Loading summary
A
Hi, this is Joe from Vanta. In today's digital world, compliance regulations are changing constantly and earning customer trust has never mattered more. Vanta helps companies get compliant fast and stay secure with the most advanced AI automation and continuous monitoring out there. So whether you're a startup going for your first SoC2 or ISO 27001 or a growing enterprise managing vendor risk, Vanta makes it quick, easy and scalable. And I'm not just saying that because I work here. Get started@vanta.com.
B
Hello and welcome to this episode of Kennedy Saves the World. It's Friday. It's happy hour. It is Beat Navy week.
C
Yeah.
B
Sage Steele is here. Cheers to you, Sage Steele.
C
Thank you so much for having me here.
B
You are so welcome. Cheers. This is a boozy hot chocolate.
C
Thank you. Is that the official name? The official candy name?
B
If it had coffee in it, it would be a Sage steel speedball. But since it's hot chocolate, it has Bailey's vanilla vodka and some coffee flavored Brandy.
C
This is so good.
B
Am I right?
C
Is this what you do every day of your life?
B
If I did this every day of my life, I would not function.
C
It is so perfect and good. I don't even do hot chocolate anymore. Really? But with this. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I would do this. Yeah.
B
I mean, at your time, I feel like you are allowed some indulgences.
C
Thank you.
B
During December, correct?
C
If not every day. Yes. But yeah. If I did this more than once a week, I'd probably be homeless. Which, which, hey, what the hell? I fit right in here in New York. Right. I don't live here. Yeah. So I just walk around here and I go, oh, oh. It's all good.
B
What do you, what do you feel when you come to New York?
C
I still feel excitement. Ok. Like, I love you. I, I refuse to, you know, I mean, listen, you have to pay attention to the facts and what's happening. And it's hard to avoid certain things when you're walking over it or, you know, the smoke hits you in the face and you're like, whoa. I still love it. I just think there's always good everywhere you are. I grew up as an army, Brian.
B
Yes.
C
And like everywhere. There are places we moved that we did not want to go. And my mom was always like, it's an adventure. Find the good. And there's too much good here to let them die.
B
There's so many New Yorkers. It doesn't matter if it's Cartier and Saks and the beautiful stores on Fifth Avenue and The decorations are absolutely magical. Like, you stop in your tracks, you look up, you're so moved by it. Like, then it's Christmas. But it's also, you know, the. The little things, the Salvation army guys who are singing and dancing with bells and, you know, shops, and there. There is joy. And if you look for it, you will recognize it and you will find it, and there is something to it.
C
It's a choice. Yes. Really is.
B
So your dad a decorated West Pointer?
C
Yes, ma'. Am.
B
Like a hero, a patriot. But this is the most important week for every West Pointer's life. Explain that.
C
Yes, it is Army Navy week. And, you know, like, life would stop in the steel household. This week in particular. Every. As my dad says, and he played football for Army 100 years ago, actually broke the color barrier. The first black man ever to play varsity football. That was like, 1966. Crazy that it took that long.
B
Can you believe that?
C
I mean, crazy. Yeah. And kind of the cool thing is when you look at the old team photo from 1966, 67, like, that whole time frame, like, literally, he's easy to find. It's a team of, you know, his white teammates who are his best friends, and he's smack dab in the middle and very easy to see. And if you look at a football team photo on any level, like Poly Pop Warner all the way up through the NFL, those teams look a little different now. And the white guys are the minority. So it's just amazing to see the evolution of the sport in every way, obviously. But, like, being at army and then he went back as a coach there years later, this is probably a kid calling me. I'll just stop it. Love you kids, but no, deal with it on your own for a few minutes. They. I mean, my kids have also grown up knowing what this week means, because as my dad always said, you can be 1 in 11 and have a horrible season, but if you beat Navy at the end, this season was a success. That's all that matters. Yeah. Yeah. Sadly, he. We go every year together. It's our father daughter date every year. And he's in the hospital right now. He's gonna be okay. He's surgery, and so I'm sad that I don't get to experience it with him, but it's like, dad, you're gonna get better.
B
That'll make next year even sweeter.
C
Yes. And he will have just turned 80. The man can still wear his army football and track letterman's jacket.
B
Unbelievable.
C
I know. So big week.
B
I love that. Yes. So My beautiful, sexy teenage fiance is a West Pointer.
C
I did not know that.
B
Yes. And on his phone it says, Go army, beat Navy. And whenever he sees a West Pointer, what do they say when they greet each other?
C
Beat Navy, Go army, beat Navy.
B
Yes, but he'll just beat Navy. Just beat Navy.
C
You're right. And it's like they automatically feel like they're related.
B
Yes.
C
Just because of that. It is so cool and so special. And I think it's because it's the innocence of the game and that moment when these men, I mean, 99.9% of them will never play football, organize football again, unless it's their, you know, old man.
B
They've got a record, they've got a five year commitment.
C
Yes.
B
With the U.S. army and, you know, the Navy. For those who didn't get into West Point.
C
Exactly. All those others, those losers. I mean, by the way, we'll consider the Naval Academy and Academy, that thing out in Colorado Springs. Air Force. Like, you guys don't even qualify for this conversation. Go away. Try again. Your next call.
B
In our house, they call it the Chair Force.
C
Yeah, I didn't know that. I'm learning a lot already.
B
I know. It is a service academy. And the nice thing about the service academies is, and you have seen this, you have documented this, the NIL money has changed college football so much. But the service academies are the only football programs that are essentially untouched. They are preserved in time. So therefore, these are the only programs where you actually develop a team over four years.
C
Yes. You're not in and out, you're not a one and done, and then on to the next, hopefully better thing for some of these kids. And I get it, I get there had to be adjustments in the business side of it, but man, it's sad to see what has happened. And so that's why this is even more sacred. That Saturday, second Saturday in December and what it feels like, feels like to go and see the march on, et cetera. And also knowing again, with this being probably their last games ever, many of them could be serving in a war like this is so sacred. And I'm always in awe. And I obviously always feel like a total idiot standing next to some of these kids because I didn't even waste my, like, application money to send to an academy because I would have gone, but academically I knew I couldn't have done what these men and women are doing. And, and the fact that they're going to represent our country, they've committed to that. At age 18, this game is Different? Yeah.
B
It's unbelievable. And what year did your dad graduate from West Bloom?
C
1970.
B
Okay.
C
Yeah. So a minute ago. And he actually got drafted by the Detroit Lions back when there were, like, 17 rounds in the NFL. But back then, you couldn't get a waiver like Villanueva did in the NFL. And so many of these, you know, and David Robinson, I mean, he served, and then he came back to play in the NBA. Right. But these guys now, if you're at a certain level, you can get a waiver and, you know, hold off on serving and go into the NFL. Back then, that was it. So sometimes we wonder, gosh, what if, like, what if you had played in the NFL? I wouldn't be alive. So his life would be miserable, I'm sure.
B
And you wouldn't have gotten into sports.
C
It's because of him.
B
Yes.
C
It's literally because it's your fault, dad. No, it was. It was that influence.
B
But I love your sports expertise because I. I love college football.
C
I think that's.
B
That's my favorite sport. And if I were a Notre Dame fan, I would be upset. Like, I understand why they are upset not being included in the playoff, but my brother, I love that.
C
You know, this, though, like, this is so refreshing for me to be able to, like, have a real conversation with a woman at Fox News anywhere about this, because it's my husband, and we are three months in. We are, you know, really experienced at the. Well, round two for us, of course, but fine. Newlyweds. He said to me before we got engaged, he's like, listen, if, you know, we're going to continue this thing, he's like, there's only two things that I get upset about. Number one, like, don't let me get hangry. And he wasn't saying me, of course, but he's like, I can't get hangry. I'm annoyed when I'm hungry. And if Notre Dame loses, like, just don't. It's over. Like, the day is over. We'll start over tomorrow. And I was like, really? Really.
B
So the last couple of days, I would be apoplectic. As a Notre Dame fan, I would, too. And I understand.
C
I don't like Notre Dame. I don't like him again, only because they wouldn't accept me. So I'm going to take it personally. Yeah, he and other Notre Dame fans absolutely have a right. And you know what? Even if you hate Notre Dame, the system is jacked.
B
I don't hate Notre Dame.
C
And it is for whoever.
B
I hate usc okay. USC hates Notre Dame, therefore I love Notre Dame.
C
That. See, that makes sense.
B
Yeah.
C
As it should be. But they absolutely got screwed. However, my Indiana Hoosiers, I know, like, what is happening in this world.
B
I love it. And I want the Hoosiers to go all the way. I mean, Oregon, other than ucla, is my secondary team, and I want the Ducks to do well. But I was born in Indiana. My parents met at Ball State. My dad went to law school at iu. My aunt went to iu, and I learned about you.
C
Yeah. I couldn't believe it because I didn't know that.
B
IU is awesome. It is such a great school. I hope my younger daughter applies there. It's amazing. They have one of the best business schools in the country. And the fact that they went from the worst record in the ncaa. Worst record ever in history. Yes. To beating the number one team. Walloping the number one team. And now they are on the cusp of. Of possibly winning the national championship.
C
I cannot. With the type of players that Kurt Zignetti has brought with him in just two years. It's historically, yes. The fastest turnaround of any program based on where we were just two years ago before he came. And Fernando Mendoza, that quarterback, I mean, how about that postgame interview after they beat Ohio?
B
He's going to win the Heisman.
C
I think he will.
B
Yeah.
C
He is so sweet. In every single interview he leads with his faith and talking about Jesus. And it's genuine. I mean, there's so many. The reason why I think we all love college football and all sports, but certainly the little bit of innocence left in it. The stories of these kids and what they've overcome. And Fernando, like, with his mother. The video of him hugging his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, in a wheelchair afterwards, and what she's meant in his life. I'm a. I'm a boy, mom. You know, I hope my son looks at me like that someday, but it's awesome to see. And again, we're a basketball school, right? Well, we were. We don't even deserve that title right now. But for years, when I was there, all five years at iu. Yeah. Like, we would go for maybe a quarter to tell our parents that we didn't waste their ticket money to pay for the football, and then we'd leave because why would you stay with a team that sucks? Yeah. So it's really. It's really special. Yes.
B
I mean, I love it. I hope they win. Is the unpredictability good for college football? Because it used to be like, oh, sec, here we go.
C
Yeah.
B
Alabama, there's Georgia. But now it's like you've got. I mean, I'm not delighted that the. The Bruins and the Ducks and I don't care about the Trojans went to the Big Ten and that they're consolidating stuff.
C
Yeah.
B
I don't like it either.
C
So I'm sorry. By the way, if you're thinking about the students, the student athletes, tell me how it's good for UCLA to have to go to Rutgers to play across the. I mean, that doesn't make sense.
B
No.
C
Geographically none of it makes sense. And I know it's not.
B
Academically it does. It doesn't make sense. No.
C
They're missing more school.
B
Possibly stupid.
C
Yeah. And the fact that like Oregon and hey, that was our biggest win this year, right? To go to Oregon.
B
I know. It's. It's impossible to live to win in that. It's so loud. It's so difficult to win in that stadium.
C
It's insane. That was. I. Wasn't that the longest home winning streak in college football until we beat them. Like that doesn't. Indiana. Yeah.
B
I hope my sister in law is not listening. I love you. I still love the Ducks. We'll be watching next Saturday, very intently eating crab. So excited. So what are you working on now that gives you hope for the future?
C
That's. Why are you asking me difficult questions? That's a big difficult question. Hope for the future. Honestly, my podcast is something that I didn't know that I really wanted to do and I knew I wanted to have conversations, which this is why I'm so grateful that you asked me to come here. Cause it's so rare to be able to have a conversation in my previous life in 30 years, you know?
B
Yeah. Because you don't get to. You don't get to spread your wings when you're working in 30 second increments.
C
You don't get to follow up.
B
Yeah. And you don't realize how important that is.
C
Exactly. And that's what gives me hope, is because that is what is missing. So you doing this and Tyrus and everybody who's trying to have a conversation, that was my goal from day one. I just didn't want to like manage it. I don't want to be an entrepreneur now. I'm like, oh, I have to do this. Like, if I want the independence to talk to whoever I want about whatever and be honest and genuine with my own opinions, what does that mean? Then I have to do it by myself and so difficult learning. Major learning curve for me. That's not my lane. But I have hope that the more we can be kind while having conversations like we're going to, we're gonna still be America. We're still gonna be okay. I do think there's so much more good than bad. Just like we're talking about New York City. So much more good if we choose to find it and choose to talk and continue to listen. What a concept. Even while having, you know, three minute interviews on live tv, like, you still have to listen. And maybe you change course from what your scripted question, next question was gonna be because you're listening.
B
But isn't that where the best stuff comes from?
C
Absolutely, it absolutely is. But I say this to my kids all the time. And I try to remind myself moments where I get frustrated, like when we're hateful or judgmental about someone's opinion, we are forgetting that opinions are shaped by our own personal experiences, you know, So I might. It's like, why would she say that? Why would he. Okay, wait, how about ask the real why and understand, even if you disagree, you gotta respect where they're coming from and when. We can get there by having conversations on all of our shows. That's what gives me hope. And so I'm not gonna quit. And listen. There's a lot of hate that obviously comes with it. When you go there with people and wait, you platform that person, I'm like, what does that even mean? Stop, we're talking. And yes, I'm different and have a different opinion than that person, but I still respect them.
B
Yes. Because you never know what someone has been through. You never know how, you know, things like trauma and fear and abandonment shape someone's worldview. And, you know, when you have curiosity, then you can find common ground. And when you find common ground, it's a lot easier to change someone's mind if they're not on the defensive.
C
We have so much more in common with those on the other side of whatever than I think we realize then. I think sometimes we want to realize. You want to find a reason to keep hating them or keep ripping on them on social media, whatever it is.
B
I don't hate them. I love them all. Unless they went to usc and listen.
C
We have to draw the line. The line somewhere. And last thing, working on I said it. It sounds so cheesy, Kennedy, but I am. Yeah, I'm a newlywed. I didn't think I'd get another chance at this. And I just. I'm hoping I'm Being a good example to my kiddos who are 23, 21, 19, you know, like to never give up on that.
B
Yes.
C
For us women and men, to never lower your bar and your standards and to be vulnerable, talk about it, be okay, talk about our failures. I have a lot of failures and things that my kids are now old enough to see and understand and maybe hopefully be better, be better than I was. Don't take 50 years to truly believe in yourself and let go and be vulnerable and give things like that, whether it's professionally or personally, you know?
B
Amen. So beautifully said.
C
I'm not gonna cry. I'm not gonna cry here.
B
Don't go anywhere. More Kennedy saves the World right after this. This is Ainsley Earhart.
D
Thank you for joining me for the.
B
52 episode podcast series the Life of.
E
Jesus A listening experience that will provide.
C
Hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told.
E
Listen and follow now@foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.
B
Well, you, you give me so much hope and I love it. And I love, like, sports, like, people who get into broadcasting through sports are always my favorite people because there's so much you have to know and jam into your brain and it's so much more difficult. Like, people who consume news are rarely more knowledgeable than the people who are presenting it. Reporting, presenting, anchoring, they can be. But in sports, like everyone who's watching you is an absolute expert. And what you have to overcome in terms of presentation and knowledge is like, amazing. And I feel like if you can do sports, you can do anything.
C
I agree. And I'm saying that as someone who is fortunate enough to make it, but humbly, because it was such a struggle for me, the way my brain works. I lived in constant fear of being exposed for ADD and lack of being able to retain things. And am I going to be able to spew out that random stat, you know, on live to be at the perfect moment and not screwed up or just have, you know, a total brain fart? I will say I don't really miss it. I would rather have this conversation about sports now and nil and dive deep on whatever it is. I didn't realize how much pressure that I put on myself, you know, for 30 years to know every stat about every player and, and every team at every moment and all the leagues.
B
What are your nightmares? What are your work nightmares?
C
Like, what is that?
B
It's your work nightmare that you're back on ESPN and your mind goes blank and they go to you and they're like, sage, what's the stat?
C
Fill in the blank. Anything.
B
Fourth down conversions for this team in the third quarter.
C
My recurring nightmare, my entire career is that I slept through my alarm. And because you don't just say, oh, I'll be right there and oh no, you can't just do that. And yeah, that was my recurring nightmare. I still have that. And then I wake up laughing. I'm like, ha, ha ha. I don't have to listen to anybody anymore. But I think that pressure. I also thrived in that environment where if you don't know, and especially graduating from college in 95, like there were so few women and you were totally judged coming into that locker room. So I felt like my questions had to be 10 times better than every man. And I was in that scrum with. And you know what? They usually were because I was so afraid of failure that I over prepared and listened. Listen. A lot of men, reporters that I know during my time, I'm sure it's great now, like they would have their questions lined up and they would ask it and then go on to the next, they didn't listen to the answer and then react to that. And the guys, the players knew it, they felt it. So I ended up, I think, benefiting, I think from what we bring as women quite often, maybe that sense, I.
B
Mean that's a natural empathy.
C
It is.
B
And, and people can sense that.
C
Yeah.
B
Because you can tell when someone's asking you a question, their eyes glaze because they're not listening, because they're thinking about their next thing.
C
Correct.
B
Like that's not fun for anyone to be in that situation. But when someone's leaning in and they're prepared and they're listening, like you could take that, not just in broadcasting, but you can take that and apply that to pretty much any profession. You should and find success.
C
Yes, but I honestly, they forget that they're humans, that these report the media forgets that these in the NFL or college football, these men are human. And yet do you think he wanted to fumble on the two yard line and lose the game for his team? Essentially, of course he didn't want to. So you're gonna, like, there's a way you have to ask certain questions, but let's do it with empathy, strength, be concise. And if you've built those relationships too, where they know that you're not just gonna come to them when it's bad, we're not gonna just go, I'm gonna talk to you when it's good too. That matters. And I believe you get more from whoever you're having a interviewing, which means what? The viewers win. Yes. The fans win. And that is our job. And I think they've forgotten about that in the sports space a lot over the past few years.
B
Because when you can take a fan and have them go, oh, that was a great question. I never would have thought of that.
C
Yes, yes.
B
Or as opposed to them screaming at the TV like, ask them this, ask them this.
C
Yes, yes. Or like, I'm so glad. Yes. I was thinking that too. She asked that question like that's where I would thrive after. And if I'm on the street or at the grocery store or whatever. When you asked him, I was like, yeah, because you work hard to make sure you're asking the right questions. It's not about me. This is long before clicks to and after clicks were a thing in the Internet. But like my job is to be the liaison between the athletes, the coaches, the teams and the fans. And what a blessing to get to do that. That childhood dream I had. But like especially, I mean, it's everywhere. And unfortunately we've given ourselves their self inflicted wounds sometimes I think with lack of credibility and professionalism, et cetera, where, you know, people don't look to us. I say us as if I'm still a sportscaster. But you know, the same way as they used to back in the day.
B
Once a cop, always a cop. You know.
C
Okay.
B
It's the same thing with sportscasting.
C
It is, damn it. And that's how, I mean, I hear that so often too. I loved you on ESPN or I miss you. And sure. The ego.
B
I'm sure there are a lot of people who still think you're on espn.
C
Oh, for sure. Which cracks you up for you too. Yeah. I watch you on MTV and you're like, yeah, do you. Thank you, thank you. And just leave it alone.
B
Yeah. 20 years later it's like, are you still on MTV? And I would say, yeah, yeah, I am.
C
Obviously you missed my show last night. Shame on you. But it's all a blessing, right? It gets us to today. But like, I would never, I would never have dreamt of getting to talk to you and to talk about things that we actually care about. You know what I mean?
B
I know. But that's the great thing about being in your 50s.
C
That's the other part where now I don't care.
B
Exactly.
C
I don't care.
B
It's the most freeing and wonderful thing in the world.
C
Why does it take us so long?
B
I Don't know. I wish it didn't. And I think that's kind of our job as moms to try and instill that in our kids and like you were talking about, try and get them to not be ruled by fear and fear of failure. Because it takes a while. It takes a few decades before you've had enough things work out to realize that things work themselves out. Like, things always find a way.
C
Always. And for me, I will tell you, like, it has been a faith journey, too. And professionally, personally, once I gave up control.
B
Yes.
C
I didn't want to, because that's what we do. We control everything. And when I gave up control about two years ago. Wow. Everything. And I have always had a strong faith, and it was building, building, building. And then you crash and burn, and it's like, okay, where you go now, you know? And now it's also cool to be able to actually talk about that. You can't talk about that. And certain mediums, you know? Yeah. That's my hope for my kids is that they don't take as long as me to do any of the good stuff and the bad stuff, but to, like, forgive yourself. Like, I just crushed myself in so many ways for a mistake on air. I could have two live hours of, you know, really great. I crush that highlight. All this. And then I pronounced a hockey player's name wrong, which is pretty easy to do in the NHL. And the hate mail. And I'm like, look, terrible show. My mom's like, really? Because I thought this was good. And my dad's like, I thought this was good. Which makes us good at our jobs because we care so much. We want to make it perfect, even though there's no such thing. But I wish, I hope that they don't take as long to every once in a while say, you know what? You did a good job there.
B
Yeah, exactly.
C
Even if it didn't turn out exactly how you wanted, and to not be fearful, like you said, because I was so afraid of my own shadow. I was afraid of disappointing everybody. My bosses, my kids, my parents, my husband, my neighbor, my dog. Like, I was afraid of everything.
B
That's why we love dogs, though, because they are never disappointed.
C
She always liked me.
B
Yeah.
C
Yeah, exactly. She's the only one. Yes. Yeah. So no more fear, right?
B
Letting it go. Beating Navy, toasting to the indulgent moments and. And finding the beauty and the joy where it resides, which is pretty much everywhere.
C
Can I come, like, hang out with you? Carry your luggage? Every day. Every day. You make me one of these.
B
We're drinking this.
C
Yes, ma'. Am.
B
This has been Kennedy Saves the World along with Sage Steel. I'm Ken. Listen ad free with a Fox News podcast plus subscription on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Prime. Members can listen to this show ad free on the Amazon Music app. Oh, go ahead and leave me a review while you're there. I'd love to hear what you have to say. You've been listening to Kennedy Saves the World on the Fox News Podcast Network.
E
Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half the price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means half day.
C
Yeah.
E
Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
D
Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network busy taxes and fees extra C Mintmobile.
B
Com.
Host: Kennedy
Guest: Sage Steele
Date: December 12, 2025
In this lively and heartfelt edition of Kennedy Saves the World, Kennedy hosts renowned broadcaster Sage Steele for a Friday “happy hour” conversation. Through humor, camaraderie, and candor, they explore themes of personal growth, family, tradition, faith, sports, and the enduring power of genuine conversation. The backdrop is “Beat Navy Week,” imbuing the episode with nostalgia and sports rivalry fun, while the deeper threads focus on overcoming fear, the value of vulnerability, and how to find hope amidst life’s chaos.
The episode is warm, witty, honest, and uplifting. Both Kennedy and Sage balance playful banter (sports rivalries, cocktails) with earnest explorations of personal stakes, growth, and public life. The tone is highly conversational, encouraging vulnerability and empathy—while often punctuated by quick-witted jokes and relatable anecdotes.
This episode is a celebration of tradition, resilience, and real conversation. Kennedy and Sage model candor and connection—moving fluidly from laughs about boozy hot chocolate and Army-Navy pageantry, to honest talk about professional fears, personal growth, and the hope that comes with choosing empathy, kindness, and open dialogue in a complicated world.
End of Summary