Podcasts about appalachian state

Jeff Jones is a performance coach with 20 years of collegiate experience at Arkansas State, Boise State, Auburn, and Appalachian State — including conference championships in the Sun Belt, SEC, and WAC, 11 bowl appearances, and a trip to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. He is the author of The Intentional Edge and creator of the 10-Rep Framework, a system designed to build mental toughness, leadership, and elite culture through daily intentional reps.Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

In this week's episode, Brendan Suhr is joined by Dustin Kerns, head coach of the Appalachian State Mountaineers.Kerns reflects on his coaching journey from graduate assistant to Division I head coach, sharing lessons learned from mentors such as Larry Shyatt and Mike Young. He discusses the importance of mastering the “invisible” parts of coaching, building relationships across an institution, and why aspiring coaches must focus on excelling where they are rather than constantly chasing the next opportunity. Kerns also provides an overview of how he rebuilt programs at both Presbyterian and Appalachian State by changing the psychology of winning before focusing on tactics. He shares strategies for establishing accountability, creating alignment throughout your program, and building a culture centered on discipline, selflessness, and team-first habits. The conversation dives into Appalachian State's defensive identity, rebounding philosophy, player development, and the challenges of maintaining consistency in the transfer portal era. All that and more on Episode 332 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Footbagging, otherwise known as Hacky Sack, is a classic game played with a small bag that’s kicked in the air – and it’s recently been making waves among young people. This ’90s toy has gone viral and is the newest trend. On this edition of the Carolina Outdoors, Appalachian State student Lachlan Collins talks about how hacky sack has become popular on his college campus. Did you know you can find hacky sacks in-store at Jesse Brown’s? Stop by and get one for yourself before they sell out! More Liner Notes and information are available online at Jesse Brown's

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Alan Needle not only about his running adventures, but the research he is conducting at races put on by Tanawha Adventures and Dirty Wolf. Alan and his team are conducting a survey-based research study that is aiming to better understand what changes risks of falling and other injuries while you're running. So, if you are running the Kettlefoot, Ridge to Rails, Black Copperhead Sting, HAROC or Beast of the East you need to sign up to be part of this study! More races could be added, so stay tuned by following Injury Lab's instagram @injurylabappstate or checking out their website: https://phes.appstate.edu/laboratories/injury-laboratory. There are incentives offered for being part of these studies, so you don't want to miss out on this opportunity. Listen as Alan describes the research he is doing, plus what led to his specific interest in studying those that trail run. I was fascinated by his discoveries so far that have been published, and I am definitely going to stay tuned to the results of this research. Enjoy!To fill out the participation form, click on the link hereFollow Facing Vert on Instagram: @facingvert

Appalachian State baseball is on an absolute tear. With three huge series on the horizon, can we keep the pace and stay in the coveted top six?

Not only do we have Appalachian State sports to talk about… CJ Huntley and Jeffrey Springs are making moves in the pros!

Adam Munsterteiger and Brian Howell shared their thoughts from Boulder on Friday, after conducting interviews with Colorado defensive tackles coach Dante Carter, Tulane defensive tackle transfer Santana Hopper and Appalachian State transfer Dylan Manuel. BuffStampede has moved to On3! Become a BuffStampede member today with our $1 until football season special offer! #BuffStampede #ColoradoFootball #ColoradoBasketball #ColoradoBuffaloes Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 2026 Hunter Conference in Atlanta Georgia was a major success! So many hospitality professionals and industry leaders converged to share insights, best practices, challenges, and strategies for the future.  The Suite Spot had the opportunity to attend the industry event and interview some of the best and brightest that hospitality has to offer. Tune in to this special episode to hear from executives, brand leaders, presidents, and more from some of the biggest brands in the hospitality industry.  Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Ryan Embree here with the Suite Spot. Fresh Off the highly anticipated 2026 Hunter Conference, which certainly didn’t just fit the bill. Exceeded expectations. What an incredible event, what an amazing couple days in Atlanta, Georgia at the New and iconic Signia Hilton, Atlanta. There were powerhouse panels and education, incredible networking, truly defined. Their theme was The Home of Hospitality. Certainly hit that over that next those couple days there in Atlanta, Georgia, we had the privilege of covering the event. We have some exclusive interviews to bring you, which I’m so excited to share with you on this very episode today. We visited with our friends over at Newport Hospitality. We celebrated a milestone with Hospitality America. We checked in on the development side at PM Hotel Group and sat down with the brain leader of Graduate by Hilton to talk about that exciting brand and everything that they have cooking over there. Who also knows how to throw an incredible party, which they did in tandem with the Hunter Conference, with a ludicrous concert that capped off. And just, again, an amazing couple days in Atlanta, Georgia. We’re so excited to bring you these interviews, and we’re gonna be bringing it all to you here on the sweet spot. Thanks for tuning in. Speaker 2: Hello everyone. Ryan Embree here with the Suite Spot Live on location 2026 Hunter Conference. Excited to welcome in, Wayne West, the third president of Newport Hospitality Group. Wayne, thank you so much for taking some time. Wayne West III: It is a pleasure to be with you. It’s a pleasure to be here. Ryan Embree: Yeah, excited to be here. It’s a sleepy cold morning right now, but we’re warming things up here in Atlanta at the Hunter Conference. Tell us a little bit about your experience and, what do you think about the new location, the new digs? Wayne West III: The new location is great. We’ve been downtown at the Marriott for so many years. I think this is new. It’s fresh, it’s invigorating. It truly is. One of my favorite conferences. I mentioned to you, the Hunter Conference is a relationship kind of conference where you get to sit down and spend time with people one-on-one, whether it’s your brand, whether it’s other owners, whether it’s my peer group. So I enjoy this one a lot. Ryan Embree: I mean, it’s great because I think one of the things, you get a bunch of hospitality people in the same, in the same room. You start talking about some of the challenges that are starting to arise. And right now we got some headwinds, profit profitability, hotel margins, very slim, rising construction costs, operational costs. But you have a philosophy, control what you can control. How do you bring that philosophy to Newport Hospitality Group as we usher in 2026? Wayne West III: Number one, I have really good people. My colleagues are strong at my, my, my corporate level as well as the property level. You know, for many, many years the industry was, had a vibrant ability to drive RevPAR, and it seemed like it was increasing three to 5% every year that slowed down. We continue to push that where there’s opportunities, but what I think we do best and my operational team does best is control the big things. Control, cost, control your labor. We spend a great deal of time working on that every single day. We work with the leaders at the properties to make sure that we’ve got the appropriate, uh, levels of payroll and the appropriate levels of resources to the levels of business at the time. So I, I, I think a great deal. We’ve always spent time on that. But it’s even more and more important as your RevPAR may not be increasing as quickly as payrolls are. Ryan Embree: Yeah, absolutely. Operational efficiency, really, really key. Try to look for every inch that you can get right now. We had the opportunity to meet up with your COO Brendan McCoy at the Hospitality Show out there in Denver. He was talking about the growth of, of Newport Hospitality Group and was really focused in on talking about strategic growth with the right partners. What does the right partner mean to you? And you see opportunity out there. Wayne West III: I do see opportunity. We’ve recently taken over a hotel with the perfect partner, has a few hotels, but her focus wants to be on development. She is aligned with us culturally. She has the right kind of hotel. She maintains it well, but she thinks she can make more money developing the next hotel and is leaving operations to us. So the first thing we wanna do, we wanna make sure that we align philosophically with her vision, anyone’s vision of the hotel and how it’s gonna be operated, how we’re gonna treat the guest, the employees, and how we protect her asset and grow it and make it more profitable. But I think that’s the key thing, is aligning with a partner that aligns with your vision. Ryan Embree: Yeah. And that alignment is really can be found in rooms like this, right. At a Hunter Conference, when you’re networking, you’re having conversations over that because it is key, that alignment, making sure that you and the owner are kind of hand in hand, especially in a time where it’s a little bit challenging, looking for operational efficiency. A lot of people, subject matter topics talk about AI and technology, right. Trying to fill those gaps. Talk to me a little bit about the philosophy and how you approach AI and technology. Is it more about the guest experience or employee empowerment? Wayne West III: Let’s be honest, AI has been around a long time. If you go back to revenue management 25 years ago, instead of, you know, we started leaning into computers to do some of the analysis for us. So I think this matured over the year and it continues to evolve. And I think it’s evolved expeditiously over the last few years, right? We first used ChatGTP to help us write sentences, and now we’re analyzing data. I think we’ll continue to evaluate how to make us more efficient, but really more effective with the data. I think we need to make sure we’re not consumed by the data and ask AI to help us with the right questions and get the right data to make quicker decisions and better decisions. So I think we’re testing it today, all the different kinds of AI out there. We’re testing it in all the disciplines. We’re testing it in HR, we’re testing it in operations. We’re testing it in sales and marketing. We’re testing it in HR. So I think when you apply it to those and then see what bubbles up and see how, how, what best results you get. But let’s not be consumed by it. Ryan Embree: Yeah, absolutely. Wayne West III: Because you gotta take care of the guests first. Ryan Embree: 100%. And I think, you add those things up, you add those little gains up, that’s, and, and kind of take a step back and look. Now you become more operationally efficient. You control what you can control what you said, and hopefully improved your business there. But that’s great perspective to look back. ’cause you’re right, technology is no stranger to our industry. It’s been there just been maybe in a little bit different path. Wayne West III: We called it it something different. Truly it is intelligence that helps make us better. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Use it correctly. Love it. So, another thing we like to try to do at these conferences is look into a crystal ball. Try to predict the future, right? Everybody’s telling you what’s next, three, six months and down the line. What’s your vision? Maybe let’s start wide at the hospitality industry and then maybe you can dial it down from Newport Hospitality. Wayne West III: Again, I think I said it early, you know, we’ve been spoiled by the ability to grow our rates every year substantially. That’s slowing down. So we’ve gotta be smarter. I think a big opportunity is food and beverage globally from the, in, from an industry standpoint, I think doing food and beverage right drives preference to your hotel. I came up in the food and beverage world, and I think when select service hotels came along, we, we weren’t as good at food and beverage as we were 20 years ago. And we’ve let outside restaurants and bars wildly successful take a piece of our, our business. So I think we can do better if we would concentrate a little more on food and beverage, finding out what the guest really wants, needs and desires are when he checks into your hotel, and that that guest will come back. It will drive preference and it’ll drive RevPAR. So I wanna concentrate on that a bit. Ryan Embree: Great differentiator there for guests. Also attracting locals. If it’s a nice restaurant, you know, it’s your hotel restaurant isn’t of that of the same 40 years ago. Right? So, um, what about Newport Hospitality Group? Will you see the vision there? Wayne West III: We’ve got a couple letters of intent out today. Great brands, great owners. Two, were buying into one or actually purchasing a hotel. It’s the right hotel in the right location at the right time. We think we add some value by some additional sales and marketing that Whitney will do with her team. Whitney and Kirsten will do, whether it’s digitally or whether it’s just a different way of looking at our guests and attracting the guests. So we’re trying to find the major brands in our niche markets. Maybe we’re not in Washington DC but we’re in Frederick, we’re not in Jacksonville downtown, we’re in Jackson, the beach of Jacksonville. So we do really well in the secondary markets. We know, well, we’re in the south, we’re in the Northeast corridor all the way down from, you know, from Brooklyn, New York to Orlando, Florida. So we’re looking for that sweet spot, but I think many, as many companies are today. But we’re trying to identify that one that we can either reposition through some capital or reposition, because we’re just gonna take a different view of, uh, the revenue side of it. Ryan Embree: Well really appreciate you taking some time and stopping by Wayne. So thank you so much for having being on the Suite Spot with us. Wayne West III: Good to be with you, Ryan. Nice to meet you. Thank you very much. Ryan Embree: We’ll talk to you next time. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Ryan Embree here with the Suite Spot. Live at the 2026 Hunter Conference here with Ben Campbell, CEO and President of Hospitality America. Ben, thanks so much for taking some time to speak with us today. Ben Campbell: Absolutely. I appreciate the time, Ryan. Ryan Embree: It’s a cold, sleepy Atlanta morning. Very cold outside. But the, it’s warm and hot energy in here. We got some panels, we got some networking going on. There was some great activations and programmings last night. First time here at the Signia Atlanta. You’ve been to Hunter a couple times. What does a successful hunter look like to you and what do you think about the new location? Ben Campbell: I love the new location. I love the marquee. I love the historic nature of it. And, and we all got used to, to the marquee and then the multi-level there. Um, here, I got here early just to figure out where everything was, uh, this time to know where I was going. But, um, what a hunter success, success looks like for us is really extending relationships, making new relationships, and then getting outside of our echo chambers of our companies or our hotels and talking to other people and seeing what they’re seeing, what’s happening with the industry, what are people looking to invest in, where do they think it’s going? You know, got to listen to Chris Nassetta, uh, CEO of Hilton yesterday and provided us with some, his insight and, which was great takeaways that we’ll be able to take back to our company and make decisions. Ryan Embree: Some really cool announcements you typically get at these shows feels like a new brand’s popping up every single day in hospitality, but it is, you’re absolutely right there, I mean, you get a bunch of hospitality people from different markets in the same room, and all of a sudden those challenges start to arise and bubble up a little bit and maybe some innovative solutions outta that. But 2026, obviously a massive year for Hospitality America, 30 years. Congratulations to that. When you hear that, Ben, you know, as CEO and President, what does that milestone and chapter mean to you? Ben Campbell: Me, personally, first, it’s an honor that I’m able to be the CEO of a 30 year company and take it into the next 30 years. When I look back, it’s really about, legacy and consistency. And so for a company to get to 30 years and, and we have some contracts, we have two contracts that are 30 year contracts for us and clients. And so, you know, it’s a lot of work to, to maintain that. But it’s also a real testament to our founder Chris Cargon. It is the legacy that he has left behind and that he has poured into this company that now I have the honor and the rest of our team and, and employees have the honor of taking that into the next level. Ryan Embree: It’s so cool to hear that, to hang your hat on a story of three decades worth and to usher in this new, this next 30 years first. So congratulations there. Obviously lots change in hospitality in 30 years. I’d say lots change in the last five. And we might be at a inflection point here with everything around AI and technology, which we’re gonna speak to in a second. But what do you attribute to that longevity and success of Hospitality America and this company? Ben Campbell: We boil it down to three different things. So we have what we call the HA Promises. We have three stakeholders that every single day we wake up and we say, are we delivering the promise to our owners, to our team members, and to our guests? So everything that we do, we boil it down into those three pillars and say that every guest comes to our hotels and we have, we’re making promises to them that we have to deliver. Same with our team members, and definitely to our, our owners. And so I think it’s through that lens that we’ve been able to have a 30 year career and knowing that really we’re here to service the guests and we’re also here to service our clients, which is our owners, and deliver on those, perform, deliver the metrics and the performance that they expect and that ultimately we said that we would do and that we are delivering on. So, that’s why I say it’s really the consistency of the company. Also I think, you know, we’ve been scaling at, at a good rate, but it’s been very strategic in how we do it. And so we have 30 year relationships. I don’t want to take on anything that’s gonna put that in jeopardy. Swo we’re very selective on who we bring in and knowing that, okay, I can be very successful with this for this owner, and we’re building a great relationship. Ryan Embree: Yeah. We’re hearing that right now, more and more, not just looking for growth, but that strategic growth for the right partners. So key right now, especially in a challenging environment where margins, profitability hard to come by right now. But another place that Hospitality America has received some recognition recently is around its people, uh, which is, you know, the USA today recognized as top workplace for two consecutive years and top workplace for frontline workers. I think, you know, you come to a conference like this, obviously the big notes are about the AI technology, but how have you invested in people and seen those dividends pay off? Ben Campbell: Yeah. When I came under leadership of the company in 2022, that was a big focus of mine because we were having to rescale the company and really look at the industry and everybody was fighting for the same talent in the same talent pool. And so, like, again, the legacy of Chris Cargan, we said, we need to really define what that looks like objectively on who we’re bringing into the company. And so we boiled that down to our core values, which is outlined as a, uh, acronym P.E.A.C.H. Passion, excellence, adaptability, community, and humble. And so when we seek that talent, they know what they can expect from us, and we can tell them, this is what we expect from you. And when doing that, we’re holding everybody accountable. And so everybody, then we can say, okay, this is who we are. Peach. What we do is the HA promises. Ryan Embree: So everybody can strive to meet those metrics for the owner, each other as the team members and and our guests. And by holding that accountability training toward that accountability, and then everybody’s on the same page, that’s really what I think gives us the recognition. Last year when we did that survey for USA today. Really proud to say that 90% of our 850 employees responded to the survey. So just getting that type of engagement of completing the survey was a big win for us. We might have some exciting news come out by the time that this podcast dropped. Ryan Embree: Alright, well, we’re excited to hear about it, Ben. And congratulations to you and your team again. The conversations that I’ve had with industry leaders, those strong management companies have that kind of north star that you’re talking about. It looks like you have those two and those that, that culture that you’ve created over there, obviously the 30 years incredible milestone. Typically a time for reflection in looking at the legacy in the past, but also looking towards the future. That’s what you typically do on those big anniversaries. So what is the vision for the future of Hospitality America look like for you, Ben? Ben Campbell: Vision for us is still growth. Um, there’s a lot of opportunity out there. Uh, again, I think that, you know, how we do that is, is maybe a little different than we have. Um, we have two great relationships. Like I said, today we operate for five different ownership groups. We will expand some of that, uh, but we’ll also look at expanding through acquisitions. We, we’ve historically grown through development through our partnerships. Um, and so there might be a lot more acquisitions. I think right now when you look at the industry and the values of these assets, you know, the replacement costs, a lot of times you can get into an acquisition that much less than it would be to, to replace that. So I think a lot of that is what we’re hearing at Hunter as well. Um, a lot of owners are feeling that we are feeling that as well. Um, and so there’s some great assets that are coming onto the marketplace that I think three or four years ago wouldn’t, back to your question on what we see for the industry. I think the, you know, we, yesterday you heard Christmas set us say that bifurcation of the cake shape economy is gonna be coming together. I agree with that. I don’t think it’s gonna stay that way forever. Um, I think that the top end has just had a lot more cash reserves that they could bleed off over time. Yeah. The middle market is generally where we’ve, uh, been really, really well. And the Hampton ends, the Fairfield ends the, um, and then higher up we do tapestries and we have a motto and tribute and things of that nature. I think that’s where the industry is going. From an experience side, yes, they want a curated experience and a very intentional experience, but also they want to know what they’re gonna get to. So I think that’s where we are right now. We’re kind of feeling those effects of, okay, we’re, you know, we’re curating the experience, but it may not be taken to that next level. And I think that’s where we need to continue to elevate and continue to spend our dollars to ensure that when the guests show up at the Signia or one of our hotels, like a tapestry or the motto of Bentonville, they walk in and they’re blown away that by the experience because they can tell every single detail is thought through. Ryan Embree: Yeah. It’s very cool to see the experiential travel really blow up right now. Guests loving that, but looking for that consistency, like you said, every guest wants that unique experience, but they do want it at a consistent level too, of, of meeting or matching their guest expectations. So Ben, thanks for taking some time, uh, to speak with us. Congratulations on all the milestones and we’re gonna look, uh, for that news that you were sharing. Ben Campbell: I appreciate it. Ryan Embree: Thank you so much. And, uh, we’ll talk to you next time on the Sweet Spot. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Ryan Embry here with the Suite Spot live on location at the Hunter Conference 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia, here with Paul Sacco, Chief Growth and Development Officer at PM Hotel Group. Paul, thank you for taking some time. Paul Sacco: Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Excited to talk about this. We’re the new venue. Uh, you visited the Hunter Conference before. How does this compare and, and what does success really look like for you when you leave Atlanta here? Paul Sacco: Yeah, I think it’s been a great conference. Perhaps a little hiccup with some of the weather Sure. And people getting in. But I think Teague and League and the team at Hunter have done a great job, really producing a terrific conference. And it’s really well attended now. So we’ve had great experience so far in terms of what does a good conference look like? To me, it’s all about connections. So it’s all about making sure that when you come to a conference like this, sure you have meetings scheduled for deal advancement on projects, you’re working on relationship building on some of the new relationships that you are building upon. And that that’s structured, but also that you leave plenty of time to walk the floor because inevitably you’re running into people that you share common stories with, you’re connecting with maybe there’s some things to do with, and it’s just great ’cause our business and our industry is really all about connections. Ryan Embree: That’s how, that’s where it’s built. It’s a big little world hospitality run into a lot of people. And when you get a lot of hospitality people in one place, they’re gonna start sharing best practices and maybe some of the challenges that they’re having right now. Absolutely. Especially with margins, uh, profits, people are looking out for that edge to figure out what’s next. Where do you think there’s opportunity when you kind of see the landscape right now? Is it a particular region, a segment that you like? Paul Sacco: Yeah, so we operate in full service and toward luxury segment as well as select service and then independent and boutique. And we all hear a lot right now about luxury and leisure leading the way. And we hear a lot about mid-scale extended stay and extended stay generally leading the way. And we’re in those categories. I also think there’s really good opportunity if you are thoughtful about the, the possibilities thoughtful about the deal in urban markets, on core branded hotels. I think there’s still some really good opportunity. You have to be thoughtful about your basis and about what the demand drivers are. But I think there’s some future opportunity in the near term there. I think there will be transactions that start to happen more. We’re starting to see some more pip pressure now from the brands. We’re starting to see some more lender pressure. I think the period of extend and pretend is perhaps coming to an end. Yeah. And there’ll be some transactions that occur out of that. We’re seeing more marketed deals as well come across. And I think that’s been across segments. Fortunately for us, we’re really focused in on each of those three segments as a company and we can capitalize on the right opportunities. Ryan Embree: And that’s where those strong connections come in to make those deals move across the finish line at the end of the, the day. Absolutely. Now PM Hotel Group, you talked a little bit about it, but it’s a competitive landscape out there. Where do you find opportunity to differentiate yourself from other management companies? Paul Sacco: So it is a competitive environment for sure. We’re a top 15 management company now. We do not have any particular goal or pressure to be a certain number of hotels. That’s really meaningful on two fronts. One, it means we can grow smart and do deals that make sense for our company, deals that make sense for the owner in terms of using our operation makes sense for our team. And secondly, it’s really important because it, it allows us to remain accessible to ownership at the highest levels of our company. So we always say that if there’s ever a time where an owner can’t call me or Joseph our president or others in our company and get a response that day, then we’ve grown too big. And that’s really important to us. And since we’re an independently owned company and we’re not private equity owned, we’re not public, we don’t have any of those quarterly quote unquote nug pressures to grow. We can be really thoughtful and strategic about the deals that we do and the owners with whom we’re working and remain accessible to them. Ryan Embree: Well it puts you also in opportunity to kind of maybe be first in line when a new developer or owner wants to go a certain route. You’ve got kind of the story to tell them and and share with them. Paul Sacco: We hear it a lot in reality. We are of the size and scope that our senior team remains very accessible to ownership groups, to asset management groups, et cetera, based on the size and nature of our company. I think there are some others who can say that as well. And there’s some others who are a lot larger and it just maybe just makes it more difficult to do that as effectively. Ryan Embree: Definitely. Now another topic on everybody’s bingo card here. Conferences like this is AI and technology, right? So what’s the philosophy over at PM Hotel Group? Are you guys using anything on the development side and how do you utilizing it? Paul Sacco: Yeah, I think there are some really good tools within ai, even just using ChatGPT and Gemini in order to do market research, really market assessment tools. And that’s a great way to get highlight overview of what’s happening in a market if you’re looking at a new deal, if you’re traveling to a market, a good way to gain sort of initial information and a feeling for what’s happening in a market from a development perspective. Now we tend to dive in deep and back all that up as we advance with some really good formats like CoStar and some others that are out there that help us really assess a deal and assess our business. So on the development front, I think that’s how we’re approaching things on the operating front. I think AI will continue to evolve in a way that it helps, makes operations more efficient, whereby there can be data assessment on check-ins and checkouts, which can help with labor and staffing needs and assessing those types of things. And then of course, on the commercial side, really harnessing the way that people are doing intent-based searches now. Because people will go into ChatGPT or Gemini and they’ll put in an intent-based search. We find a lot that our independent and boutique hotels come up in those searches. But how do you capitalize upon that and how do you harness that in a way to turn it into reservations? Ryan Embree: Absolutely. Everyone looking for that edge right now, right? Like I said, to combat those margins right now, which are challenging in your position, you’re always looking for the next opportunity, the next deal. What’s your vision for PM Hotel Group as you grow into the back half of the 2020s? Paul Sacco: So again, we’re a privately owned company and we grow very strategically. We’re not under any certain pressure, again to have a certain quote unquote nug. So that’s been very effective for us and we’ve been really thoughtful about the owners that we’re doing deals with, the types of deals that we can operate. Effectively key for us is that we’ve done a couple of small strategic partnerships, siteline a year or so ago, modus by PM Hotel Group before that. And the combination of that has put us into all these different segments that we just discussed. But it’s put our reach from Hawaii to California to the mountain states, all the way to the East Coast with different types of products. So we can really capitalize on that and harness the fact that we have coverage and reach in a lot of different markets and market knowledge. So I think for us it’s just about growing smart. It’s about putting a lot of effort behind commercial and technology. We’re, we’re making a lot of investments in that space right now so that we are out ahead of AI advancement and technology advancement. And we’re even in a sort of muted RevPAR growth environment now we’re focused on RPI. And we’re focused on TRevPAR and making sure that operationally and top line wise, we’re getting more than our fair share. Ryan Embree: Awesome. Well, Paul, congratulations to you and your team. We’ll continue to keep a close eye and we’ll let you get back in there. And for all the good stuff, the Hunter Conference has to offer. Paul Sacco: Thank you. Ryan Embree: Thanks Paul. Ryan Embree: All righty. Hello everyone. Ryan Embree here with the Suite Spot live on location at the 2026 Hunter Conference here with Parker, Graduate by Hilton Brand Leader. So excited. I love this brand, it’s very exciting. But before we get talking about your brand, talk to us a little bit about your brand, where you came from and your history here in hospitality. Parker Henderson: It’s fun. Actually. We’re here in Atlanta. This is where I was born and raised. My parents met working for Delta Airlines, so I grew up traveling. Dad worked for Delta for 32 years. And so grew up traveling. And when I got to college, I knew that was something I wanted to major in. Went to Appalachian State University, majored in hospitality tourism management. Worked at the front desk of Comfort Suites when I was in Boone, North Carolina. And then did my internship. And I had a great professor who I was like, I’ll just do my internship and here I’m at already at the hotel. No big deal. He was like, no, you need to go somewhere. You need to do something. And so, Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, they were interested in me. So I did my internship. There happened to be the 99 US Open, everything went really well there. Came back as a manager in development and I was with ClubCorp, who owned Pinehurst for about five years. They moved me to a location in Austin, Texas. Stayed there for a while. Resort Company wasn’t really growing. And meanwhile this beautiful 31 story Hilton was being built in downtown Austin. And I remember seeing that and it’s like, I want that. And I was always in front office operations, so I was able to join the Hilton Austin as assistant director of front office. And that was in November of 2003. And I’ve been with Hilton ever since on property roles for about a decade in San Diego, Baltimore, Orlando. And then joined the corporate front office team in 2012 where I focused on front office operations, efficient use of our property management systems, which are proprietary to Hilton, and then was able to work and get exposed to the brand side and then joined Embassy Suites brand in 2021 and just love that world. Also during the pandemic, my pandemic fun was getting my master’s in hospitality from Virginia Tech. They had a campus in the DMV area up in DC and fall of 2020, I became an adjunct professor in that program. So continuing to do that, I’ve always believed in the power of that intersection of hospitality and education. So when Graduate came through in 2024, I was the first one to raise my hand saying, okay, I’ve got the brand experience, I’ve got the university passion. And so it’s been a great experience since then. Ryan Embree: That’s so cool, Parker. And you know, we were talking about this, I’d love to hear those stories of people that went to school for hospitality and now look at you, you’re on the other side of the desk, you’re, you’re the teacher and, and you know, influencing the next generation of hoteliers, which is so cool. So obviously college and universities have, I’m sure you don’t get tired of talking about those never, especially in your position. But for those who maybe aren’t as familiar with Graduate, talk to us a little bit about that brand, maybe a little bit of a story as well. Parker Henderson: Absolutely. So Graduate Hotels was created in 2014 by AJ Capital. They found that there was great opportunity to have upper upscale position, lodging, bespoke design in these hotel, in these university markets. And it’s been a great success. They started with just one or two properties. They grew to 34-35 properties and then Hilton acquired them in spring of 2024. Since then, they’ve all come into the Hilton ecosystem, 35 assets total currently. And so they’re live with Hilton Honor, they’re live with all of the team member perks with Go Hilton and everything that you expect. But also they’re tied into all the benefits of being Hilton, Hilton Worldwide Sales, Hilton Supply Management, Hilton University, all the training programs. And so the hotels have done a great job of kind of onboarding, keeping the authenticity that makes graduate special while using the engine and all the power that comes with the distribution network of Hilton. Ryan Embree: It’s so cool to hear. And you know, when I think about people and their universities and their colleges, passion is the first word that comes up. And to marry that with your brand and people are also passionate about travel. That’s such an exciting, probably space to be in. And the fact that you, that you get to talk about, these projects and here we are in Atlanta, a very cold unseasonably cold day here in March. But you know, we’re at the Hunter Conference talking to investors, owners, developers. You’re having these conversations. What do owners and developers get excited about when you’re having conversations about your brand? Parker Henderson: The passion, like you said, there’s such storytelling and such a passion to tell a story either about some where somebody lives currently, where their alma mater is, or maybe if they didn’t go to college or university where they were in that youthful optimism phase of kind of the late teens, early twenties, where you really don’t know where your path is and it’s just kind of starting and being able to bottle that up and put that into a project. That’s what gets people excited. The fun part is that the product is so special, it’s so bespoke at each university, at each college town, but they perform wonderfully. We, we have above market performance and revenue and occupancy and we continue to capitalize on those high impact times, home football games, move-ins, graduation, all of that type of stuff. But also with the Hilton system, we’ve been able to expose them to so much different areas of business, whereas they may have had to rely on online travel agencies In the past a lot we’ve been able to kind of broaden that to introduce more business travel. We’ve been able to work with Hilton Worldwide Sales, get more groups, meetings and events into the hotels. The average Graduate hotel is 167 keys and about 4,000 square feet of meeting space. Now with the 35 hotels, that varies greatly. Some are small as 70 keys. Some are as big as 304 keys. Some have zero meeting space. We’ve got one with over 23,000 square feet of meeting space. So there’s a lot of variety there. But all of them can play into the different mix of business that Hilton Worldwide Sales promotes. Ryan Embree: Well, it’s incredible ’cause you know, none of these properties are the same because probably none of these universities are the same. None of these markets are the same. So I’m sure it’s a passion project again, but also creating these memorable experiences around those really cool times and being able to tie your brand in there definitely means something special. Now you have a couple projects, special projects that you’re working on right now. Talk to us a little bit about those and, and maybe that differentiation between them. Parker Henderson: Sure. With the development side, as soon as Graduate came into Hilton became a brand that we were able to franchise. So we have been working with our development committee, that’s why we’re here at Hunter Investment Conference. But we’ve got about 60 different deals in various forms of negotiation. We’ve got a number of deals signed that we’re excited to work on. I’ll highlight kind of four ’cause I feel like they tell a good story. We’ve got Flagstaff, Arizona, that’s gonna be by Northern Arizona University, brand new build, new to Hilton owner. Very exciting project that’s gonna do some amazing storytelling about Route 66, about Northern Arizona University and just the Flagstaff community. You’ve got Boulderado, a historic, a hundred and something year old asset in downtown Boulder, right by UC Boulder. This is gonna become a graduate by Hilton Hotel. This is funded by AJ Capital. They own that. So that’s showing continued interest in the founder of the brand into Graduate by Hilton, which is something that means a lot to me. It means that we’re protecting the brand in, in meaningful ways. We’ve got Graduate Laramie that’ll come online by the University of Wyoming. This is an existing Hilton Garden Inn that’s reaching the end of its term with that project. And we’ll transition and go through a painstaking renovation to tell the cowboy story of the University of Wyoming. And that’ll open as Graduate Laramie. And then in New York, we’ve got Graduate Syracuse. This is actually owned by Syracuse University. This is the institution building something, 200 keys from the ground up. It’s gonna be absolutely spectacular there. Ryan Embree: I can talk to you about each one of these projects and which makes them so unique and, and that’s again the cool part, probably why both the owners and developers love it. Guests love it as well. But let’s get to know you in the portfolio a little bit more intimately. So let’s talk about maybe one of your favorite views on one of your properties. Parker Henderson: There’s a lot. So Graduate East Lansing, east Lansing, Michigan, Michigan State University, if you look out any of their front side windows, you’re looking right into kind of the arboretum of Michigan State University. It is gorgeous rooftop of graduate Auburn, Alabama. If you stand at the War Eagle Supper Club on the roof of Graduate Auburn, you’re looking directly towards the scoreboard and the stadium at Auburn University. Yeah, it’s fantastic. Gosh, there’s so many different ones. I could, like literally, even in Princeton, you’re looking down the street, down Nassau Street towards the gates of Princeton. You’re the fun part about these properties. And I’ve been able to go to all 35 locations both in the UK and the US. And the great thing about them is the location. Most all of them are at the intersection of Maine and Maine. They’re all walkable to campus, no further than about a mile away from the university they are next to and surrounded by the most popular restaurants, bars, shopping, points of interest, the museums, whatever it may be, they’re in the heart of it. All Ryan Embree: Such tradition rich places and spaces that these properties are located in tells a an amazing story. And sure, your guests get to be a part of it, which is really cool. What about signature dish maybe or a local tradition or something like that? Parker Henderson: So all of our restaurant, or excuse me, all of our hotels have a breakfast. Usually that’s kind of a cafe with a barista led concept. Many of those go by the name of Poindexter Coffee. So we have about half the brand that have a Poindexter coffee. Those are phenomenal in themselves. Then in the evenings we require hotels to have bar and dinner at all their locations. One traditional dish may sound basic, but it’s so good. We do a really great smash burger in fries, and that’s something you can find at almost all of our locations. Just a really good smash burger. Ryan Embree: Very cool. Well, you know, and I didn’t prep you for this one, but what about if there’s, is there anything, I mean, because obviously colleges and universities that they’re, they have a lot of, sometimes quirky traditions that, that are in the area. Are there any hotels or properties that have any of these local traditions or anything like that? Ryan Embree: Well, the storytelling, storytelling is one of our values at graduate and all of our hotels portray storytelling. We use maximalist design, we use layering of story upon story, but I think one of my favorite ones I was speaking about graduate Princeton, their headboard, if you’ve ever looked at a picture of graduate Princeton, their headboard looked like these hand carved canes and they’ve got like etchings in ’em and all different kinds of things. And I remember asking the general manager, Michael, it’s like, what is this? Why does it look like hockey sticks above my bed? He’s like, well, back in the 1860s, students used to hand carve their own canes and walk around campus and around the 1860s the upperclassmen decided, nope, the freshmen shouldn’t be allowed to carry those. So they would like beat them with their sticks and, you know, not allow the freshmen to carry them around here. So now that does not continue, but it’s now kind of an intramural fall sports festival every fall for called the Canes Prix. So it’s one of those traditions and one of those stories that you walk in and any Princeton student or alum would get that immediately. Yeah. But from somebody who went to Appalachian State would never have heard of that, it would never have known that tradition if it wasn’t for that quirky headboard. Ryan Embree: And there’s that special connection with the guest that is, that knows that, but also the guests that maybe not like, well, what I’m learning about right now, love that tradition. Like that’s very, that’s some cool history, you know, associated with the property in the university. So obviously a lot of growth. You just talked about the pipeline for this brand, but what’s as brand leader, what’s your kind of vision for the next, you know, three to five years for for Graduate by Hilton? Parker Henderson: Absolutely. We’re looking at kind of making sure that everything within the hotels we’re optimizing as much as possible. So I always love to base everything we do on our values. Our motto at Graduate is we are all students. Our values underneath that is what is fearless hospitality? We’re curious. We’re unapologetically unique and we’re storytellers. And so with that just kind of capitalizing on that and moving that into just grow within the next few years we’ll have several new openings. We’ll have more announcements to share on that. Ryan Embree: Awesome. Well, we’re excited. We’re gonna keep a close eye on the graduate story and yeah, we’re excited to thank you for stopping by and talking to us. Parker Henderson: Absolutely. Thank you for having me. Ryan Embree: To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.

As the Hornets continued their seven-game homestand, so did Charlotte's success, as the Hornets won their third-straight game after a 124-101 victory over the Grizzlies. Sam Farber and Sam Perley break down the game and pick their favorite performances of the night, plus Sam sits down with Josh Green in front of a live audience recording, plus this year's winner of the Rick Bonnell Scholarship Award, Max Schwanz of Appalachian State.

Appalachian State basketball season is officially over. After a tough battle for the top four seed, the seasons came to a close. We talk hoops and the other spring sports. 

Daniel Mosakewicz grew up on a steady diet of comics, Star Wars, and books about things that could not possibly happen. He earned his degrees in English Literature and History from Appalachian State. Originally from North Carolina, he now resides in Boise, Idaho, where he eats too much Mexican food and listens to too much Bruce Springsteen. This week, we have a live recording from his reading at MING this past week: two fiction pieces, a poem, and an essay.

The Sun Belt Tournament is around the corner with Appalachian State at the top of the standings heading into the final weekend. Who will get the coveted top two seeds for the tournament ?

Reach out to Cody and Buhler to tell them what's up!People who go to college for seven years are called doctors!On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) discussed the end of the Joey Aguilar era of college football.While Trinidad Chambliss got a sixth year, season No. 8 was not in the cards for the former Tennessee, UCLA, and Appalachian State quarterback.Buhler and Cody also touched on the best and worst coaches in the Big Ten during this program.Spray that thing for bugs because this is False Start!Support the show

Get access to The Backroom (95+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this week's episode of 1Dime Radio, I'm joined by Professor Michael C. Behrent to discuss Towards a Conservative Left: Selected Writings of Jean-Claude Michéa, a newly translated collection of essays by one of France's most fascinating dissident socialists, sometimes described as “the French Christopher Lasch.”Michéa is a rare kind of left thinker: fiercely anti-capitalist and pro-democracy, but deeply skeptical of the Left's cultural project, especially when it becomes a substitute for class politics, or when it turns working class “common sense” into something to be morally corrected. We talk about his Orwellian framework (including “Tory anarchism” and “common decency”), his critique of liberalism as both an economic and social ideology, and why these arguments suddenly feel uncomfortably relevant.In The Backroom (Patreon), we go further into what “conservative leftism” could actually mean today: socially conservative and economically leftist, what that synthesis would look like in practice, and what parts of the modern Left Michéa thinks have become complicit with liberalism.Timestamps:00:00:00  The Backroom Preview Culture vs Race, and The Cosmopolitan Delusion00:04:19  Jean Claude Michéa: The French Christopher Lasch 00:10:38  Towards a Conservative Left: Michéa's Conservative Socialism00:14:05  Orwell: The Tory Anarchist00:17:50  Michéa's background, communist parents, the Resistance, and patriotism00:28:01 Why Orwell is the key to Michéa's synthesis00:35:57  Orwell's “common decency.”00:50:15  Common sense vs left suspicion, and the populist question00:59:22  The “bourgeois left” & The drift away from the working-class 01:02:45  What “conservative” really means here01:31:02  A New Political Synthesis (The Backroom Transition)GUEST:Michael C. Behrent• Towards a Conservative Left (Bookshop): https://bookshop.org/p/books/towards-a-conservative-left-selected-writings-of-jean-claude-michea-jean-claude-michea/22912345• Towards a Conservative Left (Barnes & Noble): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/towards-a-conservative-left-jean-claude-michi-a/1147813503• Vauban Books (Publisher): https://www.vaubanbooks.com/• Behrent faculty page (Appalachian State): https://history.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/profiles• Behrent's site: https://sisterrepublic.wordpress.com/about/FOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://1dimereview.substack.com/• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.

Appalachian State men's basketball is in first place in late February with a final home series on deck. It's time to pack Holmes and support these boys like they deserve. Pack Holmes!

It's Valentine's Day Weekend which can only mean one thing:Appalachian State baseball preview with Coach Kermit Smith!It's our TENTH preview with Coach!

Appalachian State basketball goes on the road in tough environments and comes out with a sweep! We talk about the sweep and other Olympic sports. 

Today on Coast To Coast Hoops it is a simple podcast as there are over 140 games on the college basketball betting board for Saturday & Greg picks & analyzes EVERY one of them! Link To Greg's Spreadsheet of handicapped lines: https://vsin.com/college-basketball/greg-petersons-daily-college-basketball-lines/Greg's TikTok With Pickmas Pick Videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregpetersonsports?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcPodcast Highlights 2:38-Start of picks Texas Tech vs Central Florida4:43-Picks & analysis for Duke vs Virginia Tech6:52-Picks & analysis for Georgetown vs Butler8:56-Picks & analysis for Cincinnati vs Houston11:17-Picks & analysis for Pittsburgh vs Clemson13:34-Picks & analysis for Campbell vs William & Mary16:14-Picks & analysis for Marquette vs Seton Hall18:22-Picks & analysis for Ball St vs Toledo20:36-Picks & analysis for DePaul vs Xavier22;46-Picks & analysis for Robert Morris vs Fort Wayne24:50-Picks & analysis for Texas A&M vs Georgia27:21-Picks & analysis for San Diego St vs Utah St29:30-Picks & analysis for Samford vs Western Carolina31:35-Picks & analysis for UNC Greensboro vs The Citadel33:46-Picks & analysis for Valparaiso vs Indiana St35:55-Picks & analysis for Virginia vs Boston College37:41-Picks & analysis for Texas vs Oklahoma39:51-Picks & analysis for Hofstra vs Monmouth41:41-Picks & analysis for Ohio vs Buffalo43:49-Picks & analysis for East Tennessee vs Wofford45:45-Picks & analysis for North Carolina vs Georgia Tech47:48-Picks & analysis for Hampton vs Towson50:09-Picks & analysis for SMU vs Louisville52:19-Picks & analysis for Arizona vs Arizona St54:41-Picks & analysis for Fordham vs George Washington56:30-Picks & analysis for North Carolina A&T vs Drexel58:30-Picks & analysis for Charleston vs Northeastern1:00:51-Picks & analysis for Ohio St vs Wisconsin 1:02:56-Picks & analysis for VMI vs Mercer1:04:57-Picks & analysis for St. Joseph's vs La Salle1:06:50-Picks & analysis for Jacksonville St vs Missouri St1:08:53-Picks & analysis for Idaho St vs Weber St1:10:54-Picks & analysis for Coastal Carolina vs UL Monroe1:13:15-Picks & analysis for Oral Roberts vs South Dakota St1:15:06-Picks & analysis for Cal Baptist vs UT Arlington1:17:13-Picks & analysis for Fresno State vs Air Force1:18:58-Picks & analysis for Marshall vs Arkansas St1:21:14-Picks & analysis for James Madison vs Southern Miss1:23:42-Picks & analysis for Northern Illinois vs Miami OH1:26:08-Picks & analysis for Lindenwood vs Morehead St1:28:23-Picks & analysis for Mississippi St vs Missouri1:30:34-Picks & analysis for NC State vs Wake Forest1:32:38-Picks & analysis for Baylor vs West Virginia1:34:47-Picks & analysis for Western Kentucky vs Middle Tennessee1:37:34-Picks & analysis for Little Rock vs Tennessee Tech1:40:03-Picks & analysis for BYU vs Kansas1:42:19-Picks & analysis for California vs Miami1:44:15-Picks & analysis for Hawaii vs Long Beach St1:46:36-Picks & analysis for Georgia Southern vs Louisiana1:49:06-Picks & analysis for Southern Utah vs Abilene Christian1:51:50-Picks & analysis for Eastern Washington vs Northern Colorado1:53:36-Picks & analysis for Omaha vs Denver1:55:44-Picks & analysis for Evansville vs Northern Iowa1:58:08-Picks & analysis for SE Missouri St vs Eastern Illinois2:00:33-Picks & analysis for Davidson vs Richmond2:03:17-Picks & analysis for UT Martin vs Western Illinois2:05:49-Picks & analysis for Appalachian State vs Troy2:08:17-Picks & analysis for Montana St vs Portland St2:10:59-Picks & analysis for UC Davis vs CS Bakersfield2:13:21-Picks & analysis for Indiana vs UCLA2:15:41-Picks & analysis for Old Dominion vs Texas St2:17:57-Picks & analysis for Utah Tech vs Tarleton St2:20:17-Picks & analysis for New Mexico St vs Kennesaw St2:22:43-Picks & analysis for Oregon St vs San Diego2:24:59-Picks & analysis for Northern Dakota St vs South Dakota2:27:35-Picks & analysis for Bradley vs Drake2:29:40-Picks & analysis for Oklahoma St vs Utah2:32:18-Picks & analysis for Eastern Michigan vs Massachusetts2:34:50-Picks & analysis for Dartmouth vs Brown2:36:55-Picks & analysis for Portland vs Washington St2:39:23-Picks & analysis for Princeton vs Columbia2:41:53-Picks & analysis for Pennsylvania vs Cornell2:44:16-Picks & analysis for Stanford vs Florida St2:46:16-Picks & analysis for Notre Dame vs Syracuse2:48:12-Picks & analysis for LSU vs South Carolina2:50:42-Picks & analysis for George Mason vs St. Bonaventure2:52:53-Picks & analysis for Kentucky vs Arkansas2:55:02-Picks & analysis for Rutgers vs USC2:57:01-Picks & analysis for Illinois Chicago vs Southern Illinois2:59:24-Picks & analysis for Bowling Green vs Central Michigan3:01:12-Picks & analysis for Harvard vs Yale3:03:15-Picks & analysis for Stony Brook vs Elon3:05:23-Picks & analysis for Georgia St vs South Alabama3:07:36-Picks & analysis for South Florida vs Temple3:10:09-Picks & analysis for Cal Poly vs UC Riverside3:12:15-Picks & analysis for Washington vs Northwestern3:14:37-Picks & analysis for Connecticut vs Creighton3:16:55-Picks & analysis for UAB vs North Texas3:19:11-Picks & analysis for Murray St vs Belmont3:21:18-Picks & analysis for UC San Diego vs CS Northridge3:23:50-Picks & analysis for Idaho vs Northern Arizona3:25:49-Picks & analysis for SIU Edwardsville vs Southern Indiana3:27:58-Picks & analysis for Auburn vs Tennessee3:30:18-Picks & analysis for CS Fullerton vs UC Santa Barbara3:33:23-Picks & analysis for Delaware vs UTEP3:35:33-Picks & analysis for Santa Clara vs Loyola Marymount3:37:35-Picks & analysis for Colorado St vs Wyoming3:39:41-Picks & analysis for New Mexico vs San Jose St3:41:49-Picks & analysis for Pacific vs San Francisco3:44:03-Picks & analysis for Montana vs Sacramento St3:45:58-Picks & analysis for Louisiana Tech vs Sam Houston3:47:51-Picks & analysis for St. Mary's vs Gonzaga3:50:20-Picks & analysis for Vanderbilt vs Ole Miss3:54:23-Start of extra games Holy Cross vs Army3:56:31-Picks & analysis for Fairleigh Dickinson vs Wagner3:58:30-Picks & analysis for Stonehill vs Le Moyne4:00:27-Picks & analysis for Long Island vs Central Connecticut4:02:30-Picks & analysis for Radford vs Presbyterian4:04:14-Picks & analysis for Queens NC vs Bellarmine4:06:03-Picks & analysis for Boston U vs Bucknell4:08:00-Picks & analysis for Colgate vs Lehigh4:09:48-Picks & analysis for UNC Asheville vs Winthrop4:11:25-Picks & analysis for North Alabama vs Stetson4:13:21-Picks & analysis for Mercyhurst vs Chicago St4:15:23-Picks & analysis for Lafayette vs American4:17:07-Picks & analysis for Maine vs UMass Lowell4:18:53-Picks & analysis for Lipscomb vs North Florida4:20:58-Picks & analysis for Florida Gulf Coast vs Jacksonville4:23:35-Picks & analysis for High Point vs Longwood4:25:27-Picks & analysis for Norfolk State vs Howard4:27:28-Picks & analysis for Bethune Cookman vs Alabama St4:29:25-Picks & analysis for Loyola MD vs Navy4:31:05-Picks & analysis for New Hampshire vs Bryant4:33:10-Picks & analysis for Grambling vs Jackson St4:34:55-Picks & analysis for Southern vs Alcorn St4:36:45-Picks & analysis for NJIT vs Vermont4:39:10-Picks & analysis for Maryland Eastern Shore vs Delaware St4:41:05-Picks & analysis for Houston Christian vs Texas A&M CC4:43:05-Picks & analysis for Morgan St vs Coppin St4:44:54-Picks & analysis for Austin Peay vs West Georgia4:47:04-Picks & analysis for Eastern Kentucky vs Central Arkansas4:49:03-Picks & analysis for Florida A&M vs Alabama A&M4:51:00-Picks & analysis for Rio Grande Valley vs Incarnate Word4:53:10-Picks & analysis for Texas Southern vs Prairie View4:55:00-Picks & analysis for Northwestern St vs New Orleans4:56:40-Picks & analysis for Nicholls vs East Texas A&M4:58:47-Picks & analysis for SE Louisiana vs Stephen F Austin5:00:33-Picks & analysis for Arkansas Pine Bluff vs Mississippi Valley St5:03:17-Picks & analysis for New Haven vs St. Francis PA5:05:37-Picks & analysis for UMBC vs Albany5:07:41-Picks & analysis for McNeese vs Lamar Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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Fresh off an exciting season with the Chicago Bears, D'Marco Jackson joins us to talk about his days at Appalachian State and his time in the NFL. 

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for January 28th Publish Date:  January 28th Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Wednesday, January 28th and Happy Birthday to Jermaine Dye I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Local student Mathletes to compete in Cobb County Math Contest Support Cobb law enforcement and get a state tax credit Lawmakers push transparency in school board public comments All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: INGLES 9 STORY 1: Local student Mathletes to compete in Cobb County Math Contest Cobb County’s middle school math whizzes are gearing up for the local MATHCOUNTS competition on Feb. 28 at Marietta High School. Organized by the Cobb County Chapter of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, the event will feature teams from Dickerson, Dodgen, and Hightower Trail middle schools. These students have been prepping since fall—hours of practice, problem-solving, and probably a few late-night algebra sessions. The competition includes both individual and team rounds, with topics like geometry, probability, and statistics. Oh, and there’s a fast-paced oral round too—no pressure, right? Winners will snag prizes and move on to the state finals on March 9 in Buford. MATHCOUNTS, a national program, aims to spark a love for math in middle schoolers—because let’s face it, this is the age where kids either embrace math or start running from it. With 50,000 students competing nationwide this year, it’s a big deal. For details, check out www.mathcounts.org. STORY 2: Support Cobb law enforcement and get a state tax credit Tax season is here, and if you live in Cobb County, there’s a way to support local law enforcement and get a state income tax credit. Thanks to the 2022 LESS Crime Act (short for Law Enforcement Strategic Support Act), Georgia taxpayers can donate to approved public safety foundations and get a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes. Here’s the deal: individuals can donate up to $5,000, couples filing jointly can give $10,000, and corporations can contribute up to 75% of their state tax liability. Statewide, there’s a $75 million cap, and each foundation can accept up to $5 million annually. The process? Register with the Georgia Tax Center, wait for approval, and send your donation within 60 days. Funds go toward training, equipment, officer wellness, and community programs. In Cobb, you can donate to: Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation Acworth Police Community Foundation Cobb County Public Safety Foundation Kennesaw Public Safety Foundation Marietta Police Foundation For links and details, visit their websites. STORY 3: Lawmakers push transparency in school board public comments  Cobb County lawmakers are pushing for more transparency in school board meetings with House Bill 989, which would require public comments to be broadcast or recorded if the rest of the meeting is aired. Rep. David Wilkerson said it’s about consistency: “If you’re showing the meeting, show all of it. Don’t cut out the tough parts.” The bill comes after Cobb’s school board stopped broadcasting public comments last year, sparking backlash from parents and lawmakers. Critics called it censorship; the board cited liability concerns. Rep. Solomon Adesanya said public comments are crucial for oversight: “If you only hear one side, you control the narrative.” The bill has bipartisan support, with Rep. Jordan Ridley also signing on. “Transparency matters,” he said. “If you’re broadcasting, show the good, bad, and everything in between.” Meanwhile, Ridley floated the idea of an independent audit for Cobb schools, similar to one he championed in Cherokee County. Cobb school board Chair Randy Scamihorn defended the district, saying claims of a lack of transparency are “absolutely false.” Still, he invited lawmakers to review their processes, adding, “No organization is perfect.” We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: INGLES 9 STORY 4: Cobb opens $24M joint police, sheriff firing range Cobb County just unveiled its shiny new $24 million firing range, and let’s just say—it’s a game-changer. Sheriff Craig Owens and Police Chief Dan Ferrell cut the ribbon Friday morning, joined by the Board of Commissioners, a crowd of officers, and deputies. The 65,000-square-foot facility, located next to the Public Safety Training Academy in Austell, replaces the old outdoor range that had been around for over 30 years. That one? It had a strict 8 p.m. curfew because of nearby neighborhoods. Now? Training can happen 24/7. The range features three separate areas, including a 100-yard precision range, and a high-tech 360-degree targeting system for realistic drills. Officers can train in low-light, no-light, and even less-lethal scenarios. Paid for with SPLOST funds, the range is a long-term investment in public safety—and a big win for Cobb County. STORY 5: Northwest Georgia voters to head to polls March 10 for federal and, now, state election Northwest Georgia voters are in for a political doubleheader on March 10. Not only will they pick a new state senator, but they’ll also decide if the former holder of that Senate seat, Colton Moore, should head to Congress. Here’s the backstory: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January with a year left in her U.S. House term, triggering a special election for District 14. Moore, who represented Senate District 53 (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and part of Floyd counties), stepped down mid-January to join the crowded race for Greene’s seat—22 candidates, to be exact. Qualifying for Moore’s old Senate seat runs Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. Voter registration closes Feb. 9, with early voting starting Feb. 16. If no one wins outright, expect a runoff on April 7. Buckle up, northwest Georgia—it’s going to be a busy ballot. Break: STORY 6: Chris Carr talks public safety in Cobb Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr didn’t hold back when he spoke to the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club on Friday. Public safety, he said, isn’t just about stopping crime—it’s about supporting law enforcement, tackling mental health, and improving education. And now, as a candidate for governor, he’s making his case. Carr highlighted his record: creating units to fight human trafficking, gangs, opioids, and organized retail crime. “Keeping people safe is the most basic job of government,” he said. “If families don’t feel safe, we’ve failed.” He shared staggering numbers—over 200 children rescued from trafficking, 115 gang members convicted—and warned about the fentanyl crisis, calling it a “war” fueled by Mexican cartels. His office recently seized 15 pounds of the drug, enough to kill millions. On education, he stressed the importance of literacy by third grade and slammed “woke progressivism” in schools. “Our kids aren’t social experiments,” he said. “Schools should teach reading, writing, and math—not radical ideology.” Mental health? Another priority. Carr called for more facilities statewide, saying jails shouldn’t double as treatment centers. He also floated limiting phones in high schools, blaming social media for worsening students’ mental health. When asked about gambling, Carr stood firm against casino betting, citing addiction concerns. On minors accessing pornography, he tied it to human trafficking and expressed fears about AI being used to exploit kids. Former Cobb GOP Chair Rose Wing praised Carr’s tough stance on drug cartels and said she believes he’d make a “great governor.” STORY 7: Woodstock native Bolt named assistant golf coach at KSU  Abigail Bolt, a former Woodstock High School star, is heading back to familiar turf—this time as the new assistant women’s golf coach at Kennesaw State. Owls head coach Ket Vanderpool, who worked with Bolt for three seasons at Georgia State, made the announcement Friday. Bolt, who played collegiate golf at Appalachian State from 2017-21, brings a mix of coaching chops and on-course expertise. At Georgia State, she helped lead the team to nine top-five finishes and four tournament wins. Before that? She honed her skills at Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, running junior clinics and managing tournaments. As a player, Bolt was a standout at Appalachian State, earning MVP honors her senior year and finishing with a 77.81 stroke average. Since graduating in 2021, she’s stayed active in the game, competing in amateur events and continuing to build her career in golf. We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: INGLES 9 Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn this episode: Christi and Angela sit down with Anne-Marie, a recent graduate from Appalachian State and an assistant project manager at Vannoy and Sons Construction. Anne Marie shares her unique path into the construction industry, initially starting in elementary education before shifting to construction management. She discusses the challenges and misconceptions of being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field and emphasizes the importance of asking questions and having a supportive work environment. The conversation also delves into Anne-Marie's fascination with concrete and the varied experiences and responsibilities of her role. This insightful episode highlights the positive experiences and successes that can come from pursuing a career in construction, challenging the negative stereotypes often associated with the industry.Sponsored by: ConExpo & NPKSupport the show

Appalachian State basketball is in full swing and the portal is closing! What do we do?

Episode 152 of the Athletor Podcast features JohnMark Bently, Head Coach at Appalachian State, for an honest conversation about building a program the right way. Bently shares how leadership, culture, and consistency shape long-term success, along with the daily standards required to develop wrestlers on and off the mat.The episode dives into recruiting with intention, earning buy-in from athletes, and balancing performance with personal growth. Bently also reflects on lessons learned as a head coach, navigating challenges, and what it takes to sustain momentum in a competitive college wrestling environment.

On the January 5 edition of The Drive with Paul Swann, Paul Swann reviews Marshall men's basketball following an 88-81 win over Appalachian State that moved the Thundering Herd to 10-5 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt play. Jalen Speer leads the discussion, with contributions from Noah Otshudi and Wyatt Fricks also highlighted. The show previews Wednesday's matchup against James Madison and examines early Sun Belt standings and team trends.Marshall women's basketball is also covered after improving to 13-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play with a road win at Appalachian State. Paul breaks down the defensive performance, roster health, and positioning in the Sun Belt race.The episode includes Marshall football end-of-season awards, transfer portal updates, College Football Playoff semifinal analysis, NFL playoff positioning, and listener response.

Appalachian State football played in an unlikely bowl against The Stink. The results weren't what we wanted but the boys played hard. We talk about the game in our final postgame episode for 2025. 

Today on Coast To Coast Hoops Greg recaps Tuesday's college basketball results, talks to Curtis Rogers of 710 Seattle Sports about Washington dealing with lots of injuries, the BIg Ten & WCC landscape, & west coast teams to keep an eye on entering conference play, & Greg picks & analyzes every Wednesday game!Link To Greg's Spreadsheet of handicapped lines: https://vsin.com/college-basketball/greg-petersons-daily-college-basketball-lines/Greg's TikTok With Pickmas Pick Videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregpetersonsports?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcPodcast Highlights 2:19-Recap of Tuesday's Results15:50-Interview with Curtis Rogers31:58-Start of picks Wake Forest vs NC State34:33-Picks & analysis for Mercer vs Furman37:10-Picks & analysis for Tulane vs East Carolina40:04-Picks & analysis for Loyola IL vs Rhode Island42:38-Picks & analysis for South Alabama vs Louisiana45:10-Picks & analysis for UT San Antonio vs Florida Atlantic47:51-Picks & analysis for Wofford vs Western Carolina50:25-Picks & analysis for George Mason vs La Salle52:27-Picks & analysis for Appalachian State vs Old Dominion55:02-Picks & analysis for Charleston vs Elon57:32-Picks & analysis for Virginia vs Virginia Tech1:00:02-Picks & analysis for Texas St vs Troy1:02:58-Picks & analysis for Clemson vs Syracuse1:05:27-Picks & analysis for Stony Brook vs William & Mary1:08:07-Picks & analysis for Fordham vs Dayton1:10:31-Picks & analysis for Rice vs Tulsa1:12:59-Picks & analysis for St. Bonaventure vs VCU1:15:32-Picks & analysis for Campbell vs Monmouth1:18:07-Picks & analysis for Towson vs Hampton1:20:28-Picks & analysis for Northeastern vs North Carolina A&T1:22:57-Picks & analysis for Wichita St vs UAB1:25:16-Picks & analysis for Kansas City vs Denver1:28:02-Picks & analysis for Georgia Tech vs Duke1:30:33-Picks & analysis for North Texas vs Memphis1:33:23-Picks & analysis for Georgia St vs Marshall1:35:58-Picks & analysis for George Washington vs Richmond1:38:50-Picks & analysis for St. Joseph's vs St. Louis1:41:23-Picks & analysis for South Dakota vs North Dakota St1:43:51-Picks & analysis for Connecticut vs Xavier1:46:20-Picks & analysis for DePaul vs Villanova1:48:37-Picks & analysis for Drexel vs UNC Wilmington1:51:15-Picks & analysis for St. John's vs Georgetown1:54:03-Picks & analysis for Buffalo vs Northern Illinois1:56:41-Start of extra games Lamar vs East Texas A&M1:58:55-Picks & analysis for Army vs Lehigh2:00:50-Picks & analysis for Loyola MD vs American2:02:53-Picks & analysis for Boston U vs Navy2:04:52-Picks & analysis for Bucknell vs Holy Cross2:06:55-Picks & analysis for High Points vs UNC Asheville2:09:22-Picks & analysis for Charleston Southern vs Gardner Webb2:11:33-Picks & analysis for Radford vs USC Upstate2:14:13-Picks & analysis for NJIT vs Pennsylvania2:16:13-Picks & analysis for Colgate vs Lafayette2:18:26-Picks & analysis for Winthrop vs Longwood2:21:01-Picks & analysis for Stephen F Austin vs Northwestern St2:23:37-Picks & analysis for New Orleans vs Texas A&M CC2:26:00-Picks & analysis for Nicholls vs UT Rio Grande Valley Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Appalachian State is bowling! We preview the upcoming game against The Stink!

Katie Pate was a very successful College Coach who is now a Senior College Administrator - she can also "Beat YOU in a Game of Horse" - and today she shares how she came back from a crushing loss! We've all had games like that and Katie shares her heart and some Wednesday Wisdom on The Educational AD Podcast!

Appalachian State is going bowling! We talk about the upcoming bowl game, recruiting, basketball, and more. 

Welcome to episode 538 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. A Holiday Replay of episode 501 with Earl Hunter. Earl is a motivational speaker and founder of The Unity Folks™. Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. Today, on episode 501, Earl B. Hunter, Jr. from Black Folks Camp To make a second visit to The Show. is the Founder and President of Black Folks Camp Too — a marketing-driven business whose mission is to increase diversity in the outdoor industry by making it easier, more interesting, and more fun for Folks to go camping. He's an experienced business leader across multiple industries. He has been widely recognized for his ebullient personality, hard work ethic, and non-traditional approach to building relationships and closing deals. Facebook   Twitter   Instagram Love the show? Subscribe,  rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter  HERE I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:  rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com What Happened: It was the summer of 2017. I was clocking miles like a long-haul trucker, repping campers for a living. My 7-year-old son called me out—said I'd promised to take him to Mount Rushmore. He was right. I'd driven past it more times than I could count, but I'd never stopped. So we hit the road. We camped our way across the country, father and son, a Black duo in a tiny pop-up trailer, parking it beside some seriously decked-out RV setups. We saw the sights, roasted marshmallows, and somewhere near Albuquerque, we spotted something we hadn't seen in thousands of miles: another Black family camping. My son lit up and said, "Hey Daddy! Black people!" That moment stuck. We talked to the family—Kimberly and crew—and she said something that flipped a switch in my brain: "Why don't you change that then?" That "why not you?" hit hard. By the time we were driving up the California coast, the name Black Folks Camp Too was born. Principle: Too often, we wait for permission—permission to belong, to show up, to start something meaningful. But sometimes, it takes seeing the gap with your own eyes, feeling the silence in certain spaces, to realize: you're the one who's supposed to fill it. And in business, just like in the outdoors, if you're only serving the same people the same way… you're gonna miss the fire. The campfire, that is. Transition: Most people think getting more folks into the outdoors is about better gear or cool photos on Instagram. But that's not it. The real challenge is the invitation—and the welcome. And too many companies still don't know why the diversity gap exists, so they don't know how to fix it. That's why a lot of businesses are struggling. Not because there's no market—but because they don't see who they're ignoring. And even when they do? They get hung up on the word Black in the name… instead of focusing on the unity behind the mission. That's why: That's why this episode matters. Earl Hunter isn't just talking about camping—he's talking about culture, connection, and cracking open an industry that's been too exclusive for too long. He's not asking for handouts or kumbayas. He's showing up with data, vision, and a real plan to shift the outdoor industry before it goes broke. Call to Action (PAS style): If you've ever felt like the outdoor world wasn't built for you—or your brand's been stuck serving the same crowd—it's time to tune in. Ignoring the invitation problem won't fix it. But this episode will give you a fresh lens and a fire to take action.  Hit play now. Let's change the campfire conversation. Show Notes: Earl Hunter Black Folks Camp Too Oboz Insoles Sylvansport  Georgia Military College  Appalachian State University Earl's Trail name:  Icebreaker  Mount Rushmore  Unity Blaze  Favorite piece of outdoor gear: OBOZ Insoles Favorite book:  The Billion Dollar Bet,  Bob Johnson Advice:  the first advice I would give folks is, is to go to our unity, go to black folks camp too, and go to our Unity blaze map and find campgrounds that are on our map that are actually there. Those folks are truly invited and welcoming you to camp at their campground. I would also say to know before you go. Do as much research as you can. You have these devices now, and you have so many YouTube channels and things of that nature to learn about camping. Follow up with Earl: earl@blackfolkscamptoo.com Black Folks Camp Too Thank you for joining us on another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. Be sure to visit our website, rick saes.com. You'll find show notes and links to everything we talked about and more. And while you're at it, if you found value in this show, give us a rating on Apple Podcast or spread the word and tell a friend. That would really help us out too. We should tune in every week. Thanks again for listening to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. #Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, #Black Folks Camp Too, #Earl Hunter, #diversity in the outdoors, #Appalachian State, #Unity Blaze, #outdoor industry, #inclusion, #Unity Blaze partners, #outdoor community, #backpacking, #state parks, #Oboz Footwear, #Spacious Skies Campgrounds, #outdoor lifestyle, #RV camping, #outdoor participation, #unity in outdoors, #generational transfer, #environmental stewardship.

2:38 Spudd Webb sets school-record for single-game field goal percentage in W vs Louisiana Tech/Men & Women combine for 4-0 week - Football to play Appalachian State in JLab Birmingham Bowl December 29 @ 2pm EST12:58 Women's Basketball point guard Destiny Garrett talks about scoring her 1500th career point & the opportunity to play Division I for the 1st time21:52 Deputy AD/Development Terry Harvin reflects on 20 years with the Georgia Southern Sports Network & 40 years as an ambassador to and for #EagleNationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lindsey W. is killing it in her classes. She's now a junior at Appalachian State in Boone, NC, and has a few strategies helping her tackle the more intense coursework in her major, communication sciences. Neuroanatomy and physiology aren't easy, but she's doing it. She's made friends in her classes and joined study groups, and continues to go to her professors' office hours. She's also part of Christian intervarsity bible studies and has become active in the neurodiversity club, now that the group is now growing and taking on some projects she cares about. Take a listen to how Lindsey continues to thrive, and she starts to think about what comes after graduation.Support the show

Appalachian State football's season ended on Saturday. We talk about it. 

Appalachian State legend Jason Hunter has had a storied career in the black and gold. He scored one of the most important touchdowns in program history that led to the first ever national championship for the Mountaineers. He also had a very successful career in the NFL. Jason Hunter a.k.a. Sticks joins us for an episode covering his illustrious career. 

In this week’s episode, we break down Ashland QB Nathan Bernhard’s sudden flip from Appalachian State to Maryland and what Ohio’s new NIL ruling could mean for high school athletes moving forward. Then we welcome Hillsdale’s Brady Heller into the studio to recap the Falcons’ hard-fought win over Danville, the importance of depth as injuries stack up and how he’s stepped in on both sides of the ball. Brady reflects on last year’s state title run, the expectations they carry now and previews Hillsdale’s state semifinal matchup with McDonald, including what bringing home a championship would mean to him and the community. Related stories: Hillsdale tops Danville in another instant classic Tradition awaits: Hillsdale meets McDonald & its 100 years of football history Great Expectations: Added pressure hasn’t bothered Hillsdale, Shelby in pursuit of state titles This episode is brought to you by Graham Auto Mall. Intro and outro music is "Story of the Sunflower Samurai" by local artist Vaundoom. Support the show: https://richlandsource.com/membersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Appalachian State football breaks its 4-game losing streak by defeating the Herd on a beautiful Saturday in Boone. We talk about this game and the 2005 National Championship celebration.  

In this episode, Jeff sits down with mortgage expert Matt Doyle of Guild Mortgage—a longtime Lake Norman local who grew up in Sherrills Ford and has watched the region transform over the past three decades. Matt shares his journey from studying marketing and economics at Appalachian State to becoming a top 1% loan officer and now the Sales Manager for Guild's North Charlotte region. He opens up about the moment he realized how confusing the mortgage process can be for buyers and how that experience shaped his passion for full transparency, education, and empowering clients at every step.Jeff and Matt dive into today's mortgage landscape—interest rates, market volatility, and the “Twilight Zone” era of ultra-low rates—as well as bigger conversations around home affordability, misconceptions fueled by HGTV-style glamor, and how buyers can realistically navigate their first purchase. Matt also highlights why Lake Norman remains such a desirable place to live, from its four true seasons to its balance of affordability, lifestyle, and economic opportunity. Whether you're a homebuyer, a real estate pro, or simply curious about where the market is heading, this conversation is full of clear insights and genuine local perspective.Matt Doyle | Guild MortgageText: 704-881-3308IG: @mattdoylemortgage---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lake Norman's #1 Podcast & Email NewsletterThe Best of LKNhttps://thebestoflkn.com/Hosted by:Jeff Hammwww.lknreal.comSupport the show

Appalachian State football got embarrassed at an historical scale Saturday. Join us. 

Appalachian State heads to Harrisonburg. No one is counting on them to win. Big under dogs. Is it the perfect time for another upset on the road?We also cover the first week of basketball!

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy talks about last night’s 75-53 victory over Appalachian State on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition, we provide our takeaways from this game and look ahead to what’s next for the Buckeyes.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton and special guest co-host Maria Villablanca welcome Dr. Dinesh Davè, Professor & Director of Supply Chain Management at Appalachian State University, and Evan Junker, Chief Growth Officer at SPARQ360, to unpack insights from the 2025 Supply Chain Trends and Attitudes Report. The annual study, conducted by Appalachian State and SPARQ360, surveys hundreds of supply chain managers across the U.S. to reveal where leaders are investing, from AI and visibility platforms to sustainability and risk management.Together, the panel discusses how familiarity and adoption of AI are rising, why the “ambition-action gap” still challenges sustainability progress, and what's driving executives to balance cost efficiency, resilience, and environmental responsibility. They also explore how partnerships, collaboration, and customer-centered priorities are emerging as the new competitive advantage. Packed with practical insights and forward-looking data, this conversation offers a clear snapshot of where supply chain strategy is heading in 2025 and beyond.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(01:08) Survey overview and key findings(02:47) Fun warmup: favorite food and drink spots(05:52) Appalachian State University supply chain program(07:37) SPARQ360 and its role in the supply chain(13:30) AI in supply chain: priorities and challenges(19:03) Broader technology investments and priorities(24:21) Data transformation and security(24:37) Sustainability initiatives and drivers(26:09) Political and regulatory impacts(26:52) Statistical analysis and findings(27:48) The ambition-action gap(28:38) Technology's role in sustainability(29:01) Tariffs and geopolitical shifts(33:16) Survey surprises and observations(42:00) Future directions and international expansion(43:10) Connecting with the panelResources:Connect with Dr. Dinesh Davè: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-dinesh-dave-a85b6713/ Learn more about Appalachian State University: https://www.appstate.edu/academics/majors/id/supply-chain-management Connect with Evan Junker: www.linkedin.com/in/evanjunker Learn more about SPARQ360: https://luna-resume.com/Connect with Maria Villablanca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariavillablanca/Explore Maria's website: https://www.mariavillablanca.com/ Learn more about Transform Talks: https://futureinsights.org/transform-talks/ Read the 2025 Supply Chain Trends and Attitudes Report: https://sparq360.com/trendsandattitudes/ Connect with Scott Luton:

Appalachian State faced Georgia Southern on Thursday night and fell flat. Ten days off did not help. We talk about losing at home to our biggest rival for the first time since 2019. 

It's Hate Week. Those dirty, smelly eagles from Statesboro travel to Boone for a midweek matchup. Appalachian State legend, David Jackson, joins us for the #BGPMailSatchel !

Appalachian State fell to the ODU Monarchs and are now 4-4 overall and 1-3 in SBC play. We talk about the game and how it impacts our outlook on the rest of the season. 

Appalachian State travels to Norfolk to face the Monarchs of Old Dominion. We talk about questions about the program and what it will take to get back on track to bowl eligibility. 

Appalachian State football loses a homecoming matchup against Coastal Carolina. We discuss the game and what it means for the program going forward. 

In Hour 1, Isaac and Suke debate whey Oregon State took so long to fire someone, take a look around the college football weekend in our Saturday Succotash, and more.

After Oregon State moved to a dismal 0-6 following their loss to Appalachian State, Isaac and Suke wonder why it took so long to fire their special teams coordinator?

Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks, and Brian Baldinger break down the biggest games from Week 3 of the 2025 season. DJ opens up the show with a tribute to his longtime friend and former Appalachian State teammate, Shawn Clark. Then, the guys break down the NFC Divisional Round rematch between the Rams and Eagles (02:35), before diving into Broncos-Chargers (11:40), Texans Jaguars (17:23), Cowboys-Bears (24:00), Packers-Browns (29:09), Jets-Buccaneers (35:21) and Chiefs-Giants. (43:02)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Griffin Warner and Lonte Smith get you ready for CFB Week 1 betting. The Week 1 college football betting podcast kicked off with fiery motivation: play fast on offense, swarm and tackle on defense, and leave no doubt on the field (0:07–0:32). Host Griffin Warner welcomed listeners to the first full slate after Week 0's appetizer, joined by analyst Lonte Smith, promising best bets, betting previews, and Pregame.com promos (0:33–1:25). Lonte recapped Week 0: Kansas State's sloppy turnovers, Western Kentucky's win vs. Sam Houston, Kansas covering easily, and Hawaii splitting. The team split best bets but gained valuable data points, setting the stage for a bigger Week 1 (1:26–2:26). Griffin noted their 1–1 start before discussing Farmageddon: Iowa State upset Kansas State despite being outgained, thanks to field conditions and missed chances. Lonte highlighted K-State's run defense concerns and Iowa State QB Rocco Becht's poise (2:26–5:12). Focus turned to Thursday and Friday action. Boise State opened -8.5 but dropped to -5.5 against South Florida. Lonte leaned over 62.5, citing Boise's dominant offensive line and USF's explosive scheme with QB Byrum Brown, while both defenses struggle with consistency. Griffin noted USF's true home edge at Raymond James Stadium and the attractiveness of betting a home underdog (5:12–10:58). Next came East Carolina vs. NC State, a heated in-state rivalry. ECU returns QB Caden Howes but lost top backs and receivers along with most of its defense. NC State counters with QB C.J. Bailey and a strong WR trio. With both defenses questionable, Lonte recommended over 61.5, predicting Dave Doeren will keep scoring to make a statement (10:59–15:04). Friday's Auburn vs. Baylor clash featured Auburn as -2.5 favorites with total 58. Lonte praised Auburn QB Jackson Arnold behind one of the best offensive lines in college football and a deep WR group, attacking Baylor's secondary that ranked near the bottom nationally. Baylor QB Sawyer Roberson is underrated but struggles under pressure. Lonte leaned Auburn and over, expecting both offenses to produce (15:35–19:39). Georgia Tech vs. Colorado followed, with Tech -5. Lonte is high on Tech's physicality and returning production while fading Colorado after losing Shadur Sanders and top weapons. With QB uncertainty between Salter and Juju Lewis and no running game, Colorado faces major issues. Georgia Tech's balanced offense and experience make them a strong play, with a possible team total over. Public hype favors Deion Sanders, but sharps bet Colorado unders. Lonte called Georgia Tech an ACC dark horse (20:37–26:58). The show closed with Pregame.com promos: code “college50” saves $50 on season packages, plus Greg Shaker's contest with $1,000 cash prizes (26:59–28:08). For best bets, Lonte picked Charlotte +6.5 vs. Appalachian State, noting coaching upgrades and a defense-first identity (28:08–29:51). Griffin chose over 61.5 in NC State vs. ECU, echoing offensive advantages and defensive weaknesses (29:51–31:10). The podcast ended optimistic, teasing Saturday's monster slate including Texas vs. Ohio State (31:10–31:44). This streamlined Week 1 college football betting preview blends expert picks, point spread analysis, totals recommendations, and sharp betting angles. Key games include Boise State vs. South Florida, ECU vs. NC State, Auburn vs. Baylor, and Georgia Tech vs. Colorado, with actionable best bets on Charlotte +6.5 and NC State vs. ECU over 61.5. Bettors get insights into line movement, public vs. sharp action, and matchup breakdowns, making this must-read coverage for anyone chasing value in Week 1 college football odds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices