Taylor Rooks and Jim Ross

Episode 53 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is Taylor Rooks, a host and reporter for Bleacher Report and the host of “Take It There With Taylor Rooks,” which airs on Bleacher Report. She is followed by Jim Ross, the iconic wrestling broadcaster who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling as a commentator and senior advisor. He also has a new podcast — Grilling JR – with Conrad Thompson.  In this podcast, Rooks discusses her career arc and how she landed a national sports interview show at age 26; how her age is an asset with athletes; mentors such as Cari Champion and their impact on helping Rooks guide through the sports media business as a women and women of color; whether she feels pressure as the face of a B/R campaign; speaking truth publicly on topics such as race; her interviews with Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Saquon Barkley, Elena Delle Donne and Rudy Gobert among others; the role of “each one, teach one” in her life; what she hopes to achieve long-term and much more.  Ross discusses the attributes a wrestling broadcaster must have to be successful; the similarities and differences of calling traditional sports vs. sports entertainment; the level of knowledge he had on finishes when calling WCW/WWE/WWF matches; his new role with AEW; why he thinks it is foolish to think about competing with WWE in 2019; what he expects from the television product for AEW; the popularity of wrestling nostalgia and attending wrestling conventions; his evaluation of WWE broadcasting talent; his new podcast with Conrad Thompson; why Becky Lynch has popped where others have not; his personal relationship with Baker Mayfield and longtime Oklahoma football fandom, and much more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more.