Beers, Business, and Balls

Can’t get enough Bryant Bulldogs breaking barriers and re-inventing entire industries?  Nick Cianfaglione joins us this week to discuss his founding of Artist Republik, a platform for independent artists & musicians.  We discuss his method of tearing down barriers for creators to monetize and market their products, and the ordeal that artists usually encounter with their “managers.”...

BEERS: We are beyond excited for you to get to know our newest beer reviewer, Kris Savage! Kris tells us the story of how she created Basic Girl Brew Review on Instagram with her best friend.  Kris and the guys try a few of our favorite local selections (hint hint, Tree House may be included) live on the show, and debate whether or not the Midwest craft scene can stack up against the formidab...

He’s beer royalty!  If you are a craft beer drinker like us, you know how important the Untappd app is. Join the guys and The Boston Beer Guy as we sit down with the Untappd founder, Greg Avola, who takes us through his journey of creating the most popular beer app in America.  We discuss his passion for computer science & coding, his corporate experience at KPMG & Morgan Stanley, and his leap of...

It’s officially college basketball season - so who better than Kevin McNamara to talk shop with us this week! All things considered, there’s nothing Kevin hasn’t covered in the college basketball world. A 30-year veteran of the Providence Journal before his departure this summer, Kevin has reported the beat for both the Providence Friars and the Rhode Island Rams, broke some of the nation’s bigges...

Another live on-site interview for you this week! Nichole Pelletier, founder and owner of Crooked Current Brewery joins the show from her venue in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  In one of the more detailed and insightful conversations we've had on the show to date, Nichole lays out her long journey from a criminal justice student to the owner & operator of one of Lil' Rhody's most up-and-comin...

Brett Johnson is this week’s guest – because is just one interview with the owner of an expansion franchise really enough?! Brett, who is a Rhode Islander through-and-through, is the founder of USL Rhode Island, which will be the Ocean State’s second professional team when it starts competing in Pawtucket in 2023. We discuss Brett’s undergraduate days at Brown University, his impressive business c...

You are in for a TREAT with our guest this week. Episode 29 features Jessica Kleinschmidt (40:50) who many of you know for her baseball coverage for NBC Sports (please get away if you are one of her Twitter simps). We discuss her new podcasts; “Balk Talk,” featuring exclusive interviews with MLB stars, and “Cork’d Up” with MLB agent Rachel Luba. We reminisce on her path to where she is now, dating...

This week, we are talking business with two young entrepreneurs. Corey Nobile and Nick Oliveri started Impact Snacks to make “everyday snacking sustainable,” but how did they launch a popular brand? We discuss their founding story, their Kickstarter campaign, and their journey of launching a delicious plant-based “superfood snack” with sustainable and environmentally-friendly packaging. BEERS: Bac...

The Pirates are back! This week, we are live at the inaugural Providence Pirates combine. We sit down with 3 members of the front office staff - Vic Kash (Marketing), Serçan Fenerci (Founder), and Shaun Lavoie (Broadcast/Marketing). We discuss the process of founding an expansion franchise, evaluating the talent on the court, and what we should expect next from the Pirates.

Baseball, SPACtober, and Le’Veon Bell. What more could you ask for? We bring in Alex Feuz of A Whole New Ballgame to break down the baseball postseason so far, and what to expect going forward. BEERS: Pumpkin, pumpkin, and more pumpkin! Will tries Jack-O from Sam Adams for the first time, and gives it high praises. Jake took another stab at Bad Sons Beer in Connecticut, and rates their newest IPA...

If you loved Vine, you’ll love this week’s guest! Our friend Eric Dunn joins the show to talk Jags football and make some predictions for the NFL’s Week 5 slate. Eric is now the host of Jags@Home, the weekly watch party for Jaguars games, and the host of Dunn & Drew, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Between his modeling and voiceover endeavors, Eric Dunn has really done it all. BEERS: We a...

If you’re a Rhode Islander, you know and love restaurants like Thirsty Beaver, Hucks Filling Station, and Pink Pig. This week, we sit down with Ed Brady, the mastermind behind your favorite local dining experiences. Ed talks with us about his journey to becoming a restaurant entrepreneur; from his upbringing as a caddy to help pay the family’s bills, to his attempt to become an actor in Los Angele...

GUESS WHO’S BACK?! Our resident college basketball expert John Fanta is enshrined in the BBB Hall of Fame, as he becomes our first recurring guest...give the man a plaque, already. John & the guys dive into the 1-1 start to the year for the Cleveland Browns, the Grim Reaper’s visit to running backs & defensive linemen across the league, the Indians’ shot at the MLB playoffs, and the November 25th...

A craft beer movie? How awesome is that?! We’re joined by Dave Ricci, director of The Craft: Rhode Island, a movie detailing the hardworking entrepreneurs and brewers in the Ocean State. We talk about his upbringing in Lil’ Rhody, his path from a social studies teacher to moonlighting as a film director, and realistic paths that working professionals can undergo to start their own brewery. BEERS:...

Ever wonder what it’s like to build a franchise from the ground up? Sercan Fenerci, a known face in the New England basketball market, sits down with us this week to discuss his plan for building the Providence Pirates, an expansion franchise in the American Basketball Association (ABA). We talk about his experiences as a coach for the Turkish Basketball Federation, his idea to create a new progra...

Happy deadline day, everyone! It’s the last day for MLB teams to make trades - so naturally, we brought on Jack Jokinen, who many of you know as “JJ,” talk all things Yankees during our “Balls” segment. Without dropping hints, Aaron Judge’s name comes up quite a bit! His interview starts at 16:50. BEERS: Will selects an orange/citrus flavored can from Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, and Jake giv...

If you’ve followed college basketball in any way, shape, or form, you’ll recognize our guest this week – Jeff Goodman of Stadium! Goodman worked his way up the ranks at CBS, FOX, and ESPN before his new venture as the College Basketball Insider & Expert for Stadium. We talk about his rise to fame, his time at ESPN covering the Ball family (yes, lots of LaVar talk), and potential outcomes for the u...

NEW PARTNER ALERT! We’ve teamed up with Dugout Creative, the newest entry into the concept merchandise market. For the best new baseball jerseys, shirts, and hats on the market, go to DugoutCreative.com and use the code BBBPOD for 15% off your purchase. Matt Wilson of Under30CEO & Under30Experiences joins us this week to talk about life, travel, and making your own path! Matt is the author of The...

A must-listen episode! We are joined by Aimy Steadman, the co-founder of Beatbox Beverages, a staple at any party or social gathering (RIP to crowding together in a tight place!). Aimy talks with us about her journey to the United States as an immigrant from the Middle East, how she revolutionized the liquor industry, and convincing entertainment & lifestyle titan Mark Cuban to invest $1 million i...

Hard to believe we’ve done 16 episodes at this point! Thanks for listening. We sit down with Fred Segal, Twitter influencer and the founder of Freezing Cold Takes. We discuss how he created the idea, how he’s building and managing his now wildly-popular brand, and even dive into a rapid-fire take session towards the end. BEERS: Jake is coming for people’s neck after they’ve unfairly chirped him gi...

Back again for your weekly dose of Beers, Business, and Balls! Lots to discuss this week about the downward trend of the market, return of sports, some quarantine violations. BEERS: Both of us are fresh-off some New England vacations, and naturally we had to get some craft beer for the fridge! Jake, who ventured to Cape Cod this weekend, picks a spicy beer from Bad Martha in East Falmouth and was...

Let’s go Inside the NBA Bubble! We catch up with Tim Sinclair, who is now serving as the Voice of the NBA Summer Games in Orlando, Florida. Tim is fresh off a 7-day room quarantine at the Coronado Springs Hotel on the Disney campus; he gives us an inside look of the isolation that staff & players are currently living in, and how they are keeping busy. BEERS: Will gives a beer a “3.75 to keep it al...

After 2 weeks on the injured list during tonsillectomy recovery...Will’s back! Send him your love in the reviews and Instagram DM’s. BEERS: We start off by reviewing 2 craft beer selections from Long Island...one from Greenport Harbor and the other from Shelter Island. Both are picks that you’ll want to try to grab when you’re on the North Fork. We also tell you about our upcoming home brews! BUSI...

Our friend John Fanta might be the biggest college basketball fan and personality in the entire nation! A Seton Hall graduate, John is currently a Digital Correspondent for the BIG EAST, and a Play-by-Play Announcer for college basketball on FOX Sports. We talk about his rise to fame in the college basketball universe, his favorite moments as a broadcaster, and of course, the best picks for a take...

BASEBALL IS BACK! Since Will’s voice isn’t up to par, Jake brings in a friend of the show - James Mas - to discuss the return of baseball. We talk about the proposed schedule, the rule changes that will be implemented, and finish with some bold predictions for the season.