Pep Talk: Gastonia Ghost Peppers Podcast

Noah chats with Gastonia reliever Art Warren. The former big-league arm discusses his elite 2021 season with the Reds and how he's gotten low in his set this season. Warren also reveals the toughest hitter he's ever faced...

Noah's joined by Gastonia slugger Brian O'Grady. The former major-league bat discusses his sensational season with the Ghost Peppers and delves into the mental side of hitting. O'Grady also talks about his experience going 2-for-2 off Shohei Ohtani...

RHP Bryan Blanton joins the podcast to talk about his experience as the longest tenured Gastonia pitcher. Having grown up in the state and even moving to Charlotte last year, Blanton talks baseball in Carolina. He also talks about his time in the Yankees organization, which includes the best piece of advice he's ever gotten...

Noah talks to Ljay Newsome, starting pitcher for the Ghost Peppers. Newsome discusses his big-league experience, as well as pitching in China and Mexico. The right-hander delves into his unique set, and talks celebrating the 4th of July...

Noah talks with Ghost Peppers reliever John Wilson about the lefty's experience growing up in New Jersey and pitching in Australia for a season. The southpaw discusses his time in the Twins organization and the love for his best friend/dog, Rowan...

Noah chats with RHP Duane Underwood Jr. about his experience growing up in Atlanta and Puerto Rican lineage. Underwood Jr. discusses pitching for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 WBC, as well as his recent consistency on the mound. The right-hander also talks about his basketball fandom ahead of Game 7 of the NBA Finals...

Noah chops it up with relief pitcher, Kent Hasler. The right-hander discusses the rise on his fastball and how it allows him to establish a different game plan than others. Hasler also talks about his love for elk hunting, and describes how hunting coincides with being on the mound...

Noah talks with Ghost Peppers center fielder, Dalton Guthrie. The former Philadelphia Phillie discusses growing up with his father, Mark, pitching in the big leagues. Guthrie talks about being one of the 0.9% of players to be Jewish in MLB history. He also ranks his favorite Will Ferrell movies...

Noah's joined by lefty pitcher Justus Sheffield ahead of his first start of the season. Sheffield discusses his journey to the big leagues, where he pitched for the Yankees and Mariners. The southpaw talks about his love for David Price growing up, as well as the connection he made with CC Sabathia while with New York...

Noah's joined by Gastonia OF/1B Narciso Crook. The righty slugger takes us through his baseball journey, starting from when he moved from the DR to New Jersey and began playing ball. Crook discusses what it was like to reach the big leagues with the Cubs, as well as some history he achieved along the way. He also talks about a special connection he made with Albert Pujols...

Noah chops it up with Gastonia closer Nick Snyder. The former Texas Ranger discusses his hard velocity, topping out at 101 miles-per-hour at the minor-league level. Snyder talks about rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery entering this season. He also talks about Chuck Stewart's influence in him pitching for the Ghost Peppers...

Noah chats with Gastonia center fielder Cole Roederer about his baseball journey in the Cubs organization. Roederer, the self-proclaimed "King Nerd", discusses his love for the Star Wars franchise in advance of "Star Wars Night" at CaroMont Health Park...

As we prepare for the start of the 2025 season, 26 Ghost Peppers players discuss the offseason, as well as their favorite baseball movies and dream travel spots. Broadcaster Noah Epstein also asks the pro athletes their favorite ball player growing up and the best piece of advice they've ever received... INF Ethan Skender (0:17-2:20) RHP Nick Snyder (2:21-3:35) OF Narciso Crook (3:36-4:57) RHP Jac...

Noah's joined by Ghost Peppers general manager Brady Salisbury and manager Mauro "Goose" Gozzo. The two "Pepper pickers" discuss how they went about fielding the 2025 roster and define their expectations for the upcoming season. Salisbury and Gozzo also talk about what they've learned from each other throughout their three years together, a span in which Gastonia has wo...

Noah is joined by J.J. Jansen, the long snapper for the Carolina Panthers. Heading into his 17th season with Carolina, Jansen discusses owning the record for most games played (260) in franchise history. Jansen talks about his partnership with Zawyer Sports, as well as being the behind-the-scenes broadcast partner for Greg Olsen...

Noah sits down with host family Jon McBroom, who has hosted Gastonia players while being a season ticket holder for the past two seasons. McBroom describes what housing Luis Curbelo and Nate Peden was like, and talks about the connections he's made due to all the time he's spent at CaroMont Health Park. He also discusses his martial arts history...

Noah talks to Carolyn Colton, the events and booking coordinator for the Ghost Peppers. Colton describes what it means to represent women in the sports field, and goes through the events she's planned for Gastonia. She also explains her special connection to Fenway Park...

Noah chats with John Bridges, an operations assistant for the Ghost Peppers. Bridges talks about his longtime support for baseball in Gastonia and the work he does on a daily basis at CaroMont Health Park. He also discusses how having an art background led him to designing cleats for players and creating last year's home run chain...

Noah visits New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra in Tampa, Florida, at the team's spring training facility. The former Gastonia star discusses what being on the Yankees' 40-man roster means to him. Escarra also explains how being managed by Yadier Molina helped him win the batting title in the Dominican Winter League...

Noah is joined by Chris Ballard, the senior sales manager for the Ghost Peppers. Ballard, celebrating his 26th birthday, discusses what drove him to work in sales and his love for Detroit sports. He also teases what Gastonia fans have to look forward to in the 2025 season...

Noah talks with former Gastonia pitcher Bryan Sammons, who made his MLB debut with the Tigers last season. The southpaw gives a rundown on his experience with Detroit during the team's unlikely playoff run. Sammons also makes his resolution for 2025...

Noah chats with Tony Fossas, the new pitching coach for the Ghost Peppers. Fossas discusses pitching in MLB for 12 years and how he got the nickname "The Mechanic." In the holiday spirit, Fossas recounts the biggest miracles that he's experienced throughout his journey...

Noah is joined by Spencer Bivens, a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Bivens discusses his experience pitching with Gastonia for two years, and how it led to him becoming a 30-year-old rookie in MLB this past season...

In the first episode of the offseason, Noah talks to Zach Jarrett, former Gastonia center fielder who was an Atlantic League All-Star in 2023. Jarrett discusses retiring from the game and his new podcast "Ball Was Life," as well as the leadership trait he inherited from his father. The North Carolina native also ranks four Thanksgiving sides with the holiday right around the corner...

Noah chops it up with Gastonia reliever Nick Horvath. The southpaw discusses winning a national championship with the University of Florida as a two-way player. Horvath also talks about turning his 2024 season around after getting traded to Gastonia from Charleston...