The Middle

Megan R
  • 4.7 (9)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Where the game gets personal. From world championships to everyday athletes, we dig into the human side of sports told by the athletes, coaches and industry insiders that lived those career-changing moments, near misses, unexpected wins, season-ending injuries and inevitable transitions.

  1. 3d ago

    Turf, Tech, and the 2026 World Cup

    Trey Rogers didn't know what the World Cup was when he got a call in 1992 asking if he could build a soccer pitch made completely of natural grass, put it over a concrete floor, and keep it alive in a domed NFL stadium over the course of several months. Trey and his Michigan State University research team accepted the challenge. They engineered a natural grass field, grew it in California, shipped it to Michigan, and rolled (yes, rolled) it into the Pontiac Silverdome for one of the biggest soccer tournaments in history: the 1994 World Cup. Creating a modular, natural grass playing field that could be inserted and removed was a new idea back then. Now, Trey’s doing it again, at 16 stadiums across three countries for the 2026 World Cup. As a professor and leading turfgrass expert, Trey explains how color television accidentally started the artificial turf revolution, why NFL players practice on grass even when their stadiums use turf, and how a single bad sod job on Monday Night Football can set an entire field of science back decades. We get into the surprisingly complex science beneath the playing surfaces of our favorite teams, and how those same fields play a surprising role in player longevity. The most important part of your favorite stadium might be the part you’re overlooking. Learn more about Trey Rogers and Michigan State University's turfgrass program, considered one of the premier institutions for turfgrass management in the U.S. Follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Connect with Megan on LinkedIn.

    43 min

  2. May 27

    Fantasy Sports, Betting, and Holograms, Oh My!

    What if the golden age of sports fandom isn't in the past… it's right now? In this episode, we break down how the fan experience has undergone one of the most exciting transformations in sports history. From fantasy sports and RedZone to legal betting now live in 38 states, alternate broadcasts like the Manningcast, and stadium tech that lets you order food to your seat without missing a play, fans have more control over how they experience sports than ever before. At the same time, athletes like LeBron James, Derek Jeter, and Caleb Williams have taken ownership of how they show up for their fans, building media companies, telling their own stories, and using technology like Proto Hologram to have real, personalized interactions with fans thousands of miles away. The result is a sports experience built around you. So where does it go from here? We explore how fan personalization and athlete ownership are colliding to create something entirely new, and ask whether the next generation of fans might be more connected to the sport than any generation before them. Follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Connect with Megan on LinkedIn.

    26 min

  3. May 20

    Can We Create The Immortal Athlete?

    Picture this: you walk up to your favorite athlete at Yankee Stadium or Lambeau Field and have a real conversation with them. They’re standing next to you, life-size, answering your questions in real time… except, they’re hundreds of miles away. What if you could do that same thing in your living room? Proto Hologram founder David Nussbaum is building exactly that: AI hologram technology already operating in over 50 arenas and stadiums that lets fans talk to, hear from, and experience athletes in ways that have never existed before. Backed by athlete investors like Marshawn Lynch and Brittany Griner, Proto is bringing athlete access to fans like never before: they beamed Caleb Williams to fans at Soldier Field immediately after his draft selection and brought George Brett back to Kauffman Stadium. But the conversation goes deeper than just talking with today’s stars. David and I got into whether this technology can have us talking – actually talking! – to legends of the past, and whether an AI composite of the greatest coaches in history could one day stand on an actual sideline. The future of fan experience and athlete legacy is being built today, and Proto is what it looks like. Learn more about Proto Hologram on their website, and follow them on Instagram, YouTube, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn to get the latest updates. Follow David on LinkedIn. Follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Connect with Megan on LinkedIn.

    51 min

  4. May 13

    “Forward Is a Pace” | A Marathoner’s Story of Grief and Purpose

    In July 2020, a grieving widower in Indianapolis signed up for a 500-mile walking challenge, not because he had a plan but because he needed to move. He had lost his wife to colorectal cancer 16 months earlier. He had a 5-year-old at home. And somewhere inside the grief and the uncertainty and the obligation of still being alive, he laced up and walked out the door. From that virtual start line to completing the New York City, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, and London Marathons, Alex Baker has run over 4,200 miles and counting. Today he runs under the banner of Ketchup to Cancer, the non-profit he started to help raise money for childhood cancer. One race away from completing the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star finish, Alex opens up about what happens when you stop running from your grief and start running through it, and when the road becomes therapy, community, purpose, and memorial all at once. Because no matter the speed, forward is a pace. Follow Alex and his racing updates on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, or visit his website. If you want raise money for Ketchup to Cancer for your next individual or team race, or if you want to donate to fight childhood cancer, click here. Connect with Megan on LinkedIn and Instagram. Follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    43 min

  5. Apr 29

    Why Kids Are Quitting Sports (And What Actually Works)

    This episode breaks down what’s wrong with youth sports in America and why kids are quitting at record rates. Using research from Dr. Amanda Visek’s “Fun Integration Theory,” data from the Aspen Institute, and examples from Norway’s Olympic pipeline, we unpack the “Fun Gap”: the disconnect between what kids say they enjoy (effort, teamwork, playing time) and what parents are forced to spend money on (travel teams, tournaments, private training). We also look at why early specialization doesn’t create elite athletes, and may actually eliminate them, through real data from the NFL, NBA, and youth sports studies, plus stories from Patrick Mahomes, Caitlin Clark, and Steph Curry. If you’re a parent, coach, or athlete wondering how to build long-term success without burnout, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to rethink the next steps. Connect with Megan on LinkedIn and Instagram. Follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    39 min

  6. Apr 22

    Inside the Mind of an MLB Manager

    Most fans think they know baseball by April. According to former Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, you don’t really know a team until game 40. And even then, you might be wrong. In this episode, Megan sits down with Clint for a conversation that goes far beyond baseball. From how long it really takes to evaluate a team in a new Major League Baseball (MLB) season to the metrics managers actually track, Clint breaks down what fans don’t see and what ultimately determines success over 162 games. But this episode isn’t just about baseball strategy. It’s about leadership, failure, and resilience. Clint shares hard-earned lessons on building trust, handling pressure, navigating public scrutiny, and leading through losing streaks. From career setbacks and personal struggles to defining moments that shaped his philosophy, this is a candid look at what it takes to lead on the field and in life. Clint Hurdle is a former MLB player, coach, and manager, widely recognized for leading the 2007 Colorado Rockies to the World Series and winning the 2013 National League Manager of the Year award with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Prior to his coaching and managing career, he played 10 seasons as an outfielder and first baseman. Clint now speaks to organizations and teams about leadership and resiliency. Follow Clint on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. You can sign up for his email newsletter here (Megan highly recommends it) and order his book, “Hurdle-isms: Wit and Wisdom from a Lifetime in Baseball.” Connect with Megan on LinkedIn and Instagram. Follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    44 min

  7. Apr 15

    The 2026 MLB Season Is Already Getting Weird

    A couple weeks into the 2026 MLB season, and already nothing is going the way anyone expected. In this episode, Megan sits down with the hosts of “Glove Actually Podcast” for an unfiltered conversation on early season storylines, surprises, and of course, the vibes. They dig into why Opening Day tells you less than you think, the teams (and players) already defying expectations, who might become the next “main character” of the MLB, whether Shohei Ohtani is still in a league of his own, the best ballpark, and why some teams draw fans regardless of record. And of course, they break down the early rollout of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS): what’s working, what’s not, and why it might be changing the game more than people realize. “Glove Actually Podcast” is a female-led baseball podcast that dives headfirst into the game with equal parts insight, humor, and passion. Hosted by Courtney, Hallie, and Melissa, the podcast is for fans who want a bold, silly, and feminine take on America’s pastime. Tune into new “Glove Actually Podcast” episodes every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow them on YouTube, TikTok, Threads, and Instagram.   Connect with Megan on LinkedIn and Instagram. Get more behind the scenes stories and updates when you follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    48 min

  8. Apr 8

    How Do You Experience a Sports Game Without Sight?

    In this episode, Megan talks with Jerred Mace, founder and CEO of OneCourt, a device that lets blind and low vision sports fans experience live sports through touch. Using real-time sports data, vibration, and audio, the unique device turns movement on the field into something you can follow with your hands as the game happens. Megan and Jerred break down how fans without sight follow games today, why radio and broadcast fall short, what changes as a fan when you can track a play instead of hearing about it after, and how this technology is already being used inside NBA, MLB, and NFL stadiums. Jerred Mace is the founder and CEO of OneCourt. A University of Washington graduate in industrial design and entrepreneurship, he launched OneCourt after seeing a blind fan follow a soccer match through touch, inspired in part by his own experience with vision challenges. His work centers on using real-time data and haptic technology to create a more inclusive fan experience. Connect with Jerred on LinkedIn. Learn more about OneCourt and follow their updates on LinkedIn and Instagram.  Connect with Megan on LinkedIn and Instagram. Follow The Middle on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    35 min
See All (38)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Where the game gets personal. From world championships to everyday athletes, we dig into the human side of sports told by the athletes, coaches and industry insiders that lived those career-changing moments, near misses, unexpected wins, season-ending injuries and inevitable transitions.

Information

  • Creator
    Megan R
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Megan R
  • Show Website
    The Middle