Connor Fields on NBC Channel 3
Throughout most of my life I had done thousands of interviews, but they all had one thing in common...I was the subject and someone was asking me the questions. People would interview me about my experience at the Olympics, my training, my peak performance preparation, my process, or whatever else had to do with my BMX racing career. I was always the subject matter expert.
But now?
Now I am on the other side of the table, interviewing people about subjects I know almost nothing about
And you know what? I am loving it.
Throughout my career one of the outlets that interviewed me a few times was Vegas PBS, usually around the Olympics. In 2022 When the host of Outdoor Nevada decided to move on from the show they were in need of a new host for the upcoming seasons. They were looking for someone who was from Las Vegas, fit, enjoyed the outdoors, active, eager to get out there, and not afraid to get a little dirty. I know the perfect man for the job. They remembered me from interviews over the years, so they reached out to me.
I auditioned for the hosting role and won it, so now it was time to be thrown in off the deep end. I have been in front of the camera my whole life so that part wasn’t new. From local news all the way to the Today Show for the entire country, I was always very comfortable in front of the camera when I was talking about BMX racing, the Olympics, or anything else I was an expert on. The difference now is that I often don’t know anything about what we are talking about.
I was nervous about it, that is for sure. I was taking over for an experienced host who had been hosting Outdoor Nevada for 5 seasons. I hadn’t ever hosted a TV show before. My mind started racing and my nerves built up, but I used all of the strategies that I perfected throughout my BMX racing career to calm my mind, focus, and execute to the best of my abilities.
Take this season for example. On season 7 of Outdoor Nevada I had to interview people about things such as scorpions, moose, ranching, Basque history, and so much more. All of these topics are things I don’t know much (or anything) about. That is what makes this new roll so enjoyable though, and why I have fallen in love with it. I get to learn so many interesting things about subjects I previously would have never had an opportunity to learn anything about.
I don’t have any magic tricks to my hosting style. Of course I have some prepared questions and some goals of what we are trying to get out of the interview but the main thing I do is go into the interview with a natural curiosity. What an amazing opportunity I have to learn about a topic I know nothing about from an expert in that particular subject.
History and wildlife are my favorite ones to dive into. I truly enjoy learning about Nevada’s wild-west history. Did you know Nevada has more ghost towns than living towns? I certainly didn't know that until I began hosting the show. I love learning about wildlife and getting up close to them. I often feel like I am living in a dream and have to pinch myself.
I think there are some great lessons in this, and can be applied to many different things in life.
Don’t be afraid to try something new, everyone was a beginner once.
Most everyone was terrified to try. The key is conquering that fear and going for it.
The same strategies that work for you can be applied to multiple disciplines.
I created a pre-interview routine to get into the “zone” the same way I had a peak performance routine before a race. I use the same mental strategies to stay focused that I used when I was competing. BMX racing at 40 miles an hour and interviewing a biologist are two very different things, but the strategies remain the same.
Preparation is key to success in everything.
When I was racing I made sure my mind and body were prepared to do what I needed it to do. I do the same with this. I prioritize sleep, nutrition, and things that will help me be at my best. I read, research, and spend a ton of time memorizing my lines.
When I switch back to the other side of the table now, and go back to being interviewed I definitely pick up on what the interviewer is doing. In my head sometimes I find myself thinking “oh, they are good, I need to use that strategy.” I truly feel like I have become better at both sides for having been on both sides. I think that is another good lesson, especially in business. Make sure you know about all sides of the business. Don’t be stuck so deep in your lane that you lose touch with what is going on around you.
Season 7 of Outdoor Nevada premiers on Vegas PBS Wednesday October 23rd at 7:30pm PST. It is also available to stream on the PBS app and episodes will be uploaded to Youtube as well. The Silver State has so much to offer and I look forward to sharing it all with you!
-Connor Fields
Outdoor Nevada Season 7 premieres with Olympian Connor Fields at the helm
