Badger Connect Podcast

Episode 19 | Abu Sama III Wisconsin’s newest running back, Abu Sama III , joins Mike Heller on Episode 19 of the Badger Connect Podcast. The explosive Iowa State transfer discusses why he chose Wisconsin, what drew him to Madison, his fit in Jeff Grimes’ offense, and what Badger fans can expect from him this season. Sama also reflects on his college journey, including his breakout performances at...

Episode 18 of the Badger Connect Podcast with Mike Heller features Wisconsin men’s basketball players Hayden Jones and Jackson Ball. Two of the newest members of the Badger basketball program join Mike Heller to discuss their journeys to Madison, adjusting to life as Division I student-athletes, and what excites them most about the future of Wisconsin Basketball. In this conversation, Hayden and J...

Episode 17 of the Badger Connect Podcast with Mike Heller features Wisconsin hockey legend Ron Vincent. Recently named to the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026, Vincent looks back on his remarkable Badger career, including winning the 1981 NCAA National Championship, playing for legendary coach Bob Johnson, and the lifelong friendships formed during one of the greatest er...

Wisconsin Track & Field and Cross Country has a new leader, and it’s a familiar name for Badger fans. On Episode 16 of the Badger Connect Podcast, Mike Heller sits down with Chris Solinsky, the newly appointed Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Wisconsin. One of the most decorated student-athletes in Wisconsin history, Solinsky returns to Madison after successful coaching stops at Oreg...

Episode 15: Chris Clark | Director of Rowing For nearly three decades, Chris Clark helped shape one of the most successful programs in Wisconsin Athletics history. Now serving as Wisconsin's Director of Rowing, Clark joins Mike Heller to discuss his remarkable journey, the evolution of Badger rowing, and what makes Wisconsin such a special place to build a championship culture. In this episode, Ch...

Episode 14 of the Badger Connect Podcast features Wisconsin Men’s Basketball players Zach Kinziger and Will Garlock. Zach and Will join Mike Heller to discuss their basketball journeys, what led them to Wisconsin, and their experiences inside the program. The conversation covers their player development, team culture, life as a Badger student-athlete, and what fans can expect from the future of Wi...

Episode 13 of the Badger Connect Podcast features Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph and his father, David Joseph. Colton joins Mike Heller to discuss his journey from Old Dominion to Wisconsin after a breakout season that earned him Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors. The conversation dives into his dual-threat playing style, adapting to Madison, and the excitement surrounding the futu...

On Episode 12 of the Badger Connect Podcast, Mike Heller sits down with Wisconsin Football Director of Recruiting Pat Lambert. Pat shares insights into the recruiting process at Wisconsin, the changing landscape of college football, and what it takes to identify and bring elite talent to the Badgers. Watch the full episode on YouTube  #onwisconsin #badgers #badgerconnect #wisconsin #wisconsinfootb...

Former Wisconsin Basketball standout Brian Butch joins the Badger Connect Podcast to announce his new role as the Badger Connect Communities Relations Coordinator. In this episode, Brian joins Mike Heller to discuss the launch of Badger Connect Communities, a new statewide initiative focused on connecting Wisconsin schools and communities with Wisconsin Athletics through exclusive content, experie...

Your inside connection to Wisconsin athletics. Each week, Mike Heller sits down with Badger athletes, coaches, and legends to bring fans closer to the programs they love. New episodes drop every Thursday. Join the community at BadgerConnect.com

Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas joins the show. Mike Heller sits down with Joe on location at Six Springs Farm, the home of his “Hall of Fame Beef,” for a wide-ranging conversation that goes beyond football. Joe reflects on his journey from Wisconsin to the NFL, what it took to sustain a Hall of Fame career, and the mindset behind his success. The conversation also dives into life after foot...

Former Wisconsin Basketball standout and current assistant coach Brad Davison joins the show. Brad sits down with Mike Heller to reflect on his time as a Badger, the moments that defined his playing career, and what it meant to wear Wisconsin across five seasons. He shares insight into the mindset that helped him compete at a high level and the leadership that made him a staple of the program. Now...

The voice of the Badgers joins the show. Matt Lepay sits down with Mike Heller to reflect on his Hall of Fame broadcasting career and the moments that have defined Wisconsin athletics over the years. From stories behind the mic to his perspective on what makes a great play-by-play call, Matt gives a behind-the-scenes look at the craft of calling games at the highest level. The conversation also to...

Badger Connect is a membership platform built for Wisconsin fans who want to get closer to the teams they love. Members receive exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, and opportunities to participate in weekly giveaways and experiences throughout the year. Pro and Elite memberships include eligibility for premium experiences such as tickets, practice access, suite experiences, and autographe...

Episode 5 of The Badger Connect Podcast features Wisconsin Men’s Hockey Head Coach Mike Hastings. With the Badgers headed to the Frozen Four, Hastings sits down with Mike Heller to discuss the path to this moment, the culture inside the program, and what it takes to compete at the highest level. He also shares perspective on building a championship-caliber team and the excitement surrounding this...

Episode 4 of The Badger Connect Podcast features Wisconsin Football Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes. Coach Grimes sits down with Mike Heller to discuss his path through college football, lessons learned along the way, and his approach to developing an offense. He also shares what drew him to Wisconsin and his vision for the future of the Badgers. It’s a great behind-the-scenes look at one of the...

On this episode of the Badger Connect Podcast, we’re joined by Wisconsin Volleyball Head Coach Kelly Sheffield and his wife Cathy Sheffield. We talk about the rise of Wisconsin Volleyball, what it takes to sustain success at the highest level, and how their partnership has played a role throughout the journey. From recruiting and player development to the culture inside the program, this is a behi...

In Episode 2 of The Badger Connect Podcast, host Mike Heller sits down with Wisconsin Men's Basketball guard Nick Boyd. Mike and Nick talk about his journey to Wisconsin, the transition into the Badger program, leadership on the court, and what it means to represent Wisconsin basketball. The conversation also dives into life off the court, the culture inside the locker room, and what fans might no...

Welcome to the first episode of The Badger Connect Podcast hosted by Mike Heller. Each week Mike sits down with the players, coaches, and personalities who make Wisconsin athletics special. The goal is simple: bring Badger fans closer to the stories, people, and moments behind the program. For our first episode, Mike is joined by Wisconsin Football Head Coach Luke Fickell and his wife Amy. They ta...

Trailer for The Badger Connect Podcast hosted by Mike Heller Your inside connection to Wisconsin athletics. Each week, Mike Heller sits down with Badger athletes, coaches, and legends to bring fans closer to the programs they love. New episodes drop every Thursday. Join the community at BadgerConnect.com