In the 35-minute sports media podcast, Traug Keller — who ran ABC Radio Networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN’s Talent Department & ESPN Deportes — talks about managing Paul Harvey, Sean Hannity, Colin Cowherd, Stephen A. Smith, Scott Van Pelt, Mike Tirico and many others through the years. Keller explains where the media business was and where it is going.
The RUNDOWN …
What changed the most in Keller’s more than two decades at ESPN
Why everyone is now their own program director
The unbelievable job a current New York radio executive has done
Why Joe Rogan and Stephen A. Smith are the Paul Harveys of today
What has changed about new hosts on the air in the current climate
The advice that Keller gave to ESPN that helped lead to Colin Cowherd’s discovery
The power of YouTube
Stephen A’s quality for success
Tirico could have been a big hit on another medium
The insecurity of talent
How Cowherd and Smith were different
Why Paul Harvey was the GOAT
Harvey had the ear of presidents
Stephen A.’s preparation
Working with Mitch Dolan on Hannity national launch and dealing with Roger Ailes
Why Keller left ABC Radio Networks for ESPN Radio in 2004
What was it like reporting directly into a young Mark Shapiro
Keller’s assessment of Shapiro’s potential
Why did ESPN New York never go fully local to compete with WFAN
Keller’s thoughts on the longevity of “The Michael Kay Show”
The Larry David story on Marchand’s job
ESPN New York vs. Mike Francesa
Rush Limbaugh struggled when he first started
Radio and podcasting need patience
The reason Keller wanted clean radio
What happened at the end with Mike Greenberg & Mike Golic
What Keller is most proud of in his career
Freddy Rolon, Patrick Polking, Sean Breen, Tim McCarthy and Amanda Gifford and the “We, not an I” approach
How Scott Van Pelt’s radio impacted his SportsCenter rise
Why Keller would put Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo back together
The PTSD of running the Talent Office
How Nick Khan changed the ESPN game
What was running ESPN Deportes like
The Justin Connolly and Rolon connections
Keller retired and thought he was going to retire, but America Magazine called
Keller loved it, but now has fully retired
Ourand’s jealousy
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On Deck: Marchand & Meterparel
