As the anchor and executive editor of The Story With Martha MacCallum on FOX News, Martha MacCallum has an incredibly busy schedule — especially during an election year. MacCallum, who has been with FOX since 2004, has covered just about every news event you can think of since then, and she’s gained millions of viewers during her two decades on the channel.
Outside of hosting her show, the hardworking mom of three grown children is the author of the bestselling book Unknown Valor: A Story of Family, Courage, and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima.
MacCallum has also moderated debates and town halls and hosted specials for FOX. Most recently, she hosted Final Journey: 80th Anniversary of D-Day, where she interviewed World War II veterans about their experiences, and she’s currently gearing up to cover the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
Martha MacCallum spoke to Woman’s World about her long tenure as a journalist and how she balances the need to unwind with a nonstop news cycle.
Woman’s World: How did you get to where you are today?
Martha MacCallum: Way back when, I studied political science and theater in college. So I always had these dual interests. Clearly, there’s a lot of theater in politics, which I didn’t anticipate at the time.
I studied theater in New York at Circle in the Square and it was an incredible experience, and I did some very small off-Broadway things before I took a job as a fact checker and researcher for a financial magazine and I really loved it.
That set me on a path that led me to working at CNBC, and that’s where I started my career as a reporter and an anchor. It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve been at Fox for 20 years now. I’ve really loved every minute of it.
WW: What are some of your favorite things about your work?
Martha MacCallum: I’ve always loved learning about all different kinds of things, whether it’s politics or foreign policies or national security. It’s a learning experience every day, which is part of what I love about my job.
I’ve also covered a lot of huge national and international events — the Royal Wedding, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the funeral of Pope John Paul II. I really enjoy putting things in a larger historical perspective and helping our viewers to understand when they’re experiencing something that is a moment in history. Putting that in context for them is one of my favorite parts of this job.
WW: With such a high-pressure job, how do you like to unwind?
Martha MacCallum: I like getting outside and running or walking, or skiing in the winter — anything that gets me close to nature, so I can feel the sun and get some perspective on life. It’s an integral part of every day.
I try to make sure that I’m exercising in some shape or form every single day for at least an hour, and stretching is really important to me. In this job — and with all of us — there’s a lot of staring at our phones and our iPads. Right now I have two phones and an iPad in front of me. My neck is bent forward, as we all spend so much of the day. So I just think it’s really important to do good deep stretches for a few minutes in the morning and at night to unwind.
I try to incorporate meditation into my routine as well. I’ll just do five or ten minutes of a meditation app or a prayer app. I use Calm and Hallow. I find that to be very centering on a busy day, and it only takes a few minutes to remind me about what’s really important in life and keep things in perspective.
It’s challenging, but I find that I perform better when I make sure that I can get those things into my day.
WW: Do you have any beauty tips you’ve picked up from behind the scenes?
Martha MacCallum: I’ve picked up enough from my hair and makeup team to decently put my own makeup on when I have to, and have learned from their artistry. I’m very grateful for their work every single day. They work really hard.
I’m also a big believer in serums and moisturizer. I used to think that just a little drop was all you needed, but now I need more of it. I’ll just dump it on my face, and letting it sink in makes me feel refreshed and better.
I really think, especially the older I get, there’s nothing that’s more important than getting your rest. Sometimes we short-shrift ourselves in that department. I think that there’s nothing more beautiful than a well-rested, healthy woman. So I try to find a way to make sure that that happens.
WW: Is there a specific routine you follow when it comes to wellness?
Martha MacCallum: Eating right is obviously so important. I start every day with a green juice, and I think that makes me feel good. If you can get through the week being pretty good, you can give yourself some cheat days on the weekend, and it won’t catch up with you too badly.
I used to do these things a few times a week, but now I feel that the continuity is really important. So between my green juice and my serum and my moisturizer and getting enough rest, I think those are the most important elements of what makes me feel healthy and rested and ready.
WW: What advice do you wish you could give your younger self?
Martha MacCallum: I remember feeling the importance of an interview or feeling something we had to get on the air was so important that there were times you would just feel like crying. It felt so stressful.
I would tell my younger self not to sweat the small stuff, that everything eventually gets on the air. And if you work really hard, and conscientiously and you do your homework, things will be fine.
There’s going to be failure along the way and you’re going to drop the ball sometimes, but if you stay focused and you’re sincere and conscientious about your work and you have integrity and care about what you do, you have to let the failures and the slip-ups go. It’s all part of the process of becoming wiser about what you do.
