Keep the Line Moving

Rod Robertson is Founder and Managing Partner at Briggs Capital and author of three books on entrepreneurship. He uses his experience as a multiple business owner to guide other entrepreneurs to success. Rod and I talk about the value of storytelling, prioritizing stress relief, and surrounding yourself with support. Keep up with Rod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderickrobertson/ Briggs...

Nick Trotta is the Vice President of Global Media Programing and Licensing at MLB. He has combined his two passions, baseball and cinema, turning it into a career of ensuring authenticity in baseball movies including Moneyball and 42. We talk about our favorite baseball movies, legends in the game, and baseball history in New York. Keep up with Nick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trotta-nic...

Ajani Clunie is the Head Women’s Soccer Coach and Manager of Athletic Communications at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. They have won the CUNYAC Championships three times since 2019 and are aiming for another win this coming season. We talk about his coaching style, paying attention to the little details, and forging relationships. Keep up with Ajani John Jay: https://johnjayathletics.com/sp...

Andrea Petrone is a Performance and Executive Coach, Facilitator, and Speaker. He helps CEOs and their leadership teams to achieve breakthrough performance and build healthy organizations. Andrea and I talk about self-awareness and self-reflection, working with purpose, and leading with humility. Keep up with Andrea Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-world-class-leaders-show/id1588...

Judy Battista is a Senior National Columnist for NFL.com . As NFL training camps kick off and teams prepare for the season, Judy is there every day covering the sport in detail with her reporting. We talk about the upcoming season, coaches remaining calm under pressure, and the importance of intentional team building. Keep up with Judy Twitter: https://x.com/judybattista NFL.com : https://www.nfl....

Heather Maxwell, PhD. works to help organizations drive growth through her expertise in insights and strategy. Her passion for sport management and business growth came together when she founded NEXT 5 TEAM to drive in-person attendance at sporting events. We talk about being a continuous learner, understanding people, and leading to motivate and inspire. Keep up with Heather LinkedIn: https://www...

After becoming Australia’s youngest rower to compete in the Olympics in 1992 and returning for the next three Olympics, Bo Hanson decided to help other athletes reach their highest potential. He and his wife, Liz Masen, founded Athlete Assessments, quantifying the people side of sports. He and I talk about his Olympic career, the value of self-awareness, and the habits of successful teams. Keep up...

Our Summer Fire Side Chats continue with another returning guest: Dan Graca. Dan is the pre- and post-game radio host for the New York Jets and host of ESPN’s Dan Graca Show. We chat about Tom Brady’s recent jersey retirement, the MLB All-Star game, and the importance of a positive team culture. Keep up with Dan Twitter: https://x.com/DanGraca The Dan Graca Show: https://www.espn.com/espnradio/pod...

Today’s Fire Side Chat features two guests: Amie Canfield, Athletic Communications Director at UMASS Dartmouth and Tim Volkmann, Director of Athletic Communications at Rochester Institute of Technology. We talk about our time at the recent College Sports Communicators Conference in Las Vegas, the challenges facing their industry, and forging a supportive network. Keep up with Amie LinkedIn: https:...

For this installment of our Fire Side Chats, we have Broadcaster and former KLTM guest, Marty Lurie. Marty reflects on the life and legacy of Willie Mays while sharing the experience of being at the Rickwood Field game two days after Willie’s passing. Marty shares the impact of Willie’s career, the history of the field, and the significance of the event.  For more on Marty, check out his first KTL...

Introducing our summer Fire Side Chats, short and sweet audio-only pods for a little bite-sized inspiration. We kick it off with Brandon Costa, Director of Digital at Sports Video Group. We caught up on-location at the annual SVG College Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Brandon and I talk about leadership in sports content, sharing kindness, and advice for people getting into the industry. Keep up with...

Ryen Williams is the Founder, Chief Creative Officer, and Executive Producer of Under Her Empire, a creative agency and global network. Last year, UHE was one of ten companies chosen by Fiverr for their Future Collective fellowship. Ryen and I talk about her journey as an entrepreneur, the importance of authentic stories, and her work inspiring people. Keep up with Ryen UHE: https://www.underherem...

Steve Sax is a former All-Star and Rookie of the Year who played for the Dodgers, Yankees, White Sox, and Oakland A’s. He now draws on his experience of dedication and resilience to help others as a motivational speaker. Steve and I talk about his foundation, the players, coaches, and managers who greatly impacted him, and his mission to help people live better lives. Keep up with Steve Website: h...

Erik Christianson is the Executive Director of College Sports Communicators and John Paquette is their President and Associate Commissioner at the Big East Conference. CSC is an association for strategic, creative and digital communicators across intercollegiate athletics in the United States and Canada. We talk about effective communication, the changing landscape of college athletics, and how Er...

Annie Valeant is the Director of Operations, Strategy and Partnerships at Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. She is also the Executive Director of the Southern Ohio Copperheads, which she uses as the touchstone of her course, the Business of Baseball. We talk about her teaching philosophy, the importance of providing students with tangible experiences, and forging genuine connect...

Joe Jacobi is an Olympic Gold Medalist, former CEO, Author, and Performance Coach. Joe won a gold medal in men’s canoe slalom at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before becoming CEO of USA Canoe/Kayak where he began to understand the importance of aligning your internal and external self. Joe and I talk about the value of journaling, looking inwards, and being curious. Keep up with Joe Website: http://...

Dr. Rich Cellini is a Professor of Sports Management at the University of San Francisco and a sports broadcaster. Rich simultaneously worked in sports media while achieving his education and continued to pursue both passions as a broadcaster and professor. Rich and I talk about the career skills he teaches his students, the importance of being humble, and his advice for job seekers. Keep up with R...

Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier works at the intersection of psychology and business, using both expertise to help her clients thrive. She wrote her book, The Resilience Plan, to help people optimize their professional life while prioritizing their mental health. Dr. Pelletier and I talk about how we can build our resilience, being accountable for your self-care, and adapting to your circumstances. Kee...

Kenny Shedd has led an incredible and diverse career. He was an NFL Wide Receiver for seven years then spent two decades as a San Leandro Police Officer before retiring to follow another passion of becoming a film maker. Kenny and I talk about being resilient, working for your dreams, mentoring, and adapting. Keep up with Kenny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-shedd-669a4277/ Twitter: h...

Marc Riccio is an experienced sports business executive from startup to professional sports and is currently the President and CEO of USA Lacrosse. From his own time playing lacrosse at Hofstra University to leading multiple teams across organizations, Marc is a life-long student of leadership. Marc and I talk about knowing your why, being adaptable, and learning from your mistakes. Keep up with M...

Shauna Griffiths is an executive leadership coach and founder of SLG Impact. Having played basketball at the University of Michigan and spent years in executive positions, Shauna combined her athlete mentality with her impressive business experience to inspire authentic leaders through her consulting work. Shauna and I talk about the leaders who impacted us, the athlete mentality, and the importan...

Eray Saban is the Assistant General Manager, ASM Jacksonville and Director of EverBank Stadium. Eray is a strong believer in the power of networking and credits his accomplishments to his dedication and the strong bonds he’s formed with people across the globe. Eray and I talk about how he leads his teams, the importance of curiosity, and the work he does for others.  Keep up with Eray LinkedIn: h...

In partnership with Sports Video Group, this week’s episode is a webinar on Leadership in Content in professional sports. This is a discussion featuring guests; Vittorio DeBartolo, Senior Director of Marketing for the Oakland A’s, Rael Enteen, Vice President of Content at the Washington Commanders, and Jessica Ciccone, Vice President of Content Strategy – Marketing for the New York Jets. We talk a...

Join Chris Gargano in an illuminating conversation with Mike Matoso, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Saint Mary’s College of California, hailed as the 2022 NACDA Athletic Director of the Year. Explore the intricacies of leading athletic programs, fostering team cohesion, and the invaluable lessons drawn from Mike’s journey. Keep up with Mike LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mic...

Once an Olympic javelin thrower, Inga Stasiulionytė is now an elite performance and leadership coach and the Co-founder of Elevating Leadership Institute. Inga went from the Lithuanian National Team to USC to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, improving both her physical and mental performance along the way. Inga and I talk about ego, the mental side of performance, and the role of joy in leadership. Keep...