Guest: Carlos Amezcua
Host: Jason Ball
Run Time: ~43 min
Watch on YouTube: Life After News YouTube Channel
Website: lifeafternews.com

🧭 Episode Summary

Carlos Amezcua was there at the beginning of the KTLA 5 Morning News — a show that changed not just local TV, but the entire morning news landscape. In this candid, never-before-shared conversation, he opens up to Jason Ball about why he really left KTLA after 17 years, the heartbreak behind that departure, and why he wishes he’d stayed.

Carlos also shares the fascinating journey of building BEOND TV, a digital platform he co-founded with his daughter Amy. From a spelling bee mishap that inspired the name to a vision of uplifting, inclusive content, BEOND is Carlos’s answer to the future of media — content created for and by the people, not just big media gatekeepers.

🔥 Highlights

• KTLA Morning News Origin Story
  “It was lightning in a bottle.” Carlos recounts the early chemistry of the original team and how the 1992 Ventura floods cemented their role in LA TV.
• Why He Really Left KTLA
  After three years without a contract and no clear future, Carlos made a gut-wrenching decision to protect his family — a decision he still questions.
• The Hal Fishman Question
  Did Carlos want to take over the 10pm news? He explains why his strengths were in the morning, and why serious news didn’t quite fit his DNA.
• Building BEOND TV from Scratch
  Carlos and Amy created BEOND to uplift, educate, and entertain — focusing on creators, not gatekeepers. With 10M+ viewers and growing, it’s a platform with heart and hustle.
• The Real Story Behind the BEOND Name
  Spoiler: It involves a fourth-grade spelling bee loss. And yes, it’s hilarious.
• What Content Gets Greenlit?
  Thoughtful storytelling, high production value, and impact. “Big media says no. We’re designed to say yes.”
• Legacy Media’s Future
  Carlos predicts local TV’s survival — but only one dominant station per market. “The economics have changed. So must the model.”
• Remembering Sam Rubin
  Carlos reflects on Sam’s audition, his genius, and the energy he brought to the morning news family.

🎧 Listen If You’re:

• A media professional rethinking your next chapter
• A content creator looking for your own “seat at the table”
• Curious about how the KTLA Morning News became a cultural force
• Wondering how to turn media heartbreak into entrepreneurial fire

📌 Links & Mentions

• BEOND TV
• Follow Jason on Instagram: @MrJasonBall
• Follow the show: @LifeAfterNewsPod
• Subscribe on YouTube: Life After News Channel

🌟 Up Next

Dorothy Lucey joins Jason for another wide-open conversation. From outrageous news director comments to parenting revelations, you won’t want to miss this one.

🔗 Stay Connected to Life After News

· 🎧 Subscribe: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows

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· 📱 Follow: @MrJasonBall & @LifeAfterNewsPod

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Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.