Journalista podcast

Journalista

The untold tale of the woman who broke one of the biggest scandals in U.S. history. The true story of Courtney “Cookie” Hood, former model and ex-wife of a Colombian drug cartel kingpin, hired to manage the CBS/60 Minutes field office in Managua, Nicaragua during the civil war in the ‘80s.  What starts as another big party for her, ends up being the history making adventure of a lifetime, blowing the lid off the Iran-Contra scandal and almost taking down the Reagan presidency. Award winning filmmaker, Steven Esteb, takes us into the dangerous and improbable lives of Cookie and her team of courageous wartime journalists covering the civil wars, revolutions, and US missteps in Central America.   JOURNALISTA is dangerous, irreverent, insatiable, and hilarious.  An inside look at the insane world of combat journalism.  They worked hard, and they partied harder. Stephen Kinzer (former bureau chief of the New York Times) writes: “During the 1980s and 1990s, Cookie Hood was the driving force behind the most successful television coverage of Central America that appeared anywhere in the United States.” Cookie uses her unique mix of charm, balls, and passion for social justice, to get through checkpoints, into jungle military camps, and the highest levels of government.  She's also a clear and present danger to the shadow U.S. government that is using Central America as a right-wing terror experiment in their fight against communism. Cookie and her cohorts are brilliant trainwrecks speeding down a path to self- destruction. At the same time, they might just change the world. Hosted and Created by Steven Esteb Produced by Sean J. Donnelly   Executive Producers: Jason Waggenspack, Ellen K & Roy Laughlin

The untold tale of the woman who broke one of the biggest scandals in U.S. history. The true story of Courtney “Cookie” Hood, former model and ex-wife of a Colombian drug cartel kingpin, hired to manage the CBS/60 Minutes field office in Managua, Nicaragua during the civil war in the ‘80s.  What starts as another big party for her, ends up being the history making adventure of a lifetime, blowing the lid off the Iran-Contra scandal and almost taking down the Reagan presidency. Award winning filmmaker, Steven Esteb, takes us into the dangerous and improbable lives of Cookie and her team of courageous wartime journalists covering the civil wars, revolutions, and US missteps in Central America.   JOURNALISTA is dangerous, irreverent, insatiable, and hilarious.  An inside look at the insane world of combat journalism.  They worked hard, and they partied harder. Stephen Kinzer (former bureau chief of the New York Times) writes: “During the 1980s and 1990s, Cookie Hood was the driving force behind the most successful television coverage of Central America that appeared anywhere in the United States.” Cookie uses her unique mix of charm, balls, and passion for social justice, to get through checkpoints, into jungle military camps, and the highest levels of government.  She's also a clear and present danger to the shadow U.S. government that is using Central America as a right-wing terror experiment in their fight against communism. Cookie and her cohorts are brilliant trainwrecks speeding down a path to self- destruction. At the same time, they might just change the world. Hosted and Created by Steven Esteb Produced by Sean J. Donnelly   Executive Producers: Jason Waggenspack, Ellen K & Roy Laughlin

 

#10

The Smoking Gun

A CIA plane is shot down over Nicaragua, and the rush is on to get the biggest story of th... more

19 Sep 2023

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:22

19 Sep 2023


#9

The Damage Done

The wild life catches up with Cookie, and she finally faces her own revolution. See [omnys... more

12 Sep 2023

57 MINS

57:12

12 Sep 2023


#8

Ambush

At the peak of her powers, Cookie is taking flak from every direction, including an ambush... more

05 Sep 2023

42 MINS

42:37

05 Sep 2023


#7

The Comfortable Scam

Cookie saves the world from a nuclear holocaust, then saves her boys from their own person... more

29 Aug 2023

45 MINS

45:48

29 Aug 2023


#6

Down and Dirty

Cookie leads a news team into the most remote parts of Nicaragua, in search of terror. See... more

22 Aug 2023

46 MINS

46:07

22 Aug 2023


#5

Chicho and the Mermaid

Cookie’s son talks about growing up in a war zone, then his mom faces her own death. See [... more

15 Aug 2023

44 MINS

44:49

15 Aug 2023


#4

The Ever Elusive War

Cookie heads into the jungle looking for the war.  Unfortunately…she finds it. See [omnyst... more

08 Aug 2023

41 MINS

41:19

08 Aug 2023


#3

Partying with Pablo

Cookie’s early life as Mrs. Scarface.  She parties her way into a job with CBS News bureau... more

01 Aug 2023

41 MINS

41:36

01 Aug 2023


#2

This is a Firing Squad

We meet Cookie for the first time as she faces a firing squad.  The murder of a respected ... more

01 Aug 2023

43 MINS

43:22

01 Aug 2023


#1

Introducing: Journalista

Journalista is about the dangerous and improbable life of party girl, Cookie Hood, who is ... more

25 Jul 2023

03 MINS

03:00

25 Jul 2023