Rachel Abrams, a senior producer and reporter for The New York Times Presents, joins Ali Diercks, a lawyer who took a stand in the #MeToo movement. They discuss the inner turmoil faced by those who came forward with allegations against influential figures like Les Moonves. Diercks shares her reflections on sacrificing anonymity for accountability and the emotional toll it took on her. The conversation unveils the complexities of whistleblowing, moral dilemmas in the legal field, and the broader implications for corporate ethics in the wake of such revelations.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Ali's Career Path
Ali Diercks, a lawyer, initially sought a less prestigious career path.
She felt document review was unglamorous but desired stability.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The CBS Investigation
Ali landed a job at Covington & Burling, working on the CBS internal investigation.
This high-profile case involved Les Moonves, accused of sexual misconduct.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Email
Ali, concerned about the investigation's integrity, impulsively emailed the New York Times.
This act stemmed from reading an article questioning Covington and CBS's cooperation.
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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship
M. J. DeMarco
Unscripted by M.J. DeMarco is a no-nonsense guide to breaking free from the societal script that often leads to a life of mediocrity and financial dependency. The book exposes the invisible script that dictates most people's lives, pushing them into conformity, obedience, and economic servitude. It provides a framework for creating wealth and achieving true freedom through entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of rewriting one's own life script and taking control of one's destiny. The book is divided into sections that identify the problem with the current work culture, explain the script that enslaves people, and offer practical advice on how to go unscripted and build a business that changes one's life[2][3][5].
This episode contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault.
It’s been more than five years since the #MeToo movement, driven by reporting at publications like The New York Times, toppled powerful and abusive men. Behind that essential journalism were sources, many anonymous, who took enormous risks to expose harassment and sexual violence.
Today, Rachel Abrams, a producer and reporter at The Times, speaks to Ali Diercks, a lawyer who provided crucial information for a major #MeToo story. Ms. Diercks has waived her anonymity to discuss the costs of her coming forward and what she thinks about her decision years later.
Guest: Rachel Abrams, a senior producer and reporter for “The New York Times Presents” documentary series.
Background reading:
Ms. Diercks provided anonymous information to The Times about the misconduct of Mr. Moonves, former chairman and chief executive of CBS. Read the reporting from 2018 here.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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