Hey everyone, it's Jay Shetty, and I am so excited to let you know that my latest podcast interview is with the one and only Tom Hanks.
I have left many wonderful atmosphere or a loving atmosphere without thinking, oh, things were really wonderful back then.
I wish I was back there.
Jay, I don't think I've ever thought that.
Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Trust me, you won't want to miss this one.
Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German where we get real and dive straight into Todolo, Atoile, Y Viral.
We're talking Musica, Los Premios, El Chisme, and all things trending in my computer.
I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers.
Each week we get deep and raw live stories, combos on the issues that matter to us, and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight up comedy, and that's a song that only Nuestra Hente can sprinkle.
Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio.
Good morning, this is Laura.
Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's episode is going to be a longer one, part of my interviews series where I talk with fascinating people about how they spend their time.
Today I'm going to be chatting with Tracey Davidson.
Tracey is the co -anchor of my local NBC news stations, 4 o 'clock and 5 o 'clock news programs.
She's won multiple Emmy Awards for her work over the years, and she is a fixture here in our community for her leadership.
So Tracey, welcome to the show.
Good morning, thank you so much for having me.
Thank you for doing this.
So tell our listeners a little bit about yourself.
Well, I have been in broadcast journalism for about 40 years, and I'm grateful that I still love what I do, and I do co -anchor the 4 and 5 o 'clock newscast on the NBC station in Philadelphia.
I also, as part of my role there, am the consumer reporter, but my consumer beat is specifically about helping people who run up against challenges with governments or businesses or something that they just can't get resolved themselves.
That's when they come to me.
And I bet that is pretty satisfying to see problems like solved and people are like, well, wait, if Tracey is on it, I guess I have to make this right now.
You know, it's very, very rewarding.
I always say it's sad that sometimes it takes somebody from a television station to call a company to make them do the right thing.
But a lot of other times, it's just that something has slipped through the cracks, somebody made a mistake, and once they get a call for me, they say, well, let's just check this out.
And then, you know, they find out that the individual is due their washer and dryer or a refund or whatever it is.
So it makes for very satisfying television.
And I mean, part of when we're talking about time management on this show and from being on the air so much over the past 40 years, you probably think of time in a very different way than most people do.
I wonder if you could talk about that a little bit.
Yeah, well, my days, I think because of what I do are in 15 minute increments, everything that I do is blocked in 15 minute increments.
And I see the value in even two minutes, or two and a half minutes, because sometimes we'll have a break that's two and a half minutes in our newscast.
And I know that that's actually a lot of time.
If I have to double check some facts on a story and do a little research, or I have to text my executive producer and ask a question, I can actually get a lot done in that two and a half minutes.
So I value and know the value of time.
And, you know, it also makes me very aware that it's easy to waste that time that could be put to good use.
So yeah, so my schedule is all in 15 minute blocks.
And I know that you move blocks and tiles around.
My tiles are 15 minutes.
15 minutes. Exactly.
Well, and you have some routines through your day.
I wonder if you could talk a little bit about your morning routine.
Sure. So my morning routine starts at five o 'clock, which is coffee and sort of prayer and meditation time.
And then 530 starts to do a quick review of emails just to check on what's happening during the day, because my job is constantly being aware of everything that's happening and what we're covering at the station.
So I do quickly, quickly do that.
And then it's whatever the workout is going to be for that morning, if it's going to walk to the gym, and then work out, or it's going to be drive to another gym and do a class.
So that usually sort of ramps up between 530 and six.
And I'm almost always home by seven.
And I organize my clothes and get ready during seven to seven 18, which is the first segment of the Today Show, so that I see what they have.
And then at 18, it's into the shower and then into clothes and out the door.
And I usually make the 821 or the 851, depending on how my day is going.
A train or a train?
Yeah, okay. Into the city then.
Yeah, into the city.
Yeah. I wonder, I'm curious, do you do anything on the train?
Are you just looking out the window or what's the, what is the usual?
Oh, no, that's valuable time.
Yes. That's valuable time.
And that's why I always look for a seat, even though I always say I sit during my whole day, so I might as well stand.
But if I can be on my laptop, that means I can review things that are make my make my day, my to do list for the day, which I usually make.
Now, I can't believe I'm like going through this whole thing in the afternoon, before I go get up to the set to get really, really ready.
Between 2 45 and 3 o 'clock, I make my to do list for the following day.
But then I sort of review that on the train and say, do I need to add to that?
I also, when I know I need to slow down a little bit, that I'm going too fast, that's when I take a minute and listen to some meditation on the train.
But it's always, it's never a throw away because that's valuable time for me.
Absolutely. And I'm curious with, you know, doing a show that is then in the afternoon, that's when you are on air and the segments you've been doing are airing, how much of that is done before you get into work that day and how much is happening that day?
I mean, I'm very curious how that is sort of plotted out in terms of filling then the time that you are on air later.
Almost all is done that day.
Yeah. I mean, my stories take a little bit longer, and they don't have to run a certain time.
But our newscast is all about news of the day.
And so what we start talking about at 6 30 in the morning, and then plan as our coverage and then go out and plan and shoot and research, that airs that day.
So it's constantly being developed over the afternoon.
And in fact, when I go on there at four, while it might have been gathered, much of what I'm about to read at five hasn't even been written yet.
So I'm so those two and a half minutes or three and a half minutes when we're in a political season, so the, so the commercial breaks are longer are vital for me to be looking at the copy and the stories and making sure they're right.
And are they the most updated information?
So yeah, so it's all being done right then in real time.
And a lot of it is, I'm sure changing as it goes on.
So you got to be quick on your feet with what you thought you were talking about.
Right. It was about to pass at 410.
But when the story comes around again, at 520, the house may have already passed it.
So we're constantly updated.
Yeah, constantly updating.
Absolutely. And for our international listeners, you're like, why is there longer break during ads?
Tracy and I are in Pennsylvania, which is a swing state in the US.
And so we tend to have a robust market in political ads for this season.
Right, Tracy? We are one of if not the most important state to the political campaigns right now.
And if you, if you need evidence, it's you'll see it in the commercials, you'll see it in billboards, you'll see it by the number of visits that the presidential candidates and the vice presidential candidates, the number of visits that they make to Pennsylvania.
So yeah, we're a very popular state right now.
Very purple, very purple.
Very much, but it makes for an interesting job for Tracy, for sure.
Well, we are going to take a quick ad break.
We'll be back with more with Tracy Davidson.
Hey, everyone, it's Jay Shetty.
And I'm so excited to let you know that my latest podcast interview is with the one and only Tom Hanks.
Tom rarely does long form interviews.
So I was so grateful to have the time to dive deep into family, mental health, and the mindset behind his long successful career.
Dude, I travel light and I can travel light emotionally.
Like I'm done. There's stuff that I cannot control.
I have left many of wonderful atmosphere or loving atmosphere or friendly atmosphere.
And like Ernie Banks, the you know, the ballplayer for the Chicago Cubs without ever looking back without thinking, oh, things were really wonderful back then.
I wish I was back there.
Jay, I don't think I've ever thought that.
Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Trust me, you won't want to miss this one.
Hola, mi gente. It's Honey German.
And I'm bringing you Gracias Come Again, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of Latin culture, musica, peliculas, and entertainment with some of the biggest names in the game.
If you love hearing real conversations with your favorite Latin celebrities, artists, and culture shifters, this is the podcast for you.
We're talking real conversations with our Latin stars from actors and artists to musicians and creators sharing their stories, struggles and successes.
You know, it's going to be filled with cheese man laughs and all the vibes that you love each week.
We'll explore everything from music and pop culture to deeper topics like identity community and breaking down barriers and all sorts of industries.
Don't miss out on the fun.
And live stories. Join me for Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German where we get into Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
I am back talking with Tracy Davidson about her routines and how she manages her life.
Tracy is an anchor on our local NBC station here in Philadelphia.
So Tracy, maybe you can talk about what some of your biggest time management challenges are these days.
Well, so even though it sounds like I have my mornings planned out, those are always a challenge, especially because for me, there's this issue of clothes.
I have to wear clothes to go report in and then I have to take clothes to go on TV in.
And so I just have to be very intentional and say that Sundays are my prep days.
And I have to take a solid half hour if not hour to lay everything out.
Otherwise, the dominoes could fall as the as the days go on in the morning.
So yeah, that's I have to make myself do that on Sundays because I realized by Wednesdays, if I haven't done that and I'm scrambling at 719 when I should be in the shower to, yeah, to find my clothes and to figure out what I'm wearing and where the shoes are.
And so that's definitely, that's definitely a challenge.
I was going to say that that seemed I mean, the seven to a 718 timing for somebody who is on air getting ready seemed pretty incredible to me.
So I guess I'm glad to hear that it's that it's a little longer than that.
Oh, yeah. Well, that's, that's the time that I am not in the shower, right?
So I'm getting everything ready.
So I can listen and sort of keep an eye on the today show.
And then it's 78. So really, it's not 18 minutes, it's getting everything ready.
And then I jump in the shower.
So it's more like 40 minutes to totally get ready.
Gotcha. Gotcha. So what is the difference between something that you would be wearing to report in versus an on camera outfit?
Oh, well, an on camera outfit would be something that is less comfortable and with heels.
And that the reporting is very much just street clothes, just something that I would go out in the street and report, go visit somebody's house.
And it's just, it's just a little bit more laid back.
Yeah, I'm curious for on camera thing though.
I mean, especially as more and more people spend parts of their life on camera.
Any advice you have for people on looking good if you're going to constantly have a camera on you?
You know, I know, I guess, you know, I see people here, here would be my advice is just to be just to look natural.
Because and I think that it's even gone a little bit more that way, even on air and on our sets.
Because I don't know, it just doesn't seem real.
Everything that we see on social media these days is not real.
And I think people would prefer to see real, we know what yet look like all perfect.
But that's only like a sliver of your real life.
But somehow, then everybody watching it interprets it into Oh my gosh, look, they always look perfect.
I would prefer to tell people, everyone looks just okay.
You know, when they go on camera, I would love that, believe me, I would love that.
Yeah, if I could show up one day and say, you know, it's the same journalist, whether I have all my makeup on, and my hair done pretty, yeah, or me in a ponytail.
Yeah. And a button down shirt.
Yeah, because that's something that you then have to build into your workday before four o 'clock as well as is hair and makeup?
To how much of a time does that tend to take?
I assume you're multitasking as it happens?
Yes, I am. Yeah, I usually do it.
We have an editorial meeting from two to 220.
And during the editorial meeting, I listen and put on my makeup.
Excellent, excellent.
Yeah. And so in order to be up at 5am in the morning, what time are you going to bed?
And what does that look like on the other end of your day?
930 is a hard out. In fact, in fact, I set my phone alarm to that.
So yeah, I'm constantly, I guess because of what I do, I can, I'm always back timing.
I'm always thinking how much more time do I have until this happens?
So by about 915, I am ready to crawl in bed with a book, even if I read only three pages, that's sort of the, be in bed by 915.
That's the idea. Yeah.
So when you come home after the five o 'clock segments have aired, are you getting on another train and heading back to the house?
What does that look like?
Yes. So I walk out of the station at 610.
I get on the train at 620.
My husband picks me up at 650.
We get home, we eat at seven o 'clock.
We're pretty routine.
And by 730, I'm either cleaning up the kitchen or walking the dog, or we both clean up the kitchen and we both walk the dog.
Excellent. And so by eight o 'clock, it's, you know, eight to nine is the relaxation time.
And if I really need an extra boost, that's my time to do crafts.
What do you do? Oh, just anything.
You know, I make things, I make things with shells, I put candles in deep shells, or I make candles in antique tea cups.
It's just sort of what fills me up when I'm really drained.
Yeah. Well, I want to talk about a little tip that you just gave, I'm going to ask you for a few more time management tips for our listeners.
But you mentioned you set your alarm for 930 to get yourself in bed.
What led to that? And how is that helpful?
Yeah, I think that we all need, I mean, we can all get, and I, if you, I know that nobody can see this, and we're just seeing each other, but if you could see how many alarms I have set on my phone throughout the day, because then that allows you to get deeply into whatever you're doing.
And then it will remind you, if I'm constantly thinking, and this mostly happens at work, but if I'm constantly thinking, oh my gosh, I have a Zoom interview coming up at 1115, then I can't get deep into the story I'm writing at 1030.
And so if I set my alarm for 1110 for an 1115 Zoom interview, then I know I can just sort of set it aside and know that that will, that will get me, that will get me where I need to go.
Because otherwise, I'm just thinking about, I hope I don't miss this, and I hope we don't miss this, and then that makes the time between 1030 and 1110 not all that valuable because I can't get deep.
Yeah, yeah. Now setting alarms to call attention to things is a, is a great technique.
Well, we're going to take one more quick ad break, and then we'll be back with a few more tips from Tracy.
Hey everyone, it's Jay Shetty, and I am so excited to let you know that my latest podcast interview is with the one and only Tom Hanks.
Tom rarely does long form interviews, so I was so grateful to have the time to dive deep into family, mental health, and the mindset behind his long successful career.
Dude, I travel light, and I can travel light emotionally, like I'm done.
There's stuff that I cannot control.
I have left many wonderful atmosphere or a loving atmosphere or a friendly atmosphere.
And like Ernie Banks, the, you know, the ballplayer for the Chicago Cubs without ever looking back, without thinking, oh, things were really wonderful back then, I wish I was back there.
Jay, I don't think I've ever thought that.
Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Trust me, you won't want to miss this one.
Hola, mi gente. It's Honey German, and I'm bringing you Gracias Come Again, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of Latin culture, musica, peliculas, and entertainment, with some of the biggest names in the game.
If you love hearing real conversations with your Latin celebrities, artists, and culture shifters, this is the podcast for you.
We're talking real conversations with our Latin stars, from actors and artists to musicians and creators sharing their stories, struggles, and successes.
You know it's going to be filled with cheese man laughs and all the vibes that you love.
Each week we'll explore everything from music and pop culture to deeper topics like identity, community, and breaking down barriers in all sorts of industries.
Don't miss out on the fun, el te caliente and life stories.
Join me for Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get into todo lo actual y viral.
Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Well, I am back talking with Tracy Davidson, who is a co -anchor on the local NBC news station in my area in Philadelphia.
So Tracy, I wonder if you can maybe share one more time management tip that helps you with your busy life.
Well, as you just pointed out, I think setting my alarm really helps.
And I also, you know, I just, I lay it out.
I really know what my day is going to be and can change of course, because I'm in news.
But when I have a plan, then I know sort of what the goal is.
And that that's very helpful to me, short term and long term the day and then the week.
I'm I can look out over my week on Sundays and say, All right, this is going to be a night that maybe I pushed past 930 because I have to be out at a speaking engagement.
And then I know that the next night I got to tuck it back in make and make sure that I give myself some time to recover.
So I mean, I think that I'm always looking at long term and short term.
And you do this weekly planning on Sunday.
I mean, as you're thinking about your week, and then also choosing your outfits and all those good things.
Yeah. Awesome. Any sort of time on Sunday that tends to happen or when it's just when it happens?
Oh, I think that, you know, the whole back time thing starts happening around three o 'clock, thinking, thinking it's time to start getting into work mode.
But around our house, we're very conscious of the of the Sunday scaries.
And so we try to make something fun for dinner or just get that ready.
And then we can relax a little bit.
Nice. That's good to know.
So maybe Tracy, you could talk about something, one of our taglines on this show is taking days from great to awesome.
What's something that you've done recently that has taken one of your days from great to awesome?
You know, I you know, working out is has always been a priority for me.
But I have, for the last few years, just gone to the gym to just lift weights or just do a class or and years ago, I used to walk for a full hour before I worked out or anything.
And so now I've sort of added that back in, because it gives me time, it gives me it gives me think time.
And I've realized that that my thought work, which is critical to all the things I do, whether it's speaking to women's groups or working on a story, any of that requires thought time.
And my best thought time is in the morning.
And so I've really been taking that time to get up and go for a walk.
And I and I keep a little notebook with me all the time now, so that I write things down.
And and that has really made a huge difference in my life in the last six months.
Because you have to come up with ideas all the time, correct?
Yeah, I mean, well, we hear from people who need our help.
So that's helpful. But I'm always thinking about ways to present all the things I talk about resilience and confidence in my speaking world.
I'm always thinking about new ways to talk about that new things that I can learn about the skills about science.
And yeah, so that's what I'm always thinking about.
I wonder if they're, you know, in your speaking, you know, you talk about ways for people to be more resilient.
I know you've experienced various challenges in your life, too.
I mean, I wonder if there is sort of, I mean, something you can help people think about to tap into that resiliency.
I mean, if there is something you're gonna advise people, like, I want to be more resilient.
I mean, what is one thing you can do?
Well, I think it's just choosing the outlook, right, of all the things, all of the choices that we can have taken away from us.
The one choice that we can always make is how we're going to see a given event or a person.
It's a choice. And so you can let that person to make you crazy, or you can say, that person is different than I am, and it's okay.
And because you're hurting yourself, you're slowing yourself down, right?
Same thing with the situation.
I can see this situation as horrible.
Oh my gosh, the world is going to hell in a handbasket.
Or I can say, okay, there are some things that are not great about this world.
There are wars, and there are famines, you know, there are terrible, terrible things.
And, and there are really good things happening in the world.
And I have the ability to change my world right now, the people that I interact with right now.
I can't solve a war, but I can change the culture in my little office.
I can be kind. I can see a stranger on the street and say, hello.
I have, I have the ability to, and that's huge for resilience, to be able to see something and choose to see it in a way that is hopeful.
There's a lot of power in that word, and isn't there?
That's one of my favorite words because I think that we, we always think that it's or we tend to think that it's one way or the other.
And most times with almost everything, it's an and.
Yeah. Yeah. So Tracy, what are you looking forward to right now?
Oh, well, I have a lifting your voice conference that's coming up and it will be in the middle of October and it's a hundred women coming together, talking about resilience, talking about their challenges, talking about confidence taught.
And, you know, we all have sort of threads that run through what everyone's lives that, that connect us.
And I'm really looking forward to one of the subjects we're talking about is transition.
Because we all go through many transitions throughout our life.
We don't really see them because there are many, right?
But then when huge transitions come up, a change in job, a change in marital status, the loss of a spouse, say moving to someplace new, a diagnosis, whatever the transition is, all of a sudden we are thrown for a loop and it's just change and it's just resilience.
And there are steps that you can sort of ease yourself through that with self -compassion.
And that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to talking to people about because every woman that I come across lately seems to say that they're in a period of transition and they're feeling a little unstable.
Yeah. Well, I guess we're all in transition all the time.
Maybe that's the new normal.
Yeah, I think so. Well, Tracy, this has been fascinating.
Maybe you can tell our listeners where they can find you.
Sure. You can find me at TracyDavidson .com.
You can find me at liftingyourvoice .com.
And you can find me at NBCPhiladelphia .com.
Excellent. Well, Tracy, thank you so much for joining us.
And to my listeners, thank you for listening to again, one of these longer before breakfast episodes.
If you have feedback on this or questions you want me to forward to Tracy or other people you'd like to hear from in the future, please let me know.
You can always reach me at Laura at LauraVanderKam .com.
And in the meantime, this is Laura.
Thanks for listening.
And here's to making the most of our time.
Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.
If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at Laura at LauraVanderKam .com.
Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia.
For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hey, everyone, it's Jay Shetty.
And I am so excited to let you know that my latest podcast interview is with the one and only Tom Hanks.
I have left many wonderful atmosphere or a loving atmosphere without thinking, oh, things were really wonderful back then.
I wish I was back there.
Jay, I don't think I've ever thought that.
Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Trust me, you won't want to miss this one.
Hey, friends, I'm Jessica Capshaw.
And this is Camilla Luddington.
And we have a new podcast, Call It What It Is.
You may know us from Graceland Memorial, but did you know that we are actually besties in real life?
And as all besties do, we navigate the highs and lows of life together, big or small, we're there.
And now here we are opening up the friendship circle to you.
Listen to Call It What It Is on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
