Hoda Kotb Teases Her Surprising Next Project After Today Departure — and It’s Not in Journalism.

After 38 years of chasing stories and reporting behind a desk, Hoda Kotb is turning the page on journalism as she looks towards a new chapter in her life.

In late September, Kotb made the surprising announcement that she would be leaving Today after 17 years to focus on her daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. Now, in her exclusive sit down with PEOPLE, the longtime broadcaster, 60, opens up about a new project she has waiting in the wings.

“I have something that I am super excited about that’s in its infancy.” Kotb says in this week’s cover story.

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“It’s a whole wellness situation, and I got lit up by that just from stuff I’ve been working on and doing on myself,” she explains. “I’ve learned to do a bunch of different things with breath works and what not through friends, through Jenna [Bush Hager], through Maria [Shriver], through all these different people, and I’ve been loving it.”

The television personality says she’s “still early on in the stages” of getting a “really good wellness app together and do wellness retreats and things like that.”

“I think it would be, number one, fun, and number two, helpful,” Kotb continues. “When I learned some of these things, I was like, ‘Wait, why do I feel like my baseline feels less stressed? Why do I feel this way?’ So I was talking about this stuff, and so the more you’re interested the more you go down kind of that path.”

While her new business venture is still “down the road,” she says “it is something that I’m excited about exploring and seeing what’s out there.”

On Sept. 26, Kotb announced her departure to NBC staff in a touching letter before revealing her exit on air.

“As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” she wrote. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”

Hoda Kotb Surprises with New Project After Leaving ‘Today’ – A Shift Away from Journalism

After 38 years of working tirelessly to chase stories and report from behind the desk, Hoda Kotb, who has spent much of her life in journalism, is finally turning the page to a new chapter in her life, one that no longer revolves around the media industry.

In late September, Kotb shocked fans when she announced that she would be leaving Today after 17 years to focus on her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. With this decision, Kotb is preparing for a significant career shift. In her exclusive conversation with People, she revealed a promising new project that, according to her, is very different from the journalistic work she’s done her whole life.

“I have something that I’m super excited about that’s in its infancy,” Kotb shared in the latest interview. This new project, Kotb explains, centers around health and wellness. “It’s a wellness situation, and I got lit up by that just from stuff I’ve been working on and doing for myself,” Kotb added. “I’ve learned a bunch of different things with breathwork and other techniques through friends like Jenna [Bush Hager], Maria [Shriver], and many others.”

The longtime TV personality explains that the methods she learned from her friends have helped her feel less stressed and more at ease in her everyday life. “When I started practicing these things, I was like, ‘Wait, why do I feel like my baseline feels less stressed? Why do I feel this way?’ And that got me more interested and wanting to dive deeper into it,” Kotb said.

Although Kotb’s new venture is still in the early stages, she revealed that her goal is to develop a wellness app and create wellness retreats to help people improve their lives. She believes that her project won’t only be fun but will also be beneficial to participants. “I think it would be, number one, fun, and number two, helpful. When I learned some of these things, I was like, ‘Why do I feel like my baseline is less stressed? Why do I feel this way?’ So I kept talking about it, and the more you’re interested, the more you want to go down that path,” Kotb explained.

While her project is still “down the road,” Kotb expressed her excitement about exploring this new direction and seeing what lies ahead. “It’s something I’m excited about exploring, and I’m really curious to see what’s out there.”

Before leaving Today, Kotb wrote an emotional letter to NBC staff, expressing her gratitude and love for the program she had been a part of for nearly two decades. “As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” she shared in the letter. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you, and it’s time for me to leave.”

Kotb’s departure from Today left many fans feeling nostalgic, but it also marks the beginning of an exciting new journey for her. Though she is no longer in the media world, Kotb is eager to continue making a positive impact, especially in the fields of wellness and mental health, areas where she feels passionate and eager to share with others.