Sawyer Business School Amplification Avenue Podcast presented by Suffolk University

The year 2021 was another in which sports seemed to be at the tip of the spear on issues relating to abuse. Over the past year, we have seen new allegations of abuse in the NHL, NWSL and the NFL. The Larry Nassar-USA Gymnastics sex abuse case also continued to make news. In this conversation, former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, himself a victim of abuse, and his fellow Respect Group Inc. founder Wayne McNeil discuss their work helping sports organizations and businesses of all kinds combat abuse, discrimination, bullying, and harassment.

The Beijing 22 Olympics are underway. In the run up to these games, the US State Department accused China of committing genocide in its treatment of Uyghur Muslim, and the US, Canada, the UK and Australia led a diplomatic boycott of the games. Long after the games end, issues surrounding China’s treatment of Tibetans, its crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong and its relationship with Taiwan will continue to make news. 

In the first episode of Season 2 of the Sawyer Business School Amplification Avenue Podcast, host Skip Perham of Suffolk University talks with Mujde Yuskel, Suffolk University Associate Marketing Professor, and the Sports Business Journal’s Chris Smith discuss the dilemma that at the current crop of Olympics sponsors are facing in activating their partnership during this cycle.

In episode 5 of the Sawyer Business School Amplification Ave Podcast, host Skip Perham of Suffolk University hosts a roundtable discussion with three members of the Boston Athletic Association’s (BAA) Boston Running Collaborative which is working to make running more inclusive. As the organizer of the legendary Boston Marathon, the BAA is one of the biggest names in the sport of running.

Intro to the podcast: 0:00:44 - Skip talks about his interest in running and how, in the wake of the Ahmaud Arbery killing, he has started to consider the things that he takes for granted as a runner.

The Agenda  0:03:12 - Three members of the BAA’s Boston Running Collaborative Steering Committee, Adrienne Benton, Jeff Davis and Suzanne Jones Walmsley, discuss their efforts to grow the sport.

Outro - 0:29:40 - Where to find future episodes, credits and thanks.

In episode 4 of the Sawyer Business School Amplification Ave Podcast, host Skip Perham of Suffolk University hosts a roundtable discussion with Kristen Kuliga of Vanguard Sports Group, Kim Miale of Roc Nation Sports, and David-Ross Williamson of Williamson and Melendez to talk about the voice of today’s athletes.

Intro to the podcast: 0:00:25 - Skip introduces the podcast and the topics to be covered in this episode.

Beyond the Pitch:  0:01:00 - Skip, producer Alex Caruso and Sawyer Business School Associate Dean Catherine McCabe share their opinion on whether the NBA should cease doing business in China and how the NHL can take leadership on the issue of sexual abuse in sports.

The Agenda: 0:16:16 - Perham, Kuliga, Miale and Williamson talk about the increasingly powerful voice of today’s athletes. The advent of social media and technology have given them new and powerful ways to build their own brands, support their brand partners, advocate for the values they care about, and increasingly monetize their careers outside their event.

Sub/Start/Cut - 0:50:58 - Caruso and McCabe return to share their insight on the people and issues they are following.

Outro: - 1:01:40 -  Where to find future episodes and thanks.

In episode 3 of the Sawyer Business School Amplification Avenue Podcast, host Skip Perham of Suffolk University goes one-on-one with Dave Hoffman, vice president of community engagement for the Boston Celtics and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation to talk about the first year of the club’s United for Social Justice initiative.

Intro to the podcast - 0:00:37 Skip introduces the podcast, what it is about, and the topics to be covered on this episode.

The Agenda - 0:01:20  In the height of the National Basketball League (NBA) bubble, the winningest franchise in the league, the Boston Celtics, launched a 10-year, $25 million campaign called Boston Celtics United for Social Justice. The campaign builds on the Celtics’ rich heritage of promoting equity on and off the court. Dave Hoffman of the Boston Celtics shares an update on where the initiative stands one year plus in.

Outro: 0:37:00 Where to find future episodes, thanking Dave Hoffman, Alex Caruso, Pyramid Thieves, closing.

In the second episode of the Amplification Avenue Podcast, host Skip Perham and producer Alex Caruso break down a variety of topics including:

Intro to the Podcast - 0:00:03 Skip introduces the podcast, what it is about, and the topics to be covered on this episode.

Beyond the Pitch - 0:01:35 Skip and Alex talk about the top headlines that highlight where sports and society intersect including:

-The NCAA announced that the Women’s Basketball Tournament would be branded as “March Madness”. This would appear to be an effort to increase equity in the women’s tournament.  Is this window dressing? Should the NCAA consider playing the Men’s and Women’s Final Four on the same weekend in the same city and build a co-ed mega event?

-MLB created a postseason branding campaign “Make It Major”. The campaign featured music from Lil’ Nas X and highlights the game’s youth.  The creative is the league’s most recent attempt to attract younger audiences. The branding is great but is it enough to save the game? What would be your ideas to improve baseball’s appeal with younger fans?

The Agenda - 0:11:24 Skip talks with Bryant McBride, a veteran of the hockey industry, a former VP at the NHL and producer of the acclaimed documentary Willie which chronicles the first black hockey player to skate in the NHL.

Start/Sub/Cut - 0:38:24 We talk winners and losers off the field of play:

-Brooklyn Nets telling Kyrie you are either all in or out

-Owner Dan Snyder said in a press release that while he took ownership of the problem, he “didn’t realize the extent of the problem.” perhaps he was referring the extend of the problem in the league

-NWSL Commissioner sitting on abuse crisis issues

-John Gruden getting fired for racist emails

-Dak Prescott’s return from severe injury

-Red Sox Playoff run

Outro: 0:44:12 Where to find future episodes, thanking Bryant McBride, Pyramid Thieves, closing

In the debut episode of the Amplification Avenue Podcast, host Skip Perham and producer Alex Caruso break down a variety of topics including:

Intro to the Podcast - 0:00:03 Skip introduces the podcast, what it is about, and the topics to be covered on this episode.

Beyond the Pitch - 0:04:18 Skip and Alex talk about the top headlines that highlight where sports and society intersect including:

- LSU signed a marketing deal with a sports book (Caesars) and a number of schools have turned on the taps to serve alcohol

-An unvaccinated Chris Sale was unavailable for the Red Sox during the hunt for a playoff spot and a number of players have missed games because of COVID issues.

The Agenda - 0:17:02 Skip talks with Tyler Maland the chief impact officer at the Concussion Legacy Foundation about their recently launched “Favre 4 Flag” public service campaign, their work to educate athletes, coaches and parents about CTE and their impact on promoting an understanding of mental health for athletes.

Start/Sub/Cut - 0:42:10 We talk winners and losers off the field of play:

-Fanatics’ takeover of the trading card industry.

-The US Soccer Federation just can't seem to get things right.

-The Premier League and where the US rights will end up

-Naomi Osaka stepping away from tennis for mental health reasons

-Urban Meyer’s poor handling of the Jaguars

-NBA over 90% vaccination rate before the season starts

Outro: 0:46:49 Where to find future episodes, thanking Tyler Maland, Pyramid Thieves, closing