Episode
#300: Marty Smith, Reporter, ESPN – Deep listening builds deep trust
- Published
- Jul 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 5197
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- http://howleaderslead.com/podcast/
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Summary
If you’re a leader, you know how important the skill of listening is. It’s the foundation for every strong relationship in your world. But in the daily hustle, it can be hard to slow down and truly be present in every meeting and conversation. Take it from Marty Smith, one of ESPN’s most recognizable faces. In his years covering college football, golf, and NASCAR, he’s earned the trust of some of the sports world’s biggest names … simply by listening well. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of those relationships, sharing what he’s learned from legends like Nick Saban, Tiger Woods, Lane Kiffin, and more—plus his own hard-earned wisdom on how to build stronger relationships by listening deeply. This episode is for you if: You want to build deeper connections with the people around you You struggle with complacency (or have a team that does) You get uncomfortable reflecting on your own failures You just love sports Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.