Today we’d like to introduce you to Talha Rao.
Hi Talha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The love I have for I what I do today started in the city I was born in — Karachi, Pakistan. I vividly remember playing sports, predominantly Cricket, everyday with kids much older than me and arguing about each and every call till the blue sky’s faded away.
As a 10-year-old immigrant American, it was difficult to relate to sports and culture I wasn’t accustomed to and had never seen before. Turning to the camera to talk about sports and taking my fitness to the next level felt like my best option. And it is what made me the man I am today. Sports and fitness have given me the confidence to elevate my life and also inspire those in a similar position. No matter the circumstances, you can break barriers as long as you stay focused, keep a growth mindset and perceive difficult times as an opportunity to get better at your craft.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
America is the land of opportunities. And those opportunities favor the prepared. As a newcomer, I was presented with unique challenges, such as speaking and writing in English. I turned that weakness into a strength by continuing my education and obtaining my Masters degree in journalism. When I got my first on-air job my mom posted a few clips from the sportscast on her facebook page and the people I grew up with in Karachi were extremely proud, but also *very* surprised. They couldn’t believe they were watching the kid who grew up
speaking no English at all to fluently doing it on live camera and talking about the one thing he always loved — sports.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work keeps me going. Though I am not currently on camera, I am on the production side of sports at CBS/KCAL. I also work as a Coach at Equinox, which feeds my appetite of having a positive impact on human lives and it allows me to become a better and stronger athlete myself. My work has risen my fitness to a completely a different level. I can do things with my body I never thought I could. And for that, I could not be more thankful because I can now pay it forward.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Sports media and fitness in LA can be a tough industry to navigate through. The shear market size, being one of the many reasons, makes it so you either swim or sink. You’d better practice doing what it is you love everyday and find opportunities, get in the rooms with the people you idolize and ask them questions you’ve always wondered about.
Otherwise, the City of Angels can be very unforgiving.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talha_rao1?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talha-rao-176921184?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/talharao32?s=21&t=AZ_879q2ctPLYArjCLEz7g
Image Credits
Paul Archuleta – Getty Images
