Mike Ryan

And it needs to be stressed, but I do know that it was part calculated in that I only had one of these cards and I'm not going to burn it up when I'm an ESPN employee. Let me do this one. I have the safety of Enercom. But what do you remember about your experience there and all the additional attention that came with taking over for Mike and Mike for just a day?

And it needs to be stressed, but I do know that it was part calculated in that I only had one of these cards and I'm not going to burn it up when I'm an ESPN employee. Let me do this one. I have the safety of Enercom. But what do you remember about your experience there and all the additional attention that came with taking over for Mike and Mike for just a day?

I remember I sternly spoke to the producers that were producing from afar in Bristol. I'm like, we can't be on the air. and you not relay to us that our microphones are always hot. I can't be finding out about this two hours into this show. And I got a complaint from Amanda saying, hey, the producers didn't appreciate you criticizing them in front of everybody. I'm like, I have no direct comms.

I remember I sternly spoke to the producers that were producing from afar in Bristol. I'm like, we can't be on the air. and you not relay to us that our microphones are always hot. I can't be finding out about this two hours into this show. And I got a complaint from Amanda saying, hey, the producers didn't appreciate you criticizing them in front of everybody. I'm like, I have no direct comms.

This is the only way that I'm alerted to that they can actually hear me. We've been to Bristol like once. We have no idea the setup that's up there. I'm like, what is this culture over there? We could have lost everything. And you're talking to me about hurt feelings from dudes in a production truck when we need to be the priority.

This is the only way that I'm alerted to that they can actually hear me. We've been to Bristol like once. We have no idea the setup that's up there. I'm like, what is this culture over there? We could have lost everything. And you're talking to me about hurt feelings from dudes in a production truck when we need to be the priority.

And that was the real battle that I was having with managers over at ESPN. Like if we move, it's going to be a different management style from you too, because we're more of a renegade outfit. And that's why I seized on that opportunity. So I remember I had an interesting conversation with Dan during this time because I had saved up for about two years for a trip to Hawaii.

And that was the real battle that I was having with managers over at ESPN. Like if we move, it's going to be a different management style from you too, because we're more of a renegade outfit. And that's why I seized on that opportunity. So I remember I had an interesting conversation with Dan during this time because I had saved up for about two years for a trip to Hawaii.

And this was another one of those things, which is we had a target start date in mind and then the target start date just randomly moved up a week. And so if you see footage from the very first show that we do in the mid days, I'm in a Hawaiian shirt. I have a lei and I have like sunblock on my nose because I literally go straight from the airport to the studio.

And this was another one of those things, which is we had a target start date in mind and then the target start date just randomly moved up a week. And so if you see footage from the very first show that we do in the mid days, I'm in a Hawaiian shirt. I have a lei and I have like sunblock on my nose because I literally go straight from the airport to the studio.

I remember Dan kind of holding it against me, like, why didn't you cancel this trip? Because Dan and his brother were in the studio and putting up new art, really making the show look livelier and sprucing things up. Fair question by Dan. Yeah, and he was like, why didn't you? I'm like, well, Dan, I presently make $36,000 a year I save for this.

I remember Dan kind of holding it against me, like, why didn't you cancel this trip? Because Dan and his brother were in the studio and putting up new art, really making the show look livelier and sprucing things up. Fair question by Dan. Yeah, and he was like, why didn't you? I'm like, well, Dan, I presently make $36,000 a year I save for this.

It's not really one of those things like, oh, I'll get to Hawaii the next day.

It's not really one of those things like, oh, I'll get to Hawaii the next day.

bit of a disconnect there, but we survived it. But this general era, Dan has less confidence in the stuff that we're making. He's got additional attention because at this point it's inverted. I was by the end of our run at ESPN, the guy going into all the rooms. If someone had an issue with Dan, unless it was a top line issue, they'd go to me.

bit of a disconnect there, but we survived it. But this general era, Dan has less confidence in the stuff that we're making. He's got additional attention because at this point it's inverted. I was by the end of our run at ESPN, the guy going into all the rooms. If someone had an issue with Dan, unless it was a top line issue, they'd go to me.

Not when we first started in mid days because they didn't know me from Adam. I don't have these relationships and I don't have the trust built up with Dan yet where he's sending me on his behalf. So Dan, you're hearing all of this. You're talking to more suits than you ever wanted to in this era. You're not feeling good about the show. You have a breakup.

Not when we first started in mid days because they didn't know me from Adam. I don't have these relationships and I don't have the trust built up with Dan yet where he's sending me on his behalf. So Dan, you're hearing all of this. You're talking to more suits than you ever wanted to in this era. You're not feeling good about the show. You have a breakup.

The on-air relationship with Sue Gotts is a little icy. You're not physically engaged with the shipping container over there. You're doing this on this new set that looks cool. We pop. We're on ESPNU now. We have good channel placement. Our dreams are coming true. You're not entirely happy with your relationship with work, the content that you're making, and the bosses that are riding you.

The on-air relationship with Sue Gotts is a little icy. You're not physically engaged with the shipping container over there. You're doing this on this new set that looks cool. We pop. We're on ESPNU now. We have good channel placement. Our dreams are coming true. You're not entirely happy with your relationship with work, the content that you're making, and the bosses that are riding you.