Breaking In with Kevin Fishbain: A Sports Media Podcast

Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist and author of "On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports"

In episode 68, Kevin chats with Christine Brennan, national sports columnist at USA Today and author of the New York Times bestseller "On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports." A pioneer in sports writing, Brennan's origin story begins in Toledo, where her diary entries read like AP game stories. She went on to Northwestern to study journalism, and an internship at her hometown paper led her to the sports section, where there were few women. She then interned at the Miami Herald which led to her first job, when she covered the Florida Gators. You'll hear stories about what it was like being the only woman in a locker room, how Brennan navigated the attention, what drew her to sports and her dad's influence, and the work ethic that's guided her career. Hear how Christine Brennan broke in. Interested in learning more about our sponsor, the NSMA, and how it can be a resource for young sports journalists? Head to nationalsportsmedia.org [http://nationalsportsmedia.org/]

Brittany Ghiroli, senior MLB writer at The Athletic

In episode 67, Kevin chats with Brittany Ghiroli, The Athletic’s senior writer covering Major League Baseball. She’s been covering the MLB for nearly two decades, and got her start with an MLB.com internship. You’ll hear how she grew up a die-hard sports fan, got her start in journalism at Michigan State, created an internship for herself in Orlando, and landed with the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays for MLB.com. Ghiroli’s origin story includes great examples of making the most of opportunities that eventually got her to the Orioles beat. Now, the 2019 Washington DC sportswriter of the year from the National Sports Media Association is an authority on the MLB. Hear how Brittany Ghiroli broke in.  Learn more about our sponsor NSMA and what a membership can do for sports journalists at nationalsportsmedia.org [http://nationalsportsmedia.org/].

Ross Dellenger, Yahoo senior college football reporter

In episode 66, Kevin chats with Ross Dellenger, senior college football reporter at Yahoo and the National Media Association's national sportswriter of the year. Dellenger has been with Yahoo since 2023 after five years covering college football for Sports Illustrated. He got his start in his hometown of Biloxi and worked his way through newspapers in the southeast before landing at the Clarion-Ledger. You'll hear about his brief stint doing news as an AP writer, covering Auburn, what it was like writing about college football in Mississippi, and a "welcome to the big leagues moment" covering LSU. Dellenber is now an authority on the biggest news in college football, and he had an impressive route to get there.  To learn more about NSMA, our title sponsor, and the perks to being a member, head to nationalsportsmedia.org [http://nationalsportsmedia.org/]. Hear how Ross Dellenger broke in.

Sean McDonough, ESPN play-by-play broadcaster

In episode 65, Kevin chats with Sean McDonough, broadcaster for ESPN and the Boston Red Sox Radio Network. McDonough has been at ESPN since 1989. He's currently the voice of the Stanley Cup Finals and he can be heard on one of college football's biggest games every Saturday. He calls a College Football Playoff semifinal before voicing the national championship for ESPN Radio. He also is the play-by-play broadcaster for ACC Big Monday on ESPN. During baseball season, McDonough can be heard calling Red Sox games, and that's where his origin story begins. You'll hear how being the son of Boston Globe legend Will McDonough helped shape Sean, what led to his big break in getting the Red Sox play-by-play gig, and what he's learned along the way. McDonough was named the National Sports Media Association broadcaster of the year, and the NSMA is this podcast's title sponsor. Head to nationalsportsmedia.org [http://nationalsportsmedia.org/] for more information. Hear how Sean McDonough broke in.

Ryan Glasspiegel, reporter at Front Office Sports

In episode 64, Kevin chats with Ryan Glasspiegel, media and entertainment reporter at Front Office sports. Prior to his time at FOS, Ryan wrote for the New York Post. One of the top sports media reporters in the country, Ryan explains why the sports media world is still undercovered, and offers his perspective of the landscape for those trying to break in. His own origin story includes working for a furniture store, starting his own blog, getting a gig with Sports Illustrated after a chance run-in, and how that all led to his opportunity at The Big Lead. Hear how Ryan Glasspiegel broke in.