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Just A Cup
By BleavSports
Just A Cup episodes
- Just A Cup - Arpen Desai, co-founder of SportsFirst | S2E65
In this episode of Just A Cup, host Bryan Fetzer chats with Arpan Desai of SportsFirst, a sports-technology company building products and software used by teams and partners across the industry. Arpan shares the origin of SportsFirst, how his team ships products for real-world use cases, and where AI/automation actually delivers ROI for athletes, coaches, and front offices. We get into fan-experience apps, data privacy/design tradeoffs, and the realities of scaling a sports-tech startup (tooling, hiring, and go-to-market). Stick around for rapid-fire: favorite stadium tech, founder pitfalls, and Arpan’s advice for students breaking into sports + tech
Episode Guide (timestamps ~approx.)00:00 – Welcome, show setup, why sports tech needs “on-field” empathy
02:30 – Arpan’s path to SportsFirst & the core problem they set out to solve SportsFirst
08:20 – Building for elite teams: requirements, speed, and reliability in the wild
14:40 – The AI stack in sports: where it helps (and where it’s hype) SportsFirst
21:30 – Fan apps, live ops, and measurable engagement
28:15 – Data governance & privacy by design for teams and leagues
33:00 – GTM playbook: pilots, proof-of-value, and scaling beyond seasonality
38:10 – Founder lessons: shipping fast without breaking trust
42:00 – Rapid-fire: stadium tech, must-read resources, favorite athlete-led products
45:30 – Where to find Arpan & SportsFirst; how to collaborate
46:30 – Closing + subscribe/ratings CTA
Note: Markers are approximate; feel free to adjust to your final chaptering once the audio is locked.
Guest LinksSportsFirst – company site & resources: https://www.sportsfirst.net/ SportsFirst
Sports Technology Trends (reports featuring Arpan): 2024 / 2025 briefs from SportsFirst SportsFirst+1
Arpan on X (Twitter): https://x.com/arpand9 X (formerly Twitter)
Arpan on LinkedIn (talks, updates): https://www.linkedin.com/posts/arpan-desai-mobilefirst_ LinkedIn
Listen & WatchBleav – Just A Cup (show home): https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/
YouTube – @coachfetzjustacup: https://www.youtube.com/@coachfetzjustacup
This episode on YouTube (if applicable): https://youtu.be/HVAnOzhjfmE
Episode CreditsHost: Bryan Fetzer • Guest: Arpan Desai (Co-Founder/CTO, SportsFirst) SportsFirst+1
Additional Notes / ResourcesInterested in partnering or a guest spot? DM Bryan on Instagram @coachfetz or connect on LinkedIn @bryanfetzer (also listed on the Bleav show page).
If you enjoyed this, please rate & review on Apple/Spotify—it helps more coaches, athletes, and builders discover the show.
sports technology, sports tech startup, AI in sports, athlete performance data, fan engagement apps, sports product management, SportsFirst, Arpan Desai, Bryan Fetzer, Bleav Network
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
26 min - Just A Cup - Stories on Sneakers: Chummy’s Customs CEO Chris Donell and Colin “Chummy” Szumski | S2E65
In this episode of Just A Cup, host Bryan Fetzer chats with Colin Szumski, the Miami-based artist behind Chummy’s Customs, about building a custom-footwear brand that celebrates life’s biggest moments—jersey-material “game day” shoes, charity collabs like My Cause My Cleats, and live activations with major partners. We talk creative process (materials, deconstruction, airbrushing), scaling from single commissions to brand campaigns, pricing transparency, and how to work with athletes, teams, and sponsors without losing the art. Colin also shares social-growth strategy, what makes a design go viral, and the lessons learned from collabs that landed in People, Complex, and BR Kicks.
Episode Guide00:00 – Welcome + why “every pair tells a story”
02:45 – Origin: from college apartment customs to Miami studio & brand activations (Super Bowl / Art Basel) Angelus Direct
08:30 – Process deep-dive: sourcing, jersey upcycling, hand-painting & finishing
14:10 – Athlete & brand collabs: what partners actually need (briefs, approvals, turnarounds) Chummy's Customs
21:40 – My Cause My Cleats: purpose, storytelling, and game-week logistics Chummy's Customs
28:05 – Social & content: reels that convert; behind-the-scenes vs. big reveals
33:30 – From one-offs to activations: working events & fan-engagement contests (Steel United example)
39:15 – Pricing, timelines, IP basics & expectations (what clients should know)
44:20 – Rapid-fire: favorite pair, dream collab, best feedback, toughest material
47:00 – Where to find Chummy’s Customs + how to collaborate
Guest LinksChummy’s Customs (official site): https://www.chummyscustoms.com/ – collaborators include Coca-Cola, FanDuel, Chelsea, 76ers, and more.
About / Contact / Collabs: Brand collaborations & My Cause My Cleats intake. Chummy's Customs+1
Instagram (@_chummys): portfolio, reels, and latest drops. instagram.com
Linktree (all links): requests, collabs, FAQs. Linktree
Founder (Colin Szumski) – feature & bio: creative background, live activations. Angelus Direct
Listen & WatchBleav – Just A Cup (show home): https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/ Bleav
YouTube – @coachfetzjustacup: https://www.youtube.com/@coachfetzjustacup YouTube
Episode CreditsHost: Bryan Fetzer • Guest: Colin Szumski (Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Chummy’s Customs). Chummy's Customs+1
Additional Notes / Calls to ActionLike the episode? Rate & review on Apple/Spotify—it helps athletes, artists, and brand folks find the show.
Inquiries / partnerships: Use the Chummy’s Customs collab form or DM via Instagram; for show bookings, contact Bryan via the Bleav show page or socials below. Chummy's Customs+1
custom sneakers, custom cleats, jersey shoes, My Cause My Cleats, athlete collabs, brand activations, fan engagement, sneaker artist, Chummy’s Customs, Colin Szumski, Bryan Fetzer, Bleav Network
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
41 min - Just A Cup - Ryan Medrano, 2x Silver Medalist, US Paralympian and "Survivor" TV Show | S2E64
How do you go from reality-TV challenges to the Paralympic podium—twice? Ryan Medrano joins host Bryan Fetzerto unpack his journey from Survivor 43 to two Paris 2024 silver medals, explain the T38 classification in plain English, and share practical tools for focus, sponsorship, and storytelling that any athlete can use.
Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/oCBA-RqjdUkJust A Cup on Bleav (show hub):
https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/In this episode
T38 sprinting 101: what the classification means and why it matters
Paris highlights: the silver-medal races and the adjustments that paid off
Survivor lessons for sport: teamwork, adversity, and decision-making under pressure
Mindset tools: a simple 20-second reset for composure in big moments
Sponsor strategy for Paralympians: how to craft a story that brands remember
The Paralympic movement’s future: visibility, access, and youth pipelines
Timestamps
00:00 — Cold open: island games to global games
02:10 — Ryan’s route to Team USA and T38 explained
07:20 — Paris 2024: two silvers and the difference-makers
12:40 — Mindset toolbox: breath, eyes, word
18:05 — Survivor takeaways that work in lane four
23:00 — Sponsorship and storytelling for Paralympic athletes
28:10 — What is next for Ryan and for the movement
32:20 — Rapid-Fire: favorite session, race cue, message to young athletes
35:10 — Closing and how to follow
Episode notes
Pressure is information—use it to choose the next best action.
Keep classification education simple; clarity builds fans and partners.
Sponsor pitch rule: story first, metrics second—then prove it with consistent content.
The reset that travels: one breath, one focal point, one word.
More from Just A Cup
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@coachfetzjustacup
Show page on Bleav: https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/
Connect
Host: Bryan Fetzer — Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachfetz/ — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-fetzer/
For guests, partnerships, or media: message via the Bleav show page or DM Bryan on Instagram/LinkedIn.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
46 min - Just A Cup - Blake Patterson, CEO & Co-Founder of Wunderfan and Wunderpar | S2E63
Wunderfan Explained: Rewards, Wundercoins & College Fan Engagement | Blake Patterson | Just A Cup
How do you pack student sections and keep fans engaged all game long? Wunderfan founder Blake Patterson joins Bryan Fetzer to break down how the app rewards attendance, predictions, and interactions—with “Wundercoins,” campus contests, and sponsor perks.
Watch & subscribe on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@coachfetzjustacupListen on the Bleav Network:
https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/Why watch: Real plays schools are running to boost turnout and keep fans in seats, how Wundercoins convert to prizes and partner offers, and how this ties into NIL and sponsor ROI. Recent launches include college fan contests like Wunder Madness. :
Learn More about Wunderfan and Wunderpar
https://www.instagram.com/wunderfanapp/https://wunderpar.com/news/the-wunder-company-redefining-rewards-engagement/https://duckduckgo.com/?q=wunderfan+sign+in&t=osx&ia=webTimestamps
00:00 Cold open — the empty-student-section problem02:10 Blake’s path to Wunderfan and the core idea07:30 How it works: show up, stay, predict, interact → earn13:40 Rewards engine: Wundercoins, prizes, and partners18:20 College playbook: promotion nights, student sections, retention24:30 NIL, brand partners, and measuring ROI30:10 Rapid-Fire — best activation, biggest lesson, day-one tips33:40 Closing + where to find WunderfanMore Just A Cup:
• Leadership & Culture (playlist)• Sports Business & Tech (playlist)Hosted by Bryan Fetzer | IG @coachfetz | LinkedIn @coachfetz
About Just A Cup
Hosted by Bryan Fetzer, Just A Cup is where high performance, mindset, and leadership meet real-world stories—from world champions to founders, coaches, and creators. Fun, fast, and actionable. Watch on Bleav and YouTube: https://bleav.com/shows/just-a-cup/ • https://www.youtube.com/@coachfetzjustacup!BE BLESSED MY FRIENDS!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
50 min - Just A Cup - Kevin Owens, Overseas Famous founder and former pro basketball player | S2E62Learn MORE ABOUT OVERSEAS FAMOUShttps://www.overseasfamous.com/Buy his BOOKhttps://www.amazon.com/Overseas-Famous-Kevin-Owens/dp/1737282232/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Highlights
- Kevin Owens emphasizes adaptability as the key survival skill for pro basketball players overseas.
- Owens recounts his Cinderella NCAA tournament run with Mammoth and the humbling experience against Duke’s national championship team.
- Overseas basketball often comes with financial instability, with late or missed paychecks common, making research and self-advocacy essential.
- The overseas game improved Owens’ passing skills due to its fast-paced, free-flowing style.
- Owens shares his pre-game music rituals that helped him mentally focus and embrace his role as the team’s star.
- ️ Owens founded Overseas Famous and Overseas X to provide community, resources, and protection for players navigating the overseas circuit.
- Key advice to young players: embrace pressure situations and understand that “this too shall pass” during tough times.
Key Insights- Adaptability is Non-Negotiable Overseas: Kevin Owens stresses that overseas basketball demands rapid adjustment to new cultures, languages, food, and living conditions. Unlike short trips or the relatively familiar U.S. leagues, overseas players face open-ended contracts in unfamiliar environments, forcing them to “adapt or die.” This adaptability extends beyond basketball skills to everyday life challenges, from driving on the wrong side of the road to managing isolation and homesickness. This insight underscores that success overseas is as much about mental and cultural agility as it is about athletic ability.
- The NCAA Tournament Experience Shapes Mindset: Owens’ recounting of Mammoth’s improbable NCAA tournament qualification and subsequent matchup against a dominant Duke team reflects the power of belief and underdog spirit. Despite being outmatched, the experience of competing on that stage instilled a lasting mindset of perseverance and ambition. It also highlights the stark contrast between college and professional basketball environments and the evolving nature of athlete recognition and support.
- Financial Realities and Contract Vigilance Are Crucial: Many players chasing the overseas dream face precarious financial situations, including delayed or withheld paychecks. Owens advises thorough research on the stability and reputation of prospective teams and leagues before signing contracts. He also recommends tools like currency transfer services to minimize fees and maximize earnings. This insight serves as a crucial warning for young athletes to not only trust their agents but also advocate for themselves and perform due diligence to avoid financial pitfalls.
- Playing Overseas Enhances Skill Sets Beyond Traditional U.S. Styles: Owens credits the international game’s fluid, motion-based offense for greatly improving his passing ability. Unlike the more rigid, set-play style common in American basketball, overseas leagues emphasize constant movement and creativity, which helped Owens develop a wider range of passing techniques. This evolution shows how exposure to diverse playing styles can broaden an athlete’s capabilities and improve overall game IQ.
- Mental Preparation and Rituals Anchor Performance: Owens’ detailed description of his pre-game rituals—carefully timed music cues and motivational lyrics—illustrates how athletes use consistent mental cues to build confidence and focus. His approach, blending music with visualization of fan expectations, helped him internalize his role as a leader and maintain intensity despite external pressures. This insight reveals the often-overlooked psychological tools athletes employ to stay ready and resilient.
- ️ Building Community and Protecting Players From Scams: Recognizing the information gap and vulnerabilities in overseas basketball, Owens created Overseas X, a community platform that connects players with vetted resources, mentors, and each other to navigate contracts, living conditions, and cultural challenges. This initiative addresses a critical need for transparency and support in a fragmented and sometimes exploitative market, empowering players to make informed decisions and avoid common traps.
- High-Pressure Practice and Mindset Training Prepare Players for Pro Realities: Owens advises college coaches to simulate high-pressure, “winner-take-all” scenarios in practice to better prepare players for the immediate expectations overseas. Since pro teams abroad often give athletes a very short window to prove themselves, mental toughness and the ability to perform under stress are vital. This insight bridges the gap between collegiate development and professional demands, emphasizing that skill alone is insufficient without the right mindset and composure.
ConclusionKevin Owens’ story is a powerful testament to the resilience, adaptability, and mental fortitude required to build a basketball career overseas. His journey from underdog college player to international pro, and then to entrepreneur and mentor, offers invaluable lessons for athletes, coaches, and sports professionals. Through his candid reflections and practical advice, Owens sheds light on the realities of overseas basketball—the challenges, the culture shocks, the financial hurdles, and the unique growth opportunities. His creation of Overseas Famous and Overseas X illustrates how community and information sharing can transform the athlete experience, making the overseas path more accessible and sustainable. Ultimately, Owens instills hope that with the right mindset and support system, players can thrive beyond the NBA dream and carve out meaningful careers around the globe.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
49 min - Just A Cup -Matt Booth, Way of Champions and the Canterbury School | S2E61
Guest: Matt Booth — Dean of Athletics & Director of Strength & Conditioning, Canterbury School (Fort Myers, FL); Assistant Trainer, Way of Champions.
Theme: Performance isn’t complicated—it’s consistent. Build behaviors before outcomes and your Tuesday habits will win your Saturday championships.
Key Topics & TakeawaysCulture = behaviors you can see. Define vision/mission/values/standards and make sure they show up daily, not just on posters.
Protect the Circle. Stand side-by-side, link arms, and guard the shared vision at the center; no one is “in front” or “behind.” This became a campus-wide symbol after Hurricane Ian.
Crisis as opportunity. After Ian, the volleyball team rallied, rebuilt connection, and won its first district title in 13 years—proof that culture scales under stress.
Coach behaviors, not scoreboards. Start with common language across the department; intentionally schedule short, recurring culture/leadership sessions (e.g., A/B lunch blocks).
Rule of One (connection habit). Each coach messages one athlete per day (30 seconds) to recognize effort; track with a simple dot system so no one gets missed.
Modern athlete reality. NIL, early specialization, year-round travel, and social media “advice” increase burnout, ACL/Tommy John risk, and confusion—so coaches must explain the why, adapt, and build recovery/off-season windows.
Relationship game > X’s & O’s. Inspired by Steve Kerr: the most important win is relationships; meet athletes where they are, especially those beyond your top performers.
Simple, hard training beats complicated plans. Stop over-engineering the weight room; emphasize intent, competition, and recovery.
Timestamped Outline00:00–02:30 — Intro; why championship culture shows up on a random Tuesday; coaches must widen the lens beyond results.
03:30–05:40 — Wave of Champions origin; “Nothing changes if nothing changes” sparks a department-wide reset of language, vision, and standards.
06:40–11:20 — Protect the Circle: volleyball adopts the circle ritual; post-Hurricane Ian the whole school gathers in a circle; team wins first district in 13 years.
12:00–14:45 — Expansion to boys’ soccer (state runner-up) and baseball (25–5) as culture evidence spreads; building intentional time for leadership/mental performance.
15:40–22:40 — Trends: NIL in HS, early specialization, burnout, mental health, overuse injuries; why explaining the why matters for Gen Z/Gen Alpha.
22:40–28:40 — Communication systems: one-on-ones, Rule of One texts, dot tracking; lowering ego in the weight room; aligning with outside trainers.
29:00–33:45 — Rapid-fire:
Grit workouts: “Continuous 150s” (150 fast / 50 jog / 150 fast) & 30-on/30-off lifts.
Coffee: none—high energy without it.
Book: The Champion Teammate for short, applicable culture lessons.
Pod episodes: Steve Kerr; David Brandt (Messiah Method), Jonah Oliver.
Underrated habit: Make your bed—discipline first thing.
Advice to new coaches: Know who you are; leadership starts with self-awareness.
33:45–End — Close; Iron Faith Nutrition sponsor; subscribe on Bleav/YouTube/Apple/Spotify.
Playbook: How to Implement This TomorrowCodify culture: In one page, define Vision / Mission / Values / Standards; use this language in practice plans.
Adopt a ritual: Open/close practice in a circle; 60 seconds to restate the day’s value (e.g., “composure,” “effort”).
Schedule micro-sessions: 20–25 min culture/leadership meetings at lunch once a week per team.
Start Rule of One: Coach sends one personal message nightly; staff uses a shared roster with dots to ensure reach.
Simplify training: Anchor days with one competitive set (e.g., 30/30) and one clear performance intent; plan off-season blocks.
Explain the why: Add a 60-second “Why this works” brief before each lift or speed session.
championship culture, high school strength and conditioning, Way of Champions, athlete leadership, mental performance, NIL high school sports, early sport specialization, athlete burnout, ACL prevention, Tommy John risk, team connection, coach-athlete communication, Fort Myers Canterbury School, protect the circle, rule of one coaching, competitive grit workouts, continuous 150s, 30 on 30 off, Steve Kerr relationship game, weight room culture, recovery and off-season.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
35 min - Just A Cup - Rafi Kohan, "Trash Talk" best selling authorCHECK OUT https://www.rafikohan.com/OR COHAN's SUBSTACKHighlights
- Trash talk is an ancient, universal behavior integral to competition, dating back to biblical times and Homeric epics.
- Trash talk raises psychological stakes by increasing stress and pressure, which can enhance or impair athletic performance depending on mindset.
- ️ The moral boundary of trash talk is ambiguous and negotiated in real-time, balancing between strategic challenge and disrespect.
- ️ Iconic athletes like Larry Bird and Gary Payton used trash talk not just to unsettle opponents but to motivate themselves and elevate competition.
- Soccer goalie Shep Messing innovated trash talk by using cultural insights to target opponents’ psychological vulnerabilities.
- Cricket, surprisingly, is a major sport for trash talk (“sledging”), requiring intense mental toughness due to the game’s long duration and pressure.
- Beyond sports, trash talk offers insights into human behavior related to stress management, resilience, and social bonding.
Key Insights- Trash Talk as an Ancient Human Behavior: Kohen reveals that trash talk is not a modern cultural artifact but a deeply embedded human practice linked to the origins of language and competition. This reframing challenges common perceptions by positioning trash talk as a fundamental social and evolutionary behavior that facilitates competitive interaction and social hierarchy navigation.
- Psychological Stakes and Performance: Trash talk works by manipulating the stress response of competitors. It can push athletes into a “challenge state,” where stress enhances performance, or a “threat state,” where stress undermines it. This dynamic underscores the importance of mental toughness and cognitive appraisal in sports performance, demonstrating how verbal interactions directly influence physiological and psychological states.
- ️ Ethical Ambiguity and Moral Philosophy: The moral evaluation of trash talk hinges on whether it is considered part of the competitive “game” or an extraneous insult. Kohen highlights two contrasting philosophical views: one sees mental challenge as integral to competition, while the other critiques trash talk for dehumanizing opponents. This duality complicates sportsmanship discourse and calls for nuanced understanding rather than blanket judgments.
- Trash Talk as Social Facilitation and Motivation: Larry Bird’s approach to trash talk exemplifies how it can be used to motivate both self and opponent by raising engagement levels. Contrary to the common belief that trash talk demoralizes opponents, research shows it often increases their motivation, which in turn pushes both athletes to higher levels of performance. This insight reveals trash talk as a tool for mutual elevation in competitive contexts.
- Cultural and Contextual Nuances: Shep Messing’s trash talk tactics in soccer demonstrate the strategic use of cultural knowledge to disrupt opponents psychologically. This highlights how trash talk is not a one-size-fits-all practice but is deeply contextual, shaped by cultural differences, individual psychology, and the specific demands of each sport.
- Cricket’s Sledging as a Mental Marathon: Cricket’s long-format games require sustained mental endurance, and sledging serves as a method to disrupt this endurance. This example broadens the understanding of trash talk beyond traditional contact sports and illustrates how the nature of the sport influences the style and purpose of verbal gamesmanship.
- Trash Talk as a Form of Social Bonding and Respect: Despite its antagonistic surface, trash talk often signifies a level of intimacy and respect within groups. It tests mental toughness while reinforcing social ties and competitive camaraderie. Recognizing this dual role helps explain why trash talk rarely escalates into violence and is accepted as part of sports culture.
- Trash Talk’s Broader Life Lessons: Kohen’s research suggests that the principles underlying trash talk—stress appraisal, resilience, motivation—apply broadly to human behavior outside sports, including in workplaces and social interactions. Understanding trash talk thus offers valuable lessons on how to perform under pressure and navigate interpersonal challenges.
- Research Depth and Interdisciplinary Approach: Kohen’s investigative process, including time spent with military trainers and special forces, reflects the interdisciplinary nature of studying trash talk, merging performance psychology, history, linguistics, and philosophy. This approach enriches our comprehension of trash talk as a complex, multifaceted phenomenon.
- Trash Talk’s Cultural Soundtrack: The connection between trash talk and hip-hop culture in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly artists like NWA and Ice Cube, illustrates how verbal bravado in sports is intertwined with broader cultural expressions of identity, competition, and resistance.
ConclusionRafi Kohen’s Trash Talk offers a pioneering exploration of an underappreciated aspect of sports and human interaction. By unpacking the psychology, ethics, cultural significance, and historical roots of trash talk, Kohen provides a richer understanding of how language shapes competition and performance. His insights extend beyond sports, offering valuable frameworks for handling stress, motivation, and social dynamics in many facets of life. This work challenges readers and sports fans to reconsider trash talk not as mere insults but as a complex, strategic, and deeply human phenomenon.
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44 min - Just A Cup - Adam Nemer, Simple Mental Health founder/CEOCHECK OUT SIMPLE MENTAL HEALTHHighlights
- Adam Nemer’s personal journey with undiagnosed depression and anxiety while leading at Kaiser Permanente.
- Mental health first aid training as a game-changer for leaders to spot and support struggling employees.
- Transparency about mental health in leadership boosts employee engagement and company performance.
- Mental health crisis spans industries, including sports, affecting all levels from grassroots to executives.
- Simple Mental Health teaches practical, five-minute conversations to normalize mental health support.
- Leadership is about accountability, empathy, and fostering high-performing, caring teams.
- Adam’s emphasis on lifelong learning and historical leadership insights shaping his approach.
Key Insights- The Power of Recognition and Early Intervention: Adam’s story vividly illustrates how mental health issues can remain hidden even in high-functioning leaders. The intervention by a single informed colleague, trained in mental health first aid, was pivotal. This underscores how crucial it is for organizations to equip employees and leaders with the knowledge to recognize warning signs and act compassionately early on, potentially saving careers and lives.
- Economic Impact of Untreated Mental Illness: Depression and poor mental health dramatically reduce productivity—up to 35% lost output for those struggling with depression alone. Additionally, those with poor mental health have significantly more unplanned absences. This challenges organizations to view mental health not only as a wellness issue but as a critical business imperative with measurable financial consequences.
- Leadership Transparency Transforms Culture: Adam’s experience of openly sharing his mental health challenges changed not only his own well-being but also the entire organizational climate. When senior leaders are vulnerable and authentic, it dismantles stigma, encourages others to seek help, and fosters a culture of trust and engagement, leading to improved performance metrics and employee satisfaction.
- ️ Mental Health Crisis in Sports Mirrors Broader Societal Trends: The sporting ecosystem faces intense mental health challenges due to increased pressures, safety concerns, and parental stress. This highlights that mental health is not isolated to traditional workplaces but is a societal issue that requires tailored interventions across all sectors, including sports, to support individuals at every level.
- ️ Simplicity and Practicality in Mental Health Training: The success of Simple Mental Health’s approach lies in its simplicity—teaching people to recognize signs, approach conversations non-judgmentally, and guide individuals to resources in just a few hours of training. This demystifies mental health support, making it accessible and actionable for busy workplaces, and proves that impactful change doesn’t require complicated programs.
- Leadership as Accountability for People’s Lives: Adam’s story about the executive he helped transition out of the company reveals a profound truth about leadership: decisions impact not just employees but their families and communities. True leadership requires empathy, responsibility, and a long-term view of well-being beyond immediate business results.
- Lifelong Learning and Historical Perspective Enhance Leadership:Adam draws inspiration from historical figures and non-business literature to inform his leadership style. This broad perspective fosters humility, wisdom, and adaptability, crucial qualities for modern leaders navigating complex human challenges like mental health.
ConclusionThis episode offers a compelling blend of personal narrative, practical guidance, and leadership philosophy centered on mental health in the workplace and beyond. Adam Nemer’s journey from silent suffering to vocal advocacy exemplifies the transformative impact of mental health literacy and compassionate leadership. His Simple Mental Health program provides a scalable, straightforward framework empowering leaders to recognize distress, engage empathetically, and foster environments where mental well-being is normalized. The insights shared are invaluable for anyone interested in improving workplace culture, boosting performance, and addressing the pervasive mental health challenges of our time with heart and humility.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
53 min - Just A Cup - Scott Birnbaum, Booster co-founderChecK out booster.clubHighlights
- 🏆 Scott Birnbaum transitioned from managing billion-dollar marketing spends to innovating sports fundraising with Booster.
- 🏫 Traditional high school sports fundraising is fragmented, inefficient, and time-consuming for coaches.
- 💡 Booster offers a subscription-based, private community platform that connects fans with teams through exclusive content and year-round engagement.
- 🏈 NIL deals are mostly limited to a small percentage of top college athletes; Booster supports the other 99% by helping build loyal, local fan bases.
- ⚽ Booster fosters authentic storytelling by athletes, sharing their full journey—not just highlights—to deepen fan connections.
- 📈 Booster’s model offers predictable, recurring revenue that reduces pressure on coaches and supports sustainable program funding.
- 🚀 Scaling Booster involves challenges of educating stakeholders about a new fundraising paradigm but holds promise for transforming youth sports funding.
Key Insights- 🔍 The Broken Fundraising Model in High School Sports: Traditional fundraising relies heavily on product sales (e.g., popcorn, mulch) and limited campaign windows that demand significant time from coaches, who often juggle coaching and fundraising without adequate support. This inefficiency leads to suboptimal results and coach burnout. Booster’s model reduces this burden by transforming fundraising into a continuous, community-driven subscription service, allowing coaches to focus more on coaching. This shift modernizes fundraising and addresses a critical pain point.
- 🤝 Community as the Foundation of Sustainable Support: Booster emphasizes building a private, invite-only community around teams, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose among family, friends, and local supporters. Unlike generic donation asks or impersonal product sales, this approach creates ongoing engagement and emotional investment, encouraging fans to commit monthly and feel directly connected to the athletes’ journeys. This model capitalizes on human connection as a driver for sustained financial support.
- 📅 Predictability and Year-Round Fundraising: The subscription-based model provides predictable monthly revenue streams, enabling coaches to budget confidently throughout the year. This contrasts sharply with seasonal fundraising campaigns that create cash flow gaps and distract from training periods. Year-round fundraising also allows supporters to join at any time, expanding potential donor pools and smoothing funding volatility.
- ⚖️ NIL Realities vs. Perceptions: The episode clarifies widespread misconceptions about NIL, noting that only a small elite subset of athletes—mainly in high-profile sports and top programs—secure lucrative brand deals. Most athletes, including those in non-revenue sports, face significant financial challenges with few endorsement opportunities. Booster addresses this gap by helping athletes build and monetize their local fan bases, creating consistent support that complements or substitutes the traditional NIL model.
- 🎥 Authentic Athlete Storytelling Enhances Fan Engagement: Booster encourages athletes to share the raw, unpolished side of their sports journey—including struggles, training grind, and setbacks—rather than just polished highlight reels typical of Instagram. This authenticity resonates with fans, making their support feel more meaningful and personal. It also demystifies the athletic experience and builds deeper relationships that can translate into sustained financial backing.
- 🌱 Extending Support Beyond High School: Booster’s vision includes supporting athletes from youth sports through college and potentially beyond, providing a platform to maintain fan connectivity as athletes progress. This continuity is valuable because tracking an athlete’s journey after high school can be difficult, especially for non-revenue sports. Booster’s ecosystem supports lifetime engagement and fundraising potential, bridging gaps between levels of competition.
- 🚧 Startup Challenges and Visionary Leadership: Scott highlights the difficulty of introducing a novel concept in a traditional space with entrenched fundraising methods. Educating stakeholders and conveying the new model’s value is an ongoing effort requiring pilot programs, user feedback, and case studies. This underscores the importance of adaptability and customer-centric development in sports tech startups aiming to disrupt legacy systems.
- ⚽ Broad Applicability Across Sports and Activities: While Booster originated to address high school sports fundraising, the platform’s model is adaptable to a wide range of organized activities, including non-athletic programs like debate or band, and youth leagues such as Little League. This versatility expands Booster’s potential market and impact by supporting diverse extracurricular endeavors that face similar funding challenges.
- 📈 The Growing Need for Sports Fundraising Solutions: With the rising costs of youth and high school sports—including equipment, travel, and nutrition—funding challenges are intensifying. Booster’s approach addresses an expanding market need, driven by increased athletic participation and program demands. Sustainable, community-based fundraising solutions like Booster will be crucial to ensuring access and opportunity for future generations of athletes.
ConclusionThis conversation provides a comprehensive look at how Booster is innovating sports fundraising by leveraging community, subscription models, and authentic engagement. It also sheds light on the complex realities of NIL and the financial pressures facing youth and high school sports. Booster’s vision to create a sustainable, modern fundraising ecosystem has the potential to ease burdens on coaches, deepen fan connections, and provide critical financial support to athletes throughout their careers. This episode is a valuable resource for coaches, athletes, sports administrators, and anyone interested in the future of sports funding and athlete empowerment.
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38 min - Just A Cup - Greg Hipp, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Senior Director of Operations & Workforce Management at Chicago Event ManagementHighlights
- 🏃♂️ Greg Hipp leads operations and workforce management for Chicago Event Management, orchestrating some of the biggest races in the U.S.
- 🏙️ The Bank of America Chicago Marathon involves over 44 full-time staff, 1,200 event staff on race day, and more than 10,000 volunteers during marathon week.
- 💼 Planning for the marathon is a year-round effort, with some preparations for future events starting immediately after the current race.
- 🚧 Closing down Chicago’s streets for race events requires deep collaboration and trust with city agencies, police, fire departments, and emergency management.
- 🌍 The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the second-largest marathon in the U.S. and among the top five worldwide, with over 52,000 runners on race day.
- ❤️ Community and volunteerism are central to the culture of road racing, with volunteers raising over $36 million for charity during marathon weekend.
- 💡 CEM continually innovates to improve the race experience, with new production elements and technology being introduced each year.
Key Insights- 🔧 Complexity of Large-Scale Event Management: In-depth Analysis
Managing an event as massive as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon requires intricate coordination of thousands of people, supplies, and city infrastructure. Greg describes this as building a “small city in a park” for a few weeks, involving months of meticulous planning. This highlights the multifaceted nature of event logistics, from securing permits and coordinating with city agencies to managing volunteers and ensuring runner safety. The scale of operations exemplifies how event management combines project management, urban planning, and community engagement.- 🤝 Importance of Relationship Building with City Agencies
The ability to shut down major city streets and reroute traffic depends heavily on trusted relationships with city officials, police, and emergency services. Greg emphasizes that these partnerships are not taken for granted but are nurtured over decades by CEM leadership. This insight reveals that beyond logistics and planning, soft skills like negotiation, communication, and trust-building are critical to successfully executing large urban events.- 🌱 Running Community’s Role in Sustaining the Sport
The resurgence of neighborhood-centric running groups, especially post-pandemic, fuels the growth of the sport and brings new runners into the fold. Greg points out that local running communities provide social connection, motivation, and a pathway for first-timers to eventually participate in marathons. This reflects a broader trend in fitness culture where smaller, localized groups create a strong grassroots foundation that supports larger events and the industry.- 📈 Balancing Growth with Quality in Event Scale
Although the Bank of America Chicago Marathon could accept many more entrants, CEM deliberately limits growth to maintain a high-quality experience. Greg discusses how their ownership focuses on operational excellence rather than just participant numbers. This highlights the strategic trade-offs event organizers must make between expansion and maintaining brand reputation, participant satisfaction, and logistical feasibility.- 💪 Transferable Skills from Coaching to Event Operations
Greg’s transition from college coaching to event management reveals how leadership, people management, and a strong work ethic are universally valuable. His coaching background brings a competitive mindset and problem-solving approach to race operations, underscoring that these skills can be leveraged in diverse career paths. This insight encourages professionals to recognize and market their transferable competencies when shifting industries.- 💵 Economic Impact of the Chicago Marathon
The marathon generates approximately $638 million in economic impact for Chicago, driven by the influx of out-of-town visitors who stay in hotels, dine in restaurants, and engage in local tourism. This underscores the value of major sporting events beyond athletics, positioning them as significant catalysts for urban economic development and cultural tourism.- 🎯 Volunteerism as a Cornerstone of Road Racing Culture
Volunteers are vital to the success of running events, contributing to everything from logistics to creating a welcoming atmosphere. Greg notes that volunteers are motivated by community, cause-driven fundraising, and the unique experience of being part of a landmark event. This highlights how volunteer engagement is both a cultural and operational pillar, fostering a symbiotic relationship between races and their communities.ConclusionGreg Hipp’s perspective provides a comprehensive look into the operational heartbeat of some of the largest and most beloved road races in America. His deep knowledge, drawn from years of coaching and event management, reveals how passion, precision, and partnerships come together to create experiences that inspire and unite runners worldwide. The episode also sheds light on the economic, social, and cultural impact of events like the Chicago Marathon, underpinning their significance far beyond the finish line. Aspiring professionals and running enthusiasts alike gain valuable insights into what it truly takes to make race day magic happen.
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38 min
About Just A Cup
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to Just A Cup—the quick, candid show where athletes, coaches, founders, and performance pros share real stories and practical takeaways you can use today. Host Bryan Fetzer (coach, co-founder of PsyOPTIMAL, and high-performance consultant) sits down for smart, no-fluff conversations on mindset, leadership, training, recovery, and the business of sport. It’s like grabbing a coffee with someone who’s been there—and actually asks the questions you would.
New episodes drop regularly with clear highlights, timestamps, and links to dig deeper. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and let’s get better—one cup at a time.