Podcast Summary: Toure Show – Episode Featuring Joy Reid: "How To Make It In TV"

Released on March 2, 2025

In this enlightening episode of the Toure Show, host Toray engages in a deep and candid conversation with Joy Reid, a prominent TV news anchor on MSNBC. The discussion delves into Joy's journey to success, the challenges she faces in the evolving landscape of television journalism, and the personal experiences that have shaped her professional ethos.

1. Responsibility and Representation in Journalism

Joy expresses a profound sense of duty as one of the few Black women in TV news. She emphasizes the importance of representation and the impact it has on diverse audiences.

Joy Reid [03:05]: "I do feel a deep responsibility. I have 90-year-old women coming up and I have teenagers coming up and saying, I watch you on TV. And that to me is a responsibility because there just aren't that many of us."

Joy distinguishes between being "fair" and "balanced" in reporting, advocating for fairness without succumbing to false equivalence.

Joy Reid [03:42]: "Fair is saying this individual person likes to drink strychnine. It is incredibly dangerous, but this is what he likes to do... Balanced is saying, some people think strychnine will kill you, other people say it is delicious."

2. Entering the TV Industry

Joy recounts her proactive approach to breaking into television, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities and building genuine relationships.

Joy Reid [04:41]: "I emailed her assistant and said, hey, I'm in town, would love to have lunch with Yvette... And that's the other thing. Always say yes. When the opportunity arises, say yes."

She underscores the significance of mentorship and sponsorship over traditional networking.

Joy Reid [05:29]: "Real networking is just having a relationship that later on allows that person to sponsor you."

3. Navigating the Trump Era and Journalism Challenges

The Trump administration ushered in unprecedented challenges for cable news hosts, with Joy detailing how political strategies have transformed journalistic practices.

Joy Reid [07:11]: "Donald Trump is constructing an alternate reality for his fans... He's the average consumer of right-wing media who is also now an expert purveyor of the exact same techniques he's been consuming."

Joy differentiates herself by embracing opinion journalism, which allows her to call out falsehoods without the constraints often faced by traditional journalists.

Joy Reid [09:03]: "I am an opinion journalist. I'm not afraid to say somebody's lying."

4. Traits and Influences Behind Success

Drawing inspiration from her adventurous mother, Joy attributes her resilience and curiosity to her upbringing. Her mother's immigrant journey instilled in her a willingness to take risks and adapt.

Joy Reid [11:17]: "I have this theory about people who move... There's something about the mentality of moving. I think it's an adventure-seeking personality."

5. Work-Life Balance and Personal Challenges

Joy candidly discusses her struggle with insomnia and how it paradoxically fuels her productivity. Balancing multiple roles as a host, author, and mother, she highlights writing as her ultimate "superpower."

Joy Reid [16:14]: "Sleep deprivation. Basically. I'm an insomniac... I have the ability to work late and under very tight time pressure."

6. Developing TV Skills and Interviewing Techniques

Transitioning from talk radio to television, Joy explains how her radio background cultivated fearlessness and conversational fluency essential for TV journalism. She shares insights into mastering the prompter and the importance of solid production support.

Joy Reid [19:26]: "Talk radio is brilliant at developing that skill because it's also a skill with no accoutrements. There's nothing but you and the mic."

When conducting interviews, Joy emphasizes genuine curiosity, active listening, and adaptability.

Joy Reid [36:54]: "Genuine curiosity about the person you're talking to... Listen to what the person said... Be willing to go off your plan."

7. Handling Attacks and Reputation Management

Joy delves into the relentless attacks from right-wing entities aimed at discrediting liberal voices in media. She describes tactics like coordinated online harassment and the strategic targeting of any perceived missteps.

Joy Reid [55:30]: "There is a coordinated campaign... trying to get any prominent liberal voice fired."

To cope, Joy treats these attacks with absurdity and maintains a stoic demeanor, focusing on the integrity of her work.

Joy Reid [57:58]: "I sort of had fun with it and treat it as absurd. I have to treat this as absurd too, otherwise you couldn't do your job."

8. Overcoming Failure and Personal Loss

Discussing resilience, Joy shares the story of her first TV show’s cancellation, a pivotal failure that propelled her to explore new opportunities and ultimately enhanced her career.

Joy Reid [58:23]: "Getting that show canceled is one of the best things that ever happened to me."

Additionally, Joy recounts the profound personal challenge of losing her mother just before attending Harvard, which forced her into early adulthood and self-reliance.

Joy Reid [63:03]: "I was 17 when I was going to Harvard... My mother passed away. It was such a shock."

Through these hardships, Joy developed a strong work ethic and an unyielding drive to succeed.

9. Future Goals and Lessons Learned

Looking ahead, Joy aspires to continue writing impactful books, teaching the next generation on race, gender, and media, and expanding her influence as an author and educator.

Joy Reid [69:31]: "I really want to write books. I want to be a very successful author... I love teaching at Syracuse University."

She also reflects on the necessity of discussing whiteness and identity politics to foster a more inclusive and honest dialogue in America.

Joy Reid [70:13]: "White America never talks about whiteness... It's easy to wriggle out of a complicated question."

Concluding Insights

Joy Reid's journey is a testament to resilience, authenticity, and the relentless pursuit of truth in journalism. Her ability to navigate personal and professional adversities while maintaining integrity serves as an inspiring blueprint for aspiring media professionals. Through her candid discussions on race, media responsibility, and personal growth, Joy underscores the importance of representation and fearless journalism in shaping a more informed and equitable society.

Notable Quotes:

• Joy Reid [03:05]: "I do feel a deep responsibility... because there just aren't that many of us."

• Joy Reid [05:29]: "Real networking is just having a relationship that later on allows that person to sponsor you."

• Joy Reid [07:11]: "Donald Trump is constructing an alternate reality for his fans..."

• Joy Reid [16:14]: "Sleep deprivation. Basically. I'm an insomniac..."

• Joy Reid [36:54]: "Genuine curiosity about the person you're talking to..."

• Joy Reid [55:30]: "There is a coordinated campaign... trying to get any prominent liberal voice fired."

• Joy Reid [58:23]: "Getting that show canceled is one of the best things that ever happened to me."

• Joy Reid [69:31]: "I really want to write books. I want to be a very successful author..."

For more insightful conversations with successful individuals, tune in to Toure Show every Wednesday and explore throwback episodes every Sunday. Visit dcpofficial.com/toureshow for additional content and updates.