On Assignment With Me

I'm back from a bit of a hiatus that included attending a week-long course at Harvard Kennedy School, on Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century. In this episode, I recap my top three takeaways from the program, reflect on the feeling of being in a classroom again, and talk about why I came out of it feeling surprisingly optimistic about the future. I hope you take something away from my candid reflection about my brief time in Cambridge.

On this assignment, I take you with me on my personal journey to become a better journalist and newsroom leader.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm

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To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

In this bonus episode, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa talks about some of her greatest learnings, how she reacts to the criticisms and online hate against her, and gives advice on how to live a life with no regrets.

We also talk about the mental health toll of being female journalists under attack.

In her most personal interview yet, I speak to my mentor and friend, and one of the most famous journalists of our time.

Note: This interview was filmed in August 2025

Listen to Episode 10 and 11 for the full two-part interview.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm

Follow @natashya_g on YouTube for video episodes, and on Instagram, Tiktok, X and Facebook for updates.

Support independent journalism and this podcast: buymeacoffee.com/natashya_g

To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

#mariaressa #journalism #nobelpeaceprize #corruption #philippines

"It's a perversion... to have hate, anger, fear spread faster. That is the worst of who we are as a people," says Maria Ressa, one of the most famous journalists of our time. "This is a moment of truth for our generation."

On the second episode of our two-part conversation, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate warns that the death of democracy is looming – unless we act collectively, now. With the prevalence of artificial intelligence, the impunity of big tech, and the loss of trust, she explains why she believes "we are standing on the rubble of the world that was," and shares why she continues to be optimistic that we can "build better."

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm

Follow @natashya_g on YouTube for video episodes, and on Instagram, Tiktok, X and Facebook for updates.

Support independent journalism and this podcast: buymeacoffee.com/natashya_g

To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

This is Maria Ressa like you've never seen her before.

In her most personal interview yet, I speak to my mentor and friend... who also happens to have won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. Maria talks about the most formative moments of her life, how she sticks to her values in a fragmented world, and what the Nobel meant to her.

"The minute you become corrupt, you can't help it," she says. "You will follow a path. You will never be clean again, right?"

On this assignment, we get up close and personal with one of the most famous journalists of our time.

Note: This interview was filmed in August 2025

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm

Follow @natashya_g on YouTube for video episodes, and on Instagram, Tiktok, X and Facebook for updates.

Support independent journalism and this podcast: buymeacoffee.com/natashya_g

To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

#mariaressa #journalism #nobelpeaceprize #corruption #philippines

One of the things I love most about the work I do is being able to speak to individuals with influence and power, ask them questions, and push for accountability for citizens. On this episode, we sit down with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) head Vince Dizon, who has been tasked to lead what has been coined the Philippines' most corrupt government agency.

My assignment today is to understand the work he is doing to try and reform a deeply corrupt system, challenge his thoughts on the president he serves, and get to the root of what drives him.

The DPWH in the Philippines serves as the government's construction arm, tasked with building infrastructure projects across the entire country. But it is now at the heart of the nation's largest corruption scandal in history, as investigations reveal that lawmakers, government engineers and contractors colluded to pocket billions of dollars of taxpayers' money meant for flood control structures. As a result, millions of Filipinos are left to suffer and made even more vulnerable to flooding and the climate crisis, while public officials enriched themselves and their families.

In this honest and enlightening conversation, Dizon – who was appointed in September 2025 – talks about his trust in Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr, how this new job has personally affected him, and in a light moment, shares his thoughts on being named one of the most Googled male personalities in the Philippines in 2025.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm

Follow @natashya_g on YouTube for video episodes, and on Instagram, Tiktok, X and Facebook for updates.

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To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

#vincedizon #dpwh #philippines #floodcontrol #corruption

EXCLUSIVE: Amanpulo resort on Pamalican Island in Palawan is an ultra luxurious, ultra private enclave for the super wealthy that is only accessible via private plane. Our investigation reveals that a multi-million dollar, four-bedroom villa that sprawls over an acre surrounding an infinity pool has ties to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

My assignment today is to dig through public documents to attempt to trace the ownership of this property.

Public records show that in 2024, the year it was allegedly acquired, Romualdez's close business associate and fraternity brother Jose Raulito Paras became treasurer of the holding company that owns the property. The paperwork also raises questions, as on the year that the ownership changed, the name of the villa owner was withheld for the first time in almost two decades.

Romualdez is the first cousin of Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr and one of his closest allies. He is one of the top government officials allegedly linked to the flood control corruption scandal, an accusation he denies.

The paperwork also shows patterns that match previous multi-million properties linked to Romualdez.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor...

Follow @natashya_g on YouTube for video episodes, and on Instagram, Tiktok, X and Facebook for updates.

Support independent journalism and this podcast: buymeacoffee.com/natashya_g

To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

#amanpulo #martinromualdez #lifestylecheck #philippines #floodcontrolcorruption

The world's first social media ban for children under 16 was rolled out in Australia in December 2025. Australia is noted for priding itself on being strong on regulation and being at the forefront of change, with the law being a bold, new move. It's aimed at trying to make tech platforms more responsible for what they are doing with algorithms that target early teenagers, and to protect children from online harms while attempting to claim their childhood.

The intent is good, but could it actually work and more importantly, is this something that we could see happen globally? 

My assignment on this episode is to dig deeper into the social media ban to understand the good and the bad of this law, and it's global significance.

My guest is Dr Ross Tapsell, an associate professor at the School of Culture, History and Language at the Australian National University.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm/
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#socialmediaban #australia #digitaldivide #socialmediaplatforms #bigtech

In the second part of this two-part interview, we examine what's next after the flood control corruption scandal: can ill-gotten wealth be truly recovered? What does President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. need to do to prove he's serious about overhauling the system? Will charges be filed against former house speaker Martin Romualdez who is the president's first cousin?

We continue our conversation with Ruben Carranza, who was the commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government from 2001-2004, in charge of litigating and investigating ill-gotten wealth accumulated by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, his family, and associates – including the Romualdezes.

Now a lawyer with the International Center for Transitional Justice, he tells us why he is dubious about accountability and what the Philippines needs to do to ensure this sort of wide-scale corruption doesn't happen again.

Watch Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LopvC2FZoUo&t=131s

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm/
Follow @natashya_g on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook.
Support independent journalism and this podcast: buymeacoffee.com/natashya_g

To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

#martinromualdez #bbm #philippines #corruption #floodcontrolcorruption

In this two-part interview, we revisit the New York City property acquired by the Romualdez family – a prominent clan in Philippine politics –which was first exposed during the launch of this podcast. My assignment this week is to understand how the family of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez acquired their wealth.

We speak to Ruben Carranza, who was the commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government from 2001-2004, in charge of litigating and investigating ill-gotten wealth accumulated by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, his family, and associates – including the Romualdezes.

Now a lawyer with the International Center for Transitional Justice, he tells us about the family’s historical ties to the Marcos dictatorship, their rise to wealth and power, and the mechanisms they used to accumulate and hide their assets.

Stay tuned for Part 2.

Note: This episode was recorded in December but postponed for release to make room for reporting on the Bondi terrorist attack.

If you want to learn more about the New York City property, listen to Episode 1.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm/

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To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com

On this bonus episode, we continue our previous conversation with Dr. Ritesh Malik (Episode 4), a doctor from India who left medicine behind to pursue entrepreneurship... and became a millionaire in his 30s.

Ritesh realized he didn't feel fulfilled as a doctor, took a huge leap, and shifted careers. In 2015, he founded Innov8 Coworking, a startup that just four years later, was acquired by Softbank-backed OYO, an Indian multinational hospitality chain. Today, Innov8 is a significant coworking player across India – offering flexible offices in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

As a young leader in India’s digital startup ecosystem, Ritesh now plays an active role in backing over 125 startups, and investing in public equities and real estate. In this extension of our original conversation, we talk about how he chooses to invest his money, his tips on how to become successful, and what mission drives him today.

If you want to listen to the start of the conversation, check out Episode 4.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app: https://onassignmentwithme.transistor.fm/

Follow @natashya_g on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook.

Support independent journalism and this podcast: buymeacoffee.com/natashya_g

To know more about my work, go to natashyagutierrez.com