Conversations with Sports Fans

Doug Hill
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast for sports fans by a sports fan all about being a sports fan.

  1. 10h ago

    Season 5, Episode 42 - Jeff Kutschman

    We're joined in this episode by Jeff Kutschman, a middle school a longtime middle school social studies teacher and coach who lives, works, and grew up in suburban Detroit. Jeff shares recollection of spending a fair amount of time in the Palace of Auburn Hills, where he and his friends would take advantage of cheap (or free!) tickets to such events as the Detroit Vipers (IHL) and Detroit Neon (CISL) to get their fill of affordable live sports spectating. He also takes us along on his coaching journey, which began with middle school high jumpers and then moved to ninth-grade basketball before ultimately answering his phone with his children at the Detroit Zoo and saying yes to a junior varsity girls golf coaching job. Never mind that he had no experience coaching golf. A few years later, the varsity job opened, and six Oakland County Championships, five Regional Championships, one State Runner-up, and and back-to-back Rochester Adams Highlanders State Championships later, it's the sport he's enjoyed the most success with. During our Conversation, Jeff shares insights into his coaching philosophy and how it's been formed by both his experiences with his coaches as well as the many athletes he's led through the years. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Season 5, Episode 41 - 2026 World Cup Special

    Longtime listeners to Conversations might recall Stephen Miller, a guest with a distinct passion for all things soccer, especially the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the fact that it was being contested in North America. Well, we figured the only fitting way to put a bow on this latest installment of the beautiful game's quadrennial world championship was to invite Stephen back to share his thoughts. And, in true Stephen fashion, he goes above and beyond by recording a pair of his own brief Conversations with guests at his final World Cup Watch Party in his Bellevue, WA, home. So, by all means, listen to Stephen's thoughts, but make sure you stay to hear from his friends Dean Falvey and Dani Neal. Check out Stephen's previous episodes here (S:4, E:20), here (S:4, E:72), and here (S:5, E:33). If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

  3. Jul 16

    Season 5, Episode 40 - Rob LaCommare

    We're joined in this episode by Rob LaCommare, a sports fan almost from the beginning. A Detroit-area native, Rob grew up a fan of the Detroit Tigers and the Michigan Wolverines. He wound up attending Michigan State University, which rocked his world ... a little ... and has been living in the Columbus, OH, area for over 20 years, which rocked his world ... a lot! He shares what it's been like living behind enemy lines for all these years, as well as what working in a profession that's afforded plenty of travel and, with it, opportunities to visit sports palaces far and wide. During our Conversation, Rob shares recollections from all of it, including a latter-day love: Pickleball (both playing and spectating). If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

  4. Jul 9

    Season 5, Episode 39 - Dr. Trey Rogers

    We're joined in this Conversation by Michigan State University professor, Dr. Trey Rogers. Dr. Rogers is a professor within MSU's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and has been since 1988. Along the way, he's fostered a love of turf to countless students and, by the way, has headed up teams of grass geeks who have been responsible for the turf on 17 FIFA World Cup pitches (e.g. fields) including all 16 that have been used for the 2026 tournament throughout North America. Dr. Rogers earned his first World Cup cap, so to speak, in 1994 when his group from MSU developed a strategy to grow grass - and keep it viable - for four World Cup matches played indoors at the Pontiac Silverdome. This time around Dr. Rogers and fellow Spartans joined forces with one his former students, Dr. John Sorochan and his team from the University of Tennessee to create fields befitting soccer's grandest event. Learn about the history, the process, and the technological advances during our time with Dr. Rogers in this Conversation. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

  5. Jul 2

    Season 5, Episode 38 - Jared Harman

    In this episode we're joined by British Columbia's, Jared Harman. Jared is the CEO and Co-Founder of The One Group Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Vancouver. A lifelong Canucks' fan, Jared's nearly always been connected with sports. Whether it be as an athlete himself ("I grew up on skates," he notes), a hockey play-by-play broadcaster, the operator of a multi-sport and entertainment venue (Langley Events Centre), and, of course, a fan. Among his favorite fan moments are the Toronto Blue Jays going back-to-back as World Series champions in 1992-93, the San Francisco 49ers' vanquishing the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship thanks to Joe Montana to Dwight Clark, and the Vancouver Grizzlies, a team that provided an affordable option for many fans. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

  6. Jun 25

    Season 5, Episode 37 - Mark Griffiths

    Our guest this week, Mark Griffiths, is no stranger to Wrexham AFC soccer fans. He's the voice of the Red Dragons and has been since 1988 when he began commentating calling matches for the local hospital radio station. Through the years, Mark readily admits to having witnessed plenty of - at times - frustrating but almost always mediocre soccer from his home club in northeast Wales. That was until 2020 when the duo of North American actors, Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, fronted an ownership group that purchased a majority share of the club, launched the docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham," and saw the club gain promotion three consecutive years from English football's fifth division to its second (aka the EFL Championship) which is where the current season of "Welcome" finds the club battling for an unfathomable fourth consecutive promotion in the June 25 season-finale. During our visit with Mark we learn about his early years of fandom, how he found his way into the broadcast booth (where he was an unpaid volunteer until just a couple of seasons ago), what life has been like since Mac and Reynolds took over as owners, the ongoing World Cup, and what it was like becoming a viral sensation after this call of an added time game-winner by Ollie Rathbone. We also have a walk-on background appearance by Laszlo the Cat who shows a paper bag who's boss as well as Mark's wife, Emma. You're able to follow Mark on Twitter/X here and BlueSky here. His "Final Whistle" podcast is found here among other spots. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

  7. Jun 21 ·  Bonus

    Season 5, Episode 36 - Ron Teasley Jr. (Father's Day Special)

    Our guest in this special Father's Day Conversation is Ron Teasley Jr. Ron joins us to discuss not only his life as a sports fan, but also his life as the son of Ron Teasley Sr. and the legacy his father leaves after passing away February 3, 2026, at the age of 99. At the time, the elder Teasley was one of two known surviving members of the Negro Major Leagues. His death leaves 101-year-old Bill Greason as the lone survivor. During our Conversation with Ron Jr. he shares recollections of his athletic life in Detroit with a father who cast a large shadow thanks to his athletic feats, his role as educator and coach in Detroit Public Schools, and work for the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department. Mainly, though, Ron Jr. reflects on the life and legacy of his dad and this first Father's Day without him and how the Ron and Marie Teasley Foundation aims to keep the Teasley name known around the Motor City. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

  8. Jun 18

    Season 5, Episode 35 - Scott Crawford

    Our guest in this episode is Scott Crawford, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Director of Operations. Scott's been working at the Canadian Hall, which is located in St. Marys, Ontario, for over 20 years. We share our Conversation with him this week in advance of Saturday's Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2026. This year's Class includes Bill Stoneman, Devon White, Jim Baba, Kate Psota, Paul Runge, and Stubby Clapp. In addition to providing the lowdown on this sextet, Scott also shares his sports fan journey, what some of his favorite artifacts at the Hall of Fame are, and some stories about one of the Hall's most famous ambassadors, Fergie Jenkins. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

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A podcast for sports fans by a sports fan all about being a sports fan.

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