Kristina Guerrero (@kristinaguerrero), former E! News correspondent and host of The List, has spent over 20 years in entertainment journalism. From red carpets in Hollywood to becoming the first Latina host on E! News, Kristina’s story is about breaking barriers and finding resilience.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Kristina joins Melissa DiGianfilippo (@melissadflip) of Proof Publicity to share:

• Why representation matters and how she inspired young women in media
• The pinch-me celebrity moments that defined her E! career
• Her CMA Awards stunt with 50 bottles of Jack Daniels
• Interviewing Taylor Swift before she was a superstar
• How motherhood deepened her empathy as a journalist
• The hardest year of her life: sobriety, finding God, breast cancer, and job loss
• Launching her memoir and podcast She Believed to empower others

This episode blends Hollywood stories, personal resilience, and advocacy for representation from one of entertainment’s most recognizable Latina journalists.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Corina Vanek, development reporter with The Arizona Republic, has spent a decade covering development, business, and the stories shaping Arizona’s growth. From breaking one of the state’s biggest scoops to facing scrutiny over controversial development stories, Corina has seen firsthand the impact journalism can have.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Corina joins Melissa DiGianfilippo of Proof Publicity
to share:

• How she broke the story of TSMC’s $120 billion investment in Phoenix
• Why public records are her superpower as a reporter
• Covering controversial developments and the scrutiny that comes with it
• The Flagstaff tragedy that still sticks with her today
• How her reporting influenced policies and tenant outcomes
• The hobbies and passions (from baseball to bunnies) that keep her balanced

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Rachel Cole (@rachelcoletv1011), anchor and reporter with NBC 12 News, has spent over a decade covering Arizona’s biggest stories. From moments of raw vulnerability on assignment to the lighthearted bloopers that keep her laughing, Rachel has lived every side of journalism.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Rachel joins Melissa DiGianfilippo (@melissadflip) of Proof Publicity to share:

• The firefighter training story that became a career-defining moment
• Why vulnerability connects journalists more deeply to viewers
• How she copes with covering tragedies and child abuse cases
• The hilarious “Utah ocean” Ron Burgundy moment on-air
• Why solutions journalism matters more than ever
• How her family’s support and values shaped her career

This episode blends raw honesty, resilience, and humor from one of Arizona’s most trusted news voices.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Mignon Gould is the Associate Editor of the Phoenix Business Journal and a longtime advocate for inclusive storytelling in business media. With a career that spans fashion journalism, entrepreneurship, and now business reporting, she opens up about reinventing herself—and why the stories that seem small often carry the greatest weight.

• How Mignon made the leap from fashion journalism to business news
• What it was like launching an award-winning diversity platform
• Why she left journalism—and what brought her back
• The unexpected power of reporting on local business
• Her advice for anyone trying to break into media or evolve creatively
• The moments in her career that shaped her as a storyteller

A powerful reminder that small stories, when told with care, can have lasting impact.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube for more episodes of Off Deadline.
Guest: @mignonmedia
Host: @melissadflip

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Meteorologist and reporter Ian Schwartz of Arizona’s Family has spent nearly 20 years covering everything from blizzards and wildfires to quirky weather debates that blow up every Arizona summer. But behind the forecasts and on-air banter is a storyteller who’s seen the very best—and the very worst—of humanity.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Ian joins host Melissa DiGianfilippo of Proof Publicity to share:

• The emotional “Aloha Spirit” he witnessed while covering the Maui wildfires
• Why he once considered leaving TV news for a career in stand-up comedy
• The most bizarre interview of his career (involving a glass eye)
• How humor has helped him navigate tragedy and stay grounded
• The surprisingly unscripted nature of weather reporting (did someone say HABOOB?)
• What it’s really like when social media debates your job every summer

This episode blends heart, humor, and hard-earned perspective from one of Arizona’s most engaging TV personalities.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Johnjay Van Es co-host of the nationally syndicated Johnjay & Rich Show, joins Off Deadline for a hilarious, heartfelt, and completely unfiltered ride through his 25+ years in radio.

He opens up about:

• The wild Rod Stewart moment that catapulted his career
• How a call to Oprah's dad led to a surprise call from Oprah herself
• Pranking another radio station live on TV with a leaf blower 😅
• His most cringe-worthy on-air disaster (and what he learned)
• Why Christmas Wish still gives him chills
• The 13-year-old fan who became a star thanks to a moment with Miley Cyrus
• His secret scuba broadcast… with sharks.

This episode is packed with behind-the-scenes stories, radio industry lessons, and pure entertainment.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

Follow Johnjay Van Es

Follow Melissa DiGianfilippo

🔗 Learn more at proofpublicity.com

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

What do undercover cops, a legal loophole, and one viral headline have in common?

They all collided in a story that actually changed the law—and Sam Eifling was the reporter who broke it.

In this episode of Off Deadline, the Phoenix New Times Editor-in-Chief shares how a tip about Hawaii police officers legally having sex with sex workers turned into a national news frenzy. From a viral Associated Press headline to live NPR coverage and even a Colbert sketch, Sam's reporting led to a real policy change—within days.

With 20+ years of journalism experience (The New York Times, ESPN, Harper’s, Netflix's Patriot Act), Sam also opens up about the stories that never ran, the reporting tricks that actually work, and why writers today struggle to make readers feel something.

🎙 In this episode:
– The viral headline that sparked a law change in Hawaii
– A rodeo van trip that became an epic, $20K magazine story
– Why writing well still wins—even in a TikTok world
– What he wishes more journalists (and PR pros) understood

🔗 Subscribe to Off Deadline on YouTube and your favorite podcast app for more behind-the-scenes stories from journalism’s boldest voices.

Follow Sam Eifling on IG: @sameifling

Follow Proof Publicity on IG: @proofpublicity
Contact Proof Publicity

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

How do you interview a grieving parent—or spend a week reporting on child drownings—without breaking down? Emmy-winning journalist Yetta Gibson of Arizona's Family opens up about the emotional toll of storytelling, the interview that changed her life, and the moment she almost walked away.

From covering tragedy to discovering Chef Jeff Henderson’s untold redemption story (before Oprah and Will Smith did!), Yetta shares how she built a career on connection, not just coverage.

🌟 Off Deadline goes beyond the headlines with the media professionals who live them. Hosted by Melissa DiGianfilippo, Founder & CEO of Proof Publicity, this series reveals the raw, unfiltered stories behind journalism’s boldest voices.

📍 Topics in this episode:
– The emotional cost of being a reporter
– The Emmy-winning story nobody believed in
– How to disarm even the toughest interview subjects
– Why being yourself is a journalist’s greatest asset

👉 Watch now to go beyond the byline.

🎧 Off Deadline is the journalism podcast that takes you beyond the bylines—unfiltered, personal, unforgettable.

📺 New episodes every week on YouTube and your favorite podcast app.
Check out Proof Publicity: proofpublicity.com
📍 Follow Yetta on Instagram @yettagibson & @originalwithyetta
🎙 Produced by Proof Publicity. Follow on Instagram @ProofPublicity and watch on Youtube.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com