JEFF PEGUES. Finding Your Voice... Again

🎧 Episode Summary:In this episode, Jenni reconnects with Jeff Pegues, a veteran journalist whose career has spanned three decades across ABC, CBS, and now his own media company. From the football fields of Miami University of Ohio to the front lines of justice and crime reporting, Jeff shares his journey through the highs of national news, the toll of relentless coverage, and the unexpected challenge of losing his voice to spasmodic dysphonia.They dive into:• How a campus audition set him on the path to journalism• Breaking into top markets and becoming CBS’s first Black justice correspondent• Covering Ferguson, Freddie Gray, January 6, and the 2016 election• The physical and personal toll of 24/7 news and how stress impacted his health• Living with a voice disorder as a broadcast journalist• Reclaiming balance, creative freedom, and joy through Jeff Pegues Media• His current projects: Critical Dispatch, Person of Interest, a true crime series, and long-form documentariesThis conversation is about resilience, reinvention, and rediscovering purpose when life and career collide.🎙️ Guest Bio:With over 30 years of experience in major news organizations like WABC in New York and CBS News, where he served as Chief National Affairs & Justice Correspondent, Jeff has extensive expertise and credibility.His experience includes covering the Department of Justice, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, as well as interviewing top U.S. law enforcement officials. He has also reported on significant events such as the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, numerous inaugurations, national political conventions, Super Bowls, terrorism incidents, and major hurricanes.The three-time Emmy Award winner is also a recipient of the Sigma Delta Chi journalism award and was part of the CBS News team honored with an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2017. He has authored two books, Black and Blue: Inside the Divide Between Police and Black America (2017) and Kompromat: How Russia Undermined American Democracy (2018). While at CBS News, Jeff also hosted the podcast America Changed Forever and currently produces The Critical Dispatch podcast in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police. His new show, Person of Interest, airs on Hulu, Fire TV, Apple TV, and other streaming platforms as part of the ALIVE Podcast Network.✨ Quote of the Episode:“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. That’s what I tell young people today—follow your dreams, because if you don’t, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” — Jeff PeguesMentions:The Critical Dispatch podcasthttps://jeffpeguesmedia.com/our-work/podcasts/Kompromat: How Russia Undermined American Democracy (2018):https://www.amazon.com/Kompromat-Russia-Undermined-American-Democracy/dp/1633884295Black and Blue: Inside the Divide Between Police and Black America (2017)https://www.amazon.com/Black-Blue-Inside-between-America/dp/1633882578Learn more about Spasmodic Dysphonia:https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/spasmodic-dysphonia