In episode four of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy is joined by Tasmin Lockwood, a freelance journalist covering tech, climate, and impact across Europe.

From her time at CNBC to launching an independent newsletter, Tasmin shares how her perspective on journalism has evolved—and why human, impact-driven storytelling is more important than ever. They also explore the realities of freelancing, the decline of climate coverage, and how AI-generated commentary is changing the media landscape.

Key moments 00:00 – Meet Tasmin Lockwood (freelance journalist) 01:30 – Life on the road and recent work at CNBC 03:00 – What she learned from covering global markets 04:30 – Transitioning back to freelancing 05:30 – What stories she’s looking for now 06:30 – Balancing meaningful work vs paid work 07:30 – Expanding into editorial strategy & consulting 08:30 – The shift in tech media (Business Insider & beyond) 10:30 – Why climate coverage is declining 12:00 – Launching the Verdant newsletter 13:30 – The role of independent media & Substack 15:00 – Climate, energy, and global instability 17:00 – Why human impact stories matter most 18:30 – Quick fire: pitching, formats & timing 20:30 – What PRs should stop doing 21:30 – What founders get wrong in interviews 23:00 – AI-generated content & “slop” in journalism 24:30 – How to contact Tasmin