FOX Nation — the new on-demand subscription-based streaming service — recently signed Abby Hornacek as a travel and lifestyle host. In her new role, Hornacek will offer viewers a closer look at the biggest sporting and lifestyle events across the United States. Additionally, she will host a new series about national parks, where she will take fans behind-the-scenes of the country’s most captivating landmarks around the country and showcase everything they have to offer, spotlighting various adventures along the way. Hornacek will also host a “ride to work” series, where she will pick up various FOX Nation hosts and FOX News personalities and conduct light-hearted interviews as she drives them to work.
Prior to joining FOX Nation, Abby Hornacek served as a contributor to ESPN and a sideline reporter for FOX Sports. She had also hosted San Diego Prep Insider on FOX Sports San Diego. Additionally, she hosted The Rally on Stadium in Chicago, which was the first live-streamed sports and entertainment show on Twitter.
I had the pleasure of doing Q&A with Abby Hornacek about the earlier-mentioned “series about national parks” — titled PARK’D With Abby Hornacek — ahead of her hosting the FOX Nation Summit on Tuesday, May 14. More on Hornacek can be found by following her on Twitter and Instagram via @AbbyHornacek.
When in your life did travel become important to you?
Abby Hornacek: Travel has always been extremely important to me for a few reasons. I believe it’s incredibly powerful to experience other cultures and see things through the eyes of different perspectives in order to round out our own. Travel also reminds me of my family, especially as we get older, because we aim to do a trip all together at least once a year. It’s when we take a break from the craziness of our own lives and get back to the people we love.
Sometimes the profession of a parent can be inspirational, and your father has done a lot of traveling as part of his work. Did you often go on the road with him?
Abby Hornacek: Family time is so important to us. My brothers and I were still young and in school when he played. We went to NBA All-Star Weekend when he was participating, but didn’t go on the road when it came to day-to-day travel. We did take family vacations when he wasn’t working and my mom did a wonderful job of planning everything and making each place special.
How did the opportunity to work with Fox Nation come about?
Abby Hornacek: Actually, through a casual conversation and my love for the outdoors! I got coffee with an incredible person who was influential in my hire, and when she told me about Fox Nation and the types of shows I would be hosting — travel, lifestyle, sports, outdoors, etc. — I knew it was where I wanted to be.
How long has the PARK’D series been in the works for?
Abby Hornacek: The idea was explained to me around Fox Nation’s launch, but we did most of the filming in the span of a couple of months! Depending on the location, we’ll spend a few days there in addition to the time it takes to plan things out before filming.
Have you been to most of the places you’ve visited for PARK’D prior to filming?
Abby Hornacek: For Season 1, we actually went to national parks I hadn’t been to yet! We will most likely hit some of the ones in Utah and Arizona I’ve ventured to before in Season 2, but I’m lucky to have the opportunity to experience so many new places. The U.S. has 59 National Parks, each of which are so incredibly unique, so it really does feel like a dream that I get to take in Mother Nature in so many forms.
Do you have a favorite part about PARK’D?
Abby Hornacek: My favorite part of PARK’D is being able to get back to nature. It’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of life and forget what it’s like to be where the birds are chirping and the air isn’t harboring fumes from the various forms of transportation in our constantly evolving world. The rejuvenation of getting back in touch with the basics and taking a break from technology is something beyond compare.
PARK’D aside, what are you currently working on?
Abby Hornacek: I’m hosting multiple shows for FOX Nation. One is about the iconic sports stadiums and venues across America, which is a passion of mine coming from the sports world. In my other show, Drive To Work, I do just what the name suggests and pick up various Fox talent and drive them into work, with a few surprises along the way. In addition to Fox Nation, I make appearances on the FNC — FOX & Friends, Watters’ World, Tom Shillue’s Radio and Quiz Show, etc. — to talk about sports, lifestyle/travel, etc.
Finally, Abby, any last words for the kids?
Abby Hornacek: Outside is where you will make some of your best memories. You won’t look back and remember the games you played on your phone, the social media posts you scrolled through, or the shows you watched. You will think about that time you dug for treasure in the backyard, or ran barefoot across the grass, or gathered around a bonfire with your family to make s’mores. When you’re older, those are the memories you’ll cherish the most, so take time to put technology aside and get back to nature.
