Amy Smolens - TV Production Veteran & Pioneer

Sports In The Making

00:00 - Episode Introduction

01:30 - How Amy got into sports broadcasting working with the tv broadcasts for the New York Yankees

4:20 - How the Yankees’ Don Carney, Executive Producer & Director took a risk hiring Amy and women in sports tv.

6:20 - When Amy was 11 years old she participated in the New York Nets’ “Run, Dribble & Shoot” contest but wasn’t allowed to compete for the finals

9:50 - Amy visited with Jim Garvey, who refused to let her play, many years later in California (pictures)

11:00 - How she hopes she was able to inspire young girls to never give up

12:10 - Where her love of sports came from

13:25 - How her parents helped give her confidence

14:15 - Amy’s first experience with the Yankees and how it set her up for future work

16:15 - The types of events Amy has worked on in her career and working on a cycling event helped her love cycling

19:40 - How I met Amy working in the Dominican Republic

21:30 - What the different positions are that she’s worked and what a stage manager, assistant director and field producer does

24:40 - What broadcast position is the most rewarding for Amy

25:40 - How Amy’s multiple language skills help her work on many international events including World Baseball Classic, Cycling and other eventsWhat other sports that resonate with Amy and how she approaches those sports

30:50 - How Amy’s work helps producers and directors realize their visions

32:00 - How she has seen the broadcasting business change over the years

34:00 - Pictures of Amy working in her environment

- Tokyo Olympics

- Hockey

- NHL All Star Game

- Pyeongchang Olympics

35:30 - What a “Mixed Zone” is

- Rio Olympics

- Dick Barnett Interview

37:40 - Pan Am Games Toronto picture

- Hockey Night In Canada

- NBA Finals

- Vancouver Olympics

- Tour of Alberta Cycling

39:40 - Working with celebrities & personalities

- Bill Walton & Dead Head Story

- Chris Mullen

- Larry Brown

- Thurl Bailey

- Phil Leggett & Paul Sherwen

- Phill Leggett at Rio 2016

- Vince Carter

- Friend of hers Tanya

- Pyeongchang for CBC Hockey

- Pyeongchang announcers

- Amy Trask

- John Shiffin

- Tour of Utah

46:30 - Views from Amy’s perspective & being a “Red Hat”

- Floor booth

- Control Room

- Interview Room

- Pyeongchang Swedish Announcers

- Boxing ringside

- Steph Curry Interview

- Dremond Green Media Day

- At basketball desk

50:40 - Being a stage manager at Anaheim Stadium for the Angels & Mike Trout story

51:45 - Having fun on broadcasts

52:45 - Craziest story for Amy in broadcast tv working in China on Kent Cycling

56:20 - What her brother Michael does working in sports as a college referee and a soccer color analyst

59:05 - What Amy and her boyfriend’s “Check For Bikes” initiative is all about in San Francisco

1:01:05 - How cycling affects Amy with her environmental concerns

1:02:33 - Amy’s most treasured credential

1:03:20 - Amy’s pin collection

1:03:30 - Favorite sports movie

1:04:15 - Episode wrap up

#cycling #tv sports #sportsbroadcasting #nba #nba finals #dominican baseball #Olympics #Hockey #PanAmGames #sports #new york yankees #new york mets #runpassshoot #checkforbikes #china #controlroom #duke #basketball #announcer #stagemanager #AD #fieldproducer #CBC

Bill Walton

Larry Brown

Thurl Bailey

Phil Leggett

Paul Sherwen

Vince Carter

Amy Trask

John Shiffin

Todd Gogulski

Steph Curry

Dremond Green

Don Carney

Jim Garvey

More Episodes:

Terry Brady - Broadcast Operations Consultant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB3Xd4BTrBc&t=120s

David Raymond - The Original Phillie Phanatic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emA-0xQ4jws&t=1439s

Drew Irvine - Game Design Manager, MLB The Show - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwM9CGHRz_0&t=6s

Marc Rowley - CEO - OwnYourStream.com & Inventor of PylonCam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC5cMC3JkdA&t=10s

Brian Williams - Producer/Director, Sports Television & Events - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x43AiW1P2MA

Claudia Trejos - Florida Boxing Hall of Fame, Sports Commentator & Motivational Speaker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mntXcgXajOw&t=17s

Dave Kroner - VP Creative Services, TV Graphics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYnnuu9CdkQ&t=12s

Allyson J. Davis - Partner, Impakt Partners, Sports Marketing, Media & Production Executive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dolEaamHx1g

Dave Fanucchi - Author of Tommy Ball book & Ted Collins - Movie Producer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf4gvn8iL8E&t=40s