If you thought journalism was just about reporting the news, Lisa Ling is here to blow your mind.

In a recent East Bay appearance, the award-winning journalist dropped some serious truth bombs about our increasingly fragmented society. Speaking at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Ling didn’t just share stories - she dissected the very fabric of human connection in the digital age.

Digital Disconnection

Ling boldly proclaimed what many of us secretly feel: we’re more connected online, yet paradoxically lonelier than ever. “We are digitally connected, yet we are lonelier, angrier, and more divided than I’ve ever seen,” she emphasized, calling out the algorithm-driven echo chambers that keep us isolated.

Global Perspectives

Drawing from her extensive international reporting, Ling shared powerful anecdotes from Iran and North Korea that challenged typical narratives. Her story about young Iranian women secretly craving American-style freedom illustrated how global experiences are far more nuanced than mainstream media portrays.

Breaking Barriers

As an Asian American woman in journalism, Ling candidly discussed the challenges of being overlooked and dismissed. But she’s also incredibly optimistic about the next generation of Asian American journalists who are “unapologetic about their wit and capabilities”.

Ultimately, Ling’s message is clear: stories are how we survive, understand complexity, and create meaningful change. In a world eager to erase uncomfortable histories, she reminds us that confronting difficult truths is the path to empathy and progress.