Hannah Storm

Hannah Storm Speaker Biography

Keynote Speaker, Pioneering Sports Broadcaster, Best-Selling Author and Advocate

Award-winning journalist, producer and director Hannah Storm is a pioneer in the field of sports broadcasting for women, a published author, an advocate for children suffering from debilitating vascular birthmarks, a sought after keynote speaker and most importantly, a mother of three.

Broadcasting History

In 2018, Storm made sports broadcasting history once more when she, along with veteran sports broadcaster, Andrea Kremer, because the first female duo to provide commentary and analysis for Amazon’s live streaming coverage of 11 Thursday Night Football games on Prime Video.

ESPN

Storm joined ESPN in 2008, where she is co-host of the weekday edition of SportsCenter and host of SportsCenter Sunday Morning during the NFL season. Storm is also host and executive producer of ESPN’s primetime interview specials, In Focus with Hannah Storm and Face to Face with Hannah Storm, where she sits down with various newsmakers in sports. The Face to Face brand has since been extended to a weekly series during the NFL season on ESPN.

Major Events

Storm routinely hosts major events around the world, such as Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the New York Marathon, Veterans Day special programming, the Super Bowl, the NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship, the Rose Parade on ABC, and the ESPY Awards. Throughout her career, she has interviewed many notable figures, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, Rex Ryan, Tony Romo, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Michael Phelps, Kobe Bryant, Tim Tebow, David Beckham, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Derek Jeter, and Beyoncé.

Co-Host

In addition to her current role at ESPN, Storm has co-hosted the network’s The Sports Reporters as well as contributed reports to E:60 and Outside the Lines. She is also an original member of the Board of Advisors for espnW. In 2012, Storm co-anchored ABC’s “Walk the Wire,” which depicts the story of daredevil Nik Wallenda’s unprecedented live Niagara Falls tightrope walk, and has recently served as a correspondent for ABC’s 20/20, where she’s done pieces with Shark Tank stars Robert Herjavec and Kevin O’Leary.

Prior to ESPN

Prior to joining ESPN, Storm served as a host of The Early Show on CBS from 2002-2007. There, she covered numerous key national and global events, including the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, Super Bowls XLI and XXXVIII, the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns and the London terror bombings. Storm conducted interviews with many newsmakers and pop culture icons, including President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former president and first lady George W. Bush and Laura Bush, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Senator John McCain, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Tiger Woods, Jamie Foxx, Justin Timberlake, Halle Berry, and Jennifer Aniston. Storm also hosted episodes for the award-winning CBS newsmagazine, 48 Hours, and co-hosted the network’s coverage of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Film Production

In 2008, Storm pursued an additional passion of hers outside of the broadcasting world: film production. She founded Brainstormin’ Productions, through which she has produced, executive produced and directed award-winning documentary films and branded content. Film projects include Unmatched, for ESPN’s Peabody Award-winning “30 for 30” film series; Shaq & Dale, for the SEC Network/ESPN/ABC; Love & Payne, the inaugural espnW “Nine for IX” series short film; Swoopes, for ESPN’s award-winning “Nine for IX” series; and Moving the Goal, for espnW’s “HERoics” series, part of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage. Branded content for ESPN, espnW, and ESPN.com includes Journeys & Victories (Proctor and Gamble); Beyond Reason (Oakley); Stories of Will (Under Armour); The Drive series (Ford); and The Journey series (Speedstick). Storm has won several awards for her work in conjunction with Brainstormin’ Productions, including the 2013 Gracie Award® for Outstanding Web Site – Information/Entertainment, the 2012 Gracie Award® for Outstanding Individual Achievement – Producer – Entertainment, and the 2011 Gracie Award® for Outstanding Producer – News/Non-fiction for Unmatched.

Hannah Storm Foundation

In 2008, keynote speaker Storm also founded the Hannah Storm Foundation, which advocates for children and parents of children suffering from debilitating vascular birthmarks. Storm’s passion for this cause stems from her personal experience with it: she was born with a port wine stain underneath her left eye. Since its start in 2008, the Hannah Storm Foundation has provided funding for critical surgeries to children from the United States, China, and the Republic of Georgia and Slovenia. The Hannah Storm Foundation also funds the Hannah Storm Journalism Internship at Notre Dame, Storm’s alma mater, empowering the next generation to pursue their dreams in journalism and broadcasting.

Books

Storm is an award-winning author, having penned two books: Notre Dame Inspirations, and Go Girl!: Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Daughters through Sports. For her literary work, Storm was honored by the Literacy Advance of Houston as its “Champion of Literacy.” Storm has also contributed to various publications, including Cosmopolitan, The Hollywood Reporter, Nick Jr., Family Circle, Child, and Notre Dame Magazine.

Acting

In addition to her regular roles in television, Storm has appeared in several films and television shows, including Like Mike, Valentine’s Day, Creed, “Arli$$,” “Scrubs,” and “As the World Turns.” She also lent her voice to a Hoover Vacuum ad campaign.

Awards and Accolades

Storm has received numerous awards for her work in media and other pursuits, including the 2000 Gracie Award® for Pioneering work as a female in the world of sports broadcasting; the 2005 Gracie Award® for Outstanding Anchor, News; the University of Notre Dame’s Distinguished Alumni Award; the March of Dimes Sports Legend Award, the YWCA Brava Award; and the Traditional Home Classic Woman Award. Storm was also named to The Paley Center for Media’s “She Made It, Women Creating Television and Radio” Hall-of-Fame in 2007 as well as to Family Circle’s “Most Influential Moms” list.

Education

Storm graduated the University of Notre Dame in 1983, where she received degrees in communications and political science. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband, Dan Hicks, and their three daughters.