The Jamie Kern Lima Show

Episode: Norah O’Donnell’s First EVER Podcast Interview! Life-Changing Lessons & How Success Leaves Clues!
Host: Jamie Kern Lima
Guest: Norah O’Donnell
Air Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This landmark episode features award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell in her very first long-form podcast interview. Jamie Kern Lima dives deep into Norah’s journey as a trailblazing anchor and author, unpacking her stories of resilience, mentorship, and the invisible yet powerful role women have played throughout American history. This episode explores self-belief, handling rejection, the importance of storytelling, enduring friendships, faith, and the future of democracy and journalism. Norah also shares the inspiration behind her new book, "We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Norah’s Journey: Becoming a Trailblazer in Journalism

• Dreaming Big & Role Models

  • Norah credits her upbringing and the visibility of women like Barbara Walters for fueling her ambition.
    • “If you can see it, you can believe it. … I looked up to Barbara Walters and just said, wow, she has a front row seat to history. And I want to do that and I want to be that.” (09:51)
  • She encourages young girls to refuse to let anyone "crush your dreams," referencing both supportive parenting and her experience with self-doubt.

• Building a Career in News

  • Norah gives a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work and integrity underpinning her prestigious career, from reporting on wars and disasters to co-anchoring the morning show with Gayle King and finally leading the evening news.
    • “Getting to the top is hard. … I sought the biggest interviews in the world and tried to build a reputation of integrity and trust.” (11:44)

• On Female Friendships & Empowerment

  • Norah speaks glowingly of her real friendship with Gayle King and the power of empowered women supporting each other.
    • "You want to be around people who are like sunshine, whether they’re friends or people you work with. And Gayle is sunshine." (13:05)

The Power and Value of Women’s Stories

• Writing “We the Women”

  • Norah’s latest book was inspired by the lack of women's stories in mainstream history and by the approaching 250th birthday of America.
  • The process was personally transformative, helping her discover hidden figures whose bravery shifted the country’s course.
    • “Women are the great architects of society. … Even when they had absolutely no rights, they were a force for positive change.” (17:32 & 18:00)
  • The book is structured to make these stories accessible and relevant, inviting the reader to draw courage from the women featured.

• Visibility & Representation

  • The exclusion of women from historical documentation is highlighted as not just a research challenge but a missed opportunity for shaping the aspirations of young girls.
    • "Would it have changed what I thought about who I could be? Maybe… Would I also dream of being those women?" (24:43)

Lessons from Women’s Struggles: Rejection, Resilience & Redirection

• Historical Rejection & Modern Relevance

  • Norah notes that rejection is “universal,” recounting examples like Mary Katherine Goddard losing her job after her act of printing the Declaration of Independence, and Elizabeth Blackwell becoming the first female physician after multiple rejections.
    • “She [Elizabeth Blackwell] faced rejection at every turn.” (27:52)
  • The takeaway for listeners is to see rejection as redirection, with the power of community and support systems highlighted.

• Turning Pain into Perseverance

  • The journey of Eleanor Roosevelt is cited as an example of transforming personal struggle into world-changing action.
    • “Her mother would put her down at parties… but she became the most powerful female political figure for 50 years.” (34:23)

• Family Legacy & Inspiration

  • Norah draws parallels from her grandmother’s immigrant journey to the present, emphasizing sacrifice, bravery, and the generational transmission of hope and resilience.
    • “She never made it past eighth grade… but somehow she was smart enough to know she had to come to America.” (37:12)

The Power of Community, Mentorship & Small Gestures

• Friendship, Partnership, and Teamwork

  • Norah speaks of her long-term best friends, her supportive marriage, and the importance of building a network that lifts you.
    • On marriage: "I married my best friend … someone who has supported me through my career." (54:21)

• Handwritten Notes & Personal Connection

  • Both guest and host share stories demonstrating how handwritten notes forge real bonds and open doors—a lost art in the digital age.
    • “Almost every big interview that I’ve been able to do followed handwritten notes by myself … Pope Francis was an interview. … I wrote to him for 10 years.” (56:11)
    • "People keep the note for years—it's powerful, and it's free, we can all do it." (59:49)

Faith, Parenting, and Believing in Yourself

• Faith and Values

  • Jamie and Norah delve into the role of faith and spirituality as sustaining forces for resilience and hope, especially in uncertain times.
    • “Faith walks alongside you … it’s like that person walking alongside you or the faith walking alongside you as a partner in life.” (77:58)

• Parenting & Legacy

  • Norah discusses her hopes for her children, emphasizing unconditional love, self-worth, and good character as the lessons she most wants to pass on.
    • “I hope my kids will get from me the belief that nothing’s impossible and to not let anybody stand in the way of their dreams.” (66:34)
    • “I love you and I’m proud of you—you can never say that enough…” (68:56)

Press, Democracy & The State of the Nation

• State of the Country

  • Jamie asks outright, "Do you think we’re moving in the right direction?" Norah responds with thoughtful nuance and candid acknowledgment of economic and social divides.
    • “I think we’re at probably one of the greatest moments of transition … a very strong pull between haves and have-nots and a growing wealth chasm in America. And that’s what’s leading to this deep polarization and deep fear.” (81:14)

• Journalism, Trust & the First Amendment

  • Norah reflects on the challenges and higher stakes of journalism today—political polarization, media skepticism, and leadership uncertainty at CBS.
    • “I believe journalism is what we need to make democracy work … we need an electorate that can trust members of the media because it’s hard to decipher what’s the truth. And I want people to trust me…” (83:44)
    • “I still believe the First Amendment and freedom of the press is protected … but are people pushing against it? Yes.” (84:27)
    • On the future of CBS and leadership turnover: “We have had a lot of leadership changes… and that has been challenging. People are fearful about what the future means.” (88:50)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Dreaming Big:
  “If you can see it, you can believe it.” – Norah O’Donnell (09:51)

• On Rejection:
  “Rejection is universal, and it dates back to the founding of America.” – Norah O’Donnell (27:52)

• On Resilience:
  “Rejection is just redirection.” – Norah O’Donnell (31:10)

• On Female Friendship:
  “You want to be around people who are like sunshine… and Gayle is sunshine.” – Norah O’Donnell (13:05)

• On Supporting Other Women:
  “When women support women, great things happen. … We need the constant encouragement of our friends and fellow women, not just privately, but publicly too.” – Norah O’Donnell (15:25)

• On Faith:
  “Faith walks alongside you… like that person walking alongside you or the faith walking alongside you as a partner in life.” – Norah O’Donnell (77:58)

• On Democracy:
  “I think America is the greatest country in the world… but as a journalist, I know democracy is messy.” – Norah O’Donnell (52:02)

• On Mentorship Across Generations:
  “I wish that when my grandmother pulled into New York harbor … the first thing she saw was the Statue of Liberty, a woman holding a torch.” – Norah O’Donnell (37:12)

• On Parenting:
  “I love you and I’m proud of you. You can never say that enough to anybody.” – Norah O’Donnell (68:56)

• On Journalism’s Role:
  “I believe journalism is what we need to make democracy work.” – Norah O’Donnell (83:44)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Norah’s Reflections on Journalism, Representation, and Aspirations
  The impact of seeing women in power on Norah’s dreams, role models, and the importance of representation (09:51 – 11:40)

• On Friendship with Gayle King & the Power of Female Support
  How true friendship and professional partnership with Gayle King shaped Norah’s experience. (12:49 – 13:53)

• The Hidden Histories of Women in America – “We the Women”
  Norah shares surprising discoveries and the process of excavating women's untold stories (17:32 – 19:19, 24:43 – 27:26)

• Rejection, Perseverance, and Redirection
  Parallel stories from history and Norah's own advice for navigating setbacks.
  (27:52 – 31:43, 34:23 – 36:50)

• The Immigrant Legacy & Family Resilience
  Norah’s grandmother’s journey, generational uplift, and connecting history to her own family (37:12 – 39:13, 44:44 – 46:16)

• Faith as Sustenance and Navigating Uncertainty
  Jamie and Norah share personal perspectives and rituals, anchoring them through worry and the unexpected (73:40 – 79:32)

• State of America: Division, Inequality, and the Role of the Press
  Norah’s candid thoughts on current challenges, polarization, and why trust in journalism matters more than ever (81:14 – 85:44)

• CBS Under the Microscope
  Addressing changes and uncertainty in leadership at CBS, and staff fears about the future (88:50 – 89:23)

Final Thoughts

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, ambition, and the power of storytelling. Norah O’Donnell provides honest, heartfelt, and practical insights—from lessons learned among history’s hidden heroines to actionable advice about perseverance, friendship, and the ongoing journey for equity and purpose. Both Jamie and Norah reinforce the message that self-worth, encouragement, and uplifting each other are central to progress—personally and collectively.

If this conversation resonated with you, consider sharing the episode and learning more about the work of both Norah O'Donnell and Jamie Kern Lima.