Episode 123- Kirk Herbstreit on Love What You Do

Kirk Herbstreit is the face of college football, serving as an analyst for College GameDay and Saturday Night Football. In his new memoir, Out of…

Episode 123- Kirk Herbstreit on Love What You Do

Kirk Herbstreit is the face of college football, serving as an analyst for College GameDay and Saturday Night Football. In his new memoir, Out of…

Kirk Herbstreit is the face of college football, serving as an analyst for College GameDay and Saturday Night Football. In his new memoir, Out of the Pocket, Kirk takes us inside the locker room—to the practice fields, meeting rooms and stadiums. And he also opens up about the personal challenges he overcame. On this episode, we talk about what happens when your dream blows up, taking a chance to pursue your passion, and never compromising what matters most.

Follow Kirk: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“There is nothing better than doing something that you love for work.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

The highs and lows of Kirk’s college football career at Ohio State (1:42)
How seeing a sports psychologist changed his mental approach (5:01)
The unique pre-game routine he adopted in college (7:45)
How his football journey helps him connect as an analyst (9:32)
The decision to turn down a lucrative sales job to pursue sports broadcasting (12:01)
His transition to TV (16:51)
Managing burnout during the grind of college football season (19:58)
The importance of prioritizing family (22:31)
Kirk’s advice for navigating career opportunities (26:42)
The difference between the top coaches and everyone else (30:42)
Kirk’s thoughts on the NCAA’s new name, image and likeness policy (35:23)
The changing landscape of college football (37:53)
Kirk’s new book, Out of the Pocket (40:56)
The lessons he will take with him from the pandemic (45:49)
Kirk’s on-air message about racial injustice (48:07)

Resources / People Mentioned

Out of the Pocket
ESPN College GameDay
ABC Saturday Night Football
Ohio State football
Jim Herbstreit
Woody Hayes, football coach
Leeman Bennett, retired NFL coach
Dick Vitale, basketball broadcaster
Ryan Day, Ohio State football coach
Urban Meyer, football coach
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma football coach
Nick Saban, Alabama football coach
Dabo Swinney, Clemson football coach
Pete Carroll, football coach
Kevin Hart, actor and comedian
The Rock, actor
Trey Lance, NFL quarterback
Lee Corso, College GameDay
Kirk Herbstreit breaks down in tears during emotional message on racial injustice
Mike Vick, football player
Reggie Bush, football player

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Get Molly’s Free 5-Minute Morning Routine to Build Better Relationships

LATEST BOOK

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

A #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

In a world fixated on fleeting success, a bold framework for pursuing your goals unapologetically without compromising what matters most. This isn’t just another self-help theory: Dynamic Drive is your practical guide to unlocking your true potential. Through her decades of experience working with top athletes and peak performers across industries, renowned keynote speaker and leadership expert Molly Fletcher has created a proven formula backed by research that outlines the seven keys to sustainable success. The truth is fulfillment doesn’t come from setting and accomplishing goals in isolation. It comes from Dynamic Drive—a holistic approach that connects all parts of you with your purpose and allows you to engage in meaningful growth, both personally and professionally. Unlike traditional approaches that dilute drive into a mere means to an end, which can lead to burnout, Dynamic Drive is a way of life, a mindset. It’s about figuring out the parts of your life where you are playing small or safe or are dissatisfied. Dynamic Drive is the process by which we implement and sustain intentional change. The greatest reward isn’t in what you achieve, but who you become in the process. Your path to sustained high performance in all areas of your life begins here. This is your manual for an aligned, joyful, and relentless pursuit of a better you.

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

Episode 239- How to Lead When Everything Feels Like It’s Falling Apart with Admiral William McRaven

What do you do when the pressure is mounting and people are looking to you for answers? Admiral William McRaven has been there– leading high-stakes missions as a Navy SEAL, including the raid that brought down Osama bin Laden. In this episode, the four-star admiral and bestselling author of Make...

Episode 238- How to Lead Without Waiting for Permission with Shelley Zalis

What if the rules you’ve been told to follow were never designed for you to succeed? Shelley Zalis asked that question and then rewrote the playbook. As the founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, she built the largest global community of women in business, spanning 30 industries and 100+...

Episode 237- Serena Williams’ Coach Patrick Mouratoglou on Why Talent Isn’t Enough

What if the very thing we celebrate most—talent—is actually holding us back? Patrick Mouratoglou is one of the most respected coaches in tennis, best known for guiding Serena Williams to 10 of her 23 Grand Slam titles and now coaching four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. But his insights go...

Episode 236- Dr. Becky Kennedy on Raising Resilient, Confident Kids

What if your hardest parenting moments are actually your greatest opportunities to lead with confidence, connection, and trust? Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and the founder of Good Inside—a global parenting movement changing the way we raise our kids. In this episode, Dr. Becky shares practical...

Episode 235- How to Create Buy-In and Build Trust with NBA Coach Will Hardy

Want to know the secret to success? Show up, say yes, and outwork everyone in the room. That mindset helped Will Hardy become one of the youngest head coaches in the NBA. Now in his third season leading the Utah Jazz, Will previously served as an assistant coach with the...

Episode 234- There’s No Such Thing as Overnight Success with Multi-Platinum Singer-Songwriter Rachel Platten

Rachel Platten’s Fight Song became a global anthem of resilience, but her journey to success—and what came after—is an even more powerful story. In this episode, Rachel opens up about the grind before her breakthrough, the emotional rollercoaster of fame, and how stepping away from the industry led her to...

Resources