ChompCast Podcast

This week on ChompCast, we sit down with University of Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden following one of the most memorable seasons in program history.

After leading the Gators to the 2025 national championship and earning 2025-2026 Head Coach of the Year honors, Coach Golden has helped usher in a new era for Florida Basketball built on toughness, culture and elite expectations.

In this episode, we talk about what comes next after reaching the top, sustaining championship success, recruiting at the highest level, developing players in today’s college landscape, and the mindset required to lead one of the premier programs in the country.

Coach Golden also shares lessons on leadership, pressure, resilience and what it means to represent Gator Nation.

A must-listen for Florida fans, basketball lovers and anyone interested in building a winning culture.

This week on ChompCast, we sit down with University of Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden following one of the most memorable seasons in program history.

After leading the Gators to the 2025 national championship and earning 2025-2026 Head Coach of the Year honors, Coach Golden has helped usher in a new era for Florida Basketball built on toughness, culture and elite expectations.

In this episode, we talk about what comes next after reaching the top, sustaining championship success, recruiting at the highest level, developing players in today’s college landscape, and the mindset required to lead one of the premier programs in the country.

Coach Golden also shares lessons on leadership, pressure, resilience and what it means to represent Gator Nation.

A must-listen for Florida fans, basketball lovers and anyone interested in building a winning culture.

This week on ChompCast, we sit down with University of Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden following one of the most memorable seasons in program history.

After leading the Gators to the 2025 national championship and earning 2025-2026 Head Coach of the Year honors, Coach Golden has helped usher in a new era for Florida Basketball built on toughness, culture and elite expectations.

In this episode, we talk about what comes next after reaching the top, sustaining championship success, recruiting at the highest level, developing players in today’s college landscape, and the mindset required to lead one of the premier programs in the country.

Coach Golden also shares lessons on leadership, pressure, resilience and what it means to represent Gator Nation.

A must-listen for Florida fans, basketball lovers and anyone interested in building a winning culture.

This week on ChompCast, we sit down with Tyler Rutstein, Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Americas Marketing at Under Armour. A University of Florida graduate and adjunct professor teaching Sports Branding at UF, Tyler has built one of the most impressive careers in modern sports business and marketing.

Before joining Under Armour, Tyler helped lead brand growth at Overtime as Chief Brand Officer and Head of Commerce, where he worked at the center of sports media, creator culture and next-generation fan engagement. Prior to that, he spent nearly seven years at adidas, leading style collaborations, global key city strategy and brand activations across markets including New York, Paris, Tokyo, London and Shanghai.

In this episode, Tyler breaks down what it takes to build brands that actually matter, how sports and culture now move together, lessons from working inside some of the world’s biggest companies, and why the future belongs to leaders who can blend creativity with strategy. We also talk about his path from UF to the top of the global marketing world and what students should be doing now to stand out.

What does it take to become one of the most recognizable faces in weather—and stay there for over two decades?

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Abrams, on-camera meteorologist at The Weather Channel and proud University of Florida alum, to talk about building a career at the intersection of science, media, and storytelling. Since joining the network in 2003, Stephanie has covered everything from hurricanes and wildfires to the biggest national weather events, becoming a trusted voice for millions of viewers. 

We get into her journey from UF to national television, what it actually looks like behind the scenes of live weather coverage, and how she’s built a career that blends credibility with personality. Stephanie also shares how she’s adapted in a constantly evolving media landscape, what it means to communicate during high-stakes moments, and why connecting with your audience matters just as much as the forecast itself.

Whether you’re interested in media, science, or just figuring out how to turn your passion into a career, this episode is a masterclass in showing up, staying relevant, and owning your space.

On this episode of ChompCast, we sit down with Myka Meier, a world-renowned etiquette expert, entrepreneur, and founder of Beaumont Etiquette. Often referred to as “America’s Queen of Good Manners,” Myka has built a global brand around modernizing etiquette for today’s world—spanning social, business, and digital spaces.

From training in London under a former member of the Royal Household to co-founding The Plaza Hotel’s Finishing Program in New York City, Myka brings a unique blend of tradition and modern relevance. She is also a two-time best-selling author of Modern Etiquette Made Easy and Business Etiquette Made Easy, and has worked with high-profile clients including Gwyneth Paltrow, Snoop Dogg, and Jessica Alba.

We dive into how etiquette translates in a digital-first generation, what “good manners” actually look like today, and how personal branding, professionalism, and presence can open doors across industries. Whether you are navigating internships, networking, or building your own brand, this conversation is full of insight you did not know you needed.

What actually goes into shaping the decisions that impact millions of people?

In this episode of ChompCast, we sit down with two major players in Florida’s political and business landscape—Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs & Coalitions Advocacy at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Joe Gruters, Florida State Senator, CPA, and Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

From running high-stakes campaigns to navigating the intersection of business and government, both guests offer a behind-the-scenes look at how power, policy, and influence really work. We talk coalition-building, campaign strategy, and what it takes to lead in environments where every decision carries weight.

Whether you're interested in politics, business, leadership, or just understanding how things actually get done, this episode breaks it down in a way that’s real, relevant, and worth knowing.

This episode was filmed in March 2025 at the Bob Graham Center event, prior to Senator Gruters’ election as Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

On this episode of ChompCast, we sit down with Natalie Boe, a UF alum and powerhouse communications leader with over 20 years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher education spaces.

From serving as Executive Director of multiple organizations to working in global communications at the University of Michigan and now advising clients through her own firm, Natalie has led everything from brand strategy and media relations to major campaigns, fundraising initiatives, and community impact programs—including work with foundations tied to NFL players and large-scale philanthropic efforts.

We talk about how to actually build a career that stands out, what it means to lead before you have the title, and how to position yourself to get into the rooms where real decisions are made. She shares lessons from managing teams, running organizations, and advising top leaders—and how those experiences translate no matter what field you go into.

Whether you’re interested in business, media, nonprofit work, or still figuring it out, this episode is packed with real insight on how to grow, lead, and make an impact.

For this episode of ChompCast, we sat down with Ted Spiker—Associate Dean, UF Professor, UF Teacher of the Year, and someone who’s literally interviewed everyone from Tim Tebow to Erin Andrews to Bryan Cranston.

We talk about what it actually takes to tell stories that matter, how he built a career writing for places like The Washington Post and Runner’s World, and why the best storytellers aren’t just talented, they’re intentional. He shares behind-the-scenes moments from interviewing major names, what separates good from great in media today, and the advice every UF student needs if they want to stand out.

Also, if you’ve ever taken one of his classes, you already know… he’s the real deal.

Whether you’re into journalism, content creation, sports media, or just want to learn how to level up your voice, this episode is packed with insight, perspective, and a few stories you definitely won’t hear anywhere else.

Mikhail Mikhaylov is building a career at the intersection of global policy, diplomacy, and impact. A Marshall Scholar at Oxford and founder of the Off the Battlefield Foundation, he has already gained experience across government, international affairs, and public service at a level most don’t reach until much later in their careers.

From working with the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services to serving in student government and conducting policy research, Mikhail’s path reflects a deep commitment to public service and global problem-solving.

In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to pursue a career in diplomacy, how to build credibility and experience as a student, and the importance of leadership in both local and global spaces. Mikhail also shares insights from his time in government roles, policy fellowships, and international programs, and how those experiences have shaped his perspective on the world.

If you’re interested in public policy, international affairs, or building a career with real impact, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Connect with Mikhail here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhailmikh/

More on Off The Battlefield Foundation: https://offthebattlefieldfoundation.org