Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Casey Phillips. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Casey , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I was raised in the church but didn’t have a personal relationship with God until high school. Once you believe God loves you no matter what, wants what’s best for you, and has given you everything you have, your purpose becomes simple. Love God and love people. No matter what your religious views, we all wonder about either our purpose or God’s will or some other big existential question like that. And we think the answer to it is found in the big decisions like what job I take or who I marry or where I live. But really it’s about the small decisions and interactions everyday to choose love and empathy and generosity and selflessness. Most people would assume my purpose is my job. And that’s true only to the extent that I believe it’s where God has put me to love Him and love people in this moment. But even if my job were to go away, my purpose wouldn’t. And that’s one of my favorite things about my faith…I will never be without a purpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
This will be my 9th season as the Buccaneers Team reporter, but my role has grown and evolved immensely since I joined the team. I host two radio shows, two TV shows, provide content for the team’s web and social platforms, emcee events and serve as in-stadium host for home games. My favorite thing about my job is telling and finding the human interest angles about members of our team. I want to make people care about our players in a world that can often reduce them to a fantasy football number. I get to show fans the difference our organization makes in the community and that we are about more than just wins and losses.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The easy answers are communication skills and poise on-air. And while those are necessary and important, they aren’t enough without emotional and social intelligence. I have to be able to read people and situations to know what works with each person to bring out the best in an interview. When do I push, when do I back off, who would be good for certain types of stories, when is a good time to make an ask or leave someone alone. I need to be able to relate to people who are nothing like me and make them feel at ease with me. My advice is to always be genuine and care about anyone related to your craft. People know if you’re being disingenuous or using them, and any creative field tends to be a small one where word travels fast.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents always supported my dreams while also insisting I had other skills and backup plans. That can be a hard line to walk. When parents suggest a back up plan sometimes kids assume it means they don’t believe in them. But I’m not a believer being “all in” means you don’t have backups. It’s just being wise, and I think it gives you the security you need to really go for it. I’m always willing to jump higher and farther if I know I have a net to catch me if I miss. So they made me think about what else I could do, and I also knew they would support me no matter which direction I went.
Contact Info:
- Website: Buccaneers.com
- Instagram: Caseyreporting
- Twitter: Caseyreporting
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@buccaneers
Image Credits
Kyle Zedeker Tori Richmond
