Pathway To The Podium

Pathway To The Podium
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Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else. With Host Jake Kline. We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours?

  1. 4d ago

    PTTP #14 - Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill On College Sports Reform; Why Walter Sold The Lakers

    Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill joins the pod to discuss the dynamic landscape of collegiate athletics. He details his day-to-day responsibilities as commissioner and how his role has changed in recent years. Tom also describes how the Big Sky handled the addition of Utah Tech and Southern Utah as full-time members along with the departure of Sacramento State. He also explains how the conference's football scheduling formula was subsequently altered to account for the membership changes. Tom then delves into the Big Sky's media deals with ESPN and Scripps. Jake and Tom then identify where reform is needed in college sports and discuss what the best method is to implement change, assessing the pros and cons of federal legislation and student-athlete collective bargaining. The conversation concludes with Tom evaluating the health and future of the Big Sky. Then, in Jake's Takes, the impetus behind Mark Walter selling the Los Angeles Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger a year after he bought the team. Plus, why moving the Preakness Stakes deeper into May was a necessity. Also, how Fox might have caused the NFL's media rights renegotiation strategy to backfire. Additionally, why Nielsen's planned acquisition of DoubleVerify reeks of desperation. Finally, Jake gives Jason McCourty his palmarès following his promotion to Monday Night Countdown. Tom Wistrcill is the Commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, a position which he has held since 2018. Previously he was a Senior Vice President at Learfield and earlier was the Athletic Director of the University of Akron and a Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of Minnesota. During his tenure he has served on many college sports committees, including the Division I Men's Basketball Committee, the NCAA Men's Basketball Competition Committee, and the Collegiate Football Officiating Board. You can follow him on Twitter / X BigSkyCommish. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

  2. Aug 2

    PTTP #13 - ESPN Layoffs; LeBron To 76ers; CBS Romo On Leave; 49ers' Mishandling Of Shanahan's Crash

    This episode opens with Jake addressing the ESPN layoffs as he explores the business decisions behind the firings with a particular focus on the on-air talent. The terminations of Ryan Clark, Charles Davis, Tom Pelissero, Karl Ravech, David Lloyd, Cam Newton, Bart Scott, and Stephania Bell are each covered in turn. For each of these media personalities, Jake identifies why ESPN executives may have thought it was in the company's best interest to let them go and how it may signal a strategic shift across the network. That's followed by a discussion on the impact LeBron James' move to the 76ers is expected to have on NBC Sports Philadelphia at a time when many regional sports networks are struggling. Also, the NFL at last has assigned a date for the 2028 Super Bowl—why that is significant and what it means for the league’s long-held aspirations to increase the length of the regular season. Plus, how Tony Romo’s OWI arrest and getting placed on leave offers both headaches and opportunities for CBS and its other commentators. Lastly, in Jake's Takes, how the San Francisco 49ers mishandled the Kyle Shanahan car crash news by not getting out in front of the story sooner and what this all says about the state of sports journalism. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

  3. Jul 18

    PTTP #12 - Sportico's Eben Novy-Williams On Seahawks Sale; Why States' Lawsuit Vs Para-WBD Is Weak

    Sportico's Eben Novy-Williams joins the pod to discuss the $9.612B sale of the Seattle Seahawks. Among the topics covered: how the deal was struck and who was in the running, what we know about the Khosla Family, why the team is unlikely to relocate anytime soon, how the potential addition of an NBA expansion franchise in Seattle impacted the sale, the growing trend of NFL minority owners of one team becoming majority owners of another, and what the financing arrangement might look like. Then, Jake and Eben point out what the NFL can learn from the FIFA World Cup. The two also chat about the Tour de France and engage in a broader conversation on the state of professional cycling. In Jake's Takes, why the 12-state antitrust lawsuit against Paramount's planned acquisition of WarnerBrosDiscovery is extremely weak. Also, a look at the comments Christopher Nolan made on artificial intelligence during The Odyssey press tour, in particular younger generations' rejection of AI-generated content, which are then juxtaposed with Ben Affleck's investment in AI filmmaking tools startup InterPositive. Finally, the International Olympic Committee has now lifted its suspensions of Russia and Belarus—what it means moving forward. Eben Novy-Williams is deputy editor of Sportico, which he helped launch in 2020. Previously he covered sports business for about a decade for Bloomberg News. He also co-hosts the Sporticast podcast with Scott Soshnick. You can follow him on Twitter / X novy_williams. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

  4. Jul 5

    PTTP #11 - WSJ's Joe Flint On Comcast Spinning Off NBCUniversal, Paramount-WarnerBrosDiscovery, IMAX

    Joe Flint of The Wall Street Journal joins the pod to discuss the latest deals and developments from across the sports media landscape. The conversation starts with a look at this year's FIFA World Cup and how it serves as a dry run for the LA28 Olympic Games. After that, a preview of how Netflix is going to handle the 2027 Women's World Cup, the streamer's largest sports endeavor yet. That's followed by a sizing up of the candidates for the media rights to the Men's 2030 World Cup and beyond. Jake and Joe then explore Comcast's decision to spin off NBCUniversal and what the ramifications might be. They then analyze the Paramount-WarnerBrosDiscovery deal as it works its way through the regulatory process. Next, they react to the news that IMAX is exploring a sale. They conclude with an overview of the NFL's new standalone game windows and what it could mean moving forward as the league looks to renegotiate its existing media rights deals. In Jake's Takes, why the Tour de France starting in Spain should cause some concern. Then, a look at the extensions Dave Pasch and Jason McCourty signed with ESPN and what it could signal for how the network handles contracts with its NFL talent moving forward. Finally, the significance of the Harry Potter films having a new linear TV home. Joe Flint is a media and entertainment reporter for The Wall Street Journal based in the Los Angeles bureau, covering everything from broadcast networks and sports to cable and streaming. He has previously written for the Los Angeles Times, Variety, and Entertainment Weekly. He also served as the director of industry programs at the Paley Center For Media. You can follow him on Twitter / X JBFlint. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

  5. Jun 21

    PTTP #10 - SVG's Brandon Costa Talks FIFA World Cup; Fox-Roku; UFC Freedom 250; Taylor Swift HOFer

    Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group comes on to discuss how sports broadcasting has changed in recent years and then does a deep dive into Fox's production of the FIFA World Cup. He also identifies the elements which make for a good scorebug. The conversation concludes with how drone technology has transformed the way we watch sports. In Jake's Takes, why Fox's buying of Roku fits into their broader streaming strategy. Then, further evidence the Olympics is focused on practicing neutrality. Plus, why the UFC's White House event should have aired on CBS. Also, a retrospective on ABC/ESPN's extremely enjoyable NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final run. Finally, an analysis of Taylor Swift's Songwriters Hall of Fame speech. Brandon Costa is Director of Digital for the Sports Video Group, where he covers the sports video production industry with a focus on game production, live streaming, over-the-top (OTT), social media, and other digital distribution technologies and platforms. He also serves as program director of both the SVG College Summit and the SVG Sports OTT Forum. You can follow him on LinkedIn brandon-costa and on Twitter / X SVG_Brandon. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

  6. Jun 7

    PTTP #9 - NBA Finals; Myles Garrett & A. J. Brown Trades; Hawk-Eye Technology; The Issue w/MLB's ABS

    The episode opens with a recap of the first two games of the Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals and examining how the narrative has shifted. Plus, what Pat McAfee's NBA Finals altcast and new DraftKings partnership mean as he negotiates an extension with ESPN. Additionally, President Trump's busy sports calendar. Also, the NFL and College Football Playoff butt heads once more. Then, why the Browns trading Myles Garrett to the Rams shouldn't have been that surprising and the significance of the Eagles receiving a 2028 1st round draft pick from the Patriots for A. J. Brown. After that, Serena Williams' long-expected return to tennis. Then, sizing up the new NFL main studio additions, Russell Wilson and Kyle Long for CBS and Mike Tomlin for NBC. Finally, Caleb Wilson being named the Madden 27 cover athlete despite his low completion percentage and Hugh Laurie's affinity for John le Carré projects. In Jake’s Takes, why it’s high time ESPN show college tennis some love. Plus, dissecting NBA commissioner Adam Silver's comments to Pat McAfee on the league's planned technological innovations, what it could mean for other sports, and what's wrong with MLB's current ABS system. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

  7. May 23

    PTTP #8 - Previewing The 2026 Sports Emmys w/Dylan Manfre; Future NFL Draft & Intl Locations

    The Sport Profile's Dylan Manfre joins the pod to help preview the 2026 Sports Emmys. What follows is an extensive breakdown of the major categories: Studio Shows, Studio Host, Studio Analyst, Play-By-Play, Event Analyst, Sideline Reporter, and Emerging On-Air Talent. Also, which sports media personalities got snubbed? The conversation concludes with a discussion about the Sports Emmys at long last securing a broadcast partner. Then, in Jake's Takes, why the cities of Denver and Seattle would make for good NFL Draft hosts. Plus, as the number of international games per season increases, what new locations best align with the league's goals. Dylan Manfre is the host of The Sport Profile, a podcast that highlights the stories of sports journalists, broadcasters, and other media professionals. Dylan is also a former writer for Sportico. You can follow him on Twitter / X @Dylan_Manfre11, on Instagram @bydylanmanfre and @thesportprofile and on TikTok @thesportprofile. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

  8. May 15

    PTTP #7 - CBS Sports NFL Analyst JP Acosta; Nielsen's Fuzzy Metrics; Ted Turner & The Goodwill Games

    CBS Sports NFL Analyst JP Acosta joins the pod to discuss a variety of offseason storylines including: the remaining free agents available at wide receiver, the best fits between team and player from the 2026 NFL Draft, and a preview of the 2027 NFL Draft QB class. Additionally, a look at the Vikings, Falcons, and Raiders QB battles heading into the '26 season. Plus, between the AFC finalists, are the Patriots or Broncos the better team? Should the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks be favored over their NFC West rival the Rams? What are this season's under-the-radar teams? Then, in Jake's Takes, an examination of Nielsen's increasingly opaque viewership metrics. The episode concludes with a tribute to Ted Turner, highlighting his creation of the Goodwill Games and why its founding principle of prioritizing athlete participation regardless of the actions of each athlete's nation should be a policy other international sporting governing bodies follow. JP Acosta is an NFL Analyst for CBS Sports and a writer for the CBS Sports website. He is the co-host of the podcast Pushing The Pile and can be seen on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ. You can follow him on Twitter / X acosta32_jp and on Instagram jpacosta32. Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours? Follow on Twitter / X: @JakeAKline, @PathwayToThePod Follow on YouTube: @PathwayToThePodiumPod Follow on Instagram: @pathwaytothepodium Follow on TikTok: @pathwaytothepodium Please send inquiries to: pathwaytothepodium@gmail.com

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About

Sports / SportsBiz / MediaBiz / Entertainment / All Else. With Host Jake Kline. We're all striving for some kind of podium. What's yours?

Information

  • Creator
    Pathway To The Podium
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pathway To The Podium
  • Show Website
    Pathway To The Podium