#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. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talks-with-gallagher--6106098/support. Visit talkswithgallagher.com for more information and support the future of this podcast. Want to be a guest on Talks with Gallagher? Send John Gallagher a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/talkswithgallagher