In today´s episode we speak to broadcaster and former CNN sports anchor Candy Reid.
Candy takes us behind the scenes of her inspiring journey from the tennis court to the broadcasting studio, sharing how her early days in the sport, her family's influence, and the balancing act between academics and athletics shaped her. She opens up about the critical role her parents played in her development as a young athlete and how her transition to college sparked a newfound passion for broadcasting.
With years of experience in the industry, Candy has interviewed the biggest names in tennis—Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and many more! She shares the inside story of how she broke into sports broadcasting, her early days on the tennis court, and the dedication and sacrifices it took to rise to success at CNN.
Packed with incredible stories, Candy recounts unforgettable moments, from dancing with Novak Djokovic to an entire day filming with Serena Williams, as well as stories about other major sports stars such as Tiger Woods.
After leaving CNN to start a family, Candy opened a Tennis Academy in the USA, before moving into Commentating for the Tennis Channel and starting a podcast, Diary of a Professional Tennis Coach.
The conversation with CTC Host Dan Kieran touches on the pressures of competition, the common traits of successful athletes, the challenges of balancing career and family life, and the evolving role of women in sports media. Reid also reflects on the future of broadcasting and podcasting, emphasising the importance of storytelling in sports commentary.
Episode Links:-
Listen to Candy’s podcast including the episode with Dan Kiernan whilst out in China https://youtu.be/YmKqg8FQv-k?si=_TaquZf9n7W5IHkg.
Check out all our LIVE WTA Finals Round Up episodes from Riyadh available on all podcast platforms, concluding with an episode with Doubles Champions Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe.
You can also watch them all on out CTC YouTube channel.
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Chapters
00:00 Reflections on Personal Tennis Journeys
05:49 The Impact of Early Success on Future Careers
08:53 Navigating Regrets and Choices in Tennis
19:03 The Impact of Coaching Decisions
22:34 The Journey to College Tennis
24:58 Deciding Between Tennis and Broadcasting
31:48 The Role of Mindset in Performance
43:10 Transitioning to a Career in Broadcasting
49:17 Memorable Interviews with Sports Stars
54:03 Common Traits of Sports Superstars
59:23 Navigating Career and Family Life
01:01:27 Transitioning from CNN to Coaching
01:03:14 Gender Roles in Professional Sports
01:09:01 The Evolution of Gender Representation in Sports Media
01:14:33 Future Aspirations in Broadcasting
01:18:05 Quickfire Round: Favourites and Insights
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