Amy behind the microphone at CBS Sports Radio
Impressive! That’s an easy way to describe my friend Amy Lawrence.
I often thank God for leading me to wonderful friendships during my college years, and Amy is a part of that group. What makes Amy so unique? Not only is she a caring friend who is also a follower of Christ, but she has one of the coolest jobs.
Amy hosts the national CBS Sports Radio broadcast After Hours with Amy Lawrence. She is one of the only females you will hear hosting her own sports radio program. Let’s acknowledge here: glass ceiling—broken!
But what I appreciate about Amy is that although she has pioneered her way through the sports media industry and has navigated her share of ups and downs as a female in reaching her career goals, she doesn’t use her gender to force her way into a male-dominated environment. Instead, she simply works hard and gracefully maneuvers through the criticism (and sometimes through the prejudice) with a positive and grateful attitude.
Amy is a breath of fresh air in a society of feminist striving and outrage. She’s very much a proud female who also knows a thing or two about sports. But Amy focuses on more important challenges, like how to represent her faith and values in life, work, and ministry.
Welcome to my interview with Amy…
Julie: What’s one great CONNECTION that impacted and shaped your career path in sports media?
Amy Lawrence: When I made my full-time jump to sports radio in Oklahoma City in 2002, I frequently crossed paths with an established TV anchor. I would see Bob Barry Jr. at football and basketball games, press conferences, and other local events. Unlike most of the men who worked in the market, he was kind and helpful to the “outsider.” I came to rely on him when I had questions and concerns about the job, and Bob always made time for me.
After a year of hosting my first talk show, I was fired unexpectedly…and it sent me reeling. I’ll never forget those first few hours trying to process the news and struggling with fear. How would I pay my bills? Should I move home? Is my career over?? In my desperation, I called Bob and cried my eyes out. He listened, encouraged me, and then gave me the best piece of career advice I’ve ever received: “You haven’t made it in this business until you’ve been fired at least twice.”
Bob already understood what I would come to recognize in time. Failure is a very real and necessary part of success. We haven’t truly succeeded in life until we’ve fallen flat on our faces once, twice, three times…as many times as it takes. The triumph is getting back up and trying again, not allowing that failure to serve as a deterrent, but instead, turning it into a powerful lesson and motivator. I’ve been fired twice and dropped from a hosting rotation twice. Every time, a better opportunity was waiting around the next bend in the road. Bob helped me to see that failure is not a dead end.
Amy interviewing former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman
Julie: How do you set yourself apart as both a follower of Christ and a woman of excellence in the workplace?
Amy Lawrence: This question makes me laugh out loud since I naturally stick out like a sore thumb as a female in the male-dominated arena of sports radio. I can go weeks at a time without running into another woman at work. But that’s not enough. I want people to know what I stand for and why I’m different.
Two ways leap to mind immediately, especially in this age of social media. Compassion and respect are sorely lacking in person and online in 2018. Making the time to care about people and let them KNOW I care about them are two steps I try to take in my interactions with co-workers and listeners. Recently, a colleague shared with me about a family member who’s battling cancer. I was grateful that he trusted me and that I could tell him I’ll pray for her. It made a major impression on him. He said to me recently, “It’s good to know that you care.”
Respect is a lost art in a world where social media and texting have replaced face-to-face conversation. When people can remain anonymous with no accountability, they will do and say whatever they like with no fear of repercussion. It has taken years; but I’ve learned that refusing to respond in kind to trolls and critics, using humor to deflect insults, and reacting with self-control sets me apart on a forum that resembles a cesspool most of the time. As much as I despise the way humans treat one another online, I’m thankful that God gives me the platform to be different.
Julie: How does a Christian woman fit into a world rife with feminism?
Amy Lawrence: This is such a challenging subject for me because I believe in equality for women with all my heart–and not only for women in America. I celebrated when women in Saudi Arabia were finally granted the legal right to drive this summer. I hate that women are still treated like property or second-class citizens in some parts of the world. Every trip I take outside the Unites States reminds me how blessed we are in this country. As females, we can pursue any career that we choose, however atypical. But just because we CAN doesn’t mean it’s easy.
I’ve battled discrimination and prejudice at every stop along my professional journey; some of the prejudice is so deeply inherent that people aren’t even cognizant of their warped views. I want to be a woman of strength, integrity, and confidence. I want people to respect me for my determination, tenacity, intelligence, and independence. Those qualities should be valued in WOMEN as well as in men. Despite resistance, those are traits to which I aspire. That’s feminism: recognizing that strength and assertiveness and self-sufficiency are valuable and desirable, regardless of gender. Feminism is believing that every person on the planet, male or female, should have access to the same opportunities. Feminism is a fancy way of asking for equality.
One lesson I’ve learned the hard way, though: “equal” doesn’t mean the same. I used to think I needed to be the same as the men in the sports media industry. I tried talking like them, laughing at jokes and stories I didn’t think were funny, blending in as much as I could. When being “one of the guys” didn’t open the right doors, I tried to force my way into the “club.” I developed a tougher, defensive exterior to prove to my bosses and colleagues that I could hack it and to show them that I was just as strong as the strongest guy. I dug in for a fight, and my first instinct became fighting, even when fighting wasn’t necessary. It took me a long time to understand that I can’t eliminate prejudice with demanding rhetoric; I can’t make people treat me equally. I can only control my response to the discrimination. I can carry myself with professionalism and integrity in the hopes these qualities will open the eyes of people who don’t consider me equal because I’m a woman.
At this point in my life, I always come back to grace. I can be strong; I can be tough. I can be assertive and confident and opinionated. But I have to lead with grace. Because God’s grace covers my mistakes, I should extend grace to others.
When colleagues or listeners or social media users are rude and disrespectful and tell me I don’t belong, I can still offer grace. When I’m passed over for a job or promotion because I’m a female, I can still choose grace.
When feminism is coupled with patience, humility, self-control, sincerity, and authenticity, it’s an unstoppable force! Not only do I represent myself in a manner in which I can be proud, but I disarm my critics. If they still choose not to see me as equal, grace allows me to let it go and move forward without the negativity breaking my stride.
Grace is attractive, even to the staunchest naysayers. Grace brings people close enough to see why I’m different and why equality is deserved. With grace, feminism drops the ugly connotation and ceases to be a bad word.
Julie: Is there an aspect of feminism that doesn’t represent who you are?
Amy Lawrence: It definitely bothers me when all women who believe in equality are thrown together in one large cauldron of beliefs, values, and political views. Not all feminists can be painted with one broad brush. Not all feminists are liberal; not all feminists vote Democrat. And not everyone who believes in equal rights for women supports abortion. I believe life starts at conception, and I believe babies should be protected, even in the womb. Going back to my early teens when I first understood abortion, I declared myself to be pro-life, and I’ve never wavered. Life is precious and fleeting and too often taken for granted. Life is a GIFT, and I don’t believe my rights as a woman should include the right to terminate another’s life. Very few things are cut and dried or black and white; circumstances can be complicated and messy and far from ideal. However, there are some values to which I cling no matter what. The right to life will always be paramount for me.
Julie: What’s the toughest challenge you’re facing in your life right now?
Amy Lawrence: Throughout the last year, I’ve grappled with the same obstacle over and over. I KNOW that fear, guilt, doubt, and the trap of comparisons are not from the Lord. He doesn’t operate there, and we won’t find Him there. However, the enemy uses those tricks whenever and wherever he can.
My stumbling block always shows up in the form of the question WHY? Why is this road so hard? Why do I have to walk it alone? Why don’t I hear you? And the question that reduces me to a puddle every time: God, why do you watch me cry and not do something if you love me the way you say you do??
I can get so lost in the doubts and confusion when what I SEE doesn’t seem to line up with what God says in His Word. But I always come back to the same place. When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I surrendered my life and control to Him. HE is God; I am not. My life belongs to Him. Sold out means 100% of me. Even Jesus told the Father “Not my will but yours be done” when He faced the cross (Luke 22:42). That surrender is a daily step for me; and at times, it feels like a part of me died.
It doesn’t sound very appealing, does it? Why would anyone want THAT?? What’s the trade-off when we become Christians?? It takes time to understand, and I’m not sure we can fully grasp what it means until we get to heaven…but there IS a trade-off.
For starters, we have access to the God of the universe! Not only does He love us intimately and know every detail about our lives; but He cares about all our hopes, dreams, goals, and desires. He doesn’t forget a single prayer; He doesn’t waste the tears. With that access comes peace. God offers a peace that is often unexplainable but also undeniable. It’s not rooted in circumstances; it comes from knowing HE is in control so I don’t have to be! The peace is a direct result of trusting Him to make all things work together for my good. When I get impatient, I try to come up with the answers and the solutions myself; but there is no substitute for the peace that comes from freedom in Christ. It is PRICELESS!
For more about Amy visit:
Amy’s Blog ——–> Play by Play Day by Day
&
Julie’s new book titled Giving Hope An Address is now available.
Click book for more information. 
Alethe kidd (allie)
jklose