Jay Harris: Battle with prostate cancer, returning to ESPN, and the evolution of sports media

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 22- Featuring Jay Harris

If you want to check out the first episode with Jay, to learn a little more about his upbringing, and story, here is video link to Season 2 Episode 6- Featuring Jay Harris:    • Season 2 Episode 6- Featuring Jay Harris  

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“You’re not alone.” Jay Harris opens up about prostate cancer, the tribe that carried him, and the choice to live with purpose. Hear his advice for men’s health and for grads chasing sports media. Listen now and tell us: what stood out most to you?


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Jay Harris returns to share a candid account of discovering prostate cancer, choosing surgery, and rebuilding life with clarity and purpose. The story begins with family history and a routine physical that flagged a PSA of 6.3, then moves through MRI, biopsy, and a PET scan that blessedly showed no spread. Faced with equal odds between radiation and surgery, he chose to remove the prostate to preserve future options. Four weeks later he stepped back onto the SportsCenter set, guided by a medical plan and a mindset that health is not a solo project. He’s since turned his platform toward men’s health, urging men—especially Black men—to get screened, learn their history, and drop the “tough it out” act that keeps too many from early detection.

What resonates most is the chorus of support. Jay credits his wife and kids, colleagues like Hannah Storm and Brian Custer, and a flood of strangers who reached out after his Good Morning America appearance announcing his prostate cancer. Those messages became a living map: what to expect from surgery, how to manage uncertainty, and how to speak plainly about intimate topics without shame. That transparency counters a culture where men often hide pain and skip checkups. Jay argues that vulnerability is a survival skill and a leadership trait. When we talk about cancer openly—symptoms, side effects, decisions—we trade isolation for information and transform fear into action. The result is a practical blueprint for community-driven healing.

Jay’s professional life adds another dimension. Despite the velocity of social media and the shift to digital, he insists the core of journalism remains unchanged: gather facts, write with clarity, ask better follow-ups, and refine the story until it’s ready for air. He urges aspiring sports journalists to stop waiting and start building—intern, write daily, cut a reel, learn to interview, and join professional networks.

Away from the desk, Jay’s center of gravity is simple and strong: family, golf, and music. He finds peace walking the course, even on bad rounds, and spends winter fine-tuning bass and guitar.

This is what Jay left me with in terms of legacy: "be a good teammate, a good journalist, a good dad, and a good man. Awards and headlines fade; character endures." That clarity is the heartbeat of this conversation: health as a daily practice, work as a craft, and life as a gift worth protecting. If you’ve waited on a checkup, call today. If you’re stuck at the start line of your career, take one step. The future favors people who show up early and often.


Beyond grateful to be able to do this, moments like this bring joy to my heart. Every episode is a blessing, every conversations is cherishing, so thank you guys for supporting me, and allowing me to continue this journey!

(0:00)- Intro
(2:10)- Introduction from Jay
(3:08)- The process of finding out about prostate cancer, and the importance of advocating men to get tested
(7:10)- Who have you relied on during the last few months?
(10:08)- Returning to ESPN
(12:15)- Giving back to the community
(13:37)- What does prostate cancer awareness month mean to you
(15:54)- Advice to people facing adversity
(18:20)- Thoughts about Penn State firing James Franklin
(20:10)- Music taste
(22:18)- Hobbies
(23:55)- Advice for 21 year old Jay Harris
(25:38)- Advice for aspiring sports journalists
(30:02)- What has changed within the sports media industry?
(32:28)- Dinner with five people dead or alive
(33:53)- Legacy
(37:080- Outro