111. Yosef Herzog, Today Show Stage Manager
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 20 December 2018
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"I wanted to see if I could do it. And then once I did it, I wanted to see what else I could do." —Yosef Herzog
For most people, 3:30 AM is the middle of the night. For Yosef Herzog, it's time to get to work. As stage manager for NBC's Today show, Yosef starts his day early. As a two-time marathon runner, he ends it late. Yosef is on set at NBC by 4:30 AM, leaves after the show wraps at 11 AM, and then runs in the evenings with Brooklyn Track Club. On this episode, he talks about making it all work, shares why he decided to leave his steady, well-paying career in finance to get into television, and opens up about his impressive 50-pound weight loss. Plus, he talks about what it's like working at the Olympics, and what it was like meeting the Obamas.
Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone bundle!
What you’ll get on this episode:
- All the moves that led Yosef to his job at Today, including the a-ha moment that made him realize he needed to make a total career change (3:15)
- What it’s like being a part of NBC’s prestigious Page program (6:40)
- How Yosef landed at the Today show, and what his job as stage manager entails (13:15)
- What Yosef’s day looks like (17:10)
- What Yosef says are the biggest challenges about working on live TV (21:25)
- Yosef talks about major NBC events including Christmas in Rockefeller Center, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Halloween on the Plaza, the concerts, and the Olympics (24:00)
- What it’s like covering national tragedies (29:30)
- How Yosef got into running — and lost 50 pounds in the process — and what his lifestyle looks like now (33:00)
- Why Yosef got into racing (47:40)
- What’s next for Yosef? (53:30)
What we mention on this episode:
Natalie Morales on Episode 33 of the Ali on the Run Show
Follow Yosef:
Follow Ali:
Listen & Subscribe:
SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks. |
| 0:08.6 | Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. |
| 0:10.9 | I'm your host, Allie Feller, and here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. |
| 0:15.6 | No, not really. |
| 0:16.9 | That was lame, but my guest today comes to The Alley on the Run Show straight from the today show. |
| 0:23.0 | It's not Al Roker. |
| 0:24.6 | Josef Herzog is a stage manager at today, so be prepared. |
| 0:28.6 | I'm about to spend the next hour nerding out on all things today show because I just love it so much. |
| 0:34.5 | I love live television, and I'm totally fascinated by Josef's job. |
| 0:39.5 | As stage manager at today, Josef is in charge of making sure everyone is in the right place at the right time |
| 0:45.4 | from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. |
| 0:47.9 | And he's in charge of making sure the show goes off without a hitch or at least without any hitches that us viewers at home would notice. |
| 0:55.9 | When he's not ushering celebrities from the green room to studio 1a at Rockefeller Center, |
| 1:01.4 | or, you know, hanging out with Savannah, Hoda, Al, Willie, and Carson, Josef is on the run. |
| 1:07.7 | He has a super inspiring story, and I'm going to let him tell it, but the short version is that |
| 1:12.8 | Josef went from a college volleyball player to getting out of breath just from bending over to tie his shoes. |
| 1:20.0 | Four years later, Josef is a 330 marathoner who lost 50 pounds through good old fashioned hard work in spite of a very exhausting work schedule. |
| 1:30.3 | Okay, let's bring out Josef who is here to graciously indulge all my nosy today show questions among others. |
| 1:37.7 | Josef. Welcome to the alley on the run show. |
| 1:44.6 | I am super excited to have you here today. |
| 1:47.6 | Hi, Ali. Thanks for having me. |
| 1:49.0 | All right. Like we start any good run. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ali Feller, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Ali Feller and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.