LeBron James made headlines when he announced that he would be teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach as a member of the Miami Heat in 2010. While his departure struck discordance in Cleveland, it was a means for celebration in Florida. Later that summer, James declared the team would win multiple championships. True to his word, the Heat hoisted the trophy twice during James’ tenure. National and local sports media outlets were consistently on hand to cover the team, including Joy Taylor, who was a sports radio host at 790 The Ticket.
From a young age, Taylor became enthralled by the sound of sports radio and wanted to find a way to express her opinion and find her voice. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Penn. with several brothers, she was quickly immersed into the world of sports and observed the zealous passion fans have for their favorite teams.
One of her brothers, Jason, played 15 seasons in the National Football League as a defensive end on the Miami Dolphins and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Taylor was an athlete as well, growing up playing volleyball, basketball, and soccer while also running track. During her freshman year of college, she participated in track and field on a scholarship, but ultimately chose to focus on her broadcast communication studies and transferred to Barry University.
“I was always a lover of radio and I love the ability to bring people into the room with you that radio provided,” Taylor explained, “which is why I started on the radio side of the business because I wanted to be a personality and give my opinion. Sports media – being able to be a part of history and to witness these incredible moments and athletic feats; and [to] be able to consume something that I consume as a fan every day and be able to talk about and give my opinion is a really amazing job.”
Aside from managing WBRY, the student-run radio station at Barry University, Taylor worked as an intern for various local media outlets – the first of which was 560 WQAM on The Joe Rose Show. In addition to Rose’s morning program, Taylor also had a chance to work with DJ Laz on Power 96 (WPOW-FM), a station in the pop music format, and became familiar with different aspects of working in the industry.
Both hosts served as mentors that contributed to Taylor finding her footing in the industry upon graduating, leading to her first job as a part-time producer with WQAM.
“I had a lot of the technical experience of shooting and editing and running the board and bringing in calls, [plus] booking guests, stacking shows [and] reaching out to different artists or athletes to come on the show,” Taylor said. “All of those nuanced skills that you get from being a producer, I had a good base of as an intern and working at the radio station.”
When Marc Hochman and Jonathan Zaslow began hosting a morning drive radio show together on rival outlet 790 The Ticket, the station tabbed Taylor to work as its producer. While she mostly handled behind-the-scenes work and ensured the show ran smoothly, there were moments when she would interpolate her perspectives over the air.
Just over a year later, Hochman’s contract expired and he was unable to reach an agreement on a new deal with the station. Ultimately, his spot in the mornings was taken by Taylor to create the Zaslow and Joy Show.
The program, which was produced by Brendan Tobin, discussed sports and a wide array of other topics involving culture and entertainment while also taking calls. It became a hit in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area as the duo talked about the play of the Dolphins, emergence of the Marlins, and, of course, the championship aspirations of the Heat. The key, however, was to keep the conversation going no matter how difficult it became, making preparation and chemistry imperative aspects of maintaining a stellar on-air product.
“When people who I’ve worked with throughout the business find out or know that I started on the sports radio side of the business, there’s a very interesting level of respect that follows knowing that, ‘Okay, you did that. We know we can throw you in the fire and you’ll be able to handle it,’” Taylor said. “….Doing a radio show where you really have to fill that much time can really prepare you for what will happen on live television.”
Local sports radio, while it is changing, remains a strong and valuable means of connection to fans and an outlet where the audience can join the conversation. Concentrated in television for nearly the last decade – initially with CBS Sports as the host of digital shows Thursday Night Live and Fantasy Football Today – she hopes the medium can discover more effective ways to implement the audience.
The problem lies in that since most networks choose to utilize social media for that very purpose, they are inundated with a tautology of enmity because of the existential penchant to disagree. Instead of becoming perturbed by the strife, producers decided to embrace it and use it as the basis for debate-based programming.
“Hostility is the love language of sports fans,” Taylor said. “When I’m sitting at a bar talking to people about sports or sitting around the house watching a game, there’s no apologies given for the opinions. I think that’s what makes opinion shows that are really great and cut through and resonate.”
Taylor departed 790 The Ticket and moved across the country to Los Angeles, Calif. where she helped introduce a new morning debate show on FOX Sports 1 titled Undisputed, featuring Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. The show directly opposed ESPN’s First Take in the mornings with its cast of Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and Molly Qerim, but ensured it would adopt its own signature feel and distinct sound.
For Taylor, she felt slight hesitation in moving into a moderator role, especially having emanated from sports radio, a format predicated on expatiatory discourse. The immutable sonority of radio starkly contrasted what she would be stepping into, leading Bayless to make sure that she was comfortable assuming this position. She decided that the benefits outweighed the shortcomings of the position, actuating her commitment towards appearing on camera and sacrificing local familiarity.
“Going into a moderator space is a much more limited role as far as obviously how much you’re involved in the conversation,” Taylor said. “The opportunity to be a part of the launch of Undisputed with Skip and Shannon onto the national stage was an incredible opportunity that I was excited about. It was a different type of work – so I would get to have a job that I hadn’t had before and have the potential to become great at that as well.”
Bayless is frequently criticized by industry professionals and consumers for his obdurate and somewhat apoplectic demeanor. Over the years, there have been several occurrences where he irritated people with the nature of his opinions or insensitivity towards other topics, but his dedication to the craft is simply axiomatic.
“Skip is someone who is extremely routine, and I found that the biggest talents that I work with are extremely routine,” Taylor said. “That was a big lesson for me because that show is so early in the morning on the West Coast – it’s getting up at 3 in the morning. Every minute counts when you’re doing a show that early, and you really have to shape your lifestyle around it as well.”
Sharpe, who is in talks with ESPN to join First Take as a contributor and aims to continue his popular Club Shay Shay podcast, has worked in sports media virtually from the time he retired from playing professional football. While he is no longer on Undisputed, those around the industry are excited about his future endeavors and know that his professionalism and proficiency will take him far and allow his star to continue flourishing.
“Shannon is obviously a legendary player with enormous amounts of experience and stories and relationships within the sport,” Taylor said, “but [he] also is such a big sports fan and is able to express it so well that he brought such an amazing energy and the force to the show. He really came into his own and leaned into what made a just really incredible and entertaining show.”
Taylor did not enter the job having never worked in television, as she freelanced on a variety of programming when she was in Miami. Yet entering a network role and trying to attain a share of the audience was a strenuous task and required synergy among the cast and other staffers. Because of this, the program had several practice shows before it took the air so everyone could discern each other’s tendencies and the best way to execute their roles.
“Learning the personalities and the cadences and what different topics are going to bring out of the guys was important to moving the show along and making it not just a great television show, but obviously a show that can be on television because you have to get to break and you have to hit certain out times and things like that,” Taylor said.
“For me, I had some experience and obviously studied [by] watching shows that had those moderator roles, but I wanted to be able to do it in a way that made our show with our unique personalities great.”
Undisputed seems to be adopting a similar approach to First Take when it decided to move on from Kellerman, replacing him with a rotating lineup of contributors to join Smith and Qerim at the desk. Over the last several weeks, the show has reportedly hired Richard Sherman, Lil Wayne and Rachel Nichols to oppose Bayless on a rotating basis, and more signings are expected to be announced before it returns on Aug. 28.
“I think it offers another layer of nuance to the conversation,” Taylor said. “You can have an expert in a field on something or you can have a reporter bringing their perspective. It really changes the dynamic of the show and what you can do within segments when you have more people.”
While Taylor was moderating the debate show, she was also being utilized by FOX Sports 1 as a fill-in host of the nationally syndicated sports radio program, The Herd, which is usually hosted by Colin Cowherd. When Kristine Leahy left the show in April 2018, Taylor was tabbed to take her place as Cowherd’s new permanent co-host. The duo already had an idea of how the show was produced and each other’s hosting styles, shortening the integration period and granting the audience a level of familiarity.
“Like any new show, you kind of have to feel each other out and get to know each other,” Taylor said. “Doing fill-in and five days a week is completely different, so I think we grew into it. Over time, [we] really got to know each other and really got to trust each other.”
Cowherd engages in intense preparation before his three-hour radio show and is dedicated to providing his audience with worthwhile and informative content. Since the show is simulcast on FOX Sports 1, he is coordinating with producers, directors, and graphic designers to safeguard against errors and comes into the studio energized to give the listeners his best.
“[Colin] feels a real obligation to the audience to do a good show,” Taylor said. “He feels like if someone’s going to give their time to watch or listen to the show, they should get what they came for – which is a high-quality sports show. It’s a long show to do – it’s three hours long and you’ve got to fill that.”
A national radio show requires expertise in various different areas of professional sports, which renders preparation, although it can be hackneyed, consequential to success. Since the show is not localized, the teams, players, and leagues being discussed can vary on a daily basis. When there are absolutely no sports being played over several months, as was the case at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, their knowledge and chemistry kept the show alive.
“We really had to rely on each other to do the show because that’s a lot of time to fill when there’s essentially not any news,” Taylor said. “….That time really changed a lot of things for us from as far as trusting each other on air and what Colin would give me to do.”
Taylor’s time hosting Undisputed accentuated her ability to captivate viewers despite being in a role that afforded her minimal chances to speak. Although it was outside her familiar locale, she voiced her opinions and amalgamated information with entertainment. When Taylor gave her input into the situation, it was always strong and based on facts or knowledge she accrued.
Upon learning that Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was being investigated by the National Football League in a domestic violence case, it became a point of discussion on Undisputed. The investigation found that he engaged in physical violence at multiple junctures, and he ended up receiving a six-game suspension without pay.
While he was implicated by the league, Elliott was never criminally charged as a perpetrator of domestic violence wherefore team owner Jerry Jones was furious with the decision. After a protracted legal battle, which included the suspension being put on hold three times, the ruling was upheld and Elliott was forced to sit out.
Taylor is a survivor of domestic violence and gave her perspective on the show after the NFLPA filed a lawsuit against the National Football League for its ruling. Viewers of the show could see how she was affected by the news and the implications it would have for future cases.
In 2021, she founded The Joy Taylor Foundation, dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic violence and fighting homelessness since the two are often intertwined. The organization also holds events related to youth empowerment, including a girls’ flag football camp leading up to the Super Bowl in an attempt to positively impact those in the area.
“I think being a part of the community and giving back is essential for everyone, not just public figures,” Taylor said, “but I do have a platform and I feel a responsibility to use it.”
In addition to working with Cowherd, Taylor also began her own podcast titled Maybe I’m Crazy with co-host Brendan Newman. While broadcasting that show, they penetrated beyond the world of sports and found an audience through digital distribution platforms. Taylor eventually began hosting her own radio program on Saturday afternoons, effectively ending the podcast but still providing her a platform separate from The Herd.
“I think I’m unapologetic and passionate, but [I] also realize that we’re blessed to be able to cover sports and talk about sports for a living,” Taylor expressed. “We’re not out here saving lives, so we should have a little fun while we’re doing it.”
When FOX Sports 1 shuffled its daytime lineup last fall, she accepted a role to host a revamped afternoon show, Speak, featuring Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy. Once again, Taylor moved away from radio and back to focusing on television full-time and learning the subtleties of a new program. On the air though, she has considerably more time to convey her opinions than she did on Undisputed; however, there is some overlap in terms of the skillset she equips in front of the camera.
“Obviously observing meetings, learning how we produce the show [and] how to prep for a specific take knowing, ‘Okay, I think they know that they feel like this and I know that I’m going to disagree and they might bring this up – so I’m going to make sure I have this statistic,’” Taylor said. “All these different things that I learned from being on Undisputed, I use on the show today.”
The show, however, is not predicated on debate – rather it expounds on the topics of the day. There are various recurring segments throughout the show that keep people engrossed and wanting to come back for more. Taylor diligently prepares for each episode of the show, especially when they interview special guests, to make sure it is mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
“I’m not looking for a viral moment or someone to say something that they shouldn’t be saying or anything like that,” Taylor said. “I want someone to feel comfortable, to have fun, and most of all for it to be conversational.”
While she has plenty of television experience, Taylor’s ability to fill time and offer new perspectives was accentuated by radio. She conveys confidence and erudition on the air and understands the value of relating to the viewers. It is a part of departing local sports radio that she fervently misses and hopes can be somewhat implemented on television.
“There were loyal fans of the show that would come to appearances and you know them [and] see their kids, and you know when they call into the show, you know exactly who they are,” Taylor said. “There was this real connection with the audience that could exist because of the platform.”
Since Taylor got her start in Miami and gained considerable exposure while hosting on 790 The Ticket, learning that Audacy was moving the station out of the sports format was particularly difficult news to stomach. Miami lost a local sports media outlet, part of a larger trend due to rising operating costs and a capricious advertising market.
While its sports programming officially came to a halt after 18 years last October, it signed off leaving an indelible legacy in the area and influencing the future of the format.
“That was heartbreaking for me,” Taylor said. “There’s so many careers that started there, blossomed there, and have gone to really great things nationally and beyond. It was just a very unique place – it had a style and an attitude that was unique to that station.”
Taylor is in the midst of a sports media ecosystem where there is more supply and demand for niche content, but a small portion that consistently cuts through. There are opportunities for growth through digital and social media platforms like never before, and creating intriguing content can be achieved simply by using a mobile device.
Professionals like Taylor though stand out by knowing how to oscillate between objectivity and subjectivity, and doing so in a way that aligns with the interests of the public.
“The way that I connect with the audience is by being my true self, and that’s what I’ve tried to do throughout my career,” Taylor said. “In the moments that I have to be myself and the moments that I have to shine if you will, I’m going to shine as myself. I think the main thing that audiences connect with is authenticity.”
Most of Taylor’s television career has been spent with FOX Sports, and she is now on her third show with its dedicated sports programming network. In covering stories and expressing her opinions, she has developed professional relationships with colleagues and personalities from other networks. Having a reliable contact base keeps her informed about breaking news, story angles, and future collaborations.
Additionally, it is part of the reason why burning a bridge can prove costly in the long run, for everyone is interconnected to a certain extent.
“It’s really important to be professional, but also [to] maintain relationships with people that you work with or that you meet, and to network,” Taylor said. “….Relationships are very important, and I think anybody who works in this business would tell you that.”
Throughout her entire career, Taylor has shattered boundaries and proven to be a trailblazer. As a woman in sports media, she has been subject to heightened levels of criticism and misogyny over the years. What has made it even more challenging, Taylor explained, is that she is a Black woman and needs to defend the value and legitimacy of her opinions.
Before pursuing a career, Taylor observed journalists such as Jemele Hill, who allowed her to envision herself as being capable of realizing prosperity and longevity in the industry.
“I didn’t used to view myself that much as a role model or someone that was looked at that way, but I’m in a space where there’s very few of us and it’s very important to me because I want to see more women in this space,” Taylor expressed. “The idea of, ‘There’s only one job for a woman and any particular role a woman has to be in;’ the more women there are, the less of that is a thing.”
Manifest Destiny brought Taylor to Los Angeles, recognizing that there was an opportunity to grow by working in television on a brand-new show. Over the years, she has continued to vacillate between the two mediums and possesses coveted versatility that allows her to thrive. She has been consistent in her approach, remaining focused on being the best version of herself possible – and exhibiting it to the audience.
“Always be authentic,” Taylor said. “You can always learn from other people and study their habits and how they prep or how they do [something], but you are unique. What’s going to make you most successful is being the best version of herself.”
Derek Futterman is an associate editor and sports media reporter for Barrett Media. Additionally, he has worked in a broad array of roles in multimedia production – including on live game broadcasts and audiovisual platforms – and in digital content development and management. He previously interned for Paramount within Showtime Networks, wrote for the Long Island Herald and served as lead sports producer at NY2C. To get in touch, email Derek@BarrettMedia.com or find him on X @derekfutterman.
