In this episode, Brandon Lee joins us to share his journey from the television news to the healing art therapy. Brandon now leads Art of Our Soul, using art and music therapy to help trauma survivors—including convicted felons—heal through joyful expression.

We explore how the isolation of the 2020 pandemic led Brandon to a pivotal relapse that unlocked the door to unprocessed childhood trauma. Through art therapy, community, and compassion, Brandon not only rebuilt his life, but also created a program that is reducing recidivism and transforming lives behind bars.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Brandon’s transformation from anchor to art therapist is a story of resilience and purpose.
• Art therapy is more than creativity—it’s a powerful therapeutic tool.
• The COVID-19 pandemic became a personal reckoning for Brandon, sparking deep emotional healing.
• A joyful healing environment fosters emotional safety and deeper therapeutic impact.
• Art of Our Soul is making a measurable difference in reducing recidivism through creative programs.
• Addressing trauma and incarceration with empathy can shift societal perceptions.
• Holistic healing programs are gaining attention from insurers and advocates.
• Brandon’s upcoming documentary, Blank Canvas, seeks to humanize and elevate the stories of incarcerated artists.

📎 Related Links

• 🎨 Explore the art and mission of Art of Our Soul
• 📽️ Watch Blank Canvas, the documentary
• 📸 Follow Brandon Lee on Instagram: @brandonlee

🔗 Stay Connected with Life After News

• 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform
• 📺 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/@LifeAfterNews
• 📱 Instagram: @MrJasonBall & @LifeAfterNewsPod
• 💼 LinkedIn: Jason Ball
• 🗞️ Newsletter: Desert Dispatch – Read now
• 🏨 Stay: Old Ranch Inn — A boutique retreat in Palm Springs
• 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday!
• 🙌 Love this episode? Share it with a friend.

🟣 Sponsored By: Chatmosa

Chatmosa.com isn’t just another chat app. It’s your go-to space for real connection—whether launching your own podcast, hosting a live stream, or hanging out in a curated digital lounge.

And yep—there’s a former news person behind the scenes. Stay tuned as we spotlight more about Chatmosa and how it’s reshaping community-powered media.

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.

🎧 Episode Summary

In this inspiring episode, Jason Ball sits down with broadcasting icon Jillian Barberie to revisit her remarkable career and the resilience that has shaped her journey. From a cultural awakening in Miami to groundbreaking success on Good Day LA, Jillian shares candid reflections on fame, loss, recovery, and rebirth.

She opens up about her breast cancer diagnosis, financial hardship, and particularly, the emotional and psychological toll of her IRS troubles, which she identifies as the hardest challenge she’s ever faced. Jillian speaks openly about how these experiences tested her at every level—and how she’s used creativity, community, and courage to rebuild.

This is a powerful conversation about embracing authenticity, staying present, and turning challenges into transformative growth.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Be Yourself: Jillian emphasizes the power of authenticity in standing out professionally.
• Cultural Awakening: Living in Miami was a turning point in Jillian’s personal and professional worldview.
• Career Highlights: Good Day LA was pivotal in establishing Jillian’s TV persona.
• Evolving Media: Social media changed how broadcasters engage with audiences.
• Life After Diagnosis: Breast cancer and recovery reshaped her identity and priorities.
• IRS Struggles: Her financial challenges with the IRS proved to be her most grueling life challenge.
• Support Systems Matter: Healing required community, therapy, and self-reflection.
• Creative Outlets: Art became a sanctuary during post-treatment life.
• Advice to Youth: Stay in the moment, be adaptable, and embrace life’s uncertainty.

🔗 Connect with Jillian

• 🎨 Art Portfolio: jillian-barberie.pixels.com
• 📸 Instagram: @askjillian
• 🎵 TikTok: @jillianbarberie

📣 Stay Connected to Life After News

• 📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@LifeAfterNews
• 📱 Instagram: @MrJasonBall & @LifeAfterNewsPod
• 💼 LinkedIn: Jason Ball
• 🏨 Visit: Old Ranch Inn – A boutique retreat in Palm Springs
• 🗞️ Subscribe & Read: Desert Dispatch – our newsletter on storytelling and reinvention
• 📅 New episodes every Tuesday
• 🙌 Love the show? Share it with a friend

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.

🎙️ 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.