My wife Tracey and I first met at the old Orlando Arena, while both working for the Magic. It was her first day as a marketing intern, and I was a sideline reporter for the Magic Radio Network. We couldn't have imagined what would follow over the next 28 years. A move to Connecticut for my dream job at ESPN, followed by an unexpected return to Florida for yet another gig, then a long stretch at Golf Channel that kept me on the road for weeks at a time, and now a new chapter for us as empty nesters where she's got the 9 to 5 and I'm building a business as a freelancer. Tracey has been front and center for all of it and remembers much more than I do. We discuss Vince Carter, the Backstreet Boys, why Boise is one of the best-kept secrets in North America, how the Magic franchise is inextricably tied to our life together, how we created wanderlust in our two grown kids, and how this third act has become an opportunity for learning. A little inside baseball? Sure. But it's a really fun conversation.

With 18 stores around the country and more in the pipeline, PopStroke is a tech-heavy, elevated mini-golf experience that goes way beyond the days of windmills and dinosaurs. Each location features 36 holes of custom-designed miniature golf, plus a full kitchen, outdoor activities, event space, and more. As President of Greens for PopStroke, Shane Robichaud works with a design and build team to create unique layouts at each new venue. PopStroke just opened a second location in Orlando in the summer of 2025, with plans for a third location in 2026 and more Florida venues in the works. Shane tells me how he went from engineering student at Georgia Tech to working in golf course design with Tom Fazio, and eventually to PopStroke.

The "Media Credentials" podcast is filled with stories and people from the Orlando Magic, my hometown NBA team and the first place I worked after college. Dante Marchitelli's path to the Magic was very similar to mine, in that he landed an internship in broadcasting that developed into a full-time role. The main difference between us? He never left. For over 25 years, Dante has been a fixture as a Magic producer and broadcaster on radio, television, and digital. He shares his arrival in Orlando from Massachusetts by way of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1998, when the NBA was under threat of a lockout. From that uncertainty to meeting his future wife and raising a family in Central Florida, Dante's got stories. Plus, we look ahead to the coming NBA season, when the Magic will face rising expectations.

David Steele was one of the very first employees of the Orlando Magic and now one of the longest tenured announcers in the NBA. He was the Magic's first radio announcer starting in 1989, eventually moving to television in 1998, where he currently works alongside former Magic player Jeff Turner. Before coming to Orlando, David served as the play-by-play voice of the Florida Gators and worked at local TV stations in the Southeast. His numerous accolades include induction into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2019, when he joined a roster that includes Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, and Dwight Howard. He's an ambassador for the franchise and a role model to many -- myself included.

Jeff Phillips and I worked together at ESPN for a brief spell in the 1990s, and while his career took more of a hard news direction, we have stayed in touch via social media. Never shy about his opinions -- and with a wealth of experience in local and national news organizations -- I knew he would be a wheelhouse guest for the pod. We cover his St. Louis Cardinals fandom, his thoughts on how sports coverage is changing, and his pivot away from broadcast media. We also take hard left turns into "fake news," local TV and radio, and the importance of maintaining meaningful connections to stay afloat in this industry.

My guest on this episode has a history in media that includes a move to Orlando in the early days of Golf Channel and Universal Studios, but his current path is something else entirely. Brendan Sweeney is the Director of Golf Media Relations and Player Development at the French Lick Resort in Indiana, home of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. His job is multifaceted, but you can call him a PR guy and builder of relationships. He owes his passion for golf to his early days in Chicago, where he caddied at famed Medinah Country Club, home to multiple majors and Ryder Cups. We talk Medinah, French Lick, the direction of golf, the influence of "influencers," and the power of storytelling.

My guest on the podcast is a man who wears many hats. David Moulton is a sports talk radio host, play-by-play guy, spotter for NCAA and NFL football games, and a veteran in the trenches of sports media. He co-hosts a syndicated show, "Miller and Moulton," which airs in multiple markets in the Southeast. I've been a guest on their show many times, usually during golf's major championships, and I was eager to return the favor. This conversation was not limited to golf. We talk about how to watch a football game, the future of the Tampa Bay Rays, the future of our industry, and how Hank Aaron jump-started David's career.

Ask Jeff Tracy what he does for a living, and prepare to be there a while. A veteran of radio, TV, and podcasting, Jeff is a man of many interests, including cooking barbeque and talking golf. He's created multiple syndicated radio programs and has appeared on countless television shows as a BBQ chef and golf expert. His podcast, "Grilling At The Green," combines those two passions, and I was lucky enough to be a guest. Was happy to return the favor as we discuss his diverse career, trends in media, and the state of our favorite game.

Nick Sherburne is the co-founder of Club Champion, the industry leader in golf club fitting centers with over 100 locations nationwide. While a teenager in Chicago, Nick took a job at famed Cog Hill and was there when the PGA Tour made its annual stop. He was fascinated by the manufacturers' tour fitting trailers and wondered if that level of technology and service could be made available to the recreational player. In this episode, we trace the history of his business and the philosophy that drives him, plus tackle some big picture topics in golf, including LIV, TGL, and the post-pandemic golf boom. Not precisely a "sports media" topic, but a fascinating discussion of the golf business and the power of staying true to a dream.

Mike Massaro's passion for auto racing took him from central Connecticut to tracks around the country as a reporter and host for ESPN, ABC Sports, and NBC. Moving from sports to local TV news in Hartford, Mike found himself at a career crossroads. After taking a hard look at his skills and interests and doing some networking, Mike took the leap in 2025 with a new role as Senior Director of Communications for RFK Racing, the powerhouse NASCAR team founded by the legendary Jack Roush. Mike and I worked together on ESPN2's "RPM 2Night" for several years, but had not been in touch until recently. Enjoy this trip down memory (victory?) lane.