Skin in the Game

BTPM NPR · btpm.org

Sports are about more than what happens on the field. Skin in the Game takes you inside the deals, decisions, and trends driving today’s sports industry.Hosted by sports marketing expert John Cimperman and veteran sports business journalist Tim O’Shei, the weekly podcast features conversations with top level executives, athletes, journalists, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the sports world. From NIL and media rights to professional leagues and youth sports, Skin in the Game uncovers the stories behind the scoreboard.Listen Tuesdays and 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. on BTPM NPR or stream anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more.

20 episodes

7d ago latest

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English language

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Episodes 20

Why She’s Betting on Women’s Sports
22h ago · 47:24
Women’s sports are booming. But when investors look beyond the headlines, where are the real opportunities? On this episode of Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei welcome entrepreneur, investor, and author Chantell Preston, one of the owners and founders of the League One Volleyball San Francisco Signal, to talk about why she believes professional volleyball could be one of the next big growth stories in sports. Preston spent years evaluating emerging sports leagues before deciding where to put her own money. She explains why volleyball stood out, what she looks for before investin
Are We Ruining Youth Sports?
7d ago · 46:51
Kids say they play sports for two main reasons: to have fun and to be with their friends. So why have youth sports become increasingly expensive, competitive, and difficult for many families to navigate? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Jon Solomon, Research Director for the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative, to examine what the research tells us about the state of youth sports in America. Participation is rebounding after the pandemic, but Solomon says a troubling divide is growing. Children from the highest-income households are about twice a
Who Really Has the Power in Sports?
14d ago · 54:00
College sports are changing at a dizzying pace. Athletes are getting paid, players are moving from school to school, and the possibility of college athletes collectively bargaining may be closer than many fans realize. This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with sports and labor attorney Michael Elkins, founder of MLE Law, to examine the rapidly changing relationship between athletes, teams, schools, and leagues. Elkins, who represents college and professional athletes, makes a provocative case that despite all the criticism surrounding NIL and the transfer porta
The $2+ Billion Deal Behind the Bills' New Stadium
21d ago · 54:00
The Buffalo Bills are about to open a state-of-the-art stadium in Orchard Park, ushering in a new era for one of the NFL's most passionate fan bases. But how did the deal come together, and what does it mean for the future of Buffalo? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei sit down with business leaders Bill Maggio and Jordan Levy, two trusted advisors who worked behind the scenes during negotiations for the Bills' new stadium. They discuss the relationships that helped move negotiations forward, the roles played by Governor Kathy Hochul, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, T
Did the World Cup Deliver? The Real Business Impact of FIFA 2026
28d ago · 54:00
Millions of fans filled stadiums across North America during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but did host cities actually win? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei look at the impact of the world’s biggest sporting event from two very different perspectives. First, Columbia Business School professor Angela Lee shares what it was like to live in the midst of the tournament in New York City and New Jersey, and how mega-events drive innovation, strengthen infrastructure, reshape global perceptions, and even influence how athletes invest in their futures. Then, Toronto Star busine
What Have We Lost? David Macfarlane on the Business of Modern Sports
1mo ago · 48:16
Sports have never been bigger—or more profitable. But has something been lost along the way? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome acclaimed Canadian author David Macfarlane to discuss his latest book, On Sports. From the overnight explosion of sports gambling and billion-dollar revenues to a growing emphasis on entertainment over athletic excellence, Macfarlane claims that today’s sports have fundamentally changed fan experience. The conversation explores why sports continue to unite communities, the tension between tradition and commercialization, the role athl
The Business Behind Pickleball’s Boom with Rusty Howes
1mo ago · 47:01
More than 400% growth in just five years. So how did a backyard game become one of the biggest business stories in sports? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Rusty Howes, founder of Pickleball Channel, for an inside look at the explosive growth of America's fastest-growing sport. From producing some of the sport’s earliest media coverage to documenting pickleball’s remarkable growth, Howes gives us the inside story of the game’s popularity and rapid expansion. They talk about private equity, media, professional tours, equipment manufacturers, and the role yout
Beyond the Ballcap: Bruce Popko on New Era, Global Sports Business and Building an Iconic Brand
1mo ago · 54:00
What does it take to build one of the world's most recognizable sports brands? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Popko, President of New Era Cap, the Buffalo-based company that has become a global leader in licensed sports headwear and apparel. Popko discusses New Era's remarkable growth from a fourth-generation family business into a worldwide brand with operations spanning 16 countries and partnerships across every major professional sports league. He explains how the company's acquisition of ’47, an American lifestyle brand strengthened its position
A Runner's Journey: Bruce Kidd on Sport, Social Change and the Power of an Athlete's Voice
2mo ago · 44:20
What responsibility do athletes have beyond competition? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Kidd, one of Canada's most celebrated distance runners, a former Olympian, scholar, author, and Officer of the Order of Canada. Kidd reflects on his remarkable journey from a teenager discovering a talent for running in Toronto to representing Canada at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Along the way, he shares how sport became much more than competition, serving as a lens through which he explored politics, economics, culture, and social change. During his decades-long ef
Building Sports Careers Online: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook on NIL, Networking and Sports Management Worldwide
2mo ago · 54:00
What does it take to turn a passion for sports into a career? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, founder and president of Sports Management Worldwide, a global sports education company that has helped more than 30,000 graduates from 164 countries pursue careers throughout the sports industry. Lashbrook shares his remarkable journey from athlete, coach, and university administrator to sports agent and entrepreneur, explaining how a chance encounter with the early internet and the release of Jerry Maguire helped inspire a business that has co
Is Dance a Sport? Tony Bellissimo Says Absolutely.
2mo ago · 54:00
What happens when a multi-sport athlete discovers that his greatest talent is on the dance floor rather than on the field or the ice? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Buffalo native Tony Bellissimo, a professional dancer, choreographer, actor and educator whose career has taken him from local sports fields and dance studios to some of the biggest stages in entertainment. Bellissimo shares how growing up playing hockey, lacrosse and soccer helped shape the discipline, competitiveness and work ethic that ultimately propelled him into the professional dance wor
A Lifetime on Ice: Bonnie Shea on Hockey, Longevity & Purpose
3mo ago · 54:00
At 15 years old, Bonnie Shea was told she could no longer play hockey simply because she was a girl. More than six decades later, she’s still lacing up her skates. This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman sits down with Bonnie Shea — an early pioneer of women’s hockey in Minnesota — to talk about her lifelong relationship with the sport, the barriers she faced growing up in the “State of Hockey,” and how she rediscovered the game at age 40 after decades away from organized play. Bonnie reflects on what hockey has given her physically, mentally, and socially throughout her life — from the
The Business of Sports Cards: Inside the Explosive Growth of Collectibles with Tracy Hackler
3mo ago · 54:00
Sports cards are no longer just childhood collectibles tucked away in shoeboxes—they’ve become a global business driven by technology, culture, nostalgia, and massive fan engagement. This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Tracy Hackler, Senior Brand Manager at Panini America, to explore the evolution of the sports collectibles industry—from vintage baseball cards to modern-day “golden ticket” chase cards and blockchain collectibles. Tracy shares how the hobby transformed during the pandemic, why women’s sports collectibles are surging, and how athletes like Caitlin Clark are
Beyond the Field: Soccer, Trust, and Opportunity for Newcomer Youth
3mo ago · 54:00
Soccer is often called the world’s universal language—but what happens when it becomes the only language you share in a brand-new country? This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Jennifer Tepper, Executive Director of Soccer Without Borders, and Bruno Contreras, Program Director in Massachusetts, to explore how the organization is using sport to build trust, belonging, and opportunity for immigrant, refugee, and underserved youth. With a model that prioritizes relationships over results, Soccer Without Borders has served more than 60,000 young people from over 120 countries,
Athletes as Media Brands: The Future of Sports Storytelling with Lars Bengston
3mo ago · 54:00
The lines between sports, media, and entertainment have officially disappeared—and athletes are now at the center of it all. This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Lars Bengston, Head of Agency at HardScope, to explore how the next generation of athletes are becoming media brands. From his early days at Vice during its explosive growth, to co-creating Some Good News with John Krasinski, Lars shares a front-row perspective on how storytelling, authenticity, and platform-native content are reshaping the sports landscape. The conversation dives into the rise of athlete-creators
The Future of Soccer Training is Here | Eddie Lewis on TOCA Soccer
4mo ago · 54:00
This week on Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with former U.S. Men’s National Team standout Eddie Lewis to explore how innovation and technology are reshaping the future of soccer. After a 15-year professional career that included the World Cup and time in England, Lewis talks about the moment that changed everything. He found a way to get more meaningful reps and started to see real improvement in his game. That insight became the foundation for TOCA—now the largest operator of indoor soccer centers in North America. Lewis breaks down how technology, data, and de
The Yankees Dynasty Explained | Mike Vaccaro on Steinbrenner & Winning
4mo ago · 54:00
This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei welcome longtime New York lead sports columnist and author Mike Vaccaro for one of our deepest dives into one of the most chaotic and influential eras in sports history. Drawing from The Bosses of the Bronx, Vaccaro unpacks the reality behind the legend of George Steinbrenner — a figure so outsized that even the wildest stories…are true. From media manipulation to nonstop headlines and Billy Martin drama to multi-billion-dollar brand building, this conversation explores how Steinbrenner turned the New York Yankees into a 365-day stor
How Sports Arenas Transform Cities: Lessons from Cleveland’s Downtown Revival
4mo ago · 56:22
What happens when a city invests in sports, entertainment, and the fan experience? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei welcome Len Komoroski, longtime executive with Rock Entertainment Group and former CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. Komoroski helped lead the transformation of Cleveland’s downtown sports district—anchored by Rocket Arena and Progressive Field—into one of the most vibrant entertainment corridors in the country. What began as a struggling arena and team in the early 2000s evolved into a sports and entertainment ecosystem hosting hundreds of
Why Muscle Matters: Science, Story, and Strength with Bonnie Tsui
4mo ago · 56:23
Author and journalist Bonnie Tsui joins Skin In The Game for a fascinating conversation about the science, story, and meaning of muscle. Drawing from her book On Muscle, Tsui explores how strength shapes not just athletic performance, but identity, longevity, and human connection. From her childhood immersed in swimming and martial arts to learning to surf later in life, she shares how movement has influenced every chapter of her journey. The conversation spans cutting-edge research on muscle memory and aging, the mind-body connection, and why strength training may be one of the most important
Inside the Sports Betting Boom—and Its Consequences
5mo ago · 59:31
This week on Skin in the Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with journalist and author Danny Funt to discuss the explosive growth of sports gambling and what it means for fans, athletes, and the future of the games themselves. Funt’s new book, Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling, takes an investigative look into an industry that has rapidly reshaped sports culture. Funt talks about today’s sports fans and the barrage of advertising and in-game betting opportunities to the rise of VIP gamblers and mounting concerns around addiction, integrity, and athlete