POS POD: Politics of Sport/Sport of Politics

Jonathan and Geoff discuss ESPN's silent protest over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill and transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

Geoff and Jonathan discuss the NFL Combine and upcoming draft, empowered QBs, and the two Madnesses of March and Mulch. Geoff also talks about his obsession with local news and living the true crime podcast lifestyle. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In a breaking news edition of the pod, Jonathan and Geoff discuss the latest drama with the release of Washington Football Team emails and how the journalistic sausage is made. The latest email drop got many reporters all in riled up over Adam Schefter's reporting techniques. Jonathan uses his experience as an NFL communications professional to put this news into context.

Jonathan and Geoff bring you the cavalcade of news this week from the intersection of sports and politics: drama in Jacksonville with Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer, the impact of name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation deals in college sports, and professional athletes talking openly about whether or not they want to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

California political pro Paul Mitchell, the vice president of Political Data Inc. and owner of Redistricting Partners, walks Geoff and Jonathan through the enormous redistricting process in California. Paul and the gang also discuss the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA). Geoff learns that his home was once the location of a mean poker game among Sacramento pols, and Paul explains how cycling appeals to the competitive nature of political operatives. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Headwaters Media CEO Ian Prior enters the #POSpod to discuss a clever and zesty new project, The Daily Malarkey, and of course politics, sports, and yacht rock. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Political and communications pro Ken Spain talks to Geoff and Jonathan about what makes a smart and effective operative, bipartisan marriage, and movies and TV shows to watch.

They guys welcome Jonathan’s college buddy, Sean Kelly, who heads up marketing for ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in Florida. Sure, they talk about the booming booze biz and some Villanova hoops, but Sean steals the show with old Parcells and Bellichick stories from his Giants ballboy days.

Geoff and Jonathan speak with online gaming attorney Jeff Ifrah about the trends and issues in the growing sports and online gaming industries. Jeff is the founding member of the Washington, DC-based law firm Ifrah Law, as well as the founder of the iDevelopment and Economic Association (iDEA), an organization that works to expand the online interactive entertainment business. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Cannabis entrepreneur Patty Roe tells Geoff and Jonathan about her journey from the securities industry, to Capitol Hill, to building a successful cannabis business. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Sports betting attorney Daniel Wallach talks to Jonathan and Geoff about the trends and future of legal sports betting in the U.S. Daniel is also a legal analyst for The Athletic and the co-host of the sports betting law podcast Conduct Detrimental. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

You’ve heard of wine tours and beer tours, but what about cannabis tours? California Cannabis Tourism Association Founder and Executive Director Brian Applegarth talks to Geoff and Jonathan about the burgeoning tourism market growing around the already expanding cannabis industry, and what the future holds. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Steven Hawkins walks Geoff and Jonathan through what cannabis policies are on the ballot in the 2020 election. Steven also shares his insight on developing trends in cannabis policy. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

What if we told you Arlington has hosted or will host the World Series, Super Bowl, WrestleMania, the National Finals Rodeo, and the NFL Draft? Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Ronnie Price walks Jonathan and Geoff through how this stealthy Texas town is hanging with all the big boys. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Nate Nesbitt has never been afraid to go his own way, from being a Laker fan growing up in Boston to being the national press secretary for the Lincoln Project. Nate, Jonathan, and Geoff discuss the state of sports, politics, and news media. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Tampa Bay Buccaneers radio man T.J. Rives gives an insider's look at this most interesting NFL season, especially in 'Tompa Bay.' --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Geoff introduces Jonathan to his fellow Long Island native Sheila Wenz. Sheila is a comedian and comedy writer who has appeared on NBC, A&E, Comedy Central and The Lifetime Network and worked on a variety of TV series and films at CBS, ABC, Columbia Pictures, MGM, Warner Bros., Disney and on the writing staff at NBC’s Stage One on “The Tonight Show.” Sheila got Geoff started in standup through her comedy school, Standup Studios. You can learn more about and sign up for Sheila's classes, which are continuing remotely during the pandemic, at www.standupstudios.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The guys have a few yuks with entrepreneur & philanthropist Pete Snyder. Pete talks to the guys about his and his wife Burson's work with the Virginia 30 Day Fund to support Virginia small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as his beloved Philadelphia Eagles and what he might have in store in the future. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Geoff and Jonathan speak with sports, political, and corporate communications pro Kevin "Sully" Sullivan about advising everyone from NFL and NBA teams, to media networks, to the President of the United States. Sully shares a behind-the-scenes look at working with high profile principals on communications strategy, and tells the story of how he broke the ice in his job interview with President George W. Bush. Make sure to check out Sully's book Breaking Through: Communications Lessons From the Locker Room, the Board Room & the Oval Office, available on Amazon. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

From Daytona to darts to dog shows, if it’s a sport, legendary broadcaster Chris Myers has covered it. Jonathan and Geoff talk to Chris about all of the hard, behind-the-scenes work that goes into making a sports broadcast look so easy. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jonathan and Geoff reconnect with political and public affairs communications pro Mike Steel about the current state of politics, what could be coming next for sports in the time of COVID, and Steel’s sartorial splendor. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jonathan and Geoff dust off an interview recorded pre-COVID with cowboy lobbyist Scott Graves, but not before checking in with Scott on how life has been back at the barn in Texas. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Geoff and Jonathan talk to comedian, attorney, and roller derby force-to-be-reckoned-with about standup in the time of COVID, growing up Native American and the use of Native American imagery in sports.

Fellow Capitol Hill leadership alum and longtime public affairs honcho Greg Crist takes a break from keeping the bullfrogs in the wheelbarrow to catch up Geoff and Jonathan to discuss communications, advocacy, leadership, and his trademark folksy euphemisms.

That time when political strategist and prognosticator Liam Donovan welcomed the boys to Bracewell's posh studios to analyze Super Tuesday and they proceed to: compare Joe Biden to both Frank Reich and Ryan Fitzpatrick, as well as pay homage to musical giants Billy Hixx, Robert Goulet, and C+C Music Factory.

Political operative, CNN commentator, and DC man about town Doug Heye joins Geoff and Jonathan to talk about North Carolina basketball, a deep dive on pro wrestling, wine, and the South Carolina presidential primary, and numerous other topics. Really, this episode could've been twice as long.

Geoff and Jonathan talk to one of the reporters for Roll Call's Heard on the Hill, Kathryn Lyons. Kathryn and Jonathan go Wikipedia style on the neighborhoods of Tampa, and Kathryn describes the path that got her from Tampa, to Florida State, and on to DC. The gang also discuss the world of comedy and what motivates someone to be a performer. 

Amos Snead of Adfero and FamousDC fame joins the fellas to discuss his interesting name, nickname, career path and the book he co-authored, Climbing The Hill, about his time as a congressional staffer. 

Everything Gerrit Lansing knows he learned from his idol and neighbor, Mr. T. As such, he pities the fool who doesn't support the transformative new fundraising platform, WinRed. Often mistaken for being the Twitter personification of the City of Lansing, Michigan, there's no mistaking Gerrit's influence over digital strategy in politics. 

This episode is rated "E" for "Excellent." And "Explicit." Senate Sloth Committee Chair and supreme wonk Shoshana Weissmann explains to Jonathan and Geoff the problems of modern dating, the joys of think tank life, and how to love the Supreme Court. Shoshana also shares her passion for hiking in the great outdoors.    

Jonathan and Geoff talk to attorney to the pols and the stars Elliot Berke. Elliot shares stories from the backrooms of Capitol Hill to backstage at a rock show. He's the only person Jonathan and Geoff know who's taken Billy Idol to the Smithsonian, given Duff McKagan a Capitol tour, and has an IMDB credit. 

Do you remember where you were when UVA beat Florida State on Nov. 2, 1995? New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin does. He joined your hosts Jonathan Grella and Geoff Embler for a deep dive on college sports, road food, and politics. 

In their POS pilot, Geoff and Jonathan (a former NFL PR honcho) preview HBO’s Hard Knocks, along with special guest Mark Williams. Mark served as a chief of staff in the House of Representatives and is now a principal at a government relations firm.