The Duckpin Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Duckpin
Veteran podcaster and writer Brian Griffiths talks about things that matter in your life: news, politics, sports, culture. We’ll be looking at those things from a state, local, and national perspective, and we’ll be talking to the people who are making those things happen.
To learn more about The Duckpin and The Duckpin Podcast, visit theduckpin.com!
Personnel is policy. Two universities who hired Randy Edsall learned that the hard way. What can we learn from Edsall's hirings and how it impacts business, politics, and more.
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This week, we talk with Canada Expert Rob Towner about the upcoming September 20th Canadian Federal Election.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- The differences between elections in Canada and elections in the U.S.
- Why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a snap election at this point;
- How the Nova Scotia Provincial Election may foreshadow the General Election results;
- How a September 14th book release by the former Attorney General of Canada be Trudeau’s “September Surprise”;
- And we predict the results of the election and ask if Trudeau may regret calling this election.
About the Guest: Rob Towner is an American expert on all things Canada, with Canadian politics being a specialty. He can be reached on Twitter and Instagram @wikimapper.
This week, we talk with State Senator Michael Hough. Hough has served in the State Senate since 2014 and is now running for Frederick County Executive.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Hough’s perspective on the 2021 Legislative Session, including his first year as Senate Minority Whip;
- Why he’s running for Frederick County Executive;
- The most important issues facing Frederick County;
- How to implement restrained growth policies within a conservative government framework;
- How Senator Hough will work to unify the diverse factions of Frederick Republicans;
- His thoughts on what the new name of the Washington Football Team should be;
- And we talk about Hough’s musical career, including his band No Politics.
About the Guest: Michael Hough has been the State Senator for District 3 in Frederick County since 2015. He serves as the Minority Whip in the Maryland State Senate. He served one term in the Maryland House of Delegates. Prior to his political career, Mike served as a Minuteman III Missile technician in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mike went on to graduate from Towson University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He lives with his family in Brunswick. He can be reached @SenatorHough on Facebook and Twitter, or at mikeforfrederick.com.
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This week we talk with Nathan Volke, Anne Arundel County Councilman and possible Republican candidate for Anne Arundel County Executive.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- New mask restrictions on county employees and in county office buildings;
- We discuss Volke’s thoughts on the county’s, transfer taxes, school funding, budgeting, taxes, development, and more;
- We explore what makes Volke different from the other potential candidates considering running for the Republican nomination.
About the Guest: Nathan Volke is a lifelong Republican and native of Pasadena and a product of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. A graduate of UMBC and the University of Baltimore school of law, he has served on the Anne Arundel County Council since 2008. Prior to serving on the council, he served two terms on the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee. An attorney, Volke lives in Pasadena with his wife and their two children. He can be reached on Facebook or at his website at nathanvolke.com.
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TheDuckpin.com's Publisher Brian Griffiths appeared on WBAL Radio with C4 and Dan Joseph to discuss legislative redistricting in Maryland, and his piece in The Capital and the Carroll County Times regarding how the Democrats Legislative Redistricting Commission is just more of the same support from Democrats for continued partisan gerrymandering.
Original Audio: WBAL Radio, August 2, 2021
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are finally here. It’s been another boondoggle for the host city and for the International Olympic Committee. After so many Olympics that lost money and with so many cities ending up with post-Olympic urban ruins, maybe it’s time to make Los Angeles the permanent host of the Olympics.
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Olympics #Tokyo #Tokyo2020
It's Canada Day, a good time to talk about (and learn from) Canada's greatest modern leader and politician.
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Maryland Podcast Month is now The Alliance of Maryland Podcasts! Learn more at ampmaryland.com!
Today we celebrate the first year of The Duckpin, and preview what's coming in the future.
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There is a scourge in the body politic that is conservatism. And until that scourge is dealt with, things can never get better for Republicans and conservatives.
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The sale of Tribune Media, including the Baltimore Sun Media Group, to Alden Capital has been finalized. What’s next for the Baltimore Sun Guild, Stewart Bainum, and the rest that were trying to force the Sun to a non-profit group? And will Bainum and the rest put their money where their mouths are and do whatever it takes to make a change?
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This week we talk with Doug Rathell, Republican Candidate for the House of Delegats in District 30A
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Doug’s background and why he is running;
- His top priorities as a Delegate;
- What he has learned from his first run for Delegate in 2018;
- How changes in the district, including the death of Speaker Mike Busch and the resignation of Alice Cain, fundamentally have changed the district.
About the Guest: Doug Rathell is a Republican candidate for the House of Delegates in District 30A. He is a paramedic working for the City of Annapolis Fire Department. He and his family live in Arnold. Rathell can be reached at electdougrathell.com, on Facebook facebook.com/electdougrathell, and on Twitter and Instagram at @electdoug.
On this week’s show, we talk about the important tips you need to plan a successful road trip! You may not have gone on a road trip last year and may be out of practice. You may never have road tripped at all. We get you ready and help put you on the path to success with all of the road trip tips and road trip hacks we use.
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Welcome to the 2021 Maryland Podcast Awards Show, where we will announce the winners of this year's Maryland Podcast Awards!
The Duckpin Podcast is happy to be the host for this year’s awards. Subscribe to the video version on YouTube, or subscribe to the Audio version at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, or Breaker. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!
This year we’re recognizing the best in Maryland Podcasts in the following categories:
- Podcast of the Year
- Host of the Year
- Best New Podcast
- Best Interview Podcast
- Best News Podcast
- Best Sports Podcast
- Best Entertainment Podcast
- Best Lifestyle Podcast
- Best Produced Podcast
For a full list of honorees, click here.
This week we talk with Jason Buckel, the new Minority Leader in the Maryland House of Delegates.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Highlights from the 2021 General Assembly Session;
- How recently police reform legislation will likely backfire;
- The economic impacts of the Kirwan Commission recommendations and their impending tax cuts on the economy of Western Maryland;
- Why Maryland’s sports betting market may end up oversaturated;
- Why Delegate Buckel chose to serve as House Minority Leader;
- How Republicans can win and succeed in 2022;
- How having a top tier statewide ticket will help candidate recruitment and fundraising.
About the Guest: Jason Buckel was elected last week as the new Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates. He has represented District 1B in Allegany County since 2014. Professionally, Delegate Buckel is an attorney and the Managing Partner of Buckel, Levasseur, Pillai & Beeman, LLC in Cumberland.
This week we talk with Andi Turner, Legislative Director of the Texas State Rifle Association.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Some of the 250 gun-related bills before the Texas Legislature;
- How Texas legislative rules of holding session every two years changes the dynamic of legislation;
- The differences between being a gun advocate in Texas vis-a-vis one in Maryland;
- Andi’s experience with the recent Republican Party of Texas convention;
- How President Joe Biden’s recent Executive Orders on guns are both unconstitutional and anti-constitutonal.
About the Guest: Andi Turner is the Legislative Director of the Texas State Rifle Association. Prior to joining TSRA, she served as Press Secretary for former State Senator E.J. Pipkin, Chief of Staff to former Delegate Michale Smigiel, Legislative Director for the Maryland Department of Information Technology, and Chairman of the Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association. She can be reached at trsa.com or tsrapac.com, or on Twitter @AndiMTurner.
Politicians can't fix politics. Politicians can't fix society. Who can? Listen and find out.
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This week we talk with attorney, businessman, writer, and parent Jim Braswell about the Equity Debate in public schools.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How Braswell became aware of public school teachings about equity;
- Why he chose to write about these issues at both The Duckpin and in The Capital;
- The reaction that he has had to his piece;
- Conversations he had with Bob Mosier from the Anne Arundel County Board of Ed;
- His research on the Southern Poverty Law Center and how the group producing materials for equity education has its own sordid issues;
- How Americans are missing the ball on other issues in this country, including human trafficking;
- The way forward for parents and leaders.
About the Guest: Jim Braswell is an attorney, businessman, writer, and father of three living in Pasadena.
This week we talk with Dylan Diggs, the President of the Republican Club of Frederick County about 2021 City Elections, 2020 County Elections, and more.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- The upcoming 2021 elections in the City of Frederick;
- Issues facing the city, and how the Democratic sweep of 2017 changed the city;
- The impact of national politics on local elections;
- With Democratic County Executive Jan Gardner term-limited, we discuss the 2022 Frederick County Elections;
- And how the rift between mainstream conservative Republicans and self-professed “true conservatives” will impact upcoming elections.
About the Guest: Dylan Diggs, the President of the Republican Club of Frederick County. In 2018, he was a candidate for the Frederick County Council in the 1st District. He can be reached on Facebook, on Twitter, or the club website at frederickgopclub.org.
This week on The Duckpin Podcast, we talk bout the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day and how we can use that meaning to improve our lives.
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This week we talk with Chris Jahn, Republican candidate for Anne Arundel County Executive.
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About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Who is Chris Jahn and why is he running for Anne Arundel County Executive;
- We discuss Jahn’s thoughts on the county’s COVID response, transfer taxes, school funding, budgeting, taxes, development, and more;
- We explore what makes Jahn different from the other candidates considering running for the Republican nomination, and answer the question of how he can win in 2022.
About the Guest: A resident of Glen Burnie, Chris Jahn is a Republican candidate for Anne Arundel County Executive. He can be reached on Facebook, on Twitter, or at his website at chrisjahn4aaco.com.
This week we talk with Rob Cataldi, the Founder and Commissioner of the Greater Baltimore Mini-Golf Tour.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- The founding of the Tour back in 2016;
- The evolution of the tour;
- How participation from players who have appeared on ABC’s Holey Moley have raised the level of competition in the tour;
- An announcement regarding the first Maryland State Mini-Golf Championship tournament coming this September.
About the Guest: Rob Cataldi is the Founder and Commissioner of the Greater Baltimore Mini-Golf Tour. He and the Greater Baltimore Mini-Golf Tour can be reached on Facebook or Instagram.
This week on The Duckpin Podcast we talk with Harford County Executive Barry Glassman.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Harford County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how businesses have fared over the last year;
- With more winter weather expected in the coming days, we talk about the importance of snow removal to county government and the challenges that come with it;
- Legislative priorities for counties during the Maryland General Assembly session;
- And facing the end of his two terms as County Executive, we discuss Glassman’s political future, including a run for statewide office or a primary challenge against Congressman Andy Harris.
About the Guest: Barry Glassman has been Harford County Executive since December 2014. Prior to that, he served on the Harford County Council from 1990-1998, in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1999-2008, and in the Maryland State Senate from 2008-2014. He was President of the Maryland Association of Counties in 2019. A small business owner and a sheep farmer by trade, he lives with his family in Darlington. He can be reached on Twitter @HarfordExec, on Facebook @GlassmanfordMD, and at his website, barryglassman.com.
This week we talk with Scott Czasak, the Executive Director of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Scott’s role as Executive Director of the Authority;
- The challenges faced by small cities such as Escanaba in developing their modern downtowns;
- How current events have affected his ability to help the city grow;
- How cities relate to distant state governments;
- The state of the Republican Party in 2021, reaction to the January 6th attempted coup d’etat, and electoral prospects for the future;
- And how the Meltzerization of professional wrestling is hurting the product.
About the Guest: Scott Czasak is the Executive Director of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority. Previously he was Legislative Director for Michigan Representative Peter Lucido and a staffer for a member of Congress. Scott served four years as Chairman of the Michigan Young Republicans and two years as Midwest Regional Vice-Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.
This week The Duckpin’s publisher Brian Griffiths discusses Inauguration Day and some of the many observations that come with it.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How Inauguration Day highlights hypocrisy in American Politics;
- How hypocrisy and political careerists led directly to Donald Trump being elected President;
- And why the far-right will become even more emboldened and enraged during President Biden’s first term thanks to Biden’s policies, a fawning mainstream media, and a conservative media egging them on.
This week The Duckpin’s publisher Brian Griffiths discusses the conservative movement and how it has been broken by Donald Trump.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How the conservative movement was broken;
- The root genesis of what caused this;
- The blame that the conservative media complex has on breaking the movement;
- And how conservatism must be saved, either inside or outside of the GOP.
This week we talk with House Minority Leader Nic Kipke about the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Delegate Kipke’s recovery from COVID-19;
- Maryland’s response to the pandemic;
- Democratic attempts to override Governor Larry Hogan’s vetoes on the Kirwan Commission, taxes, and more;
- The challenge of mandated spending;
- How sharing a district with Senate Minority Bryan Simonaire impacts their relationships with their caucus;
- Redistricting and prospects for single-member districts in the House of Delegates;
- Looking forward to the 2022 Election.
About the Guest: Delegate Nic Kipke is the Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates. He has served in the House of Delegates since 2007. Delegate Kipke and his family live in Pasadena. Follow him on Twitter @Kipke.
This week we break down the College Football Playoff with The Duckpin’s College Football Analyst Justin Ready.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Thoughts about the retirement of Senator Mike Miller;
- Did the College Football Playoff get the right teams?
- Did Texas A&M, Cincinnati, or Coastal Carolina have a case?
- How can college football get to a happy place on a playoff?
- Which team does Justin think will win the championship?
About the Guest: Justin Ready is the College Football Analyst for The Duckpin. He has been a fan and observer of college football his entire life, and is a die-hard Alabama Crimson Tide fan. Professionally, Justin is self-employed communication and advertising consultant and is a State Senator for Maryland’s 5th District. Follow him on Twitter @ReadyCFB.
This week we talk with Julian Boykin about the future of the Maryland Republican Party and the GOP’s Minority outreach.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Thoughts on the results of the Maryland Republican Party officer elections;
- The work of the Maryland Black Republican Council and their efforts to reach out to minority communities;
- Kim Klacik’s Congressional campaign, and how her candidacy could grow the appeal of Republican candidates;
- Opportunities for Republicans to cultivate minority outreach;
- Julian’s interviews with candidates for office across Maryland and across the country.
About the Guest: Julian Boykin is a political activist living in Waldorf, MD. A native of Mississippi, he is Chairman of the Southern Maryland Young Republicans, Treasurer for the Maryland Black Republican Caucus, and Secretary for the Charles County Republican Central Committee. You can reach Julian by email.
This week we talk with John Frenaye, the founder and publisher of Eye on Annapolis and host of the Eye on Annapolis Daily News Brief Podcast.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Why John started Eye on Annapolis?
- What does the EOA publication schedule look like?
- What’s the benefit of a daily news podcast?
- Challenges in running a small local news operation in the year 2020.
- The future of hyperlocal news.
About the Guest: John Frenaye founded Eye on Annapolis in 2009. Prior to that he owned a travel business and worked on online travel projects with MSNBC. You learn more about Eye on Annapolis at eyeonannapolis.net and listen to the Eye on Annapolis Daily News Brief at https://eyeonannapolis.libsyn.com/.
This week we talk with Maria Sofia, Chairman of the Maryland Young Republicans, about the 2020 Election, youth outreach, and the future of the GOP.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How the COVID-19 Pandemic affected voter outreach efforts;
- New techniques being pioneered by the Maryland YRs for contacting voters and growing GOP organizations;
- The impact that President Donald Trump had on young Republican outreach;
- The frustration of activists engaging in parades and other spurious activity;
- What qualities would be beneficial in the next Young Republican National Chairman.
- What success for the Maryland YRs looks like.
About the Guest: Maria Sofia is the Chairman of the Maryland Young Republicans. Elected in 2019, she has extensive experience campaign experience for campaigns across Maryland. A native of Montgomery County, Maria was honored as the 2019 Conservative of the Year by Red Mayland.
This week we talk with WBAL Radio’s Andrew Langer about….Thanksgiving music and food!
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Why there are only a limited number of popular songs about Thanksgiving;
- Best practices and methods for cooking your Turkey;
- Tips on how to make your stuffing and how to make the perfect gravy;
- Techniques on how to make a casserole without the ubiquitous cream of mushroom soup;
- Why ever kitchen should have duck fat readily available, and so much more!
About the Guest: Andrew Langer is the host of The Andrew Langer Show on WBAL Radio in Baltimore. He is also the President of the Institute for Liberty, a professor at the College of William & Mary, and a long-time activist for free markets. In his spare time, he an avid cook and is a member of a competition barbecue team with his brothers.
You can follow Andrew on Twitter at @Andrew_Langer, on Facebook, on his radio show Facebook page.
This week we talk with Jim Fossel, longtime political activist and columnist, about the re-election of U.S. Senator Susan Collins.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How Senator Susan Collins easily defeated Democrat Sara Gideon;
- Why elite Washington Democrats can’t understand Maine;
- How ranked-choice voting impacts campaign strategy;
- Maine’s longtime independent political streak;
- The potential comeback of former Governor Paul LePage.
About the Guest: Jim Fossel is a longtime political activist and columnist. He is a former Chairman of the Maine Young Republicans, a former staffer for U.S. Senator Susan Collins, and political activists. He is a columnist for the Portland Press Herald as well as here at The Duckpin.
You can follow Jim on Twitter at @jimfossel and on Facebook.
We live in an America that is suffering from problems of our own doing. The Duckpin's publisher Brian Griffiths explores how we got here and how we can put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
No show this week with the upcoming election; stay tuned for a special episode next week.
This week we talk with Christina Goodlander from 21 Votes about elections around the world, U.S. foreign policy, and predictions for how the U.S. election will play out.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- What the mission of 21 Votes is;
- Experiences in observing elections in other countries;
- How Brexit will impact U.S. foreign policy;
- The impact of Shinzo Abe’s retirement as Japanese Prime Minister on U.S. relations;
- Why Scotland may vote to support leaving the United Kingdom;
- Future conflict with China;
- President Trump’s longterm impact on the future of NATO;
- What will Election Day look like this year in the U.S.
About the Guest: Christina Goodlander is the Founder and Editor of 21 Votes. She has extensive experience in international affairs and election observation.
You can follow Christina on Twitter at @cmgoodlander and 21 Votes @21Votes.
In this week’s episode of The Duckpin Podcast we speak to Rob Cornelius, color commentator for Ohio University Athletics.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How Cornelius became a color commentator in two sports. including his unusual entry into the field;
- The surreal experience of being on the court the moment the Mid-American Conference tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Game preparation, routine, and travel;
- Ohio’s trips to the NCAA Tournaments and bowl games, including stories about The Bahamas Bowl, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the NCAA Tournament, and more.
- The best advice for individuals wanting to get involved with calling sports.
About the Guest: Rob Cornelius is the color commentator for Ohio Bobcats football and men’s basketball. He is an Ohio grad and has been calling sports for over twenty years. Rob lives in Parkersburg, WV where he is also Chairman of the Wood County Republican Party.
You can follow Rob on Twitter at @robcwv.
In this week’s episode of The Duckpin Podcast we speak to Tim Cooke, Director of Mid Atlantic Wiffleball and organizer of the 2020 United Wiffleball National Championship presented by T-Mobile in York, PA.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- The origins and history of competitive fast-pitch wiffleball;
- How the National Championship tournament is structured;
- Organizing a tournament
- Why York will host as the home for the first tournament and how pro baseball’s York Revolution became involved;
- The future of wiffleball and the tournament.
About the Guest: Tim Cooke is Director of Mid Atlantic Wiffleball and organizer of the 2020 National Championship. He has been a competitive wiffleball player for many years. He works in communications and media and lives in York, PA.
You can follow Tim on Twitter at @timcooke82, or United Wiffleball on Twitter at @unitedwiffs or on Facebook.
In this week’s episode of The Duckpin Podcast we speak to Coach Dustin Mills, head football coach at J.M Benett High School in Salisbury, MD and founder of Anchor Down Leadership.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How to develop leaders;
- What the differences there are between developing leadership in high school athletes and adults;
- The “5 Anchors of Leadership”;
- Why leadership is important in society;
- Good examples of leadership in history and in today’s world.
About the Guest: Coach Dustin Mills is a social studies teacher and the first-year Head Football Coach at J.M Bennett High School. He has adapted his leadership philosophy from the football field into a leadership program called Anchor Down Leadership, a company that will train, educate, and develop your leaders to help build and establish a winning culture, full of dynamic and self-sustaining members. Furthermore, we are focused on developing "value-based" leaders to help grow and strengthen organizations.
Dustin also hosts the Anchor Down Leadership podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.
You can follow Dustin on Twitter at @dustinwmills, or Anchor Down Leadership on Twitter at @ad_leadership or on Facebook.
In this week’s episode of The Duckpin Podcast we speak to Rory McShane, political consultant and principal of McShane LLC.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- How political consulting works;
- How clients pick a consulting firm and vice-versa;
- How a firm works with a political client;
- What 2020 specific changes are taking place in the consulting industry;
- What the future of political campaigning and consulting looks like.
About the Guest: Rory McShane is a political and media consultant originally from Maryland. Rory has managed or advised political campaigns, corporations, initiatives in twenty-seven states and has lived in six.
Rory’s political clientele has included members of Congress, statewide Constitutional Officers, state legislators, county and municipal officials, political action committees, and multiple successful ballot initiatives. In 2016, Rory was part of a successful effort to change the state constitutions of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota to provide more rights to victims of violent crimes. In 2018, Rory’s firm McShane LLC brought home 22 victories, with political clients in 10 states.
His political success has led Rory to teach classes on political campaigning in Canada and all across the United States. Rory has been on the record with dozens of media outlets across the country, and is a regular analyst for Fox News, the LA Times, New York Post, Politico and more. Rory is also a leading contributor to Campaigns and Elections magazine. Never shying away from controversy for his clients, Breitbart News said one of McShane’s campaigns, “went full troll and stunned Virginia politics.”
McShane was recognized as a 2020 Rising Star by Campaigns and Elections and as “40 Under 40” by the American Association of Political Consultants. McShane LLC has won a number of awards in 2020, including four Reed Awards and three Pollie Awards.
You can learn more about Rory at @rkmcshane, and more about McShane LLC at McShaneLLC.com.
The Duckpin can be found at TheDuckpin.com. We're also @TheDuckpin on Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, and YouTube.
In this week’s episode of The Duckpin Podcast we speak to Brian Carroll, the American Solidarity Party Candidate for President.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- Why Carroll decided to run for President.
- What the American Solidarity Party believes in.
- Why both Republicans and Democrats should consider voting for Carroll’s candidacy.
- The challenges of running for President as a minor party candidate in 2020.
About the Guest: Brian Carroll is the American Solidarity Party Candidate for President He and his and Vicki Carroll have been married for 46 years and have lived primarily in Visalia, California, since 1977. They have 5 children and 14 grandchildren.
Brian spent 44 years of his life as an educator, mostly teaching history to 7th and 8th graders. He spent nine years abroad in Colombia, teaching children of missionaries.
He is an Evangelical Christian and passionately supports whole life politics, which respects the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death.
Brian ran for Congress against Devin Nunes in the 2018 California primary.
You can learn more about Brian and his candidacy at BrianCarroll.life or on Facebook or Twitter.
The Duckpin can be found at TheDuckpin.com. We're also @TheDuckpin on Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, and YouTube.
In this week’s episode of The Duckpin Podcast we speak to Brandon Thurston on the business of Professional Wrestling.
The show is also available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Radio Public, Breaker, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- The current state of wrestling’s economy;
- How fan-free shows affect the WWE and All Elite Wrestling;
- How the WWE Thunderdome is a reaction to fan-free shows and ratings decline;
- The way forward for other companies, such as the NWA and Ring of Honor;
- Predictions about the next five years of the wrestling business.
About the Guest: Brandon Thurston is the world’s leading expert on the business of professional wrestling. A pro wrestler and trainer himself, Thurston manages the Wrestlenomics website and hosts the Wrestlenomics Radio podcast. Wrestlenomics has been referenced by a number of major media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Wrap, New York Daily News, Vice, The Ringer, Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Bleacher Report, and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. You can follow Brandon on Twitter @BrandonThurston and Wrestlenomics @wrestlenomics.
The Duckpin can be found at TheDuckpin.com. We're also @TheDuckpin on Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, and YouTube.
In this inaugural episode of The Duckpin Podcast, we speak to education expert Andy Smarick about public schools in the time of the Coronavirus.
About the Episode: In this episode we discuss;
- The impact of the coronavirus on public schools.
- How the pandemic will affect the achievement gap between high-performing and low-performing schools.
- How public school systems may adjust their thinking.
- The debate around the creation of learning pods.
- How will the pandemic impact the policy debate surrounding charter schools and school vouchers?
- What will public education look like in the post-pandemic environment?
- What will the impact of the pandemic be on the Kirwan Commission recommendations and funding?
About the Guest: Andy Smarick is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, where his work focuses on education, civil society, and the principles of American conservatism. He was confirmed by the Maryland State Senate in March 2020 for a term on the Maryland Higher Education Commission. He has also served as an aide in the White House Domestic Policy Council of President George W. Bush, president of the Maryland State Board of Education, a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, the New Jersey deputy commissioner of education, and a legislative assistant at the U.S. House of Representatives. Smarick's work has appeared in leading news outlets like the Washington Post and The Atlantic, and he also writes for City Journal, The Bulwark, and The Dispatch. You can follow him on Twitter @smarick.
The Duckpin can be found at TheDuckpin.com. We're also @TheDuckpin on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Brian Griffiths has been podcasting for almost ten years, and he’ll be making his return to podcasting this September with The Duckpin Podcast!
We’ll be talking about the things that matter in your life: news, politics, sports, culture. We’ll be looking at those things from a state, local, and national level and we’ll be talking to the people who are making those things happen.
Subscribe now by visiting anchor.fm/theduckpin or search for The Duckpin in your favorite podcast app or on YouTube.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @TheDuckpin.
Subscribe today so you don’t miss a single episode of The Duckpin Podcast, coming this September.
To learn more about The Duckpin visit theduckpin.com.