By Angelina Cappiello
Hall of Fame broadcast journalist Ernie Anastos is starting a 'positive news' revolution to inspire and
empower his audience.
With more than four decades in his field, Anastos is known for delivering hard-pressing news stories in a calm and concise manner. His long list of interviews includes some of the world's greatest talents like Alfred Hitchcock, Lucille Ball, Johnny Cash, and Harry Belafonte, as well as American presidents and international dignitaries alike.
Today, the consummate journalist is set on bringing a much-needed dose of optimism to the news world with his shows, 'Positively America' airing on 200 TV stations, including PIX11 on Sundays at 6 a.m., and podcast 'Positively Ernie' on 77WABC, and the Red Apple Podcast Network, Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcast, iHeart, and Amazon Music.
Showcasing his signature smile and renewed energy, Anastos says his shows shine a light on the uplifting and inspiring news stories that often get overlooked in today's media. His approach aims to connect with audiences and remind us of the resilience and positivity in our world. Something that is sorely missing in today's news climate.
The legendary journalist sat down with Preferred Health Magazine to discuss his renowned career, fondest interviews, and aspirations for his positive platforms.
Preferred Health Magazine: You're a Hall of Fame broadcaster with 30 Emmy Awards and nominations. You've covered many important events, such as the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks and the Covid 19 Pandemic, and interviewed notable world leaders, including President Jimmy Carter, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, and the list goes on. Looking back on your career and looking ahead, what keeps you inspired?
Ernie Anastos: You know, it's a great question. I had this feeling of doing what I'm doing from the time I was, honestly, 10 or 11 years old. I used to sit underneath the kitchen table as a kid growing up in New Hampshire, listening to the radio. When the announcer would talk, I would lower the radio, and then I would try and ad-lib something. And then, when the music came up, I would play the music.
By the time I was 13 years old, I had built a radio station in the basement, and I had turntables and microphones. My friends would come over, and we would do radio shows. We were downstairs in the basement, and they would go upstairs, and my mom was cooking, listening to us doing the broadcast.
At 16 years old, I went to the local radio station, WOTW in Nashua, New Hampshire and I walked in the door, and the program director, Dick Corbin said to me, “What are you looking for?” I said, “I could put records away. I could sweep floors. Whatever you want. I just love radio.” And he said, “Go in the studio. I want you to read it for me.”
So, I sat down, and I felt like I was down in the basement again, reading commercials and the news, and he said,
"I like the way you sound. I'm going to start a radio program on Saturdays with young people. And you're going to be the host. You're going to interview your same age group, and you'll play the top songs from their high school and talk about social issues." And that was my first show at 16 years old. Years later, I went back and I bought that station full circle. Nevertheless, I've been on the air doing this all my life and I think you asked me, what is it that keeps me going? What keeps me going is the initial spirit and the enthusiasm that I had when I was just a kid, I still feel like I'm 16 years old.
I interviewed Deepak Chopra once, and Deepak, you know, is a wonderful guy. We were talking about age, and I said, Deepak, people think about their age and worry about it; aging, being older. He said, "Wait a minute, you know how we have a thermostat in the house? You know, you push the button on the thermostat, and you can adjust it." He said we have a bio-stat; you can control that. You can turn it back X number of years. So, I did a long time ago, even before the good Deepak told me about it. I've turned it back, and in my mind, I'm still a kid. I'm still that little guy, you know, 13, 14, 16 years old, playing downstairs and having fun.
PHM: I used to work for the New York Post and I have run into you a couple of times on the streets of NYC.
Journalist to journalist, you've spoken to so many people, but has there ever been an event or a specific interview that impacted you?
EA: That's a tough question. I was really moved to talk with Jimmy Carter, who just celebrated his 100th birthday. Jimmy was sincere, and I loved his feelings about life. You know, he was happy that he was president. He was honored by that. And he felt privileged that he was honored by that gift to be able to be in that leadership role. But he was also, and still is, a very spiritual person. So, I was motivated by his personal feelings about why he was doing what he was doing, and because we shared that, I think that was a very memorable interview.
But you know, talking to Fidel Castro, to me, was a powerful time. Here's a man who created a revolution that was heard worldwide and was a powerful figure. And I remember looking at him. And when you're actually seeing someone in person, of that stature, you can't help but be moved by that. And I was.
I've talked with Bruce Springsteen, who's a fabulous talent, and here's a guy who is, who's an enormous personality and, and everybody knows him and loves him. But when you talk to him, it's like this one-on-one;
he couldn't have been more sincere.
Alfred Hitchcock was also an interesting interview. I remember asking him, I said, "Mr.. Hitchcock, when you come up with all these ideas for these movies and your television show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, there's always a twist and turn. All these different plots and things that happen. How do you [come up with those ideas]?”
And he looked at me and said, "Oh, these ideas come to me at the most inopportune time really." He said,
"I write them down on a piece of paper." And I said, “So, that's how you can remember. Yes?” And then there was a long pause, and he reached into his pocket. He took some little pieces of paper in his hand, pounded them on the desk, and said, "The future." And I said to myself, “My God, what am I looking at? The Birds? What movie is he going to create right there in his hand?!” That is one creative process. I loved him.
PHM: You continue to have some great interviews on your new shows 'Positively America' and 'Positively Ernie.'
Tell us more.
EA: When COVID hit, it was a very difficult time. Our city, our country, and our world were shut down. I was moved
by that. I still had some time on my contract, but I wanted to take a break. And it was the right time for it. Harvard Business School had a program that was for one year. I returned from that journey and said, I'm going to create a program, “Positively America” - and it's going to be about good things happening in our cities, our country, and the world. And it will be good news that people can appreciate and share.
I created that program about 2 1/2 years ago, and it's a 1/2-hour show. It's called ‘Positively America.’ We're now on 200 television stations across America and in New York. I'm on PIX11, channel 11, on Sunday mornings at 6:00 AM.
And I love the show. Then WABC radio, my very dear friend John Catsimatidis and I teamed up, and I've been on WABC radio for over a year and a half.
I have positive news you can use, and good things are happening. I'll talk about a problem and how we find a solution to it. In other words, my stories have some meat and bones to it. I'll talk about bullying. How can we make it better?
I'll take an issue involving relationships and mental health; we'll talk about the economy. I'll talk about AI. How are we all being affected by the new technology? I put it on the air with good, qualified people. And I talk about how we can make things better, how we can improve life.
You know, I've always worried about being on the news. I'd come on the air many times at night and say, 'Good evening...", then tell people why it wasn't - just a laundry list of all the problems that were going on in the world.
And I said, why can't I tell everybody how we can make it better? So, I decided to turn it around and devote my time to positive news you can use. It's inspiring to me, it's informative, it's educational, and it's uplifting. And that's my mission in life.
PHM: I get that. I love speaking to people about health. It's an intimate topic.
You get to know a person when you speak about the most important thing: their health. However, aside from that, PHM explores various topics, including mental health, relationships, lifestyle, beauty, and technology in medicine. It's essential to educate your audience. Would you agree?
EA: You know, we talk about health as well. Many of the stories we do talk about our mental and physical health.
You're talking about information, a story that impacts many people. It could be moving to another city. It may be getting a college education and improving your work situation. It could be a second marriage, how people handle that. This all has to do with relationships and how you are handling life. And I'm big on that.
PHM: What positive advice could you give to those listening to this or reading your interview in our winter edition?
EA: Erma Bombeck had a great quotation, and I live by that. She said, "When I die, and I come face to face with God, I want to say, you know what, I have nothing left. I used all the talent you gave me."
And that's how I want to do it. I want to empty out. I want to sing the song. I want to keep doing it because that's the most important thing to me, and I want to bring other people along. I get so many chills when I start thinking about reaching out to one person and motivating them to do these things, to feel good about themselves, and to find something really important. Do you want to be a host to God, or do you want to be a hostage to your ego?
Be sure to watch "Positively America" with Ernie Anastos on WPIX11, Sundays at 6 AM EST, and tune in to his podcast show ,"Positively Ernie" available at 77WABC.com, and many podcast platforms.