Podcast appearances and mentions of mike safo

Joined today by New York Times Best-selling author, Caitlin Rother. Caitlin talks about growing up in La Jolla, attending Cal Berkley for psychology and then Northwestern for journalism.  We go over her early career, working in Massachusetts, getting fired, being an investigative journalist in San Diego and finally making the move to be a full-time author. She reminisces about how she found out she was a New York Times best-selling author, kinda getting nominated for a Pulitzer and the stress, fatigues and injuries that comes with being such a hard working author. We discuss some of her memorable books, wild cases, and how she needs to disconnect from the true-crime world. Caitlin shares her upcoming crime novel series that is coming out in 2026, the pros of writing fiction and how she is hoping to parlay it into a tv series. She opens up about the nervousness of releasing a book, if she still reads reviews and some issues she has with her publishers. We chat about her band, shows she binge watches and her 2025 true crime book releases. All this and more with one of the best true crime writers in the game. Follow Caitlin and get all her books on her website:  https://www.caitlinrother.com/

Anniversary of Kirk Gibson's iconic home run in '88 - how it sounded BOTH on TV and radio; (10:00) ex-Cat Ray Davis with a huge effort in Bills' win last night; (20:00) Jon Hale of the HL on UK football; (38:00) Daymeon Fishback of the SEC Network on Mark Pope; (39:00) UK superfan Mike Safo on Randle-KAT trade in the NBA; (1:00:00) blogger John Huang on covering Madness/UK football/Bengals at Giants triple-header weekend...

Joined today by New York Times best selling author, Keith O'Brien. Keith reminisces about growing up in Cincinnati, attending Northwestern and his favorite alumni. Due to my obsession with UK, we chat about his first book “Outside Shot” about Kentucky High School basketball. Then, Keith tells us about finding out he was a New York Times best selling author, how he got notified, and any pressure he feels with the title before his name. We discuss his amazing new book, “Charlie Hustle the Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the last glory days of baseball”. He shares why he wanted to write about Pete Rose, getting interviews from all former players, and what makes Pete so fascinating and unique. We go over the myths of Pete Rose: getting the name, Charlie Hustle, how he was drafted because of nepotism, and his meteor rise to the majors. We chat about his Mount Rushmore type of records, why he's one of the greatest players ever and how that is all overshadowed by his downfall of gambling. We touch base about the carnage he created, life after baseball and much more. From texting with George Foster to cool memorabilia, Keith O'Brien was an incredible guest Follow Keith and purchase his books here: https://www.instagram.com/obrienstory https://x.com/KeithOB

Joined today by reporter and author of the new book "The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City", Kevin Baker. Kevin shares about writing for the local newspaper at age 13, moving to NYC in the 70's and what the Big Apple was like back then. We chat about his new book, spanning from the Civil War - World War 2. The research that went into it, how he juggled writing about the city, the origins of baseball, and authors that influenced this book. We go over the first baseball superstar James Creighton, who played in the 1850's, the crazy life of John McGraw, and the career and passing of Christy Mathewson. Kevin imparts how NYC molded the game of baseball, the characters who influenced the game, and how the game was almost ruined by Hal Chase and the Black Sox scandal. We chat about Babe Ruth, how he saved baseball, how he's the greatest ever, and some stories about the Big Fella'. We go over racism in and out of the game in NYC, why the Dodgers left Brooklyn and the Giants left Harlem. Red Barber on the radio, Martin Dihigo being the Cuban Babe Ruth, Fred Merkle and more. All this plus talk about cool memorabilia, drunk texting Ken Burns, and the game Kevin wishes he could have witnessed live. All this and more with a true historian of New York City. Follow Kevin here: https://kevinbaker.info/

Joined today by reporter and author of the eye-opening book “Death Row Welcomes You”, Steven Hale. Steve and I chat about growing up in Florida, why he attended Auburn and of course some Tigers football players. We talk about Alabama, Tennessee, and New York food, what's going on with the police scandals in Tennessee, and what he'll do if he sees someone reading his new book. We get to “Death Row Welcomes You”, we hear why he decided to make this the topic of his first book, going to death row to meet the inmates, and the feedback he has received in regard to this topic. Steve chillingly recounts seeing the electric chair for the first time, witnessing people be executed and the relationships he has made visiting the prison. We talk about Terry Lynn King, his childhood and his horrific crimes, why Tennessee was on the forefront of executions since 2018 and decompressing from becoming engrossed in this life.  Steve tells us about his other job, being an investigative reporter, how he chooses the topics he writes about and what his plans on for his next venture. From texting with the mayor to photographing phone booths, Steve and I have a great, thought provoking and honest conversation. Check out his website and socials here: IG: https://www.instagram.com/iamstevenhale/ https://www.iamstevenhale.com/

Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  You might know Joel from his flowing beard on social media.  Joel is someone I have known of for years but virtually.  And in fact, we ran into each other randomly on our travels in Central Africa.  I speak with Joel and learn about his fascinating journey in life as well as Chasing 193.  Joel was very candid during this conversation about subjects that some people will avoid such as family and his faith.  This made our conversation richer and I appreciate that.   If you are a listener, you have heard this before … the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  Discount code BANGKOK for $100, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the . Why would you want to come?  Some might say Bangkok, been there, done that.  And that might be true.  But have you been to every Nomad Mania region in Thailand or every UNESCO site, even the new one, Si Thep, announced in September?  Or maybe you have missed Laos, Burma, or Brunei?  All have direct and economical flights.  Or even Bhutan or Bangladesh.  Think of ETF as the hub and everywhere else the spokes of wherever you want to explore.  Don't get #FOMO over 160 people are committed! I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gin, Philippe ‘JT' Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine OTB Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, and Sam Williams for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Joel that you will not hear. Time for our monthly 193 Milestones Segment, where we recognize travel accomplishments in the community.  Today, we will get updates from Mike Safo (check out his awesome podcast - the ), Luc Jones, who I met in Armenia, and Chantal Patton, who travels as a 5 person family unit.  You will hear their updates throughout the podcast.  Let's hear from my buddy Mike.  I will be asking for travelers to submit audio files to recognize travel accomplishments.  To learn more follow the Counting Countries on and accounts and I will be making future call to actions.  Here are a couple of milestones to recognize now.   And take a look at GlobalGaz.com and look for Joel's Counting Countries podcast, I shared the photo of Joel walking over the “bridge” in CAR.  I was in Boston for this recording while Joel was in San Diego. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my - you rock!!  ….  Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, Dale Wursten, and Sam Williams.        And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who've spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter's Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler's Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Joel Oleson Counting Countries   

Joined today by Rhodes scholar, poet and author Mark Abley. Mark talks about his allegiance to Red Wings hockey, the Rough Riders and makes his case for Montreal bagels over NYC ones. We chat about his flex being a Rhodes Scholar, the decision to leave Oxford to backpack the "Hippie Trail" and his awesome new book "Strange Bewildering Time: Istanbul to Kathmandu in the last year of the Hippie Trail". Mark reminisces about traveling through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and other countries in 1978 during the start of the Afghan War and the Iranian Revolution, why he kept writing in his journals and why after 45 years, it was time to write this book. Mark shares what it was like reading the words from his younger self, the differences in travel from then to now, and the differences with the Hippie Trail and the Silk Road. Mark let's us know about the difficulties of traveling with a friend, if their friendship lasted and what she thought of his book. From other books Mark finds fascinating to his obsession with languages, and much more. Check out Mark's books and site here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-Abley/author/B0B6WVRYJ8?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Joined today by former Cruiserweight champion, NAVY veteran, and current boxing trainer, Steve "USS" Cunningham. Steve talks about being a father of 4, training his two phenom sons in boxing, and the difficulty of juggling the trainer and father role. We chat about his Philly roots and relocating to Pittsburgh, what he misses most and why it's ok to switch allegiances to the Steelers. We go over his life outside of the ring, hobbies, such as his love for art, developing his comic books, and how he ended up joining the United States NAVY. Steve tells us about his time in the NAVY, how boxing came into the picture and how he was learning the ins and outs of the sweet science as he climbed the ranks. We discuss why he chose to go pro instead of going the Olympic route. He reminisces his intense first 12 fight schedule and how signing with Don King wasn't his favorite decision he made. We hear about winning the Cruiserweight belt after his controversial 1st loss, why many of his fights took place in Europe and why wasn't he promoted much after the 9/11 attacks. We learn about being on the undercard of Mayweather / McGregor, how his phone blew up after Tyson Fury said on Joe Rogan that Steve was the hardest hitter he's ever faced, and when he knew it was time to hang up the gloves. From wanting to fight at Wembley stadium to the mental hurdles boxing entails, it was an enjoyable conversation with USS.   Check out his site here where you can follow his son's journey to the title, as well as purchase his comics: https://www.instagram.com/ussislegend/?hl=en

Joined today by New York Times best-selling author and Edgar Award Winner, Harry MacLean. Harry and I chat about living in Denver, what he misses most about Nebraska, and some Cornhuskers football. Harry is on to talk about his newest book "Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree that Changed America". He tells us about how the eleven murders Charlie Starkweather committed in 1958 combined with his fourteen year old girlfriend and television being broadcasted all over the United States made this the perfect storm and the first court tv type of story. He shares his writing style, telling this story from Charlie's and Caril's point of view, and the hurdles he faced writing this book. We hear about his personal connection to Charlie and the victims, why the public was convinced Caril was guilty and what was his purpose writing this book. Harry discusses the emotional toll the book took on him, his initial thoughts of the crimes, and what shocked him the most during his research. We go over the botched police investigation, delve into if Caril was present when he family was murdered and what made Harry believe in her innocence. From Billy Joel to Bruce Springsteen singing about Charlie and Caril to movies and documentaries and how the crimes are still a hot button issue in Nebraska. All this plus Abe Lincoln wrestling, Truman Capote's ghost and more   Check out Harry's site here and his other outstanding books  - https://www.harrymaclean.com/  

*** Video version of this episode  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhttUcCAVbc *** All Tuesday at Gebhards videos here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoRwry_hfdo5bw4Y8ga5iXhmhbDgk7O5H Our conversation with Mike Safo who used to produce the "Opie Radio" podcast continues at Tuesdays at Gebhards. Mike wants to travel to every country in the World.  With 96 countries already stamped on his passport, he's not just collecting souvenirs – he's amassing a treasure trove of heart-stopping stories. Talking dangerous places, a fire that's been burning for over 50 years, how it's like going to North Korea, will he make it to Iran? And here's a plot twist that will leave you on the edge of your seat – Mike's hot mom is the gatekeeper to a treasure trove of rare Opie and Anthony cassettes! All Opie has to do is go get them! #travel #world #traveling #traveler #opieandanthonySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joined today by four-time New York Times best-selling author, Jonathan Eig. Jonathan reminisces about growing up in New York, submitting articles at an early age, heading to Northwestern and how he ended up at a newspaper in New Orleans.  We talk about when and why he decided to write his first book on Lou Gehrig, the hurdles he went through writing it and how a friend slipping Regis Philbin his book changed everything. We go over the intimidation he felt writing about two icons, Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King Jr, their similarities, differences and how their world intertwined.  We hear how Jonathan traveled the country conducting interviews, dove deep into Ali's analytical statistics, and how he used his daughter as a pawn to meet Ali. Jonathan tells us about his mission when he writes these books, how he convinces people to trust him, and how he juggles writing about controversial issues. From having some of the coolest Ali memorabilia to chatting about the FBI's harassment of MLK, Jonathan Eig shows why he's the best biographical storytellers around.    Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonathaneig https://www.jonathaneig.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joneig/

***VIDEO of this episode here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6vCPBtkvZM ***Check out my other podcast Comedy Quick Hits with Opie https://omny.fm/shows/comedy-quick-hits-with-opie/ep-615-funny-small-bites-11-theo-von-jim-breuer-vi  At Tuesdays at Gebhards.  Matt and I break down our Christmases. So happy it's over! My old producer of the "Opie Radio" podcast Mike Safo stops by to show off his new hair! He went to Turkey for a long weekend to get it done. He walks us through the whole fascinating experience. Mike's a World traveler and has been to 96 countries to date. He talks about his trip to Afghanistan, the Ukraine and one of the most dangerous places on earth, The Congo! Please like and share a thanks so much for checking out Tuesdays at Gebhards! Happy New Year! #opieandanthony #nyclife #bartalk #Funny #comedy #WorldTravelerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joined today by top Junior Featherweight contender, Elijah Pierce. Elijah shares what is was like growing up in both, Oklahoma and Atlanta, what's different about the two cities, foods and the Spooner rodeos. We talk about how his kickboxing father's career guided him into the world of boxing, why he fell in love with the sport and who he looked up to. Elijah tells us about his basketball skills, guards he modeled his game after and when he decided to pursue a career in the sweet science. We hear about his illustrious amateur career, why he turned pro before trying to make the Olympic team and that insane pro schedule he had from 2016-18. We chat about the loneliness of boxing, how you mentally deal with a loss, and how he overcame his two year absence from the ring while focusing on his mental health. Elijah reminisces about being contacted by his Bulgarian manager, beating Tramaine Williams, and finding out he's headlining his next fight. We discuss fighting Mike Plania, the nervousness of fighting on TV for the first time, and how he celebrated that epic win. We learn about his legendary and viral weigh-in antics, how and why he has the nickname "WXXXLF", and signing with a new promotion. All this plus hanging with Nick Cannon, calling out all fighters in his division and his dream stadium.  IG: https://www.instagram.com/elijah_pierce

Joined today by former San Diego Padres pitcher and current pitching coach, Brian Tollberg. Brian talks about seeing himself on a baseball card for the first time, the best and worst things about living in Florida, and deciding to run a marathon when he turned 40. We chat about our passion for traveling, working with "Trading Without Borders", and some destinations he plans on visiting. Brian tells us about quitting his school baseball, signing with North Florida, and eventually heading over to the Frontier League after not being drafted. He reminisces about signing with the Brewers, being traded to the Padres, and his time in the minors. We hear about "the call" that he was going to the majors, charting for Randy Johnson in his first game and winning NL player of the week honors after two masterful starts. We discuss facing the legends of the game, such as: A-Rod, Bonds, Vlad, Griffey, Piazza, and others, becoming friends with Trevor Hoffman and not being shy about getting stuff signed. We go over life after the game, being a pitching coach, and the biggest differences he sees with pitchers today from 20 years ago. All this plus we hear stories about his cool memorabilia from his playing days, hanging with Bert Kresicher and more.

Joined today by former middleweight champion and current # 1 ranked fighter in his class, Michael "Pretty Boy" Zerafa. Mike talks about his favorite Australian foods, what there is to do in Melbourne and his go to cheat meal. We chat about boxing at the age of 7, his parents' reactions to this decision and what was his back-up plan if he didn't fight. Michael tells us about how he got the nickname "Pretty Boy", fighters he looked up to growing up, and turning pro and not going the Olympic route. We discuss his insane early fight career (fighting 6 times in 8 months), taking his first title fight at 15-0, mentally dealing with a controversial loss, and why I tell him he shouldn't take any more fights outside of the Land Down Under. Mike talks about his crazy post fight routine, why he loves training in Los Angeles, and where all his belts are displayed. We talk about the shady sport that is boxing, why he keeps his circle tight and we hear about the dumbest purchase he's ever made. Michael talks about December 9th at MGM and fighting on the undercard knowing that if he wins he's fighting for a World Title, how he stays motivated after being inactive for a long period of time, and we hear why he didn't fight in Brooklyn. He talks about commentating, how he prepares for a life behind the mic, and we hear how Pretty Boy proposed to his fiancé, From having dinner with Hasbulla to dreaming of fighting in the Garden, enjoy Michael Zerafa here IG link :https://www.instagram.com/michael_zerafa/

Joined today by MLB veteran and current Brewers broadcaster, Vinny Rottino. Vinny shared what it was like being on his first baseball card, the most iconic Wisconsin foods and his love for the Packers and Bucks. He lets us know what it was like growing up in Racine, going to a D3 school, and his thoughts about not getting drafted. Vinny reminisces about trying out for the Brewers, how he convinced them to sign him, traveling throughout the minors and being the MILB player of the year in 2004. We chat about how he got the call to "The Show", playing with Prince Fielder, CC Sabathia and that magical run to the playoffs in 2008. Vinny talks about playing with the Marlins, his time in New York playing for the Mets, where he lived in NYC, and going yard for the 1st time. We hear about his time playing in Japan, the difference in the game, and facing a 18-year old Shohei Ohtani. We then discuss why he loved his time in Korea, when he knew it was time to retire and how he got started scouting with the Texas Rangers. Vinny shares his "hits" while scouting, why he couldn't continue scouting and how he ended up in the Brewers broadcast booth. We learn about the prep he does to prepare for a game, his favorite stadium to call a game from and why he still gets nervous. All this and more with a true underdog story who became a fixture in the game. Vinny's IG: https://www.instagram.com/vinnyrottino/

Joined today by former Kentucky Wildcat and current star of Fenerbahce Beko, Nate Sestina. Nate talks about growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, players he looked up, why he chose Bucknell and his 2 trips to the NCAA tourney. We then chat about how he got recruited to Kentucky, how Brad played a part in it, getting a phone call from Cal and being the vet on a team of freshman. We discuss his year in Lexington, his first game at Madison Square Garden, the ups and down of that season and why Covid happening is the biggest “what if” in Kentucky history. Nate goes over what it's like winning a title in the Israeli league, playing for the powerhouse Turkish team, Fenerbahce Beko, improvements he wants to make in his game and the sick traveling he gets to do playing in the Euro League. We go in depth on the romantic side of Nate, chatting about how he met his fiancé, how he set up his epic proposal, and where he gets his charm from. Nate tells us about "The Family" that Coach Cal preaches about, his emotional senior day and if he would have came back for one more season, All this plus bowling with Flava Flav, thinking he's Tony Soprano and more!! Follow Nate on IG and twitter https://twitter.com/NateSestina23 https://www.instagram.com/natesestina4/

Joined today by award winning journalist and author of the new true-crime book, "Vanished in Vermillion, The Real Story of South Dakota's Most Infamous Cold Case", Lou Raguse. Lou and I chat about his home state of Minnesota, iconic food, most famous Minnesotan and his Vikings. Lou tells us about covering high profile cases and what made the 1971 disappearance of Pam Jackson and Cheryl Miller intrigue him so much that he decided to write his first book about the case. We talk about the facts of the case, 2 high school girls go for a drive to a keg party and the car in front of them made a right turn, they made a left turn, and they were never seen again. Lou gets into the incompetence of the police in the early 70's, the closing of the case and why it was accepted. We discuss the forming of the Cold Case unit, why this case was chosen to be investigated and how a person already in prison became suspect number 1. Lou talks about the suspect, his surprise when the charges were dropped and the roller coaster of emotions covering the case. We hear about Lou reporting in Buffalo when the missing girls' car was found, his reaction, and how they identified Pam and Cheryl. Lou and I go over all the mistakes the police made early on, why the case should have been wrapped up in a weekend and the reaction to the book being written. He tells us the possibility of the book being optioned into a show/movie, the difficulty of getting the book published, and what is possibly next for him. Lou finishes up talking about jumping around from city to city, why he calls Minnesota home and how he conducted in interview with the two Japanese men who created Tecmo Bowl. All this and more with the award winning reporter and author. Follow Lou here:  https://www.louraguse.com/ 

Joined today by current WBO cruiserweight champion of the world, Chris Billam-Smith. Chris and I talk about family-life, how one minute he's called "Champ" and another he's called "Dad" and assumes his role as parent, his romantic proposal, and the difficult of juggling training camp and his home life. Chris talks about his podcast, interviewing different "perfect athletes", when we can expect the next episodes and what will be new. We talk about his first love, soccer / futbol, his AFC Bournemouth Cherries, watching them growing up and the wild celebration he had when they were promoted to the Premier league. We chat about why Chris started boxing, falling into the Shane McGuigan stable, his insane early professional schedule and how he became a knockout fighter. Chris talks about the emotional homecoming and fighting for the world title as his childhood stadium, where he dreamed of playing soccer. We hear about the ring walk walk-thorough, hearing his friends cheering his name and how he kept his emotions in check for the biggest fight of his life. We hear where Chris wants to fight next (hint: it's here in the States), if he got the "championship hangover", how he missed his world title after-party and the mental side of boxing. I politely ask Chris to make sure he fights when I am in Europe so I can watch him, what changed when he became "The Champ", and why he hasn't checked the rankings. All this plus the madness that would ensue IF England ever wins the World Cup, why the British version of the Office is better and why a Sunday roast is the iconic UK meal. Follow Chris here:   https://www.instagram.com/chrisbillam

Joined today by former NBA center and current player for Nanterre 92 of the LNB Pro A, Hamady N'Diaye. Hamady acts as my tour guide for my upcoming trip to Senegal and talks about their love of futbol, what food I need to eat, and the sights I can't miss.  He talks about being a geeky and shy kid, not being into sports and why trying to impress girls led him to the basketball court. We chat about leaving his family at 16 to pursue an education and a career in basketball in the states, landing in New Jersey and seeing snow for the first time then venturing out to California. He shares his recruiting trips, why he choose Rutgers over Miami and being defensive player of the year. Hamady takes us to the 2010 nba draft, watching his dreams come true with his friends and getting drafted by the Timberwolves.  He talks about playing with John Wall, Boogie Cousins and his welcome to the nba moment against Dwight Howard.  We hear why Hamady chooses to play in a new country almost every year, playing in the Philippines and hanging out with Manny Pacquiao.  Hamady tells us about the pride of playing for Senegal in 2013 and 2014, how he wants to inspire a younger generation and playing in France today.  All this plus meeting Dikembe mutumbo for the first time, being in NBA2K and much more!! IG: https://www.instagram.com/hamzo55/

Joined today by legendary boxing referee, Jack Reiss. Jack talks about growing up in Brooklyn, where his love of boxing and kick-boxing started and what made him move out to the West Coast. We chat about Jack joining the LA Fire Department, returning to NYC and assisting in the 9/11 recoveries, and what he misses most about his time as a smoke eater. Jack talks about how he got into officiating, what the process is like and how you get critiqued. We hear about his first big fight, mistakes he's made in the ring and how he is always trying to improve. We chat about Hollywood and Jack playing a part in Creed, Ali and other boxing movies. Jack talks Fury/Wilder 1, concussions, and how boxing and officiating has changed in the last 5-20 years. Jack rants about the talking heads who are clueless about boxing, former fighters that are great at announcing and referees he looked up to.  We hear about Jack's school, solearbiter.com, the difference officiating in small and big towns and what fighters he wishes he could have been in the ring for. All this plus some hockey talk, cool memorabilia and more!! Follow Jack Reiss here: https://www.instagram.com/2jackreiss

Joined today by former Brewers first round draft pick and OF for the Cleveland Indians, Matt Laporta. Matt talks about being on the cover of a video game in college, being an all-state BMX rider and why he loves living in Florida. We talk about his high school career, getting drafted by his favorite childhood team, and why he choose to go to Florida instead of signing with the Cubs. Matt talks about his time at U of F, "Swamp Kings", the Tebow led football teams, their basketball team winning the title and his baseball team going to the College World Series in Omaha. We hear about him getting drafted a second time, why he bet on himself and returned to Florida, that magical season and where he was when he saw he was drafted 7th overall. Matt talks about the minor leagues, hitting against a young Kershaw and the nature of the business getting traded for C.C. Sabathia. We talk about the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the opening ceremony, those legendary outfits and hanging with stars like Kobe, Venus, Serena and winning the bronze medal. We hear about getting the call up to the show, his first hit / hr, dealing with injuries and the toll it takes on you mentally and physically. We chat about playing in the Mexican league, when he knew it was time to hang it up and Matt really opens up about some deep and dark places former athletes sometimes go to after the thrill of the ride is over. Matt flexes about seeing his Olympic batting gloves in the Hall of Fame, holding Ty Cobb's glove, Mantle's jersey and hanging with Griffey and Jeter at the latest Hall of Fame inductions. All of this plus why his memorabilia is in boxes, his potential upcoming podcast and much much more. Follow Matt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/matt_laporta/

Joined today by five-time World Series Champion, Luis Sojo. Luis talks about growing up in Venezuela, getting scouted by the Blue Jays and how he got signed by them at the age of 20. We chat about his journey throughout the minors, getting the call to the Show, and his first season with the Blue Jays. He tells us about getting traded to the Angels and then going back to Toronto and where he was when Joe Carter hit that memorable home run. Luis reminisces about playing in Seattle, breaking my heart in 1995 and his thoughts on Griffey and A-Rod. We hear how Mr. Watson convinced Luis to come to the Yankees, how Luis convinced his wife to join and why wearing the pinstripes made him feel like he "made it". We discuss the infamous 1996 Yankees team, where the confidence came from, playing under Torre, and what Luis taught Derek Jeter as a rookie shortstop. Luis goes over the 125-win 1998 Yankees, the importance of El Duque, why that team was unstoppable and how getting chewed out by Don Zimmer extended his career. Luis tells the story about his World Series winning hit in game 5 against the Mets, how he predicted it, and what he was smiling about on 3rd base. We hear about his home run on Old-Timer's Day and how he's the only player to play in that game and then return to major league action. We talk about why he loves coaching, the pride he felt managing his home country of Venezuela and leading some of the best players in baseball. We discuss the current state of Venezuela, the youth academies there, and why there is hope for his homeland. From Jeter's Hall of Fame induction to hanging out with Michael Jordan and golfing with Pujols. All this plus, texting with the former Yankees, his awesome memorabilia, and much more!

Joined today by former Oakland Athletics catcher and current Mexican league player, Bruce Maxwell. Bruce talks about being born in Germany, the joy of seeing himself in a video game and partying it up at Oktoberfest. We chat about growing up in Alabama, idolizing Ken Griffey Jr., and why he only started catching in college. We hear about Bruce's draft day story, reporting to the minors and playing with some of the future stars of baseball. Bruce tells us about his time in the minors, we hear an awesome story about how he found out he was getting called up to The Show, and his first year in the league. We discuss the horrible minor league pay, what happened with the Mets, and his injury that caused him to get Tommy John surgery. Bruce shares why he signed with the Mexican league, the passion of the fans, the amazing food, and the MLB's that are playing down there. Bruce let's us know about the cool memorabilia he owns, why he proposed to his wife two times, and why he thinks Alabama will win the natty this year in football. We finish up with Bruce's awesome story about meeting and hanging with Griffey, his friendship with Uncle Coco Crisp, and much more! Follow Bruce here:  https://www.instagram.com/bruce.maxwell8/

Joined today by former Light Heavyweight Champion of the world, "The Pittsburgh Kid" Paul Spadfora. Paul and I talk about his upcoming trip to Italy, how he proposed to his fiancé, and what Pittsburgh food he misses the most. We discuss him training his son, Geno, the similarities and differences with them and his biggest gripe with how younger boxers are trained today. We chat about him dropping out of school in 9th grade, boxing at 11 years old, meeting his mentor PK and hear an insane story about a high speed car chase that led to Paul getting shot at 16 years old. Paul analyzes the current state of boxing, his thoughts on Crawford, Fury fighting Francis and why he thinks Tyson is the greatest heavyweight of all time. He tells us about his amateur career, turning pro and that legendary night when he beat Cardona for the belt. We hear about how his life changed after winning the title, why he couldn't say no to his childhood friends and the reason he stayed in Pittsburgh so long. He shares why he believes he never got the dream matchup against Gatti, being trained by Emanuel Steward, and being a student of the sweet science. Paul also lets us know about the book being written about him that is coming out in October, still battling his demons and the HOPE he provides people battling addiction. All this plus texting with Roy Jones, when he's going back to the gym and his favorite TV shows.  Follow Paul here and be on the lookout for his upcoming book https://www.instagram.com/paulspadaforaofficial/

Joined today by the former Light Heavyweight Champion, Sergei "The Krusher" Kovalev. Sergei rants about his broken iPhone, what he was doing in NYC and the food he misses most from Russia. The Champ then talks about his love for hockey, starting his son playing at a young age, his son's talents and why he thinks his son is gravitating more towards soccer. We chat about why Sergei started boxing at the age of 11, what he loved about the sweet science, and what motivated him to turn pro after over 200 amateur fights. He tells us about his non-stop early boxing schedule, why he almost quit boxing after an opponent passed away after a fight with the Krusher, and that life-changing moment in Wales when he beat Nathan Cleverly to win the world title. We hear about the after party, how he made his fights look so easy and his training schedule. Sergei talks about unifying the titles in his epic fight with Bernard Hopkins, his rocket ship to stardom, being the Ring magazine fighter of the year and what drove him to stay hungry and motivated. Sergei opens up about his controversial loss to Andre Ward, how the second loss really opened his eyes to eating healthy and why he doesn't respect Ward for retiring instead of giving him what the fans wanted, a 3rd fight. We discuss him finally getting to fight in front of his home fans in Russia against Anthony Yarde, how emotional that fight was and the hurdles that went through booking it. I question the Champ about why he took the Canelo fight only TWO months after the Yarde fight and Sergei explains all the behind the scenes nonsense he had to deal with to get that fight. We talk about moving up to cruiserweight, beating the undefeated Pulev, and when we can expect to see him next in the ring. We hear why he doesnt watch TV, the last celebrity he took a photo with and when he is able to buy a new phone. All this with the former Champ!!

Joined today by author of the new book "Cage Kings: How an Unlikely Group of Moguls, Champions, and Hustlers Transformed the UFC into a 10 Billion Dollar Industry", Michael Thomsen. Michael talks about growing up in California, joining the Peace Corps, living in Madagascar and finally settling down in the Big Apple. We chat about his new book, the research that went into writing it, devoting over 3 years of his life to it and finally releasing it three years after the proposed date. Michael talks about what drew him to the UFC, the early ideas for the octagon involving a moat, plexiglass, and electricity, and the violence of the early UFC matches. We chat about Dana White in the early stages of the UFC, selling t-shirts out of his trunk and going to best buy and putting the UFC DVD's up front and how that transformed him into what he is today. We hear about the importance of the Diaz brothers, Rousey, Couture, and McGregor and how each carried a certain era of the UFC. Mike tells us about the self-sustainable UFC, from their headquarters to their facilities and the access they gave him (and didn't give him). We hear how Spike TV and reality TV really put the UFC on the map and how there seems to be no slowing it down. After dedicating years of his life to this book, he answers if did that made him more of a fan or less of a fan, will there ever be a retirement health care plan for these fighters and many other questions he tries to answer.  We even chat about eye gouging fighting from the 1700's. All this and more with Michael Thomsen.  Follow him here:      https://twitter.com/mike_thomsen?lang=en

Joined today by Patrick Bringley, author of the memoir "All The Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me". Patrick and I talk about him moving from Chicago to New York, switching allegiances from the White Sox to the Mets, and the behind the scenes work that a radio play by play guy does. Patrick tells us about working for the New Yorker and why his brother's illness and tragic passing led to his departure and finding work as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We chat about when Patrick decided to write this book, when he knew he had a hit and what he did when he saw someone buying his book. Patrick shares writing this different type of book where he opened up as a the narrator and still talked about the fascinating pieces of art at the Met. We discuss past thefts in the museum, the similarities of the MET guards to police officers, the secret tunnels under the museum and how he made the time pass. Ten years as a security guard, Patrick talks about what changed over that time, how he changed and when he knew it was time to retire. We go over his favorite pieces of art, the mistakes the curators make and the most annoying types of visitors. We hear about celebrities' that have been in the MET (not for the gala), what he's up to now, and how he snagged Jeff Wilpon's phone number.  All this and more Check out Patrick's IG here: https://www.instagram.com/patrickbringley/ His website: https://www.patrickbringley.com/    

Joined today by former Atlanta Brave Pitcher, Madison Younginer. Madison talks about growing up in South Carolina, the food he misses most when he's on the road and other sports he played as a child. We chat about being the Gatorade player of the year in South Carolina, what other schools besides Clemson had a shot at getting him, and how crazy his H.S. games were with all the scouts. We go over mock drafts, selecting a family advisor and how he found out that he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. We discuss reporting to the minor leagues, playing with Mookie Betts, Elsbury, Victorino, and other future stars. Madison opens up about his injuries while in the minors, mentally dealing with the changing of destinations, and how he dealt with the roller coaster of emotions with every good and bad start. We hear about how Madison's night started with putting whiskey into a cup and ended with him getting notified that he was going to the Major Leagues. He talks about his first game in St. Louis, his first strike out, and what major league pitching record he owns. We hear about rooking hazing, playing credit card roulette at a 5-star steak house, and why he never got the chance to play with his cousin. Madison chats about his decision to play in Australia, when he knew it was is time to hang up the spikes and how lucky he was with his baseball journey. All this plus playing golf with Griffey, basketball with Betts, and the cool people in his phone.

Joined today by former Eagles legend and New Orleans Saint, Hollis "Tank" Thomas. Hollis talks about growing up in St. Louis, why he didn't play football until High School, and when the moment was that Hollis knew he wanted to play defense. He tells us why he chose to attend Northern Illinois, checking the mock drafts and making a highlight VHS tape and sending them out to all 30 NFL teams. We hear about the disappointment of not getting drafted, the teams that reached out and why he choose to sign with the Eagles. We discuss his first training camp, when he realized he belonged, his welcome to the NFL moment and the things he had to do as a rookie. Tank talks about his time with the Eagles, why he was the missing link in the NFC championship draught and how they celebrated after punching their ticket to the Super Bowl. Tank reminisces about Super Bowl 39, his thoughts of Spy-Gate and how the Eagles players dealt with that heartbreaking loss. Tank talks a little about McNabb's "stomach issues", playing for Andy Reid and then we hear about his time in New Orleans playing for Sean Payton. Hollis shares life after football, why he believes that he is beloved by Eagle fans, his outstanding podcast and radio show and how he got involved in "Philly Sports Trips". We hear about cool people in his phone, his favorite piece of memorabilia and buying a car with hydraulics. All this and more with a true Legend of the Eagles Follow Tank here: https://www.instagram.com/kewlmf/ https://twitter.com/darealtank78

Joined today by former Park Ranger and now author, Andrea Lankford.  Andrea and I talk about what led her to be a park ranger, the stunning landscape that is her workplace and what caused her to retire after only 12 years. We chat about her first book “Ranger Confidential”; when she knew she had a hit on her hands and other books she wrote. Andrea shares her newest book “Trails of the Lost” and how she got involved in these three fascinating missing person cases.  We go over in depth about the three missing hikers, the facts surrounding their mysterious disappearances and our theories on what happened. Andrea was on both sides: law enforcement and now amateur detective.  We discuss the pros/cons of both sides, how social media can help and hurt an investigation and what can be done to help out the foundation for missing hikers.  We also talk about all the hats a park ranger wears and how that can lead to low morale and getting burnt out. Andrea talks about how her investigation with her book led her to marijuana growers, wild animals and even a cult! All this and more with Park Ranger turned nurse turned author, Andrea Lankford.  Follow her here:   https://www.andrealankford.com/

Joined today by 2-time World Series Champion and MLB veteran, "The King" Jim Leyritz. Jim talks about growing up in Cincinnati, idolizing Pete Rose and the life changing advice Johnny Bench gave him when he was 14. We hear why Jim abandoned his basketball dreams, breaking his foot right before the MLB draft and how he ended up at the University of Kentucky. Jim chats about meeting the Yankee scout who would eventually sign him, winning a batting title in the minor leagues and two awesome Deion Sanders stories from their time playing together. Jim shares getting called up to the show in 1990, his first hit, his first hit off Clemens at the stadium, and his "feud" with Bucky Dent. Jim recalls his dramatic 1995 home run against the Mariners  in the 15th inning in Mattingly's last game. We discuss the 1996 World Series, his game 4 iconic home run, catching the infamous 1-0 game 5 and celebrating the 1996 title. Jim tells us why he wanted to be traded in 1997, and why he jumped from the Angels - Rangers - Red Sox and the Padres within 2 years. We hear about the ‘98 World Series, when he knew the Padres were going to lose and the hitting style of Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs. He shares his passion working with various charitable organizations and how George Steinbrenner instilled the "giving back" mantra to him. Jim opens up about his off the field hurdles, how he persevered through his arrest and trial, and what inspired him to keep fighting. We hear about Jim meeting his wife, the importance of the book, "A Purpose Driven Life", and why he always remained loyal to Craig Carton. All this plus his rolodex of celebrities in his phone, how he gets to eat at Rao's and his goal of being a sport agent. Follow Jim here:https://jimleyritz.com/

Joined today by former light middleweight champion of the world Sadam Ali and co-host, former boxer Will “Power” Rosinsky. This episode was recorded from Sadam'a gym in Brooklyn. We chat about how Sadam and Will met each other, their initial thoughts on each other's skills and how Sadam eating at a restaurant alone got us together. Sadam gets right into it and announces that he's on the verge of a comeback to the ring, we hear why he's coming back, who he has his eyes set and why he's a better boxer now. We go back to Sadam at 8 years old falling in love with the sweet science, idolizing Prince Naseem and his fathers influence on his career and life. We talk about winning the golden gloves, being the first Arab-American to resplendent the USA at the Olympics, meeting Kobe Bryant, and where that Ralph Lauren outfit is. Sadam chats about his 22-0 record, his first defeat to Jesse Vargas and then we talk about his career defining match against Miguel Cotto. We hear how that fight got made, how it felt being an underdog in his own backyard, and when he knew he was going to win the fight. Sadam disappoints me and Will with how he celebrated winning the championship, but we hear about it. Sadam shares about falling out of love with boxing, what he did as a young retiree and how the importance of his dad's support drives him. We discuss his other passion, bowling, and his quest to get a 300, beating a young Terence Crawford and why he wasn't allowed to make any dumb purchases. Will and Sadam talk about the business side of boxing, why “influencers” are a great thing and why boxing is a dirty sport. All this plus a ton more with Will Rosinsky and the Champ, Sadam World Kid Ali.  Follow Sadam here https://www.instagram.com/theworldkidali/

Joined today by Head Coach of the Philippines National Baseball team, former Oakland A's draft pick in 1990 and head coach of LA Pierce College, Coach Bill Picketts. Bill and I talk about his first year at Long Beach State, their Cinderella run to the College Baseball World Series, and where the name "Dirtbags" came from. We hear about how Bill got the call in 1990 that he was drafted, his time in the minors and how at the age of 23 did he know it was time to hang up the cleats and go into coaching. Bill and I discuss his jump from coaching the freshman high school baseball team to the head coach of LA Pierce College. He shares bout the one-time Coach Picketts actually picked up his office phone and how a random question about a Filipino baseball player led him to be the head coach of the Philippines Baseball team. Coach Picketts talks about going out to the Philippines, his surprise how passionate they are about baseball and what his long- and short-term goals are out with building baseball from the ground up out there and how we can help. Bill tells us about almost coaching Tim Tebow, what current players the Filipino players look up to, their success in the Southeast Asian games and the challenge that lies ahead as they go to China to compete in the Asia games. All this plus we hear about a Don Mattingly postcard, Ted Williams bat and the moment Coach Picketts knew he wasn't going to cut it as an MLB player. Click on the links below to help support growing the game of baseball in the Philippines, the Pearl of the Orient  https://philippinesbaseballgroupstore.myshopify.com/collections/all

Joined today by co-host of “True Crime Garage“ and author of the incredible new book "The Delphi Murders: The Quest to Find The Man on the Bridge", Nic Edwards. Nic shares why he chose to write a book on this horrific case, what the process of writing his first book was like, and how he juggled researching his podcast and writing the book simultaneously. We chat about the case starting with the last time Abby and Libby were seen alive, that first night and the search, and the next morning when their bodies were discovered. Nic and I go over the investigation, from the changing of the suspects picture to having numerous law enforcement agencies involved to the number of potential suspects. We discuss how a case with a snapshot and a voice recording of a suspect didn't result in an immediate arrest. We talk about some of the evidence against Richard Allen, speculate if there will be more arrests and why we are all eagerly awaiting the trial. Nic tells us about hosting the uber popular podcast, “True Crime Garage” with his brother "The Captain", the research that goes into their shows and when he knew they had a hit show. He talks about his other passion, which is being on the board of our buddy James Renner's non-profit, "The Porchlight Project", what they do and how we can help. From cold cases being solved with modern technology to what true crime story he would love to do a deep dive 60-part series on. All this and more with the voice and now author or the true crime genre.  Check out Nic and “True Crime Garage” here: https://www.truecrimegarage.com/ https://twitter.com/truecrimegarage https://twitter.com/TCGNIC

Joined today by Pulitzer Prize winning author, David Maraniss. David and I chat about getting the phone call that he won the Pulitzer, the gifts that come with it and what he did the first time he saw someone reading his book. David talks about his podcast with his daughter “Ink in our blood” and what made him want to venture into that medium. We hear why David makes it a point to visit, and often times, move to the location where the subject of his book is from; and the significance of talking to every possibly person and how he gains their trust. David talks about his latest book “Path Lit by Lighting: The Life of Jim Thorpe”, what made him want to write about him, his legacy, and the biggest misconceptions about him. David and I touch on his other books: “Rome 1960”, their importance and why Rafer Johnson was chosen to be on his cover; “When Pride Still Mattered” and how Packers football is LIFE in Green Bay and his other work.  David tells two amazing stories that you just need to hear: 1. About his relationship with Bill Clinton and the “tie” comment and 2. How he discovered Obama's NYC girlfriend. All this plus some cool memorabilia he owns, his favorite tv show and his ritual when finishing a book.  Follow David hear: https://davidmaraniss.com/ Buy his books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Maraniss/author/B000APJ88U?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true And don't forget his paperback book is out June 7

Joined today by traveler and author of the tremendous book “Mad Travelers: A Tale of Wanderlust, Greed and the Quest to Reach the Ends of the Earth”, Dave Seminara. Dave talks about growing up in Buffalo, the tragedy he feels being a Buffalo Bills fan, and if he's losing hope that he'll ever witness his team win a Super Bowl. Dave then talks about why he joined the foreign service, daily activities while serving in Macedonia, and why he decided to leave that gig. We hear about why he decided to start writing and how a 642 tennis rally got him his first real press in the New York times. Dave and I talk about the wild world of traveling and how his idea of starting a television show about travelers led him to the fascinating William Bakeland. We discuss how William, who's an alleged con artist somehow scammed some of the world's most experienced and well respected travelers. We hear how much money William stole from people, if he's still wanted, and how he reached out to Dave after the book was released. We chat about the wanderlust gene, traveling the world, and what's next on our “country counting” lists. Dave tells two great stories about only having one hour to prepare before interviewing Roger Federer and how he showed up at the home of Ron DeSantis's parents in an attempt to get an interview. All this plus much more. https://daveseminara.com/ https://twitter.com/daveseminara https://www.instagram.com/madtravelerdave/

Joined today by TWO New York Times best-selling authors, Erik Larson and Abbott Kahler. Abbott and Erik share their story on how they met 20 years ago, what shocked them to learn about each other, and why they have stayed friends for such a long period of time. Abbott talks about why she changed her name at 40, if she is worried that her name change will affect her book sales, and why changing her first name to Abbott might actually help her non-fiction writing. We chat about Abboot working as a beat reporter in Philly, doing ride alongs, and the cattiness that are Philly sport fans. Abbott chats about her new upcoming podcast, the process with doing it and when it's dropping. We talk about her hit book "The Ghosts of Eden Park", why and when she became fascinated with George Remus, what he meant to prohibition, if he's the greatest bootlegger of all time, and the murder and the trial of the century. Erik and Abbott share about putting their boots to the ground and doing old fashion detective work when they research their books, why court transcripts are the greatest treasure to writing a non-fiction book, & why they travel to the locations they write about. We discuss the pressure of following up your New York Times best-selling books and how that relates to your next book, if they read reviews and how they interact with their fans. Abbott let's us know about her newest project "Then Came The Devil" about sex, murder, and utopia on the Galapagos Islands. Erik talks about what's going on with Hulu, Keanu Reeves, and if the "Devil in the White City" is coming to TV any time soon.  A few hot toddy's, a couple of Manhattans and we hear about weird first jobs, people getting fired, and the cleaning up of some disgusting things. From interviewing a young Kobe Bryant to having James Carville call your hotel room, all this plus much more https://abbottkahler.com/  https://eriklarsonbooks.com/

Joined today by New York Times best-selling author Jeff Guinn. Jeff and I talk about last night's Super Bowl; where he watched it and what he thought of the horrendous “holding” call. Jeff looks back on the first time he saw someone reading his book and what happened that caused him to never approach someone holding his book ever again. He goes on to talk about his incredible new book “ Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage”. Jeff shares his initial thoughts of the davidians, why researching this book was so difficult and how he juggled putting it all together.  We discuss David Koresh and how a shy, stuttering boy transformed himself into a biblical scholar/leader with a loyal following that were willing to die for what they believed. We talk about the ineptitude of the ATF, all their mistakes and question why they didn't arrest David without any news cameras and fan fare. Jeff opens up about how investing years of his life into such a tragic event gave him nightmares and how he's dealing with that. From Jeff having the Manson girls' phone numbers, his opinion on Barry Bonds in the hall to Wednesday on Netflix and much more!!  Follow him on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/jeffguinnauthor/

Joined today all the way from Uganda, viral baseball sensation Kasumba Dennis and his coach Paul Wafula.  We talk about visiting Uganda, gorilla trekking, what's there to do there and food you must try when you visit the Pearl of Africa. We discuss how the United States military came to Uganda and how the citizens saw them playing and fell in love with the game. We chat about how Coach Paul's talent was noticed by a Japanese scout and how that led to him trying out in Japan. We hear about Kasumba's unique training, using cardboard as a glove and how his practice videos have gone viral. Coach Paul tell us how we can help, what equipment they need, and how we can get baseball growing in Uganda. All this and much much more with two baseball lovers from the other side of the world. > Follow Kasumba and check out his videos here: Twitter: https://twitter.com/KASUMBADENNIS4 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kasumbadennis648

Joined today by Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for Baseball United, John Miedrich. John talks about growing up in Long Island, why he joined the NYPD, and what lifelong lessons he learned early on in his life patrolling the streets of East New York. We chat about his illustrious career climbing the ranks and serving as the commanding officer of the NYPD International Liaison Unit. John tells an incredible story of his team of international detectives who received information of the murder of an 8-month-old baby and located and arrested the perpetrator in Thailand in under 48 hours.  John talks about visiting the Dominican Republic and noticing the poverty amongst the young athletes there. He donated equipment and time which helped lead to his starting his own baseball academy down there. We then talk about BASEBALL UNITED, the first ever profession baseball league serving the Middle East and South Asia, attempting to bring America's pastime to over 2 billion new fans. We discuss how the dream got started, the significance that Mariano Rivera and Barry Larkin gave to the league when they signed on and what type of characters they are hoping to attract to help this league. We chat about the long term plans of Baseball United, the much-anticipated 2023 Baseball Showcase in Dubai, the excitement of the team name being released and much much more Follow Bsaeball United here: https://baseballunited.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballutd https://twitter.com/BaseballUnited

Joined today by award winning author of "Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain", Charles Leerhsen. Charles and I talk about growing up in New York, becoming an editor for Sports Illustrated, and when he knew the time had come to move on from SI. We discuss his time writing for Newsday, venturing out on his own projects and how he convinced Simon and Schuster to allow him to write about about a horse from the 1890's, Dan Patch. Charles shares when and why he decided to write a book about Anthony Bourdain, the hurdles he faced in getting people to talk about Tony and how he called an audible and reached out to Bourdain's high school friends and characters from Kitchen Confidential to create this book. We chat about the “Bourdain Brand”, becoming famous at an older age and why Tony's brother didn't want this book published. Charles talks about the controversial Asia Argento, what she meant to Tony, his obsession and how she made him lose his dignity. All this and a bunch more with the award winning author! Follow Charles here: Website: https://leerhsen.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlesLeerhsen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leerhsenc Charles has written books about: Butch Cassidy, Ty Cobb, Anthony Bourdain, Dan Patch and the Indy 500

Joined today by award winning author of "Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain", Charles Leerhsen. Charles and I talk about growing up in New York, becoming an editor for Sports Illustrated, and when he knew the time had come to move on from SI. We discuss his time writing for Newsday, venturing out on his own projects and how he convinced Simon and Schuster to allow him to write about about a horse from the 1890's, Dan Patch. Charles shares when and why he decided to write a book about Anthony Bourdain, the hurdles he faced in getting people to talk about Tony and how he called an audible and reached out to Bourdain's high school friends and characters from Kitchen Confidential to create this book. We chat about the “Bourdain Brand”, becoming famous at an older age and why Tony's brother didn't want this book published. Charles talks about the controversial Asia Argento, what she meant to Tony, his obsession and how she made him lose his dignity. All this and a bunch more with the award winning author! Follow Charles here: Website: https://leerhsen.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlesLeerhsen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leerhsenc Charles has written books about: Butch Cassidy, Ty Cobb, Anthony Bourdain, Dan Patch and the Indy 500

Joined today by crime reporter, author of “Monster: The True Story of the Jeffrey Dahmer Murders”, and star of the Netflix show “Conversations with a killer”, Anne E. Schwartz.  Annie talks about growing up in Queens, moving to the “Cream City” and volunteering to be the nighttime beat reporter with the Milwaukee PD.  We chat about cop humor, ride alongs and how she gained the trust of the police department.  Annie tells about the phone call that changed her night, responding to Jeffrey Dahmer's apartment, looking around and hearing that there was a human head in the refrigerator. Annie and I talk about if she knew the significance of this crime scene, how she rushed back to the newsroom and how she didn't get bullied into giving her story away.  We hear why she decided to write the book “Monster” thirty years after the crimes, what has changed with the main players in the last three decades and how being the “Dahmer reporter” gives her street cred all over the world.  Annie shares how Dahmer picked his victims, why he lived in that apartment and how he was a master manipulator. She opens up and explains the facts in the often misled story about the two police officers who encountered Jeffrey Dahmer on the street and brought him home. We hear about their lives after that incident and why Anne continues to defend their actions. L From starting the social media for the Milwaukee PD to getting a phone call from Dahmer himself, Annie brings her incredible storytelling along with a background as a tremendous reporter to the show.   Follow Anne E. Here: https://twitter.com/anneschwartz911 https://www.instagram.com/anneeschwartz911/ Book: Monster: The True Story of the Jeffrey Dahmer Murders 

Joined today by former UFC fighter and current PFL top contender, Chris “The Long Island Killer” Wade. Chris and I talk about World Cup Fever, why he's ok with the Mets buying every free agent and if he thinks Danny Dimes is the Giants QB for the future. Chris tells us about being part owner of Long Island Strong (Lislandstrong.com), how he got involved and why he always wanted to be his own boss. We chat about why there are so many highly ranked fighters from Long Island, his amateur wrestling career, and when he decided that fighting was going to be his profession. Chris shares the mental aspect of fighting, how dealing with a loss can hang with you for months and what he does to overcome that depression. Chris talks about being extremely outspoken, why he'll never stop talking about what he believes in and why fighters should be unionized. Chris tells why he joined the PFL, what they are doing differently from the UFC that makes it such an up and coming force and when we should expect to see him in the ring next. I ask why he thinks he never got “the push” from the UFC, what he wish he would have done differently and why he loves teaching all ages the art of mixed martial arts. All this and more with a veteran of the octagon. Follow Chris here: https://twitter.com/cwademma And check out his awesome merchandise here: https://www.lislandstrong.com/  

Joined today by professor, author and retired commanding officer of the NYPD Cold Case Squad, Joseph Giacalone, as well as retired NYPD Lieutenant Sean Williams.  Joe talks about why he joined the NYPD, getting assigned to the 47th precinct and a crazy gun battle that earned him the medal of valor. We talk about his rise through the department to sergeant and then to internal affairs and how restructuring the NYPD training courses earned him a spot in the elite NYPD Cold Case Unit.  Sgt. Giacalone talks about the process of opening a cold case, why cases get stagnant or cold and why the boots on the ground method still reigns supreme.  We chat about some noteworthy cases, hear about legendary detectives and when he knew it was time to retire. We discuss the quadruple murder in Idaho, why the police did the right thing by not releasing info to the media and how and when Joe knew they had a suspect in sight. All this and much more with retired Sgt. Giacalone and Lt. Williams.    Follow Joe Giacalone on the following platforms and check out his website here: https://twitter.com/JoeGiacalone https://www.josephgiacalone.com/ https://www.instagram.com/josephgiacalone/  

Joined today by Country Music artist and rabid Kentucky basketball fan, JD Shelburne.  JD talks about his favorite Christmas songs, the best and worst things about growing up on a tobacco farm in Kentucky, and attending University of Kentucky (UK). We chat about the current state of Kentucky basketball, where we were when we found out we signed Coach Cal, and if we expect too much from the players as fans. JD shares about teaching himself to play a guitar after his grandmother passed away, promoting himself and faking it until he made it. We discuss his loyal fan base, playing over 250 shows a year and what's the one thing he needs in his dressing room. JD tells a tremendous story about meeting his childhood idol Ken Griffey Jr., getting the call that he was going to open for ZZ Top and being on the cover of the Kentucky tourism magazine.  All this plus texting with Jack Harlow, his dream duet and the coolest piece of memorabilia he owns. Follow JD here and check out his listening release party here - https://jdshelburne.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/JDSHELBURNE IG: https://www.instagram.com/jdshelburne/ Listenin Party: https://allevents.in/louisville/jd-shelburne-2023-album-pre-release-listening-party/200023778481104

Joined today by runner, journalist and New York Times Best Selling Author, Christopher McDougall. Chris talks about growing up in Philly, moving out to Lancaster and then settling down in Hawaii. Chris tells me how he was recruited for crew during his basketball practice and how he parlayed that into rowing for Harvard. We hear how as a failed High School English teacher, he decided to backpack through Europe and before he knew it he was the Associated Press‘ war correspondent in Angola and the Congo. Chris and I open up about the importance of not holding in your feelings and what he saw in Rwanda that made him come back home to the States. We hear how a writing assignment about a Mexican pop star turned into him being immersed in the Tarahumara Tribe and eventually witnessing "The Greatest Race the World Has Ever Seen". As a first time author, Chris recalls checking the reviews on the book, how he starting selling the books himself and how he got booked on the Jon Stewart Show. Chris talks about his newest books "Born to Run 2: The Ultimate Running Training Guide", what we should expect with this sequel book and why every runner needs to get this book. I deep dive into the aspects of Chris' writing: how it was collaborating on this book with Eric Orton, adding sneaker and scientific talk smack in the middle of Born to Run, and the difficulty of writing about himself as the main character. From texting with Rick Rubin, running with the Amish, and just a great conversation with the voice of running, Christopher McDougall. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisMcDougall Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismcdougallauthor/ Website: https://borntorun.world/

Joined today by Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the owners of Baseball United, Barry Larkin. Barry talks about what he loves about New York, from its energy to the passionate fans and tells a hilarious story about playing at Shea Stadium. We chat about Baseball United, the first professional baseball league created to serve the Middle East and South Asia and what was so intriguing about this venture that Barry knew he had to get involved. He shares his ventures working as an ambassador overseas to help grow the game of baseball under Presidents Bush and Obama. Barry talks about coaching baseball in Brazil, the hurdles he faced by attempting to intergrade baseball in a soccer-centric country and how he's going to use that knowledge to bring America's pastime to a cricket mad region with over 1 billion fans through Baseball United. We converse about what he wants to accomplish as one of the owners, why it's important to develop baseball from the ground up and how many jobs and opportunities this will create for overseas workers. From meeting Muhammad Ali to why he's rooting for Michigan over Ohio State, and much more! Follow Barry on Twitter here:  https://twitter.com/barrylarkin Follow Baseball United here:  https://baseballunited.com/

Joined today by wrestling legend, Jumping Jim Brunzell. Jim and I talk about growing up in Minnesota, walking on and playing football for MU, the Vikings and some must try foods in the "Twin Cities". Jim talks about his fandom for Bruce Springsteen, his new music and how hearing a song from “The Boss” on the radio turned into a friendship (one sided) that has lasted over 40 years. We chat about trying out for the Redskins and how that led to his former QB and friend Greg Gagne talking him into trying out to be a professional wrestler. We hear about his first wrestling camp with Verne Gagne and working out with the likes of Ric Flair, the Iron Shiek and Ken Patera. Jim recounts the grueling wrestling schedule he had, tag-teaming in the NWA/ AWA, fighting all over the world and leaving the territories to join Vince McMahon and the WWF. We learn about how cool it was when Jim first saw his action figure, how he met Brian Blair, how the "Killer Bees" started and where they got their first costumes. Jim shares how Hulk Hogan was his hype man before joining the WWF, the highs of wrestling at WrestleMania 3 and the lows of never being crowned tag team champions despite being promised the belts. We go over the mental adversity he faced when he wasn't a star anymore, why he wished he retired early and life on the independent scene. Jim tells us a hilarious Andre the Giant story, touches on the biggest pranksters in the locker room and sadly the untimely deaths of many wrestling legends. From his cool memorabilia collection to Hillbilly Jim, and much more. Buy Jim's book here: https://www.blurb.com/b/6298514-matlands Follow Jim on twitter here: https://twitter.com/jumpinjbrunzell Killer Bee's website: https://www.thekillerbees.net/