CCCNews Podcast: News Staff Talk Stories, Hobbies, and Life Beyond the Newsroom

May 8

Written By Columbia Community Connection

By Joshuah Albert

The Dalles, Ore., May 8, 2026 — CCCNews staffers Josh Albert and Aaron Girdham pulled back the curtain on life inside the newsroom during a casual and often humorous podcast conversation that introduced listeners to the personalities behind the stories.

The episode focused less on breaking news and more on the people covering it, as Albert and Girdham discussed everything from journalism and writing habits to hiking in the Columbia Gorge, music, movies, and hobbies outside of work.

Girdham, who joined CCCNews about five months ago as what he jokingly called an “apprentice journalist,” talked about learning the ropes of reporting and writing while working alongside the CCCNews team. Albert, who has worked with CCCNews since 2023, shared stories about covering fires, chasing breaking news and the challenges of crafting headlines and leads.

The conversation also explored how each approaches storytelling differently. Girdham described writing as something that develops naturally as he types, comparing it to the iconic rolling intro of “Star Wars,” while Albert said he prefers to mentally build the structure of a story before putting words on the page.

Outside the newsroom, the two discussed their interests in hiking, music and movies. Girdham reflected on hiking trips in the Gorge and a memorable rainy trek near Sleeping Beauty in Washington, while Albert shared his love of older action and science fiction films. The pair also joked about coffee preferences, newsroom habits, and the odd hobbies they have picked up over the years, including archery and playing musical instruments.

The podcast offered listeners a more personal look at the CCCNews staff and the personalities behind the cameras, notebooks, and keyboards covering stories across the Mid-Columbia region.