Podcasts about Rantala

The Tigers have started out slow but there is still hope. Ed Kasputis interviews Kurt Smith from ballparkeguides.com about Comerica Park.

On this episode, I sit down with Annica Rantala, CEO of Rapunzel of Sweden, to talk about what happens when you take a category dominated by professionals and salons and hand it directly to the consumer.Rapunzel is a Nordic pioneer in hair extensions - built on a direct-to-consumer model from day one, with 81% of revenue through their own e-commerce. We get into how that model works in practice: the education-first approach to new customers, why micro-creators with 2,000–10,000 followers consistently outperform big names on return, and how the brand thinks about its dual audience of end users and hairstylist key opinion leaders.We also talk about Annica's journey from board member to operating CEO - what you think you can see from a board seat, and what you can't - and the lessons from her time scaling Stronger through and beyond the pandemic.On AI, Annica makes a point I hadn't heard put quite this way before: you can take a people-first approach to AI adoption, a brand-first approach, or a technology-first approach and most companies are getting it wrong by defaulting to the last one and locking it down to the tech team.Enjoy the show.

While the Reds are in last, we celebrate their past as Ed Kasputis interviews the great Mo Egger from ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati about this year’s Reds.

The Athletics head to their future City to play six games this week. Ed Kasputis interviews the Honorable Louis Schiff, co-editor of Attorneys in the Baseball Hall of Fame about the City of Sacramento wanting an MLB expansion team and much more.

Denver is great but the Rockies are not. Our PhD Committee discusses the first stage of negotiations between the Players Association and the Owners. Ed Kasputis interviews Jared Diamond from the Wall Street Journal about nanoneedles and much more.

The Cubs are up and the Cubs are down, currently in third place. Ed Kasputis interviews Al Yellon about this year’s Cubs and his new book, The Incredible Chicago Cubs Trivia Book.

Manager Alex Cora has been fired and the Red Sox remain in last place. We celebrate the band, Boston as Ed Kasputis interviews Kurt Smith from ballparkeguides.com about beautiful Fenway Park.

The Pope loves the White Sox (and everyone else) but can the White Sox turn things around? Ed Kasputis interviews Kurt Smith from ballparkeguides.com about Rate Field.

The O’s are hovering around .500 with Oriole Park looking great after Phase I of its renovation. Ed Kasputis interviews Paul Valle III, the host for the Bat Around for Press Box Sports about all things Orioles.

Ed Kasputis interviews award winning humorist and author, Hart Seely from his battle pod about his book, The JuJu Rules.

Lets get ready for the Padres and Diamondbacks to head to Mexico City for their two game series. Ed Kasputis interviews the one and only Mojdeh from Journeys Beyond the Surface about all things to do in Mexico City.

In 2012, our PhD Committee went to the final game of the World Series to be a Witness to a Sweep.  First Farley pays a bet then Ed, Farley & Dave play baseball at Tiger Stadium and meet Joe Michnuk from the Navin Field Grounds Crew.  Then it’s time to head to Comerica Park to sit in the rain and watch the last game of a great year.  Congratulations Giants and Tigers – wait ’til next year.

The Astros are fighting injuries as they lead the league in hitting and are last in pitching. Can they recover? We debate.

Ed Kasputis and Farley Dillinger interview Dave Matejczyk about his experience as a volunteer at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy.

No National League team has won three World Series in a row. Could it be the Dodgers? Ed Kasputis interviews Matt Moreno from dodgerblue.com about this year’s Dodgers.

Ed Kasputis interviews Kurt Smith from ballparkeguides.com about all things Toronto and Rogers Centre.

The Jays were one hit away from winning the 2025 World Series. Can they repeat as American League Champs and return to the Fall Classic? We celebrate Opening Day and make our 2026 Playoff predictions.

Ed Kasputis interviews Dan Austin about his book, Baseball’s Last Great Scout: The Life of Hugh Alexander.

A great tournament has concluded. Congratulations to Team Venezuela. Ed Kasputis interviews the Honorable Louis Schiff about the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Ed Kasputis interviews Latino baseball historian, Anthony Salazar about Jaime Jarrin, the Spanish voice of the Dodgers since 1959.

We celebrate our 800th episode as Ed reports back from the World Baseball Classic in Miami as he and Farley remember our first 800 episodes. The podcast concludes as Ed interviews Jared Diamond from The Wall Street Journal about his recent articles about baseball.

Ed Kasputis interviews author, Tim Wendel about his book, Summer of ’68: The Season That Changed Baseball – and America – Forever. From the beginning, '68 was a season rocked by national tragedy and sweeping change. Opening Day was postponed and later played in the shadow of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral. That summer, as the pennant races were heating up, the assassination of Robert Kennedy was later followed by rioting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. But even as tensions boiled over and violence spilled into the streets, something remarkable was happening in major league ballparks across the country. Pitchers were dominating like never before, and with records falling and shut-outs mounting, many began hailing '68 as “The Year of the Pitcher.” Meanwhile in Detroit—which had burned just the summer before during one of the worst riots in American history—'68 instead found the city rallying together behind a colorful Tigers team led by Denny McLain, Mickey Lolich, Willie Horton, and Al Kaline. The Tigers would finish atop the American League, setting themselves on a highly anticipated collision course with Bob Gibson's Cardinals.

The Famous San Diego Chicken is the Babe Ruth of sports mascots.  During this 39 minute interview, you’ll better understand how the genius of Ted Giannoulas has forever changed our ball park experience.

Our PhD Committee explores those players that had longish careers.

Let’s remember the man with the fourth highest batting average (.356) in Major League Baseball History as Ed Kasputis interviews Dan Wallach from shoelesspodcast.com.

Today on the bench, we sit withValtteri Rantala, A Finn living in Vancouver BC since 2016. Val started a Sauna company in Vancouver in 2019. And in the shadows of Western Red Cedars, we'll hear the origin stories of the budding West Coast Sauna Summit at Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat center, one of the pins on Val's Vancouver Sauna Circuit. We just returned from the second West Coast Sauna Summit here in 2026. And I was able to attend last year's inaugural Summit in 2025. The Vibes at the West Coast Sauna Summit are quite familiar to me, as founder and lead contributor for Sauna Days, Larsmont Cottages, Two Harbors Minnesota. The similar vibe is: a collection of mobile saunas, a kick ass facility, access to clean cold water, and mix in a hundreds or so like minded thermal enthusiasts and some Sauna Talk presentations, stir the soup, and what we are met with are wonderful, collaborative, spontaneous connections. Endorphins rushing between rounds, legal libations sprinkled in like fresh basil. Anyhow, back to the Vancouver Sauna Circuit. In addition to the Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat Center, Val dots the SaunaTimes sauna map with a few other bathhouses. And in this episode we get to hear a little bit more about these facilities. Let's keep in mind that as you click around the SaunaTimes map, and the Vancouver Circuit specifically, clicking the Vancouver Circuit button again will bring us out to all the bathhouses on the map. A circuit is not meant to be all inclusive. A circuit is a Scouts window into their city, collection, community. And let's not forget the adjacencies, where "people like us do things like this." and in Val's case are a couple hikes and restaurants within the Vancouver area.

As America prepared for the start of the 2016 Presidential Primary Season, our PhD Committee explored Presidents & Baseball and paid homage to Jonathan the Tortoise, who is older than the game of baseball.

Let’s get ready for the World Baseball Classic as games are about to begin in Houston, Miami, San Juan and Tokyo.

Ed Kasputis interviews author, Chris Williams about his new book, Stealing First and Other Old-Time Baseball Stories.

Ed Kasputis interviews Professor of Law and the author of numerous baseball books, Mitchell Nathanson about his new book, Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original.

Ed Kasputis interviews Colin Cerniglia, the founder and CEO of the Talent 409 Leadership Academy about his new book, Culture of Excellence.

Enjoy our first full video podcast as Ed Kasputis interviews baseball photographer and baseball renaissance woman, Donna Muscarella and AI Farley makes his dancing debut.

Ed Kasputis interviews Sam Zygner about his outstanding book, Baseball Under the Palms: The History of Miami Minor League Baseball – The Early Years, 1892 – 1960.

What was the greatest World Series?  Ed Kasputis learns as he interviews author, Tim Wendel about his new book, Down to the Last Pitch.

It’s January as hundreds of men and women head to umpire school as they chase their dream to become a professional baseball umpire. Ed Kasputis interviews the one and only, Perry Lee Barber who has been a female baseball umpire since 1981.

Ed Kasputis interviews Emmy Award winning Producer Robert Steinfeld about his new book, 3… 2… 1… We’re on the Air. Imagine what it’s like to make hundreds of decisions in just two hours on “live” network television with your work seen by millions of people. That’s what Steinfeld has been doing for decades.

Holy Cow! We conclude our 6 podcast series on baseball’s greatest sportscasters with Harry Caray (1914 – 1998). Caray broadcast Major League Baseball for 53 years. Ed, Farley & Mark review the 2006 PBS documentary, Kokoyakyu – High School Baseball. Then it’s time for baseball’s greatest showman. Ed interviews author and former presidential speech writer, Curt Smith about Caray and his legacy. We then listen as Caray sings Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the first night game at Wrigley Field, August 8, 1988.

Jack Buck (1924 – 2002) called 11 World Series, 4 Major League All-Star games and 18 Super Bowls.  Ed, Farley and Mark review Buck‘s career and make their Super Bowl predictions in his honor.  Ed interviews author Curt Smith about Buck and Marty Allen shares his worst day in radio.

Barber hired Vin Scully We honor one of the greatest baseball sportscasters of all time – Red Barber. We explore his life and influence. Ed interviews and thanks Dale Mugford from Brave New Code for our new mobile web site. Ed then interviews author, speech writer and professor, Curt Smith. Our podcast concludes as we remember the Ol’ Redhead and prepare for our next podcast – Jack Buck and “That’s a Winner.”

Things are changing in Venezuela. How will it affect Venezuela baseball? We discuss.

Mordecai Israel was his name Mel Allen was born in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up to become the “Voice of the Yankees“. Our PhD Committee relives his great life with the help of authors, Stephen Borelli, Stanley Cohen and Rob Edelman. Our podcast also talks about Cliff Lee returning to the Phillies and notable baseball deaths for 2010. Then it’s time for At the Mixer with Marty Allen (no relation to Mel).

This podcast features baseball sportscaster great, Ernie Harwell.  Our PhD Committee first reviews Major League Baseball’s playoff expansion idea of adding an additional wild card team in each league and then shifts into analyzing who is listening to our podcasts.  Then it’s time for Harwell.  Hear Harwell’s moving 1955 poem – The Definition of Baseball, then hear Harwell’s account of baseball’s Shot Heard ‘Round the World.  Ed Kasputis then interviews baseball author, Irwin J. Cohen about his friend, Ernie Harwell.

Greatest Baseball Sportscaster of All Time Our PhD Committee honors Vin Scully (1927 – 2022) as the greatest baseball sportscaster of all time. Ed, Farley and Mark then explore the life of Scully and listen to some of his greatest clips. Ed then interviews Dodger faithful and English Professor, Frank Ardolino about Scully. We then travel back in time and hear Scully’s words of wisdom during his commencement address at Pepperdine University in 2008.

2025 is almost over. Our PhD Committee reflects on the past year and can’t wait for the New Year. On January 21, 2026 the Dodgers’ luxury tax of $169 million dollars will be due. What lies ahead for the game we love?

Ed Kasputis interviews baseball writer and author, Zack Hample about his book, Watching Baseball Smarter.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus as well as a great 2025 MLB Season (if you are a Dodgers fan).

Ed Kasputis interviews G. Michael Green about his book, Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball’s Super Showman.

Ed Kasputis interviews Robert K. Fitts about his new book, Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage and Assassination during the 1934 Tour of Japan.

Ed Kasputis interviews Jonathan Eig about his best selling book – Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig.

Ed Kasputis interviews baseball researcher, John Burbridge about the 1954 World Champion New York Giants.