Ever wondered how a successful women's magazine writer and humor columnist became one of Substack's most incisive media critics? Jenna McCarthy never planned to write about "government corruption, health policy, and politics" - she was perfectly content crafting witty pieces about relationships and lifestyle topics for major publications. Then COVID happened, and suddenly McCarthy found herself questioning policies that "weren't making sense" and facing social media suspensions for her skepticism.
McCarthy's journey from mainstream publishing to independent journalism mirrors the broader transformation happening across the media landscape. With refreshing candor and razor-sharp humor, she dissects how traditional news outlets have abandoned objective reporting in favor of narrative advancement. "When I was growing up," McCarthy reflects, "never once did it occur to me that the news was anything other than fact." That assumption has been thoroughly shattered.
Through specific examples - from selective coverage of political scandals to disturbing revelations about organ harvesting practices - McCarthy and host Rich Helppie explore the systematic ways that important information is kept from public view. Their conversation reveals how humor can function as a powerful antidote to gaslighting, allowing audiences to process difficult truths while maintaining their sanity. As McCarthy explains, her readers tell her: "I stopped reading the news because I can't handle all that negativity. But now I don't have to watch it - Jenna will watch it and summarize it in a way that I can laugh but also know what's going on."
Whether discussing the college debt crisis, media bias in political coverage, or her upcoming books on overlooked medical treatments, McCarthy demonstrates how independent voices are filling crucial information gaps left by mainstream outlets. For anyone concerned about finding truth in a post-facts world, this conversation offers both insights and hope.
Subscribe to find more conversations that bridge political divides and explore important issues with depth, nuance, and occasional laughter.
Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.