Tricia Whitaker and Sydney Parrish welcome Mike Katic, former Indiana football offensive lineman and current Barstool personality, for one of the most entertaining Sideline Stories episodes yet.

Mike dives into Indiana football’s historic Big Ten Championship run, Fernando Mendoza’s emotional Heisman Trophy win, and why this season felt different inside the locker room. He also opens up about life after football, choosing media over the NFL, and how returning to IU completely changed his future.

Plus:
• Why Fernando Mendoza embodies everything the Heisman stands for
• How Coach Curt Cignetti transformed the culture of Indiana football overnight
• Mike’s viral rise at Barstool
• And the hilarious true story of how Mike accidentally introduced Sydney to her now-boyfriend

This episode is peak Hoosier chaos, heart, and humor.

Tricia Whitaker and Sydney Parrish sit down with Don Fischer, the iconic Voice of Indiana University football and men’s basketball for more than 50 years.

From his humble start unloading freight trains to becoming one of the most respected play-by-play broadcasters in America, Don shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories — including how he lied his way into his first job, the five-hour mentoring session that changed his life, and the moment he knew Kurt Cignetti was special.

Fischer also opens up about IU’s unforgettable football run, what makes Cignetti and Darian DeVries the perfect fits for Indiana, and how he’s preparing to call two IU games in one day at the Big Ten Championship.

If you love IU sports or want a masterclass in broadcasting, this is an all-time Sideline Stories episode.

🎙️ About Sideline Stories:
Hosted by Tricia Whitaker (Tampa Bay Rays reporter, Bally Sports) and Sydney Parrish (Indiana Basketball alum), Sideline Stories brings you real conversations from the world of sports — athletes, coaches, and broadcasters sharing their lives beyond the field.

🔔 Subscribe for more IU stories and insider interviews every week!

Tricia Whitaker and Sydney Parrish sit down with one of the most respected and recognizable voices in baseball — Lauren Shehadi of MLB Network and TBS.

Lauren opens up about her start in broadcasting (including sending 100 VHS tapes to land her first job!), her most chaotic on-air moments, and the lessons she’s learned covering the MLB postseason and March Madness.

She shares behind-the-scenes stories from Philadelphia, her advice for young reporters, and the mindset that keeps her calm under pressure (“appear like a duck — calm on top, paddling like crazy underneath”).

If you love sports storytelling and want to learn from one of the best in the business, this episode delivers.

Indiana AD Scott Dolson joins Tricia Whitaker and Sydney Parrish to talk all things Hoosiers. From the unforgettable bison mascot reveal to hiring Curt Cignetti and Darian DeVries, Dolson shares behind-the-scenes stories on IU football, basketball, and the rise of women’s sports. He also reflects on his days as a basketball manager under Bob Knight and even ranks Cignetti’s top five quotes. A must-listen for IU fans.

This week on Sideline Stories, Tricia and Sydney sit down with one of the most iconic voices in sports broadcasting — Joe Buck. From calling unforgettable World Series walk-offs to navigating the unprecedented moment of Damar Hamlin’s on-field collapse, Joe opens up about his journey from Indiana University student to the voice of Monday Night Football.

You’ll hear stories about:

• Joe's unconventional path through IU and how he landed his first major league gig

• What it really takes to prepare for a Monday Night Football broadcast

• His thoughts on staying silent in powerful sports moments — and when to speak

• Memories from the old Yankee Stadium, the Cubs’ World Series win, and The Masked Singer (yes, really)

• Why the DeMar Hamlin game was his most meaningful moment on air

Plus, Tricia and Sydney share their own early broadcasting struggles, swap stories on fake-it-til-you-make-it moments, and dig into what it really means to grow behind the mic.

🎧 Whether you're a student of the game, a fan of the craft, or just want to hear Joe Buck say “yes, I did The Masked Singer,” this episode is a must-listen.

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In this episode of Sideline Stories, Tricia and Sydney welcome their first-ever guest — and it’s a big one: six-time Olympic medalist and IU legend Lilly King. 🥇🥇

From her unforgettable rise to stardom in the 2016 Rio Olympics to her recent decision to retire from competitive swimming, Lilly opens up about the triumphs, the tension, and the transition into life beyond the pool.

💬 What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why she chose to retire on her own terms

• The full behind-the-scenes story of her viral 2016 Olympics moment

• What really happened between her and Yulia Efimova

• The moment she knew IU was the right place

• Her surprise on-deck engagement after Olympic Trials ❤️

• And what’s next as she steps into the next chapter

Whether you’re an IU fan, an aspiring athlete, or just love an unfiltered Olympic story, this episode is packed with heart, laughs, and legendary moments.

The debut episode of Sideline Stories with Tricia Whitaker and Sydney Parrish is here! On this inaugural edition of the show, Tricia and Syd introduce themselves to the audience and set the scene for what's to come in future episodes. They talk about the origins of the podcast, what sorts of guests they are planning on having on the show, and chat about some of their shared interests. Then the ladies engage in some rapid-fire questions to get to know each other better.

Sideline Stories is published by the Back Home Network. Produced by Galen Clavio.