Staff Spotlight: Alyssa Roenigk
November 24th, 2025
This year marked the debut of ESPN Senior Editor and on-air commentator Alyssa Roenigk as co-host of the Rebelle Rally LIVE Presented by Toyota. Fresh off covering events like the Olympics and X Games, Alyssa brought her storytelling experience (and expertise!) to the desert for her first Rebelle Rally Live Show, complete with wind, mud, and plenty of adventure.
Catch our full Q&A with Alyssa to hear her take on the experience, favorite moments, and what surprised her most about the Rebelle Rally.
You’ve covered everything from the Olympics to the X Games. What made the Rebelle Rally stand out from other events you’ve worked on?
The Rebelle Rally doesn’t stand still! Covering any multi-day sporting event is a challenge, but moving an entire live production multiple times over nearly 2,000 miles adds a thick layer of logistical chaos for everyone involved. It takes a hardy, resilient, playful group of people to create the Rebelle Rally live show twice a day and not let uncontrollable factors like weather and technical issues distract us from our focus – to tell great stories about the competitors and connect the rally to the viewers at home. (And the Live Show crew is FIT – 100 push-ups and squats every day. No excuses.)
How did you prepare for covering a competition that’s part motorsport, part endurance event and completely off-grid?
I printed every piece of material I had, just in case I was without Wi-Fi — or my laptop and phone. (I am ALWAYS losing things, especially my phone.) Before the rally, I studied whenever I had free time, cramming my brain with competitor bios, rule changes, and course layouts in hopes the info would be there to draw upon when I needed it. During the rally, Matthew Johnson (co-host), Katy Talyancich (live show commentator) and I gathered stories from competitors and staff before each show and paid close attention to what was taking place inside the tent and away from the cameras. The more reporting we did each day, the better we were able to tell the story of the Rebelle in real time and bring the viewer onto the rally with us.
As a journalist, what stories or moments during the rally grabbed your attention most?
I love an underdog story, so I paid close attention to the rookie teams. I loved reporting on Team SASS, Tina Chang and Jill McAdoo, who eventually won Rookie of the Year. They were fun to interview, and it was impressive to watch them climb the ranks and hang on to a top-20 finish. And of course, Day 5 will live forever in Rebelle Rally lore. The day started under a double rainbow, ended in a winter monsoon and tested every navigator and driver in the competition. We made note of the teams who returned to the finish that night with smiles on their faces despite the struggle — those were the teams to watch.
The wind, the mud, the cold. Which weather moment tested your live show game the most?
No doubt, the wind! On super cold days, I wore three jackets or two beanies. During the rainstorm, Matthew and I stood during the broadcast because our chairs had sunk into the mud. But the wind was impossible – just ask the navigators who had to deal with it on course. There was not enough tape or clips or sandbags to tie down everything in and around our set.
You’ve met world-class athletes across every sport. How do Rebelles compare when it comes to mindset and resilience?
Great Rebelles have the short-term memories of MLB players, the flexibility of high-altitude mountaineers, the grit of ultrarunners, the teamwork skills of top pit crews and the decision-making instincts of NFL quarterbacks. They shake off mistakes quickly, adapt to terrain changes and make smart calls under pressure. The best Rebelles also find a way to laugh and sing about it all even when the desert — and Emily, Chrissie and Jimmy — throw the worst at them.
Live coverage from the middle of the desert isn’t exactly a studio gig. What’s been the biggest adjustment doing live TV out there?
Dealing with the elements … the lack of sleep … the limited time to prepare for each show … the sheer number of shows. Sounds a lot like the adjustments the Rebelles are making!
Who on the crew would win “Most Likely to Survive the Apocalypse”?
The low-hanging answer is Emily Miller, because she’s one of the most resourceful humans on the planet. But I’m not going with the obvious choice. I don’t know this man well enough to back up this answer, but my gut tells me that if the apocalypse happens during the Rebelle, I’ll want a spot in Jake Zmrhal’s bunker.
What’s your go-to desert snack or must-have item at basecamp?
My own pillow, a super warm sleeping bag liner and vegan jerky.
After a week in the elements, what’s the first thing you did when you got home?
Snuggled my sausage dogs, Gonzo and Hank. And my husband, Billy, of course.
If you could co-drive with any past or present Rebelle, who’s riding shotgun and why?
My one and only Rebelle teammate, Sabrina Howells! I can’t imagine competing in the Rebelle with anyone else.
Lastly, any words of wisdom for future Rebelles?
The hardest part of competing in the Rebelle Rally — or saying yes to any grand adventure — is getting to the starting line. Once you’re there, you’ve already won. During the competition, treat each day as its own rally. Wipe what happened yesterday and set out to win the day. Worry about winning the competition in your third year.