Monster Jam Trucks are a unique and incredibly impressive area of motorsports, requiring drivers to maneuver 12,000 pound trucks over jumps and into the air. Taking place in stadiums and arenas, drivers compete in a variety of different events, including freestyle, jumps, wheelies, etc. On this week’s episode of If I’m Honest, Julia Landauer sits down with 2023 Monster Jam Truck rookie of the year, and former NHRA drag racer, Ashley Sanford. Ashley and Julia discuss their audition process for Monster Jam, the emotions and fears they had, and what doing tricks in a Monster Jam Truck is really like. Ashley and Julia touch on perseverance, what Ashley’s most proud of with her motorsports career, and what she’s technically working on in 2024. Ashley also honestly shares a trauma she experienced in 2023, how she dealt with her grief, and how it impacted her perspective on life moving forward.

You can learn more about Ashley and her 2024 Monster Jam schedule here: https://www.monsterjam.com/en-us/driver/ashley-sanford/

You can follow Ashley on Instagram at @ashleyracergirl

Learn more about Julia Landauer at www.julialandauer.com

Monster Jam Trucks are a unique and incredibly impressive area of motorsports, requiring drivers to maneuver 12,000 pound trucks over jumps and into the air. Taking place in stadiums and arenas, drivers compete in a variety of different events, including freestyle, jumps, wheelies, etc. On this week’s episode of If I’m Honest, Julia Landauer sits down with 2023 Monster Jam Truck rookie of the year, and former NHRA drag racer, Ashley Sanford. Ashley and Julia discuss their audition process for Monster Jam, the emotions and fears they had, and what doing tricks in a Monster Jam Truck is really like. Ashley and Julia touch on perseverance, what Ashley’s most proud of with her motorsports career, and what she’s technically working on in 2024. Ashley also honestly shares a trauma she experienced in 2023, how she dealt with her grief, and how it impacted her perspective on life moving forward.
You can learn more about Ashley and her 2024 Monster Jam schedule here: <a href="https://www.monsterjam.com/en-us/driver/ashley-sanford/">https://www.monsterjam.com/en-us/driver/ashley-sanford/</a>
You can follow Ashley on Instagram at @ashleyracergirl
Learn more about Julia Landauer at <a href="http://www.julialandauer.com/">www.julialandauer.com</a>

Join Julia Landauer, champion racecar driver, motivational keynote speaker, and advocate for STEM education and women’s empowerment, as she tells you what she’s honestly thinking about. In “If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer,” Julia shares what piqued her interest that week, what she’s writing about in her journal, what she's grappling with in her day-to-day, and her opinions on the world. Julia draws on her 21 year racing career, time at college, growing up in NYC, and experiences from building her brand to deliver her perspective and advice in honest, vulnerable, and entertaining stories. And every other week, Julia brings on a guest that she's inspired by to learn more about their journey. So, buckle up every Wednesday for a new episode of If I'm Honest with Julia Landauer. 


For more about Julia, you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @julialandauer and check out her website julialandauer.com

Join Julia Landauer, champion racecar driver, motivational keynote speaker, and advocate for STEM education and women’s empowerment, as she tells you what she’s honestly thinking about. In “If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer,” Julia shares what piqued her interest that week, what she’s writing about in her journal, what she's grappling with in her day-to-day, and her opinions on the world. Julia draws on her 21 year racing career, time at college, growing up in NYC, and experiences from building her brand to deliver her perspective and advice in honest, vulnerable, and entertaining stories. And every other week, Julia brings on a guest that she's inspired by to learn more about their journey. So, buckle up every Wednesday for a new episode of If I'm Honest with Julia Landauer. 
 For more about Julia, you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @julialandauer and check out her website <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://julialandauer.com__;!!N96JrnIq8IfO5w!nUJcDCLyGS4dm05mIlZPqIGZ6oElE1v7h8HV8uEN9cZow19DFCuORX6_-_jixSoV8HyTBN4yFB0XJX5LkexYCP6sINeL$">julialandauer.com</a>

If I'm Honest with Julia Landauer

Ep 37: GUEST: Ashley Sanford - Monster Jam Truck Driver

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1335331c-bbaa-4fe7-ba5f-b12401499b22/transcript

Sports broadcasters are “armed with being good storytellers, delivering the facts, doing peoples’ athletic performances justice, and having fun,” according to NBC broadcaster Leigh Diffey. With over 25 years of international broadcast experience across many different sports, Leigh Diffey is a master storyteller on this week’s guest on If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer. Discussing how broadcasting fell into his lap while in university, Leigh shares the moment he realized his natural enthusiasm for sports and competition organically translated to his announcing, keeping the audience engaged. Leigh explains the importance of having self-belief, the Aussie “Have A Go” mentality, as well as capitalizing on networking and nurturing relationships. Leigh describes how he lives for “the moment” of victory or failure in sports, and how that crescendo varies by sport. Julia and Leigh discuss the similarities between broadcasters and athletes, the technical elements of delivering a broadcast, and the delicate nature of needing to comment on controversies and tragedies, which both require empathy. Leigh closes out by sharing his pre-broadcast rituals, his distinction between being “on edge” and being “nervous,” and the one sport he hasn’t yet commented on that he’d like to.

Follow Leigh on Instagram and X at @leighdiffey

Learn more about Julia Landauer at https://julialandauer.com/

Sports broadcasters are “armed with being good storytellers, delivering the facts, doing peoples’ athletic performances justice, and having fun,” according to NBC broadcaster Leigh Diffey. With over 25 years of international broadcast experience across many different sports, Leigh Diffey is a master storyteller on this week’s guest on If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer. Discussing how broadcasting fell into his lap while in university, Leigh shares the moment he realized his natural enthusiasm for sports and competition organically translated to his announcing, keeping the audience engaged. Leigh explains the importance of having self-belief, the Aussie “Have A Go” mentality, as well as capitalizing on networking and nurturing relationships. Leigh describes how he lives for “the moment” of victory or failure in sports, and how that crescendo varies by sport. Julia and Leigh discuss the similarities between broadcasters and athletes, the technical elements of delivering a broadcast, and the delicate nature of needing to comment on controversies and tragedies, which both require empathy. Leigh closes out by sharing his pre-broadcast rituals, his distinction between being “on edge” and being “nervous,” and the one sport he hasn’t yet commented on that he’d like to.
Follow Leigh on Instagram and X at @leighdiffey
Learn more about Julia Landauer at <a href="https://julialandauer.com/">https://julialandauer.com/</a>

Ep 45: Storytelling “The Moment” in Live Sports with Broadcaster Leigh Diffey

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2d5652ce-486c-41da-ae9b-b16200e62e26/transcript

Taylor Swift released her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19, 2024. It wasn’t just a regular album, it was a double album (with The Anthology), spanning 31 songs and over two hours. As a Swiftie herself, Julia Landauer was really looking forward to this album and gives her opinions on TTPD on this week’s episode of If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer. Julia explains what she particularly loves about Taylor Swift’s songwriting, the pivotal song that broke down the fourth wall for her, and her ritual for listening to a new Taylor Swift album. Julia then dives into three songs that caught her attention on TTPD, one thing she really doesn’t like about Taylor Swift’s songwriting, and a specific lyric that marries Swifties and motorsports fans. Julia ends with some final thoughts on the album, including where TTPD lands on her Taylor Swift Album Hierarchy List.

Patti Smith’s “Just Kids,” which Julia mentions: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Kids-Patti-Smith/dp/0060936223 

Danielle Trotta’s episode with the quote, “don’t let people’s outsides affect your insides”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-im-honest-with-julia-landauer/id1686900834?i=1000652706947 

Learn more about Julia Landauer at https://julialandauer.com/

Taylor Swift released her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19, 2024. It wasn’t just a regular album, it was a double album (with The Anthology), spanning 31 songs and over two hours. As a Swiftie herself, Julia Landauer was really looking forward to this album and gives her opinions on TTPD on this week’s episode of If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer. Julia explains what she particularly loves about Taylor Swift’s songwriting, the pivotal song that broke down the fourth wall for her, and her ritual for listening to a new Taylor Swift album. Julia then dives into three songs that caught her attention on TTPD, one thing she really doesn’t like about Taylor Swift’s songwriting, and a specific lyric that marries Swifties and motorsports fans. Julia ends with some final thoughts on the album, including where TTPD lands on her Taylor Swift Album Hierarchy List.
Patti Smith’s “Just Kids,” which Julia mentions: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Kids-Patti-Smith/dp/0060936223">https://www.amazon.com/Just-Kids-Patti-Smith/dp/0060936223 </a>
Danielle Trotta’s episode with the quote, “don’t let people’s outsides affect your insides”: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-im-honest-with-julia-landauer/id1686900834?i=1000652706947">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-im-honest-with-julia-landauer/id1686900834?i=1000652706947 </a>
Learn more about Julia Landauer at <a href="https://julialandauer.com/">https://julialandauer.com/</a>

Ep 44: My Opinions on Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0f5cb188-5be2-49a2-9ecf-b15b01563710/transcript

With over 15 years of broadcast experience, Danielle Trotta has covered NASCAR, NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA, collegiate athletics, Supercross, and Moto GP for some of the biggest broadcasting companies worldwide. On this week’s episode of If I’m Honest, Julia Landauer learns how Danielle got into sports broadcasting, how she ramped up her knowledge of NASCAR, and which NASCAR drivers are particularly engaging to interview. Danielle discusses why and how she makes sure to ask the hard questions while reporting, including the influence that listeners have on her. Danielle and Julia share their love for storytelling, relate to each other on how getting older helps them gain confidence, and explain how sports are a unifying force.

You can follow Danielle on X at @DanielleTrotta (https://twitter.com/DanielleTrotta) and on Instagram at @DanielleKTrotta (https://www.instagram.com/daniellektrotta).

Learn more about Julia Landauer at https://julialandauer.com/.

With over 15 years of broadcast experience, Danielle Trotta has covered NASCAR, NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA, collegiate athletics, Supercross, and Moto GP for some of the biggest broadcasting companies worldwide. On this week’s episode of If I’m Honest, Julia Landauer learns how Danielle got into sports broadcasting, how she ramped up her knowledge of NASCAR, and which NASCAR drivers are particularly engaging to interview. Danielle discusses why and how she makes sure to ask the hard questions while reporting, including the influence that listeners have on her. Danielle and Julia share their love for storytelling, relate to each other on how getting older helps them gain confidence, and explain how sports are a unifying force.
You can follow Danielle on X at @DanielleTrotta (https://twitter.com/DanielleTrotta) and on Instagram at @DanielleKTrotta (https://www.instagram.com/daniellektrotta).
Learn more about Julia Landauer at <a href="https://julialandauer.com/">https://julialandauer.com/.</a>

Ep 43: Sports Journalism, Gaining Confidence, and Asking Tough Questions with Danielle Trotta

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/84bb972c-3952-49a4-8df9-b153011bc1fc/transcript

Ep 37: GUEST: Ashley Sanford - Monster Jam Truck Driver

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