BSM Podcast
PASR71: Sarah Spain – ESPN Radio (Part 1)
“It’s very difficult to ask a woman with no voice or respect or credibility in the industry to not be swayed by what they see and to believe that’s how to get there, if what you’re presented is a bunch of beautiful scantily clad woman and they’re continually getting hired, and you’re trying to do it old school and you’re not getting anywhere. It can be difficult to beat that system.” – Sarah Spain
The once-aspiring comedian has also dabbled in being a restaurant server, a ring girl at a boxing match where no one spoke English, a character in a Chinese video game and more.
Spain knew where she was most comfortable and authentic in the working world, and that was sports.
And then she jumped onto eBay, and everything changed (you’ll just have to listen).
As with most guests on the podcast, her road to success in sports radio, TV and writing is a very original one, but this one is easily one of the most fascinating.
And in the end, her endless talent shone through. Her comedic style, intelligence and humility are on display in many places, including here on this edition of The PASR.
This is Part 1 of our conversation with Sarah.
INSIDE THIS EPISODE
- Pursuing a career in comedy, acting, and stumbling into sports broadcasting
- Going to work for FOX Sports behind the scenes after watching a TV taping
- Moving back to Chicago, appearing on WGN and then hearing from ESPN 1000
- How a unique idea on eBay helped her create buzz and put herself on the map
- Why women are swayed by what they see and have to play the game to get noticed
FROM THE GUEST
Sarah’s Twitter handle: @SarahSpain
FROM ZACH
The Podcast About Sports Radio is proud to partner with Barrett Sports Media. For the latest sports radio news around the country, as well as insights and opinions from Jason Barrett and some of the brightest minds in sports media, visit the sports radio industry’s premier website barrettsportsmedia.com.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Jason Barrett is the owner and operator of Barrett Sports Media. Prior to launching BSM he served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He has also produced national shows for ESPN Radio including GameNight and the Dan Patrick Show. You can find him on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or reach him by email at JBarrett@sportsradiopd.com.
Brady Farkas is a sports radio professional with 5+ years of experience as a Program Director, On-Air Personality, Assistant Program Director and Producer in Burlington, VT and Albany, NY. He’s well versed in content creation, developing ideas to generate ratings and revenue, working in a team environment, and improving and growing digital content thru the use of social media, audio/video, and station websites. His primary goal is to host a daily sports talk program for a company/station that is dedicated to serving sports fans. You can find him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady and reach him by email at bradyfarkas@gmail.com.
Stephen Strom can be heard hosting ‘The Sports Talkers Podcast’ for Barrett Sports Media. In addition to hosting here, Stephen works as a broadcasting assistant for the Miami Heat and color analyst for Nova Southeastern. Additional career experiences include working for SiriusXM, performing analyst duties for Princeton basketball, and hosting shows for TalkNorth.com. You can find him on Twitter @SStrom_.
Brady Farkas is a sports radio professional with 5+ years of experience as a Program Director, On-Air Personality, Assistant Program Director and Producer in Burlington, VT and Albany, NY. He’s well versed in content creation, developing ideas to generate ratings and revenue, working in a team environment, and improving and growing digital content thru the use of social media, audio/video, and station websites. His primary goal is to host a daily sports talk program for a company/station that is dedicated to serving sports fans. You can find him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady and reach him by email at bradyfarkas@gmail.com.