In this episode, Bryan Buckley sits down with Suzy Kolber, who spent nearly 30 years at ESPN as an anchor, sideline reporter, and one of the most trusted interviewers in sports. From prepping NFL Draft prospects to saving a live broadcast when the No. 1 pick wasn’t in his seat, Suzy shows how preparation creates the freedom to listen, connect, and pivot under pressure. It’s a masterclass in winning the first five minutes of any sales meeting, client call, or networking conversation, because trust always comes before business.
Main Topics Covered
- How pre-work turns a quick interview into a personal moment
- Making Zoom small talk feel meaningful
- Locked-in listening and why the best follow-up is often just “why?”
- Why taking notes signals respect, not weakness
- Staying calm when a conversation goes off script
- Connecting before selling, and Suzy’s reinvention after ESPN
Timestamps
00:00 – Why This Interview Matters
02:34 – Chicago Sports Stories And Walter Payton
06:08 – Life After ESPN And A New Door
11:00 – Draft Prep That Makes Moments Personal
17:02 – Zoom Small Talk With Real Substance
20:14 – The Originals And The Power Of Unconventional
25:53 – The Interviewing Rules ESPN Taught Her
32:52 – Listening Under Pressure And Taking Notes
37:24 – Staying Calm When Things Go Off Script
42:40 – Reinvention, LinkedIn, And Finding Sponsors
48:32 – Rapid Fire Questions And Favorite Prompts
53:19 – Trust First Then Business Follows
54:42 – Free Cheat Sheet And Closing Message
Featured Guest
Suzy Kolber is an award-winning sports broadcaster who spent nearly 30 years at ESPN as an anchor, NFL sideline reporter, and interviewer, including covering the NFL Draft. A trailblazer in a male-dominated industry, she played organized football at age 10 and built a career known for thorough preparation, sharp listening, and earning the trust of the athletes and coaches she covered. Today, she hosts The Originals with Suzy Kolber on Scripps Sports. The show features conversations with people who followed their passion in unconventional ways, including Jesse Cole, Jon Gruden, Hilary Knight, Diana Flores, Steve Young, and Lisa Salters. New episodes air Tuesdays at 8/7c, and the full season is available on the Scripps YouTube channel.
Watch Suzy’s New Show: The Originals with Suzy Kolber
In The Originals, Suzy sits down with people who followed their passion in unconventional ways and found success on their own terms.
New episodes air Tuesdays at 8/7c on Scripps Sports, available on every major streaming platform. All six episodes will also be on the Scripps YouTube channel once the season wraps.
Cheat Sheet
Suzy Kolber spent 30 years getting real answers from athletes in the highest-pressure moments in sports. Her edge? Prep so deep she was free to improvise. Get her playbook for the 1st 5 Minutes of any conversation in our free Episode 048 cheat sheet.
Watch the Video
Prefer to watch? The full episode is available on YouTube.
Podcast Resources
30 Connection Questions for Stronger Business Conversations
A curated set of questions designed to elevate the quality of your conversations and help establish stronger connections within the 1st 5 minutes.
The System Elite Connectors Use to Remember Names
A practical, step by step approach for improving name recall and strengthening your ability to build relationships in professional environments.
The Book
This book presents the complete framework for creating powerful first impressions and developing meaningful connections from the very beginning of a conversation. It expands on the strategies discussed in this episode and offers practical techniques that can be applied in networking, business, and everyday interactions.