Conversations with Jonathan Hutton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Hutton

Hi Jonathan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I currently host OutKick’s “Hot Mic with Hutton and Withrow” each weekday afternoon, streaming live at Outkick.com.. The program airs live from 4-6pm ET, covering the breaking sports news of the day in an authentic, conversational
also live and On Demand on multiple social media platforms, including YouTube, X, Facebook and Instagram

I joined OutKick in January of 2021 after nine years hosting The Midday 180 on WGFX-FM 104.5 The Zone, establishing the second-highest ratings for a local sports show in the United States.

I attended Middle Tennessee State University (2002-2006) and covered the football, basketball and baseball programs for GoMiddle.com. On campus I tried to learn every aspect of broadcasting or journalism. I had a column in the college newspaper, helped fill in and call games for the university’s sports broadcasting network and hosted sports shows for the college’s cable television channel.

I became an intern for the Tennessee Titans Radio Network in the fall of 2005. Right place, right time. One of their interns dropped out right before training camp started up that August. I applied online, interviewed by phone roughly an hour later and got the semester internship even though I didn’t have enough prerequisites to get college approval. The woman from MTSU overseeing the college-wide internship program hated the fact I had been selected, even telling me I’d embarrass the university for not having the status of 9 more credit hours on my college transcript. Luckily, with some help, I qualified a few days later. That was 2005. I then spent 16 NFL seasons with the Titans Radio Network and Titans organization, literally learning all aspects of the industry, anything from reporter, producer, editor, web coordinator, sales and marketing, promotions, assistant, secretary and food delivery guy to eventually earn a spot on air as sideline reporter, then NFL gameday host. It’s where I fine tuned interviewing skills and how to cultivate inside sources. It’s also where I learned to establish a standard of being prepared and knowledgable, focused on providing a great broadcast for anyone tuning in. My final year with the team was the 2020-2021 season.

Over those 16 years I became great friends with Clay Travis, the founder and president of OutKick.com. He hosted a show on the same radio station I worked for, and he, myself and my co-host of 13 years Chad Withrow all formed a solid friendship over that time. Clay’s vision for OutKick launched in 2011 while we shared a hotel room in Hoover, Alabama. We were there covering SEC Media Days (yes, we had to share a hotel room, this was radio). I joined OutKick almost exactly ten years after Clay postedhis first column for OutKick, which quickly became mega-successful, driving the national conversation about sports and American culture with original, smart, fearless reporting along with common sense analysis.

It’s cool to be hired by a guy in the business I truly trust, respect and who I’m am happy for, from professional achievements to his family successes. Clay hired me and my co-host Chad Withrow roughly six months prior to selling OutKick to FOX Corporation Again, right place/right time.

More from bio:

He is well recognized in the Tennessee sports community and spent 16 years on the Tennessee Titans Radio Network, serving as the network’s Gameday Host after he became the sideline reporter for the team in 2013. Hutton is a voice for Tennessee’s football and basketball TSSAA championships on the NFHS Network and also works as a freelance sports anchor for WTVF-TV NewsChannel5. Hutton, 40, is a Tennessee native and lives in Nashville.

A few links for background:

http://mediaconfidential.blogspot.com/2021/01/nashville-radio-wgfxs-midday-180-hosts.html

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2021/01/15/midday-180-signs-off-clay-travis-outkick-jonathan-hutton-chad-withrow-paul-kuharsky/4178500001/#

Midday 180 Exits 104.5 the Zone, Headed To Outkick

https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/people/how-outkick-360-reshaped-nashville-sports-talk-radio/article_d5d86852-b169-11ed-8831-5baf1795acf4.html

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
starting with profession

I’ve been extremely fortunate, for sure. I work in the playground of life. Sports. What Chad and I would talk over a drink at the bar, we’re talking about on Hot Mic each day. I’ve long known I have a hobby, not a job. And I’m in the perfect market for reaching our target audience: the most passionate, loyal and vocal fan bases across the SEC, Big Ten and the NFL.

The same can be said for the show’s viewership and avid sports talk listeners. I’m fortunate so many fans here in Tennessee and across the country tune in to Hot Mic every day just like it was when we were at The Zone. We saw success because of those same passionate sports fans became a loyal, supportive audience for us, from tuning in to spending their money with our advertisers. Many of those listeners are now some of my best friends. Again, more fortunate than overcoming obstacles in my professional life.. I benefited from some great mentors in my life: Larry Stone, Mike Keith, Brad Willis, Rhett Bryan, Phillip Noel and Coach Dave McGinnis.

Personal life

Personally, I suffered the death of my younger brother, Michael, from suicide twenty years ago. He was 15. I’ve made it a goal of mine to eventually start my own charity/non-profit in his honor as a way to help create and cultivate lower the number of teenage suicides across the country each year. I think about him every day and have posts on my social accounts about him.

I also have a younger sister, Amy, who is 32. She and her husband Alex Ropp just welcomed their first child six months ago making me an Uncle for the first time. Victoria is beautiful.

I was adopted in May of 1984, only a few weeks old. My story is right place, right time. In life and in business. I was right place/right time when my mom and dad adopted me. I couldn’t have asked for better role models, mentors and friends than they have been for me. Same goes for my entire family. I do not know my biological parents and have never really thought about wanting to. I have my parents. Pat and David Hutton. I’m very lucky.

I grew up on a farm in Vervilla, TN. My parents are retired but continue to raise Black Angus beef on Hutton Farms to this day. It taught me to have a strong work ethic, and knowing that after you work hard you play hard, We enjoyed all kinds of sports and activities and got outside of the house as much as possible. I’ve gone from the farm to the city. Both places have their perks.

I am 40 and live downtown in Nashville, TN.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.outkick.com/shows/hot-mic
• Instagram: @huttonoutkick
• Twitter: @huttonoutkick
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OutKick/featured
• Soundcloud: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/268-outkick-hot-mic-79658993/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RWbpRtXE2FB3eltCrwtYl