with the IRS, and embracing a fully authentic new chapter. Expect unfiltered stories, Canadian nostalgia, and a killer Pamela Anderson impression.

Jackie Johnson – Former CBS2 Weather Anchor

Jackie stepped away from the green screen for gardening and motherhood. In this fun and heartfelt conversation, we talk about stillness, family life, and her clever new interactive project: “What’s the Weather? What’s for Dinner?”—where the forecast just might decide your meal.

📣 Stay Connected

• 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
• 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: youtube.com/@LifeAfterNews
• 📱 Follow on Instagram: @MrJasonBall and @LifeAfterNewsPod
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: Jason Ball
• 🏨 Visit us at the Old Ranch Inn: oldranchinn.com – our boutique escape in the heart of Palm Springs
• 🗞️ Subscribe to Desert Dispatch: desertdispatch.beehiiv.com – reflections on storytelling, second careers, and desert life
• 📅 Launch Date: The first three episodes drop Tuesday, May 20, with new episodes every Tuesday after that
• 🙌 Enjoying the show? Share Life After News with a friend, colleague, or fellow journalist ready for their next chapter

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.