ChompCast Podcast

Alan Zack has spent his career at the intersection of creativity, innovation, and impact. As President of Lollipop Labs, he leads one of the most forward-thinking organizations focused on engaging and inspiring young innovators to solve real-world problems through STEAM.

Before Lollipop Labs, Alan helped shape global initiatives at XPRIZE, a leader in incentivized innovation, and built his foundation working with some of the most iconic brands in the world including The Walt Disney Company, Mattel, and Activision. His background in storytelling, brand strategy, and design thinking has fueled a career centered on unlocking potential and turning big ideas into real impact.

In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to inspire innovation at a young age, why creativity and storytelling are just as important as technical skills, and how the next generation can start thinking like problem-solvers now. Alan also shares insights from working inside some of the world’s most influential organizations and what separates good ideas from ones that truly change the world.

If you’re interested in innovation, leadership, or building something meaningful, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

More on Lollipop Labs: https://www.lollipoplabs.com/

Jon Tibus, former CEO of Red Lobster, joins ChompCast to break down what it actually takes to lead at the highest level. With a career built on stepping into companies at critical moments, Jon has served as CEO and Chief Restructuring Officer for major national brands including Kona Grill, Real Mex Restaurants, Ignite Restaurant Group, and Last Call Operating Co., as well as CRO roles at Quiznos and The Krystal Company.

Currently a Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, Jon specializes in high-stakes turnarounds, operational strategy, and leading organizations through periods of intense pressure and transformation. From the boardroom to real-time execution, he’s built a reputation as the person companies call when everything is on the line.

In this episode, Jon shares what separates good leaders from great ones, how to make decisions when there’s no clear answer, and what it really takes to operate at the CEO level.

On this episode of ChompCast, we sit down with Amy Sweezey, an award-winning meteorologist, author, speaker, and media personality who has built an incredible career both on and off the screen. After spending years in broadcast meteorology delivering forecasts and covering major weather events, Amy reinvented her career and expanded her impact far beyond the newsroom.

Amy is the Founder and CEO of Social Weather LLC, where she provides media consulting, forecasting, and public speaking services for major organizations including Carnival Cruise Line, Convention News Television, and nationwide affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and Spectrum News. Throughout her broadcasting career, she earned some of the industry’s most prestigious honors, including the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society and the Broadcast Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association, along with multiple “Best Weather Reporting” awards from the Florida Associated Press. In 2018, she was also named Broadcaster of the Year by the National Weather Association.

Beyond forecasting, Amy has become a powerful voice for reinvention, resilience, and personal growth. She is a TEDx speaker, the author of several books, including children’s weather books and educational workbooks, and the host of a podcast inspired by her TEDx talk “Reinvention at Any Age.”

In this conversation, Amy shares what it was like to build a career in broadcast media, the reality of life behind the weather desk, and how she successfully pivoted her professional path to create new opportunities in media, business, and storytelling. From forecasting hurricanes to inspiring audiences around the world, Amy’s journey is a masterclass in adapting, evolving, and chasing new possibilities.

Tune in for a conversation about media careers, personal reinvention, and the power of taking control of your own forecast.

On this episode of ChompCast, we sit down with Christine Bucan, former global PR executive turned University of Florida educator, to talk about what it really takes to succeed in public relations today.

Christine brings decades of international experience advising iconic brands like American Airlines, McDonald’s, Hermès, and Mercedes-Benz, managing foreign media for the Prime Minister of Croatia, and running her own PR firm in Prague—before bringing that real-world perspective into the classroom at UF.

We dive into what separates strong students from standout communicators, how award-winning campaigns are actually built, why industry connections matter more than ever, and how students can position themselves to land top internships and jobs from day one. From Bateman wins to Alpha PR’s growth to global guest lecturing, this episode is a masterclass in strategic communication, mentorship, and building a career that travels the world.

The University of Florida Bateman Team is a select group of public relations students chosen to compete in PRSSA’s national Bateman Case Study Competition, one of the most rigorous and prestigious collegiate PR challenges in the country.

Competing against more than 70 universities nationwide, the team researches, plans, implements and evaluates a full-scale public relations campaign for a real client, operating at a level that mirrors a professional agency.

Representing UF on a national stage, the Bateman Team combines strategy, creativity, research and execution to build campaigns designed for real-world impact.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS YOUR SUPERPOWER!

In this episode of ChompCast, we’re joined by Shane Tews and Mark A. Jamison to break down who really shapes the internet—and why it matters.

Shane Tews is a leading voice in digital economy and technology policy, serving as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. With experience spanning the White House, Capitol Hill, federal agencies, and the private sector, she brings an insider’s perspective on how decisions around cybersecurity, data privacy, AI, broadband, and internet governance are actually made in Washington and beyond.

Mark A. Jamison is the Director of the Public Utility Research Center at the University of Florida and a global expert in regulation and competition policy. His work focuses on how governments can design rules that protect consumers while still encouraging innovation, investment, and growth—particularly in telecommunications, broadband, and digital markets.

Together, they unpack the intersection of policy, power, and technology, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the forces shaping our digital lives. From emerging tech to regulation and innovation, this conversation connects the dots between government, academia, and industry—and explains why digital policy affects everyone, not just policymakers.

In this episode of ChompCast, the team sits down with Melanie Hapner, Head of Technology Risk Governance at TD, for a conversation about the behind-the-scenes roles that keep big companies running.

Melanie shares what her job actually looks like day to day, how major organizations think about decision-making and accountability, and why communication and leadership matter just as much as technical skills. She talks about building trust, managing teams, and navigating responsibility in high-impact environments — in ways that apply far beyond banking or tech.

A licensed attorney, adjunct law professor at the University of Florida, and a 40 Under 40 inductee, Melanie also reflects on her career path from UF Law to executive leadership and offers advice for students and young professionals who want meaningful, stable careers but don’t necessarily know what that path looks like yet. This episode is about learning how work really happens behind the scenes — and how to find your place in it.

In this episode of ChompCast, the team sits down with Ben Chase, Director of NIL Strategy for the Florida Gators, to break down how Name, Image, and Likeness actually works behind the scenes.

Ben oversees NIL strategy for more than 450 student-athletes across 21 sports, helping Gators maximize opportunities while navigating one of the fastest-changing spaces in college athletics. He shares what NIL really looks like day to day, how deals come together, and what athletes (and students) often misunderstand about branding, partnerships, and value.

A Gator alum, licensed Florida attorney, and former national NIL strategist at Blueprint Sports, Ben also talks about how Florida has become one of the top NIL programs in the country, what separates successful athletes from the rest, and how NIL is reshaping college sports for good. Whether you’re an athlete, a business student, or just NIL-curious, this episode pulls back the curtain on the business side of being a Gator.

In this episode of ChompCast, Jordan sits down with Liz Levine, Senior Manager of Affiliate Relations at CBS Television Network, to unpack what it really takes to build a long-term career in broadcast media.

With more than 17 years at CBS, Liz has worked her way up from Coordinator to Senior Manager, serving as a key liaison between the network and more than 140 affiliate stations nationwide. She shares what affiliate relations actually looks like behind the scenes, how negotiation and relationship-building drive the media industry, and why communication skills matter just as much as credentials.

A proud University of Florida alum and former UF Alumni Association Leader of the Year, Liz also reflects on her career path, lessons learned along the way, and advice she’d give students and young professionals hoping to break into media, communications, or corporate leadership roles. From navigating high-pressure environments to advocating for yourself and others, this episode offers a candid look at the people who make major networks run.

On game days, the Florida Gators Dazzlers look polished, fun, powerful, and effortless. But behind every performance is hours of practice, physical strength, discipline, and hard work.

In this episode of ChompCast, we sit down with Madeline Soave, head coach of the Florida Gators Dazzlers, to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to perform at this level. Madeline shares how these athletes train, push through exhaustion, hold themselves accountable, and commit to excellence long before they ever step onto the field or court.

This conversation reframes the idea of “effortless” — highlighting the strength, discipline, and resilience these women embody every day. It’s a reminder that beauty in performance is built on hard work you don’t always see.

Support the Florida Gators Dazzlers:
Follow the team on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatorsdazzlers/?hl=en
Follow Madeline on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/maddiesoave/