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cover of episode The 6-1-1 Podcast Ep. 6: Lauren Shehadi

The 6-1-1 Podcast Ep. 6: Lauren Shehadi

2025/6/17
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The 6-1-1 Podcast

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Jimmy Rollins
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Lauren Shehadi
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Ryan Howard
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Lauren Shehadi: 回顾我的职业生涯,我一直都充满热情,并为之努力奋斗。即使在条件艰苦的情况下,我也从未放弃对梦想的追求。我记得在职业生涯初期,我曾在北达科他州的一家电视台工作,年薪只有9000美元。当时的生活非常拮据,但我仍然坚持了下来。我一直想成为一名棒球记者,并以 Marnie Gellner 和 Leslie Visser 为榜样。我总是认为,如果我比别人更努力,也许就能成功。现在,我非常感激自己所拥有的一切,并经常反思自己是如何走到今天的。我希望我的经历能够激励那些有梦想的年轻人,只要努力奋斗,就一定能够实现自己的目标。 Jimmy Rollins: 我认为 Lauren 是一个非常努力的女性,在事业上投入了很多。她对工作充满热情,并且总是尽力做到最好。她是一个非常注重隐私的人,你需要赢得她的友谊。能够和她一起工作,我感到非常荣幸。 Ryan Howard: Lauren 的生活就是做她喜欢的事情,并且经常在各地奔波。她对体育事业充满热情,并且总是能够给观众带来欢乐。我认为她是一个非常成功的体育主持人,并且她的经历值得我们学习。

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Lauren Shehadi shares her inspiring journey in the world of sports broadcasting, starting from humble beginnings with a low-paying job to becoming a prominent host for MLB Central. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, passion, and perseverance in achieving one's goals.
  • Started her career with a low-paying job in Sarasota, Florida
  • Sent out 100 VHS tapes to secure her first broadcasting job in Minot, North Dakota
  • Always dreamt of becoming a baseball reporter
  • Highlights the role of hard work and luck in achieving success in broadcasting
  • Emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey and not just focusing on the final destination

Shownotes Transcript

Translations:
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This episode is brought to you by Honda. When you test drive the all-electric Prologue SUV, there's a lot that can impress you about it. There's the generous passenger space, the clean, thoughtful design, and the intuitive technology. But out of everything, what you'll really love most is that it's a Honda. Visit Honda.com slash EV to see offers. Welcome back to the 611 Podcast. It's your boy, Jimmy Rollins. My main man, Ryan Howard. And today...

We have a special guest and I say special because she's my homie, she's my colleague, she's put in the work, one of the hardest working women in the business. If you guys know her schedule, it'll drive you crazy because it drives me crazy. She's the host of MLB Central for over a decade, but over a decade, she hosts MLB The Closer.

And the opener, she's done so many things, an accomplished woman, my good friend, Lauren Shahadi. Oh my gosh, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you, thank you for being here. We're glad you can make time because...

I know how busy. I need a life, Jimmy. Lauren, you have a life. Your life is doing what you love. And it's obviously living on airplanes, flying back and forth from Atlanta to New York or wherever you're going to correspond for college basketball, March Madness, which is something with two years in, three years in? Yeah, three years in now. Newer. Obviously, you've been a correspondent for the Olympics. You've just done so much. You've

You've accomplished so much in your career. But let's take it back to the beginning, if you would. You know, we get to share stories walking down hallways and your father offered you a job. I don't know, was this out of college, out of high school? What was the deal behind that? Can you walk us through what it was like to start of you getting into college?

I guess you're in show business now, but television. Yeah, I went to the University of Florida. My first interview, I interviewed Steve Spurrier. And I remember stumbling through a question in an interview. And I thought, oh, my gosh, at the end of it, I want to do this forever. So when I graduated, I could either go be an overnight editor and do the lotto numbers and the birthdays in Sarasota, Florida, like work from midnight to 8 a.m.,

For $10,000 a year or go. My dad said, come work for me. I'll pay 50 grand. You know, my dad was a property manager and I said, no, no, no. I got, I got dreams, dad. And he said, you can't live off that. And I thought I'm going.

So two years, I would go to work at 12, I'd get off at 8 a.m., and then I would go at 8 a.m. with the sports director, and I would shoot everything he shot for the day. And I made a VHS tape, 100 of them, sent them out, and I got one call back. It was Minot, North Dakota, $9,000 a year. You want to be our weekend sports anchor. Dream job. Dream job. Dream job. $9,000 a year dream job. I remember I used to fill up my gas tank, and I think about this often,

$3 at a time. I was in North Dakota. It was negative 40 degrees alone. I had to plug in my car at night because there's like these space heaters. Your car wouldn't start. Carry my camera into Saskatchewan, Canada, shoot JV ice hockey, drive back, edit, and really couldn't pay for the food. But I thought I've got this crazy dream and I'm so glad I did. So to that, like,

What was the initial when you were like, hey, this is what I want to do? What was the end goal that you either kind of saw yourself going through? Because to me, this is kind of that realm of where it was like getting drafted in a sense. Right. Right. And starting off.

In the minor leagues. On the buses. Right. On the buses. In the jungle. I mean, it's surviving. Right? In towns that you're like, I never would have thought I would ever wind up in this city. Go to the same restaurant. The same spots, doing all of that. So kind of what was your end goal when you first got that call saying, hey, here's this opportunity? Did you feel like in the minor leagues, I guess my question is, that you were going to make it?

Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. Just a matter of time. You knew you had that. And I don't think I had that. I was just trying, you know, because in our job and in your job, it's a little bit of luck, you know? Yes. But my end goal was to be a baseball reporter. Always. I used to watch Marnie Gellner for the twins and think I just want to be here. I'd watch Leslie Visser, the only female in the football hall of fame and think I want to be her. I want to be in those moments on the field. What a sweet escape in life.

And I never thought I would get there. I just thought, put your head down and try, treat people kindly, you know, do the work and maybe someone will notice. I don't know.

- And now look at you. - Oh my gosh, you know what's funny? - I mean, working five jobs, I work five jobs. - I walk in our studios at TBS and you've been there, they're large and grand and there's 20 cameramen and women who are at the top of their craft in graphics and edit and I'm thinking, I used to carry my camera white bound, you know, myself. I'm thinking, how the heck did I get here? And I'm just really, it's not lost on me. I really think about it weekly.

- Well, you can hear it. You can hear the passion in your voice. - Even going back to that $9,000 or $10,000 a year job, it was the passion. And for people that have that and you find it young, it's hard to explain, but it's something that you can feel when you're with the person and they tell you their journey.

You, you under, I understand it. And for me, I smile because I'm like, I know what it feels like. You don't know how it's going to happen. You just know where you want to go. And it doesn't matter how small that step is. You're going to take it.

Like if it leads me down this path, that's okay. Cause it's ultimately going to get me there and you enjoy the journey. We call it the jungle because yes, you're in the jungle and you're just chopping down bushes. And it's like, I don't know where I am, but I'm here. This is my job. Let me get through this. Sometimes that compass isn't working right. No, it isn't working. Yeah. But it got you to where you needed to go. No, absolutely. So Lauren, let's, let's, let's go back to your youth in sports. Yeah.

Softball, basketball, soccer. Basketball and softball. Terrible at basketball. My coach used to yell, Shahadi, don't shoot. It's so funny. But I would defend the other team's best player. And I just tried. I feel like that's kind of been the theme in my life. Like I was never supremely talented at anything.

I look at Jimmy, honest, we do the show together. I have notes. There's notes on notes on notes on notes. This guy strolls up, he's looking, he's writing one note and he's fantastic. Supremely talented. - That's how he used to show up to the field too. - At what time?

- Yeah, right. - See, there you go. - Two minutes ready to go. - Time out. - Two minutes before. - Lauren, Lauren. - We can do it. - Lauren, we're here for you. We're here for you, Lauren. We're here for you. We're here for you, Lauren. No, but I appreciate it, but. - I just was never good like that. So I had to put in the work for everything, you know?

Like I, I'm, if you just didn't go on a show and host a one hour show, I'd fail. I'd fall on my face. I talk to ballplayers all the time. And there's the Freddie Freemans of the world who are just so talented. And he puts in Solomon's work, but, but are so talented that they almost,

Couldn't fail. And I was kind of the complete opposite. I just had to try the hardest. I always thought if you outwork the room, maybe just maybe, you know what I mean? You said she only brought up basketball. Don't think, don't think it isn't lost upon us. Ryan Howard. I'm a first baseman. Let me, let me step out the way then. Let me tell you about me playing for a space run. Speak on it.

Could play, but my dad would pay. He said, I'll pay $100 if you hit a ball to right field. I never, not once, not one time. Right-handed hitter. Right-handed hitter. Okay. Straight pull, like down the line foul every single time.

Played softball. Went to the state championship when I was young. Loved it. And when I stopped, I thought, this is a void. I got to fill this. This. Whatever this is. You guys know what it is, right? It's that. And broadcasting gives me that. You know, when you're at the bank and it's...

million people just she loves the bank by the way the atmosphere is amazing and they're all shouting and you're on the field there's nothing like it we almost feel like we're you guys you know and we're definitely not thank goodness for not but yeah there's that you get that feel in that regard I love it if you could bottle that up right Lauren you yeah we had it bottled up for five years and then it was gone just the way it came in

Lauren, you have to have some amazing baseball stories, whether that you covered, witnessed yourself, that you get to speak about because of your position. You get to share and bring this, you know, to the world. But via text, you know, convincing you to come on the show because you're very private out for those who do not know of Lauren Shahadi.

She is one of the most private people I know. And I love that about her because she makes you dig. And it's like you have to earn her friendship. And I think I'm at the point where I've earned her friendship. So thank you. But you have a very, very special story about how you really fell in love with the game. Growing up in a DMV area, although you claim that you're a Nats fan now.

Okay, can I just... You know what? You can do whatever you want. Okay, let me clarify. It's not like the Mets and the Yankees. You're not either or in the DMV. We didn't have the Nationals. So we had the Orioles. I'm from D.C. Correct. But we only had the Orioles in Baltimore. Baltimore's an hour away. So we cheered for, you know, the hometown team. But when we got the Nationals, that's my town. For sure. So it's a little bit different. I think you could speak for...

80% of people in the DMV, if the Orioles or the Nationals are in the postseason, we're tearing them down. You get it. Yeah, yeah. But I remember I was 12 years old. It was against the Angels. My dad got a ticket to watch Cal Ripken Jr. break Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak. And I'll never forget it. It was a 20-minute standing ovation.

First of all, you had to get the, you knew that he was going to break the street. But there's rain outs. So people, some people got tickets five days span. And these were pricey. And it was a who's who in attendance. It was dignitaries and it was musicians and actors. And here was a seemingly larger than life star,

in a blue collar work ethic. Imagine doing anything for 16 years, not taking a single day off. It will never be broken, never in a million years. It won't come close. It won't go half. It won't go four years. It won't. - It's not happening. That's forever. - I can't think about that.

And I just remember thinking, this man is different. And I just thought, I want to be around this game forever. And that was my childhood in the game. I was a, I was a Skins fan. And then I was a, I was a Orioles fan. And I just remember it. I just remember it like it was yesterday thinking, I want to be around this forever.

- Well, it's a good thing you were an Oils fan and probably not so much the Skins. They weren't. - They weren't good at one point. - At one point. - At one point. - At one point. - Dang, you're taking shots. - By the way, Jimmy and I were supposed to go to the Eagles Skins game this, Commanders game this year. - I know, I know. - And guess who stood me up? - Well.

Well, Lauren, when the kids have something for dance, that's always going to take precedent. But I'll run it back. But I did get you into the suite for the World Series. Although I know you love being with the people. You love being with the people. I brought a friend. She's British. She was the only person at Citizens Bank Park who had no idea who he was. The only person. He loved it. He hung out with her. She goes, are you a baseball?

- I was like, oh my God. - Oh, I love it, I love it. - He loved every second of it. - You're like, we're gonna get along just fine. - We're good. - We're right here. - I don't have to answer any baseball questions. Who was the toughest pitcher you faced? - No. - What was the favorite stadium you liked to play in? Like, nope, it was just like, well, what's going on? - She said, what's your name? He goes, oh.

- Hang out here. - Right, you could have said whatever. - Oh, she wouldn't know? - Bond, James Bond. But Laura wasn't gonna let me get away with this. She's gonna look at me like, dude, what are you doing? Like, you know I'm gonna tell her who you are at some point. I mean, like it's a big old banner right there with their face on it. - Right. - You know, she doesn't let us get away with much. - That's where he's like, hey, that's my cousin or my,

- My twin brother. - You've done that a lot. - That's my twin. - We have. It's kinda like when you went from my bodyguard to the MVP in National League. - That was a fun story. - Yeah. - He tell you about that story? - No. - Oh my gosh. - I'm gonna let you tell it, 'cause it's better coming from your POV. - It was '04, '05? - '05. - '05. - '05. - So '05, I got the call up. We would go to this spot at the bank. It was called McFadden's. - It was McFadden's. - It was McFadden's. So kind of like a little bar restaurant that was attached to the stadium.

Jimmy and I go after the game. Jimmy sit, we're at the bar. He's sitting down at the bar. I'm kind of standing up next to him. And this girl comes up to him. She's like, Oh my gosh. Like, Hey, Jimmy Rollins. And she's like, it's so good. And then she stops and she looks up and she looks at me and she's like,

oh my God, are you his security? And I was like, we just looked at each other and just started busting out laughing. We just laughed. We just started laughing because I was like, clearly you haven't made it yet. Clearly you haven't made it yet. I was that guy. I was like, I guess so. He was on the way. I guess so. I mean, he'll never live that down because he goes out, wins rookie of the year, then the next season wins the MVP. So going back to that moment where he wasn't Ryan Howard,

He was possibly Jimi's security. And I didn't even roll like that. We're at the ballpark. We just went upstairs to go hang out. But that was, that's what you needed. - I needed an earpiece. - You needed the earpiece. That would have been official. That would have been official. So Lauren. - Tell me. - Your job is not easy on our set at least. You have Pedro, myself, Curtis,

On Central, you got probably one of the most charismatic people I know in D-Ro. How is it dealing with such characters? You know, so much personality. We like to get our points across. You still have to guide the show to make sure we get down that road. And what have you found being key to bringing the best characters?

out of us as analysts, but still keeping the show balanced and fair. Yeah, I feel like at the center of it all, it's entertainment. I think we often lose sight of that, right? People turn on the television to watch a game or to watch a show to be entertained. Oftentimes we lose that because we're trying to be correct and fair and honest and all instead of just having fun. And I think that's where the magic lies. We're trying to capture that. I always feel like I can set you up in a way

Two ways. One way I'm going to get a straight answer and the other way I'm going to get Jimmy. I'll give you an example. I ask you, you know, as a leadoff hitter, what were you trying to do? Or I ask you, as a leadoff hitter, were you worried about setting up the guy hitting second? Hell no. And he said, hell no. And it's all animated. Right. And I knew the answer. I knew the answer. But do you see the difference in the answer? Yes. So that's,

What you're trying to get doesn't always work out like that. I know your personality. I know all of our guys' personalities. But I think that if you ask a question in a certain way, eliciting the response that you want is kind of what we're all trying to get to.

I didn't even know I was being tricked. You're being tricked. I didn't even know I was being manipulated. She got you. The best manipulators you never know, Jimmy. I know that. You got meagheed, bro. But you know what, though? She meagheed you, bro. You know what, though? I know now. I know you're in trouble, Lola.

You're in trouble, Lolo. It's on and popping. But that is something special because, I mean, just look at the seat that you're in now that, you know, was hosted by and Hall of Famer. The GOAT. The GOAT. And what he does so well, and I think...

You know, we're different, obviously, and he's the greatest, but he realizes the show is not about him. And the sooner you realize that, the faster you get to where you want to go. I'm never going to talk about pitching to Pedro Martinez. I'm just going to...

Nobody wants to hear me talk. We've seen you throw two on top of that, but yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, I do. Nobody wants to hear me talk about turning a double play. They don't. They don't. They want, they want the question so that you are set up. And I think that that's where the, the, the greatest hosts have very little ego. If that makes sense.

And that's what we're all trying to get to. It's easier said than done sometimes because you do have traffic. You've got to weave and you have to get to your point. And you also want to make sure you say something. Right. But you guys are the stars, you know? And what's the biggest thing, I guess, your biggest takeaway? That's dope. I mean, it is. Let me breathe that in. Let me breathe that in because... Let me say it again. You're the star. No, not that part. No, no, no. Just the magic because it's dope. It's...

Like, how does that happen? You know, we're getting up there. She's asking us questions. And we see they have pages full of stuff. I don't even know if they get to half of it. But they have pages full of things. And I've always, you know, you're on a desk and you see it through a question here, through a question there, question here. Then you're waiting for you. Sometimes you're like, call on me. And she makes sure she looks past you or a good host to make sure it's pointed to that person. Like, I see you.

I'm going to give you your floor, but this is where I'm directing. They're the director without you even knowing. Right. Yeah, conducting the whole symphony, if you will. But the best teammates aren't going to let you fail. Like if I'm asking about Aaron Judge personally,

power at the plate. I'm going to say what, what made you get in your most powerful position instead of, you know what I'm saying? It doesn't always have to correspond to the exact team. I'm relating to you because you're such an accomplished star. I want to know how you got there, you know? So I feel like a lot of our show is not even tailored to the teams. It's the ideas of the teams tailored to your careers because they want to hear you guys talk. Interesting. I like that. Well, since you bring up tell me Aaron judge,

We've had a nice debate. She doesn't like this stuff. I love it. She has an answer. We had a nice debate. We had a nice debate about this, right? Where we compared Aaron Judge and Barry Bonds. Today, we have Shohei and Barry Bonds. So in looking to that,

You know, there's been a lot of comparisons where I think people are kind of trying to drop it out. Like, who's the best player? The best player. Comparing with Barry. Was that Barry or Shohei? I mean, first of all, when we were comparing Judge and Barry, you said they're just different, right? They're different. Shohei is a completely different story. I mean, he made a $700 million contract. He's probably paid back more.

The Dodgers have probably earned $400 million off of that already just in global and ticket sales. They're probably already in the black. You know what I'm saying? He is playing Little League. He's playing Little League. The best player in Little League did what he's doing, and he hasn't even been the – oh, by the way, he's an ace of his staff when he comes back, and they're like slow playing it because they don't really need him until October, although their depth is tested. He's –

On a different planet, I don't think you can compare him to anybody. I mean, think about it. You guys were trying to get Knox in the show all the time, hitting whatever average. Did you guys care about average a lot? Yeah, we did. Because now they don't as much. They don't as much. Trying to hit for average, trying to hit home runs. He's lean. I mean, he's not going to steal points.

60 bases if he's an ace of a team um and then oh by the way i just want here's what i wonder about shoi can you do that for a sustained period of time we've seen it for about a year and a half can you do that yeah i don't know can you be an ace and can you hit 50 and steal 50 no i just think it's too much but i think he's it you know but those are all great points very good

- Are you gonna make that? - Huh? - I don't know. - It's not a right or wrong, it's we wanna hear from you because you always ask us to make these impossible comparisons. - I like to make you uncomfortable. - I know that, I know that. So yes, Shohei does those things. He's pitching and when he's pitching and being a DH, he's dynamic but not like we saw last year. We've never seen Shohei play defense.

He can only change the game one way. Okay. That's offensively. Unless he's pitching. Unless he's pitching. And that is what once every six days, I think they're like a rotation where they have that type of situation where Barry is going out there every single day on both sides of the ball. Okay. How much credit are we giving to –

I guess technically when he's pitching, he's DH at the same time, but he isn't as dynamic. There's something that's lost where Barry never had to make that decision. How do we compare, especially young Barry, when he was out there sliding, making throws and still doing what he was doing every single day. Basically out of a 162, you're getting buried for like 154.

at his best. - Ry, help me out. - Because Shohei's on the mound, you're not getting him as much at his best, but we saw last year at his best. - Yeah, at his best. - What he can do. So anyhow, all that is just looking at it full circle and not knocking Shohei because he's the best player in the game right now, if you ask me. - Oh yeah, for sure. - Every time I've seen him play in person, hit a home run, that's all I went there to go see him do. I just wanted to see a Shohei bomb. - Oh yeah. - And he did it. But this is comparing to...

I mean, during my time. Well, when you're throwing out the term, when you're throwing out the term, the greatest. The greatest. Like.

there's an embodiment of work that has to be put in. You mentioned it, right? Where if he's pitching, he's probably not stealing 50, 60 bases, right? Hell, he probably not even stealing the game that he's pitching. He may get 20 to 30 stolen bases. Like if he's pitching over the course of a season and you know what he can do with the bat in his hand. So,

It's tough because we are talking about both sides of the ball, every single aspect. Like you say, Barry's getting out there offensively, defensively. He can steal bases, do the whole nine. Can Shohei do it? But yes. But he's going to have to temper it back because if he can't go out and throw strikes, now defensively he's not as effective. One more thing to think about.

They still pitch to Shohei. Barry was getting one pitch at times a game to do what he did. Think about that. He's not swinging and missing. He's getting walked and tension with the bases loaded. They haven't given Shohei a series. And it hits the McDonald sign in right field. So...

That's when I think of greatness. You know, I'm not trying to convince you. I just want to ask like, you know, when you think of greatness, it's all of those things. Like this man, they were taking the bat out of his hands. And he still did that. Does that sway you any bit in your decision? You know, I think it's a great comparison because Shohei is the best right now. But Barry, I think it was just pure.

All of the above. We can throw out a C. You know what? Safe answer, Lauren. Right. Safe answer. I'll let you get away with that. We were all looking for that C all the above. Yeah, she doesn't give a C on the show. They all work. After zoomies at the dog park, it's time for drive up at Target. In goes a big bag of kibble and one squeaky chicken toy for the good boy. Drive up that's ready when you are. Only in the Target app. Just tap Target.

So Lauren, and to this sportscasting thing, who was there anyone, obviously you stated earlier, but anyone that you still look across the continent to and like?

That's where I want to go in my career. Oh, that's interesting. You know, everyone always asks me like, what do you want to do next? And I feel that's a really, I always say nothing. And here's why. I feel like in this business, we're always trying to get to the next. When I get here, I'll be happier. When I get here, I'll feel more accomplished. And that's

Steven Tyler said it, life's a journey, not a destination, right? If you're always trying to get to the next step, you're not going to be happy where your feet are. And it's a cautionary tale, especially with sportscasters, because there's always the next best opportunity. I'm supreme, so happy. And if you were to talk to my agent, I don't call him, because I just am so grateful. I want to be in here now and enjoy this and soak this up.

Because this is your life, right? It's going to pass you by. And you're going to say, did I enjoy the steps? Because I got where I wanted to go. But like, did I enjoy any? I mean, think about it. You think about every time you went to the clubhouse, did you enjoy it? Because it's going to be over someday, right? You know, you have to...

So no, I don't think of what's next, but I do think of there's girls out there or women out there who have kind of, I like to emulate. I mean, I remember used to watch, I don't know if you know, Robin Mead's CNN headline. Do you know who that was? Yes, of course. You guys, she had it. It, whatever it is, can't quantify it, don't know what it is. It was this warmth. I gravitate towards warmth.

anybody warm, I gravitate towards, especially on television. I turn it on. I want to watch someone who I feel is authentically themselves and kind. And she used to say like, you didn't know if she was on TV or not, or if she knew she was on TV. She'd be like, good morning. I woke up late. Good morning. And I'm like, does she know the camera's on? I loved it. I loved it. And that's kind of how I've tried to, you know, kind of, you want to be yourself, but that authentic, just warm,

one personality. That's what I wanted to try and be, you know? - Well, now you are that too, I'm sure. - With our show it's hard 'cause you gotta be a-- - A lot of little girls out there. - You think so? - Oh, most definitely. - I think so. - Most definitely. - Josh, don't make me cry 'cause I'm-- - Most definitely. - They didn't know that you were watching them. I'm sure they wanted to do great at their job just in case. - Yeah. - And people that watch the show, they get that from you. And I don't know if you wanna accept that. I know you're very humble.

And, you know, no shine on me, no light, but it is what it is. You're on television. You're March Madness that everyone watches. You get to host a show for America's pastime, and it still is. Like, you are that. And I'm sure there are little girls that are looking at Lauren Shahadi, and you bring that warmth, and it's like, that's what I want to do. I want to be just like her.

I want to talk to all those cool dudes like Ryan and Judge and Jimmy and Pedro and Curtis and everyone else. Like that's you, whether you want to believe it or not, that is you. That's so kind of you to say. I hope that in some way I could, you know, guide him in any way. I don't know. It's not lost on me that I'm able to do this. And, you know, I always felt like when I would go to different steps, I would just try and be so kind and that's like,

what you try to do, right? Treat everyone well and maybe someday you'll get where you want to go. But gosh, that's really cool. That's a responsibility and I don't take it lightly. That's cool. Thanks. I love it. I love the humidity. So now we're going to jump into...

our ritual part of the show. Okay. Oh, this is going to be interesting. I want to know this. This is our banana boat ritual segment of the show. Are you superstitious? Yeah. Are you superstitious? That look. Are you? That look.

What's our ritual game look like? - Okay, number one, my ritual before every show is Jimmy tries to mess me up every single time. - That's not a fair depiction of what's happening. - That's true, that's fair. It's 10, nine, eight, don't mess up, Lauren, don't mess up, Lauren. Everyone's watching, too often, too much stuff, too much stuff. 10 million to the world, Red Sox Yankees, post-season on JVS. Then I always have my earpiece in my left ear always.

And we play, what do we play? - Time of game. - No, but what song do we play? - Oh, "Gasolina." She has to have gasoline. - Getting pumped up, I like it. I like it. - She's banging on a desk like, "What's going on? Where's my music?" - Where's my music? - That's my ritual. Gets me fired up. If that doesn't make you in a good mood then,

Something's wrong with you. Yeah, something is wrong. Something is wrong. She gets going. I love that. She gets going. Now, Lauren, we know you give great interviews. You bring out the best. You know, you talked about how you throw it around to the analysts and you set up the player so he can answer a question that can be either the baseball player or their personality or basketball player or whomever you're interviewing. But everyone...

wants to redo some sometimes here and there, you know, you give an answer like, ah, I could have said that better. Are you talking about my David Price interview? I'm just, I mean, if you're throwing it out there, I tell him my insecurities. If you're throwing it out there. So my question is, I didn't throw names. I was going to say, was there an interview before

that you wish you just hit the redo button. Yeah, you could throw the riff, you could throw the flag, rewind that back and, you know, do that again. Does that exist? Do you even have that moment? Yeah. And I think about it still to this day. We're doing Red Sox-Yankees postseason on TBS. What year is this?

When did the Red Sox win? Six? No, not 16. No, Cubs were 16. 14, 13, 18. 13, 18. There you go. Okay. David Price. I interviewed him after the game and I said, David, and I asked my first question. And his answer, he goes, I worked on something yesterday in the bullpen that led me to success today.

What would your next question be? What was it? You would think. You would think. You would think, Ryan Howard. I just, first of all, I'm so nervous. I had my next question planned. It was probably about, I think it was about J.D. Martinez or something. I just, boom, good. J.D. Martinez, you know, wait, what was it like? What?

My producer's like, what? You know, how could you? I think about that interview. You've got to listen at the core of every interview. You have to listen. It's actually more difficult than you think because you just don't want dead air. And, you know, but my gosh, you worked on something. It was the comeback of David Price and he was the story and I bombed it.

But, you know, you live and you learn. I've now kind of had this like kind of roadmap for interviews. I feel like asking a good question is tough. And I kind of live by a couple rules at the end of a game if you're doing like a playoff series. So like let's say there's a walk-off scenario. Ryan Howard hits a walk-off. I get Ryan Howard after the game. I never go back past the walk-off.

You stay in that moment. So you're not the donut off Ryan, go to the plate. What are you trying to do? Did you think it was out? You described the whole, did you think it was out when you hit it? You rounded the bases, you pointed up in stance. Who are you pointing at? I saw your manager tell you something. It's all in that moment. And then if you want the last question to be like team wise, but you never go back. Hey, in the fourth thing, it doesn't matter. Right. Cause the walk-off matters. So that's kind of my blueprint for an interview. Um,

But my gosh, it's easier. I think it's easier. The really good girls and guys who do it at the end of the game who are, you know, ask great questions. It's not as simple as you think. Have you ever had somebody where they just gave you one word answers? Just one word answers. You have to ask a question or they'll let you know. If you say, tell me about, they could say no. Open-ended questions.

Never leading. I'll give you an example. How great was it to hit that walk-off home run? There's nowhere for them to go. They either say it wasn't great or they give a generic answer. I remember I interviewed Jon Lester after a playoff game. He was hitting at the time. He hit. They did a pitching change before his at-bat.

And I thought, he's tough with the media. I got to get this guy on my good side. And I said, is this the first time in your career there's a pitching change before you're at bat? You feared hitter you. And then he unlocked. You know, you're trying to unlock them with your first question and the leading question of how great were you or how cool is your teammate? Or that doesn't work. There's nowhere for them to go. So it's more of a feel thing, but...

You live and you learn for sure. - I'm taking notes because it is so difficult. - This is a master class over here. - It really is because as she said, especially on our desk, for example, you might be the fourth question asked. - Yeah, so you don't know. - And it's like, oh my goodness. And you know, the one is gonna be on you and you're scrambling like, she took my question, he took my other question, he took my third question and there's nowhere for you to go. And it is tough.

I like what you said, ask a question, because in the way you framed it, you're giving the player an opportunity to talk about the moment as when you're leading, it's like, talk about yourself. And we don't want to do that because it took a team to get to this moment. So I've seen it happen where, you know, a player has been led and they just kind of look at the report and I know I've done it. It's just like, okay.

Like, what do you want me to say? Like, what really are you getting at? Because I'm not about to talk about myself. You can ask me what happened in that moment. I can explain to you what I was feeling in that moment and go from there. But leading, as you just said, definitely, you know, puts a player in a weird position. That is for sure a masterclass. And man, Lauren, you surprised me.

You really do. Not that you're a greatness, but as in I didn't know I was going to interview you and be taught lessons while doing the interview. But I'm so glad that I am because it's going to help me.

go further and you know i'm still going to mess you up before we start the show i'm going to mess with that that's just what we do that's going to be a part of the routine yeah that's that's gonna be a part of your ritual it's a banana bowl ritual i need you to like talk trash talk a little she needs me to get to it's like a half a second before the show starts so i'm trying to mess with her you know what she literally puts on a blinder she goes she's like jimmy step aside and she gets right to it i want to talk about march madness okay

Because that is tough. You're going, you know, we know the big schools. You may know some of those players, but not all of them. But then you have these, you know, smaller schools, mid majors, players you've never heard of. And the action is fast. It's on the fly. Yes, it is. How different is.

Is that, and how did you make that adjustment from what we do pre and post talking about the game to actually being in action, framing the right question? Cause we have 15 seconds. You just a quick hit. We're out. I'm a preparer, but it's impossible to prepare for because it's so fast. I have a notebook. I go into March Madness with four notebooks for the four games in the day on the front. I have the team, the mascot, the coach, the conference. So sometimes you don't know it's a smart school.

Inside I have, you open it up, you have the pictures of the faces of the guys with their names under so I can highlight them. So I'm looking, this guy's 24 points, two fouls, constantly because you're learning these guys literally while the country's watching, you know? And I have four stories, human interest stories per team, eight per game. You're going to get in one.

You go in the huddle. You try and listen to the coach. He does not want you there. He does not. He's doing coach speak. You're like, I have no idea what that means. I have a few things that I do that try and set me up for success. Under 12, we have a coach interview. Sometimes nothing's happened, right? So I'm going up to John Calipari. Nothing's happened. And I'm thinking, oh my gosh, this guy does not want to talk to me right now. In the practice the day before, I say, coach,

first four minutes first six minutes what's ideal you want to see and he'll say i want to match their physicality so if i have nothing else i got i write it down if i have nothing else if nothing's happening in the game coach you told me yesterday you wanted to match their physicality how do they look it because you get you got to get in and get out right so i'm like over preparing and obviously i rarely use a question from the day before but you just have to you know kind of

get there because it happens so fast. And then at the end of the game, the challenge is there's a whole team. You're interviewing the whole team. And before every interview, I look behind at their back to see the name. I do because it's so, it's eight teams. Got to make sure. Rollins. Yep.

Got it. You know what I mean? Cause it's, it's us, but it's the most beautiful day. I mean, one of the most beautiful days on the sports calendar and it's a dream, dream job. I just, I'm an anxious preparer. So it gives me a little bit of, I'm, I'm nervous before that day starts. Like, that's amazing. Just listening to the stories of all the, the preparation that takes place to be able to, I mean, really like you're doing this on the fly, but like,

even though you're doing it on the fly, you have a system for doing it on the fly. Like I want to not fail. Right. Which is, which is absolutely amazing. So my question is, is so to like the young girls or, or women that are looking to try to break into the sports world in this world in general, um,

What advice, what would be the biggest piece of advice that you would be able to give them? Never worry about being a girl in a man's world. I get that question from every young girl I talked to. I said, don't worry about it. They'll respect you if you do the work. I walk in with Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Martinez, Ryan Howard, Curtis Granderson, some of the most accomplished people in our sport. And if they feel that I've put in the work to make them succeed, they'll, they'll value me. They'll respect me. It has happened my whole career and I'm,

I'm surrounded by the most wonderful men who want me to succeed. So get that out of your mind that you're a girl and a guy. Get it out of your mind. You do the work. You belong there. Second would be don't try to prove you belong. Jimmy, you went three for four with a double and a gap. You really struggled against left-handed pitches, but you did it. No, no, no, no. You belong. You already got the job.

ask a question in six six words what'd you like about that high heater you got you saw it last about what'd you like quick quick you don't have to prove you you belong you belong you belong and do your work do your own work be kind mic drops but i'm not gonna let there be any dead air as long as i say lauren can you are there any charitable initiatives that you're involved in um

That you would like to share with us? You know, when I first went, my first job was in Minot, North Dakota. There's a kind of a story. I used to see the Dream Catchers. It was a Miracle League softball. And I used to see it on the TV. They used to have this

show for Miracle League softball kids with disabilities able to play the game. And when I got the job and listen to this, I got a job in Minot, North Dakota. I landed, we were driving, my news director drove me around and he said, that's where the Miracle League is. That's where the dream catchers play. And I thought, oh my gosh, I'm meant to be here. Something I had dreamt about that helping kids play our game. You know, it's a game for all. And I got this job in a town that I'd never been in. And it was the origin and the

the homeland of dream catchers of this miracle league, softball and baseball league. I just feel really passionate that all kids should be able to play sports and be outside. And so I'm so involved in that. And it's just, you know, you know what this game has given your guys life and everyone should have that access to it. In my opinion. Well, Lauren, I personally want to thank you for coming on today. Ryan and I, and I understand your schedule, but,

But I took a shot and asked. I'm like, Lauren doesn't do this, but she's in a good mood today. She's in a good mood today. So Lauren, would you come on? And she said yes.

See, see, you see I'm running? Because look, when we're on the set, when we're on the set, you see that left hand shot? - Right, right. - She was like, "Hey, hey, she doing shots." I'm like, "Hey, come on, come on, Lola." - Right. - But for real though, you know how much we admire you on the show. We've watched your work, you've interviewed us, you've covered us. So for us to be able to share this platform and let you share who you are with our audience and also with us,

It means a lot. It means a lot. Well, thank you to both of you. I really feel like the wonderful men in this sport have put me in a position to be able to do this, you know, without trust and respect and all that. I, you know, me and all my friends

coworkers and all the girls who do this for a living, we wouldn't have access and we wouldn't, you know, be able to do this. So it's just the way you guys are so good to us. You know, we love and share this love for this great game. So thank you guys. You know, that's because of you, we're all able to do this. Well, there you have it. My buddy, my friend, my home girl, my colleague, Lola, Lauren Shahadi on a six one, one podcast to the miss Lauren Shahadi.