Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Eckhart
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
From an early age, I dreamt of being a TV journalist. As a natural-born storyteller who loved to be in front of the camera, my passion and goal was to make an impact on a larger scale and to leave an indelible mark in the world by sharing stories that mattered. While attending college at the University of Florida, I was one of the college TV station’s primetime news anchors at their local PBS-affiliate, WUFT News.
After achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications-News from the University of Florida’s top ranked College of Journalism & Communications, I briefly served as a correspondent for ESPN Radio where I hosted the 2011 ESPN College Football Awards. Shortly thereafter, I got “the call’ to join the big leagues working at a top national news network in New York City.
Fast forward to today, I am now a nationally recognized journalist, TV personality, celebrity podcast host and producer as seen on Fox News, the Fox Business Network and Fox Nation. From the New York Stock Exchange to the star-studded red carpet, I single-handedly produced segments and live interviews with headline newsmakers, such as Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Since launching my “second act” after leaving Fox, I join the ranks of a long list of brave women who made the gutsy decision to file a federal lawsuit against a powerful multibillion dollar media giant after coming forward as a survivor of sexual assault.
In reinventing myself away from the world of corporate media, as reported in Variety, I have since emerged as a ‘must-watch journalist’ in the podcasting arena with the release of my own show, REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart, a motivational podcast series focused on inspiring tales of reinvention from some of the world’s most sought-after names in business, sports and entertainment who have overcome incredible obstacles and adversity on their journey to success.
Noteworthy interviews on REINVENTED include Grammy award-winning artists Sean Paul and Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins, supermodel turned business mogul Kathy Ireland, Comedian Dane Cook, AEW wrestling world champion Chris Jericho, NFL Hall-of-Fame Quarterback Brett Favre, Viva La Bam and Jackass Star Brandon Novak, Paralyzed former defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, TV host Melissa Rivers, Oscar-nominated Hollywood screenwriter Terence Winter, U.S. Motorsports Competitor Travis Pastrana, 3x Emmy award-winning actress Patricia Heaton, Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, journalist Gretchen Carlson, NBA star Dwight Howard and Former U.S. Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill. REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart is available on all major podcast streaming platforms including Apple podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and iHeartRadio.
Living in New York City and working in the most competitive news market in the world was a dream come true and instilled in me a passion and work ethic that made me grow up very fast in my early 20s. While NYC will always have a special place in my heart, as a Miami native born and raised, South Florida runs in my veins.
Leaving the concrete jungle and returning to my roots in Palm Beach county, has brought with it a renewed perspective and healthier lifestyle that has reinvigorated my creativity. Moving back home to South Florida was not only key to the next phase of my life and personal growth, but feels like a nature-based prescription.
In addition to my podcasting career, as a survivor of sexual assault and philanthropist, I am now also the founder & CEO of my upcoming non-profit, The Reinvented Project, where I plan to dedicate my organization to providing support for trauma survivors through animal-assisted healing. Through collaborations with leading mental health experts and organizations, my non-profit aims to empower individuals to navigate their healing journey of reinvention while embracing their resilience through the power of human-animal connections.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
After making the brave decision to file federal legal action against a powerful multi-billion-dollar media giant, and publicly identifying myself as a survivor of rape, I had to learn how to navigate Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder while simultaneously reinventing my life.
Taking this step and attempting to hold a powerful member of the media accountable for raping me, and the company who aided and abetted him, was not an easy choice. In fact, I agonized over the decision as I am all too familiar with how survivors of sexual assault are mistreated by the general public, the threats they receive, how their names are dragged through the mud, how they are unfairly blamed for their own assault and how they become the subject of harsh criticism and judgment.
As a survivor, I have, in my many ways, reinvented my life, and rediscovered my voice, after certain individuals and institutions made me believe that silence was safer. It is not.
Silence is comfortable, but it is not courage.
After leaving behind the world of corporate media, I launched a podcast show called REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart, in which I interview celebrities, business leaders and voices from all walks of life who have reinvented themselves both personally and professionally. It has been the gift of a lifetime providing a platform to those who have overcome insurmountable odds, while at the same time, allowing myself time to process my pain, to heal, and most importantly, to celebrate my own resilience.
As I have learned from firsthand experience, there are certain critical moments in life where individuals get a chance to take a negative experience and turn it into something positive that can make a difference in the world. When they have the strength and belief to put themselves out there for a just cause, and at a personal expense, that has the power to change the paradigm.
My story is not just some cautionary tale to the masses, a reverberation of some tragic ‘Me Too’ echo chamber, but rather a delicate thread that’s been woven into a tapestry of resilience that I pray resonates with survivors, and serves as a beacon of hope for those struggling to find their voice.
I invite you to read my most recent op-ed that’s been self-published to my website www.jennifereckhart.com which shares more in-depth context of my story and the struggles I have endured and overcome.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My podcast show, REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart, has seen such great heights since its launch back in 2021, and our audience is only expanding. Today, people are longing for stories of hope and inspiration amid a deeply polarizing political atmosphere. Reinvented has, in many ways, helped bring celebrities and business leaders together from both sides of the political spectrum.
Back when the show launched, we were still living with the after-effects of Covid and lost that element of human connection in that most interviews were conducted virtually behind a computer screen with so many limitations.
Now in a post-Covid world, myself and my team travel to guests across the nation to share their stories in-person. Connecting face-to-face offering my viewers and listeners a chance to hear and to feel these inspiring, organic conversations has truly elevated the entire storytelling experience and has made me a better journalist. I am proud to share these inspiring tales of how others have reinvented themselves against all odds.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My faith and resilience has played a critical role in getting me to where I am today in my life and career while simultaneously battling C-PTSD amid very public, on-going litigation against a powerful multibillion dollar media empire in federal court.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jennifereckhart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifereckhart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.eckhart
- Twitter: https://x.com/jennifereckhart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferEckhart
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reinvented-with-jen-eckhart/id1580971093
Image Credits
Magda Hernandez
