Episodes

  • The Future of Hockey Starts with Access

    The Future of Hockey Starts with Access
    Mar 21 2026
    In this episode of Skin In The Game, John Cimperman sits down with Rick Nadeau of Nadeau Sports to explore what it really takes to grow the game of hockey. Drawing on his experience with Madison Square Garden and his work advising teams and leagues, Nadeau breaks down how fan development starts at the grassroots level—creating meaningful, accessible entry points for young athletes and their families. With renewed excitement coming out of international competition, including the Olympics, hockey has a major opportunity to expand its reach—but only if the sport can meet that interest with access. From rising participation in girls’ hockey to the need for more affordable, flexible pathways beyond elite travel teams, this conversation highlights both the momentum and the challenges facing the sport. At its core, the future of hockey depends on opening the door for those not yet in the game.
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    57 mins
  • From Grassroots to Gold Medals: How USA Fencing Is Expanding the Sport

    From Grassroots to Gold Medals: How USA Fencing Is Expanding the Sport
    Mar 14 2026
    Fencing may be one of the oldest Olympic sports, but in the United States it is experiencing a modern surge in growth. This week on Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, and Brad Suchorski, Director of Membership Service and Growth, to explore how the national governing body is expanding the sport across the country. From grassroots programs to elite Olympic competition, Andrews and Suchorski explain how USA Fencing manages everything connected to the sport in the United States — including more than 750 clubs and a growing membership base. The conversation dives into the business strategy of growing the sport, including marketing campaigns that introduce new audiences to fencing, how they examine and launch clubs in emerging markets, and how experiential programs like Fencing Across America allow people to try the sport for themselves. While the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles may seem far off, Andrews and Suchorski explain how USA Fencing is already preparing for the games. Finally, are you curious about trying something new? Visit usafencing.org to find a club near you!
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    54 mins
  • Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Big Business: The Growth of Professional Rodeo

    Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Big Business: The Growth of Professional Rodeo
    Mar 7 2026
    Rodeo may have deep roots in the American West, but today it’s becoming a global sports business, with a focus on equity in the sport. In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei are joined by Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), and Linsay Rosser-Sumpter, Commissioner of Premier Women’s Rodeo (PWR). The conversation explores the explosive growth of rodeo, including sold-out events at Madison Square Garden, major television deals and the expanding global footprint of professional bull riding. Gleason explains how PBR evolved from a small group of riders investing $1,000 each into a global sports property alongside UFC and WWE. Rosser-Sumter shares how Premier Women’s Rodeo, with the support of PBR, is creating long-overdue opportunities for female athletes centered around increased prize money, competitive disciplines, and bringing women’s rodeo to national television. Whether you are a rodeo fan or just rodeo-curious, this episode is for you.
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    54 mins
  • Canada’s Basketball Boom: Inside The Golden Generation with Oren Weisfeld

    Canada’s Basketball Boom: Inside The Golden Generation with Oren Weisfeld
    Feb 28 2026
    In this episode of Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with sports journalist Oren Weisfeld, author of The Golden Generation: How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse, to explore how Canada transformed from producing the occasional NBA player into a global basketball force. From immigration policy under Pierre Trudeau to the grassroots AAU movement, Weisfeld explains how culture, access, infrastructure, and commercialization shaped a new era of Canadian hoops. The group dives into the “Carter Effect” in Toronto, the Raptors’ 2019 championship, the rise of privatized youth sports, cost of elite development, and the influence of current AAU programs. Canada invented basketball, but for decades, it didn’t dominate it. That’s had a cultural and financial impact on the sport. This is a conversation about what happens when a country finally embraces the game it helped invent.
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    54 mins
  • Forged for Gold: What It Takes to Become an Olympian

    Forged for Gold: What It Takes to Become an Olympian
    Feb 21 2026
    Recorded live at Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, New York, this Olympic Special of Skin In The Game explores what it truly takes to compete at the highest level in sport. Hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with three-time Paralympic gold medalist Adam Page, training center director Miguel Azcarate, and sports performance coach Dr. Jason Rich for a powerful conversation about sacrifice, deliberate practice, pressure, and mental resilience. Airing during the Olympic Closing Ceremonies and just days before the Paralympics begin, this episode bridges both worlds and reminds us how greatness is built and the price it takes for a chance at the podium.
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    54 mins
  • Leaving It All on the Field: Brandon Steiner, Sports Memories, and the Business of Collectibles

    Leaving It All on the Field: Brandon Steiner, Sports Memories, and the Business of Collectibles
    Feb 14 2026
    Entrepreneur and sports memorabilia pioneer Brandon Steiner joins Skin In The Game for a conversation about building businesses, preserving sports history and turning passion into purpose. Steiner shares the entrepreneurial mindset that fueled his rise from a childhood spent working in a bagel factory to creating one of the most influential memorabilia businesses in sports. He reflects on decades of working with elite athletes, navigating fame and fortune and learning that success isn’t about chasing money—but about chasing the things that make the money. The conversation centers on Steiner’s latest work transforming iconic stadiums into tangible memories for fans, including his ambitious project at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York. From salvaging turf, signage, and locker-room artifacts to understanding what Bills fans truly value, Steiner explains the responsibility that comes with preserving a place so deeply tied to community identity. Along the way, Steiner talks about leadership, mentorship, generational differences in the workplace, and why empathy, curiosity, and growth are essential to long-term success. This conversation will resonate with anyone who understands that sports live far beyond the scoreboard, and that the places where they’re played hold real meaning.
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    54 mins
  • Turf Wars: DeMaurice Smith on Power, Labor, and the Business of the NFL

    Turf Wars: DeMaurice Smith on Power, Labor, and the Business of the NFL
    Feb 7 2026
    Former NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith joins Skin In The Game for a candid, wide-ranging conversation with hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei about power, labor, and the true business of professional football. Drawing from his new book Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America’s Game, Smith takes listeners inside nearly 15 years of battles with the NFL — from collective bargaining and player safety to race, money, media, and the hidden forces that shape the league fans love. His unfiltered view explains why he never saw himself as a “football fan,” how that perspective shaped his leadership and why protecting players often meant challenging the very game itself. Smith reflects on concussion protocols, workers’ compensation, union leadership, and the uneasy relationship between sports entertainment and journalism. Along the way, he makes the case that the NFL is not just a sports league — it’s a mirror of American labor, politics, and accountability. This episode asks hard questions: Who really benefits from the football business and who pays the price?
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    54 mins
  • Beyond the Podium: Steve Mesler on Life After Olympic Gold and Leading With Purpose

    Beyond the Podium: Steve Mesler on Life After Olympic Gold and Leading With Purpose
    Jan 31 2026
    What happens after you achieve the dream? In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Steve Mesler, Olympic bobsled gold medalist and founder of Mesler Performance Group, for a deeply honest conversation about success, identity, and life after elite competition. Mesler reflects on his journey from Western New York to Olympic gold in 2010, the pressure and danger of competing at the highest level, and the unexpected emotional challenges that followed the peak of his athletic career. He is candid about his struggle with depression years after retiring from competition and the moment he realized that achievement alone was no longer enough. Now an executive performance coach and nonprofit founder, Mesler shares how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership, fulfillment, and sustainable performance. This conversation extends far beyond sports. Whether you’re an athlete, a business leader, or someone navigating a major life transition, Mesler offers powerful insight into what it really means to perform, and live, at your best. The following program contains mature content, including conversations about suicide, self-harm and mental health challenges.If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. In Canada, call or text 988, the Suicide Crisis Helpline.
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    54 mins