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One of my favorite dive-bar conversations with fellow journalists is “What would you do if you couldn’t do this anymore?” We’ve all thought about it; the tough economics of our industry haven’t left us any choice. It’s such an interesting window into people’s psyches: friends have told me about secret dreams of going to medical or law school, opening a restaurant, running a bed-and-breakfast, teaching kindergartners, and more. (Interestingly, no one has ever told me they would go into PR, which I assume is the most common destination for former journalists by a mile.)
For years, I counted myself a fan of Kenya Hunter’s work covering health access for Capital B and the Associated Press. Now I admire her for another reason: she took the leap to find a career she loved more than journalism. In 2025, after her contract at the AP wasn’t renewed, she did get one of those PR jobs. But she also trained as a doula. Today she provides postpartum care and nutrition counseling to new parents and offers support around abortions to those who need it, with a particular focus on Black people in Atlanta, where she lives.
I talked to Kenya about the transition from writing about healthcare to providing it, what she learned from reporting on race in jobs that weren’t “race reporting,” and how she thinks about her future after so many years of focusing on journalism. Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Show notes:
Examining the Lack of Diversity at the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School: A Three-Part Series, Kenya Hunter, Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Why Black Doulas Say They Can’t Fix Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Crisis Alone, Kenya Hunter, Capital B.
More Wellstar Closures Bring Dwindling Health Care Options, Kenya Hunter, Capital B.
Hundreds of places in the US said racism was a public health crisis. What’s changed? Kenya Hunter, Associated Press.
Finally I Can Talk, Kenya Hunter.
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