We recently had the chance to connect with Trissean McDonald and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Trissean, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
As cliché as it may sound, I am most proud and delighted in continuously building myself and finding out new things about who I am daily. This didn’t come so easily, and at times it’s still a challenge. Because of the fact that we have to allow ourselves to experience the intricate perception of life, enjoy the company of others, get to know our true selves by being vulnerable, and connecting to a higher power — for wisdom, enlightenment, along with spiritual and mental stability.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For the past two and a half years, I’ve been working in the news industry as a digital journalist. It’s been a great experience, and as I continue working for the company I’m with, it allows for the growth and development of character and professionalism — and being able to be a part of sharing truthful, impactful, moving, and intriguing narratives to the masses will always be a self-interest.
My name is Trissean McDonald, and I work for City News Service based in Los Angeles, California. I’m an alumnus of California State University, Northridge, and since my final days as a Matador, I have continuously pursued the art of storytelling, whether at work or off-duty — during which I disseminate true crime narratives, political satire, and op-eds on my social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I was fascinated by animals. My parents nurtured that passion by allowing me to care for a variety of pets—dogs, birds, a rabbit, a cat, and even a snake. In high school, I joined Future Farmers of America (FFA) to deepen my understanding of agriculture and eventually served as a chapter secretary. I earned several awards for leadership and hands-on agricultural work, including incubating, hatching, and raising chicks.
I originally wanted to become a veterinarian, but life took me in a different direction. I’m not exactly sure what first sparked my passion for storytelling, but I’ve always found comfort in writing—especially poetry—even during the years I spent focused on veterinary science.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
More of a challenge than a fear, there are at times pullbacks of letting go of impactful events and memories that usually become daily deterrents. That also comes from working in the news industry. So, I came up with the idea of communicating or addressing those things through writing. I usually write poems as I’ve been doing since childhood.
However, there are more venues that I would like to explore as well such as comedy. I’ve been recently studying multiple comedians and watching comedy shows to get ideas about writing and delivery. If I can’t avoid the pullbacks, use it for comedy. Why not?
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’ve always strived to be as authentic and transparent whether in complete public view or on social media, to try to be as open and relatable to individuals especially with stories they tell me or vice versa.
Unfortunately, I can’t control the narrative of how others perceive me as a person. Some people may have wonderful things to say, while others may have despicable and deplorable things to say.
All I can do is live by what I know is genuine.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
As an ethical journalist, I’m not afraid to push boundaries. Many important stories go untold simply because they don’t fit mainstream media standards. That’s why I use my social media platforms to share them—regardless of any pushback I may receive for presenting raw, unfiltered narratives.
Whenever certain stories receive little coverage or appear to be censored, I take it as a signal to dig deeper and uncover more information to share with the public. I believe Americans have been conditioned to accept limited narratives, and many are growing increasingly frustrated with being misinformed—or offered only fragments of the truth presented with media approval.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trisseansblog.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trissean_pr?igsh=MTdnc2M5MW9iZGQ2Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trissean-mcdonald-7b6292196?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrisseanM?
