The Playeasy Warmup

Talent isn’t the issue; access is. In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Harvey Scruggs, CEO & President of H3 Athletics, to break down how he’s building a platform designed to create real opportunity for athletes. What started as a gap in exposure has evolved into a multi-sport ecosystem – spanning tournaments, showcases, media, and new formats – all built aroun...

Action sports might feel niche, but the momentum is global. In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Micah Desforges, Founder of Tribu, to break down how Jackalope has grown from a backyard event into one of the most recognized action sports festivals in the world. From early grassroots beginnings to international expansion, Micah shares what it takes to build events th...

As the countdown to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles begins, a new wave of momentum is building behind one of the world’s most electric sports: team handball. In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup , host Kerri Shields sits down with Michael King, CEO of USA Team Handball , to explore what it takes to grow a sport in the U.S. from the ground up. From his journey as a national team athlete t...

Pickleball is everywhere, but what does it actually take to build a structured, competitive ecosystem behind the scenes? In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Karen Parrish from US Senior Pickleball to break down the systems powering one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. From ratings and sanctioning to national championship pathways, Karen shares how tour...

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup , host Kerri Shields sits down with former Boston College standout and WNBA veteran Carolyn Swords for a conversation that goes far beyond basketball. Just in time for Women’s Final Four weekend , this episode dives into the momentum, visibility, and transformation happening across women’s basketball right now. From her journey to Boston College and nine-year...

Adaptive sports are transforming the way athletes of all abilities experience competition, community, and connection. In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup , host Kerri Shields sits down with Marynka Rojas Gorgen , Director of Operations for Paradragons USA , an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities in adaptive dragon boat racing. Marynka shares how the Paradragon movement is opening...

In this special extended episode of The Playeasy Warmup, co-founders Kerri and Sean sit down for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the company’s journey. From a spontaneous conversation on a Boston roof deck in 2017 to navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19, Sean and Kerri share the pivotal moments that shaped Playeasy’s evolution. The conversation explores how the company moved from...

The fitness competition landscape is changing, and World Fitness Project is leading the charge. In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup , Kerri Shields sits down with Jason Ansley, Global Event Director for the World Fitness Project (WFP), to discuss how they’re reimagining what high-performance fitness events can look like on a global stage. From signing the top 40 athletes in the world to buildin...

As the World Cup heads to Philadelphia, youth soccer is preparing for a defining moment. Karly Kaminsky of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer joins us to discuss marketing youth sports, sponsor integration, data-driven growth, and inspiring the next generation, especially girls, to get in the game.

What does it take to run 65 youth tournaments with just 22 people? Cait Schmelz and Andrew Dahir of Elite Tournaments share what truly separates good events from great ones – from vendor villages and athlete experience to weather chaos, parking stress, and destination partnerships that actually work. An honest, practical conversation for anyone in sports tourism.

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we’re flipping the script on The Playeasy Warmup. In this special episode, Playeasy Co-Founder & CEO Kerri Shields steps into the guest seat as her close friend Cam Cronin takes over hosting duties. Kerri reflects on her journey as an athlete, founder, and leader – sharing the moments, challenges, and lessons that have shaped her along the wa...

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup , host Kerri Shields sits down with Albert Talafuse, Founder and CEO of Pond Hopper Nation, to explore how fishing can be a powerful driver of community engagement, accessibility, and sports tourism. Albert shares how a simple idea — taking a few kids fishing — evolved into a national movement that has introduced more than 20,000 children to the sport. From f...

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, presented by The Playeasy Innovators Summit , Kerri sits down with Anthony Holman, Vice President of Championships and Alliances at the NCAA , to break down what destinations need to know about the upcoming NCAA bid cycle. Anthony oversees the strategic direction of more than 90 NCAA championships and brings a unique perspective, having worked on both the de...

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup , host Kerri Shields sits down with Paul Rigault , Founder & CEO of the DØDS Diving League (DDL) , one of the fastest-growing extreme sports leagues in the world. What started as a niche Norwegian phenomenon has evolved into a global sports and media property broadcast to over 200 million households worldwide . Paul shares how DØDS Diving has reimagined c...

We’re looking back at the moments that defined 2025 on The Playeasy Warmup. From leadership and innovation to community impact and destination partnerships, this special Wrapped episode revisits the conversations that inspired us most – and sets the tone for what’s ahead.

In our latest episode of The Playeasy Warmup, presented by Sports City USA: Frisco, Texas , we’re joined by Erich Groezinger from the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) for a powerful and eye-opening conversation on adaptive sports.   As the oldest and largest disabled sports organization in the world, the NWBA supports thousands of athletes across youth, adult, collegiate, women’s,...

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup Podcast , host Kerri Shields sits down with Josh Dill , Assistant Executive Director at Visit Frisco , to explore how Frisco became Sports City USA – one of the country’s most dynamic sports tourism destinations. Presented by Sports City USA: Frisco, Texas , this conversation covers: Building long-term destination partnerships Using data & scorecards to e...

Presented by Sports City USA – Frisco, Texas Laura Balestrini joins the Playeasy Warmup Podcast to share how FootGolf grew from a small startup sport into an international movement, and what’s ahead as the 2026 FootGolf World Cup approaches.

This special episode of The Playeasy Warmup spotlights the 2025 Playeasy Purpose Project honorees – four organizations nominated by our destination partners for the life-changing impact they create every day. You’ll hear: Rochester Accessible Adventures , nominated by Visit Rochester, as Executive Director Anita O’Brien shares how her team is removing barriers in recreation and transforming what i...

This episode of The Playeasy Warmup is presented by Visit Frisco. Host Kerri Shields sits down with Juan I. Blanco , Founder of Four Fangs Events and Partner at Parallex , to explore how multicultural marketing and mission-driven partnerships are shaping the future of youth soccer in America. Juan shares how his work connects Hispanic communities with elite competition opportunities, the story beh...

This special episode is the replay of our biggest webinar yet. Sean Flaherty breaks down Playeasy’s new structure — Playeasy Network (destinations ↔ event organizers) and Playeasy Experiences (destinations ↔ visitors) — and why we’re organizing to mirror how DMOs actually work today. You’ll hear from new Playeasy Network CEO Kerri Shields , plus candid conversations with Visit Salt Lake (Kim Dalby...

Presented by Visit Frisco – Sports City, USA From a viral concept to ESPN and Olympic aspirations, Steve Williams, co-founder and CEO of Pillow Fight Championship, joins host Kerri Shields to talk about how a fun idea turned into a worldwide sports phenomenon. Tune in to hear how PFC became one of the most talked-about emerging sports, its path toward official recognition, and what it takes to hos...

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup , host Kerri Shields sits down with Dalton Rakestraw , Second Vice President of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) . At just 29 years old, Dalton is helping lead one of America’s oldest sports into its next generation – expanding participation, modernizing operations, and building community across the country. From family traditions and world...

In this episode of  The Playeasy Warmup , presented by Visit Myrtle Beach, host Kerri Shields sits down with Nick Povalitis, founder of Plus Seven Company. With nearly two decades of experience in sports marketing, destination development, and event production, Nick shares his journey from college athletics to building one of the most innovative agencies in sports tourism. They dive into the growt...

This week on The Playeasy Warmup Podcast , presented by Visit Myrtle Beach, we’re talking hockey. Kerri sits down with James, Director & Owner of Weekend Hockey Tournaments , to dive into nearly two decades of building one of North America’s premier hockey tournament organizations.   From Ontario beginnings to 85+ tournaments annually across the U.S. and Canada, Weekend Hockey has become known...