Michelle Smallmon has become a recognisable voice in American sports radio, especially through ESPN Radio’s popular morning programme Unsportsmanlike. Her career is interesting because she did not move straight into national broadcasting. Instead, she worked behind the scenes as a producer, developed her on-air skills in St. Louis, and eventually earned a place on ESPN’s national radio lineup.
Today, Smallmon co-hosts Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty, where the trio discusses major sports stories, current events, personalities and everyday life. ESPN identifies her as a former radio producer with experience at both local and national levels.
This article looks at her career journey, ESPN role, St. Louis background, broadcasting style and some of the most common questions people ask about her.
Who Is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon is an American sports radio host and broadcaster associated with ESPN Radio. She currently co-hosts Unsportsmanlike, ESPN Radio’s weekday morning programme, alongside Evan Cohen and Chris Canty. The show combines sports discussion with entertainment, debate and conversations about wider culture.
Her professional background is broader than simply being a radio host. Smallmon previously worked as an ESPN radio producer, gaining experience in both local and national broadcasting. That production background gave her an understanding of how radio programmes are built before she moved further into the spotlight as an on-air personality.
One of the most notable parts of her career came in St. Louis. She became the co-host of Karraker & Smallmon on 101 ESPN from May 2020 until September 2022. According to ESPN, this made her the first woman to have her name on a show in the station’s history.
Michelle Smallmon’s Early Radio Career
Smallmon’s broadcasting journey included years of work at 101 ESPN in St. Louis. ESPN states that she spent four years with the station earlier in her career, from 2009 to 2015, where she worked as a producer and appeared on air with several of its signature programmes.
This combination of production and broadcasting experience is important when understanding her career. Producing a sports programme requires much more than simply speaking into a microphone. It involves researching stories, preparing segments, understanding guests, organising timing and knowing how to keep a programme moving.
After returning to St. Louis as an on-air voice, Smallmon continued developing her profile in local sports media. Her career shows how experience behind the scenes can eventually lead to a much larger opportunity in front of the microphone.
Her Move From St. Louis to National ESPN Radio
Smallmon’s St. Louis career became an important stepping stone toward national broadcasting. Her work on Karraker & Smallmon gave her a prominent local platform and helped establish her identity as a sports radio host.
In 2022, she returned to the national ESPN Radio network, initially contributing primarily to weekend programming. ESPN later positioned her as part of the national morning show Unsportsmanlike.
That transition was significant because national sports radio reaches a much broader audience than a local market. It also requires hosts to discuss teams and stories that appeal to listeners across the United States rather than focusing mainly on one city’s sports interests.
Smallmon brought her production background and local-radio experience with her. That combination has helped make her a distinctive part of ESPN’s morning programming.
Michelle Smallmon and Unsportsmanlike
Unsportsmanlike is now one of the central parts of Smallmon’s professional identity. ESPN describes the programme as a morning show featuring Smallmon, Evan Cohen and Chris Canty, with discussions covering sports, life and entertainment.
The programme covers a wide range of subjects rather than concentrating on a single league. Recent episodes have included conversations about the NFL, NBA, NHL, college sports, WWE and other major sports stories. The podcast is also updated regularly across podcast platforms.
The format gives Smallmon room to contribute opinions while also reacting to her co-hosts. That conversational structure is different from traditional sports news reporting. Instead of simply presenting scores or headlines, the hosts debate stories and provide personality-driven commentary.
For listeners, that is part of the appeal. The show combines information with humour, disagreement and personal perspectives, creating a format designed for people who want sports coverage with a more relaxed morning-radio feel.
Michelle Smallmon’s Work Beyond ESPN Radio
Smallmon’s career has not been limited to radio. ESPN notes that she served as an in-game host for St. Louis’ XFL team, the Battlehawks, and also worked extensively on video projects involving St. Louis City SC of Major League Soccer.
She has also hosted live events in St. Louis. These have included the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration at Ballpark Village and the USBWA dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club, where she interviewed prominent figures from college basketball.
Her involvement in community organisations is another less-discussed part of her professional story. ESPN says she has served on boards connected with organisations including the Young Professionals for the St. Louis Zoo and The Little Bit Foundation.
These experiences demonstrate that her work extends beyond the traditional sports-radio microphone. Hosting live events, conducting interviews and working with community organisations require communication skills that can also strengthen a broadcaster’s presence.
Education and Broadcasting Background
According to ESPN’s official biography, Smallmon graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Her educational background fits closely with the career she eventually built. Broadcasting journalism provides a foundation in communication, reporting, interviewing and media production. However, her professional journey also demonstrates the importance of practical experience.
Her years working as a producer were particularly valuable. Production work can teach broadcasters how to prepare stories, manage programme flow and understand what happens behind the microphone.
That experience is useful today because Unsportsmanlike requires hosts to move quickly between breaking sports stories, interviews, debates and lighter conversations.
What Makes Michelle Smallmon’s Career Interesting?
Several parts of Smallmon’s career stand out:
- She started in production: Her early experience included producing radio programmes rather than immediately becoming a national host.
- She developed a local following: Her work in St. Louis gave her an established broadcasting platform.
- She broke new ground locally: ESPN says she became the first woman to have her name on a show in 101 ESPN’s history.
- She returned to national ESPN Radio: Her national role expanded after her 2022 return.
- She works across formats: Her experience includes radio, live events, video and sports hosting.
- She has a community presence: Her work has included involvement with St. Louis charitable and civic organisations.
Rather than being an overnight success story, her career is better understood as a gradual progression from production to local broadcasting and eventually national sports media.
Michelle Smallmon’s Current Role
As of September 2026, Smallmon remains associated with ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike morning programme alongside Evan Cohen and Chris Canty. ESPN’s current programme listings continue to feature the trio, while recent podcast listings show new episodes being released in September 2026.
The show’s continued production gives Smallmon a regular national platform. It also means her role extends beyond individual appearances because she is part of a recurring programme with a large catalogue of episodes.
For people discovering her through ESPN, the programme provides the clearest way to understand her current broadcasting style and role.
FAQ’s
Q1. Who is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon is an American sports radio host and broadcaster who works with ESPN Radio. She is a co-host of Unsportsmanlike alongside Evan Cohen and Chris Canty.
QWhat show does Michelle Smallmon host?
She co-hosts ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty. The programme covers sports, entertainment, current stories and broader lifestyle discussions.
Q3. When did Michelle Smallmon join national ESPN Radio?
ESPN states that Smallmon returned to the national ESPN Radio network in 2022, initially contributing primarily to weekend content before becoming part of the national morning programme.
Q4. Did Michelle Smallmon work in St. Louis?
Yes. Smallmon has an extensive professional history in St. Louis. She worked at 101 ESPN earlier in her career and later co-hosted Karraker & Smallmon from May 2020 through September 2022.
Q5. What did Michelle Smallmon study?
ESPN’s official biography says she graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Q6. Has Michelle Smallmon worked outside radio?
Yes. Her experience includes serving as an in-game host for the St. Louis Battlehawks, video work with St. Louis City SC and hosting live events in St. Louis.
Conclusion
Michelle Smallmon’s career is a useful example of how a broadcasting career can develop through different stages. She gained experience as a producer, built her profile in St. Louis, became a prominent local radio host and eventually moved onto ESPN’s national platform.
Her current position on Unsportsmanlike gives her a national audience and places her among the regular voices of ESPN’s morning sports coverage. Her work outside radio also shows the breadth of her broadcasting experience.
