My Sports Life

Trip Durham
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Sports

Since 1983, I’ve been part of a sports team. It started my freshman year of high school, when I was a manager for the varsity baseball team.  Since then: the Williams Bulldogs, the Winston-Salem Spirits, Elon University, Duke Athletics—and, since 2010, my own 2D Consulting, LLC. That’s more than four decades of watching, learning, leading, asking questions and, occasionally, figuring things out the hard way. I’ve spent 33+ years in sports administration, working alongside athletic directors, conference commissioners, external relations leaders and executives. I’ve served eight years on the NACMA Board of Directors, including as President, and I’m fortunate to be a NACMA Hall of Famer. I haven’t seen it all. But I’m getting pretty close. And that’s the idea behind this podcast channel. Perspectives and conversations about sports, leadership, communication, business, branding, fans—and the people doing the work behind the scenes. No talking points. No corporate brochure language. Just interesting stories, amazing people, good questions and a lifetime of experience in what I affectionately refer to as "my sports life."

  1. Aug 21

    The Lady and the Laughter (Jeanne Robertson)

    Send us Fan Mail A walk down Memory Lane with one special lady. Our conversation was captured during her journey six years ago.

  2. Aug 14

    Part 1 - An Elon Football Odyssey ("Road Games")

    Send us Fan Mail Elon Football has stood a great many tests over the decades. What we establish in Episode 1 not only paints the picture of where the program had been, but where it was going.

  3. Aug 14

    Part 2 - An Elon Football Odyssey ("Coming Home")

    Send us Fan Mail The journey of the Elon Football program from the mid-20th century through the beginning of the 21st was established in Episode 1. As the calendar turned and Elon opened a new campus stadium, an unimaginable tragedy strikes.

  4. Aug 14

    Part 3 - An Elon Football Odyssey ("Moving Forward")

    Send us Fan Mail As we close the series, a campus known for its spirit of community came together to move forward after an unthinkable crime. This final episode reflects upon the human equation, and what makes Elon such a special institution.

  5. Mar 2

    Ep. 14, Josh Pastner - "Thank the Good Lord for Dr. James Naismith"

    Send us Fan Mail From the banks of the Ohio River in Glen Dale, West Virginia, to some of the biggest stages in college basketball, this week’s guest has built a career fueled by belief, energy, and an unshakable love for the game. Josh Pastner reflects on the influence of his parents, the move to basketball-crazed Texas, and the bold confidence of a fifth grader who created his own “scouting report” and declared he’d one day be a head coach.  He takes us inside the formative years spent learning from legends like Lute Olson and John Calipari, the leap to becoming a head coach at 31, and the balance between confidence, faith, and authenticity. From leading programs at University of Memphis and Georgia Tech to life on television with ESPN and a return to the sideline at UNLV, Pastner shares what the pandemic taught him, why joy is a daily choice, and what basketball has meant — and still means — to the man behind the smile.

  6. Feb 23

    Ep. 13, Thad Matta - The Things We Learn When We Pay Attention

    Send us Fan Mail From the small gyms of Hoopeston, Illinois to the bright lights of college basketball’s biggest stages, this week’s guest takes us on a journey that’s as personal as it is powerful. Thad Matta opens up about the roots of his love for the game, the mentors and family members who shaped it, and the lessons he carried from his playing days at Butler University into a remarkable coaching career.  Coach reflects on the health challenges that reshaped his perspective, the evolution of his leadership style, and what “The Butler Way” truly means in today’s world. From locker rooms and life lessons to faith, family, and the fire that still fuels him, this conversation reveals the heart behind the coach — and why his return to Butler was about far more than basketball.

  7. Feb 16

    BONUS EPISODE - Rece Davis, From Kindergarten to Last Weekend

    Send us Fan Mail What if the kid in kindergarten clutching a toy microphone and plastic camera while everyone else finger-painted was already rehearsing for a life under the bright lights? On this episode, I sit down with Rece Davis—born in Chicago, raised in Alabama—to explore the roots of his journey from the Davis household to the national stage.  We unpack the middle school personality behind the polished presence, the “sliding door moment” that shaped his career, and the leadership lessons gleaned from decades alongside coaches and administrators. From the effortless chemistry of College GameDay to navigating seismic industry changes since 1995, Rece reflects on trust, authenticity, and the art of telling a great sports story—balancing facts with emotion.  And in a question I’ve posed to other broadcasting greats, I ask him simply: what is it like to be you?

  8. Feb 9

    Ep. 12, Part II - Jeff Capel, A Back Story of Joy and Lessons to Learn By

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue our conversation with Pitt head coach, Jeff Capel, for a reflective, deeply personal conversation that weaves together family, failure, and the moments that quietly define a career.  Coach looks back on a pivotal stretch in his basketball life before tracing the game’s roots through his father and the family legacy that shaped his identity. He opens up about transitioning from player to coach, learning through hard moments, balancing ambition with empathy, and knowing when players need a push—or a pause.  From the emotions that still live in the locker room to the joy that exists beyond wins and losses, this episode reveals the parts of Jeff Capel rarely seen at the podium—and the wisdom he’d offer his younger self today.

See All (21)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Since 1983, I’ve been part of a sports team. It started my freshman year of high school, when I was a manager for the varsity baseball team.  Since then: the Williams Bulldogs, the Winston-Salem Spirits, Elon University, Duke Athletics—and, since 2010, my own 2D Consulting, LLC. That’s more than four decades of watching, learning, leading, asking questions and, occasionally, figuring things out the hard way. I’ve spent 33+ years in sports administration, working alongside athletic directors, conference commissioners, external relations leaders and executives. I’ve served eight years on the NACMA Board of Directors, including as President, and I’m fortunate to be a NACMA Hall of Famer. I haven’t seen it all. But I’m getting pretty close. And that’s the idea behind this podcast channel. Perspectives and conversations about sports, leadership, communication, business, branding, fans—and the people doing the work behind the scenes. No talking points. No corporate brochure language. Just interesting stories, amazing people, good questions and a lifetime of experience in what I affectionately refer to as "my sports life."

Information

  • Creator
    Trip Durham
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 My Sports Life
  • Show Website
    My Sports Life