Sports Leadership Podcast

It's tough out there right now. Big wins are hard to come by. Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) discuss the power of stringing together small wins. We hear all about the big "over night success" but what if the key to getting better was to consistently achieve small wins?

In Episode 43 of The Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) talk with Sue Thaden, the Founder, CEO, and President of CRi and From Now On for a great conversation. We discuss how Sue's companies' "Get it Great", what she looks for in employees, how they're managing during the pandemic, and how she begins and ends each day. This was one of our favorite interviews thus far!

In Episode 42 of the Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) discuss the recent ESPN film, "The Last Dance". For basketball junkies, the movie was compelling, especially so for those interested in leadership. In the second part of this conversation, Mark and Kevin discuss the contrast between Jordan's Bulls and the modern NBA, MJ's stint in Minor League Baseball, and what they both agree is Jordan's true superpower.

In Episode 41 of the Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) discuss the recent ESPN film, "The Last Dance". For basketball junkies, the movie was compelling, especially so for those interested in leadership. In part one of the conversation, Mark and Kevin discuss Jordan's leadership, Phil Jackson, the turbulent 1997-98 season, and what it would be like to play with MJ.

Texas A&M Deputy AD for Student-Athlete Experience joins Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) on Episode 40 of The Sports Leadership Podcast to talk about her career journey, leading through change, giving student-athletes the tools to succeed and how our industry is doing in regards to diversity.

Co-Host Kevin DeShazo's new book - "Keep Chopping Wood" drops this week and he talks with co-host Mark Hodgkin about the book's genesis, its message, and what it can teach leaders. The book chronicles a young athlete, who learns an important message from his grandfather that proves to be "An ordinary approach to achieving extraordinary success". For more on the new book, visit https://www.keepchoppingwood.com/

Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) are joined by Jake Hirshman, Executive Producer of the Life in the Front Office podcast. Jake, who works for the Korn Ferry Tour, talks about his career journey, his book "20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won’t Go Pro" and how he makes time for what is important in his life and career.

Opendorse co-founder and CEO Blake Lawrence joins Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) to discuss a number of topics. We dive into the recent NCAA announcement related to student-athlete NIL rights, discuss the impetus and creation of Opendorse, and what role being a student-athlete himself helped Blake in his journey.

Cisco Executive Bryan Bedford joins Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) on the latest episode of the Sports Leadership Podcast. Bryan shares his thoughts on the state of sports technology in the era of covid-19. A long time work from homer, he also talks about what it takes to successfully lead remote teams.

In Episode 35 of the Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) discuss the importance of mindset and perspective during this time of uncertainty.

In Episode 34 of the Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) discuss the topic at the front of all of our minds, the world's fight with the Covid-19 pandemic. We discuss ways to work through the fear and uncertainty of the situation as well as things all leaders and aspiring leaders can do to emerge from the crisis better than when it started. For more on the free resources Kevin mentioned, visit https://www.giant.tv/remote/culturewins

In the latest Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) discuss humility and the keys of being a servant leader. We've all worked and been around those who feel they are bigger than the team - and these are not 'leaders' we want to follow. A moment from Kevin's son Gabe's recent basketball practice crystalized this lesson perfectly.

In Episode 32, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins, Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket) discuss a series of lifestyle experiments he did during two months off between jobs (more here: https://medium.com/@mark_hodgkin/meditations-on-a-few-months-off-aa0b516d4184). The discussion hinges on the importance of experimenting and creating great systems to make yourself better.

In Episode 31 of The Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins and Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (TicketSocket)talk with Orlando Magic Basketball Operations Associate and Player Development Coordinator Kevin Tiller. Kevin shares some of the leadership lessons he's learned from prominent college coaches Shaka Smart and Will Wade as well as the leadership of the Magic. He also gives some great insights on his career and what it takes to succeed in the sports field.

Adversity is one thing that will visit us all whether we're ready or not. In Episode 30 of the Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin discuss ways to prepare for it, manage and lead through it, and use it as a way to improve.

With the dawn of a new college sports season, Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin tackle the importance of starting a season strong and preparing to commit to a strong workplace culture over the long haul. Making your leadership personal and giving your team a concrete vision for why what they do will help them internalize your mission. And it's also worth taking a few minutes to be thankful for working in this industry.

In the first of a series on popular leadership axioms, Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin evaluate the premise that "How we do anything is how we do everything." A recent blog post by Ryan Holiday prompts the conversation and leads to a discussion on what's really important to focus on.

After a lengthy delay, Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin return with a conversation on effecting and adapting through change in the workplace. The only thing most of us can count on is the inevitability of change. Great leaders are able to create change and lead their teams through it. And sometimes change comes in the form of a career move or organizational change in which we might have to deal with transition. Kevin & Mark tackle both these topics in the latest episode.

Networking is crucial for growing your career whether it comes naturally or not. As polar opposites, Kevin Deshazo (Culture Wins and Fieldhouse Media), an extrovert, and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion College), an introvert, have dramatically different styles when it comes to networking. They discuss ways for both personality types to do this better.

Theodore Roosevelt once called comparison the "thief of joy", and in this epiosde of the Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media and Culture Wins) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion College) discuss how it can negatively impact leaders. If you are focused on comparison, you are not being the best version of yourself for those you lead.

Leadership is not just about leading your team, it also involves managing up the chain of command in your organization. In Episode 24 of The Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins Championships and FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion College) discuss the importance of leading up, taking ownership of your relationship with your boss, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Continuing a series of interviews with college sports leaders on the role of the modern Athletics Director, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins Championships, Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) chat with Fairfield Athletics Director Paul Schlickmann.

In Episode 22, Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media & Culture Wins Championships) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) discuss the role of ego in our lives and leadership. While we all have ego, it's how we deal with it that will ultimately lead to success or failure.

Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins Championships and Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion College) discuss some of the leadership lessons shown by recent football champions. The Eagles, led by a backup QB were able to thrive despite the loss of an MVP candidate. And Alabama QB Jalen Hurts showed true leadership in how he handled being benched at halftime of the CFP Championship Game.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Kevin Deshazo (Culture Wins Championships and Fieldhouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) discusses the enormous power of gratitude for leaders.

Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media & Culture Wins Championships) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) discuss a number of topics including the ongoing college basketball scandal, leading through transition and Kevin’s upcoming book “Leadership Interrupted”.

Continuing our series on the modern AD, Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media and Culture Wins Championships) and Mark A. Hodgkin (NeuLion) talk with Temple AD, Dr. Patrick Kraft.

In Episode 17 of The Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin continue their series on the role of the modern athletics director with a conversation with Seminole State College AD Kurt Esser. Kurt just finished his first year as AD after 15 years at Nevada and New Mexico, to fulfill a lifelong goal of being an athletics director. We talk about the challenges of being a first-time athletics director and some of his guiding principles.

In Episode 16, Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin continue a series of conversations with college sports leaders over the role of the Athletics Director now and in the future. This week's guest is Arkansas Sr. Associate AD Chris Freet.

In Episode 15, Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin debut their first interview in a series of conversations with college sports leaders over the role of the Athletics Director now and in the future. This week's guest is Washington Associate AD Carter Henderson.

You don't need a big title to be a leader. No matter where you are in an organization, there are things you can do to build your influence and be a leader. Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins Championships, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) discuss ways to grow as a leader no matter what your title is.

Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media & Culture Wins Championships) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) tackle the sometimes thorny issues of year-end reviews and evaluations. Take time to assess where your culture is and how you are doing as a leader.

Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins Championships and FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) discuss their unique professional journeys and share advice with recent graduates looking to break into the sports industry.

Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins Championships) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) dig into the elements of a meaningful life based on the five components outlined by The Minimalists in "Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life". Those are Relationships, Health, Contribution, Growth and Passion.

Communicating is one of the biggest pieces of building and maintaining influence. In Episode 10, Kevin DeShazo (Culture Wins Championships, FieldHouse Media) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) examine the five voices people have and how to communicate in the most productive and effective way.

There may be no such thing as a true "Work/Life Balance", but understanding your different modes of work and leisure can help you be better both at home and the office. Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media & Culture Wins Championships) and Mark A. Hodgkin (NeuLion) discuss on the latest edition of the Sports Leadership Podcast.

Self preservation is a natural inclination, but also a wall between simple transactions and meaningful relationships. In a follow up to episode 7, Kevin DeShazo (FieldHouse Leadership) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion College Sports) discuss how self preservation can ultimately destroy your influence.

Your influence among those around you can make or break a career, but are you thinking enough about what goes into that? What about your blind spots. Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin dive into the elements of influence in this episode of the Sports Leadership Podcast.

Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media and Fieldhouse Leadership) and Mark Hodgkin (NeuLion) discuss the current social media landscape and particularly how it relates to college sports. They also go into how building an individual presence on social media can help your career and your employer.

Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin tackle change in the workplace. How do you adjust to a new leader in your organization? What if YOU are the new leader? There are practical and easy steps to take in either position, but you need to be intentional.

Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Leadership) and Mark A. Hodgkin discuss the "Support/Challenge" matrix. All of us bring certain levels of support and challenge to our team, but finding the right mix is what separates great leaders from the rest. Find out how to take the steps needed to be a "Liberator".

Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Leadership) and Mark A. Hodgkin (NeuLion) discuss the best books they read in 2016 and why you should read more in 2017.

Kevin DeShazo and Mark A. Hodgkin discuss the importance of rest and recovery to productivity. Kevin outlines the five gears of personal behavior and how and when to shift among them. The Sports Leadership Podcast focuses on becoming the best sports professional possible.

In the first episode of The Sports Leadership Podcast, Kevin DeShazo (Fieldhouse Media, Fieldhouse Leadership) and Mark Hodgkin discuss the importance of self awareness and how to "know yourself to lead yourself." Self awareness is the first step of any self improvement, and the best part is that you can start now...and it's totally up to you.

Kevin DeShazo and Mark Hodgkin debut their brand-new podcast, The Sports Leadership Podcast. These two industry professionals will explore the world of sports business and how to be a better leader.