July 23, 2025

Interview Series: Dan Hoard, The Voice of the Cincinnati Bengals

42 minutes

In this episode, Marty Grunder interviews Dan Hoard, the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals, on his career as a sportscaster, what it's like finding creativity in tough situations, and what it's like working in the pro-football world.

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Dan's Podcast: Bengals Booth

Marty's Studio

00:00 - Introduction & Welcome

01:25 - Meet Dan Hoard: Voice of the Cincinnati Bengals

03:33 - Marty’s Personal Connection to Sports Broadcasting

04:24 - Balancing Family and Career

07:29 - Organizational Tactics and Time Management

08:11 - The Importance of Preparation

16:38 - Handling Tough Conversations

20:32 - Conducting Yourself Daily to Build Respect

21:49 - The Art of Not Talking Too Much

23:02 - The Importance of Short, Direct Questions

24:51 - Leadership Qualities and Communication

26:43 - Joe Burrow: A Case Study in Leadership

32:14 - The Mental Side of Success

39:18 - Prediction for the Bengals’ Season

40:51 - Please Share & Subscribe!

Show Notes

Preparation builds confidence: Extensive preparation is the foundation of calm, confident performance. Hoard spends entire days creating detailed spotting boards for each opponent, knowing only 5% will be used but never knowing which 5%. "I find that I'm calm and confident when I'm prepared... When you put in the work, didn't you feel confident when you sat down to take the test?"

Follow strict routines during high-pressure periods: Establish and stick to weekly routines that ensure thorough preparation. Monday and Tuesday are Hoard's heavy prep days, leaving the rest of the week for additional details and other responsibilities. "I have a very strict routine that I follow during the football season... if I follow that routine, then I get to the weekend confident."

Build relationships before tough conversations: Develop trust and respect with people during good times so difficult conversations are easier when they're needed. Show genuine respect for what others do. "I try to build relationships with all of these players and coaches... when you're in that position, they know where you're coming from."

Be tactful, not confrontational: Approach difficult situations with honesty but avoid confrontational language. Think about what your audience needs to know and ask direct questions respectfully. "I try to do it in a tactful way, not a confrontational way... You've gotta be honest, the players know what you're there to do."

Make others the star: Great leaders and communicators focus on helping others shine rather than dominating conversations. Ask short, direct questions and let others speak. "I'm trying to help my partner shine... I'm bringing these guests on to hear from them... I want to allow them to speak their mind."

Communicate clearly and consistently: Good leaders articulate expectations clearly and maintain consistent standards. They don't change their message from day to day. "Good leaders communicate clearly and consistently, they're not wishy-washy. They don't say one thing on Monday and something completely different on Tuesday."

Take accountability first: Point the thumb at yourself before pointing fingers at others. Great leaders accept responsibility for problems before addressing others' roles. "I think taking accountability is absolutely critical. I think you point the thumb at yourself before you point a finger at somebody else."

Connect with everyone on your team: Make an effort to know everyone's name and something about them. Reach out to new team members proactively and sit with different people regularly. "Joe not only connects with these guys, but he makes a point of developing relationships with these guys... knowing somebody's name is so important."

Lead by example through work ethic: The best leaders work harder than anyone else and demonstrate complete investment in excellence. Others will follow when they see genuine commitment. "Those guys know there's nobody in the building that works harder than he does 12 months out of the year."

Control anxiety through preparation: Stress and nervousness are normal, especially when doing something new. Combat anxiety by being disciplined about preparation and following proven routines. "There's stress in every job... do what's necessary to put yourself in the proper mental space to do a good job."

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