Meet Billy Ball

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Billy Ball a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Billy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I’m a longtime journalist, but thelivingsouth.com, my new project about the most interesting people in the American South, came out of some very bad things.

In 2023, I lost my 6-year-old son in an accident. Because I was a journalist who had written about the COVID-19 vaccine, people on the internet who opposed vaccination made up a story about how the COVID shot was the cause. They said I killed my son by having him vaccinated. I received thousands of nasty messages.

Afterward, I considered whether I wanted anything to do with working in media. Ultimately, I decided that if I was going to stay in journalism, I would do things differently. People are feeling grim and angry. They’re not interested in other people or their points of view.

I heard someone say that “good journalists should zig when everyone zags” and I think it’s good advice. So, to me, TheLivingSouth.com is going to be the opposite of all those cynical, incurious thoughts. I will tell stories about riveting people—like the guy from Alabama who’s traveling around the country and mowing lawns for elderly people and veterans. I’ll be curious, authentic, and, generally, optimistic about people. Hopefully readers will respond to that.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I created The Living South recently because, honestly, I didn’t see many journalists doing anything like it anymore. My goal is to interview the most fascinating people and then write about them like a good, nuanced storyteller would, with an understanding of the history and the people here.

The South is filled with fascinating people and good stories. But there are so few native Southerners in the business who are telling the stories. The occasional report from a New York Times writer who’s parachuted in—it’s just not cutting it.

Food, history, politics, racial justice, culture — I consider it all fair game for The Living South. I’m starting small, without paid advertising, so word-of-mouth is essential. Subscriptions are free, although if people want to support this work (and I hope they do), there’s a $4 paid subscription where you get an audio version of the stories too.

I also wanted to write some good stories without all the creaky machinery of the industry — the obsession with clicks, social media influencers, and canned political narratives. I think there are people who are eager for nuanced, deep storytelling and they’re willing to invest in it. With so much distrust in the media right now, people are following individual journalists and not brands. I’ve spent my career building trust as an investigative reporter and enterprise reporter, so I want to leverage that.

In addition to The Living South, I have bylines in The Atlantic, at MSNBC, The Washington Post, and many others. You can also track me down as senior editor at Cardinal & Pine, an online news site in North Carolina aimed at combatting online misinformation and news deserts.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I’m still in my journey, so I can best answer this question in 20 years. But for now, here are three things I believe in:

1. Doggedness. There are so many people and platforms who will overlook you and make you feel like you’re not worth it. Use that. Get a chip on your shoulder. You deserve to be heard.

2. Always look to get better. No matter what, there’s somebody out there better than you at what you’re doing. Don’t be discouraged by that. Keep getting better. Keep reading, writing, exploring. Life can be so hard, but it can be so rewarding too.

3. Balance your life and work. It’s hard to be the best at work when you’re not putting in time to recharge at home.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I have a lot of experience in this area.

A few years back, I lost my 6-year-old son in an accident. I’ll never get over it. And afterward, it was hard to feel like there was any point in writing and creating and trying.

My strategy was to spend time with my family and do what I love in the most basic way. I didn’t ask myself to write the heavy investigative stories I was accustomed to. I learned patience too. It’s so important to be patient with yourself when you’re having a hard time. Be your biggest ally because just about no one else is going to.

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