HoosWhere Podcast

Summary:

In this episode of the Hooswhere Podcast, we have Dana Boyle, an analyst, and reporter for ESPN. Dana shares her experiences in sports broadcasting and reporting, highlighting her transition from playing lacrosse in college to pursuing a career in sports broadcasting. She discusses her time as a student-athlete at the University of Virginia (UVA), her internships, and the pivotal role played by her mentor, Jerry Capone in her career. Dana also delves into her journey through different parts, including development work, coaching, and eventually finding her passion in broadcasting. She reflects on the challenges and rewards of her job as a reporter and analyst in lacrosse and football and the unique dynamics she has experienced in different sports.

 Episode Highlights:

●      Dana’s current roles at ESPN and how she landed the opportunity.

●      The various roles and career trajectories she chose during and after UVA, that eventually lead her to ESPN

●      Her unique experience of broadcasting games from home during the pandemic, and forming strong bonds with colleagues she had never met in person.

●      The differences between being a reporter and an analyst.

●      The challenges of asking the right questions as a reporter, and getting the answers she seeks from coaches during the interviews.

●      The varying levels of respect and reception she receives from coaches, depending on the sport and the individual's coaching style.

Guest Profile - Dana Boyle:

Dana Boyle is an ESPN analyst and reporter, specializing in lacrosse and college football coverage. She began her journey in the sports industry as a lacrosse player at the University of Virginia. Dana's versatility allows her to serve as a reporter and analyst, delivering insightful commentary and sharing stories about student-athletes. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to continuous improvement have earned her respect within the industry.

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Hooswhere Podcast_Tia Nichols_Show Notes

What does it take to pursue a career in art in today’s highly left-brain excited world? Perseverance? Definitely. Passion? No doubt. Networking and community-building? That’s not something we know a lot about.

In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about how Tia Nichols, an art-lover since childhood, decided to pursue the path seriously in college and how she landed her first job through her connections. She shares how she sustains herself as an artist by building a brand for herself and working multiple jobs. She also talks about the grant opportunities available for artists and the importance of networking to get recognized in the industry. Tia is currently a gallery manager, chief curator, and multimedia artist. 

You’ll also get insights into the real challenges faced by artists, especially by those from the minority communities. Being involved in the Black Student Alliance at her university showed Tia the challenges of being a minority in a predominantly white institution first-hand. 

If you’re an artist, you’ll love learning about the process of curating an art exhibition, starting with brainstorming a theme and then selecting relevant artwork to showcase from Tia. You’ll also benefit from learning how to leverage your connections in the art world, valuing your community, and staying focussed and working hard in making a sustainable life out of a career in art. So, do not forget to plug this 30-minute conversation somewhere in your schedule today!

Episode Highlights:

• Building a brand is crucial for artists to get recognized in the industry.
• Working multiple jobs is an effective way of sustaining oneself as an artist.
• Grant opportunities are available for artists to fund their art and supplies.
• Accessibility of art is essential, and everyone should have the ability to see, obtain, and create art.

About Tia Nichols

Tia Nichols is an artist, gallery manager, and curator from Detroit. She completed American Sign Language and Deaf Studies from the University of Virginia. 

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Hooswheres Live event in DC at SUDHOUSE DC Guests include Keith Payne and Darius Jennings!

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Housing costs in the United States are constantly rising. 

Why that matters? Is because an increasing number of individuals and families continue to struggle to find quality and affordable homes today!

Jason Bordainick, our guest for today’s episode, and the co-founder of Hudson Valley Property Group, recognized this issue and addressed it. And sitting with us today, he’s talking about everything it took for him to identify the problem and remedy it. 

Bordainick's entrepreneurial journey began at the University of Virginia, where he founded Off Campus Partners, a company that helped students find off-campus housing. After completing his MBA at Stanford, he founded Hudson Valley Property Group with his childhood friend, Andrew Cavaluzzi, with a focus on making sustainable improvements to affordable housing and providing a better standard of living for their residents. 

Bordainick's journey shows that entrepreneurial success can come from identifying a need and providing a solution that serves both customers and investors.

In this episode, Jason Bordainick speaks about his decision-making experience and entrepreneurship. He discusses the strong sense of connection he feels to UVA's culture. He also discusses how he’s found a sense of community through athletics and the McIntire school 

And in case you’re wondering, Bordainick's interest in entrepreneurship dates back to his childhood, where he was always fascinated with the idea of starting a company. He started a business during the dot-com bubble in 2000, until later navigating the challenges of raising capital during the bust and founding Hudson Valley Property Group.

Throughout this 40-minute conversation, Bordainick emphasizes the importance of finding the right partner and gaining experience along the way. He also touches on the negative perceptions surrounding affordable housing and how his company is working to change them. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Bordainick advises that businesses are built around solving a problem and making something better!

Episode Highlights:

• Identifying a need and providing a solution that serves both the customers and the investors is the recipe for entrepreneurial success.
• Finding a good partner is crucial to success in business.
• Balancing academics with social activities and extracurricular pursuits can lead to success both in and out of the classroom.
• Building relationships with professors and alumni can lead to valuable opportunities after graduation.
• Starting a business during a downturn can be challenging, but it's possible to bootstrap your way to profitability.
• Businesses are built around solving a problem and making something better.

Meet Jason:

Jason Bordainick is the co-founder of the Hudson Valley Property Group, a company he built with a vision to create a preeminent housing preservation firm, improving upon the availability, quality, and affordability of housing across the country. Jason is a recognized industry leader and applies his creativity, tenacity and business acumen towards building an impactful organization that achieves outstanding results for its partners – both for-profit and nonprofit, and the communities it serves. He leads the strategic direction for the firm and ensures each project, partnership and investment is structured for success.

Connect with Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-bordainick-4b80861/

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Summary

An exclusive behind-the-scenes peek into the thoughts of a passionate literature student in the AI-ridden world of today, how to thrive amid fears of being replaced by robots, and what it takes to become a Jeopardy! contestant. Didn’t expect the last one? That’s one of our biggest highlights from today! Join Lloyd and your curious hosts Chase Minnifield and Max Milien as they catch up with Llyod about student journey so far.

From acing the online and in-person auditions to the high-pressure moments on set, Lloyd shares the exhilarating and nerve-wracking experience of being a Jeopardy! contestant. The conversation also has Lloyd also discuss his academic background, his passion for pursuing literature, and the challenges facing English departments in today's world. This is NOT a conversation to be missed for many reasons, including these interesting highlights:

•A walkthrough of Jeopardy’s participation process that includes an online test, auditions, and a mock game with potential contestants.
•Top advice on pursuing one's interests and passions.
•Lloyd’s experience graduating with a double major in CS and English and pursuing a PhD in English Literature, with interests in the intersection of tech and the humanities.
•Insights on the impact of technology on education and the need for English departments to teach critical thinking skills.
•A discussion on the rising cost of college and the employability of degrees like English, with acknowledgement of the difficulty of obtaining a tenured professor position.
•Details about the process of looking for teaching jobs, involving a job list released by the Modern Language Association.
•Lloyd’s willingness to teach at any type of college in the United States and their broad application strategy.

Connect with Llyod!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyd-sy-63422066

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Summary

We’ve got plenty of opportunities in the world of sports today, thanks to an ever-increasing number of fan groups, and impressive public, private and government sector initiatives! But was it this way a decade or so ago? 

 You and I and my guest for today’s episode would all agree that it wasn’t, am I right? How then, did athletes and sportspersons back in the past make historic achievements? How did they get into a seemingly less lucrative career when they had other opportunities ahead of them? What lies at the backstage of their stories? 

 Stay tuned to clear the air and learn about it from Michelle Vittese, a 211-time international awardee in field hockey with an eight-year long career with the US women’s national field hockey team! Michelle shares how she got into the sport and how, despite initially deciding to be a doctor, she made up her mind to go all-in on her passion, at a time when sports wasn’t even considered a high-income or sustainable career. An ex-UVA grad, Michelle covers different aspects of her career and sports in general: from training in grueling three-a-day sessions, the current protocols in place for the health and well-being of student athletes, being part of a high-performance group during the Rio Olympics and how it inspired her to become a coach, the setup of Olympic villages, and mindset, motivation, and success tips for sportspersons and athletes, among other things!

 You’ll also hear also about: 

●      The process of representing the country in sports

●      Michelle's experience in Junior Olympics and AAU competitions

●      The Olympic experience, specifically from the perspective of an athlete who has attended multiple games (including the excitement of meeting famous people and experiencing everything the Olympics have to offer)

●      The setup of the Olympic village and how the USOC creates an environment that caters to athletes' needs

●      The importance of surrounding oneself with supportive and like-minded individuals to achieve their goals, particularly when pursuing an unconventional path. 

●      How to stay committed to one's vision and purpose

●      How to handle pushback well by trusting your knowledge and experience

●      The importance of being open-minded and learning from others, including your student athletes as a coach. This includes encouraging respectful disagreement and hearing new ideas.

Connect with Michelle Vitesse!

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michvittese/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleVitt55

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Do you have a career you’d like to pursue after transitioning out of sports? Sure, sports is your one big thing in life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have other interests, right? So, if you do, and it looks anything like … video game-designing … wait, even if it does not, today’s guest will strike a chord with your UVA past, future, or present! 

In this episode, Cobi Span joins us to discuss moving out of your sports career to pursue your other interests. He also talks about his life at UVA and how it helped his professional soccer career. While still a student, Cobi used to receive offers to play professionally, and although he loved being in college, he pursued them to push his limits further. He wanted to see where the opportunities would take him. In his sporting career, he’s played with clubs in several countries, including Germany and Sweden. He’s also lived in many different European countries, especially Sweden—he currently resides there and works as a game designer. And he absolutely likes the country! 

Now, do you still think transitioning out of sports is impossible? Listen to this episode and let us know—through a brief review or a hello on our social media pages! 

Here are the highlights from this conversation: 

>> Cobi talks about his journey to UVA and why a lot of it had to do with his family’s dedicated support and inspiration. 

>> Cobi shares that kids these days want their gaming experiences to look like the real world. There’s hence a large market for video games. 

>> Cobi also tells us that Sweden is a good place to settle. Most people speak good English there and are accommodating. 

Connect with Cobi Span! 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobispan/?hl=en 
YouTube: https://www.instagram.com/cobispan/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CobiFresh

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Hooswhere podcast is where UVA alums catch up with UVA alums.  Hosted by Chase Minnifield, and Max Milien they catch up with UVA alumni's and see what they are doing post graduation in business, life and entrepreneurship.

EPS 162 ft. Joe Spisak -

Wrestler. UVA graduate. Serial entrepreneur (with a trove of companies in his hall of fame). Out-of-the-way thinker. A complete learner.

I could try summing up Joe Spisak’s entire life in these 23 words, but even that would take tens of positive adjectives more. As he sits with me in this episode of the Hooswhere podcast, he explains his impressive journey in life so far, including his innocent interest in wrestling, which he developed at the tender age of four. Joining the UVA college to pursue his wrestling career, Joe also showed great academic skills and chose to also pursue a Master’s. 

Joe’s a complete entrepreneur. His career has seen him start with multiple bootstrapped businesses, until recently bringing on board two strategic investors for his company, Fulfill.com, which provides effortless matchmaking services for businesses seeking a perfect warehouse for their products, thus relieving them of the hassle of interviewing 20 different warehouses, and in the process, wasting a lot of time and money. 

His success echoes many important points in business decision-making, investing, and professional growth, which include:

• Making your investors your rallying customers before investors.
• Business decision-making is challenging, and sometimes, all-consuming. Thriving in the pressure is what makes or breaks your business.
• The importance of mentorship: A great mentor can guide you through what you will be going through in your business.

Do try and give this episode a listen!

 Connect with Joe Spisak! 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spisakjoe  

Website: https://www.fulfill.com/  

                https://okboomer.game/  

                https://goshipdaddy.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joespeezy 

Connect with Hooswhere!
Email us : [email protected]
Website: http://www.hooswhere.co
Chase Minnifield: @chaseminnifield
Max Milien: @multimili

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Hooswhere podcast is where UVA alums catch up with UVA alums.  Hosted by Chase Minnifield, and Max Milien they catch up with UVA alumni's and see what they are doing post graduation in business, life and entrepreneurship.

EPS 161 ft. Emily Fraser -

Do you doubt your career as an athlete could get in the way of you taking up any other profession later in life? That choosing to be an athlete is an all or nothing decision? You wouldn’t after listening to this episode of HoosWhere with star athlete turned real estate investor Emily Fraser!  

Here’s some impressive bits about her: Emily, a former women's tennis player at the University of Virginia (UVA), was recruited to play for the school's team because of her impressive skills on the court. But that wasn’t all. Emily wasn't just a slam dunk in athletics — she also excelled academically, choosing UVA for its strong academic program and as a backup plan in case her professional tennis career didn't get her the success she hoped for. Despite tennis being her whole identity — both her parents were tennis players + she’s been playing the sport since four years old + she literally breathed tennis her whole life — she wanted to see where her interest in medicine could take her. Hence the decision to study Sports Medicine, Kinesiology to be specific. 

Years later, Emily decided to take the entrepreneurial path, one she knew was her way since long back, and pursued real estate full-time. She’s now "serving" up a different kind of success in Pittsburgh, taking the residential real estate market by storm as a sales pro and building her own dream team of agents. Emily works with Piatt Sotheby's and has already scored over two and a half million dollars in sales in her first full year in the business.

 But don’t trick yourself into thinking she gave up tennis forever. Emily hasn't completely retired from the tennis world; she still enjoys hitting the courts for a leisurely game with friends and former students. Her background in sports medicine and kinesiology from UVA gives her the perfect "forehand" in both athletics and real estate. So if you’re an athlete or sportsperson wishing to know if there’s a career for you beyond your sport, you’ll find the perfect friend and inspiration in Emily! Have a listen and let me know what you feel about this episode!

 Connect with Emily!

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-fraser-4474325b/
Website: https://fraserteam.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyfraser_pgh/

Connect with Hooswhere!
Email us : [email protected]
Website: http://www.hooswhere.co

Chase Minnifield: @chaseminnifield
Max Milien: @multimili

Support the Show.

Hooswhere podcast is where UVA alums catch up with UVA alums.  Hosted by Chase Minnifield, and Max Milien they catch up with UVA alumni's and see what they are doing post graduation in business, life and entrepreneurship.

EPS 160 ft. Jim Harshaw Jr - we discussed how he ended up at UVA, the experiences he had in wrestling overcoming adversity and how it has helped him to get to where he his today as a motivational speaker and coach!

Website: http://www.hooswherepodcast.com/​​​
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6f4eQqa...

Chase Minnifield: @chaseminnifield
Max Milien: @multimili

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