Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise Southerland.
Hi Elise, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Oklahoma and now call Fort Worth, Texas home. From the age of 3 I grew up competing in rodeo queen pageants, horse shows, and rodeos across the country.
I attended Oklahoma State University where I found my love for the story telling side of athletics. In 2017 I was selected as the Oklahoma State University Spirit Rider getting to ride the iconic horse named Bullet across home football games each touchdown, as well as taking him across the state and some in Texas for fan meet and greets. In 2018 I had several opportunities to learn both in front of and behind the camera across various sports and events. That same year I was asked to be the sideline reporter for an extreme sports company covering Freestyle Bullfighting. After graduating college, I continued working as the Bullfighters Only sideline reporter, where I still am today, worked in college athletics, helped tell the stories and preserve the legacy of the women we all look up to as the Director of Public Engagement at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, a sales consultant for the largest medical and dental distribution company in the world, and have now landed right back in the western community and rodeo as an On-Air host on the Cowboy Channel.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey that I still believe I am on today has been smooth in the sense that I have been willing to take any opportunity as a learning opportunity to grow. However, the opportunities for growth have not always been easy physically or mentally, but I am proud of every step I have taken. The struggles have to be looked at as a means to an end and without them, you won’t know what you’re capable of. I have had a lot of early mornings, late nights, hours spent watching my shows back and watching others in the industry to learn from. Some of the things that were difficult for me was understanding that the ultimate goal I had in life didn’t necessarily have a designated path and I knew I had to create my own. There have been countless people in my life I’ve looked up to and whose lives I have used to build piece by piece that life I dreamed about for myself. Staying the course I set for myself was sometimes hard, because I would see other opportunities that might have been easier. I had to remind myself and still do that I am chasing the dreams I had from a young age and I’m seeing them come true in real time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an On Air Talent for the Cowboy Channel. I cohost a show several days a week called Western Sports Roundup, think of this as “Sports Center” for the western industry. We also broadcast rodeos from across the country that myself and other members of our team host from in the studio. During the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, this is the Super Bowl for the sport of rodeo that takes place every year in Las Vegas for 10 days, I cohosted a show called NFR Tailgate, and hosted an interview style show called Deep Dive.
Each member of the talent team at the Cowboy Channel have deep roots in the sport of rodeo, which has made coming to work every day truly a blessing. Daily I get to talk about the sport that raised me and tell the stories of those whose names will go down in history.
I am truly proud that every step I have taken led me to this place in my life, I am surrounded daily by answered prayers. It warms my heart when I meet people that watch our shows or follow me on social media that feel touched by the stories I get to help tell, because I am equally touched by them. The sport of rodeo is so grounded in faith, tradition, and family, because of that I know each day I put my mic on and we go live that I’m getting the chance to talk with likeminded people who live our way of life as much as I do.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Being a fan of the sport of rodeo, I am constantly keeping up with the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association website and social media pages and all forms of Cowboy Channel social media. I also regularly listen to “Calm Down with Erin and Charissa” the podcast as they are both sideline reports and hosts I have looked up to for years, as well as the “RealAF with Andy Frisella” podcast for some added competitive motivation.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: elise.southerland
