Podcast Summary: Bubba On the Lake

Episode #30 – Tech Talk & Taylor Korn of ESPN+
Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Bill "Bubba" Bussey
Guests: Stuart Brockwell (Surge Technology), Taylor Korn (ESPN+, The Barn)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bill "Bubba" Bussey combines his trademark humor and perspective with rich commentary on technology and the evolving sports media landscape. The episode features a detailed “Tech Talk” segment with Stuart Brockwell of Surge Technology, focusing on the latest iPhone announcements and gadget reviews, followed by an in-depth interview with Taylor Korn—a fast-rising sports reporter debuting as a sideline reporter for ESPN+ at Jacksonville State. The show also touches on recent national news, specifically the assassination of Charlie Kirk, with Bubba reflecting on its broader impacts.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tech Talk with Stuart Brockwell – The New iPhone and Apple Trends

Segment Start: [08:28]

• Sod-laying with Drones and AI

  • Stuart jokes about using a drone and Grok AI to optimize laying sod in his yard.

    “I sent a drone up into the air over my house... then I fed that into Grok. It helped me figure out where to start laying along the edges.” (Stuart, [09:07])

• Recap of Apple’s Latest iPhone Releases

  • Recaps differences between the iPhone 15 (USB-C introduction) and the iPhone 16, then dives into the newest iPhone 17 lineup.
  • Price breakdown:
    • iPhone 17: $799
    • iPhone 17 Air: $999 (“the thinnest iPhone ever”)
    • iPhone 17 Pro: $1099
    • iPhone 17 Pro Max: $1199

• Major iPhone Updates

  • USB-C Transition was due to EU mandates—a move towards industry standards, not customer demand.

    "They changed it because they were forced to. The European Union mandated it... Apple’s a company, the company’s goal is to make money.” (Stuart, [12:26])

  • New iPhone “Air” is ultra-thin, with fewer camera lenses, seemingly aimed at fashion rather than utility.

    "Who is asking, genuinely, who is asking for a thinner phone? ... Personally, I think it's silly." (Stuart, [17:33])

• Hardware Innovations

  • Introduction of vapor chamber cooling in the iPhone 17 Pro, improving thermal management for the processor.

    “They finally have put into the iPhone a vapor chamber cooler...which is something I thought iPhones should have had a long time ago.” (Stuart, [19:34])

• Battery Life & Fast-Charging

  • Apple still lags in battery life compared to Chinese competitors.
  • Discussion of phones that can charge "0–100% in 30 minutes", but with skepticism about overheating risks.

• AirPods Pro 3

  • Praises the sound and noise-cancellation features.
  • Claims new AirPods Pro 3 have live translation capabilities.

    “Apple claims these do that...translate anything out that they hear somebody speaking to you...that’s science fiction stuff.” (Stuart, [26:52])

• Buyer’s Advice

  • If you own iPhone 15 or 16, don’t upgrade unless you absolutely want the new orange color.
  • Owners of iPhone 14 or earlier can consider upgrading.

Notable Quotes:

• “This is just me, I suppose, but I would be delighted to give me a phone twice as thick, with twice the battery in it.” (Stuart, [18:00])
• “The only reason I would suggest moving from a 15 or a 16 to a 17 is if you really, really, really want the color orange.” (Stuart, [28:13])

2. Interview: Taylor Korn, ESPN+ Sideline Reporter

Segment Start: [32:09]

• Background and Career Path

  • Taylor describes her early love of sports: watching college football with her dad, playing soccer at Vestavia, and focusing on college sports coverage.
  • She credits her career start to a tip from a college roommate, leading to her job at The Next Round.

• Women in Sports Media

  • Acknowledges there are still few young women entering sports media, but growing acceptance and opportunities.

    “If I had a hundred female seniors from Vestavia High School, I might have one or two that say they want to go into sports.” (Bubba, [32:34])

• Sports Passions

  • Loves college football and basketball—less interest in pro sports.
  • Family are Lions fans; recounts fondness for watching with them.
  • Discusses emotional ups and downs of fandom.

    "Sports can determine the trajectory of...your whole week. It’s borderline unhealthy, but that’s what makes it great.” (Taylor, [36:46])

• Humor on “Faking Football” in Relationships

  • Bubba shares story of his wife pretending to grasp football to impress him.

    "She faked football to bag me and then really didn’t like football after all.” (Bubba, [39:38])

  • Taylor jokes her boyfriend may be “faking football” in reverse, since she’s the sports fan.

• Sports Storytelling

  • Taylor emphasizes the drama and personal stories behind players as her favorite part of the job.

    “There are so many players...that have these incredible stories...it makes you root for them.” (Taylor, [40:08])

• Working in Sports Media

  • Describes her current roles:

    • With The Barn: Auburn sports coverage, pre/postgame, and social media.
    • Cover Crimson: Alabama sports coverage.
    • New gig as ESPN+ sideline reporter for Jack State (debuting Saturday; working alongside Eli Gold).

  • Discusses how the media landscape now allows fans continual access and a barrage of content versus limited pre-internet coverage.

• Sideline Reporting Approach

  • Wants to highlight athletes’ stories and provide fans with deeper background beyond the game.
  • Has begun studying established sideline reporters to shape her own style.

• Game Preview: Auburn vs. Oklahoma

  • Breaks down the key matchups and injury reports.
  • Notes on Auburn’s improved turnover margin, returning players, and the balance between run and pass offense.

    “If you watched any of Auburn's games last year, you know that that was a major issue and they've done a good job of cleaning that up.” (Taylor, [50:00])

  • Praises Oklahoma's defense and ponders how Auburn will handle SEC competition intensity.

Notable Quotes:

• “I don’t want to wake up and dread working every day. I need to find something to do that I’m interested in and passionate about.” (Taylor, [33:16])
• “That's my goal...highlighting the athletes that put in so much work. I love hearing stories as a viewer and hope that’s what I can bring to the audience.” (Taylor, [48:31])

3. Special Comment: Reflections on the Charlie Kirk Assassination

Segment Start: [56:33]

• Bubba briefly updates listeners on the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, expressing sadness but optimism that his work and example will inspire others.
• Draws parallels to the legacy of martyrs.

  “Charlie Kirk was a martyr for what he believed...it always multiplies the faith.” (Bubba, [57:46])

• Teases in-depth follow-up in a future episode.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [08:28] – Tech Talk with Stuart Brockwell begins
• [14:55] – iPhone 17 Pro vs. Air explained
• [24:08] – AirPods Pro 3 & translation features
• [27:33] – Should you upgrade your iPhone?
• [32:09] – Interview with Taylor Korn (background, sports media, stories)
• [41:15] – Taylor on covering athletes’ stories
• [46:34] – Sideline reporting at Jack State for ESPN+
• [49:09] – Auburn vs. Oklahoma game preview
• [54:00] – Wrap-up and gratitude
• [56:33] – Reflections on Charlie Kirk incident

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stuart Brockwell:

  "Who is asking, genuinely, who is asking for a thinner phone?...I would be delighted to give me a phone twice as thick with twice the battery in it." ([17:38])

• Bill Bubba Bussey:

  “She faked football to bag me and then really didn’t like football after all.” ([39:38])

• Taylor Korn:

  “There are so many players...that have these incredible stories...it makes you root for them.” ([40:08])
  “That's my goal...highlighting the athletes that put in so much work. I love hearing stories as a viewer and hope that’s what I can bring to the audience.” ([48:31])

Tone & Style

• Bubba’s tone is friendly, humorous, and candid, with a focus on connecting everyday experiences to broader themes in tech and sports.
• The conversations are approachable, with lots of banter, pop-culture and local references, and relatable anecdotes.

Closing

This episode offers a mix of thoughtful tech analysis and an inspiring look at sports media’s next generation. It’s recommended listening for both gadget lovers and fans of inside sports stories, as well as those interested in the real-life journeys of media personalities.