Sports Broadcaster
Samantha Ponder: Biography at a Glance
- Samantha Steele Ponder is an American television broadcaster and the former host of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN.
- Prior to covering the NFL, Ponder was a host and reporter for ESPN’s College Gameday, College Football Live, and ABC’s Saturday Night Primetime and also served as the sideline reporter for college basketball.
- Outside of game coverage, Ponder hosted the ESPY’s Red Carpet Show, BattleBots on ABC, The Scripps National Spelling Bee on ABC, and has appeared on shows like The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
- The Steele family founded Make a Difference (MAD) to provide a safe community and spiritual encouragement to at-risk youth through sports, employment, and travel. MAD has since expanded to the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
Biography
Samantha Steele Ponder is an American television broadcaster and the former host of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN. Prior to covering the NFL, Ponder was a host and reporter for ESPN’s College Gameday, College Football Live, and ABC’s Saturday Night Primetime with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit. She also served as the sideline reporter for Tuesday Night and Saturday Night Primetime college basketball with Mike Tirico. Outside of game coverage, Ponder hosted the ESPY’s Red Carpet Show, BattleBots on ABC, The Scripps National Spelling Bee on ABC, and has appeared on shows like The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Before joining ESPN full-time, she helped launch Longhorn Network in 2011 and was a reporter and columnist for Fox College Sports in 2010.
Ponder got her start in broadcasting at age 18 as an intern at ABC Sports Radio in New York City while attending The King’s College in Manhattan. She transferred to Arizona State University while maintaining an internship at ABC Sports Television in New York on weekends and hosting a sports talk radio show in Phoenix during the week. Liberty University hired Ponder as the sideline reporter for all football and men’s and women’s basketball games airing nationally on MASN, until she graduated in 2009.
Born Samantha Steele in Phoenix, Arizona, Ponder’s love of sport developed as the daughter of a coach, spending the majority of her childhood on a field or court. The Steele family founded Make a Difference (MAD) Ministries in 1978 to provide a safe community and spiritual encouragement to at-risk youth through sports, employment, and travel. MAD has since expanded to the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Her father, Jerry Steele, is the former head basketball coach of the Palestinian National Team and the South Sudan National Team. Alongside her sister, Jamaica, and brothers Barron and Jerrod, Ponder attended Central High School in downtown Phoenix.
In 2012, she married Christian Ponder, a former NFL Quarterback and founder of The Post, an exclusive membership community for former collegiate and professional athletes. The couple has three children, Scout, True, and Price, and reside in New York City.
FAQs
How do I book Samantha Ponder for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Samantha Ponder to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Samantha Ponder's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Samantha Ponder’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Samantha Ponder in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Samantha Ponder's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Samantha Ponder's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Samantha Ponder, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Samantha Ponder's speaking fee?
Samantha Ponder's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Samantha Ponder's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Samantha Ponder's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Samantha Ponder as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Samantha Ponder as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Samantha Ponder's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Samantha Ponder's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Samantha Ponder for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Samantha Ponder speaking engagements.
Official contact for Samantha Ponder bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/samantha-ponder
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Samantha Ponder.
Is Samantha Ponder available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Samantha Ponder speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Samantha Ponder's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Samantha Ponder's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Samantha Ponder's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Samantha Ponder for?
Book Samantha Ponder for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Samantha Ponder customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Samantha Ponder engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Samantha Ponder can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Samantha Ponder booking information and availability
Check Samantha Ponder's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Samantha Ponder for your preferred event date.
Book Samantha Ponder keynote speaker through CAA
Book Samantha Ponder through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Samantha Ponder, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Samantha Ponder's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Samantha Ponder for your next event.
Will Samantha Ponder speak at private events?
Yes, Samantha Ponder speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Samantha Ponder's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Samantha Ponder?
CAA Speakers responds to Samantha Ponder booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Samantha Ponder?
Book Samantha Ponder 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Samantha Ponder pricing information?
Get Samantha Ponder pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.