It's Never Just A Game: Recent Episodes
NJ Pesci and Greg Pesci
NJ Pesci and Greg Pesci are two brothers with more than 50 years of experience between them working to build and grow teams in some of the best-known global organizations. As lifelong sports fans, they’re now taking their business expertise and applying it to their biggest passion. With special guests and inspiring segments, the Pesci brothers will remind us that It’s Never Just a Game.
NJ and Greg wish you a Happy New Year! They welcome in 2024 with a conversation about age and how old is too old? From actors to authors, surgeons to NFL quarterbacks, you would be surprised at how many people are still doing what they love well into their later years.
Greg and NJ take time with Mike in Middle America to talk comedy and Sports. How comedians today can beat cancel culture if they own their own material and distribution. Shane Gillis is the perfect example of this. And then the conversation turns to the college play-offs, Zach and Brock and everything in between.
NJ and Greg have an old friend on the show, Dr. Tim Williams! Tim is a friend and colleague from way back in the P&G Ivorydale Plant days. Tim shares his career journey; the lessons he learned along the way and the best advice he can give leaders if they want to be successful leading their organizations. And there is sports to talk about too!
Greg and NJ cover the latest in sports including the J-E-T-S, J-E-T-S, J-E-T-S imploding again and BYU Women’s soccer team pulling off the most unlikely comeback to make it to the final 4! And then the conversation turns to the gnome and some of the amazing possibilities with gene editing for disease prevention and cure.
The brothers are all in this week as they cover the sports world with some honest unfiltered assessments. And then, things turn to politics and perspective. It was a no-holds-barred conversation, and it still wasn’t like the “lost” tapes!
Greg and NJ discuss what happens when you lose $46.5 billion in value like they have at WeWork, and who loses that money. Employees are filing lawsuits over being asked to come back to work and companies are coming up with creative ways to get people to want to come back to the office. And of course, updates and opinions on the world of sports.
The brothers had a wonderful guest in the studio with them this week. Budge Wallis, former publishing executive and long-time fan of the show. Budge shares his career journey from working at a local newspaper to P&G to the highest ranks in the publishing industry. Along the way he shares his insights and learning from a long and successful career. Plus, Budge is the push-up King we have been referencing all these years! And after a long absence, Music Time shows up!
The brothers explore the new methods scammers are using to trick unsuspecting victims and how these scammers use AI to make everything seem even more real. Scammers are using your pictures on social media, your voice from videos you post and even your walk to impersonate you. Have a listen to the show so you are ready when they call, text, or email you with their latest scams!
Greg and NJ discuss some of the consequences that can follow fear and greed. Often, we are afraid to make a change and we are stuck with a less-than perfect situation. And there are moments when greed motivates people to the point where they lose what they have in the pursuit of more than they should take. And the brothers cover the Yankees, BYU, Puka Nacua and driving away with the gas line still in your car.
The brothers cover a number of things from the Jets being snake bit to the Yankees not making it to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. But the main topic for today’s podcast is the concept of Stewardship and serving other’s interests at work versus serving your own. Peter Block’s book, Stewardship is the launching pad for the discussion. Block’s depiction of Stewardship is provocative and challenging given the corporate world’s focus on individual achievement and advancement. How can you get a head in the world by ensuring others do as well?
The brothers take a moment to celebrate the return of College Football and the sudden resurgence of the New York Yankees! College football starts with some fantastic stories like Colorado upsetting TCU and Neon Deon keeping receipts. The Yankees start a youth movement and sweep the Astros and they finish with a fan inspired special Music Time!
NJ and Greg had a wonderful guest on the program, Casey Cavell. An entrepreneur, an executive business advisor and the host of his own Podcast, The Dugout CEO!
Casey helps business leaders and owners focus on what is most important. He was successful in building a number of businesses and now shares how you can get out of the daily grind of your business and focus on what moves the needle for your company.
The brothers share some of the tips they found for how to out of debt and then they cover a number of topics from the silliness of the new Snow-White movie to the parallels between Stalin’s inner circle and climbing the corporate ladder. The Yankees are done, Aaron Rodgers is coming off well in Hard Knocks and Neymar will be raking it in playing in Saudi Arabia!
The brothers are getting it all off their chests this week! First, KLM laying a customer service egg on a trip to Scotland and tips on how to pack for international travel. Then it is on to the mighty Pac 12, the conference of champions, and how that all imploded and is all but gone now. And finally, the USWNT loses in the world cup, and how they are discussing boycotting playing matches in US States that don’t match their politics.
Greg and NJ take time to discuss the characteristics of a positive mental attitude (PMA), what are some of things you need to do and focus on to maintain that positive approach. What are some of the things that try to take the positivity from you during your lifetime.
Brian Harman won the British Open golf tournament, and PMA was one of the things that helped him win his first major and first tournament since 2017.
NJ and Greg discuss Orwell’s 1984 and some of the parallels to today’s world. And the book, The Origins of Totalitarianism and how some things never seem to change.
Greg and NJ take some time to catch up with one of their most frequent guests, Greg Wrubell, voice of the BYU Cougars. Greg shares his realistic thoughts on how the Cougars will do in both football and basketball as well as in all other sports when BYU enters the Big 12 next week. Shout-out to Mike in Middle America as his Iowa State Cyclones are 4-0 all time against the Cougars in football.
The brothers recap the USMNT crushing of Mexico 3-0 and the red cards that followed that match. ON shoes is discussed and how they built their business, including having Roger Federer join ON. Disney’s business is off and why. Finally, a double shot of Music Time!
Greg and NJ discuss the shocking news of the LIV Tour and The PGA coming together to form a new tour. Greg Norman is out as CEO of LIV and players on both sides of the deal were kept in the dark. Not sure how it will all come together but money won again! Lionel Messi says no to Saudi Arabia and signs with Inter Miami and Inter Miami sales of tickets and merch goes through the roof. There may be a way to get on private jets for less!
NJ and Greg have a guest this week. Listen in as Cam Anderson tells his story about how he went from helicopter pilot, to woodworker, to YouTube star. Cam and Blacktail studios do fantastic woodwork and the videos they make for YouTube are addicting! Cam talks about making his decision to change his profession and how it is to manage the woodworking he does while producing episodes for his 2.3 million YouTube subscribers.
Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! The brothers cover several things from Target losing $9 billion in market cap to the potential for deflation as more M2 money is taken out of circulation. But the center piece of the show is about how golfing CEOs treat non-golfing executives and what that really means for top female executives who don’t play golf, it’s not good!
NJ and Greg take time to talk about EQ, again! But this time the focus is on how having high EQ can positively impact an organization. High EQ can increase productivity, drive teamwork and collaboration, spur innovation and even increase revenue. The brothers then talk about never being too old, and finally, it’s Music Time again!
The first episode of Season 4, thank you all for listening! Greg is in the UK, so INJAG had its first broadcast from an international location. The brothers cover Bud Light and Fox News taking huge hits, is Artificial Intelligence biased, and some stories of corporate raiders from the 80’s in the James B. Stewart book, “Den of Thieves,” all of that followed by a specific question……
NJ and Greg talk about the new Michael Jordan movie, Air. The discussion focuses on the business aspects of the movie. How MJ’s mother made sure her son would have a piece of the growth of the brand and how much that was worth and is still worth for him. And then the discussion shifts to the one bad dream so many of us seem to have. The dream where you missed a class for the entire semester, what does that mean? Not as positive a you would hope.
Greg and NJ are glad to be back. Taxes are the main subject this week. Listen in as they share some data on who pays what, why, and how much, for US taxes, you might be surprised by the numbers. The Masters visit is covered and then Elon Musk is at it again with a new AI company. And finally, it’s Music Time!
NJ and Greg have a lightning round where they discuss the fact that you are never too old. If you have the right mindset, you enjoy what you are doing, or you want to learn something new. Business topics include; Pac 12 TV deal, value of NBA teams, PGA tour purse money going up because of the LIV Golf Tour and Anthony Volpe is going to be the Yankee’s starting shortstop!
Greg and NJ have a wonderful interview with PureCycle CEO, Dustin Olson.
Dustin shares the innovative work PureCycle is doing in the arena of plastic recycling as well as what he did in his career along the way. It is a great story of working hard, building on successes and reaching to always do more.
NJ and Greg spend the episode talking about the approach to, and the pitfalls of, CEO succession planning. An alarming number of boards get it wrong and not enough time is spent on preparing the successors. Firms will either keep the CEO too long or bring them back once the successor fails. The impact of a leadership change is felt throughout the organization, it is better to get it right the first time.
Greg and NJ cover the LAFC in the MLS that has a valuation of $1billion, and how it compares to other professional sports teams. Then the conversation turns to FinTech and the pressure FinTech companies are under to make money or to get funding in the market today. They cover AI brands that are competing for your attention as well as AI that is paying attention to you as you work. Finally, a double dose of Music Time!
NJ and Greg take a look at premium performance apparel, Vuori and how it dominates. Vuori’s founder Joe Kudla took a circuitous route to starting and building Vuori into a brand that has a $4 billion valuation. He was a model, then an accountant and finally a recruiter before he started Vuori. Then the brothers cover the Super Bowl.
Greg and NJ cover the cost of having an elite QB for the play-offs and super bowl, you might be surprised at the how little some teams are paying. Then the discussion moves to the topic of the workplace. Recent WSJ article says that Bosses are back in charge. The labor market has changed, and CEOs are no longer doing everything they can to attract and retain people. Jobs are being cut, pay raises are slowing and working from home may not be as easy as it once was for some.
NJ and Greg talk about Artificial Intelligence, the company Open AI and its product ChatGPT. What is ChatGPT, why does it matter, how can you access it, what can it be used for and what are some of the concerns people might have with artificial intelligence? The brothers then cover a few examples of what ChatGPT generated for them and how it will impact sports. And finally, music time with a twist!
The Pesci brothers focus on innovation as a way of separating from the pack. The conversation then moves to the fact that, by definition, everyone can’t be better than average. While best practices can make you better, they are not going to make you great, you’re just trying to copy and catch-up to someone else. Sport’s focus is on the America men in the Australian open, Sebastian Korda is making a run, and we end with a music time tribute.
NJ and Greg get back at it this week with a lightening round that includes: The Jets missing the playoffs, Gonzaga got away, NFL playoffs are starting, Mario Andretti and Cadillac want to put an all-USA team in Formula 1, and the daughter of the richest man in the world takes over Christian Dior Couture and the stock jumps up!
Formula 1, also known as F1 or Formula One, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. This high-speed, high-adrenaline sport features the latest in cutting-edge technology and engineering, with teams competing in sleek, powerful race cars on some of the most famous tracks in the world. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battle for the title of F1 World Champion, while teams like Mercedes and Red Bull Racing vie for the Constructors' Championship.
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle brand owned by General Motors. Known for its sleek and sophisticated designs, advanced technology, and powerful engines, Cadillac has a long history of innovation and excellence. From the iconic Eldorado and DeVille models of the past, to the modern XT4 and Escalade SUVs, Cadillac continues to push the boundaries of luxury and performance.
The NFL, or National Football League, is the premier professional American football league in the United States. With 32 teams divided into two conferences, the NFL hosts a 17-week regular season, followed by a playoff tournament that culminates in the Super Bowl, the biggest annual event in American sports. The league features some of the most skilled and athletic players in the world, including quarterbacks such as Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, and defensive stars like Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt.
Greg and NJ discuss Zach Wilson’s short career to date, and the long history of talent mismanagement by the NY Jets. Wilson could certainly have played better but he had no chance with the Jets, nobody does! P. S. The Jets missed the playoffs again this year making it 12 straight years without a playoff appearance, the longest current streak in the NFL!
NJ and Greg cover the Forbes list of the highest earning celebrities, who just happen to be dead. Then they cover several layoffs and some of the reactions of those involved. And finally, the fact that bowl games are no longer the same since NIL and the transfer portal is open to athletes starting on December 5th. Teams are forced to start their 4th string QB!
Alan Ying is the brother’s guest for the episode. NJ and Greg talk to Alan about his new book, The Risk Paradox. They discuss the cost of taking and not taking a risk. Alan then tells the story of his career that goes from being the top intern in Duke’s thoracic surgery department, to starting up a tech company with no idea how you raise money or make a spreadsheet! Great lessons and perspective.
The brothers cover the upsets in college football, who will go to the playoffs? They compare the salaries of MLB players to Formula 1 and soccer. A list of all of the topics we have discussed on the show and how we decide on those topics. And, we finish with Music Time, it’s been a while after all……
Greg and NJ start with a discussion about the changes at Twitter, no free meals and you have to work “hard core.” Then Mike joins to talk about how the College Football committee doesn’t want certain teams to make it to the playoffs and how TCU is driving them crazy. The World Cup started and team USA plays its first game on Monday!
The Pesci brothers take this episode to talk about the importance of Emotional Intelligence, often called EI or EQ. They cover the characteristics, the components of EQ, as well as the signs of EQ. Then they discuss how you might improve your EQ and not fall into any EQ traps. Sports and the election are also mentioned, go figure!
The Pesci brothers have an honest and unedited conversation about change. Change can be a hard thing for people to face, work through and accept. It can also be a wonderful thing, a fun thing, a thing of hope and promise. Take time to reflect and ask yourself, is there something I should change in my life, will it make me happy? If so, don’t wait, just do it.
NJ and Greg take a look at female owners in the NFL with both majority and minority interests. Ten of the 32 NFL franchises have women as majority owners with another eight as minority owners. And then the brothers review a Forbes article about the top self-made entrepreneur in the U.S., Diane Hendricks, her net worth is $12.2 billion.
Greg and NJ discuss where the Forbes’ Wealthiest 400 went to school for their undergraduate degrees. We cover the schools in rank order and share some of the names of their alumni and the charitable gifts a number of these graduates gave back to their schools. Only a couple are West of the Mississippi River and there is but one Public School in the lot.
NJ and Greg have a great time talking with Mark Henness about his work as an NFL Agent and his firm, Leverage Football. Mark has been a practicing attorney for 28 years and a licensed NFL agent for nearly a decade. Mark entered the athlete representation world because he recognized that effective representation can make an actual difference in the trajectory of an athlete’s career.
The Pesci brothers discuss what happens when you make a strategic decision to invest or focus on something that makes for a good news headline. Beyond Meat goes from a valuation of $19 billion to just over $1 billion. People liked to hear about it but when a product appeals to less than 5% of the population, you are going to have some issues. Going back to work is picking up steam and may help with feelings of depression and isolation.
NJ and Greg discuss a recent Forbes Magazine article that references a global Gallop poll where records for anger, stress, worry, and sadness were set in 2021. The trend is ten years in the making. Listen as the brothers talk about the impact these factors have on people and organizations and then some of the things you can do to combat them. The show ends with a longer than normal, “music time.”
Greg and NJ have Mike in Middle America on the show from the start to discuss College Football and Conference Alignment. Then the conversation shifts to a recent event at a BYU Women’s Volleyball match that has garnered national attention. And we end with talk of rule changes in baseball including the elimination of the shift!
NJ and Greg cover Forbes Magazine’s Top 20 Richest Heirs in the U.S. There are a few lessons in there on what it means to be an owner and how ownership can make all the difference in the world if you are willing to work hard and stick with it. With College Football underway the brothers cover future changes in the College Football Playoff system. The Yankees are in trouble and the show ends with Music Time!
The Pesci brothers cover Student Loan forgiveness, Apple, of all companies, wants their employees to come back to work three days a week, LIV golf and PGA changes, past guests making good and Music Time!
The Pesci brothers are back and take this week to talk all things BYU with long-time voice of the BYU Cougars, Greg Wrubell. With just a few weeks to kick-off, Greg takes the brothers through his assessment of the season, players, NIL, and super conferences. And the brothers finish with Music Time once again.
Greg and NJ have a lightening round, discussing sports and then focusing in on the PAC 12 and some of the things they learned and heard from PAC 12 Media Week. PAC 12 taking shots at the college towns in the BIG 12 and having to wait on the BIG 10 before they make any media deals, just like a little brother would have to! And then, music time!
The Brothers review the book, The Status Game, by Will Storr. In the book, Storr clarifies that status seeking isn’t a frivolous activity: it’s intricately intertwined with our ultimate evolutionary goals. “The higher we rise, the more likely we are to live, love and procreate. It’s the essence of human thriving. It’s the status game.” And of course, some talk of sports!
The Pesci brothers use this episode to cover some of the economic conditions the U.S. economy is facing today. They discuss what conditions need to be in place for a recession to take place and then cover some of the historical comparisons for today’s economy. Innovation is what will help get us out of what we are facing today, it has been the key in the past. Hope, not fear is central to moving forward.
NJ and Greg have some tips for traveling, from where not to connect internationally, to how to pack just in case one of you loses a bag on the way. Then they tell travel stories from an encounter with the Sandinistas in Nicaragua to a special hotel experience in Shanghai. As always, sports are covered with an initial discussion about college football conferences.
Happy 4th of July to you all. The Pesci brothers ask Mike in Middle America to join them in a discussion about the new Saudi backed LIV Golf Tour. The Saudi backed tour is offering unheard of sums of money for just joining the tour before a golfer wins a single match. Some say it is going to ruin golf, others say the PGA had this coming for their over-controlling position with golfers, and still others say that it is wrong to take money from the Saudis given their record on human rights. It is complicated. And we finish with Music Time!
The Pesci Brothers discuss taking the time to do things you love to do. Find the time, make the time, focus on one thing if you can, but do it. The discussion then moves to Jomboy Media as an example of doing what you love and making a living at it. After that, it is Big 12 Football, media rights and payouts.
Greg and NJ are back from COVID and are sharing some research they found on different leadership styles. These are the four different styles they review:
1. Pragmatists
2. Idealists
3. Stewards
4. Diplomats
Listen for the qualities or characteristics that might describe you, or someone you know!
After that, it is music time!
The Pesci Brothers discuss major changes in college football that threaten the game as we know it today. NIL is unchecked and unreal. Coaches are accusing one another of buying their recruiting classes and the College playoff system may mean Conference Divisions are no longer relevant. Mike-in-Middle-America joins for the discussion and once again points out Iowa State’s dominance!
NJ and Greg have Chris Bowler, CEO of Charcuterie Artisans on the show. Listen in as Chris talks about his journey from Stanford and the dot.com craze, to living in Italy, to becoming an artisan in the food industry. Along the way Chris shares what it takes to build something you love and can be proud of from the ground up.
NJ and Greg interview Jim Morris the Major League Baseball player the movie The Rookie was made about. Listen to Jim cover his life story, the challenges, the perseverance and the hope. Jim goes from minor league pitcher to college punter to high school teacher to the Major Leagues. Dennis Quaid plays Jim in the movie.
This week the brothers talk about sports agents, how they make their money, who are the most successful, and why not us? Each sport has a different approach and some professional leagues have caps on what an agent can make. Listen as Greg and NJ discuss their thoughts about it, consider how they might do it, and maybe even a thought about buying into a soccer team in the UK. Plus the normal back and forth on sports.
The Pesci Brothers interview BYU Linebacker, Ben Bywater. Ben is coming off of a fantastic season for the Cougars where he made over 100 tackles. Listen in as Ben talks about balancing playing Division 1 football for BYU while majoring in Finance after serving an LDS Mission in Guatemala. Great insights from a great student-athlete.
It’s Never Just a Game hits episode 100, and the brothers talk about what they learned, what they love and what surprised them the most after 2 years of podcast episodes. And for the first time ever, they have a live report from a sporting event as Greg was in New York for the Yankees opening day. Thanks to all of our loyal listeners, we will work as hard as we can to keep it interesting for the next 100 episodes!
This week the Pesci Brothers discuss the characteristics and tendencies of both Good and Bad Bosses. You can learn a great deal about managing others with either a good boss or a bad boss, it’s just more fun with a good boss. NJ and Greg share some of their own experiences with both good and bad bosses and finish with some positive ways to keep learning and be more strategic. Sports will wrap the show with the NCAA Final, Baseball and the World Cup.
The Pesci brothers talk with Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of two multimillion-dollar summer league baseball teams, the Gastonia Grizzlies, and the Savannah Bananas. Listen in as Jesse talks about standing out and how he and his wife Emily, went from sleeping on an air mattress, to selling out all their team’s games. They did this by creating a fan experience like no other. Jesse was wearing his yellow tuxedo for the interview and talking with him was a blast! Then, March Madness, Baseball and missiles landing near the Formula 1 Race in Saudi Arabia.
The brothers are all sports today, with a little global politics thrown in for good measure! First, Baseball has a vaccination problem two years after the pandemic started. Can you play baseball in New York, can you play in Toronto? That is about to be tested. Then, the discussion turns to the amount of money networks are willing to pay to lure and land the best NFL announcers, and Amazon is in the mix. NCAAA tourney, baseball and Ukraine are all part of the episode.
Greg and NJ discuss the unique business strategy and franchising approach employed by Chick-fil-A. Spoiler alert, it works! March Madness is coming, Baseball is back and the brothers end with another music story!
The Pesci Brothers take time this week to talk about sports and politics. The first topic is the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had on the sports world. Russia is banned from Formula 1, from The World Cup, from Tennis, Skating and more. A number of athletes are impacted as well with some having fled from Ukraine perhaps never to return. And finally, what is the future of women’s sports?
The Pesci Brothers review the book, "Winning on Purpose" by Fred Reichheld. Winning on Purpose focuses on the beatable strategy of winning by loving your customers. Listen in to some stories and examples of what happens when you put the customer first in all that you do. And finally, a quick discussion on the power of focus when you are settling on a winning strategy.
The Pesci brothers interview Elaine Pofeldt, an author and an independent journalist who specializes in small business and entrepreneurship. The conversation centers on Elaine’s new book, "Tiny Business, Big Money" and her first book, "The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business." Listen in as Elaine tells wonderful stories and gives great insight on the challenges small businesses and entrepreneurs face. The brothers finish with a quick sports tease for a future show.
It is Super Bowl Sunday and this episode is all about sports, with a little music thrown in. The Bengals and the Rams square off in Super Bowl 56, MLB is trying to make some progress on the work stoppage, March Madness is just around the corner, BYU Basketball is on the edge of elimination and some music trivia filling out the episode.
Listen in as the Pesci brothers have a great conversation with an old friend, Gary Hagopian. Gary is a former P&G Executive who tells insightful stories about his career journey and important life choices. One of those choices included walking on to the Notre Dame football team. Then a Nor’Easter is hitting the coast and we get a live weather report from It’s O-V-A OVA! And the show finishes with another musical cover story.
Greg and NJ discuss the concept of job security, is it a thing of the past? What are the positives that surround job security and what are some of the negatives. And then the conversation shifts to College and NFL coaches, their contracts, the turnover the football coaching profession experiences, the big money buyouts and how teams can protect themselves from paying their fired coaches.
NJ and Greg discuss NFT’s, what they are, how they work, and how they are being used in Sports, Art and as investments. A discussion about being fungible follows, by the way, are you fungible at work? Chances are, someone thinks so, don’t let them! Sports are next as the NFL playoffs have begun and finally, it’s music time again!
The Pesci brothers have longtime friend and former Yankee Candle COO, Jim Perley, on the show this week. Listen in as Jim covers his career journey from law school to COO of Yankee Candle. There are great lessons along the way, like, volunteering to do new things, understanding how your work impacts the business, and ultimately, know what you want from your career and make decisions with that in mind as you go. And finally, Jim stays in the studio to talk some sports with Greg and NJ.
The Pesci Brothers talk about the top 10 New Year Resolutions, how to keep them, and what are some of the reasons you don’t. Then the brothers talk about some products they like going into the new year and they finish with a conversation about sports rivalries, incentive pay for performance in sports and finally about a great hockey investment.
The Pesci Brothers sit down the week before Christmas to talk about precious time and how we spend it through a “Generational” lens. Boomers think spending time at work is important and that Title and Salary mean the most, while Gen Z’s think Mental and Physical health mean more than either salary or title. Having work and life in balance is expected for most in the workforce today.
The Top 20 from Forbes 400 and a few more. Listen as the Pesci brothers talk about the Top 20 and how eight of them are now worth more than $100 billion each. The numbers are staggering and the threshold for getting into the Top 20 is $36 Billion. These 20 people have a net worth of $1.8 Trillion. Formula 1 is top of mind and the brothers end with music time!
Greg and NJ make a public service announcement in this week’s episode about the impact stress can have on all of us. Stress can affect all aspects of your life, including your emotions, behaviors, thinking ability, and physical health. Listen as the brothers talk about the symptoms of stress and the consequences of stress over the course of your lifetime. Then they shift to talk about how you might approach change and start doing things differently. And as always, sports, sports, sports!
Author Rick Norton joins the Pesci brothers to talk about his book, “A Word to the Wise…. Snakes on Every Level. It is interesting story that takes you from Rick’s work as a financial planner to being the money man for so many professional athletes to the underbelly of the real estate world, and finally to prison. Listen as Rick shares valuable lessons for all of us. The brothers then talk sports and there is time for another musical mystery.
NJ and Greg have a great time talking with Jim Zarchin, President and Founder of Z Media Ventures. Listen in as Jim tells some great stories and explains why he started up Z Media Ventures with his son Max. It is a wonderful life perspective and reminds us all that it’s never too late to start something new, and it’s even better if you love what you are doing and doing it with people you love.
The Pesci Brothers Cover the USA win over Mexico in World Cup Qualifying and other weekend happenings in sports. The conversation then turns to the changes brought about by the pandemic that will likely have long-lasting impacts on the job market going forward. The brothers compare these new expectations with the ones employees had back in 2010, and finally they share what their expectations were for work back in the 1800’s when they finished grad school and law school.
The Pesci brothers talk about some of the things you might consider doing, if and when you face disappointment at work. It might be a promotion you were hoping to get, it might be an assignment you think you deserve or a raise you can’t believe you didn’t get. It’s hard to see it at the time, but sometimes these disappointments can lead to great opportunities and better things than you had hoped for. Music time is back with a story that goes backwards in time as we learn about late career success.
NJ and Greg cover the most valuable franchises in Professional Sports. Imagine investing less than $10 million dollars in a Professional Sports Franchise and it’s worth more than $4billion today! The NFL is King, and MLB is a distant second. It’s interesting to learn that even if you don’t win a championship for decades, your franchise can still be worth billions!
Greg and NJ discuss how the salary cap in Pro Sports is designed to level the playing field for small market teams. The NFL Cap has grown for 10 years and then Covid! What GMs have to do manage the cap and how the MLB manages without one. Then the conversation moves to the reasons so many athletes lose their money after earning what the average person would consider a fortune. And yes, It’s O-V-A, OVA is back! AJ has a good time with the demise of the Red Sox!
The Pesci brothers begin with a conversation about the progression of Name, Image, and Likeness in college sports. Sponsors pay athletes and count on them to stay healthy while endorsing their brands. At least one of the big deals has been impacted by an athlete that has been hurt and another by sub-standard play. At the same time, women have fewer deals and too many of the female athletes are being objectified in the ads. Finally, the brothers talk about the disparity in pay between male and female professional athletes. The men make way more, way more!
The Pesci brothers are back after 2 weeks off! The sports update covers the good, the bad, and the ugly! BYU makes the top 10, Zach Wilson and the Jets get their first win, and the New York Yankees fall to the Red Sox. Then the brothers cover Courage from the perspective of the Stoics. How to face the truth without fear. Finally, it’s music time!
Listen as the Pesci brothers tell the 200-year-old story of Louis Vuitton and how building a luxury brand requires time, attention, and nurturing of the brand’s equity. Then the brothers cover a handful of Forbes’ top 100 Female Entrepreneurs. None of their success came as the result of a get-rich-quick scheme. These are women who worked hard for a long time and in non “sexy” industries, like roofing and trucking. And what magic is in the water in Wisconsin? And of course, we cover sports.
Listen as Dylan talks about seeing an opportunity to fill a need and stepping up to meet that challenge with his firm, Bold Square. Dylan shares the lessons he learned over the course of his international career and emphasizes the importance of developing relationships of trust with his clients. Then Mike in Middle America makes an appearance and the talk turns to BYU, the Big 12 and rivalry games for both BYU and Iowa State.
The Pesci brothers talk about precious time and not wasting any of it with negativity. Why spend your life “mining” for negativity, where is the joy in that? Appreciate what time you have and spend that time on the things you love. College football is back, and it feels great to see all of the fans celebrating the game and the teams they love.
Zach Wilson looks good in pre-season, Taysom does not! The Yankees are moving in the right direction and BYU Football begins this week in Vegas against Arizona. Update on some golf and then looking at the top earners in Men’s Tennis (Johnny Mc is number 54 on the list).
Try to keep things in your life in perspective. With Ida and all that is happening in Afghanistan, who wins a football game or is named the starting QB doesn’t really mean that much. Enjoy all of the things you love and be grateful for each day.
NJ and Greg talk about some of the things you need to do when you raise money for a startup. Having an idea and a business plan might not be enough to raise the money you need. You will need a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and some customers using your product or service first. In addition, how do you differentiate your product or service enough to convince investors to take a chance on you and your idea? After all of that, you have to put a value on your company or idea, and that requires a great deal of research, and in the end, it’s just your best guess at the time.
Zach Wilson and the Yankees have a good week!
The Pesci brothers enjoy another conversation with an old friend. Listen in as Nu Skin Enterprises President and CEO-elect, Ryan Napierski, shares the story of his Nu Skin career. From working for Nu Skin while going to college, to becoming the next CEO. Once again it is a story that takes unexpected turns and Ryan is living example of stepping up to the challenge and making the best of every situation. You’ll hear how Ryan’s experiences have prepared him for what he is about to do next.
Then the brothers talk about Name, Image, and Likeness in college sports and how a Utah company, Built Bar, just paid tuition for all walk-on football players at BYU!
And finally, it is music time again. Great story about stepping off and taking risks.
Listen in as the brothers talk about goal setting and the most common motivators for all of us. These are five important factors according to one famous theory on goal setting:
1.Clarity.
2.Challenge.
3.Commitment.
4.Feedback.
5.Task complexity.
After the discussion on goal setting, NJ and Greg talk about the three things McClelland says motivate us all and how the brothers think they apply to them. They are the:
1.Need for Achievement
2.Need for Affiliation
3.Need for Power
Greg and NJ share a process they have used with organizations to help them predict the future based on past events and the magnitude of change that occurs over time.
The Brothers use sports as the framework for this discussion, focusing on the Olympics and Simone Biles, the Green Bay Packer’s QB Aaron Rodgers and finally, some of the commercials that are airing now on the networks covering the Olympics. How would the events of today be seen or accepted 20 years ago in sports? Twenty years ago, did you ever think you would see a commercial that never shows or talks about a product? What does today’s reaction tell you about the future?
And, as a bonus, some tips on sneaking Oreo cookies late at night…..
NJ and Greg discuss the importance of having enough confidence in yourself to bet on yourself, in what ever you do. It’s not just about leaving your job and working for yourself. It is about knowing that, in the end, you have to live with yourself, so believe in you, and bet on yourself in all aspects of your life.
People who bet on themselves do the following:
1.They remove the illusion of job security
2.Take calculated risks to pursue opportunities
3.Raise the performance standard in all areas of their lives
4.See opportunities everywhere
5.Develop a close relationship with the truth
Then the brothers talk the business of college football with Texas and Oklahoma threatening to move from the Big 12 to the SEC. Listen in as the rich plan on getting richer in college football. A super league…….?
The Pesci brothers start the show with the sport’s desk. They cover; Euro 2021, Wimbledon, Formula 1, and Baseball. And then the conversation shifts to concerts, money made on the road and finally, what special request would you have for the green room if you were a star?
As a follow up to last week’s discussion on risk, the brothers talk about “Loss Aversion” and how we look at risk and why losses scare us from making gains. A fun story about country music follows that, as an example of loss aversion and what the music world would have missed, if one singer-songwriter never took a risk.
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NJ and Greg use the hot real estate market to illustrate risk taking and how we talk ourselves out of taking risks all the time. If you had the chance to sell your house right now for a huge profit, would you do it, or would you come up with all the reasons you can’t take that risk? Just say yes and figure out the how later. Then the brothers talk about Name, Image and Likeness and how revenue athletes are already cashing in on the deal.
Finally, they cover John McEnroe, Serena Williams, cancel culture and the reasons they believe Archie Bunker and David Brent, were created.
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Sara Lee Frozen Bakery CEO, Craig Bahner, talks with the Pesci brothers about his career, the lessons he has learned, and the challenge he faces in his life today. It was an insightful conversation with great honesty and humility. Craig clearly understands that what you do is not as important as how you do it. The way you treat people is significantly more important than technical competence. Listen as Craig shares the details of a health challenge he is facing today.
Then the brothers talk about the Supreme Court ruling that allows college athletes to make money on their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The endorsements have already begun and the brothers wonder how this will all play out. Listen as they discuss the possibilities.
NJ and Greg have two guests on this week. Richie Norton (a return guest) and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Both accomplished authors, speakers, and incredibly positive people. Listen as they talk about ways to take control of your life and your situation. You can’t wait around for things to happen; you have to see it as if you’ve already accomplished it and then make it happen. Great conversation with two people that motivate you without even trying! Then the brothers have a therapy session on why they haven’t published books yet, and how they’re getting closer.
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Greg and NJ talk with Carine Clark, General Partner at Pelion Venture Partners. Carine is a three-time president and CEO of high-growth tech companies, specializing in helping companies scale from $10 million to $100 million and more. Listen as she shares her business and life experiences that speak to focus, determination, and perseverance. Carine has excelled in both high tech and venture and has been a pioneer and example for women in both these fields. In addition, she shares her experience as a cancer survivor and shows us all how to face adversity with strength and hope. The brothers finish with some cover songs that include country, the 70’s and an interesting twist.
Billions of dollars in revenue are generated every year in colleges sports, with college football leading the way. In part two of this series, NJ and Greg look at how many universities actually make money on college athletics. Then, the discussion turns to paying college athletes, how would you do it? The brothers bring Mike in Middle America back into the conversation as they discuss; paying all athletes, paying the revenue generating athletes, paying just the best athletes, paying for name likeness and image and the possibility of letting agents pay the athletes before they turn pro.
Billions of dollars in revenue are generated every year in college sports, with college football leading the pack. Greg and NJ look at the top earning college football programs and talk about pay for student athletes. They bring Mike in Middle America into the conversation as they discuss the value of athletic scholarships and ask if that is enough compensation or should more be done. And to make it more interesting, two bills have been introduced in Congress to allow student athletes to form a union and collectively bargain for compensation. It’s O-V-A, OVA is back! AJ talks about the Yankees and the Pats with a few funny thoughts, and then he just hangs up!
NJ and Greg talk with Logitech President and CEO, Bracken Darrell, about Logitech doubling down and making some big bets at the start of the pandemic and how those big bets paid off. Bracken shares some of the great things they are doing at Logitech including a successful focus on gaming, and how they are in a strong position coming out of the pandemic. Bracken is a wonderful storyteller and his story about a meeting he was in with GE CEO Jack Welch is a classic! Listen as Bracken talks about his career journey and how the tough spots are where you learn the most. Then the brothers finish the episode with their thoughts on the Yankees, the NBA and Memorial Day. Happy Memorial Day to everyone and thanks to all those that served and those that made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
Greg and NJ talk with Overstock.com CEO Jonathan Johnson about his company’s incredible growth during Covid, his career, and how important it is to share leadership while focusing resources against the most important priorities. Listen for great insights around clarity of purpose, developing skills and being willing to stretch and learn. Then the brothers move to sports and talk about no-hitters in baseball, how the shift contributes to the lack of offense and finally a mention of the NBA to make one of our listeners happy!
NJ and Greg talk with Alix Baudin about the work and mission of Will Packer media. Alix shares his career path. It is a wonderful example of building on skills and experiences that will enable you to run any business. Alix talks about the differences between working in big companies and entrepreneurial ones, how you can move from computer science to finance to media if you are willing to put in the work and be humble enough to admit what you don’t know.
Greg and NJ start the show with sports, Zach is a Jet getting $35million guaranteed, the Spanish Grand Prix leads to a conversation about sustainability and farm to table. Then the brothers move to a discussion about The Imposter Syndrome and how it impacts 70% or more of high achievers. There are 5 Imposter Syndrome types. 1. The Perfectionist 2. Superwoman/Superman 3. The Natural Genius 4. The Soloist 5. The Expert. Listen for stories that might help you see if the Imposter Syndrome is impacting you. And finally, it’s music time and the brothers share a number of cover songs that were bigger hits for the band that covered them then they were for the original artist. Thanks for listening and take a moment to subscribe to the podcast.
NJ and Greg cover the draft and then get into a discussion about the characteristics Professional Athletes and Entrepreneurs have in common. Zach Wilson is taken second overall and BYU has 5 players taken in this year’s draft. Then we get into the differences between being an Athlete that endorses products and one that starts a business outside of the sport he/she plays. MJ blew it all up in 1984 and the endorsement numbers continue to grow and grow. Pro Athletes and Entrepreneurs have the following things in common; success driven, not afraid to fail, count on a team to make it work, competition motivates them and they learn, learn, learn.
Greg and NJ start with sports hot topics; the rise and immediate fall of The Super League, the upcoming NFL Draft, Zach Wilson, and how he is now Collin Cowherd’s new punching bag (does that mean he will finally let Baker Mayfield up?) Then we go into the heart of the episode and talk about what it’s like trying to get promoted at work. And yes, we are a little cynical about all of it. Listen for the things you need to know and do in order to get promoted. Watch out for new hoops being added to jump through and moving goal lines all designed to keep you from that next level. Subjugation in return for safety, not a good equation.
Season 2 Episode 1 opens just like last season, with CBS NFL Analyst Charles Davis sharing his incredible insights on the NFL draft. The Pesci brothers wanted to focus on QBs and BYU’S Zach Wilson in particular. Charles gives his honest opinion and shares some surprises you need to look for in the upcoming draft. Then NJ and Greg talk about the challenges young NFL QBs face trying to lead a group of veterans.
R-Zero President and Co-Founder, Eli Harris, talks about R-Zero’s mission to create a new standard for disinfection and making the world a safer place for everyone. In addition to the fantastic work R-Zero is doing, listen to Eli’s life story and how when one door closes another one opens. His story goes from college soccer to Fulbright scholarships in China, to start-ups and raising capital all before he turns 28! Interview starts at 16:30
OneSight President & Executive Director, K-T Overbey, talks about the company's life-changing work and how she made choices in her life to focus on what was most important. OneSight is the independent nonprofit with the solutions, people and resources to eradicate the vision care crisis for good. They have impacted over 37 million people in 53 countries and counting. Listen in as K-T discusses how being thoughtful and taking your time can put you in the right spot at the right time to do what you really love. Plus the brothers talk about the importance of unity and why we need more of it, especially now.
The Pesci Brothers talk with The Gem Shopping Network CEO, Eduardo Hauser about “forks in the road” and the unexpected. Eduardo discusses how each of these unexpected moments enriched his career, preparing him for his present role as CEO. Plus, the Brothers remind us to find joy in something everyday. Go and do something for yourself, think about hope and actively move forward toward that hope, even if it is a small thing.
Serial entrepreneur, Josh Goldberg, talks about his journey from a career in law, to starting up companies, raising capital, building companies, selling them, and then starting it all over again!
Greg and NJ discuss jobs, like pro sports and government jobs where your salary is public, and then the private sector where it is kept, private. Do we all have to know what each other is making to achieve equity? Do you really believe that everyone’s contributions, while important, are equal? Free agents aren’t really free with the all powerful Franchise Tag. Tom Brady restructures his deal but he doesn’t really get paid less to do so.
NJ and Greg talk with Ammo Auto Care Founder Larry Kosilla about his career, his company, and his success on Youtube. Larry’s Ammo NYC Youtube channel has 1.7 million subscribers which helped him build a retail business without a single distributor. Listen as Larry talks about what drives him to produce the best products he can and why he would prefer to be poor doing what he loves, rather than being rich but unhappy at work. Fortunately for Larry, he is is very successful doing what he loves, so that’s not a problem!
Greg and NJ may have caused a run on all things cauliflower. Focusing on the “who” may be more important at times than the “how”. There are a lot of experts out there to help you with what you don’t know how to do, let them do their thing. And tips and stories about speaking in public. Tell your story, your way. Be yourself, be vulnerable, understand your equity and relax. Go do it!
NJ and Greg have advice for jump-starting your career. Find a place you love, have a purpose for the job you are doing, it is so much more than just making money. Build the skills you can use forever. Mike in Middle America is back as we talk about Cauliflower taking over the world and who is Bill Gates to tell us to lay off the beef? Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers are worth a try!
The Pesci brothers discuss the potential negative impact of Cancel Culture and how the market might respond to it with the Gina Carano story as an example. Plus, how many times have you missed a family event or a personal event because you thought it was more important for you to be at work? Work - Life Balance is hard enough for the big things, sometimes impossible for the little ones.
NJ and Greg discuss the Super Bowl and betting. How NCAA basketball teams like Duke can be at .500 and still be talked about as a possible bubble team. Meanwhile, teams from smaller conferences can’t lose or they’re potentially out of the Tournament! Equity in pay is debated with an emphasis on market data, not the individual, when setting pay levels. How do you negotiate your starting salary and pay raises?
GameStop, AMC, Robinhood, Dave Portnoy, and a crazy week with hedge funds! Interview with Ashish Garg, CEO and Founder of Eltropy as he talks about his journey to America with just two suit cases and $800 in traveler's checks. It’s proof that anyone with an idea and a willingness to work hard can be successful. “Starting companies is not that difficult, the challenging part is making them successful.” - Ashish Garg
NJ and Greg talk about the NFL Playoffs with old guys playing each other and young guys playing each other to get to the Super Bowl. Musical mysteries are solved once again, and it doesn’t sound like the same band at all! Hopefully Covid goes away one day but Crypto is here to stay. What has to be true for Crypto to gain a stronger day-to-day foothold?
The Pesci brothers have a blast talking with their brother, the “It’s O-V-A” , ova star AJ about winning the Powerball or Mega-millions and how he would divide the money to keep the devil out of it! There is little chance you will win the lottery, how will you make your own luck and start something new for you. It doesn’t have to be a big idea, it just has to get you into the game.
Coming into the new year more Americans than ever are starting new businesses. Covid has had an impact on job stability and more and more people are taking control of their own situation, not waiting around to be told they are not essential. The brothers talk about a new product as an example of starting something new, the Ski Stool
Greg and NJ cover the college playoffs one more time! Dave Portnoy and the Barstool Fund work to save a lunch spot NJ and Greg have been to near their home in Massachusetts. The Brothers discuss Innovation vs Imitation. When you start something new will you try to create something completely new, or imitate what is already out there? The pros and cons of both thoughts.
NJ and Greg wish you a Happy New Year and remind you that you can do whatever you want. The most important thing is to find something you want to try, and try it. Don’t worry if you don’t know what to do at first. Stay positive even when others tell you that you can’t.
Greg and NJ wish you Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. Final words for the College Football Committee and the upcoming bowl matchups. Unreal, and the word syndicate came up, just saying. Find something you love to do and make a plan to do it in the new year, play your game. Keep things in perspective and cherish what you have in your life. Stay Hopeful.
Strap in as the Pesci Brothers discuss the upcoming COVID vaccines, why big time companies are leaving California, hard truths about the College Football Committee with Mike in Middle America, and if Lewis Hamilton is really the greatest Formula 1 driver, or is it just the car?
NJ and Greg talk with Jeff Davis about doing something completely new and different after a successful career at P&G. Jeff overcomes a health challenge and spends his time paying it forward. Live your life like this is your one time around.
Greg and NJ talk with Steve Tashjian about his career and about the pressure to perform each week at the highest level of sport. Steve shares his story and shows how hard work, luck, and having a plan can make all the difference. And the brothers might mention Taysom Hill and BYU again!
The Pesci brothers go at it alone and share their thoughts and feelings about Taysom Hill starting at QB., a COVID 19 vaccine, the Heisman Trophy, and how to prepare to be an entrepreneur.
The Pesci brothers talk baseball with MLB’s first female hitting instructor, Rachel Folden. Rachel talks about her playing career and how she started her own business, all of which lead to her getting the call to be a hitting instructor for the Chicago Cub’s organization. She didn’t want to just check a box for them and they wanted to win, not make a point, perfect match!
NJ and Greg talk with Medifast CEO Dan Chard about his career and how Medifast has been named number two in Fortune’s fastest growing 100 in the world. Thoughts on the election and a birthday shoutout to their sister Janine.
Greg and NJ talk with Orlando Magic NBA Star Aaron Gordon about his charitable work and the new Got Milk? campaign, Mike In Middle America discusses reward systems and AJ is back after his kidney surgery and funnier than ever, It’s O-V-A, OVA!
What do you do when you sell your company for $2.65 Billion and Covid erases the deal? You work harder. NJ and Greg talk with Card Works CEO Don Berman about how he got his start, his mentality of hard work, and his philosophy of "you win or you learn."
And, NJ and Greg want to remind you to vote!
NJ and Greg talk with author Alfie Kohn about punishment and rewards, and their paternalistic power in business and life. Later, the Brothers give their take on the playoffs and performance reviews.
The Pesci brothers talk with two-time NL MVP Dale Murphy. Listen as Dale tells great stories of over coming early challenges in his career and how his manager, Bobby Cox believed in him even when he was starting to wonder. And how his manager’s confidence in him and hard work lead to him being named a 7 time All-Star and two-time MVP.
Join NJ and Greg as they do their first show without a guest interview. President Trump has Covid, why can't we have civil discourse? Mike in Middle America is back, should the shift be illegal in baseball? AJ and "It's OVA" are back and we couldn't be happier. And finally, is working remotely the new normal?
Greg and NJ learn how Chris Magno followed his instincts and did something unexpected, twice, that lead to winning the College World Series with the Miami Hurricanes, facing the tough truth and turning that into a wonderful career and life. And the PAC 12 getting some love, NOT!
NJ and Greg talk with Kinetic Consulting Managing Director and Founder Will Hogg as he tells stories about facing work and life challenges with hope and no regrets. The brothers talk about the difference between scary and dangerous, and they have two very different rock climbing stories.
The Pesci brothers talk with Bayer VP and GM, Lisa Tecklenburg, about how her positive and indefatigable approach to all aspects of her life has helped her with her work, her battle with cancer and qualifying for the Ironman World Championships. Finally the wait is over for football, and we can say Football Is Back! Back by popular demand the segment "It’s O-V-A, OVA" is also back and we hear AJ's thoughts on this new New England team. NJ and Greg wrap up the episode talking about HOPE and how to keep it alive.
Shea tells NJ and Greg about playing Lacrosse at Harvard in the time of Covid and how she had to out-work everyone to overcome a difficult problem she had with her vision. The segment "Mike in Middle America" is back to answer the question, what is the best sports movie of all time? And finally Greg and NJ share some more thoughts on Hope.
Listen in as Greg and NJ talk with professor and author, Kat Williams, as she talks about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League and the impact of sports on women. Kat shares stories from the women who made up “A League of Their Own” and how playing professional sports opened up a larger world to all of them. Also, Liev Schreiber, Hard Knocks and the Hollies, what could they possibly have in common?
Join the Pesci Brothers for another fantastic interview with broadcasting legend Barry Tompkins. Barry has covered everything from Olympic Boxing to PAC-12 Football to WCC Basketball and to the French Open. Listen to how Barry prepares to cover such a wide variety of sports and some interesting behind the scenes stories.
The Pesci Brothers talk about the crazy state of college football today, who's in, who's out, and is spring football actually going to happen? New York Yankees writer, Bryan Hoch, joins the brothers as he shares inside stories from today and the 2009 Yankees World Series. The segment "Mike in Middle America" makes a return as Mike answers the questions; Ed Sheeran or Elvis Presley and why can't guys pitch more than 7 innings?
Join NJ and Greg this week as the brothers host Kore Software Co-Founder & Former CEO, Matt Sebal, as he tells the story about how the New York Jets helped to jumpstart their business. Matt and his business partner, Todd, weren't even sports fans when they built Kore Software, the global leader in sports and entertainment business management solutions. Matt goes on to talk about the business opportunities in China right now. Then listen to the new, It's Never Just a Game segment, "Mike in Middle America" where Mike in Iowa helps us answer the tough questions. This week we focus on High School football and whether or not athletes from out of state should be allowed to transfer to another state to play fall football when their home state has pushed football to the spring.
Senior guard TJ Haws talks expectations, an ironman career, and the disappointment of COVID stealing March Madness from a perfectly positioned BYU Basketball team! NJ and Greg talk about real world musical chairs and being prepared for when the music stops. Join the Pesci Brothers as they talk all things life, business, and sports!
Former USC Trojan, Jake Olson tells the story of how he lost his sight but never lost sight of his dreams and how he became the first totally blind athlete to play in a NCAA football game (14:15-37:34). Today he is a motivational speaker and runs Engage, a firm that puts motivational speakers and organizations together. Stick around after the interview as Greg and NJ talk about the importance of well-founded hope, and the practical building blocks that take you there (37:34-58:58).
The Pesci Brothers talk to movie writer and long time friend, Bill Mikita, about his script for a movie he is calling, "Brewer's Boys." It's baseball's version of Remember the Titans and a story you've probably never heard before. It will shock you when you learn who was on Brewer's team and how they won the championship during the Watts Riots. Stick around after the interview for a special 4th of July "It's OVA" from AJ.
Listen as NJ and Greg get the real story of how Mark Pope got into coaching. How he left Columbia Medical School to start at the bottom of the coaching ranks, his love of coaching, the excitement of march madness, and why doing what you love brings you joy.
The Pesci brothers interview 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist, member of the Miracle on Ice U.S.A hockey team, Jack O'Callahan. Reliving the U.S.A's semi-final win over the heavily favored Soviet team and defeating Finland for the Gold Medal. Listen in as the Pesci Brothers breakdown why It's Never Just A Game.
Good news, baseball is back! Former CEO of Chiquita, Fernando Aguirre joins the show and tells how coming to America to play baseball changed the course of his life. Fernando also takes the Pesci Brothers through his career and the lessons he learned as a CEO. NJ and Greg then talk about goal setting and why it is important to be open to coaching.
NJ and Greg tell stories about Pop for Father's Day. An interview with Olympic swimmer Jason Lezak, recounting his record breaking swim in the 4X100 Men's Free Relay in the 2008 Beijing Olympics to win gold and beat the favored French. If you're afraid, don't get in the water!
Richie Norton talks about his book, "The Power of Starting Something Stupid." How you need to start living and doing what you love while you have the chance. The Pesci brothers talk about how fear and doubt will hold you back from achieving your full potential. It's all business on this week's It's Never Just A Game.
The Pesci brothers take a trip down memory lane with Coach Ryan Odom as his number 16 seed, UMBC, shocks number 1 seed Virginia. Coach talks the game, the win, hard work, dedication, and passion.
Author Joan Ryan talks about her book, "Intangibles" and the impact of team chemistry on sports (1:06-31:36). In It's O-V-A, OVA, AJ talks about his superstitions while watching the NY Yankees in the play-offs, "Get Up, or Get Out!" (31:36-40:10). The Pesci brothers talk about making soap for Proctor&Gamble and the great teams they worked with while doing it (40:10-55:55).
Leo Pearlman, Executive Producer of "Sunderland 'Til I Die" talks all things Sunderland, pitching Netflix, and the new 2021 Cinderella. When is $175 million not enough? Dak wants more, and we don't know how to spend $20 million.
Tone-deaf MLB pitcher Blake Snell says he needs to get paid, not pitching unless "I get mine." Is the shortened MLB season already at risk? He also seemed shocked that he has to pay taxes on his earnings, like the rest of us do. Pop joins the show and recounts his time growing up in the Bronx and how he started swimming at age eleven. Just a few years later swimming helps him earn enough money for college and eventually his first house. My Big Fat Greek Wedding dad has nothing on Pop!
We finally got some good news this week with the NFL schedule coming out, Brady and Brees week one, Taysom got paid, and who is the QB week one for the Cowboys? College Football: Are we playing? What happens if certain states don’t let their boys play? Does a conference go forward with only half of its teams? We discuss all of this and more (00:00-28:27). Former T.V. Executive, Steve Gigliotti, explains T.V. ratings and how the coronavirus negatively impacts television revenue for the rest of the year (28:27-58:38). It’s OVA: Don’t let AJ catch you getting coffee without a mask (58:38-62:10).
We break down Tom Verducci's "The Cub's Way" giving a strategic approach to winning the World Series (00:00-23:30). It's OVA for the Houston Astros, AJ let's the fastballs fly, and not even Sammy the Bull is safe (23:30-29:06). Third overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Dylan Nealis, talks FaceTime with David Beckham and the influence of his brothers on his success (29:06- 43:36). Pop shows us his "unique" defense in basketball and when to lay the other guy out (43:36-49:53). NJ loses a bet and invites media executive and Tennessee sports buff, Bob Baskerville, onto the show to talk Matt Haarms and Tennessee basketball (49:53-62:27).
The Voice of the BYU Cougars, Greg Wrubell, joins the show and shares his thoughts on all things BYU. From Steve Young as Cosmo the Cougar, to the current QB competition, and finally to the impact of Mark Pope on the basketball program (3:47-58:17). Mailbag: In our first letter, a listener asks us, what are we watching on T.V. without live sports (58:17-64:13). It's OVA: Gronk goes to the Bucs, AJ loses his mind, maybe he's wearing green this year (64:13-68:42). We close by taking a deeper dive at the business side of the draft (68:42-74:11).
NFL analyst, voice of Madden, and University of Tennessee Hall-of-Famer, Charles Davis shares his insight on a number of subjects including the NFL draft, life without Tom Brady in New England and how the Vols QB situation might play out.
And we will end our first episode with one of our most entertaining segments, and that is, "It’s O-V-A, OVA." Yeah, that’s how you spell it.