Lindsay Czarniak is an energetic and unstoppable Sportscaster and Podcast Host who has done everything from covering NFL games field-side to contributing to NASCAR coverage. Although Czarniak makes her job look effortless, she puts an intense amount of effort into her research and work off-screen.
“It’s a job that is really a lot harder than it looks,” Czarniak says, “It’s exhilarating. It’s an adrenaline rush. But it’s also a lot of prep work.” She continues, “I’m so grateful. I love being there on the field on Sundays. But I love more than anything to be able to make athletes relatable.”
Breaking Down Doors: How Lindsay Czarniak Empowers Women
It’s refreshing for many to see Lindsay as a public figure in the realm of sports. Although the industry is seemingly male-dominated, Czarniak breaks down barriers with her strong work ethic, determination and passion.
“I feel like women still have a long way to go, in many ways, to be treated equal,” Czarniak states, “But I also see great opportunities that females are getting in sports. I think that women are continuing to break down doors.” Czarniak is thankful for female mentors who she worked with and learned from early in her career. Czarniak adds, “There are certainly a lot of women who paved the way for people like me to get the opportunities that I’ve gotten.”
The sports industry may seem isolating at times due to its hyper-masculine stigma and stereotypes, but the industry is changing and does not have to be exclusionary. Czarniak hopes to make sports entertainment an enjoyable experience for everyone through relatability.
How to Change an Entire Industry: Lindsay Czarniak Focuses on Relatability
She states, “The biggest compliment for me is when someone says ‘I love watching you or listening to what you did - and my girlfriend really loves it too.’ It makes me excited to hear about women out there who care about sports. But even if a woman doesn’t like sports, it’s fulfilling to me if I can interest or hook people into the storylines around sports. I really believe there is so much that is relatable.”
She adds:
I still see that there are [instances] out there where women are not treated the same as men, in this and every industry; I want to see more change.
Her advice to young women hoping to break into the sports industry?
“Be persistent. Follow up. Send thank you notes. And just show up and ask questions,” Czarniak says. “I want the younger generation to continue to fight for all those opportunities and understand that there are so many different opportunities out there. But it’s key to make your voices heard. Empower women. Especially right now.”