Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
In this episode of WORK Conversations, Erika sits down with Emily Kirkpatrick, former New York Post reporter and creator of the Substack I Heart Mess, to unpack what’s happening inside media right now. They talk about the collapse of SEO driven traffic, shrinking discoverability, and why more journalists are leaving big institutions to build independent businesses. The conversation covers Substack, audience ownership, influencer economics, and how creators are navigating a chaotic, shifting media ecosystem. A candid look at where media is headed and who is surviving the change.
Timestamps:
00:00 – What’s Happening In Media
01:31 – Why Search Is No Longer Reliable
01:58 – AI In Media
03:24 – Power Shifts Inside Media Companies
05:18 – Why Creators Are Leaving Big Media
06:10 – Meet Emily Kirkpatrick
08:19 – Going Viral and HR Fallout
11:10 – Why Twitter Stopped Working
11:28 – Building A Business On Substack
12:49 – Celebrity Fashion And Rage Bait
16:04 – How Celebrity Fashion Actually Works
17:09 – The Substack Community
18:43 – Authenticity and Creative Freedom
19:38 – Where Media Is Headed Next
Follow WORK here:
Substack: erikaayersbadan.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/workwitherika
TikTok: tiktok.com/@workwitherika
Follow Erika here:
Instagram: instagram.com/erika
TikTok: tiktok.com/@erika_
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erikanardini
Twitter: twitter.com/erika_
Follow Work Like A Girl here:
Instagram: instagram.com/worklikeagirl
Slack Channel: join.slack.com/t/worklikeagirl/shared_invite/zt-3a7fiqzf8-NEf3DUArSMz76vTspihC5w
In this episode of WORK Conversations, Erika sits down with Emily Kirkpatrick, former New York Post reporter and creator of the Substack I Heart Mess, to unpack what’s happening inside media right now. They talk about the collapse of SEO driven traffic, shrinking discoverability, and why more journalists are leaving big institutions to build independent businesses. The conversation covers Substack, audience ownership, influencer economics, and how creators are navigating a chaotic, shifting media ecosystem. A candid look at where media is headed and who is surviving the change.
Timestamps:
00:00 – What’s Happening In Media
01:31 – Why Search Is No Longer Reliable
01:58 – AI In Media
03:24 – Power Shifts Inside Media Companies
05:18 – Why Creators Are Leaving Big Media
06:10 – Meet Emily Kirkpatrick
08:19 – Going Viral and HR Fallout
11:10 – Why Twitter Stopped Working
11:28 – Building A Business On Substack
12:49 – Celebrity Fashion And Rage Bait
16:04 – How Celebrity Fashion Actually Works
17:09 – The Substack Community
18:43 – Authenticity and Creative Freedom
19:38 – Where Media Is Headed Next
Follow WORK here:
Substack: erikaayersbadan.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/workwitherika
TikTok: tiktok.com/@workwitherika
Follow Erika here:
Instagram: instagram.com/erika
TikTok: tiktok.com/@erika_
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erikanardini
Twitter: twitter.com/erika_
Follow Work Like A Girl here:
Instagram: instagram.com/worklikeagirl
Slack Channel: join.slack.com/t/worklikeagirl/shared_invite/zt-3a7fiqzf8-NEf3DUArSMz76vTspihC5w
