We Love Our Team

Send us Fan Mail In light of the excitement around the dedication of Marty Brennaman's statue at Great American Ballpark, we thought we would republish this special episode during our fall break. Mike Zilliox, an IT professional and lifelong Reds fan (and Randy's neighbor!), joins the podcast to discuss his Reds fandom and his Twitter account @TitanicStruggle, where he shared funny, inte...

Send us Fan Mail In this fascinating episode, which was recorded before the 2024 season, Randy and Jack interview Mike Suter, a lifelong Reds fan and the father of major league pitcher Brent Suter who signed with the Reds in January, 2024. They dive into Brent's journey to the major leagues, from his time at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, at Harvard, and his draft day experience and his m...

Send us Fan Mail Hosts Jack and Randy welcome Julie Isphording, a Cincinnati native and Olympian, to discuss her journey from growing up in Cincinnati to becoming a world-class runner. Julie shares her experiences with the Cincinnati Reds, her Olympic trials, and the challenges of burnout after achieving her dreams.  The conversation also touches on Cincinnati's vibrant sports culture, her re...

Send us Fan Mail John Hirschbeck, a former MLB umpire, shares his journey from a high school student needing money to a respected umpire in Major League Baseball. John discusses his experiences in various cities, the challenges of scheduling, injuries faced during his career, and the impact of technology on umpiring.  John reflects on memorable games, the importance of handling managers with respe...

Send us Fan Mail Julie Nixon-Hills, Russ Nixon, Cincinnati Reds, baseball history, family legacy, sports management, baseball fans, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, baseball stories Summary Julie Nixon-Hils shares her deep-rooted connection to baseball, stemming from her family's rich history in the sport. She discusses her upbringing in Cincinnati, her uncle Russ Nixon's career as a manager fo...

Send us Fan Mail Summary Geoff Hobson, aka Butch Hobson, a sports journalist for 49 years, shares his journey from a young baseball fan in Massachusetts to becoming a prominent beat writer for the Cincinnati Bengals. He reflects on his early influences, the evolution of sports journalism, and the differences between working for newspapers and NFL teams.  Hobson also discusses his experiences cover...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M Summary In this episode of 'We Love Our Team', hosts Jack and Randy interview renowned artist Tom Tsuchiya, who shares his journey as a Cincinnati native and his experiences creating iconic baseball bronze statues and the gazebo for the Great American...

Send us Fan Mail Archbishop Casey will throw out the first pitch before the Reds-Cardinals game on August 30. Summary In this fascinating conversation with WE LOVE OUR TEAM's first religious leader as a guest, Cincinnati Archbishop Robert Casey shares insights into his life, from his upbringing in Illinois to his journey into the priesthood and eventual appointment as Archbishop of Cincinnati...

Send us Fan Mail Summary One of our favorite episodes! John Popovich, the veteran sports reporter and story teller, shares his journey from Struthers, Ohio, to becoming a prominent figure in Cincinnati sports journalism. Popo reflects on his early experiences in broadcasting, his time at Channel 9, and the creation of the groundbreaking show 'Sports of All Sorts.' John discusses memorabl...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M Summary In this episode, Wayne Box Miller shares his extensive journey through the world of sports journalism, radio, and marketing. From his early days as a Batboy for the Cincinnati Reds to becoming a prominent voice in sports broadcasting, Wayne reflects on h...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M Summary Andy Mac! Stingers, UC Hoops, Muskie Hoops, Reds, Bengals. A legend. Cincinnati broadcasting legend Andy MacWilliams shares his journey through the world of sports broadcasting, from his early days in Albany to becoming a prominent voice in Cincinnati sp...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M Summary In this episode of We Love Our Team, hosts Jack and Randy welcome award-winning author Michelle Houts, who shares her journey from a special educator to a successful children's book author.  The conversation delves into her latest book, 'Kammie...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M In this episode of 'We Love Our Team', Jack Greiner and Randy Freking welcome Tim Elsbrock, the regional president of Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati. The conversation explores Tim's deep roots in Cincinnati, his passion for the Reds, and memorable...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M Summary "It was the 'Marty Brennaman Show' for three hours and there just happened to be a baseball game being played" Want the inside scoop on the Reds radio booth, particularly with Marty? Dave Armbruster, the long-time producer and enginee...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M Summary C. Trent Rosecrans, a seasoned sports journalist, shares his journey from being a Navy brat to becoming a prominent writer covering the Cincinnati Reds and Major League Baseball. He reflects on his childhood as a Kansas City Royals fan, the impact of sig...

Send us Fan Mail Please take our survey and provide feedback! Thank you. https://cincinnati.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfnkUqsHT6PIj3M In this engaging conversation, Dr. Ed Hirt, a professor of social psychology at Indiana University, shares his insights on the psychology of fandom, particularly focusing on Cincinnati Reds fans. He discusses his personal experiences growing up as a Reds fan, th...

Send us Fan Mail S ummary Comedian Josh Sneed shares his journey from growing up in St. Bernard, Ohio, to becoming a nationally touring comedian and entrepreneur. He discusses his deep-rooted passion for the Cincinnati Reds, humorous anecdotes from his childhood, and the evolution of his brand, Cincy Shirts. Josh also highlights the importance of community engagement through his new venture, The F...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, Jack and Randy reminisce about their fathers and the profound impact they had on their love for baseball. They share personal stories, from childhood memories of playing baseball to attending Reds games, highlighting the lessons learned and the bonds formed through the sport. The conversation flows through their fathers' influences, memorable moment...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'We Love Our Team', hosts Jack Greiner and Randy Freaking welcome broadcasting legends Eddie Fingers and Rocky Boiman. The conversation explores their backgrounds in radio and sports, their deep-rooted fandom for the Cincinnati Reds, and their experiences as broadcasters. They share memorable moments from Reds history, discuss the evolution of the team...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of We Love Our Team, Jack Greiner and Randy Freking welcome artist and baseball historian Gary Cierdkowski. They discuss Gary's journey into baseball design, his creation of the Infinite Baseball Card Set, and his passion for illustrating obscure baseball players. The conversation also delves into the life of Larry McPhail, a pivotal figure in baseball history...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jeff Trenipole, also known as Strawberry Ice, shares his journey from growing up in Cincinnati to becoming a popular sports talk show host. He discusses his love for the Reds, memorable moments from his childhood, and the inspiration behind his YouTube channel. Jeff reflects on his longest show, notable guests, and the growth of his podcast. He also shares his fav...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, we welcome Zak Scarlato, a friend with Williams Syndrome, who shares his passion for baseball, particularly the Cincinnati Reds, and his unique talent for imitating umpires. Zach discusses his musical interests, including karaoke and instruments he plays, as well as his fascination with trains.  Zak also shares insights about his work at the Dunham Recreat...

Send us Fan Mail Will Terwort is this week's winner of the Moerlein Lager House Gift Certificate! In this episode, Jack Greiner and Randy Freaking welcome Chad Dotson, a prominent writer covering the Cincinnati Reds. Chad shares his unique journey from law to sports writing, his experiences as a lifelong Reds fan, and his insights on the team's ownership and broadcasting. The conversatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Molly Wellman, a self-taught mixologist from Cincinnati, shares her passion for cocktails, whiskey, and the rich history of drinking in her city. From her childhood memories of Reds games to the evolution of bourbon culture, Molly discusses her journey in the bar industry and the importance of community in Cincinnati's vibrant drinking scene.  Molly also shar...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this engaging conversation, Eric Kearney, the president and CEO of the Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, shares his journey from growing up in Cincinnati to becoming a prominent figure in law, business, and politics. He reflects on his early baseball memories, favorite players, and the evolution of the Cincinnati Reds.  The discussion also touches on the...