LESLEY: You worked here at CBS for how many years?

MIKA: Well I was for three and a half years the overnight anchor on "Up to the Minute." And then I came back for seven more years.

LESLEY: Well, let me tell you, as someone who works here, you were up and coming. They were even talking about you coming over and doing some pieces for "60 Minutes." And, boom, you were gone. Did it come as a total shock?

MIKA: Yes.

LESLEY: Were you just blown over? Was it, as you said, an identity crisis? I think a lot of people in these hard times can learn something from you?

MIKA: Absolutely. I’m writing a book about it and I’m going to be brutally, painfully, embarrassingly honest. And I see myself and my identity as a part of CBS News, because I loved telling stories, I loved the people I worked with and I loved the job I had. And I had been brought up through the ranks.

LESLEY: Right.

MIKA: And my kids thought I was the ultimate of modern working mothers, because I followed my parents’ model and followed the model of women out there before me, and melded marriage, work and family. And I would bring my kids to work with me. I brought my daughter Carlie to a "Sesame Street" shoot. If I did the Sunday evening news, chances were one of my kids were under that desk for the entire show. I made them a part of my work life and I made my work life a part of my home life. And I thought I was doing the right thing. But the bottom line is, I tried to be everything to everybody and I ended up being nothing, ultimately. And it was very public, it was very painful and a lot of women in our industry, and in any industry where you go up really fast and you get ahead really fast, you start to drink your own Kool-Aid and you think you’re untouchable.

LESLEY: You couldn’t get a job. I’m actually astonished.

MIKA: I could not pay someone to hire me. I was damaged goods.

LESLEY: But why? You were at the top of your game. I don’t even know why you were fired. There’s never been anything negative said.

MIKA: No. In fact, I’ve spoken to [CBS News president] Sean McManus since then and we’ve talked. It was subjective — and that’s what he said at the time. And I think I was the “It” girl of the Hayward regime, the regime before Sean McManus. And why would you go with the idea of the regime that you’re replacing? I don’t know. I’m making that up because I have to hold on to something. I don’t think my work was bad.

LESLEY: No, it wasn’t. Your work was great. But the lesson here is that if you work in a company and a new regime comes in, they often — and who knows why — decide to clean out the old regime. And there are lots of victims. Now, tell us, when you couldn’t get a job – how did you cope, psychologically? What did you do?

MIKA: Well, I looked for a job. And, I’ll tell you — I learned how to be a better parent, and it really helps now with this new job. When I left CBS, I knew I was leaving and I hung on for a few weeks trying to fulfill my end of the deal, but it was really tough to come to work. I wanted to tell my kids that I would be leaving. So I told Emilie and Carlie, just while hanging out with them in the living room.