The Benas Podcast

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke

Sponsors:

www.proballers.com

"Tim":

Tim has been a long-time friend of mine, we go way back to 2014 and ended up celebrating our 10year anniversary of our friendship in Colombia together, where this podcast was recorded. Tim has had experiences as a coach early on in his life as a 22 year old in Spain in the lower divisions, learned his ways without speaking much Spanish at the time. Tim has since coached at an elite level in Euroleague for Maccabi Tel Aviv as well as New Zealand National Team as an Assistant Coach and New Zealand domestic league as a Head Coach. He also was the G-League assistant at Delaware as well as the Head Coach at OTE before joining the BYU Basketball program this season.

Today, Tim told us all about his journey, from finding his way to the GLeague via email application to coaching at the World Cup in Spain in 2014 as an Assistant of the New Zealand National Team. He also shared the lessons he learned working under great Head Coaches such as Giannis Sfairopoulos at Maccabi Tel Aviv. Tim also shared his unique perspective on the rookie adjustment issues in Europe and many more topics that we talked about.

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as other platforms!

Topics:

#TimFanning #BYU #Israel #Spain #OTE #NewZealand #NCAABasketball #MaccabiTelAviv

Finding "Tim Fanning":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timfanning510/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELTim 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-fanning-6025b8b/ 

X: https://x.com/coach_team 

Website: www.hoopsenglish.com 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke

Sponsors:

www.proballers.com

"Damjan":

Damjan Rudež is a highly accomplished basketball player who played at all possible levels of basketball and has now ventured into the business side of things with the "Sunset Sports Festival". Damjan started his professional career in Belgium before returning to Croatia to play for Split and later various other teams in the Balkans before moving on to Zaragoza, Spain. Damjan was picked up by the Indiana Pacers in 2014 and played three years for three different teams before returning to Europe when signing with Valencia. 

Damjan also represented his Croatian flag in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Today, Damjan opened up about his struggles early on in his career in Oostende as well as his sliding door moment in his workout in front of all the Indiana Pacers staff. Damjan also talked about the struggles of retirement, creating his new identity as well as how him and his business partners started the Sunset Sports Festival, which has become a household event during the summer in Zadar, Croatia.

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as other platforms!

Topics:

#DamjanRudez #Retirement #Shooter #SunsetSportsFestival #Mindset 

Finding "Damjan Rudež":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damorudez9/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damjan-rude%C5%BE-b1456b235/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damjanrudez86 

X: https://x.com/Damjan_Rudez 

Event Website: https://sunsetsportsmedia.com/ 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke

Sponsors:

www.proballers.com

"Sye":

My good friend Simon Cote is not only a long time friend but also used to be a long time colleague in the world of coaching. After serving as an Assistant at SMU & University of Tennessee in the late 90s he decided to start his coaching career in Europe and worked with current World Champion Gordon Herbert in Frankfurt. He was part of the championship team there before becoming a Head Coach himself in Giessen. Simon has also a wealth of experience as an Assistant coach in different countries as well as being a NBA scout for the Denver Nuggets in the early 2000s.

Today we talked about the darker side of coaching, the part where you get fired and have to search for new opportunities in the world of basketball coaching. Simon talked about loss of identity and eventually about his transition out of the sport and into a completely new avenue, finance. 

Lots of valuable lessons in here for everyone on how to re-define yourself, finding new motivation in a completely new area of life and overcoming challenges that come with that. Leaving behind the sport you love is never easy, today you will hear Simon's story.

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as other platforms!

Topics:

#SimonCote #HeadCoach #Basketball #GettingFired #NewIdentity

Finding Simon Cote:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syeco777/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncote/ 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke 

Sponsors:

www.ProBallers.com

"So":

Sophia started her basketball journey together with me in Shreveport, Louisiana as an exchange student before she became a superstar at Baylor University. She took the Lady Bears to a National Championship and became the MVP of the Final Four before getting drafted by the San Antonio SilverStars and continuing her journey in the WNBA and later in various countries around Europe as well as in China! Sophia is currently an Assistant Coach with the Lady Bears program and is continuing her mentorship of young ladies in college as well as developing their on-court skills at the same time.

Today, "So" and me talked about her journey and the challenges along the way that she encountered while reaching her potential. We talked about the straining journey of a WNBA player and how to juggle playing all year around between WNBA & overseas, which at some point ended up in exhaustion and an ACL tear during her time in China. We also went into depth of her journey of retirement and trying to rediscover herself, building a new identity outside the court and finding new passions that she can pursue, including podcasting with her husband. 

Sophia is also a proud mother of two and enjoying life all together in Texas.

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as all audio platforms!!!

Topics:

(0:00) Intro

(2:25) 1st date with Sophia

(5:40) "Relationship & Reason" Podcast

(12:00) Foreign Exchange Student Life

(15:45) Difference between Confidence & Cockiness

(23:10) WNBA & Overseas Workload 

(32:00) Dealing with retirement

(41:20) Starting the coaching career

(45:00) Balancing Stress & Joy

(51:20) Unlearning old behaviors

(55:05) ATOs

#SophiaYoungMalcolm #SophiaYoung #NationalChampion #Baylor #WNBA #WomensBasketball

Finding "Sophia":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiayoungmalcolm/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.young.1466 

Twitter: https://x.com/sophiayoung33 

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ukVy0rgM8P6wAHx3UbbRO?si=632943f0287c459f 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke 

Sponsors:

www.ProBallers.com

"Micah":

Micah has a wealth of experience on the NCAA level as well as the NBA level with the Boston Celtics where he spent 6 years as an Assistant Coach to Brad Stevens. Prior to that Micah already served as an Assistant at Butler and Purdue before joining the Celtics in 2013. After his NBA stint, Micah decided to go back to Purdue as an Assistant once again before taking the Penn State Head Coaching job in 2021. In 2023, Micah joined he Fighting Irish and is currently going into his second season as their Head Coach!

Today, Micah and me kicked off the conversation talking about what it feels like to coach his son and how to maintain a healthy balance between the two roles. We went on to touch on the main differences between coaching NBA vs coaching NCAA players, differences in communication styles, lessons that he learned from being an Assistant Coach that he applies to his current Head Coaching job. We also talked about how he manages the load on his staff, what he expects from his Assistants and what he noticed in attention span of players over the span of his career.

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as all audio platforms!!!

Topics:

#MicahShrewsberry #NotreDameMBB #NotreDame #NCAA #NBA #Coach

Finding "Micah":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_shrews/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Coach_Shrews 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

#61 Paulius Jankunas (LT) - Ką daro komandos kapitonas?

Jeigu norite paremti šį podcastą, tai galite padaryti per nuorodą žemiau. Būsiu labai dėkingas!

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke 

Rėmėjas #1: www.Proballers.com

Rėmėjas #2: www.forestdomes.lt

10% Nuolaidos kodas: BENAS10

"Jankis":

Šiandienos svečio ilgai pristatinėti nereikia - Pauliaus Jankūno vardas daug kartų nuskambėjo ir vis dar skamba Žalgirio Arenoje. Beveik visą savo profesionalią karjerą praleidęs Žalgiryje ir su juo laimejęs 15 LKL titulų bei 5 kartus tapęs Karaliaus Mindaugo taurės nugaletoju, Paulius šiandien apsilankė mano podcaste. 

Šalia visų vietinių, asmeninių pasiekimų ir kitų apdovanojimų Paulius gali pasigirti ir trimis medaliais, iškovotais su Lietuvos krepšinio rinktine. Bet šiandien visgi nekalbėsim apie titulus, o analizuosim kelią tų titulų link ir kokie niuansai nulėmė sėkmę.

Su Pauliumi mes aptarsim jo būdus susikoncentruoti ir atsiriboti nuo išblaškančių aplinkybių; apie tai, kokius dalykus apie varžovų stiprybes ir silpnybes išgirsti prieš rungtynes iš skautų ir asistentų žaidėjui būna svarbu; paliesime, kokios tos kapitono pareigos iš tikrųjų yra ir ko tiksliai jos reikalauja. Paulius pasidalins, į ką daugiausiai kreipė dėmesio būdamas kapitonas ir kaip stengėsi padėti naujai atvykusiems komandos žaidėjams, ypatingą dėmesį skirdamas iš užsienio atvykusiems žaidėjams ir jų integracijai Lietuvoje. Kalbėjome ir apie komandos rūbinės privatumą, dabartines Pauliaus pareigas ir į ką jis kreipia dėmesį stebėdamas treniruočių procesą iš šalies.

Šis pokalbis taip pat ypatingas, nes aptarėm ir gyvenimo vertybes bei kitas temas, apie kurias rečiau teko girdėti ankstesniuose podcastuose.

Jeigu pokalbis jums patiko, prašau juo pasidalinti! O jei mano podcaste norite dažniau matyti svečius ir pokalbius iš viso pasaulio - prenumeruokite ir nepraleiskite naujų epizodų.

Topics:

#PauliusJankunas #Jankis #Kapitonas #Zalgiris #Krepsinis #Kaunas

Finding "Jankis":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jankunas_paulius/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulius.jankunas.1 

LinkedIn (Žalgiris): https://www.linkedin.com/company/bc-zalgiris-kaunas/ 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

LinkedIn:

www.bmatke.com 

Martin Kuchalik - Business Communication vs Sports Communication (EP59)

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke 

Sponsors:

www.ProBallers.com 

"Martin":

Not many people in the sports business know who Martin Kuchalik is but the people who work with him truly appreciate his knowledge and view on things. Martin is a communication expert and is hired by companies to observe and improve internal communication especially when taking the vertical communication from management down to its employees. The goal is always to create a platform of understanding each other better and cooperating in order to reach common goals...just as in sports.

Today, I tried to combine the two worlds and bridge the gap between the business world of communication and my basketball world, especially within the coach's locker-room as well as the dynamic between coaches & players. 

We talked a lot about trust-based communication, brutal honesty vs honesty with empathy, how to ask powerful and open ended questions, cultural differences within a company and how to help understand each other better, how to deal with manipulation as well as patronization at the work-place and much more.

My favorite episode to say the least, we totally geeked out :)

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as all audio platforms!!!

Topics:

#MartinKuchalik #Communication #BusinessCommunication #SportsCommunication

Finding "Martin":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martin_kuchalik/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martin.kuchalik 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-kuchalik/ 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke 

Sponsors:

www.ProBallers.com 

"AntGoods":

Anthony is a former professional basketball player who played in a lot of different places around the world. He played four years at Stanford before transitioning to the DLeague at the time, making his way to Italy later on before coming back to the DLeague again. Later, he finally decided to take his talents to Europe as well as South America and played in countries such as Ukraine, France, Israel, Venezuela, Dominican Republic as well as Kosovo where he ended up finishing his career in 2020.

Today, Ant shared his experience of playing in Venezuela and how he almost got kidnapped upon arrival, his path throughout Europe and how open he was to new cultures and new experiences before deciding to retire. We also talked about our life as scouts on the road and the life in hotels and the challenge of finding a routine. Anthony also talked about the beginnings of "Swishcultures" and how he goes about living out his creative side of things, while also being productive in everything he does. 

A multi-faceted personality with a variety of experiences and lots of fascinating stories to tell.

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as all audio platforms!!!

Topics:

(0:00) Intro

(2:30) Getting Robbed in Barcelona

(10:00) Routine on the road / Workouts

(19:30) Balancing Work&Social Life

(25:30) Can You Be An Introvert & Be A Scout?

(29:30) Dealing with Rejection & Women

(35:30) High Demand Personalities

(46:45) ProBallers.com

(54:30) Venezuela Experience

(1:00:50) Cultural Adaptation

(1:05:50) Life Post Retirement

(1:12:00) "Swishcultures" & Other Passions

(1:23:55) Scouting vs Coaching

(1:28:15) ATOs

#AnthonyGoods #AntGoods #Swishcultures #ExPlayer #Retirement #Stanford 

Finding "Ant":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antgoods87/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntGoods 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.goods.54 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-goods-826b2845/ 

Swishcultures:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swishcultures/ 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke 

"Eskedar":

Eskedar is a good friend of mine and has been living in Vilnius first as a refugee before finally becoming a Lithuanian citizen. Today she shared her crazy and unique story of how she escaped an oppressive government in Ethiopia 19 years ago, got tangled up in an even more restrictive government in Khartoum (Sudan) until civil war broke out before ending up in jail in Lybia and then taking a boat to Malta to finally enjoy her freedom. She did this final journey while being pregnant and ended up in Lithuania with her boyfriend at that time. Meanwhile, Eskedar enjoys her freedom in Lithuania for 17 years now, is politically active and shares her story as inspiration for all people around Lithuania that anything is possible while also being a business woman in Vilnius. 

Eskedar is running several Cafes in Vilnius where she is selling her locally roasted coffee beans from different countries in Africa & inviting people to traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremonies while creating her own community based on her native Ethiopian hospitality traits.

If you need an inspirational story as well as a good laugh and a new place to taste some Ethiopian Coffee in Vilnius, check this episode out and share it with friends who love coffee as much as we do!

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as all audio platforms!!!

Topics:

#Eskedar #Ethiopia #Ethiopiancoffee #Coffee #Vilnius #CoffeeinVilnius #EthiopianBeans #Lithuania 

Finding "Eskedar":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esked_ar/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eskedarcoffeebar/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eskedarcoffee/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eskedarcoffeeterrace/ 

Website: http://www.eskedarcoffee.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EskedarTila

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eskedarcoffee 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eskedarcoffeebar 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eskedar-tilahun-ma%C5%A1tavi%C4%8Dien%C4%97-41207668/ 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com 

If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):

https://www.patreon.com/bmatke 

Sponsors:

www.ProBallers.com 

"Cuzzo":

Francesco Cuzzolin is currently the Head of Performance at EA7 Armani Milano and has a wealth of experience in the field of Strength & Conditioning. He became the first Strength & Conditioning coach in the NBA when he started to work for the Toronto Raptors. Besides clubs he also worked with Italy's & Russia's Basketball National Team and is also serving as a consultant to Technogym as well as the ELPA (Euroleague Player's Association). Cuzzo also serves a role in education when he holds lectures at the University of Murcia as well as Sevilla.

Today we covered a variety of topics in my longest podcast yet. We talked from the importance of sharing information amongst peers, finding information from outside your field and applying it to your daily job. I was also curious on what coaches and scouts have to do in order to be pro-active against prolonged sitting and hurting their backs. Weightlifting for players, the recovery process after games and many more topics that are important to athletes, coaches & staff!

Please Share, Comment & Like this episode on YouTube as well as all audio platforms!!!

Topics:

(0:00) Intro

(3:00) Sharing Ideas & Communication

(16:30) NBA (Raptors) vs Europe

(26:00) Multi-Tasking & Organizing yourself

(35:00) Learning New Information

(39:00) Physical Health of Coaching Staff

(50:40) ProBallers.com

(59:40) Data Analysis & Value of Sleep

(1:08:10) Weightlifting During Season

(1:12:45) Preparation Common Mistakes 

(1:19:50) Studies on Music & Frequency

(1:25:45) ATOs

#Cuzzo #PerformanceCoach #HeadofPerformance #Milano #ArmaniMilano #Euroleague #NBA #NationalTeamBasketball #ItalyBasketball 

Finding "Cuzzo":

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fracuzzolin/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fcuzzolin 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francesco.cuzzolin.3 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-cuzzolin-phd-b8485427/ 

Finding “The Benas Podcast”:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast

…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.

Comment, Like & Share here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3

www.bmatke.com