Joe Favorito sits down with Mark Neifeld, the Founder, and current Commissioner & CEO of the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), for a conversation about how an emerging league can scale into a global sports property. Neifeld explains how he went from working in the NHL, NFL, MLB, and collegiate athletics to identifying a massive opportunity hiding in plain sight: more Americans fish than play golf and tennis combined. Neifeld breaks down how SFC built a media-first, live-broadcast product by using modern technology to stream directly from the ocean. He discusses the league’s team-ownership model, featuring names like Scottie Scheffler, Raheem Mostert, Randy Moss, and Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley, as well as the structure of a season, from hospitality-focused events to hosting championships in Cabo San Lucas and beyond. He also reveals SFC’s global ambitions, including planned expansion into Australia and the Persian Gulf, the launch of a major new studio venture in Fort Worth, and why fishing’s massive participation base, loyal sponsors, and deep regional roots create a uniquely scalable product.

Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markeneifeld/

Mark’s Profile: https://www.sportfishingchampionship.com/mark-neifeld

The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Sydney Cristall, Emily Kim, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome longtime college football coach and current ESPN/ACC Network analyst as well as Executive Affiliate at the Wake Forest School of Business, Dave Clawson for a wide-ranging conversation on how big-time college football is being transformed by NIL, the transfer portal, and donor influence. Clawson traces his journey from Fordham, Richmond, and Bowling Green to an 11-year run at Wake Forest, and explains why he ultimately chose to step away from the sideline. He breaks down how donors have effectively become “team owners,” why some players now treat college like true free agency, and what a future split between “professionalized” programs and everyone else might look like. Clawson also dives into the rise of sports science and analytics, from Catapult data and sleep tracking to hiring specialists to make sense of the numbers, while stressing why relationships, character, and a genuine love of the game still matter.

Follow Dave: https://x.com/CoachClawson

The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Sydney Cristall, Emily Kim, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe Favorito welcomes Columbia Sports Management Program alumna, and content creator, Aliyah Funschelle for an in-depth conversation on the intersection of women’s sports, digital storytelling, and the growing creator economy on social media. As a sports reporter, and the founder of Sports With Aliyah, she discusses her journey from Wichita State to Columbia, and how she turned her passion for women’s sports into a thriving multimedia business. Funschelle shares how authenticity, community building, and showing up both online and in person have helped her collaborate with major brands like DoorDash, Dove, and Sephora, while growing an engaged fan base across the WNBA, NWSL, and others. She emphasizes the importance of posting content that you wouldn’t be able to see on a traditional broadcast, but rather the uncut and uncensored moments that fans truly enjoy.

Follow: https://www.instagram.com/aliyahfunschelle/?hl=en

Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliyahfunschelle/

The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry, LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Sydney Cristall, Emily Kim, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome Kati Fernandez, Chief Content Officer at TOGETHXR, for a conversation on leadership, innovation, and the fast-changing world of sports media. A former ESPN executive, Fernandez talks about how women’s sports have become a booming business, as well as dives into the strategy behind TOGETHXR’s short & long form video, and podcast production. She emphasizes how it is important to show up IRL as well as URL for events like the NWSL Championship, the Women’s World Cup, Winter Olympics, and LA28. Fernandez also offers insights into audience engagement, Latino market growth, and the balance between creativity and data in modern media.

Visit - https://www.togethxr.com/KatiFernandez

Connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiuska-fernandez/

The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer, Sam Henry, LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Sydney Cristall, Emily Kim, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe and Tom sit down with Mike Abdenour, the longtime head athletic trainer for the Detroit Pistons and one of the most respected figures in the NBA. With decades of experience on the sidelines, Mike shares how the role of athletic trainers has transformed - from old-school tape jobs and gut instincts to cutting-edge technology and sports science. He offers rare insight into what it takes to keep elite athletes performing at their best, along with stories from a career spent behind the scenes of professional basketball. The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer, Sam Henry, LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome New York Times NFL reporter Ken Belson to discuss his new book Every Day Is Sunday. Belson shares how the 1993 labor peace set the foundation for the league’s financial explosion, the role of visionaries like Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft in transforming the business, and how media innovation, from Fox’s early deals to today’s streaming era, reshaped fan engagement. He also offers insights into the league’s next chapter, from succession among ownership families to how new leadership and technology will define the future of the NFL.

Visit - https://www.nytimes.com/by/ken-belson

Connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-belson-64044/

Ken’s Book - https://www.amazon.com/Every-Day-Sunday-Cultural-Juggernaut/dp/1538772558

The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer, Sam Henry, LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe and Tom are joined by Ben Malcolmson, Head of Investor Relations at Trinity Capital, whose remarkable journey took him from reporting for the school paper to CFB, to the NFL, and now into finance. A Journalism major at USC, Ben earned a walk-on spot via tryouts on the Trojans roster in his senior year, which eventually led him to work closely with legendary coach Pete Carroll for many years, including during the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl win. Ben shares the pivotal moments from his time in media, sports, and finance, along with the invaluable life and leadership lessons he’s gathered along the wayVisit - https://www.benmalcolmson.com/Connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmalcolmson/ The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer, Sam Henry, LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe and Tom sit down with Ann Kletz, a trailblazer in women’s sports and a seasoned leader with 25 years of experience building and scaling mission-driven companies. Together, they explore the surging momentum behind professional women’s sports leagues, diving into the growing investments, expanding audiences, and the broader cultural impact. It’s a conversation about strategy, opportunity, and the future of the game.Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-kletz-0270b73/ The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer (@bykarthikiyer), Freddie Walker (@freddiewalks), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe and Tom sit down with Fred Quartlebaum, Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Kansas and a key figure behind the team's National Championship success. Coach Q is recognized not only for his leadership and culture-building expertise but also for being one of the fittest coaches in college sports. In this episode, Coach Q shares powerful insights on what it truly means to lead, the daily discipline of ‘showing up’, and how consistency shapes winners, on and off the courtConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredquartlebaum/ The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer (@bykarthikiyer), Freddie Walker (@freddiewalks), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.

This week, Tom is joined by Charece Williams - a powerhouse in sports marketing and strategic partnerships. As the founder of Inside the Huddle and host of How the Business Is Played, Charece has built a career brokering high-impact brand deals across women’s sports and collegiate athletics. She shares her journey from student-athlete to executive roles at PepsiCo, Under Armour, and Coca-Cola, offering an insider’s view on how the business of sports is evolving. Tom and Charece delve into the rise of women’s sports, the evolving landscape of college athletics, and the expanding opportunities for athletes and brands alike. Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chareceinsports/ The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer (@bykarthikiyer), Freddie Walker (@freddiewalks), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.