On The Subject with Mike Vilardo

Atlanta native and MLB veteran Kyle Farmer joins  On the Subject  for an honest conversation from his childhood home about what it really takes to last nearly 10 years in Major League Baseball. After making his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kyle has built a career spanning more than 800 MLB games, recording over 500 career hits, 60+ home runs, and earning a reputation as one of...

Podcast Description Adam Cecere joins us on  On the Subject  to talk about what it takes to build a successful life beyond sports. A former Division I baseball standout at Wake Forest and Penn State, Adam hit 49 career home runs, played in more than 140 collegiate games, and served as team captain. But while competing at the highest level, he was also building something bigger—founding C...

Coach Ballgame, also known as James Lowe, joins us on  On the Subject  for an honest conversation about youth baseball, player development, and the realities of the recruiting process. As the Youth Ambassador for Major League Baseball's Play Ball Program and a Brown University graduate, James has spent more than two decades helping young athletes and their families navigate the game the...

Coach Ferber joins us on On the Subject to break down player development, recruiting, and what it really takes to make it in baseball - from someone who built his reputation from the ground up in Coney Island and became the most followed baseball coaching voice on social media. Coach Jason Ferber has over 225,000 Instagram followers and has developed some of the top young players in the country. H...

Crazy Carl joins Mike Vilardo on  On The Subject  to talk golf, social media, college athletics, and their journey from childhood baseball teammates to content creators. Carl shares how he built a loyal following through authentic golf content, what it's really like to go viral, and the lessons he's learned from sports, business, and life along the way.

This week on  On The Subject Podcast , Michael Vilardo sits down with veteran MLB agent Mark Leinweaver, who has represented over 75 professional baseball players and worked with all 30 MLB organizations. From what it really takes to get drafted, to the biggest mistakes athletes and parents make in recruiting, Mark shares an unfiltered look at the business of baseball. The two dive into D1 vs...

In this episode of  On The Subject , Michael Vilardo heads to Yale University to sit down with Yale Baseball Assistant Coach Corey Keane and standout student-athletes Garrett Larson and Colin Sloane for an inside look at what it really takes to compete at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. From recruiting myths and what Ivy League coaches actually look for, to ba...

IIn this episode of  On the Subject , we sit down with Barrett Serrato, Purdue Assistant Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, and former Boilermaker standout, at his alma mater. Barrett opens up about his journey from West Chicago, Illinois to Purdue, why he chose college over the pros out of high school, and what it was like playing on one of the greatest teams in Purdue baseball history (the 2012...

On this episode of  On The Subject , we’re on campus at Yale University with the leader of one of college baseball’s most respected programs, Brian Hamm, to break down what makes Yale Baseball such a unique opportunity for elite student-athletes. In this episode, we dive into recruiting at the Ivy League level, why more top prospects are considering Yale than ever before,...

On this episode of On The Subject, we’re on campus at Harvard University with Associate Head Coach and Head of Recruiting Nate Cole to break down what it really takes to become a Division I baseball player at one of the most prestigious schools in the world. From what Harvard looks for in recruits to why they prioritize well-rounded student-athletes, this episode goes beyond baseball. We...

On this episode of  On the Subject , Purdue Baseball head coach Greg Goff joins us for a deep dive into what it actually takes to compete at the highest level of college baseball. From recruiting philosophies to player development, Coach Goff breaks down how Purdue Boilermakers baseball has become one of the most competitive programs in the Big Ten Conference. We get...

In this episode of On the Subject, host Michael Vilardo sits down with Adam Ewing, Chief Academic Officer at TPH Academy, to unpack the powerful intersection of athletics and education. Adam shares his raw, honest journey — from growing up in South Florida without access to organized sports, to walking onto a brand-new Division I football program in Rhode Island, to building a 17-year career in no...

In this episode of  On The Subject , Mike Vilardo sits down with TPH founder Nathan Bowen to explore the future of student-athlete development and education. Nathan shares his journey building TPH into a global academy model, how AI and personalized learning are transforming the classroom, and why systems that prioritize sleep, structure, and flexibility are changing outcomes for today’s stud...

On this episode of  On the Subject , Michael Vilardo travels to Kennesaw, Georgia to meet Chance Beam - founder and CEO of Titan Sports Academy and one of the most respected leaders in travel baseball. Chance breaks down the five core principles that run Titans (accountability, responsibility, attitude, effort, and integrity), how he bet on himself leaving the East Cobb brand to build a 30+ t...

In this episode of  On The Subject , Michael Vilardo sits down with Amanda Goodson, Co-Founder and COO of Edlink—an Austin-based EdTech infrastructure company and trusted Subject partner—to talk about what it  really  takes to build and scale a startup in today’s education landscape. Amanda shares her journey from growing up in a small town in East Texas to launching Edlink during C...

We are live in Durham with one of the fastest-rising leaders in college baseball, Duke Blue Devils head coach Cory Mascara. From being named 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year to taking over one of the premier programs in the country, Coach Mascara shares what it really takes to build a national championship contender and why winning goes far beyond the scoreboard. He walks through his journey from...

In this week’s episode of On the Subject , host  Michael Vilardo , co-founder and CEO of Subject.com and Subject.ai, sits down with former Division I football player and former educator  Tim Clary , a fellow McHenry County native now making waves in Austin. Together, they dive into everything from MLB salary caps and college football’s Heisman race to NIL, transfer portal chaos, coaching...

On this episode of  On the Subject , CEO and co-founder  Michael Vilardo  welcomes repeat guest back  Ana Romero  (Chief of Staff, Subject AI) for a fast, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt convo. They finally explain the inside joke about “coastal elites,” talk candidly about Subject’s LA roots and upcoming Austin move, and debate sports vs. arts culture in schools. Michae...

On this episode of  On The Subject , host  Michael Vilardo  sits down with longtime friend and first-time guest  Hayden Grant—aka CarSpex . Hayden’s a former D1 athlete turned solopreneur who built a faceless car-content brand and is now stepping in front of the camera. We get into the creator playbook: why  consistency beats perfection , how a quick  Kylie & Trav...

In this episode of  On This Subject , host Michael Vilardo welcomes back returning guest Ana Romero—this time jokingly as the “backup plan.” What follows is anything but second-string: a candid, funny, and eye-opening conversation about the realities of teaching, the shift from education to startup life, why so many people live as “weekend warriors,” and the bigger systemic issues holding stu...

In this episode of  On the Subject , host Michael Vilardo, co-founder and CEO of Subject, sits down with Jamie Crandall, the youngest guest in the show’s history. From his roots in Madera to his pursuit of music at University High School, Jamie shares how his passion for the clarinet led him to county honor bands and a thriving academic path. He opens up about his dreams of attendin...

In this episode of  On the Subject , host Michael Vilardo welcomes the show’s first-ever student guest—Leo Jimesanagnos , a gifted musician, dedicated scholar, and aspiring medical researcher. From performing violin in Fresno State’s youth orchestra and mariachi ensemble to pursuing a future in genetic research inspired by his own health journey, Leo shares how music, discipline, and gra...

In this episode of On The Subject , CEO Michael Vilardo sits down with Jeffie Esparza Hickman—Superintendent and Principal of University High School in Fresno, CA. Together, they explore the transformative power of arts education, the impact of kindness in school culture, and how AI is reshaping the way teachers work. Plus, for the first time ever, we hear directly from students (following 3 episo...

In this episode of  On the Subject , we sit down with Erin Collins, Director of Alternative Education at Bremen District 228 and proud leader of Delta Academy. From her early inspiration rooted in family to her relentless belief in connection before content, Erin shares what it means to lead with heart, adapt to a rapidly changing world, and show up for students who need it most. She opens up...

In this episode of  On the Subject , CEO Michael Vilardo sits down with Chicago native and North Lawndale College Prep (Chicago Public Schools) principal Kyera Bradley to explore how personal experience, community leadership, and raw authenticity shape her mission in education. From her roots in Lincoln Park to her innovative approach to student-first leadership, Kiara shares how representati...