The Ed Mylett Show
When Your Life Blows Up… Do This | Sage Steele on Faith, Courage & Conviction
Episode Summary
AI-generated · Apr 2026AI-generated summary — may contain inaccuracies. Not a substitute for the full episode or professional advice.
Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele, known for her 16-year career covering top sporting events, shares her deeply personal journey through a period she describes as her life blowing up. This episode delves into her experience with the Walt Disney Company's COVID-19 vaccine mandate in September 2021, which required all employees to be fully vaccinated or face termination. Despite her personal convictions against forced medical procedures, Steele, as a recently divorced mother of three with full financial responsibility, initially complied out of fear and necessity, a decision she struggled to forgive herself for. She recounts the anger and profound change she felt after receiving the shot, culminating in a public statement on Jay Cutler's podcast where she expressed her disagreement with the mandate while confirming her compliance, which ultimately led to her indefinite suspension from ESPN.
Steele meticulously details the aftermath of her podcast appearance, including being pulled off air, forced to issue a public apology distributed to major media outlets, and receiving serious threats against herself and her children. Despite complying with the vaccine mandate and apologizing, ESPN continued to remove hard-earned assignments from her. This perceived hypocrisy—where other colleagues were allowed to express political opinions on-air while she was penalized for doing so on a personal podcast—became the catalyst for her decision to sue The Walt Disney Company. She emphasizes that the lawsuit was not about the vaccine itself, but about the double standard and the principle of free speech, particularly under a specific Connecticut employment statute.
The conversation pivots to the emotional toll of her ordeal and how she navigated what felt like her world crumbling around her, including dealing with her father's chemotherapy at the time. Steele attributes her survival to prayer, the unwavering support of her parents who physically picked her up from a dark place, and learning to compartmentalize her personal struggles to perform on live television. A pivotal moment came when her son, witnessing her turmoil, told her, "Mom, it's about time you stood up for yourself," a revelation that made her realize she had been teaching her children the opposite of what she preached by staying silent. This validation fueled her resolve to pursue the lawsuit, accepting that even if she lost financially, she would have won by setting an example for her kids.
Steele also shares a profoundly moving family story, revealing how her biracial parents navigated societal prejudice in 1971, with her father choosing the "harder right" to write monthly letters to her disapproving white grandparents, ultimately leading to forgiveness. This upbringing, she reflects, may have prepared her for her own battle. The episode culminates with Steele discussing her post-settlement life, starting her own podcast, and a remarkable, faith-guided journey to finding love again. She advises listeners to trust their gut, embrace challenges, and not delay in seeking spiritual guidance, asserting that beautiful things can emerge from life's darkest ashes.
👤 Who Should Listen
- Individuals facing career-altering decisions or corporate mandates.
- Anyone struggling with fear of public opinion or standing up for their beliefs.
- People navigating significant personal challenges like divorce, illness, or career upheaval.
- Leaders and employees interested in workplace ethics, free speech, and corporate hypocrisy.
- Parents seeking inspiration on teaching resilience and conviction to their children.
- Listeners interested in stories of faith, resilience, and second chances after personal and professional setbacks.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- 1.Sage Steele, a 16-year ESPN veteran, was forced to take a COVID-19 vaccine by her employer, The Walt Disney Company, in September 2021, despite her personal objections to mandatory medical procedures ([03:01], [05:01]).
- 2.Her decision to speak out against the mandate on Jay Cutler's podcast led to her indefinite suspension from ESPN and a public apology, highlighting a perceived double standard regarding employee free speech ([10:05], [13:09]).
- 3.Steele ultimately sued The Walt Disney Company, not over the vaccine mandate itself, but for the hypocrisy and disparate treatment she experienced compared to other employees who expressed political views on-air ([14:10]).
- 4.A pivotal moment in her journey was her son telling her, "Mom, it's about time you stood up for yourself," which validated her decision to fight for her principles and set an example for her children ([22:22]).
- 5.Inspired by her biracial parents' story of grace and forgiveness in 1971, Steele learned the "harder right" involves standing firm on principles and offering grace even when wronged ([30:33], [35:42]).
- 6.Overcoming the fear of being disliked and surrendering control to God were crucial for Steele in navigating her professional and personal "blow up" ([27:29], [28:31], [56:03]).
- 7.Her experience taught her that even in the darkest moments, choosing to stand up for oneself can lead to beautiful new beginnings and a more authentic, fulfilling life ([60:06]).
💡 Key Concepts Explained
The Harder Right
A principle derived from the West Point cadet prayer, advocating for choosing the more difficult, morally principled path instead of the easier or wrong one. Sage Steele's father exemplified this by writing letters to her disapproving grandparents for seven years, demonstrating unwavering commitment to his wife and family values over personal offense ([34:39]).
⚡ Actionable Takeaways
- →Listen to your gut and trust your instincts when faced with difficult decisions, as Sage Steele reflected on regretting not doing so initially regarding the vaccine mandate ([00:00], [60:06]).
- →Consider choosing the "harder right" over the "easier wrong" when faced with moral dilemmas, drawing inspiration from Sage Steele's father's West Point principle ([34:39]).
- →Learn to compartmentalize difficult emotions and challenges to function when necessary, as Steele did when returning to live TV amidst her crisis ([20:21]).
- →Let go of the fear of being disliked, recognizing that you cannot control what others think of you, as Sage Steele did through her ordeal ([27:29], [28:31]).
- →Surrender control of things beyond your influence to a higher power, focusing instead on what you can control, a lesson Steele learned from her period of fear and uncertainty ([29:31], [56:03]).
- →Be willing to laugh at yourself and own your mistakes, even public ones, as Sage Steele demonstrated by intentionally leaving her "Joe Rogan" gaffe in her first podcast episode ([48:57]).
- →Stand up for what you believe is right, especially when it involves hypocrisy or unfair treatment, because your actions can inspire others, including your own children ([22:22], [24:26]).
⏱ Timeline Breakdown
💬 Notable Quotes
“"Mom, it's about time you stood up for yourself." ([22:22])”
“"Help me to choose the harder right instead of the easy or wrong and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be one." ([34:39])”
“"I will never forget what you did and didn't do for your daughter, my wife, but I will forgive. And today is day one and we go forward from here." ([35:42])”
“"I'm so proud of you because most people would have cut that out. It's the best business decision you could have made." ([61:06])”
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Sage Steele
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