At ESPN in Connecticut

Cody Hardin (Bristol, Connecticut USA)

About the presenter

Cody is a 2011 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College

 

[ We invited Bethany graduates in Communication and Media Arts to report what they were up to, and respond to some questions about how they have used what they learned at Bethany and since. Please feel free to greet, ask questions, and comment. ]


When did you graduate from Bethany, what was your major, and in what, if anything, did you specialize while in school?

I graduated from Bethany in 2011 as a double major in Music and Communication, with emphasis on both. In Music my emphasis is Theory and Composition, and my official emphasis in Communication is listed as TV and Film Audio. During my time at Bethany I participated in many extracurriculars, including Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Drumline, Hockey Broadcasting and Closed Circuit TV Show Production, Red Eye 48 Hour Film Festivals, Luthapalooza and probably more things I am forgetting at the moment. I took advantage of all four years to learn and do as much as humanly possible.

What are you doing now with media/technology?

I work at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut. My job title is Senior Audio Operator working with the Remote Integration (REMI) Operations group. I work exclusively on games for the ESPN/ABC family of networks, mixing audio and managing intercom communication for events such as NBA, MLB, NHL, College Football, College Basketball, and many others. The REMI component means that instead of traveling everyone all over the country to work on games, we send a smaller crew to site and pipe the signals back to our headquarters, where the control room staff puts it together by cutting cameras, mixing audio, and adding replays and graphics. What began as a cost cutting measure for smaller market games quickly became the only viable option for broadcast in the wake of COVID, and today every level of game production has a REMI component, including Monday Night Football. It is also my responsibility to train, teach, and mentor new operators, and my role has expanded to help manage other technical areas and to test emerging technologies, some of which I cannot talk about yet, but needless to say: there are some really innovative solutions being developed in broadcast and I am proud to be on the cutting edge.

Do you have any goals or aspirations beyond what you are doing now?

I very much enjoy what I do currently. This question would have been an interesting one about 5 years ago, because what I do now didn't fully exist the way it does in its current form today. I imagine five years from now, my role will adapt and change further, and in ways that I cannot predict at this time. That's the fun part — seeing trends and adapting the business model to meet those trends, and adapting yourself to the situation and continuing to learn and grow.

Have you found any opportunities to use your skills and experience for Gospel outreach?

I also serve as Director of Evangelism for my church, Messiah Ev. Lutheran Church in South Windsor, Connecticut (WELS). Like many churches during COVID, we adapted a livestream component to our worship services, which I became responsible for deploying out of necessity. At the beginning, the livestream was solely focused on serving our members and shut-ins, but today much less than half of our online audience is comprised of members. The majority are made up individuals who have found us, either locally, all over the country, or even the world. It has become a powerful outreach tool to people who may not be able to find a home church near them that teaches the Gospel, and we are serving people we may never meet in person but have a need for God's word in their lives.

Have you encountered any difficulty or hostility in your profession because you are a Christian?

In my experiences I have not encountered any hostility of any kind. It is sometimes difficult, however, when you see some practices in your profession in contradiction to God's Law. Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Mark to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself. I wear my faith on my sleeve and my coworkers respect it, and in return I show them love and respect even if we disagree on matters of faith. I consider myself very blessed that my biggest difficulty encountered is usually working on Sundays — as I write this, this past Sunday I missed coffee hour because I had crew call for Diamondbacks vs. Astros — but I would not characterize myself as any more or less persecuted for my faith than the average Christian living in America.

 


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Discussion

Philip 2024-10-23 1:48:12pm
For perhaps students looking to get into this type of work, do you have advice or perhaps encouragement for the "working on Sundays" element of production? Do you have tips and tricks for being able to stay part of the Church on Sunday mornings but also have a job doing weekend sports?
Cody Hardin 2024-10-24 8:17:48pm
The “official” answer is the same answer it has been for 2000 years - make worship your priority, in all things. However, we live in an ever complicated world that is increasingly less dependent on the clock and calendar, and the reality is that there will be conflicts of schedule.

The first tip is knowing what you’re getting into - from my early days at Bethany as part of the hockey broadcasting crew, the mantra was “nights, weekends, holidays” - essentially, all of the times other people are watching TV, you are out there making it. If you aren’t prepared for that, then this line of work simply isn’t for you.

Resources like church livestreams and VODs can be beneficial - not as a replacement for in person worship, to be certain, but to keep connected and to hear the Word for those times that you cannot be there due to your position. But this works when, unbounded by your job requirements, you make all other obligations go away, and you commit yourself to being at church when you can. I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten off of work at 4:30am, been at church for 9am, and then back to work at 1pm. As my dear friend Kris Larsen used to say, “Sleep is highly overrated.”

I also truly believe that committing to active roles in my congregation has helped my connection to it. As part of the council, I’m in regular email and text contact with our pastor and other members, to where even if I have to be gone 3-4 Sundays in a row, I am acutely aware of what is going on, what the needs are, and how I can best help. Maybe that isn’t an option for some of you reading, but trust me - I am sure there are ways you can help your congregation out Monday-Saturday. Try it!

In 2021-2022, our church building was remodeled, during that time we were a church that set up tables, chairs, PA, and the livestream in various rental halls in town every Sunday. During that period of time I was very open with my bosses about what was going on, and the importance of being able to lead our tech team through that transition. In the end I missed 1 Sunday during that entire period of time. Have the conversations, be open and honest, and who knows? You might be able to be free for 9a service, as long as you’re on time for 10:30a crew call.

Incidentally, right around the time when we were moving into our new sanctuary is also about the time I was promoted, so there’s a lesson there too - Give God, your employers, and the people around you the same thing - your best. Good things happen when you do.
Philip 2024-10-25 9:46:04am
Thank you for sharing this Cody. God bless your continued efforts!
Cody Hardin 2024-10-24 11:25:29pm
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention where you can find our church services online! We simulcast to Facebook and YouTube, with no accounts necessary to join. Services begin at 9am Eastern Standard Time and are immediately available on demand.

Facebook: fb.com/melcct
YouTube: YouTube.com/@melcct
Charis Carmichael Braun (BLC) 2024-10-25 8:33:41am
Hello fellow East-Coastie! (Want to do the "WELS-Connection" thing where we compare who we know? I had a good friend who was in Oxford CT who would pop into Windsor every once in awhile.) Noting that you've been at ESPN since 2011 (and myself being aware of some Bethany grads there too), how do you feel watching the ebb and flow of Bethany grads "floating in and out" of ESPN?
Cody Hardin 2024-10-25 12:52:37pm
I would love to see more floating in than out! The simple truth is this: the media landscape has undergone a drastic transformation over the last 15 years, and people can work for (or even start!) a variety of companies that can have a major impact now. Social media was still very much in its' infancy when I started and YouTube was a cool little hobby with only a small number of creators making any money on it; fast forward to today where, for better or worse, the most effective means for the President of the United States to communicate to the People is Twitter/X, and all of my friend's kids not just think, but expect, that they're going to be TikTok famous someday.

What I hope for Bethany grads isn't so much that they come directly to ESPN specifically, but that those of us involved in Media are using our talents and treasures to best serve the Word and to serve the people; that we are not participating in churning out garbage for clicks, but instead are storytelling, communicating, and documenting in a manner that we can all be proud of. Seeing all of the presenters here and the projects they are all a part of is very validating!
Christopher Johnson 2024-10-27 12:44:56pm
Great to see your report Cody. I don't imagine with sport programming you have issues with things that don't counter your beliefs. Yet, how is the work environment? I feel in my environment if I speak my beliefs I will get in trouble. I had a staff member refuse to work an event and was fired after. Company claimed it was for poor performance.
Cody Hardin 2024-10-27 10:54:27pm
CJ! It is wonderful to see you here! Thank you for your comment, and I had no idea you were in South Bend now! The next time I come home, let’s grab coffee!

I personally find my work environment great, but that doesn’t mean that my beliefs aren’t challenged at all, nor do I think I can speak ALL of my beliefs without drawing some ire from the room. I would say this: I don’t think that experience is uniquely Christian in today’s workforce. That’s Corporate America, located on every street corner of every city, and where religion, politics, recessions, and the ending of Lost are all things you don’t talk about.

In Daniel chapter 6, King Darius orders that anyone not worshipping him for 30 days be thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel’s response is to continue to go home to his upstairs room to pray, as he had done before - he would not sin against God. But, one may note that Daniel also didn’t complain to his coworkers, run to HR, or take to twitter to tell the world how unfair Babylon was treating him. Why? Simple! Daniel was not super stoked to be thrown into the lion’s den! And I think we as Christians sometimes find ourselves in a similar headspace to Daniel in that sense.

Has my faith ever been a problem for my employer? I don’t believe so. Do I sometimes cover things I don’t necessarily agree with? Sure, but through the eyes of journalism and documentation (and I’m much more likely to see something I disagree with politically rather than religiously). Have I ever been directed to participate in sinful behavior, with my position on the line? That answer, so far, is No. May God bless us all richly enough to where that never happens in our positions, and may he grant us the strength and courage to walk away if it ever does.
Christopher Johnson (Bethany) 2024-11-10 1:55:49pm
Cody, thanks for the reply. Very insightful. From what I observe in today's newsrooms politics often gets connected with religion. You make the most important point, as journalists we need to remove ourselves from both personal biases and provide information so that the viewer can make a choice. I always remember the "press box rule." No matter who you are personally for, you keep quiet in the press room. When certain legal and political decisions where made our newsroom staff cheered. I was concerned about bias. Yet, there is one thing I can do to show my Christian faith. It's how I act. I was taken back once when my general manger asked me what church I went to. He didn't ask if I went to church, he knew by how I conducted myself. And that's my goal in the newsroom, get people curious enough to ask because that's when a good discussion can occur. God's blessings.
Jeff Lemke (Bethany Lutheran College) 2024-10-29 3:28:15pm
Thanks for sharing your story Cody!
Looking back at your time in music at Bethany, how did that stuff apply or not to your current role in audio production? Did it do lots to develop a good ear for what is going to work well in a production? What's similar and helpful or how are they just different skill sets?
Cody Hardin 2024-11-04 5:49:05pm
Some of it plays in my role at ESPN, particularly music technology and audio focused classes I took, as well as a time that I did the all of the music and audio production of a Theatre department play. I would say by and large they are different skill sets, but all are skill sets that I saw value in developing for myself - it's as you say, it has trained my ear well. I'm still heavily involved in music, and again, that's where the church comes into play - I used to direct a children's instrumental ensemble (they all grew up and moved away!), I play Trumpet for many of the major festivals of the church year, and I still write music, though I don't have nearly as much time as I wish that I did. My most recent piece was for the rededication of our church building once construction had finished, and I wrote a piece for organ and soloist based off of Solomon's Prayer of Dedication for the Temple.

I'll give you an example of development of different skill sets. My wife and I moved a few years ago, and right around that time we found a Knabe baby grand piano for a steal of a deal, but the instrument had not been touched in about 15 years and overall was in rough shape. The work we did to disassemble pieces, move the piano, reassemble pieces, tune it, get the action to work correctly and get it into a position where it can play music takes skill sets that touch on woodworking, physics, acoustics, handyman/repair skills, and then to enjoy it at the very end, piano playing skills! And the knowledge I've gained from that work has led me to doing piano tuning and small touch up work for other people. And I can go on and on about the skills I've developed over the course of my career at ESPN as well. Never stop learning!
Aaron Evans 2024-10-30 8:54:29pm
Cody! Happy to see you're still doing great work at ESPN and investing in eternity through the local church as well.
Cody Hardin 2024-11-04 6:29:05pm
Good to see that you're doing well out on the west coast, Aaron! No joke, anytime I work comms for Monday Night Football and we're about to stamp to a commercial, I say "Take us out, Aaron!" and at this point some of my coworkers know you, if only by name. I realize it was probably more accurate before our most recent rebrand, but I still do it anyway, I don't care :D
Aaron Evans 2024-11-06 9:20:47pm
That's great, yeah I wasn't as involved in the recent stuff for MNF but appreciate the shout-out hahaha, always great working with the graphics department at ESPN.
Cody Hardin 2024-11-11 9:32:08pm
I believe that discussion period will be ending soon, and I’d really like to say thank you to Tom and Judy Kuster, the Christ in Media Institute, Bethany Lutheran College, my wonderful wife Lorna, and to all of you who might be reading, Pastor, Present or Future. I hope that I have been an advocating and encouraging voice for some of you.

Our mission as Christians is clear - go out and make disciples of all nations. I believe in the power of media as a tool to help accomplish this, but media serves other public goods as well. Unfortunately, right now, America’s relationship with it’s media is probably at an all time low - claims of fake news, interspersed with actual fake news, AI generated content, deepfakes, the list goes on and on - make it difficult to trust anything you see, read or hear, at a time in history when information has never been so accessible.

We have the incredible benefit and knowledge that the Gospel message is real and true, just as much today as it was 2000 years ago. We also have the means of spreading that message farther and wider than any generation in history, and a responsibility to do the best we can to tell the world about its’ Savior.

The truth matters. Hold on to that truth, let it guide you, and share it with others. Most everything else is transitory.
Cody Hardin 2024-11-11 9:32:09pm
I believe that discussion period will be ending soon, and I’d really like to say thank you to Tom and Judy Kuster, the Christ in Media Institute, Bethany Lutheran College, my wonderful wife Lorna, and to all of you who might be reading, Pastor, Present or Future. I hope that I have been an advocating and encouraging voice for some of you.

Our mission as Christians is clear - go out and make disciples of all nations. I believe in the power of media as a tool to help accomplish this, but media serves other public goods as well. Unfortunately, right now, America’s relationship with it’s media is probably at an all time low - claims of fake news, interspersed with actual fake news, AI generated content, deepfakes, the list goes on and on - make it difficult to trust anything you see, read or hear, at a time in history when information has never been so accessible.

We have the incredible benefit and knowledge that the Gospel message is real and true, just as much today as it was 2000 years ago. We also have the means of spreading that message farther and wider than any generation in history, and a responsibility to do the best we can to tell the world about its’ Savior.

The truth matters. Hold on to that truth, let it guide you, and share it with others. Most everything else is transitory.
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