The Progress Report

He was drafted by the Oakland A's, heard his name called while a picnic table sat waiting to be painted, and spent the next two decades fighting through Tommy John surgery, a knee replacement, a hip replacement, a divorce, and the quiet question of whether the dream still had a pulse. Jessica Curtis turns the mic on her partner Rob Semerano — former professional pitcher, father, and founder o...

Three words have anchored Dr. John Bell's graduation speech for decades: dream big, make a plan, work like a dog. In Part 2, the Port Jervis superintendent and Little League World Series umpire connects the dots between the diamond and real life — why kids need to get hosed by a bad call sometimes, what helicopter parents are actually taking away from their children, and how a thick skin and...

He applied for 13 straight years. He got rejected every single time. And then, out of 10,000 applicants, Dr. John Bell was one of 16 umpires selected to work the Little League World Series in Williamsport. In Part 1, Port Jervis superintendent and lifelong umpire John Bell talks about what it means to chase a dream the slow way — laying groundwork, climbing ladders, and never mailing it in — and w...

The career is impressive. The person behind it is even more so. In Part 2, Tony Perkins gets personal — sharing his prostate cancer diagnosis, why he decided to go public with it, and how that decision led to countless men getting tested who otherwise wouldn't have. He also talks about the future of media, the reboot of his comedy podcast You Gotta Be Kidding Me with longtime producer Gary St...

He grabbed a hairbrush as a kid and pretended it was a microphone. Decades later, Tony Perkins has anchored major newscasts, co-hosted Good Morning America alongside Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts, and made audiences laugh from comedy club stages to the NBC4 anchor desk. In Part 1, Tony talks with Rob and Jess about what stand-up comedy taught him about reading a room, the phone call that changed...

Airtight compartments, Belgian beer in Brussels, and a 9 p.m. bedtime — Andrew Marotta's approach to avoiding burnout is as practical as it is intentional. In Part 2, Andrew breaks down the leadership formulas from his latest book, including the five SWs and E+R=O, shares how he handled a rash of knives in school without a single parent complaint, and drops the one piece of advice he wishes h...

 What happens when a Staten Island kid chasing small-town living lands in Port Jervis on the day of the flood — and never leaves? Andrew Marotta, educator, author, and the driving force behind Port Jervis City School District's communications renaissance, joins Rob and Jess for a conversation about what drew him to teaching, what's kept him there for nearly three decades, and why looking...

What does it feel like to be standing on the field when Dan Marino hits a touchdown pass in front of 80,000 screaming fans — and think the whole stadium is cheering for you? That's the kind of moment that turns a young broadcaster into a lifer. Steve Overmyer has spent decades telling sports stories at the highest levels — from CNN to CBS News New York — and in Part 2 of our conversation, he...

A rejection letter that said your tape was so bad they didn't want it "infecting their other tape stock." A joke that landed wrong in front of a six-foot-ten Randy Johnson. A tip from David Wright to stop treating every loss like a funeral. Steve Overmyer gets real about the mistakes that shaped him — and the lessons that stuck. From his first job in Fort Myers to the Jets post-game...

In Part 2 of our conversation with 19-year-old singer-songwriter Taylor Mackenzie Mieszkuc , Jessica Curtis and Rob Sermerano go deeper into the story behind the songs — and the lessons Taylor has learned along the way. Taylor opens up about the hardest chapter of her musical journey so far: a senior year of high school marked by a friendship that unraveled, targeted mind games, and the panic atta...

At 19, Taylor Mackenzie Mieszkuc is already a decade into her musical journey — and in Part 1 of this conversation, Jessica Curtis and Rob Sermerano dig into how it all began. Taylor takes us back to a third-grade production of Peter Pan that lit the spark, the sixth-grade ukulele that turned her into a songwriter, and the Teen Beach Movie moment that led to her very first song, "Miss Invisib...

In part two of their conversation with male breast cancer advocate Jake Messier, Rob and Jessica dig into the naming debate — should breast cancer even be called breast cancer if the word itself keeps men from getting checked? Jake pushes back on the idea of rebranding, arguing that softening the language only deepens the stigma, while making the case that a simple line in sixth grade health class...

Former Marine and marketing executive Jake Messier was 52 years old when he discovered a lump and waited months before getting checked — because, like most men, it never crossed his mind that breast cancer was something he needed to worry about. Now a stage four patient and one of the most visible advocates for male breast cancer awareness, Jake opens up about the isolation, stigma, and systemic b...

In part two of our conversation with Kevin McNee, the story gets personal. From pitching at Georgetown and Brookdale to blowing out his arm on a pro day with 30 MLB scouts watching, Kevin's baseball journey was defined as much by setbacks as by talent. Add two more Tommy John surgeries, a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis on the eve of a Red Sox workout, and a torn Achilles while training with his ow...

What if travel baseball didn't have to mean long-term contracts, uneven playing time, and a win-at-all-costs mentality? Rob Semerano and Jessica Curtis sit down with Kevin McNee, former Division I baseball player and partner at Guest Player Connect, to explore a fresh approach to youth travel sports. Kevin shares how the platform — founded by Eric Johnson in 2024 — is giving kids the freedom...

For 25 years, Kurt Decker worked behind the camera at NBC, helping produce some of television’s most iconic late-night moments. In this episode of The Progress Report , Kurt joins Jessica Curtis and Rob Semerano to share how a lifetime around performers—and one unexpected opportunity—led him to the stage performing the timeless music of Frank Sinatra in New York City. It’s a conversation about rei...

Kurt Decker spent 25 years behind the camera at NBC capturing some of television’s most iconic moments—but one spontaneous performance of “That’s Life” changed everything. In this episode of The Progress Report , Kurt shares how a dare at a New York bar led to a Las Vegas performance and eventually a thriving second career performing the music of Frank Sinatra in Times Square. It’s a story about r...

Country music legend Larry Gatlin joins Jessica Curtis and Rob Semerano to reflect on seven decades with the Gatlin Brothers, the faith and family foundation behind their longevity, and the upcoming 70th anniversary celebration at the Ryman Auditorium. From stories about singing three-part harmony as children to sharing stages with icons and launching a farewell tour, Gatlin opens up about calling...

Longtime broadcaster Ed Randall joins The Progress Report to deliver a clear, urgent message on prostate cancer awareness, early screening, and why a simple PSA test can save lives. He also dives into baseball’s never-ending arguments—from Hall of Fame voting to legacy, numbers, and who really gets to decide greatness. Grounded in decades of experience and advocacy through Fans for the Cure, the c...

Veteran broadcaster Ed Randall reflects on a lifetime in baseball media, from transistor radios in the Bronx to building a career rooted in curiosity, integrity, and respect. He shares why trust—not controversy—has defined his interviews, and how progress, at this stage of life, is measured by impact rather than attention. The conversation also highlights his most meaningful work beyond the mic, i...

Legendary broadcaster Ed Randall joins The Progress Report to share unforgettable stories from a lifetime in baseball, including an encounter with Ted Williams and reflections on the game’s most iconic figures. The conversation then turns personal, as Randall recounts his own prostate cancer diagnosis and how it led him to found Fans for the Cure, now in its third decade of advocacy and education....

Trey Dombroski pitches in the Houston Astros organization and joins Jessica Curtis and Rob Semerano for a wide-ranging conversation about failure, sacrifice, and learning to trust the process in professional baseball. Trey reflects on breaking a single-season strikeout record, the importance of pitcher–catcher trust, and how embracing setbacks has shaped both his career and mindset. The episode cl...

Houston Astros pitching prospect Trey Dombroski joins Jessica Curtis and Rob Semerano to talk spring training in Florida, minor league life, and the long, non-linear road to professional baseball. From growing up in New Jersey and playing at Monmouth University to learning how to compete against stars he once watched on TV, Trey shares what the grind really looks like. It’s a candid conversation a...

Jessica Curtis and Rob Semerano talk with professional pitcher Teddy Sharkey about the difficult decision to step away from football and fully commit to baseball. Teddy reflects on sacrifice, trust in family and mentors, and choosing the less comfortable path in pursuit of a long-term dream. The conversation explores what it means to go all-in—emotionally, physically, and mentally—when success dem...

Jessica Curtis and Rob Semerano sit down with professional pitcher Teddy Sharkey to talk about the mental and physical grind of coming back from major injury. Teddy reflects on Tommy John surgery, the emotional toll of rehab, and the mindset required to stay committed when the game humbles you. It’s a candid conversation about resilience, belief, and what it really takes to keep chasing the dream....