The CUSP Show

The CUSP Show
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Sport
  • Updated weekly

Home of the Columbia University Sports Management Podcast ('The CUSP Show'), faculty members Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson host thought leaders from across the sports industry as they discuss a wide array of topics. thecuspshow.substack.com

  1. 3 days ago

    528: UT Austin’s Chris Plonsky talks Building a College Athletics Powerhouse

    Joe Favorito welcomes Chris Plonsky, Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief of Staff at the University of Texas, to discuss her remarkable career in college athletics and what it takes to build and sustain one of the country’s most successful athletic programs. Plonsky traces her path from Kent State and Iowa State through seven years at the Big East Conference, where she helped launch one of the first federated football conferences in the country, to her arrival at Texas in 1993, where she has spent nearly four decades helping transform the athletic department into a commercial powerhouse. She shares how Texas grew its licensing revenue from $600,000 to $13 million, how the department navigated the merger of its men’s and women’s programs without conflict, and why the careful, collaborative approach to institutional change made Texas ready for the SEC. The conversation also covers the human side of college athletics today - the transfer portal, NIL, and what Plonsky worries about when she sees young athletes jumping from program to program without building the networks, mentors, and identity that will carry them past their playing days. Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisplonsky9700165/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    528: UT Austin’s Chris Plonsky talks Building a College Athletics Powerhouse

  2. 5 days ago

    527: Sirius XM’s Chris Childers on Why College Football Can't Save Itself

    Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome Chris Childers, host of Full Ride on Sirius XM College Sports Radio and founder of Show Pony Media, to discuss the state of college athletics as football season kicks off, the growing momentum behind women’s sports, and what the future of independent sports media looks like. Childers breaks down why he believes the Protect College Sports Act will not pass, arguing that the Congressional Black Caucus opposition and the structural difficulty of getting 60 Senate votes make it a long shot regardless of the SEC’s lobbying push. He explains the power dynamics driving college football’s current chaos, with ESPN and Fox effectively controlling the agenda through their media deals with the SEC and Big Ten, and why without a true commissioner or revenue sharing model, the sport will continue operating in anarchy. The conversation shifts to the rise of women’s sports, with Childers sharing his passion for women’s soccer, volleyball, and flag football, and why he believes women’s flag football will become one of the next great international sports. Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-childers-b12981a/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    527: Sirius XM’s Chris Childers on Why College Football Can't Save Itself

  3. 25 Aug

    526: Andrew Cooper on Why Collective Bargaining Is the Only Real Fix for College Sports

    Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome Andrew Cooper, co-founder of the United College Athletes Association, to discuss his mission to unionize college athletes and why he believes collective bargaining, not federal legislation, is the only sustainable path forward for college sports. Cooper shares his origin story, from running track at Washington State and being elected president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, to the moment a PAC-12 meeting on mental health protections convinced him that real change would never come from within the existing system. He explains how the UCAA was founded, recently formalized as a labor union, and why women’s basketball at Oregon State became the starting point for the first-ever union petition filed on behalf of women’s college athletes. The conversation breaks down the NCAA’s lobbying campaign for an antitrust exemption, why the Protect College Sports Act faces bipartisan opposition from major sports unions, and what collective bargaining would actually look like in practice across different sports and divisions. Cooper also reflects on testifying before the House Judiciary Committee and what it was like to make the case for athlete rights in one of Washington’s most charged rooms. Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcooperucaa/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    526: Andrew Cooper on Why Collective Bargaining Is the Only Real Fix for College Sports

  4. 18 Aug

    525: Sportico's Kurt Badenhausen on What It Takes to Value a Sports Franchise

    Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome Kurt Badenhausen, Sports Business Reporter at Sportico and one of the pioneers of sports franchise valuation journalism, to break down how teams are valued, why those numbers keep climbing, and what a record-breaking week in sports business really tells us about the industry. Badenhausen walks through the methodology behind franchise valuations, explaining why revenue multiples, not profits, are the standard measure, and how factors like market size, venue situation, and media rights shape the final number. The conversation covers the NFL’s latest valuations, including the mind-bending reality that the least valuable team in the league is worth more than almost every other sports franchise on the planet, as well as the Lakers’ $12.5 billion sale, the Apollo-Yankees deal, and what private equity’s growing appetite for sports ownership actually means for the market. The discussion also tackles the WNBA’s surging valuations, why MLB’s numbers lag behind despite its massive content library, and what categories (from real estate to fan data) could drive the next wave of franchise value growth. Connect with Kurt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-badenhausen-90bb185/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    525: Sportico's Kurt Badenhausen on What It Takes to Value a Sports Franchise

  5. 11 Aug

    524: George Moreira on How Capelli Sport Became the Kit Behind Cape Verde's World Cup Cinderella Story

    Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome George Moreira, partnerships & events executive at Capelli Sport, to discuss one of the most unexpected stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: how a New Jersey-based soccer apparel company became the kit provider for Cape Verde and found itself at the center of a global phenomenon. Moreira shares the origin of Capelli Sport and how the company landed the Cape Verde deal, then takes listeners inside what it was actually like to be embedded with the team for an entire month: managing 150 boxes of kit inventory, watching goalkeeper Vozinha’s social media following explode from 45,000 to 30 million overnight, and sitting in the technical area as Cape Verde held Spain scoreless for 90 plus minutes in their opening match. Moreira also reflects on what the Cape Verde moment has meant for Capelli Sport’s business going forward, and why relationships and personalized service remain their edge against the giants of soccer apparel. Connect with George: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vgeorgemoreira/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    524: George Moreira on How Capelli Sport Became the Kit Behind Cape Verde's World Cup Cinderella Story

  6. 4 Aug

    523: Janet Marie Smith on Designing the Fan Experience from Camden Yards to Dodger Stadium

    Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome Janet Marie Smith, EVP of Planning and Development for the Los Angeles Dodgers and co-founder of venue consulting firm Canopy Team, to discuss her remarkable career transforming some of America’s most iconic sports venues. Smith shares the origin story of her path into sports, from urban planning work at Battery Park City in New York to cold-calling Baltimore Orioles president Larry Lucchino and landing the job that produced Camden Yards (the ballpark widely credited with launching a new era of baseball stadium design). The conversation explores the philosophy behind Camden Yards and why its success came from treating the venue as an extension of the city rather than an isolated destination, a principle Smith has carried through subsequent work at Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, and beyond. She discusses the Dodgers’ ongoing 14-year renovation journey, the creation of the two-and-a-half-acre center field plaza that now draws fans through new entrances, and how the balance of high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech amenities shapes the modern fan experience. Smith also weighs in on the debate between urban and suburban stadium development, shares her perspective on the mixed-use model pioneered by the Braves and Padres, and reflects on what the best international venues get right. Connect with Janet Marie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithjanetmarie/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    523: Janet Marie Smith on Designing the Fan Experience from Camden Yards to Dodger Stadium

  7. 28 Jul

    522: Liz Robbins on Writing "See It to Be It" with Billie Jean King

    Joe Favorito welcomes award-winning journalist and author Liz Robbins to discuss her new book, See It to Be It: 11 Champions Leading Women’s Sports Today, written in collaboration with Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss. Robbins shares the origin story of the project, which began with a 50th anniversary piece she wrote for the International New York Times on the US Open’s milestone of achieving equal pay, and how a chance email to Kloss sparked a creative partnership that ultimately became the book. The conversation explores how Robbins and King selected the book’s eleven athletes, including Caitlin Clark, Naomi Osaka, Chelsea Gray, Mackenzie Coan, and flag football pioneer Diana Flores, balancing household names with emerging stars across a diverse range of sports, backgrounds, and identities. Robbins explains the philosophy behind the selections, emphasizing champions who are not only elite competitors but advocates driving change within and beyond their sports, and shares the stories behind some of the book’s most memorable moments, including two athletes who broke down in tears upon learning Billie Jean King wanted them involved. Robbins also reflects on her own career path from Cornell lacrosse player to New York Times reporter covering the NBA, the US Open, and immigration, and what she would tell young journalists today about storytelling, persistence, and the enduring power of knowing your subject deeply. Connect with Liz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-robbins-493277108/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    522: Liz Robbins on Writing "See It to Be It" with Billie Jean King

  8. 21 Jul

    521: Disruptive Play's Michael Cohen and Jeff Nathenson Break Down the Sports Media Creator Economy

    Tom Richardson welcomes Michael Cohen, founder of Disruptive Play and co-founder of Creator Sports Network, and Jeff Nathenson, partner at Disruptive Play and MD of Platforms at whynow, to discuss what they believe is the most consequential shift happening in sports media today: the rise of creator-led distribution and its implications for rights holders, broadcasters, and the next generation of fans. Cohen and Nathenson share the origin story of Disruptive Play and explain why they built a platform specifically to challenge the assumptions that have governed the industry for decades. The conversation digs into their thesis on creator-led media, arguing that it represents a system and mindset rather than simply a content format, drawing comparisons between Mr. Beast, the Savannah Bananas, and Walt Disney’s original vision for building IP ecosystems. They discuss Creator Sports Network, their venture that enables creators to legally stream live sports directly from their social channels, and why they believe this model solves two major problems for rights holders at once, reaching younger fans and generating net new commercial inventory. Cohen and Nathenson also tackle the looming generational challenge facing major sports leagues, asking what happens when an entire cohort of fans grows up never watching a live game, and why the traditional advertising model is increasingly incompatible with how Gen Z and Gen Alpha consume content. Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mccohen/ Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-nathenson-09abab3/ Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz and Sydney Cristall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

    521: Disruptive Play's Michael Cohen and Jeff Nathenson Break Down the Sports Media Creator Economy
See All (532)

About

Home of the Columbia University Sports Management Podcast ('The CUSP Show'), faculty members Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson host thought leaders from across the sports industry as they discuss a wide array of topics. thecuspshow.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The CUSP Show
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    532
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The CUSP Show
  • Show Website
    The CUSP Show

You Might Also Like