In Episode 74 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with former Eldorado Eagles state champion and three-year UNM Lobo Cullen Neal, who is in his second season as Director of Player Development and Video Coordinator for the Rice Owls, who play in this week's Ball Dawgs Classic in Henderson, Nev., along with the UNM Lobos. We talk about basketball, including his time with and departure from the UNM Lobos, playing for his dad, Craig Neal, at UNM and how life is now as a father, husband and aspiring coach himself.

In Episode 73 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with former UNM Lobos hoops star Hugh Greenwood. The fan favorite, 4-year starter from Australia is back in Albuquerque visiting friends and the family of his Albuquerque-native wife, Kjiersten Straub, ahead of the upcoming Australia Football League season, where he will start his ninth season as a professionally footballer (playing "footie", not hoops and not American football). We talk his current sport, catching up with old friends and some fun memories of his time as a Lobo.

In Episode 72 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I joined Rob Dauster of the Feld of 68, as a guest on the debut show of the Mountain West Insider podcast for a season preview of the college basketball season ahead. We talk NCAA Tournament hopefuls in the conference, top players and top storylines for the 2023-24 season. The Field of 68's weekly Mountain West podcast is available on their YouTube page while this episode is also available as part of the Talking Grammer podcast.

In Episode 71 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we have a conversation with Jason Hooten, the new men's basketball coach of the New Mexico State Aggies. We talk with Jason about taking on a new job after 19 seasons at Sam Houston State, the unenviable task of rebuilding a program from scratch with an entirely new roster and coaching staff, he tells us about his family and he breaks down a little bit of what fans can expect on the court this season as NMSU tries to turn the page on the tumultuous season a year ago.

In Episode 70 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we have a conversation with Matt Flores, the third-year strength and conditioning coach of the UNM Lobo men's basketball team about what his job entails, his background as a player, Marine and father, and how it is working for the second time with head coach Richard Pitino. And who was on the McDonald's cheeseburger diet last year as the team desperately tried adding weight to one player's frame?

In Episode 69 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we have a conversation with Kurt Roth, the founder and president of the 505 Sports Venture Foundation, the collective spearheading college athlete compensation efforts for the University of New Mexico. We talk the law, the ever changing landscape of the NCAA's oversight, how Lobo athletes are taking advantage, recruiting and the relationship between the collective and UNM itself.

In Episode 68 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we have a conversation with Mr. Basketball in New Mexico, Brandon Mason, who played in the state for the NMSU Aggies and New Mexico Thunderbirds, coached collegiately with the UNM Lobos, NMSU Aggies and New Mexico Highlands and is now is the President and Coach of NCAA-accredited ABC Prep and dozens of youth club teams under the Albuquerque Basketball Club umbrella.

In Episode 67 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we have a conversation with UNM Director of Athletics Eddie Nuñez on his background as a college athlete, playing basketball with Nick Saban, coming to UNM at a time the athletics department was underneath a mountain of public and state scrutiny, the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, Name Image and Likeness, and the future of UNM Athletics, including basketball and football.

In Episode 66 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we have a conversation with all-Mountain West guard Jamal Mashburn Jr., the UNM Lobos' third-year captain who said he is in his "Deion mode" for the interview, donning sunglasses and talking about the season ahead, his bond with his famous father, how writing and reading helps his mental well-being and much more.

In Episode 65 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we have a conversation with new UNM Lobo men's basketball guard Jemarl Baker, Jr., one of four Division I transfers joining the team this season. Injuries have played a huge part in the playing career of Baker, who is entering his seventh season of college basketball, having previously played for Kentucky, Arizona and Fresno State. We talk about his family, his long career and his role this season with the Lobos.