SmarterU

Legendary Los Angeles Entrepreneur Mark Verge joins host Steve Lipscomb to share lessons from building West Side Rentals and working across restaurants, entertainment, and even a stint as CEO of the Santa Anita Racetrack. They discuss teaching as a way to learn, resilience and failure, practical ways to test a business idea, the importance of team and community, athlete mental health, and why community college can be a smart path.

DJ Jacobs, Executive Vice President of Business Operations at Sony Pictures Entertainment joins Steve to talk about how movies, entertainment, and technology have evolved over the last 20 years. They discuss DJ's diverse experiences at Hollywoods best-in-class, innovative entertainment companies from MRC (Ted, House of Cards), to Hearbeat (Kevin Hart) and Video Game Giant Riot Games. DJ shares is inside view re: how industry dynamics, technology, and strategic thinking shape the future of content creation and distribution.

Beth Caldarello spent years building a successful career in real estate. Today, she leads The Agency Santa Fe, bringing together a boutique approach, a strong sense of community, and one memorable rule for the business: “No assholes.” She joins World Poker Tour creator Steve Lipscomb on SmarterUmedia to talk about what it takes to build a business—and what can surprise you along the way. Beth shares how she manages client expectations, why community matters so much in real estate, and how she chose a franchise model that gave her both support and room to lead. From women’s entrepreneurship and finding freedom in business ownership to technology and AI’s future in real estate, Beth’s story offers practical lessons in stamina, patience, and building a business around the way you want to work.

Steven Amato is the Founder and CEO of Advertising/ Marketing Powerhouse Contend; He is credited with helping transform Advertising in Web1 and Web2; Currently doing the same as Web3 and Ai become predominant. In this episode, Steven joins SmarterUmedia host Steven Lipscomb to discuss Advertising in the new era and the impact technology is having on our lives. Steven shares insights on how humanity can navigate the chaotic and fragmented world through curiosity, presence, and leveraging AI and Web3 technologies. We explore the future of advertising, community building, and the importance of hope and collective action.

Matt Manasse ("Pickleball McNasty"), has helped put Pickelball on the map. Known as the Celebrity Coach to the Stars he has brought stars to the game from Jamie Fox to Matthew McConaughey to Drew Brees, Andre Agassi, Larry David, Ari Emanual, Brian Grazer and Emma Watson.

He Joins World Poker Tour Creator, Steve Lipscomb, on SmarterUmedia to talk about how it is possible to launch and grow a new sport, how the momentum feels when things start to blow up, and how to remain a part of the movement.

From Tennis prodigy to tennis coach to COVID shutdown victim, Matt's Story is inspiring, with so many lessons for all of us when it comes to finding our way. He continues to be a key figure in the rapid growth of pickleball, with his own show on Pickleball TV. On the episode, we explore community building, entrepreneurial energy, and the sport's future, including its potential Olympic inclusion.

Leo Olebe is the Godfather of video gaming. He has headed the video gaming worlds at Disney, Xbox, Facebook, Google and YouTube, working on over a hundred games and becoming one of the seminal figures of a marketplace which boasts the largest entertainment audience in history. He joins Steve to discuss making the world a better place one game at a time through their shared work on Gamers.Vote and Leo's important global efforts with Games For Change.

Tom Purcell is one of the most prolific comedic forces of this generation. He has been called Stephen Colbert's "Muse and Alter Ego in Nerdiness", and is undeniably one of the architects modern Late Night television. 21 years as writer, executive producer and show runner of the Colbert Report and Late Night With Stephen Colbert, we sat down with Tom just after Late Night ended to discuss the journey, what makes comedy funny, how they managed to stay funny and relevant for decades, and what might be next in the life of this comedic savant.

Sports betting is exploding. And, nobody knows that world better than David Bockino, author of Over/Under: An Unexpected History of Sports Betting, the book that the New York Times Book Review called one of the most anticipated non-fiction books of 2026. Bockino spent 8 years as an ESPN executive and 10 years as a Professor of Sports Management at Elon University. In this episode, we explore the deep history of sports betting, its integral role in the development of American sports, and the complex legal and cultural landscape shaping its future. Discover how betting has been intertwined with sports from the very beginning and what that means for the industry today.

Emily Potts is the Founder and CEO of EPS Strategies. She is a rising communications star in the Lone Star State. In this practical and powerful episode, Emily shows us how to start, grow, and build our own personal and corporate brands.

key topics

The true scope of public relations beyond press releases The importance of reputation management and trust building Leveraging earned media and owned content for visibility The impact of AI on media and search engine optimization Strategies for consistent messaging and audience engagement The role of storytelling in personal and corporate branding Adapting to the evolving digital ecosystem and social media Ethical considerations and integrity in PR practices \

takeaways

Public relations is about reputation management, not just press releases. Consistent, authentic storytelling builds trust and brand loyalty. Earned media is more credible and valuable than paid advertising. AI is transforming how we find and engage with audiences. Building relationships over time is key to successful PR. Small organizations can compete by focusing on niche audiences. Authenticity and integrity are crucial for long-term success. A well-maintained news ecosystem enhances visibility. PR is a long-term investment, like gardening. Understanding your audience and where they consume content is vital.

Trusted Chiropractor for the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars for over 30 years, Mary Collings shares insights on the importance of recovery, sleep, and posture for overall health and athletic performance. Discover practical tips to improve your sleep environment, daily habits, and understanding of the body's natural rhythms. sleep, recovery, posture, circadian rhythm, athletic performance, health tips, chiropractic, stress management key topics The role of sleep in recovery and health Impact of posture and footwear on spinal health Understanding and leveraging circadian rhythms Micro habits to improve sleep and daily well-being The importance of environment and routine in health key frameworks Circadian Rhythm Model Micro Habits for Sleep Improvement action items Get sunlight in the morning to reset your circadian clock Create a sleep-friendly environment by reducing blue light and screens Practice micro habits like walking backwards and stretching during the day Adjust your workspace and sleep setup for better posture and support