4 things we learned from Lauren Verno’s AMA

In our latest Ask Me Anything for News4JAX Insiders, we heard from Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno. And Lauren spilled her guts, sharing everything from the one product she can’t live without to the song that would be the soundtrack to her life. She even revealed the co-worker she gets along best with.

ICYMI: Vic’s AMA | Rebecca’s AMA | Lena’s AMA | Justin’s AMA | Tarik’s AMA | Jenese’s AMA

We’ve got a lot of ground to cover in this recap, so let’s get to it. Like last time, we’ve compiled four takeaways from the live chat, which you’ll find below. Then you can scroll farther down the page to find a more complete transcript of the AMA. You’ll also notice that questions and responses have been edited for clarity.

Here are four takeaways from Lauren’s AMA:

What’s it like to be a journalist and what advice do you have for those who want to become one?

Lauren: My biggest piece of advice for someone aspiring to be a journalist is it is not a glamorous job. No one does your hair and makeup every day, and sometimes it means very long hours for little money. Sometimes you lose sight of why you’re a journalist — until you’re sitting there listening to someone trust you with their story. I like to say I am with people on either the best days of their lives or the worst. Every day is different and you will make a difference in at least one person’s life.

What’s one product you swear by and can’t live without?

Lauren: My Peloton. I have always been active growing up and when my dad passed last year I really needed something to keep my mind and body active. I was introduced to cycling, but when Covid-19 hit, my studio shut down, so I bought a Peloton. It is my biggest stress reliever during the week, and my 45 minutes away from the world. I highly recommend everyone find something to keep them active during this time!

If there was a soundtrack to your life, what would it be?

Lauren: Higher Love by Kygo

Which co-worker do you most get along with?

Lauren: I get along with each co-worker for different reasons. Vic and I had been friends for so many years before becoming co-workers, he really is like a brother. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a co-worker I don’t get along with (Editor’s note: this checks out).

Here’s the rest of the AMA transcript

Is your fiancé a Gator and did you meet at the University of Florida?

Lauren: My fiancé is a Gator, but weirdly enough we never met at UF. We were introduced by a mutual friend in Tampa, but Gator football is a major part of our lives. Go Gators!

Who is the lucky guy and have y’all set a date yet?

Lauren: His name is Chris and he is an insurance agent here in Jacksonville. We’ve been together for almost four years and just moved into our first home last month. So we’re going to enjoy engaged life and our home for a little, but we’re thinking 2022!

Who’s your favorite Florida Gators football player?

Lauren: Tim Tebow. What’s not to love about him?

If you could be a fly in someone’s soup, whose soup would it be?

Lauren: Great question. First of all my favorite soup of all time is Pasta e Fagioli, but it has to be homemade and no my family is not Italian. As for whose soup, it would definitely be my mom. If you’ve ever met her, you’d know she is one of the funniest people alive, and I miss being so close to home.

Where is your favorite place to travel?

Lauren: One of my favorite places to travel to is Washington, D.C. I am a museum nut and love history, so D.C. gets to combine that for me. However, I had a trip to Greece planned this year that got pushed back, so my answer may change :)

What are some of your favorite things to do around town with your dog?

Lauren: I am a HUGE dog lover! My dog Brody is probably my second favorite thing in this world, besides my fiancé. Brody lovesss car rides and going to either Barkwood at the beach or Kanine Social in Riverside.

Do you listen to any podcasts that you would recommend?

Lauren: Yes, I always listen to podcasts when I’m doing errands. My favorite podcast right now is My Favorite Murder, also The Last Podcast on the Left. I’m really into true crime. However, I highly recommend everybody get a library card. I listen to a lot of books on audio tapes and the library has a ton of free ones to listen to.

What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about Jacksonville since moving here from Tampa?

Lauren: How diverse Jacksonville is. It’s still crazy to me how you can drive 45 minutes away and still be in “Jacksonville.” I’m definitely more of a Riverside person, but who doesn’t love going to the beach? And I do enjoy going to the Town Center and shopping. Plus my fiancé's family lives in Middleburg, so I definitely want to give Clay County a shout-out.

How has being a consumer reporter impacted you and what advice would you give to a future news reporter?

Lauren: I can honestly say that my role as a Consumer Investigative reporter has made me a better. more well-rounded person. My boss and I always say we love consumer news because it’s news you can use. Every day when we’re deciding my story, we say, “How will this impact our viewers? what will they learn?" From scams to credit fixes and everything in between, it has made me a smarter consumer and I hope it’s helped you guys as well.

How long have you been at News4Jax?

Lauren: I started in March 2019!

What’s the best part about working at News4Jax?

Lauren: The storytelling. I like to be pushed, and I love to tell a good story. Steve Hartman is one of my journalistic idols and I feel like this station gives me a platform to tell the stories that are going to make an impact on our community.

What do news anchors do when they are done with the newscast?

Lauren: It depends on what newscast you anchor. For instance, I go out and turn stories after I anchor the 9 a.m.

What do you do when you’re not reporting or anchoring?

Lauren: Sleeping.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Lauren: It depends on where but in Jacksonville, I’m a huge fan of Orsay.

Do you have any local coffee shops you enjoy going to?

Lauren: Yes, Southern Grounds! It’s right by the station and they have the BEST food and desserts.

Did you do anything fun last weekend?

Lauren: Yes! The San Marco Preservation Society hosted an event and I went with some friends! It was so much fun and supported a great cause.

What’s your favorite (or least favorite) scary movie?

Lauren: I do not do scary movies. I consider Ghost Busters a scary movie.

Who’s your favorite musician?

Lauren: I think it has to be Avicii. His songs always get me motivated to take on the day.