The CUSP Show

Tom and Joe join Bob Ciosek in the new studio inside Columbia University's Teachers College.

The driving force behind “World’s Greatest’ is Bob Ciosek. Bob began as a copywriter and creative director at agencies BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi and DMB&B, and launched Bold Studios in 1995 with ESPN as its centerpiece client (producing over 1,000 TV commercials). Other clients included Capital One, Subway, Kellogg’s, WWE and more. In 2003, Bob invented an online consumer research process leveraging a patented tool. He shaped TV programming, acquisitions, marketing as well as digital and social content development and marketing. Clients included ABC, American Express, CNBC, ESPN, Food Network, Fox Sports, Golf Channel, Initiative Media, MSN, New York Magazine, New York Post, People Magazine, Refinery 29, Tribeca Film Festival, Turner Entertainment (TNT, TBS, Turner Digital), Yahoo Sports and more. Bob also founded a short-form, social video app called BlipHit (2012-2014). For the last two and a half years, he was Chief Creative Officer at Whistle Sports where he built them into the #1 social engagement platform in sports garnering over 1 billion views monthly with global social reach of 375 million. Bob helped drive quarter-over-quarter revenue growth exponentially and was a key player in securing $78 million in investor funding. Now he is on to his next project, which has taken off and continues to grow more support every day.

The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Tom and Joe join Danny Shichman inside thier new studio inside Columbia University's Teachers College.

WSC Sports is an Israeli-based company that uses machine learning to create sports video highlights automatically and real-time based on a play, player, or whatever 'rules' a video producer creates. Currently being used by leading media rights owners such as NBA, MLS, FIBA, PGA and others, WSC Sports’ platform utilizes advanced AI and Machine Learning technologies to analyze live sports broadcasts, identify each and every event that occurs in the game, create customized short-form video content and publish to any digital destination.  WSC has been called the "real MVP of the NBA," helping the league become one of the most tech-savvy in sports. In addition to sports leagues, WSC helps publishers like Turner, Bleacher Report, Stadium and Perform. 

The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Joe sits down with Executive Director, Jen O'Brien, of the American Special Hockey Association. Jen and her team recently welcomed the UAE Women’s National Hockey Team to New York City, where they hosted a second on-ice clinic for ASHA players. The clinic took place at Lasker Ice Rink with the Central Park North Stars, a diverse special hockey team based in New York City that includes players from several continents.

The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Is Andrew Hawkins the busiest person in Sports Media? 

Tom and Joe sit down with one of the busiest people in sports media, and a Columbia University Sports Management Alumnus, Andrew Hawkins. Listen in on the story of a player in the NFL, turned cross-country commuter for his graduate degree, to podcaster, producer and focal point of a biopic about his story.  

Where to find Andrew Hawkins:

Thomahawk Podcast

Twitter: @hawk

The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Tom sits down with Anmol Malhotra, who currently works for the Sports Partnership department at Snapchat, Inc. A career changer from the finance field to sports partnership, listen to his story from the University of Notre Dame, his time in financial institutions, to how Snapchat is shaping their sports partnerships with leagues, teams and athletes and connecting with Generation Z and all demographics . 

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The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Tom and Joe sit down with long-time media executive John Kosner. In the past, John has built ESPN into the world’s leading digital sports destination over the past 15 years – increasing traffic ten-fold and turning an unprofitable business into ESPN’s fastest growing one. Kosner and his team have a track record of innovation in streaming and video-on-demand, fantasy games, podcasting, online advertising, and third-party partnerships. 

Kosner has hired and helped develop many of the top sportswriters of this generation including Wright Thompson, Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe, Ramona Shelburne, Bill Barnwell, and Sambit Bal as well as specialists like Adrian Wojnarowski, Matthew Berry, Henry Abbott, Jayski and Darren Rovell. 


A 39-year veteran of sports media, Kosner interned at NBC Sports in 1978 followed by positions at CBS Sports (’82-87), the NBA (’87-94), SI (’94-96) and ESPN (’97-’17). He was graduated with distinction from Stanford University in 1982 with a BA degree in American History. 

The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Joe and Tom sit down with Seth Rabinowitz and discuss his new venture and role with the Jets. The three talk about the changing media landscape in sports. Listen in as they dive into the role social media has played in changing the fan experience and discuss how the legalization of gambling will affect fans and live events. 

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The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Joe and Tom sit down with Peter Gourdine, co-founder of Home Court Capital. The three discuss Peter's transition from working at the NBA to becoming a lawyer to ultimately launching his own startup business. Learn about an exciting new business and how analytics are continuing to drive new ventures. 

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The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Joe sits down with Jared Zwerling, founder and president of CloseUp360. The two talk about Jared's new startup, working with the NBA, and how athletes can tell their stories. Listen in to learn about how CloseUp360 is telling the stories of NBA players.

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The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Joe sits down with John Lashway of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Joe and John discuss the business of sports statups and how basketball has grown in Canada. The two talk about how John has taken what he learned while working with the Toronto Raptors and has used it in launching the CEBL.

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The CUSP Show is a production by the faculty of Sports Management at Columbia University. You can get in touch with the program on Twitter @CU_SPS_Sports. Our presenters are Joe Favorito (@Joefav), Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR), and produced by Tom Cerny (@Tom_Cerny19).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com