In this compelling episode of Earn Your Leisure, Stephen A. Smith shares invaluable insights from his extensive career in sports journalism: 🏈 *Stephen A. Smith on College Sports:* Discussing the evolution of college sports, Stephen appreciates the changes, noting the historical exploitation of athletes by the NCAA. 🏀 *Coaching Challenges:* Stephen reveals why many college coaches are leaving due to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) complications. 📰 *Media Relations:* Exploring the dynamics between current players and the media, Stephen explains the lack of close relationships. 🌟 *Impactful Presence:* Annually bringing in 2 billion views for ESPN, Stephen A. Smith discusses his significant impact on sports broadcasting. 🔄 *Life-Changing Moments and Mistakes:* From a mistake that nearly cost him $600K and his career, to the firing that taught him crucial business lessons, Stephen opens up about his journey. 🔑 *Corporate Strategies:* Stephen offers advice on navigating corporate environments and shares how Black individuals can strategically advance in their careers. 🏀 *Basketball Legends:* Was LeBron's journey tougher than Jordan's? Plus, Stephen reflects on his close relationship with Allen Iverson during his time as a beat writer in Philly. 🎙️ *Journalistic Integrity and Influence:* From not being able to use his name initially for his podcast to emphasizing the importance of integrity in journalism, Stephen covers it all. 🤝 *Supporting Others:* Hear how Stephen prioritized elevating others and gave Shannon Sharpe a platform on First Take after Sharpe's departure from Fox Sports. Don’t miss out on these powerful insights! Premiering today at 1 PM EST on the Earn Your Leisure YouTube channel and all podcast platforms. Subscribe and tune in for a deep dive into the business side of sports and media with Stephen A. Smith. #StephenASmith #EarnYourLeisure #SportsJournalism #CollegeSports #MediaRelations #CorporateStrategy #JournalisticIntegrity #NCAA #NIL #ESPN #FirstTake #LeBronJames #MichaelJordan #AllenIverson #Podcasting 0:00 Intro 4:33 Why Stephen A Smith Supports NIL Collectives 10:57 UConn’s “Blue Blood” Explained 14:21 Kobe Bryant / Charlotte Hornets Draft Situation Explained 21:48 How Social Media Runs Modern Sports 26:00 Did Stephen A Smith Criticize Kyrie Irving Too Much? 35:30 Stephen’s Journey Journey to Success in Journalism 42:51 How Media and Television is Pivoting Overnight 48:42 Single Handedly Generating 2 Billion Views for ESPN 54:08 Losing Leverage and History of Dealing with Bad Contracts 1:06:44 Are Black Sports Analysts Underpaid? 1:17:05 The Importance of Journalistic Integrity and Knowing When You’re Wrong 1:21:14 Giving Back to Those Who Helped You at the Start 1:26:19 Outro