#217 | Beyond the Headlines: Kayla Dones on Journalism, Conviction & Building Something New

What happens when pursuing the truth changes not only how you see the world but also what you decide to build? Investigative journalist Kayla Dones, founder of Protagonist Network, joins John Gallagher on Talks with Gallagher for a conversation about independent journalism, personal conviction, and the experiences that shape who we become. Kayla shares her journey from local reporting to undercover assignments, working with whistleblowers, and building a media organization of her own. She reflects on the political and financial pressures she encountered, the demands of field reporting, and what it takes to stay grounded while pursuing difficult stories. The conversation also explores the founder’s challenge: turning a meaningful mission into a sustainable business. From assembling a network of journalists and production professionals to creating the infrastructure that supports their work, Kayla explains why passion alone isn’t enough.
In this episode:

• How Kayla found her way into investigative journalism.
• Her approach to reporting beyond left-versus-right narratives.
• Listening to whistleblowers and recognizing potential stories.
• Her account of campaign-finance investigations involving ActBlue and WinRed.
• The physical and emotional demands of undercover reporting.
• Building Protagonist Network and supporting creative talent.
• Asking political candidates questions beyond their talking points.
• Why local journalism needs sustainable business models.
• Resilience, compassion, and staying true to your values.

At its heart, this is a conversation about conviction: how our experiences shape what we believe, how those beliefs guide our decisions, and what we choose to create in response.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: The stories that shape us
01:52 Introducing Protagonist Network
03:40 How Kayla got into journalism
06:17 Political bias and her approach to reporting
09:48 Preparing the next generation of journalists
11:17 Reporting experiences that shaped her
14:53 Finding leads and listening to whistleblowers
17:36 Her account of ActBlue and WinRed investigations
21:44 Moving from problems to solutions
23:59 Why she founded Protagonist Network
28:27 Building a network for media professionals
31:37 Her work on materials concerning Kurt Cobain’s death
34:35 The demands of undercover journalism
37:44 Mental health, preparation, and recovery
39:51 Resilience, compassion, and personal values
42:01 Midterms and local accountability
44:10 Getting candidates beyond their talking points
45:45 Would Kayla consider running for office?
47:50 The future of independent and local journalism
53:07 Media ownership and newsroom culture
54:42 Final reflections

Connect with Kayla, Learn more about Protagonist Network:
https://protagonistnetwork.org/

Follow the show for conversations about the stories, decisions, and experiences that shape who we become. If this episode gave you a new perspective, share it with someone who would appreciate the conversation.

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