Behind the Sports Medicine

Sports media has transformed dramatically in the last decade—and Charlie Kravitz has had a front row seat to it all. Hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth sit down with their close friend to explore Charlie’s journey from producing ESPN’s Highly Questionable with Dan Le Batard to becoming an executive producer and co-host of The Domonique Foxworth Show.

Charlie opens up about his path through the industry, from his early days behind the scenes to stepping into the spotlight alongside former NFL player Domonique Foxworth. He shares the lessons learned along the way, the importance of storytelling in sports, and how humor, analysis, and cultural commentary can shape the fan experience.

Together, they pull back the curtain on how sports coverage has evolved—from the rise of analytics and the explosion of sports gambling to what truly separates elite athletes from the rest. Charlie’s perspective offers a rare inside look at how sports media continues to change, and what it takes to stay ahead in such a dynamic space.

Meet The Guest

• Producer, ESPN's (debatable) at Rydholm Projects Inc.

Topics

• Behind the Scenes of Sports Media
• Analytics role
• The effect of Gambling in the Industry

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:36 Background
• 7:19 Traits for Success
• 10:25 Sports Media Transformation
• 13:57 Analysis and Analytics
• 15:50 Sports from Sports Media Perspective
• 19:38 Evolution
• 22:30 Staying ahead of the game
• 25:45 Sports SIgnificance
• 28:10 Football
• 29:13 MMA
• 32:06 Injury
• 34:13 Insiders
• 36:32 Speculation Pressure
• 37:38 Clickbait
• 39:28 Gambling in Sports Media
• 41:26 Gambling in the Locker Room
• 44:16 Refereering
• 45:50 Favorite Athlete
• 48:17 Overrated Athlete
• 50:30 Lebron Jordan Debate
• 52:14 NIL
• 
  

The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed.

A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT has spent more than four decades shaping the future of athletic training. From the sidelines of the University of Michigan and Temple University to 34 years as Head Athletic Trainer at Widener University, he has mentored generations of student-athletes and young professionals. Today, he serves as the 16th President of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), where he leads the profession into a new era of growth, advocacy, and impact.

In this conversation with hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth, A.J. shares what it means to be a leader, how NATA is addressing the evolving needs of athletes and clinicians, and why preparing the next generation of athletic trainers is his most important mission. He also reflects on his career in both clinical care and organizational leadership, his passion for service, and his commitment to building a stronger, more resilient profession for years to come.

Meet the Guest

• President of National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)
• Head Athletic Trainer at Widener University
• Former Assistant Athletic Trainer at University of Michigan & Temple University

Topics Discussed

• Being a Leader
• The future of NATA
• Preparing the next generation of athletic trainers

Highlights:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 0:40 Welcome to NATA 2025
• 0:56 Leadership Philosophy
• 3:25 Athletic Training in 2050
• 8:17 NATA Today
• 11:00 Athletic Training
• 12:22 Catastrophic events
• 18:46 Next generation
• 21:23 Challenges with Movement

Do you want to Get Well, Get Healthy, Look Your Best, Feel your Best? Then you need GeT Raw! A special blend, including ginger and turmeric to assist with Inflammation, Digestion, Immunity Cognition.

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 Mitch Hauschildt is the Prevention, Rehab, and Physical Performance Coordinator at Missouri State University, where for more than 19 years he has overseen injury prevention and rehabilitation for over 400 athletes across 21 varsity sports. Beyond his role at Missouri State, Mitch serves as a Lead Instructor with RockTape and an Instructor with MasterDryNeedling, educating healthcare professionals on advanced therapeutic techniques.

He is also the Founder and President of Maximum Training Solutions, LLC, a full-service sports medicine consultancy, and a Founding Board Member of Man Up and Go, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening families and communities worldwide.

On this episode of the Behind the Sports Medicine Podcast, recorded live from the NATA convention, hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth sit down with Mitch to explore some of today’s most impactful tools and trends in athlete care - from dry needling, cupping, and red light therapy to the evolving role of NIL in college athletics.

Meet the Guest

• Prevention, Rehab and Physical Performance Coordinator at Missouri State University
• Instructor at RockTape and Masterdryneedling
• Founded Maximum Training Solutions, LLC and Man Up and Go

Topics Discussed

• Being one of the only Dry Needling Athletic Trainers in the Country
• Impact of NIL and the Transfer Portal
• The Benefits of Kinesiology Tape

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 0:38 Welcome to NATA 2025
• 1:15 Dry Needling Experience
• 2:40 Pathologies using Dry Needling
• 3:36 Tools used alongside
• 5:17 Addressing walk-in athletes
• 7:30 Overcoming barriers
• 11:22 Raising Awareness
• 15:54 Injury Management to Performance
• 19:10 Functional Movement Screens
• 24:19 Adapting in the Transfer Portal era
• 28:04 Thoughts on NIL
• 29:35 Kinesiology Tape/Rocktape
• 35:26 Foam Rolling
• 36:58 Go-to warm up drill
• 37:23 Favorite budget recovery tool
• 38:53 Worst Myth
• 42:03 Great Sports Medicine Team

Do you want to Get Well, Get Healthy, Look Your Best, Feel your Best? Then you need GeT Raw! A special blend, including ginger and turmeric to assist with Inflammation, Digestion, Immunity Cognition.

Met One Technologies: Enhancing healthcare quality and patient outcomes through innovative medical device solutions, driven by a commitment to excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.

Eric Cressey has built a career at the highest levels of sports performance by combining cutting-edge science, hands-on coaching, and an unmatched ability to connect with athletes. As Co-Founder and President of Cressey Sports Performance, with world-class facilities in Hudson, MA and Jupiter, FL, Eric has created a destination for athletes across the spectrum — from youth prospects to Olympic medalists — and a home base for over 100 MLB players every off-season. In 2020, he took on an even bigger stage as the New York Yankees’ Director of Player Health and Performance, where he oversees strategies to keep elite players healthy, resilient, and performing at their peak.

In this episode, host Andrew Rizza sit down with Eric to explore the philosophy and systems that have made him one of the most sought-after coaches in the game. They break down the differences in training approaches between youth, amateur, and professional athletes and how to tailor programs to meet each athlete where they are. Eric shares his candid perspective on the alarming rise of arm injuries in baseball, the role of early specialization, and what can be done to reverse the trend. He also opens up about the deep relationships forged through years of coaching, the trust it takes to guide a player’s career, and the lessons learned from working with some of the game’s biggest stars.

From his academic background, a Master’s in Kinesiology from UConn and certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, to his influence as an author, speaker, and advisor to organizations like USA Baseball and New Balance, Eric’s impact reaches far beyond the weight room. Whether you’re a coach, athlete, parent, or fan of the game, this conversation offers a masterclass in athlete development, injury prevention, and the power of building people, not just players.

Meet Eric:

• Co-Founder and President of Cressey Sports Performance
• Director of Player Health and Performance for the New York Yankees
• Facilities in Hudson, MA and Jupiter, FL

Topics Discussed:

• The differences in training between client types
• Addressing the Arm Injuries Epidemic
• The relationships built from the job

Highlights:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:40 Self Overview
• 5:17 Training Differences
• 6:10 Key Exercises
• 8:10 Assessment Tools
• 13:55 Average Timetable
• 15:00 Client Types
• 18:21 Discussion to improve
• 21:57 Program Differences
• 24:50 Training Devices
• 30:19 Biggest Misconceptions
• 33:04 Arm Injuries Epidemic
• 42:39 Most Rewarding Part
• 44:24 Mentorship
• 46:32 Advice
• 50:17 Fun Fact

Danny Hultzen Danny Hultzen was destined for stardom. A two-time All-American and the second overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, he was one of the most promising left-handed pitchers in the game. But after multiple shoulder surgeries and years of grueling rehab, Danny’s dream took a different turn. He made it to the majors, but his lasting impact is now being made off the field—shaping the future of the Chicago Cubs as a key leader in player development.

In this episode, Danny joins Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to share his journey from elite prospect to front office executive. He walks us through the highs and lows of professional baseball, the toll of injury, and the unrelenting mindset it took to keep showing up. They break down what today’s top athletes need to succeed—from performance-based data to locker room dynamics, mental pressure to physical recovery, and the role of sports science in producing wins. Danny also opens up about how he mentors rising stars, tunes out media noise, and draws on his own struggles to guide the next generation.

This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the people who turn pain into purpose—for themselves and for the teams they help build.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:08 Background
• 8:20 Rehab Process
• 12:26 Managing Pressure
• 14:39 Mindset
• 17:00 Prospective Athletes Message
• 19:42 External Pressure
• 21:30 Tuning out the noise
• 25:53 Locker Room Dynamic
• 28:05 Mentor
• 33:00 Injury Media
• 35:52 Nutrition & Supplementation
• 39:32 Recovery Aids
• 44:20 Performance Based Data Analytics
• 48:12 Foundational Development
• 50:36 Measuring Lower Body Strength
• 51:45 Sports Science to Wins
• 54:57 Passing Time
• 56:57 Superstitions
• 1:00:15 The Injury Report
• 1:03:02 Advancements in Surgery

QUOTES:

• 4:02 “I grew up as a person and as a baseball player.”
• 5:14 “The doctors told me that there was a very good chance that I would never throw a ball again.”
• 13:25 “Look at things in the long term vs just the short term.”
• 14:35 “99% of it came from me and it was all made up in my own head.”
• 19:24 “Everyone can take the action of just admitting where they’re at.”
• 20:28 “A lot of it is building confidence and building self assurance and how valuable it is.”
• 23:04 “The pressure is probably the same, it’s just more visible now.”
• 25:18 “Developing the skill of blocking out the noise is essential.”
• 28:10 “It’s inherently a selfish game because nobody in minor league baseball wants to be where they are right now.”
• 30:53 “Being a good teammate is vital for a team’s success.”
• 34:46 “That small distinction between “The” vs “My” is a very powerful thing.”
• 40:26 “In baseball, I don’t know if anyone’s ever playing at 100%. I don”t know if anyone's playing at 90%.”
• 42:50 “The only thing you can do is provide them with the information and resources that help achieve their goals.”
• 48:00 “From the player’s perspective, things that could be recommended by the organization, they see that as a way to be used against them.”
• 53:01 “The resources and the data are light years ahead of where I was.”
• 56:47 “Your lower body is probably the most pivotal piece for a pitcher to develop and core stability.”
• 1:00:10 “That’s another data point that says maybe we need to take a step back.”
• 1:02:13 “When we are trying to produce major league players, we are also trying to maximize a guy's performance and give him every opportunity to succeed.”
• 1:24:14 “Those lessons I learned as a player are applicable to everyone.”

Dr. James Andrews is the most trusted name in sports medicine—a pioneer in arthroscopic surgery and the “go-to doctor” for the world’s most elite athletes, from Michael Jordan and Roger Clemens to Adrian Peterson and Bo Jackson. Over a legendary five-decade career, he revolutionized orthopedic surgery, co-founded the American Sports Medicine Institute and the Andrews Institute, and mentored over 650 fellows who now carry his legacy forward.

In this episode, Dr. Andrews reflects on what it meant to be the surgeon athletes called when everything was on the line. We dive deep into the mechanics of Tommy John surgery, the evolution of surgical techniques, and why managing recovery expectations is as much about psychology as it is about medicine.

We break down the rising epidemic of overuse injuries in youth sports, the critical role parents and coaches play in prevention, and how pitch selection can directly correlate to injury risk. Dr. Andrews also shares powerful stories about building trust with players in-game, collaborating with medical teams under pressure, and even consulting for the Saudi Arabian royal family.

Dr. James Andrews didn't just fix athletes—he reshaped the future of sports medicine. This episode is a masterclass in leadership, precision, and building a legacy that spans generations.

MEET DR. ANDREWS:

• Pioneer of arthroscopic surgery innovations
• Trusted surgeon for Michael Jordan, Roger Clemens, and countless others
• Founder of ASMI and the Andrews Institute—leaders in injury prevention and education

TOPICS:

• Overuse injuries in youth athletes
• The Tommy John recovery process
• The art of managing athlete expectations

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:48 Being the go to Sports Medicine Doctor
• 5:42 SLAP tear future
• 7:20 Managing recovery expectations
• 9:08 In-game injury conversations
• 11:18 Building rapport
• 14:07 Overuse injuries in Youth Sports
• 17:55 Pitch Selection injury correlation
• 20:55 Getting Parents to understand overuse injuries
• 25:28 Tommy John Injuries
• 28:40 Evolution of procedures
• 30:31 Andrews Institute Philosophy
• 40:10 Saudi Arabian Royal Family

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for guidance related to your specific situation.

In this episode, hosts Andrew Rizza MS, ATC, LAT and Dr. Cameron Roth MD, MHS sit down with Brian Petrone, PA-C of Boston Orthopedics and Wellness to dive into the latest innovations in regenerative medicine. Together, they explore the real-world applications of PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections, peptide therapies like BPC-157 and TB-500, and the emerging use of NAD+ and stem cells in sports injury recovery.

Love our content? Show your support by liking, commenting, and sharing! Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.

Stay connected on Instagram @behind_sports_med_podcast, or visit ajrsportsscience.podbean.com.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @ajr_sports_science. Thank you for your continued support!

#AOSSM #NATA #APTA #ATIPT #Orthoarizona #bostonorthopedicsandwellness

In this episode of Behind the Sports Medicine, Dr. Kai Mithoefer joins host Andrew Rizza to explore the multifaceted world of work-related injuries. Framing injured workers as “industrial athletes,” Dr. Mithoefer discusses the psychological and physical components of recovery, the importance of individualized rehab, and the critical role of communication among all stakeholders in patient care.

You’ll also hear about Dr. Mithoefer’s personal journey into orthopedics, his philosophy on building trust with patients, and how a supportive environment can empower recovery and return-to-work success.

Love our content? Show your support by liking, commenting, and sharing! Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.

Stay updated by following us on Instagram @behind_sports_med_podcast, or visit ajrsportsscience.podbean.com.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @ajr_sports_science. Thank you for your continued support!

#NATA #orhtoarizona #aossm #apta #sportsmedicine #aaos #AOFAS #BBJI #ATIPT

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Dr. Mike Perrone of LA Orthopedic Surgery Specialists joins Dr. Cameron Roth and Andrew Rizza of Behind the Sports Medicine Podcast to break down common foot and ankle injuries, from ankle sprains to Achilles tendon issues. He shares insights on assessment, treatment options—both surgical and non-surgical—and the importance of mental readiness in recovery. Plus, tips on preventing injuries through proper footwear and early intervention.

Love our content? Show your support by liking, commenting, and sharing! Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.

Stay updated by following us on Instagram @behind_sports_med_podcast, or visit ajrsportsscience.podbean.com.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @ajr_sports_science. Thank you for your continued support!

#NATA #orhtoarizona #aossm #apta #sportsmedicine #aaos #AOFAS #laorthos

Episode 30: Pioneering Performance – A Conversation with Sports Scientist Michael Cianciosi

In this episode of Behind the Sports Medicine Podcast, host Andrew Rizza sits down with Michael Cianciosi, a seasoned sports scientist whose career spans both Australia and the United States. Michael shares his journey through prominent roles with the Carlton Football Club, Catapult Sports, Boston Red Sox, and most recently with Manager, Athlete Management System (Acting) Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) offering a unique perspective on the global evolution of sports science.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or sports science enthusiast, this episode is packed with practical insights and forward-thinking strategies for performance optimization in today’s high-tech world.

Love our content? Show your support by liking, commenting, and sharing! Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.

Stay connected on Instagram @behind_sports_med_podcast, X @ajrsportssci, or visit ajrsportsscience.podbean.com.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @ajr_sports_science. Thank you for your continued support!

#NATA #BostonRedsox, #catapultsports, #CarltonFBclub #sportsscience #australianInstituteofsport