Most people think journalists are trained to stay detached, to report the story, and not feel it. But what happens when the story breaks you? In this episode we talk with journalist and researcher Louisa Ortiz Pérez, founder of the Media Resilience Network, who launched a groundbreaking survey exploring the emotional toll of journalism during the era of layoffs, audience distrust, and constant crisis coverage. Louisa reveals what her data shows about: 🧠 Burnout, anxiety, and “moral injury” in the newsroom 💔 How layoffs and social media toxicity are reshaping reporters’ sense of purpose 🎙️ Why many journalists feel silenced, even in organizations built to tell the truth 🌍 And what needs to change to make journalism sustainable again This conversation is candid, compassionate, and deeply human: a look at what it really means to do the work of journalism when the industry itself is falling apart. How do we rebuild trust, without breaking the journalists who keep us informed? 00:00 - Start 02:11 - Jenna Remembers the Trauma of Sandy Hook 08:05 - Technology Changed the Game 11:08 - When You Are the Story 14:31 - You Shouldn’t Have to Shrug It Off 17:04 - Journalism Can Make You Sick 18:26 - Put Your Foot Down 22:37 - A Human Condition: A Play About Journalism 25:06 - Take the Veneer Off 27:28 - We Can’t Be Unseen 35:35 - Journalists Need 2 Things to Heal 44:49 - The Algorithm IS NOT Your Friend 48:08 - Only People Not Bots Can Do Journalism 52:29 - PTSD Should Be Recognized 55:15 - Why Did You Become a Journalist? Media Resilience Network https://mdrnet.org/ Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAXBQMP8wgy_ecx2dh4WeqAb3fSUyIh8fndSkZrYBGR22yNg/viewform