Joe and Tom are joined this week by Micky Lawler, the Commissioner at Unrivaled Basketball. She talks about the success of the inaugural season in early 2025, and details the planning and work that went into the launch and on-court action. Before joining Unrivaled, Micky was President of the WTA. She talks about the similarities (and differences) in growing women’s basketball as compared to the success that women’s tennis has seen over the years. Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/micky-lawler-56b8869/ Visit - https://www.unrivaled.basketball/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 welcome back Marc Horine, Chief Business Officer at For Soccer Ventures, for a conversation about the growth of soccer in the U.S. They discuss how rising brand investment, grassroots development, and a more diverse and youthful fan base are impacting the industry ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Marc shares new insights from For Soccer’s annual United States of Soccer report, reflects on the Club World Cup’s potential impact, and compares structural differences between MLS and USL - from promotion/relegation to youth pathways.

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 welcome Calvin Sibert, Chief Mission Officer at Learn Fresh, to explore how the NBA Math Hoops program is helping students build critical math and social-emotional skills through the power of sports. Calvin shares his journey from 20 years as a schoolteacher in Detroit to leading a nonprofit that now serves over 1.5 million students worldwide. He discusses how partnerships with the NBA, WNBA, and MLB have fueled growth, the program’s expansion into digital platforms, and why creating confidence in the classroom matters as much as academics.

The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer (@bykarthikiyer), Freddie Walker (@freddiewalks11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.

Joe Favorito is joined by Dan Solomon, the owner of Ultimate Baseball Supply and a graduate of Columbia University’s Sports Management Program. Dan’s company features brands that are focused on offering newer, and more unique takes on baseball gear. He talks torpedo bats and gives an insight into equipment entrepreneurship with a focus on bringing innovations in baseball to a wider audience. Connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpsolomon/ Website - https://ultimatebaseballsupply.com/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 are joined by their former student, Max Iger. Max is currently with the Corporate Sports team at CAA Sports and was formerly a Basketball Operations Assistant at San Antonio Spurs. He talks about sports consumption trends among his Gen Z peers and also stresses the importance of wearing different hats in the sports industry. Connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-iger-ba96aa150/ 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 welcome sports industry veteran Peter Scott to The CUSP Show. Peter is an experienced broadcast and digital media expert who currently serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Play Anywhere, Inc. He breaks down the current technological advances in the sports world and how these innovations bring sports closer to fans in the digital landscape. Connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterscott5/

Link - https://playanywhere.com/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 welcome Karen Lorenzo, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Business Affairs at League One Volleyball (LOVB), to discuss how the startup league executed a successful and strategic launch in its inaugural season. Karen shares how LOVB built a vertically integrated model from youth clubs to pro teams, secured $160 million in funding, and prioritized athlete experience and long-term sustainability from day one. She also reflects on her unique journey from entertainment law to the sports industry.

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 are joined this week by Samuel Hymes. Samuel is a dual Fellow, at Harvard University and the Economic Club of New York. He takes us into the world of sports diplomacy, which brings institutions and representatives together with people and communities by using the unifying power of sport. Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelhymes/ 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 are joined by Dee Kundra, Managing Director of the Americas for FC Bayern Munich, one of the most storied and successful clubs in global football. Dee shares her career journey from studying fashion in London to breaking into sports with the New York Cosmos, Liverpool FC, and helping Bayern Munich establish its North American presence. She talks about how the club grew its fan base in the U.S. from just 8 official supporter groups to over 100, the strategic thinking behind Bayern’s U.S. office, and the challenges and opportunities tied to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. Dee also discusses how the club builds relationships on the ground, activates its global brand locally, and navigates the evolving social media landscape.

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 Favorito is joined by Maher Labban, the director of Clio Sports. A New York-native, Maher has spent over 20 years in the sports industry. He takes us through his journey from teams to leagues, major and minor. Maher also details the inner-workings of the sports awards industry and the value it provides to all stakeholders. Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-maher-labban/ Read more: https://clios.com/sports/ 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.