Can You Keep a Secret?: Recent Episodes
Pulltab Sports
The Can You Keep a Secret? podcast is hosted by Twin Cities advertising and sports marketing vets John King and Tom Garrity. The premise is simple, as its name would suggest—Can You Keep A Secret? is private conversations with public figures.
What does that mean? It means you're going to learn things you didn't know about sports and entertainment figures you do know. And it means you're going to hear conversations unlike anything you've heard before. That's our promise to you. And that's Can You Keep a Secret?
Bob Wolf is a troubadour, an outlaw, and the man responsible for turning “We are the World” into an International phenomenon one radio station at a time. He also started the Nashville Predator’s catfish toss tradition and helped a young Dierks Bentley get his start. That’s Wolfie, the furthest thing from “a nobody from nowhere.”
Brooks Bollinger is good at about everything he does. A three-sport high school star, Brooks went on to be a four-year starter at the University of Wisconsin, with two Rose Bowls along the way. Brooks shares stories of his visit to the Playboy mansion, his time in the NFL, and how the hockey players still got all the girls growing up in North Dakota.
Can You Keep A Secret is Back! John King and Tom Garrity are joined by Minnesota State hockey head coach, Luke Strand, to discuss all things college hockey! From NIL, to transfer portal, and Frozen Four, Luke gives us a look inside his world at Mankato on his one year anniversary of taking the head coaching role.
Bret Hedican is a Stanley Cup champion, Olympian, accomplished television analyst, and he played over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League. But the real reason you need to listen to Hedi’s visit to the pod is he’s a passionate guy and a bucket of inspiration whose stories will make you want to run through a wall because you’re so pumped up. Hear tales from Bret’s career, lessons and mantras he learned along the way, and a sneak peek at his new business reinventing the backpack with hedigear.com.
Jeff Christman was a legend we lost too soon. The guys catch up with the folks behind the annual Pickleball Vs. Cancer fundraiser created in his honor. Learn about the event which raises money each year to fight pancreatic cancer and hear about the man who inspired the event. Jeff Christman was a hockey guy, an inventor, and considered soccer to be an “activity” not a sport. What’s not to like? If you wish to be a part of the event in the future or donate email james@pickleballvscancer.com
The guys welcome University of Minnesota Men’s Hockey Head Coach Bob Motzko to the podcast. Topics range from growing up in Austin, Minnesota to Twitter sensation @FakeBobMotzko. Coach Motzko shares how coaching legend Herb Brooks helped him get his start, his excitement for the smaller ice sheet at Mariucci, the heartbreak of coming up one game short in Tampa, and if Spam might be the Gophers official pregame meal as they try to work their way back to a third consecutive Frozen Four at home in Saint Paul next Spring.
If your last name is Jordan, and your parents name you Michael—you better be good at something! Michael E. Jordan is good at a lot of things: he’s an entrepreneur, designer, and the CEO of UNRL. As Nike is to Portland and Under Armour is to Baltimore—UNRL is about to be to the Twin Cities. Michael shares how he turned $300 and an idea into one of the fastest growing and most exciting clothing brands in the country.
Executive Director for the Hendrickson Foundation, Danny Hendrickson, stops by the pod to tell some “Larry the Legend” stories about his father, and to share what it’s like to be “the other brother” growing up alongside his Mr. Hockey and NHL-bound brother, Darby. The guys discuss the fundraising backbone behind the annual All Hockey Hair Team and tell some State Tourney stories live from the Let’s Play Hockey Expo in downtown Saint Paul.
The Executive Director at Minnesota Hockey, Glen Andresen, swings by the pod to talk all things girl’s hockey. Andresen makes his case that a strong association can be built almost anywhere in Minnesota with the right leadership and commitment. He also shares some vintage Minnesota Wild stories, and provides a state of the union for the girls game in the State of Hockey.
The queen of girl’s hockey in Minnesota, Winny Brodt-Brown, stops by the pod on Hockey Day Minnesota in White Bear Lake. Winny shares details of her new Celly Hard podcast soon to debut on the Pulltab Sports network. Topics include should your daughter play with the boys, the present state of beer league hockey for women, and if girl’s JV hockey should be eliminated altogether.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration, look no further than Episode 14 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, as Tom and John visit with a true “fire breather,” Casey O’Brien. Casey is a five-time cancer survivor who is currently fighting the disease for a sixth time. Despite numerous surgeries and setbacks, Casey still managed to get on the field and play football at the University of Minnesota. Casey opens up about his unique relationship with Coach P.J. Fleck, the Cretin-Derham Hall mafia that runs Saint Paul, and the charity work he’s doing to support M Health Fairview Children’s Masonic hospital with www.teamonefour.org.
In Episode 13 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John are paid a visit by certified NHLPA Agent Tom Lynn. As the former assistant General Manager of the Minnesota Wild and current principal at Veritas, Lynn opens up about his role helping build the Wild business and brand, and how the landscape has changed today. The guys also share stories from a recent "gluten unfriendly" trip to Pittsburgh, and the many merits of cheese balls.
In Episode 12 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John have a free-flowing discussion with Winnipeg Jets blueliner, Nate Schmidt. “The Great 88” discusses being undrafted, a rare fight in Da Beauty League, the folk hero that is Dustin Byfuglien, how to properly identify every brand of chewing tobacco using only smell, and how country music star Big Wet show up at his wedding.
In Episode 11 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John visit with the governor of youth hockey in Minnesota, Youth Hockey Hub founder Tony Scott. The guys discuss the difference between river and lake towns, and get an answer from Tony to the age-old question, “Which level of youth hockey is the craziest of them all?”
Tom and John are joined by the first ever Men’s Hockey coach for Augustana University, Garrett Raboin. The guys discuss what it takes to build a hockey program from scratch, the glorious flow and beard on the Augustana Vikings logo, Sioux Falls as a hockey destination, and break down the best boat snacks, the "Elvis" movie, and whether fireworks are overrated.
In Episode 9 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John visit with master distiller, Guy Whitehead, who has just opened Lucky Guys Distillery on the river in Hudson, Wisconsin. The guys talk entrepreneurialism, Narcos as a business model, and John shares a recent accident he had at the office. For more info on Lucky Guys visit http://www.luckyguysdistillery.com/ (www.luckyguysdistillery.com).
In Episode 8 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Gopher hockey great and NHL veteran Paul Martin stops by the pod. Martin opens up about the mental health challenges that led him to creating the Shine A Light7 foundation, discusses his current role as assistant coach for the U of M, and even breaks down some classic rock with the boys. If you’re struggling with mental health personally, visit shinealigh7.org for more info.
In Episode 7 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John visit with the host of the next Pulltab Sports podcast, Bobby Finn. As they say on the East Side, “Bobby Finn knows everybody.” Bobby shares family stories that include tractor accidents, oversized lawn statues, and living with his mother. The guys close out the episode debating who would win a royal rumble between combatants from the North, South, East, and West in Minnesota.
In Episode 6 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John visit with Bally Sport’s sideline reporter and studio host Audra Martin. While many in the Twin Cities know Audra as a fixture when they watch the Wild and Twins, they may be surprised to find out “Audra Bug” has the pipes (and guts) to karaoke Whitney Houston, considers Family Feud’s Steve Harvey her personal life coach, and is a self-described Coors Light and Scotch girl. What’s not to like!
In Episode 5 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John catch up with Devon Worley and Jason Medvec from the Devon Worley Band. The beer-soaked chat takes place in Medvec’s recently constructed “Garage Mahal” bar, before a visit to Bat Cave Studios where the guys get to hear an early rendition of DWB’s mind-blowing cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.” Along the way, the conversation covers everything from knitting, to the rock & roll lifestyle, and how to properly make a Chuck Norris coffee.
In Episode 4 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John catch up with the Ron Burgundy of the Twin Cities, WCCO Co-Anchor Frank Vascellaro. The wide-ranging discussion includes topics from being one half of local news power couple “Framelia” with his wife and co-anchor Amelia Santaniello, to listening to new wave music at college keg parties in Boulder, and the importance and value of compromise in America. While Frank would never say it, he's “kind of a big deal,” so give it a listen!
In Episode 3 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John talk with Stanley Cup Champion and Minnesota Wild color guy, Ryan Carter. Far from a pedigree kid, the self-made Carter tells stories of his favorite Par-3 golf course in Minnesota, having rabbit for dinner in juniors, and being an usher at Lambeau Field. Oh, and he may have had the most exotic hockey injury of all time. He talks about that too! Enjoy.
In Episode 2 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John have an expansive conversation with Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter. They discuss, well, everything but hockey. Suter shares his journey growing up on Madison’s rough and tumble East Side, as well as his business dealings running a production company and owning and operating the Madison Capitols USHL franchise. Other conversation topics include his dog named Favre, life in the Stanley Cup playoff bubble, and the importance of making your bed each morning.
In Episode 1 of the Can You Keep a Secret? podcast, Tom and John catch up with Martin Zellar on a Zoom from his home in Mexico. The wide-ranging conversation spans Martin's working-class roots in Austin, Minnesota, a few Prince stories, the unlikely inspiration behind some of the Gear Daddies more notable tracks, and the surprising back stories of his Neil Diamond tribute band and the Zamboni song. Enjoy!