ChompCast Podcast

This week on ChompCast, we sit down with University of Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden following one of the most memorable seasons in program history. After leading the Gators to the 2025 national championship and earning 2025-2026 Head Coach of the Year honors, Coach Golden has helped usher in a new era for Florida Basketball built on toughness, culture and elite expectations. In...

This week on ChompCast, we sit down with Tyler Rutstein, Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Americas Marketing at Under Armour. A University of Florida graduate and adjunct professor teaching Sports Branding at UF, Tyler has built one of the most impressive careers in modern sports business and marketing. Before joining Under Armour, Tyler helped lead brand growth at Overtime as Chief Brand...

What does it take to become one of the most recognizable faces in weather—and stay there for over two decades? In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Abrams, on-camera meteorologist at The Weather Channel and proud University of Florida alum, to talk about building a career at the intersection of science, media, and storytelling. Since joining the network in 2003, Stephanie has covered everyt...

On this episode of  ChompCast , we sit down with Myka Meier, a world-renowned etiquette expert, entrepreneur, and founder of Beaumont Etiquette. Often referred to as “America’s Queen of Good Manners,” Myka has built a global brand around modernizing etiquette for today’s world—spanning social, business, and digital spaces. From training in London under a former member of the Royal Household to co-...

What actually goes into shaping the decisions that impact millions of people? In this episode of  ChompCast , we sit down with two major players in Florida’s political and business landscape—Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs & Coalitions Advocacy at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Joe Gruters, Florida State Senator, CPA, and Chairman of the Republican National Committee...

On this episode of ChompCast, we sit down with Natalie Boe, a UF alum and powerhouse communications leader with over 20 years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher education spaces. From serving as Executive Director of multiple organizations to working in global communications at the University of Michigan and now advising clients through her own firm, Natalie has led everything f...

For this episode of ChompCast, we sat down with Ted Spiker—Associate Dean, UF Professor, UF Teacher of the Year, and someone who’s literally interviewed everyone from Tim Tebow to Erin Andrews to Bryan Cranston. We talk about what it actually takes to tell stories that matter, how he built a career writing for places like  The Washington Post  and  Runner’s World , and why the best storytellers ar...

Mikhail Mikhaylov is building a career at the intersection of global policy, diplomacy, and impact. A Marshall Scholar at Oxford and founder of the Off the Battlefield Foundation, he has already gained experience across government, international affairs, and public service at a level most don’t reach until much later in their careers. From working with the U.S. Department of State and the Departme...

Alan Zack has spent his career at the intersection of creativity, innovation, and impact. As President of Lollipop Labs, he leads one of the most forward-thinking organizations focused on engaging and inspiring young innovators to solve real-world problems through STEAM. Before Lollipop Labs, Alan helped shape global initiatives at XPRIZE, a leader in incentivized innovation, and built his foundat...

Jon Tibus, former CEO of Red Lobster, joins ChompCast to break down what it actually takes to lead at the highest level. With a career built on stepping into companies at critical moments, Jon has served as CEO and Chief Restructuring Officer for major national brands including Kona Grill, Real Mex Restaurants, Ignite Restaurant Group, and Last Call Operating Co., as well as CRO roles at Quiznos a...

On this episode of ChompCast , we sit down with Amy Sweezey , an award-winning meteorologist, author, speaker, and media personality who has built an incredible career both on and off the screen. After spending years in broadcast meteorology delivering forecasts and covering major weather events, Amy reinvented her career and expanded her impact far beyond the newsroom. Amy is the Founder and CEO...

On this episode of ChompCast , we sit down with Christine Bucan , former global PR executive turned University of Florida educator, to talk about what it really takes to succeed in public relations today. Christine brings decades of international experience advising iconic brands like American Airlines, McDonald’s, Hermès, and Mercedes-Benz, managing foreign media for the Prime Minister of Croatia...

The University of Florida Bateman Team is a select group of public relations students chosen to compete in PRSSA’s national Bateman Case Study Competition, one of the most rigorous and prestigious collegiate PR challenges in the country. Competing against more than 70 universities nationwide, the team researches, plans, implements and evaluates a full-scale public relations campaign for a real cli...

In this episode of ChompCast , we’re joined by Shane Tews and Mark A. Jamison to break down who really shapes the internet—and why it matters. Shane Tews is a leading voice in digital economy and technology policy, serving as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. With experience spanning the White House, Capitol Hill, federal agencies, and the private sector, she brings...

In this episode of  ChompCast , the team sits down with  Melanie Hapner , Head of Technology Risk Governance at  TD , for a conversation about the behind-the-scenes roles that keep big companies running. Melanie shares what her job actually looks like day to day, how major organizations think about decision-making and accountability, and why communication and leadership matter just as much as tech...

In this episode of  ChompCast , the team sits down with  Ben Chase , Director of NIL Strategy for the Florida Gators, to break down how Name, Image, and Likeness actually works behind the scenes. Ben oversees NIL strategy for more than 450 student-athletes across 21 sports, helping Gators maximize opportunities while navigating one of the fastest-changing spaces in college athletics. He shares wha...

In this episode of  ChompCast , Jordan sits down with  Liz Levine , Senior Manager of Affiliate Relations at CBS Television Network, to unpack what it really takes to build a long-term career in broadcast media. With more than 17 years at CBS, Liz has worked her way up from Coordinator to Senior Manager, serving as a key liaison between the network and more than 140 affiliate stations nationwide....

On game days, the Florida Gators Dazzlers look polished, fun, powerful, and effortless. But behind every performance is hours of practice, physical strength, discipline, and hard work. In this episode of ChompCast , we sit down with Madeline Soave , head coach of the Florida Gators Dazzlers , to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to perform at this level. Madeline shares how these athle...

What separates good tennis players from great ones? In this episode of ChompCast, University of Florida men’s tennis junior Henry Jefferson breaks down the realities of competing in the SEC, from the physical grind of long matches to the mental discipline required to close out tight points. But beyond tennis, Henry explains how the habits that win matches—preparation, consistency, emotional contro...

In this powerful episode of ChompCast, we sit down with John Walsh, COO & CFO of VOSS Water, whose journey to the top of a global luxury brand began with something few executives ever experience: homelessness. John shares how he went from having nothing to helping lead one of the most recognizable premium water brands in the world. We talk about resilience, discipline, financial strategy, and...

Kristen Soltis Anderson is a University of Florida alumna and one of the country’s leading political data strategists. She’s a Fox News and CNN political analyst, New York Times opinion writer, bestselling author, and founding partner of the polling and analytics firm Echelon Insights. On this episode of ChompCast, Kristen breaks down how modern campaigns use data, why young and independent voters...

Ari Luxenberg didn’t start out knowing he’d become one of television’s top business affairs executives. But the path from his UF days to senior leadership at top television studios is packed with stories, strategy, and real advice for anyone curious about entertainment. On this episode of ChompCast, Ari breaks down how he built his career, what it’s really like to negotiate for hit series like Jac...

Decorated Air Force veteran, UF alumnus, community leader, and Florida House District 67 candidate Will Atkins joins ChompCast for a powerful conversation on service, discipline, and purpose-driven leadership. From his years in the military to organizing on a presidential campaign and serving on the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce board, Will shares the experiences that shaped his mission, and...

On this week’s ChompCast episode, we sit down with legendary Head Ball Coach Steve Spurrier to talk about what it really means to lead Florida football. From the culture he built in Gainesville to the expectations that come with wearing the headset at UF, Spurrier reflects on the highs, the pressure, and what defines a great coach here. Listen for stories from his career, his take on what makes th...

UF alumnus and NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky returns to ChompCast for a bonus follow-up conversation to dig deeper into HiPerGator, UF’s world-class AI supercomputing system. In this short episode, Chris explains how NVIDIA’s partnership with UF is fueling research breakthroughs, expanding student access to emerging technologies, and redefining what’s possible on campus. A quick, powerful lo...