Brad Paisley & Clayton Kershaw Join Czarniak to Kick Off New Series

Pairings Include Alanis Morissette & Danica Patrick, Eddie Vedder & Anthony Rizzo, The Avett Brothers & Jimmie Johnson, Luke Combs & Luke Kuechly, Kirk Franklin & Ray Lewis, and More

New York, NY – February 16, 2021 – Sportscaster and NFL sideline reporter Lindsay Czarniak and Sony Music Entertainment announced today the launch of “The Artist and The Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak,” a new podcast featuring intimate conversations with some of the biggest names in sports and music. Each episode of “The Artist and The Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak” pairs an iconic sports figure alongside a renowned musician for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation that explores their path to success, their process, and their passions away from the big stage.

“The Artist and The Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak” kicks off today with a wide-ranging conversation between country superstar Brad Paisley and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and World Series Champion Clayton Kershaw. Czarniak brings friends Paisley and Kershaw together to discuss topics that include fame, faith, philanthropy and the moments that solidified their careers. These two friends share behind the scenes stories including their unique preshow and pregame routines as well as their joint family vacation. The episode is available now. 

This season will feature conversations between Alanis Morrisette and Danica Patrick, Eddie Vedder and Anthony Rizzo, The Avett Brothers and Jimmie Johnson, Luke Combs and Luke Kuechly, Kirk Franklin and Ray Lewis, and more to be announced.

Over the course of Czarniak’s career, she has covered some of the biggest stories in sports for networks including ESPN and Fox Sports. Along the way, she became fascinated by the intersection of sports and music, giving life to this brand new series.

“One of the things I love most about this show is the candid nature of hearing these stars from the world of sports and music compare stories and experiences from on and off the field,” Czarniak said. “This feels more like a conversation with a surprisingly authentic vibe between these guests that is unique and ultimately really relatable and entertaining.” 

“The Artist and The Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak” is executive produced by Carter Little and Lindsay Czarniak.

Listeners can subscribe to “The Artist and The Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak” on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. For more information on “The Artist and The Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak” and all other Sony Podcast shows, follow @SonyPodcasts on Twitter and Instagram.

About Lindsay Czarniak

Lindsay Czarniak is a sportscaster and NFL sideline reporter for FOX sports. She joined FOX sports in 2018 hosting the network’s NASCAR coverage and covering the NFL.

Prior to joining FOX sports, she spent six years as SportsCenter anchor and field anchor/reporter for ESPN’s NFL pregame show, NFL Countdown. In January 2015 she became solo anchor of the 6 p.m. SportsCenter, having joined John Anderson as co-host of the program in 2012. As solo anchor, Czarniak hosted ESPN’s “SportsCenter on the Road” initiative; anchoring the network’s coverage at 6 p.m. from events like the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series and MLB All Star game.

Before joining ESPN, Czarniak served as sports anchor and reporter at WRC-TV (NBC4) in Washington, D.C., anchoring daily sportscasts, reporting from major live events and hosting Sports Final, Redskins Report and The Coach’s Show with Mike Shanahan.

At NBC4, Czarniak covered the region’s professional teams and hosted and produced the sports-interview segment Lunch with Lindsay, in which she interviewed nationally known athletes, politicians and entertainers about topical issues, on and off the field. She also worked for NBC for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, and the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. She also served as a pit reporter and host for NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage and sideline reporter for the networks’ Heads-Up Poker challenge.

While at NBC in Washington, she also worked for Turner Sports, taking over as pre-race studio host for NASCAR Sprint Cup series coverage of the network’s six summer races after years as a pit reporter/feature reporter.

Born in Harrisburg, PA, Czarniak was raised in northern Virginia in a sports atmosphere. She played lacrosse and field hockey at Centreville High School, and graduated from James Madison University in 2000 with a major in journalism and a minor in studio art. She is married to Craig Melvin, whom she met on set at WRC-TV. The couple has two children.