Connection, Culture, and Media, featuring Lucy Bustamante

Lucy Bustamante is a multi-Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, born and raised in New Orleans, now serving as a morning anchor at FOX 8. She joins Michelle Johnston for a heartfelt conversation about connection, culture, leadership, and what it means to stay real in a rapidly changing world. From covering Hurricane Katrina as a young journalist to returning home to New Orleans after years away, Lucy reflects on the power of authenticity, the pull of family, and the beauty of a city that begins every relationship with humanity. She also shares what seismic shifts she is seeing in media and the workplace, including AI, streaming, social media, and trust. The conversation is honest, lively, and full of wisdom about relationships, resilience, and choosing what matters most.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and introducing Lucy Bustamante
00:31 Michelle shares how she knew Lucy had to be on the show
01:23 Lucy’s career, awards, and return to New Orleans
01:51 Covering Hurricane Katrina and staying on air
04:15 Why Lucy’s reporting felt like home
05:05 New Orleans and the power of authenticity
06:56 Michelle on why she fell in love with New Orleans
09:18 Lucy’s family story and New Orleans roots
12:35 What brought Lucy back home
15:56 Raising children in New Orleans
18:52 Why New Orleans is worth investing in
20:05 Michelle’s daughter chooses to come back to New Orleans
23:40 The seismic shifts Lucy sees in media and work
24:04 AI and how Gray Media is approaching it
25:08 Streaming and changing audience habits
25:37 Social media, trust, and misinformation
28:31 What leaders need to understand right now
29:13 Lucy’s unforgettable leadership advice
30:34 Choosing the right partner, therapist, and lawyer
31:04 Closing reflections and thanks

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

What is The Seismic Shift with Michelle K. Johnston?

Welcome to Seismic Shift - a leadership podcast that focuses on connection. I’m your host, Michelle K. Johnston: management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert. I believe that today’s leaders need more than power and control to get the best from their teams; they need connection. Through interviews with some of today’s top business leaders, we are going to explore how leaders' ability to connect with themselves, their teams, and their organizations defines their ultimate success or failure. This podcast runs in close parallel to my new book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, where you can find even more insights from me and the brilliant leaders I interviewed this season. So let's set our sights on connection and get ready to take on the daunting, yet exciting, challenge of this Seismic Shift.