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Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in six different FIFA World Cups, adding two goals as Portugal put Uzbekistan away 5-0. But the other record set tonight was the one nobody wanted: England finished with 78.8 percent possession against Ghana in Foxborough, the highest figure in World Cup history without a goal, and late in the match they may well have gotten away with a penalty that was never called or reviewed. Jason breaks down both records, Croatia's vital win in Toronto where halftime sub Ante Budimir became the oldest scorer in Croatian World Cup history, Luka Modrić's 200th international cap, and Algeria staying alive with the Disgrace of Gijón already casting a shadow over what comes next. Then the full Matchday 3 preview for Groups A, B, and C, including the scoreboard-watching scenario around Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco vs. Haiti right here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium tomorrow at 6pm. In Stoppage Time, Jason and Jared Smith watch Colombia beat DR Congo live, walk through the full bracket, and dig into the Atlanta United roster picture following Mauricio Culebro's first press conference as president of soccer.

Sandra shares stories from her Colorado vacation before shifting focus to the World Cup festivities in Atlanta. They compare the fan experience at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to the lackluster setup at MetLife Stadium and recap the end of the Georgia Bulldogs' baseball season at the College World Series. 01:00 - Sandra Golden Returns 02:52 - World Cup Fan Fest 07:38 - Atlanta Sports Update

Historic first World Cup match in Atlanta as Cape Verde shocks Spain with a scoreless draw in front of 70,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Plus, reactions from international visitors discovering America, Braves updates on Spencer Strider and Drake Baldwin, Georgia's College World Series run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Day 4 recap including Japan's 89th-minute equalizer against the Netherlands, Germany's statement win in Houston, Scotland's return after 28 years, and a preview of tomorrow's noon kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo Biography Flash a weekly Biography. Cristiano Ronaldo's last few days have been a perfect snapshot of a global icon entering what could be the final, legacy-defining chapter of his career. According to ESPN and multiple Portuguese outlets, Ronaldo has arrived in the United States with the Portugal national team as they settle into Palm Beach, Florida, to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, where he is expected to become the first man to play in six World Cups. ESPN reports that he insists he is fit, confident, and determined to chase the one great trophy still missing from his collection, a World Cup winners medal, and that he remains Portugal's all time leader in caps and goals for a men's national team. Video from Sky Sports and other broadcasters shows him smiling, waving, and acknowledging supporters as the squad checked into their team hotel, underlining that even at 41, he is still the main attraction wherever Portugal lands. Fabrizio Romano and other well known football reporters have shared footage of Ronaldo's arrival in Miami and subsequent training sessions, with the tone very much that he is central to Roberto Martinez's plans rather than a ceremonial passenger. At the same time, the ESPN FC panel has been actively debating whether Portugal might, at some point, be better tactically without starting him every match, a discussion that could become a major long term storyline if his minutes are managed more carefully at this World Cup rather than him playing every possible minute. On the business and fame front, digital media analysis from Epidemic Sound and sports business sites confirms that Ronaldo remains the most followed individual athlete on Instagram, at around 665 million followers, a staggering number that keeps growing despite Meta recently purging inactive accounts from the platform. One social media monitoring piece notes that his recent posts over the last month have been dominated by Portugal training content, family moments, and commercial partnerships, reinforcing the now familiar blend of national team icon, family man, and global brand. There has also been a viral clip on Instagram of Ronaldo brushing off an over eager fan who breached security for a selfie. Comment threads are split: some frame it as reasonable concern for safety, others as proof that the nonstop attention wears on him. While the reaction is noisy, there is no verified indication of any formal complaint or disciplinary issue arising from the incident, so for now it sits firmly in the realm of social media drama rather than lasting biographical scandal. Meanwhile, fan commentary videos continue to defend him against what they describe as excessive criticism after a recent friendly, with creators on Instagram and TikTok arguing that judging Ronaldo purely on one match ignores his enduring statistical impact and leadership role for Portugal. Although subjective, this shows how polarizing and culturally central his presence remains even in routine warm up games. Looking ahead, reports circulating on social platforms about a possible high profile United States friendly at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, billed as Ronaldo's first major U.S. appearance with Portugal in years, remain speculative until confirmed by the Portuguese federation or U.S. Soccer. If and when such fixtures are officially announced, they would add another chapter to his already global tour of football influence. That is your Cristiano Ronaldo Biography Flash for this week. Thank you for listening, and make sure you subscribe so you never miss an update on Cristiano Ronaldo, and search the term Biography Flash for more great biographies. Thanks for listening. This has been a Quiet Please production. Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Send us Fan MailPaul is back after a week on the road and a week of guest hosts taking over Carpooling with Paul.In this episode, Paul reflects on his work trip to Atlanta, thanks guest hosts Brad Brock and Kevin McLoughlin for keeping the show rolling, and shares what it was like being in the heart of Atlanta as the city prepares for the 2026 World Cup.From walking past Mercedes-Benz Stadium and seeing World Cup preparations firsthand to discussing soccer, travel, sports fandom, and the excitement surrounding one of the world's biggest sporting events, this episode offers a glimpse into a different kind of commute.Paul also shares a few personal updates, hints at some upcoming changes in his professional life, and talks about what may be ahead for the show.

Mike Conte joins Rusty and Steak to detail the upcoming wave of major sporting events hitting Atlanta, led by the World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They discuss the potential for a historic semifinal between Argentina and Portugal and evaluate the USMNT's chances in their match against Paraguay. 01:00 - Atlanta's Busy Summer Sports Calendar 05:19 - Dream Messi-Ronaldo Atlanta Semifinal 08:47 - USMNT Outlook Against Paraguay

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off tomorrow, and Atlanta Soccer Tonight spends the eve of the tournament soaking it all in. Jason Longshore opens with a love letter to Atlanta, tracing the city's soccer history from the Atlanta Chiefs in 1967 through the 1996 Olympics to the moment the world arrives at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Clips from Georgia State coaches Ed Joyce and Brett Surrency and Atlanta United director of methodology Javier Pérez set the tone, along with a conversation with two-time World Cup referee Matthew Conger on what it takes to officiate on the biggest stage. Then Kevin Egan, voice of MLS on Apple TV, joins the show fresh off a busy World Cup week. He's hosting the FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park and co-owns the Irish Exit, opening this weekend in Centennial Yards. Kevin shares his World Cup picks, with a potential negative surprise, gives two players to watch, and picks ______ to lift the trophy (no spoilers here, listen to the episode). Jason closes with the 3-4-3: three surprise teams, four players who will define the tournament, and his predictions for top three finishers in this summer's tournament. Stoppage Time goes deep on group-by-group rooting interests, a full schedule breakdown for the opening weekend, and a few packs of Panini stickers to send everyone off right.

Jason Longshore breaks down the final round of World Cup warm-up matches with the tournament just days away. Spain rolls Peru 3-1 in Puebla in their last dress rehearsal before opening against Cape Verde in Atlanta next Monday, and Jason digs into what makes this La Roja squad so dangerous, why the Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams injury timeline is actually reassuring, and what to expect when they arrive at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Plus, Colombia looked sharp against Jordan, Croatia bounced back with a Modrić masterclass against Slovenia, the Netherlands needed two Gakpo penalties to escape Uzbekistán, and France got a Michael Olise hat trick in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland while their defensive numbers keep trending the wrong way. In the 3-4-3 presented by Ford: the three tallest players at the World Cup, Jim Curtin heads to Austin FC, Jurriën Timber is officially out for the Netherlands, encouraging news on Neymar, and Scotland creates a mess with Norway before the tournament even starts. Plus three things that made Jason smile, including Haiti back at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. World Cup coverage will be a team effort, you'll be able to end your night with us on AST throughout the next month plus. You can wake up with a morning read by subscribing to Morning Espresso at soccerdownhere.net and catch SDH AM with John Nelson daily at 9:05 through the World Cup final.

Steak and Drew analyze the SEC's massive success in the college baseball regionals and debate the need for a slaughter rule in high-scoring games. The discussion transitions to a simulated NBA postseason where Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs advance to face the Knicks in the Finals. They also preview the upcoming World Cup matches scheduled for Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 01:00 - SEC Baseball Regional Dominance 03:13 - Georgia Tech Baseball Expectations 06:14 - Wembanyama Leads Spurs Over Thunder 09:43 - World Cup and Soccer Updates

An app for the new Trump Accounts became available in app stores on Thursday. The accounts are expected to come into effect on July 4, when parents will be able to contribute towards the financial future of their newborn children.California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law additions to the election code ahead of California's June 2 statewide primary. They block federal agents and law enforcement from accessing voter rolls or disrupting election workers without a court order.The FBI is ramping up security for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will get a makeover, and the area around it will be a no-drone zone.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond and Greg Bowman. Co‑owners of Popcorn Remix, a Georgia‑based gourmet popcorn brand known for more than 60 innovative flavors ranging from King Crab Legs to Charlene’s Banana Pudding to chocolate‑covered strawberry. Together they share their partnership story, the origin of Popcorn Remix, the explosive growth of their brand, how they built a powerhouse fundraising platform (WePowerFundraisers.com), their expansion into major sports and entertainment venues, and the unique combination of hustle, creativity, faith, and community service that drives their success.

Abe Gordon and Randy McMichael discuss the frustrations of playing on turf versus grass fields at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They evaluate the Portland Trail Blazers' search for a new head coach and preview the upcoming matchup between Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 01:00 - Studio Lighting Issues 02:02 - Grass Versus Turf 05:11 - NBA Coaching Search 08:17 - Knicks Defeat Cavaliers 10:46 - Wemby Versus SGA

Abe Gordon and Randy McMichael break down Matthew Stafford's new contract extension and the latest financial moves across the NFL. They also analyze the NBA postseason matchups, discuss the grass versus turf debate at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and share the latest viral stories from the sports world. 02:24 - Matthew Stafford Extension Analysis 05:46 - NFLPA Business And Jams 09:02 - Jerry Jones Travel Comments 13:00 - NBA Coaching News Update 19:12 - Trail Blazers Search Rumors 24:50 - Spurs vs Thunder Outlook 30:32 - The Back Page Segment

Kenny joins with a list of the worst NFL stadiums, which the guys all react to.

Mentality shift! The LA Galaxy secured their first come-from-behind win of the 2026 season with a gritty 2-1 victory over Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A massive brace from Gabriel Pec has propelled the G's back into the playoff conversation. Have we finally turned the corner?  TODAY'S AGENDA:

Atlanta is about to take center stage. Arthur and Josh Blank join Mike Conti to discuss why the 2026 World Cup is a milestone moment for Georgia. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has hosted the Super Bowl and Final Four, but the World Cup is a different beast. Hear how Atlanta is preparing for 8 matches.

Sandra and Steak listen to Mike Conti's interview with Arthur Blank and Josh Blank to discuss the transformative potential of hosting eight World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They address concerns regarding FIFA-controlled ticket pricing and emphasize the invitation for all Atlanteans to experience the festivities downtown. 01:01 - Atlanta World Cup Hype 02:46 - Hosting World Cup Matches 05:06 - Ticket Pricing And Experience 10:19 - Dallas Match Count Correction

In this episode of the Suite Spot podcast, we're heading to the prestigious Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University. We sat down with the school’s Director, Dr. Benjamin Lawrence, to go behind the scenes of one of the country's top hospitality programs. In this video, we explore: How Georgia State is shaping the next generation of industry leaders.  The innovative curriculum driving modern hospitality education. Insights into the future of the hospitality profession. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just passionate about the industry, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into hospitality excellence! Episode Transcript Our podcast is produced as an audio resource. Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and human editing and may contain errors. Before republishing quotes, we ask that you reference the audio. 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 for another edition of our TMG Campus Crawl Series. We are here in the heart of downtown Atlanta at Georgia State with Dr. Ben Lawrence, Director of the Day School of Hospitality Administration. Thank you so much for hosting us and being a hospitable guest. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : Happy to have you down here. Go Panthers! Ryan Embree: Well, we’re excited about this. You know, we’re here in Atlanta. We’re gonna talk about the location. But before we get rolling with this episode, Dr. Lawrence, this is your first time on the podcast. We would love to hear. Hospitality is all about collection of stories, right. Of individuals. Share a little bit about your hospitality journey and how you came here to the Georgia State, Day School of Hospitality. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : So, people sometimes are surprised about my past because I was born in Singapore and I grew up in Indonesia, and I came to the States when I was 18, and I came to the States because I wanted to go to the best hotel school in the world. And so, when I was 17, I went to one of those high school, like, what are you gonna be when you grow up? And this Swiss hotelier said, you wanna go to hotel school? Go to Cornell. So, I applied to Cornell and I arrived in the States when I was 18, and I went to Cornell. And so, I went to hotel school there met my wife at, she was a hotelier at Cornell. After I graduated, we ran an inn in upstate New York, historic inn, went back to get my MBA, then worked, in a couple of different industries for a while. Went back to Indonesia to help my family and their business, and then came back to the States. Then I worked in a community college, a couple of community colleges, teaching hospitality. Then I went back and got my PhD at Boston University and my PhD, focus was in franchising. And I know we’ll talk a little more about franchising in a minute. But, franchising is the primary form of distribution of our product. After I graduated from Boston University, I got a job back at Cornell. So I went back there and I was a food and beverage professor. People always laugh. What was your professor? Food and Beverage? So I taught the most of the freshman students at Cornell, Food and Beverage Management. And I also taught, a multi unit franchising course there. And then this position at Georgia State opened up and a benefactor of ours gave money for an inapt professor in franchising. And there’s nothing better as an academic to get inapt professorship in the area that you study. And the weather in Atlanta is a lot better than the weather in Ithaca. Ryan Embree: I don’t know this week my, uh, my… Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : True. We’ve been cold, but it’s gonna be 80 degrees. 80 degrees this weekend. So when my kids moved down here from Ithaca, they were like, oh my Lord, you can play soccer in January, and we have a pool. So, I really loved working here in Atlanta. Georgia State is a very dynamic place. It’s a large state university, so very different from Cornell, but we really transformed the lives of our students here. So I’ve been here, I was here for seven years as a faculty member, and then just last July I became the director of the the Day School of Hospitality. So, we’re working on a lot of interesting stuff here. I’m excited about the position and excited about the potential of Georgia State and Atlanta. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Excited to share it with our audience and your story. Dr. Lawrence is a true indication of what hospitality is international. Right? We say that all the time. Hospitality is the language spoken all over the world. Your journey is certainly a reflection of that across the globe and, and now across the country here. So, share a little bit about the school’s history, Georgia State’s history, and where you think that this program is unique based on maybe others across the country. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : So Georgia State was founded, the university was founded in 1913 as the kind of nighttime business school of Georgia Tech. And that has evolved over time. We’re a very large university. We are over 50,000 students here. And we’re a very diverse university. So we graduate more African Americans at Georgia State than any other university in the states. So we are a majority minority institution and a research one institution, so an R1 institution. So, we are not only a research powerhouse, but we also transformed the lives of our students. So we are the Day School of Hospitality, was founded in 1973, as a school of Hospitality, and was named in the eighties by the founder of Days Inn, Cecil B Day. So that really ties back into the franchising story, into the entrepreneur story. You had a local Georgian building, a brand that became worldwide brand, which is amazing. We joined the College of Business, and now we’re a school embedded in a business school. So there’s two forms of hospitality programs. There’s hospitality programs like UNLV or University of Houston. They’re standard loan colleges. And then there’s schools like ours that are embedded in a business school. So those are two basic models. There’s advantages and disadvantages to both. One of the advantages that we have is that we are in a college of business that allows our students to take many different courses from marketing department to computer information systems. One of the disadvantages is that we tend to be fairly small. So cost guide programs in business schools tend to be smaller, than standalone colleges. I took over the program in July, and we’re working on our strategic plan right now to grow the school to get more students. Because industry’s always looking for great hospitality students. And also looking to expose hospitality to students in other disciplines. And so if you’re a real estate student, if you’re a finance student, if you’re a student, a psychology student, right? So getting those students among all university students interested in hospitality. And I think that’s, that’s a model in which, will help grow enrollment. Well, only our majors and our minors, but also students just interested in hospitality. Many of our students are working in hospitality, right? They’re working as waiters or they’re working at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. So, they’re exposed to the industry especially being here in Atlanta. Ryan Embree: Even if they’re not in hospitality jobs, you could still be using hospitality skills within those jobs. Which is very important to share because, I think there’s that common misconception of, you think of a hospitality or a hotel worker, you think of all the disadvantages sometimes, right? Of like the holidays, the long hours. It’s a 24 hour business. But at the same time, there’s these different departments, whether it’s accounting, marketing, all the HR, these different avenues within hospitality, that you can be exposed to franchising. And being, which we’re gonna talk about. But one of the things is you look for that strategic plan, I think is a huge advantage, is obviously your location. Right? You’re in the heart of downtown Atlanta. It’s massive headquarters for global brands, sports venues, I mean, state of the art sports venue. You got World Cup coming here this summer. Talk to us about how you’ve used this location to your benefit for the students and prospective students. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : Yeah. I mean, we have people on campus all the time. We have headquarters for ISG is here. We have, you know, we can walk from our campus to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, state Farm. We have the World Congress Center here, which is one of the largest convention centers at the day school. We don’t really have that many physical facilities. We don’t have a restaurant, we don’t have a hotel, but we don’t need to because we have Atlanta. Right. So that is a huge advantage for us. When we want people to come to campus to speak, they just need to just turn the corner and they’re here. And so we get great speakers to come to campus. Our students are engaged with the local industries here. Atlanta is the capital of franchising in the us Right? So if you think about the brands that we have here, Chick-fil-A, inspire brands, Rourke Capital. Rourke Capital, which is one of the largest private equity companies that owns Inspire and go-to Foods and over 50 franchise brands. And Atlanta’s growing. Right? And so if you’re a student and you come here, you can stay here afterwards, right? So if you’re a student at Cornell and you go to Ithaca, you’re probably not staying in Ithaca, right. Because there’s not much there. People have to get on a plane and they gotta fly to Ithaca to be in class. And so that is a huge advantage for us, right? Absolutely. For universities that are based in cities where people wanna work, that is a huge advantage for us, not only for our students to get internships, but afterwards to be able to live and work with, within the community. Ryan Embree: A hundred percent. And some of the schools and programs that we’ve visited, have laboratories and incubators that they use. Your lab and incubators are right outside these walls, right? So it’s almost like your classroom is the city of Atlanta and, and ’cause so much hospitality is going on every single day in those moments. So, incredible advantage that the students have here and the alumni network, which we’re gonna talk about here in a minute. But, you know, you talked about your, your strong background and franchising and entrepreneurship. Obviously you have a passion there. It’s, it’s kind of your strength and background share with us how you kind of incorporated that into the curriculum, into the day school hospitality. Sure. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : So when I came here to Georgia State, one of the things that my endow professorship they wanted me to do was basically talk about franchising for students overall. So I teach an undergraduate franchising course. And in that course, even though franchising obviously is central to the distribution of hotels and restaurants, franchising is everywhere. Everything in a strip mall is franchised. And students don’t understand that, right? Students don’t realize that. The other thing that we have here in Georgia State is we have an entrepreneurship innovation center. And so I have a joint appointment with them, and one of my passions is to get entrepreneurship students to think about franchising as one route to entrepreneurship. We have all these headquarters here. Even if you’re not gonna become a franchisee, you might go work for a franchising company Sure. As accountant, as somebody in marketing or in sales. These are large companies. Or you go, might go work for a franchisee. You know, one of the pathways to franchising is ownership. Now that can be difficult for students, and that’s one of the things that we’re gonna be working on in our strategic plan, is figuring out how do we get students in ownership positions, right? So we are a public university that, 40% of our students are Pell Grant eligible. Right? So they don’t come from money. It’s figuring out how we can change the trajectory of our students’ lives and transform their lives is something that is, one of one of our goals and franchising is a wealth creator, right? Some of the wealthiest people I know are franchisees, right? If you own 20 Dunking Donuts, you’re doing pretty well. You probably have a license plate that has donut on it, right? So, I’m very passionate about franchising. Now there’s good franchising and there’s bad franchising, right? So, there are some franchise brands that I don’t suggest students invest in. And part of that is kind of understanding what franchising is about, right? It’s a partnership. So in the class we talk a lot about, you know, these are two options. These are two options for that you might wanna pick as a franchise, which one would you pick? And understanding kind of the owner who owns a franchise brand, what are the parameters of the contract? And exposing students to that pathway. There’s not that many programs in the US that focus on franchising, and there’s very few endowed professorships in franchising. And so one of our goals going forward is to work more on exposing more students to franchising in general. Ryan Embree: It’s such a great opportunity. I mean, I think all of those success stories where franchises were sometimes built from these schools and now are such job creators of what you’re talking about. So to kind of arm your students with that knowledge, whether again, they’re looking to start their own franchise, become a part of a franchise, or work for a franchisee. Incredibly wealth of knowledge there. So really, really cool work that you’re doing there. The school has really deep roots in the business community. You mentioned some of the major brands. How have you seen this kind of fast track students hospitality careers or even like through internships that you’re doing at the on on school? Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : So we, so one of the things we tell students is get internships right away. So, start with doing internships and get into those businesses and start working. ’cause once it’s the best way for them to kind of feel out the company and know if it’s the right fit for them as well as the company filling them out. So we, we have, we have more internship opportunities for our students than we can fulfill, right. Everything from going to the masters or engaging with Mercedes-Benz Stadium or working at State Farm Arena, working local hotels. We could have double the number of students and we still have opportunity for them. I think, you know, Atlanta’s a growing city, right? We’re continually growing. We have a great ecosystem of universities here in Atlanta, not only Georgia State, but Kennesaw State, Georgia Tech, university of Georgia’s not that far away. Georgia Southern. So we have a great ecosystem of universities here, and that helps to kind of feed the need for the businesses, and especially in the hospitality business. Where, we’re building one of the largest entertainment centers here in Atlanta. $5 billion is going to create, create this Centennial Yards, which is this transformation of downtown. So it’s a really exciting place to be. And businesses want our students, our students tend to be the way we describe Georgia State. Students are students with grit. Many of our students are working while they’re going to school.They can’t afford not to work. Luckily in the state of Georgia, we have Hope Scholarship. So most of our students are going, are getting their education covered. And at the day school, we provide a lot of scholarship money. So if you’re a Georgia State Day School student and you don’t get a scholarship, I’m saying, why aren’t you getting a scholarship? You should be applying for one. We have a lot of good, you know, we have Hunter Scholarship for the Hunter family. We have lots of industry partners that understand the benefit of providing our students with scholarship money and offering paid internships that get them, get them engaged and working, in the industry. And we have FIFA coming. So what a great opportunity for students to get a front seat to an amazing event, is to work a FIFA event. Ryan Embree: It’s wonderful advice. And would encourage, students that might be finding this, if you have required internships, would you even I had them when I went to school, get eclectic with it. Like, expose yourself to as many things as possible, because this industry has so much to offer. And this is like a first time glance at what you might wanna do in your career. A lot of the hospitality professionals I’ve talked to have fallen into these types of careers where you could have a fast track of being like, I know exactly what I wanna do. ’cause I had the experience of this internship. So it’s great that you continue to put your, your students in positions like that. And the learning from it will last you here until the end of your career and until their alumni, which we’ll, we’ll talk about, right? Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : And then also study abroad, right. We have two study abroad programs that we do. One is fully funded, so we pay for everything for the students. Unfortunately, location, it was Dubai in Abu Dhabi, so we had to, we’re gonna have to retool that for this year. But we pay for everything for our students to have an experience that is just out of this world. And we also have a European study abroad experience. So I’ll say, you know, the getting, taking advantage of those experiences and trying different things, right. Don’t go to the same company for four years. Try something else. Try something new. And when you’re in Atlanta, you can do that. You don’t have to go anywhere else to go work at State Farm and then figure out like, I wanna go to Mercedes-Benz or gonna work at Inspire Brands. It’s all here. Ryan Embree: It really is. And a lot of, obviously, alumni have come and worked at those organizations. Talk to us about, you know, the alumni network, how you continue and your role to try to foster that. Because if you can show a student, Hey, this is the path you can take and this is where you can get to, and the opportunities that kind of expand and open up to you when you graduate from here it’s a powerful thing and, and powerful way to get people through the doors. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : Yeah, absolutely. We are a large university, so we have over 300,000 alums. And if you think about it, students who go to Georgia State are probably most likely gonna be living in Atlanta or somewhere else. We’re a large city and we have lots of opportunity. So vicinity wise, you have a lot of alums living in this area. And because we have, we’re such a large school. If you ask someone, do you know anybody from they went to school at Georgia State, probably they did, or they, they got a master’s degree at Georgia State. Or you know, their, their, their sister did. So everyone’s always willing to help too. Right. So this feeling of like, you know, the idea that, you know, you’ve come from a certain background and, and you’ve achieved, graduated from Georgia State. There’s always people willing to help. And I’ll say the hospitality industry is, this is an a industry of opportunity. So there’s people that work, start working in as a waiter and then become CEO of the company. That trajectory happens. It might take some time, but this is an industry that values hard work, grit, personal attention to customer satisfaction. But it’s doable. And so that’s what inspires, that’s what inspires me about Georgia State, is that I can see our students grow over time, and I can see those students in management positions in the future, and that’s gonna change the trajectory of their life. Or they might own a franchise, or they might start a franchise. If you think about a company like Zaxby’s, right? It’s was started by students, you know, it was started at Georgia Southern. And those two founders are now worth billions. So the idea that we can change the life of students and, and we can do that here in Atlanta, is something that I’m really passionate about. Ryan Embree: And, you know, so we kind of spoke to the students now, the hospitality professionals that might be listening to that be open to being a mentor for these younger students. Because, I sit across the table. I had the privilege and honor of sitting across the table for some incredible hospitality leaders. And every single time I ask them about their hospitality journey, there’s typically always a name in there that they attribute a lot of their success as a jumping off point or a starting point for their career. So be on either side of that, right. To be the person that helps someone, or be the person that reach out to someone for help. It’s hospitality. It’s a people serving people industry. That’s why we love it. That’s why we’re in it. So definitely recommend doing that as well. You know, the success of the program has been recognized as Top Hospitality School across the country, multiple accolades. You talked about the research at the top of the episode. Talk to us a little bit about, you know, that what the accolades mean to you and kind of how it’s helped prospective students kind of recognize Georgia State as one of the top hospitality programs. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : Absolutely. The, you know, one thing is we’ve been around a while, right? So we’ve been around over 50 years, and I think being embedded in a business school helps us as well. Our students have a very strong business background. They have to pass accounting and finance courses. They have that strong kind of analytical background. And then they take their hospitality courses. We have a lot of students that are, we’re known for students with grit. That don’t get their hands dirty and are willing to like, do the, do the operations type jobs. I’ll say that, you know, operations jobs are the foundation of kind of understanding the business, right? You might wanna be a revenue manager, but you don’t really understand what revenue management is about until you work the front desk and understand that business. Absolutely. So, you know, for a long time, we’ve, you know, we’re at a top business school. We’re at a large state university for a long time. We’ve put students into the ecosystem. So when people think about us, they think about those students, and we’re gonna build upon that going forward. So, we we’re working on a strategic plan to kinda strengthen those fundamentals as well as specialize in and expand our portfolio to things like entertainment and sports, which is all about hospitality, right? Absolutely. Because students today, they really passionate about live events and sports and entertainment. And that’s all part of that hospitality ecosystem, right? Hospitality is part of most things we do. It’s like we’re in a service economy. We’re in experience economy. Most of the qualities you learn in a hospitality degree, you can apply in any type of business. So I’m very proud of the fact that we are at, we’re an ACSB accredited school, so we have that business foundation. At the same time we have specialized interest in things that are really important to hospitality. So franchising is one of those that I think we can build upon going forward. Ryan Embree: I mean, you talk about that younger generation loving live events. I mean, look on social media and you also see, them standing in line for food and beverage item. Like that there’s such passion, and that younger generation that they can bring to hospitality and we get the privilege of serving them. So, one of the places where you have a strong alumni presence and even student presence. And the reason we’re here is covering the Hunter Conference 2026 over at the brand new beautiful Signia Hilton, Atlanta. Like I said, a lot of, Georgia State involvement there. Special relationship between the two organizations. Give us some history there and how that’s evolved over the last couple decades. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : Absolutely. So it’s a very special relationship. We are one of the co-founders of the Hunter Conference, starting in 1989, with less than a hundred people. And now we have 2000 industry professionals coming to Atlanta from one of the largest hospitality real estate conferences, in the U.S. So obviously the Hunters have a scholarship. We have students, our students run the conference, right? So Sarah [Moss] is the Chief of Staff, is one of our former students. Maddie [Thibodeaux] runs a conference, is one of our former students, previously an intern. So we have an internship program, that we run where this year, Heather was the, the intern there, really helps us to get those students start working in, you know, an amazing event and expose those students and all our students have access to the Hunter Conference. So regardless if you’re a real estate student or a finance student, a hospitality student, psychology student, you can access the conference. We also, Mitch Shaw, endowed the Bradshaw Speaker series, in honor of his father. And every year, we have amazing, amazing person from industry come and talk about their life journey. And so Tony Ressler was the speaker this year, transformer of the Centennial Yards, investing in the owner of the Hawks, and exposes our students to those industry professionals. And so I look forward to every year for us to have that event. It’s very special relationship that benefits our students and benefits our faculty. Getting access to that. And it’s less than a mile from here. Right. So we, I can walk from my office down to the Signia Hotel, look at all the development down there, engage our students with amazing content. Ryan Embree: What, what an opportunity for your students to be involved in that event. And, you know, we just talked about the power of mentors, right? And there could be, your mentor is sitting right there. I mean, it, it’s an incredible conference. We have the privilege of covering it over the past couple years. Now, as it enters its new chapter at the Signia, it continues to just grow and grow and really appreciate the relationship that Georgia State has there. And it’s so cool to see those students, we’ve seen students at that conference from, from all over the country, love to see that. Because again, those are those opportunities that we talked about where it’s like, you gotta take advantage of that and you have it less than a mile, you know, away from your campus. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : Yeah. And the thing is that when you talk about mentors is that, you know, many of our students, their parents, they’re first generation college students. They’re first generation college graduates. Like, I’m a first generation college graduate immigrant to the U.S. Your parents really don’t know how to help you in that. So, especially for our students and other students, they’re first generation graduates, they need those mentors to help them. So they don’t have parents that are working in the corporate environment that are telling them to get this internship. And so I would say, you know, if you’re if you’re opportunity to mentor a student, you can change the trajectory of their lives. And that is gonna pay dividends in the future. There’s nothing more rewarding than looking at a student and seeing their, their change over time and their position in an industry. Ryan Embree: It’s a great segue ’cause we’re gonna give some advice here to a couple exciting chapters and young professionals lives. What advice would you give to hospitality students right now? Because right now, you know, I pose this question by always saying, if I were, going into hospitality, there’s a lot of noise outside of our industry right now about AI and technology taking jobs. And we’ve talked about this where it might kind of be an opportunity for hospitality right now. So what advice would you share with them kind of hearing this? Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : I tell all the marketing students and the finance students, the CIS students come to hospitality. We got jobs. AI is gonna impact our industry, right. But we’re always gonna need that personal touch. We’re always gonna have to have that touch with the customer and have those personal relationships. And so understanding how AI is gonna impact the industry is important. We’re even changing some of our courses to better understand how we can use these tools to improve performance, to improve customer satisfaction, to reduce wait times. But at the end of the day, we’re in a human business, right? We’re about human experiences and people crave human experiences, right? So, you know, the live events, the reason why we love live events is because we live in the digital world a lot. And so this is the, this is I think a turning point for hospitality for us to really become central to people’s lives. Post pandemic, people want to connect with other people. We are in the business of creating amazing experiences. And if we can create American amazing experiences and bring people together, that’s what hospitality is about. So I would tell students, students that are graduating, this is an amazing opportunity for you. Go out there, find a company that you are passionate about and work hard and work in operations, understand the business. This is your opportunity to, people say, I don’t wanna work in operations. I understand the business. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Who knows what’s gonna happen in the future. But I’ll say, we have jobs and we will have jobs in the future. Ryan Embree: Absolutely. And when you said that operations point, I love it. ’cause you’d be surprised how many front desk agents, bellmans, I’ve talked to across the, across the table that are now in corporate America because, but that’s where they had their start, and they attribute a lot of their success to saying, I was on the front line doing these jobs, doing these work. That’s where again, whether it’s a first job, entry-level job or whether it’s an internship can be so formative and foundational for your career. Now, let’s turn our attention to maybe incoming freshmen, right? They got the next four years daunting before they graduate and get out into the, to the world. What advice would you give them coming to Georgia State and the Day Hospitality School? Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : I would say take advantage of that time, right? So these are four years in which you can do anything you want. So have some fun, right. Go to events, post pandemic. You know, we we’re somewhat of a commuter school. We have dorms on campus, but a lot of our students are still living at home. So it may take some effort to get in a car drive downtown and meet up with an industry professional, but that’s where the value is. That’s why you’re in Atlanta, right? That’s where the school is about network. Meeting people, learning about other people, creating that network. And I would say get an internship from day one, look for an internship every year, get an internship. That summertime is a time in which you can invest in yourself. And classes are one thing, but really college is a lot about trying to figure out what you wanna do besides just the classes. Select your classes you want to take, and then engage in clubs and go do study abroad. Both my kids are Georgia State. Were Georgia State students, and go do study abroad. Go do whatever you want. This is a time in your life to explore. And you don’t have a mortgage. You might not have a car. You can do anything you want. And we’re there to support you. If you want an internship in Atlanta and you’re a Georgia State student, we can find you one. So, I mean, that to me is like, just be excited about that time of your life and AI, you know, AI is gonna impact our industry, but it’s not gonna take our jobs. Ryan Embree: And, and raise your hand and volunteer. I mean, this you got the World Cup. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in something in this amazing city. I mean, there was only a select number of cities, Atlanta being one of them. What an opportunity to be involved in an event that is gonna span maybe something you look back on, where people are coming from all over the world, to be here in Atlanta. So I love that advice, especially for those younger freshmen, just starting their journey. Well, so now we’re gonna, now we’re gonna share a little bit about your vision. So as we wrap up today, you talked about the strategic plan. What’s your vision as you look at the second half of the 2020s for the school here? Dr. Benjamin Lawrence : So we’re really focused on broadening, hospitality past hotels and restaurants and focusing on experiences. And so we really want to be the school that drives and understands how people wanna live their lives through experiences. And so focusing on, on entertainment, focusing on sports focusing on live events, focusing on hotels and restaurants. But people go to restaurants for, for different reasons, right? The transactional component of a restaurant, ordering online and Uber, that’s important. But the other side of going to restaurant is celebrating, right? Sure. And engaging with the people. And like, and you gotta understand where you are. Are you providing a transactional type approach where you’re just giving a meal or you are providing an experience. And we feel that the, there’s lots of value in creating those experiences. And so when you think about hospitality as creating memorable experiences, really broadens the perspective. Every time of service is about creating an experience. And so our plan is to focus on experiences generally, and then also to invite students that aren’t hospitality students to understand the business. So, you know, hospitality programs and business schools are never gonna be huge, right? You have other departments, but what we can do is we can get a marketing student say, listen, come to Hunter and you realize that like they may be maybe 20% of people in that pool are marketing people, right? Sales and marketing. Or accounting. So exposing hospitality to a broad set of students to show them the opportunities, right? We have a lot of opportunity for students. The trajectory of those students that are hardworking, that wanna it is, is very steep. And so that is our strategic plan going forward to figure out how do we can expose hospitality generally to the whole university, not just the school of business. And then to focus on being experts in creating memorable experiences. And I’m excited about the future. We’re in Atlanta, we’re at Georgia State. We have so many positive attributes. We’re investing $80 million in our campus downtown. If you haven’t had an opportunity to come downtown Atlanta, let me know. Send me an email, because we are transforming, downtown Atlanta, and it’s a place that people want to work, play, and stay. And, that’s just gonna improve as we invest in Centennial Yards and the stadium complex. Ryan Embree: One of the advice I always received was talking about the investment behind a school. If you see that it’s growing, it’s a growing university, there’s investment into it, it’s a place that you want to be so, certainly reflected here at Georgia State. Those experiences that you talked about so important. I mean, think about when you were in hospitality school, even when I was in hospitality school. Now the, the lanes of hospitality and specialties that you can get your degrees in because it encompasses just so much right now and it continues to grow. And as far as exposing more and more people to hospitality and its opportunities, it’s exactly what we’re here to do on the TMG campus cross. So we are so happy that you had us here and, sat down with us and, and took some time outta your day to do this with us. Dr. Benjamin Lawrence: Thank you so much. You’re doing important work. And go Panthers! Ryan Embree: Alright. Thank you so much. We’ll talk to you next time on the SuiteSpot. To join our loyalty program. Be sure to subscribe and give us a five star reading 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.

Why are they covering the logos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium? Also, should you drive a lawnmower through Target? We talk about a beagle finding a stash of over 100 sandwiches at the airport, trying to find AI-proof majors in college, and lots more!

On this episode of Atlanta Soccer Tonight, Jason Longshore digs into Atlanta United's biggest problem right now: a lack of attacking threat. He breaks down the loss to Nashville, what Tata Martino and Cooper Sanchez had to say, and why the first goal against New England could define the night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Plus, Columbus officially joins Atlanta in the NWSL for 2028, Jason looks at what that means for the league and how the two markets have handled the moment differently, and he makes the case that coaches across the sport take too much blame and not enough credit. The show also includes an MLS whiparound with San Jose, Vancouver, Inter Miami, and more.

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠Analytic Dreamz breaks down the full details on The R&B Tour, also known as the Raymond & Brown Tour, the major co-headlining stadium run from Usher and Chris Brown across North America in 2026. This 33-show trek spans from June 26 in Denver at Empower Field at Mile High to the finale on December 11 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, covering the United States and Canada over approximately 5.5 months in large-scale stadium venues only.Key timeline includes the April 2026 social media announcement, with Citi presale launching April 21, additional presales through April 24, Live Nation presale on April 23, and general on-sale April 27 at 12 PM local time. VIP packages offer front-row seating, early entry, and behind-the-scenes access.The routing features multiple two-night stands in high-demand markets including Ford Field in Detroit, Northwest Stadium in Landover, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and others. Texas sees the highest concentration with stops in Arlington, El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston.Analytic Dreamz examines the tour scale, comparable to top-tier R&B stadium runs, backed by Usher's $115 million Vegas residency success and Chris Brown's Breezy Bowl XX grossing around $300 million. Demand indicators show strong presale activity, active secondary markets, and scarcity in key regions driving anticipation.The segment also covers the dual-meaning tour name, marketing visuals, and industry context around two of R&B's biggest touring forces. No measurable impact from past narratives has slowed the rollout momentum to date.This deep dive equips fans with complete routing, ticketing strategy, market highlights, and commercial power analysis for one of the largest R&B tours of 2026. Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Steak and Rusty Manziel discuss Spencer Strider's progress after his rehab start in Rome and the impact of Sean Murphy's return. They also explore Atlanta's sports culture through a 'Three Strikes' segment, debating the best celebrity walkouts for a hypothetical Morgan Wallen concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 01:50 - Strider's Rehab Start 07:05 - Atlanta Nostalgia Trip 10:30 - Hawks Playoff Outlook 15:11 - NIL In College Sports 23:00 - Music Midtown History 26:38 - Morgan Wallen Walkouts 37:55 - WrestleMania 42 Preview

Arthur Blank remains a compelling public speaker, even into his ninth decade.The Atlanta sports doyen was one of a clutch of US sports owners on stage and wandering the halls at the Business of Soccer event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last week.David Cushnan was also there, and on his return to the Leaders studio in London, he teams up again with James Emmett to talk about what makes the billionaire class of individuals who own US sports franchises different from their counterparts around the world. Storytelling and status are baked into the proposition.The pair also discuss plans being made from the myriad brands looking to capitalize on what will no doubt be the most commercial World Cup in history this summer.

Team USA had a brutal showing on Saturday afternoon, and the crew discussed that massacre at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They then changed gears and discussed the Elite 8 finishes and what those mean for the Final 4 this weekend. 

Jason Longshore, Jon Nelson, and Madison Crews share their thoughts about the USMNT loss to Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their takeaways, and their concerns. The USMNT is back in action at the Benz on Tuesday night hosting Portugal at 7pm.

Start your morning with Buzzcast with Austin Karp: Global sponsorships sold out for 2026 FIFA World Cup; Alex Silverman, Bret McCormick, and David Broughton join Karp to discuss the biggest takeaways from The Business of Soccer conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and a preview of the SBJ Sports Media Podcast featuring Netflix Elle Duncan and Sportradar's Brian Josephs.  Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Start your morning with Buzzcast with Austin Karp: Alex Silverman, Bret McCormick, and David Broughton join Karp for an inside-look at Atlanta's in-progress, mixed-use development Centennial Yards; a look back at day one of The Business of Soccer at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. They also look ahead to day two of The Business of Soccer including Arthur Blank taking the stage and a preview of the SBJ Sports Media Podcast featuring Netflix Elle Duncan and Sportradar's Brian Josephs.  Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Start your morning with Buzzcast with Austin Karp: Record-setting NCAA Men's tournament viewership through one weekend; Alex Silverman, Bret McCormick, and David Broughton join Karp to preview a big couple days at The Business of Soccer at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and a look ahead to Netflix Elle Duncan and Sportradar's Brian Josephs joining the SBJ Sports Media Podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

HR2 - Kevin Stefanski's offense may be critiqued if Tua & Michael Penix both fail In hour two Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, let you hear portions of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's interview with The Midday Show with Andy and Randy yesterday where he was talking about how to win a QB competition and running Kevin Stefanski's offense, react to what Tua had to say, explain why they think Tua sounded like an enlightened person and quarterback when speaking to the Atlanta media and Andy and Randy yesterday, play a round of Which One Wednesday for the halftime portion of the show, react to the news that FIFA will allow Mercedes-Benz Stadium to leave the roof as it is during the World Cup and not cover the Mercedes-Benz logo on the roof, and then close out hour two by reacting to the latest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle!

Atlanta United returns home looking for answers after a difficult start to the season, and this week's SDH Week in Review brings insight from the voices who have been closest to the action. Jon Nelson is joined by Apple TV analyst Kacey White, who was on the call for Atlanta United's loss in San Jose, to break down what she saw from the Five Stripes and where the team can improve heading into the home opener. Next, Real Salt Lake radio commentator Landon Southwick joins the show to preview RSL ahead of their trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including how Pablo Mastroeni's side is playing and what Atlanta should expect tactically. Finally, Miguel Gallardo, Spanish-language commentator with Apple TV, discusses calling tonight's match and reflects on one of the wildest moments of last weekend in MLS: Inter Miami's dramatic comeback against Orlando. Three perspectives from three broadcasters across MLS, all focused on the storylines shaping Atlanta United's week. Guests: Kacey White (Apple TV MLS Season Pass) Landon Southwick (Real Salt Lake Radio) Miguel Gallardo (Apple TV Spanish Broadcast)

Atlanta United returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the 2026 home opener against Real Salt Lake after two difficult road results to start the season. Tata Martino and Enea Mihaj discuss the team's focus on improving buildup and controlling matches as a four-game homestand begins.Elsewhere, MLS Matchday 3 brings intriguing storylines across the league, Tottenham's struggles deepen in the Premier League relegation battle, and new reports show the NWSL's rapid business growth with club valuations now averaging $184 million.Plus, a preview of the SheBelieves Cup finale, domestic soccer news from MLS and U.S. Soccer, and a look at what's coming this weekend on the SDH Network.Morning Espresso is presented by Oglethorpe University.

Atlanta United's first half in San Jose sparked bigger questions than just tactics. We break down the mentality conversation coming out of “The Long View” and Maddie's Version, and what has to change immediately at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Plus, the USWNT opens the 2026 SheBelieves Cup with authority, Lionel Messi powers Inter Miami's comeback in Orlando, MLS youth continues to surge across the league, and global events are already impacting the international soccer calendar.

Steak and Sandra talk about the downtown area surrounding State Farm Arena and Mercedes Benz Stadium, and how Atlanta is about to have yet another entertainment heavy sports complex area.

Auburn Tigers introduce Byron Brown as the new leader under center, raising expectations for a revitalized offense. Will Brown's dynamic arm and powerful legs finally unlock Auburn's passing game and deliver clutch wins in the SEC gauntlet? The reunion with coach Alex Golesh and a quintet of USF receivers fuels hopes for a season of offensive fireworks. Brian Smith spotlights Brown's impressive USF stats—3,131 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and elite dual-threat ability—emphasizing his durability, toughness, and unique clutch moments, especially in The Swamp versus Florida. The discussion covers Auburn's daunting 2026 schedule, from Baylor in Mercedes-Benz Stadium to a historic showdown at Alabama, with top-tier matchups against LSU, Georgia, and Ole Miss. Can Brown's experience and grit propel Auburn to upset wins, or will their challenging slate leave them short of expectations? Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it's time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.  Click here to learn more and join the community: https://theportal.supercast.com/ Help us by supporting our sponsors!  5-Hour ENERGY Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at https://5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon. Mazda Like our players, we're driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count. There's more to a Mazda. Because there's more to you. Turbo Tax For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn't file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.  Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.  Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Use your Profit Boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals.  Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.  FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"If I failed, I wanted it to be 100% my fault." In this special episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill reflect on 5000 days of building Crisp. They walk through the dark ages of working out of a dental office with $500 and no idea what they were doing, the years of building real infrastructure and systems, the $8 million Game Changers Summit at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that became their moon landing, and the final evolution where Michael removed himself as the bottleneck entirely. This is an unfiltered look at what building a nine-figure company actually requires at each stage: pure grit when you know nothing, relentless focus on brand when everyone's watching, and the discipline to build systems that work without you. Here's what you'll learn: Why working 100 hours a week got them to seven figures but would have capped them there forever How the brand became the only competitive advantage that matters and why people who hated them still respected what they built What it means to go from hustler to manager to leader to CEO to owner, and why each evolution requires letting go of what got you there 5000 days. Zero debt. 100% ownership. Built by people who believed before there was anything to believe in. ---- 01:53 – Why 5000 days of Crisp is worth celebrating and the surprise party that almost didn't happen. 09:57 – Why "I can outwork anyone" is a badge of honor early on and a liability later. 14:19 – What Jessica found when she walked into Crisp and why she bulldozed everything she saw. 18:13 – What it actually feels like to cross a million dollars in revenue when you've been grinding for years. 20:01 – The milestone that finally made Crisp feel legitimate and what it meant to be able to offer it. 31:41 – Why the Game Changers Summit was designed to feel like a rock concert, not a legal conference. 43:03 – What it took to pull off a legal conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and whether Michael would do it again. 48:49 – What the transition from CEO to owner actually looks like in practice and why it takes so long to get there. 53:25 – Why the value of your business is inversely proportional to its dependency on you. ---- Links & Resources: Game Changers Summit Joey Diaz Armageddon ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like 382. What It Takes to Build a $100M Legal Business 265. Jessica Mogill — Streamlined Operations: Relentless Execution 210. AMMA — Failure Isn't Final: Lessons Learned From Setbacks and Struggles

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond and Greg Bowman. Co‑owners of Popcorn Remix, a Georgia‑based gourmet popcorn brand known for more than 60 innovative flavors ranging from King Crab Legs to Charlene’s Banana Pudding to chocolate‑covered strawberry. Together they share their partnership story, the origin of Popcorn Remix, the explosive growth of their brand, how they built a powerhouse fundraising platform (WePowerFundraisers.com), their expansion into major sports and entertainment venues, and the unique combination of hustle, creativity, faith, and community service that drives their success.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond and Greg Bowman. Co‑owners of Popcorn Remix, a Georgia‑based gourmet popcorn brand known for more than 60 innovative flavors ranging from King Crab Legs to Charlene’s Banana Pudding to chocolate‑covered strawberry. Together they share their partnership story, the origin of Popcorn Remix, the explosive growth of their brand, how they built a powerhouse fundraising platform (WePowerFundraisers.com), their expansion into major sports and entertainment venues, and the unique combination of hustle, creativity, faith, and community service that drives their success.

Atlanta Soccer Tonight kicks off a special season preview edition as Atlanta United opens its 10th campaign this weekend in Cincinnati. Jason Longshore is joined in studio by Abe Gordon, Madison Crews, Jon Nelson, and Jarrett Smith to lay out the non-negotiables for 2026: heart, resilience, structure, and the relentless principles of a Tata Martino team. The crew also goes around Major League Soccer to assess how contenders like Inter Miami are reloading, where Cincinnati fits as the Week 1 measuring stick, and what tier Atlanta belongs in as the season begins. Plus, Mike Conti calls in to reflect on Atlanta's decade of unforgettable moments, the World Cup coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and what 2026 could mean for the future of MLS in this market. Hour 1 sets the table for a defining season — and the next chapter of Atlanta United.

Atlanta Soccer Tonight delivers a special two-hour season preview edition as Atlanta United opens its 10th season this weekend in Cincinnati. Jason Longshore is joined by Abe Gordon, Madison Crews, Jon Nelson, and Jarrett Smith to lay out what Atlanta must become in 2026: the non-negotiables, Tata Martino's tactical fingerprints, and what early success should actually look like. The crew also goes around Major League Soccer to assess how contenders have spent the offseason, why the Eastern Conference remains unforgiving, and where Atlanta fits in the league's evolving hierarchy. Mike Conti joins the show to reflect on Atlanta's decade-long rise, the World Cup coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and what the next era means for the city and for MLS. Plus, the team breaks down the most revealing comments from Steven Alzate and Juan Berrocal — from sprint-heavy intensity to the “protagonist” mentality of playing fearless, vertical soccer — and how it shapes expectations for Saturday. The night closes with Atlanta United at 10 memories, wildest matches, favorite kits, and the signature 3-4-3: critical players, defining themes, and reasons to smile heading into Year 10.

Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond and Greg Bowman. Co‑owners of Popcorn Remix, a Georgia‑based gourmet popcorn brand known for more than 60 innovative flavors ranging from King Crab Legs to Charlene’s Banana Pudding to chocolate‑covered strawberry. Together they share their partnership story, the origin of Popcorn Remix, the explosive growth of their brand, how they built a powerhouse fundraising platform (WePowerFundraisers.com), their expansion into major sports and entertainment venues, and the unique combination of hustle, creativity, faith, and community service that drives their success.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond and Greg Bowman. Co‑owners of Popcorn Remix, a Georgia‑based gourmet popcorn brand known for more than 60 innovative flavors ranging from King Crab Legs to Charlene’s Banana Pudding to chocolate‑covered strawberry. Together they share their partnership story, the origin of Popcorn Remix, the explosive growth of their brand, how they built a powerhouse fundraising platform (WePowerFundraisers.com), their expansion into major sports and entertainment venues, and the unique combination of hustle, creativity, faith, and community service that drives their success.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond and Greg Bowman. Co‑owners of Popcorn Remix, a Georgia‑based gourmet popcorn brand known for more than 60 innovative flavors ranging from King Crab Legs to Charlene’s Banana Pudding to chocolate‑covered strawberry. Together they share their partnership story, the origin of Popcorn Remix, the explosive growth of their brand, how they built a powerhouse fundraising platform (WePowerFundraisers.com), their expansion into major sports and entertainment venues, and the unique combination of hustle, creativity, faith, and community service that drives their success.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond and Greg Bowman. Co‑owners of Popcorn Remix, a Georgia‑based gourmet popcorn brand known for more than 60 innovative flavors ranging from King Crab Legs to Charlene’s Banana Pudding to chocolate‑covered strawberry. Together they share their partnership story, the origin of Popcorn Remix, the explosive growth of their brand, how they built a powerhouse fundraising platform (WePowerFundraisers.com), their expansion into major sports and entertainment venues, and the unique combination of hustle, creativity, faith, and community service that drives their success.

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for January 21st Publish Date:  January 21st Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Wednesday, January 21st and Happy Birthday to Jack Nicklaus I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Students shine at the Marietta City Schools district spelling bee Atlanta mayor talks FIFA, housing, transit Dog gained 57 pounds after rescue; owner now charged with animal cruelty 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 7 STORY 1: Students shine at the Marietta City Schools district spelling bee Seventh-grader Ella Grace Beard from Marietta Middle School clinched the top spot at the Marietta City Schools spelling bee on Friday, sealing her victory with the word “allergenic.” The competition was intense—10 students, each a champion from their school, battled it out for 26 rounds. Now, Ella Grace is headed to the Georgia District 2 spelling bee in Cherokee County. Her dad, Jason Beard, couldn’t be prouder. “She’s been studying like crazy—she even got a dictionary for Christmas last year,” he shared. Superintendent Grant Rivera, who handed out trophies to Ella Grace and runner-up Sreenika Arcot, called the spelling bee one of the most stressful events of the year. Jeff Hubbard, president of the Cobb County Association of Educators, praised the event as a celebration of intelligence. Words like “archetype” and “tenement” challenged the spellers, but Ella Grace rose to the occasion. Now, she’s ready for the next round. STORY 2: Atlanta mayor talks FIFA, housing, transit Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens had a simple message at the Cobb Chamber luncheon: when Atlanta thrives, the whole region wins. Borrowing JFK’s famous line, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” Dickens made it clear that Atlanta’s success ripples far beyond city limits. Take the FIFA World Cup, for example. Starting in June, Atlanta will host eight matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the impact? It’ll stretch across the metro—Cobb County, Truist Park, Six Flags, Marietta Square. Through “Showcase Atlanta,” a leadership initiative chaired by Dickens, Arthur Blank, and UPS CEO Carol Tomé, the city plans to maximize the World Cup’s economic impact while spotlighting Atlanta’s culture and hospitality. And it’s not just about FIFA—Atlanta’s hosting the Super Bowl in 2028 and the NCAA Final Four in 2031. But Dickens didn’t shy away from challenges. With the metro population expected to grow by 1.8 million by 2050, he stressed the need for affordable housing and better transportation. “Teachers, first responders—they’re being priced out of the communities they serve. That’s a loss for all of us,” he said. And traffic? Atlanta’s infamous for it. Dickens wants to change that, starting with MARTA expansion into Cobb and Gwinnett. “We can’t keep doing this one-person-per-car thing forever,” he said. Dickens closed with a reminder: safety, health, opportunity—these aren’t partisan issues. “We all want thriving communities,” he said. “That’s something we can all agree on.” STORY 3: Dog gained 57 pounds after rescue; owner now charged with animal cruelty   Jordan Dean, 30, of Marietta, is facing an animal cruelty charge after what authorities describe as a heartbreaking case involving his Great Dane, Snoop. On Oct. 23, 2025, Dean reportedly brought Snoop to Cobb County Animal Services, claiming he’d found the dog as a stray near a Walgreens on Canton Road. But Snoop’s condition told a different story. Severely emaciated, his ribs and bones jutted out—no fat, barely any muscle. A cruelty exam scored Snoop at 1/9 on the body condition scale. He weighed just 50 pounds. After care, he reached 107 pounds with no medical issues causing the weight loss. Dean was arrested Jan. 5 and released the next day on a $10,000 bond. 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 7 STORY 4: Where the sidewalk ends: Mableton mayor talks SPLOST goals Mableton Mayor Michael Owens has his sights set on two big priorities: public safety and economic growth. And with the upcoming vote on a 1% special sales tax (SPLOST), he sees a chance to make it happen. If approved, the 2028 SPLOST would bring $97.6 million to Mableton—its first time creating its own project list since becoming a city in 2022. For Owens, it’s a defining moment. Top of the list? Sidewalks. “It’s the one thing everyone’s asking for,” Owens said, pointing to gaps along Veterans Memorial Highway and Nickajack Road. Parks, neighborhoods, and even businesses are disconnected, making walking unsafe—or impossible. But sidewalks are just the start. Owens envisions SPLOST funds going toward civic spaces, recreation centers, and even office parks to attract businesses. “You drive down Veterans Memorial, and it’s all shopping centers—no office buildings, no tech parks. That has to change,” he said. For Owens, the November vote is more than a tax—it’s a chance for Mableton residents to shape their city’s future. STORY 5: Marietta Police paint vibrant interrogation room for child witnesses, victims   The Marietta Police Department has turned one of its interview rooms into something truly special—a space designed with kids in mind. Gone are the cold, blank walls. In their place? A vibrant, hand-painted mural that feels more like a storybook than a police station. It’s colorful, calming, and, most importantly, comforting—created to help children, especially those who’ve experienced trauma, feel a little less scared during tough conversations. Marietta High School art teachers Amanda Rudolph and Katherine Robinson, along with students from the National Art Honor Society, poured their hearts into this project. The department’s goal? To make sure every child feels protected and heard. Break: STORY 6: Mableton earns recognition as environmentally friendly city    Mableton just snagged some serious recognition for going green. Mayor Michael Owens and city council members accepted the Silver-level Green Communities certification from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). It’s a big deal—proof that the city’s making real moves to cut its environmental impact. How’d they do it? Think tree preservation ordinances, a community composting program, expanded recycling, and even switching to a 100% electric vehicle fleet. Practical stuff with long-term impact. The certification also boosts Mableton’s chances for state and federal grants, meaning more investment without raising taxes. The Green Communities program evaluates cities on their environmental performance, and Mableton’s efforts earned them a spot among metro Atlanta’s leaders. But the work doesn’t stop here—the certification lasts four years, and the city will need to keep proving its commitment to stay certified. STORY 7: Senate bill would hold down property tax increases that fund Georgia schools  Georgia lawmakers are back at it, debating how to handle property taxes—and this time, they’re eyeing a cap tied to inflation. A new bill from Senate Republicans would force all school systems to limit property tax hikes, even as rising home values push assessments higher. Here’s the twist: last year, 71% of Georgia’s school systems voted to reject a similar cap. Why? Because it slashes funding for education. If this bill passes, schools would lose the ability to tax property values that outpace inflation, leaving them scrambling to cover costs. Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, the bill’s sponsor, argues it’s about fairness. The bill would also impact city and county governments that opted out of last year’s cap. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones called it a priority, saying it’s about “putting more money back in Georgians’ pockets.” Meanwhile, other tax proposals are swirling at the Capitol—like eliminating income taxes or ending homestead property taxes altogether. Gov. Brian Kemp? He’s pushing for tax rebates and a slight income tax cut. We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: INGLES 7 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.

A special two-hour edition of Atlanta Soccer Tonight as Jason Longshore opens a new chapter for the show and a defining year for Atlanta soccer. The program covers Atlanta United's preseason reset, Arsenal's statement win and Champions League pressure matches, Atlanta's World Cup preparations at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and across the city, Brad Guzan's first extended interview since retirement, and the latest from around Major League Soccer. A comprehensive look at the present and future of the game in Atlanta and the road to 2026.

How is Atlanta preparing to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup? In this segment from January 20th's Atlanta Soccer Tonight, Jason Longshore breaks down the three pillars of Atlanta's World Cup readiness: the grass conversion at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, MARTA's transit plans, and the design of FIFA Fan Fest at Centennial Olympic Park. A detailed look at the infrastructure, operations, and planning behind one of the most complex host-city projects in global sports.

In this episode we interview Don Rovak, The Chief Revenue Officer of the Orioles. Rovak joins the Orioles after just completing his 17th year with AMB Sports and Entertainment, a company comprised of the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons, Major League Soccer's Atlanta United FC, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Drive GC, and PGA TOUR Superstore. We discuss the vision and future of the Orioles' franchise, expanding fandom, and continued community partnership. The episode highlights the both local & national implications and the future opportunities for the new ownership and management of the Orioles. We hope you enjoy!  

00:00 – 24:20 – JMV is out at Clayton’s Country Bar ahead of IU’s showdown with Oregon in the Peach Bowl! He kicks things off by discussing the Hoosiers turnaround, and who he expects to win. 24:21 – 41:19 – Coach Bob Lovell from Indiana Sports Talk joins the show! Coach and JMV preview the Peach Bowl and talk about the turnaround of IU Football. They also discuss Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle getting his 1,000th career win. 41:20 – 47:39 – JMV wraps up the first hour of the show! 47:40 – 1:10:28 – Joel Erickson from the IndyStar joins the show! Joel gives his thoughts on Indiana football in the Peach Bowl. They then move on to the Colts and discuss what will happen this offseason. 1:10:29 – 1:28:54 – JMV takes a call from a Hoosiers fan in Georgia. Mike Wells from ESPN Radio then joins the show! 1:28:55 – 1:30:55 – JMV wraps up the 2nd hour! 1:30:55 – 1:51:59 - Fred Kalil, an Emmy-award winning sportscaster who was also a walk-on LB for IU, joins the show live from the field of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta! Fred and JMV preview the game! 1:52:00 – 2:05:52 - Steve from Clayton’s Country Bar joins the show to talk up the location! 2:05:53 - 2:13:25 – JMV wraps up the show! Support the show: https://1075thefan.com/the-ride-with-jmv/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show, Pat is LIVE from Atlanta, Georgia and Mercedes Benz Stadium ahead of tomorrow's College GameDay for Alabama/Georgia in the SEC Championship, while AJ Hawk and the boys are back in Indianapolis as they recap last night's Thursday Night Football game as the Lions kept their playoff hopes alive with a massive home win against the Cowboys, before they preview the college football championship game slate, as well as previewing and picking all the games from the week 14 slate. Joining the progrum for the whole first hour to recap last night's TNF game, and to preview this weekend's game, is the face of college football and NFL on Prime color commentator, Kirk Herbstreit. Also joining the progrum is the #1 WR recruit in the country, Chris Henry Jr. to make his college commitment. Later, 7x National Champion, the GOAT, Nick Saban joins the show to preview conference championship weekend. Next, Stanford Steve joins the show to chat about what his biggest takeaway's from the conference championship weekend are. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN's Youtube (12-3 EDT), or ESPN+. We appreciate the hell out of all of you, we'll see you on Overreaction Monday. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices