THE WHISTLE STOP PODCAST

Former MLB Home Run Derby Champ & Texas Rangers/New York Mets Third Baseman Todd Frazier joins us during a break in team training exercises to discuss the 2020 60-Game MLB Season, the Universal DH, his 2020 Walk-Up Song Plans, his relationship with Teddy Kramer from his days in Cincinnati and his most memorable moments as a big leaguer. 

The two-time MLB AllStar also highlights his longtime friendship with Matty DeRiggi & his family as Matt's fight with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy continues. Todd also discusses how his family bonded through COVID-19 with the help of some adventures with the Candyland board game.

As the head men's basketball coach at George Washington, Jamion Christian brings a loving, caring approach to not only his current GW team, but also in his previous stops at Siena and Mount St. Mary's. Coach Christian takes us step by step through his coaching background, including his relationship with legendary coach Jim Phelan to working alongside Shaka Smart, Will Wade, and Mike Rhoades at VCU. 

Jamion also gives us a rundown of how important the  mindfulness side of the game is for his players, as he employs Greg Graber (Episode 8 guest) to lead his team towards better mindfulness practices. Coach Christian also touches on the current racial tensions, Name-Image-Likeness, the proposed One-Time Transfer Rule, His approach with referees, and his best experiences with dinner entrees on in-home visits with recruits.

Joining us to chat about high school athletics in Kentucky is KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. Tackett gives us the full story on how he got involved with the state tournament thanks to legendary Transy Hoops Coach Don Lane due to someone else's mistake. He also discusses his enjoyment of Zoom meetings during the COVID-19 shutdown, and how the KHSAA as an organization is working hand-in-hand with State dignitaries to get athletes at the secondary education level back onto the fields/courts as safely as possible. Tackett also reflects on his tenure with the KHSAA as well as sharing some of his favorite stories from his time as a sports official. Tackett also talks about his legacy and what is on the horizon for him and his saint-of-a-wife, Donna.

Georgetown Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Briggs joins the podcast to discuss his coaching background, highlighting his time on Tubby Smith's UK coaching staff alongside Co-Host Josh Carrier and Coach Cameron Hill (Episode 12 guest). He also discusses taking an already strong Georgetown College Hoops program to another level with multiple NAIA Final Four births and two National Championships. He has amassed a .803 winning percentage as head coach of the Tigers as well as being named the National Coach of the Year. Briggs also reflects on his time as a student manager at UK working for Hall of Fame Equipment Manager Bill "Mr. Wildcat" Keightley during his tenure in Lexington.

After working alongside co-host Josh Carrier as a member of the coaching staff at Kentucky under Tubby Smith, Trinity University Head Women's Basketball Coach Cameron Hill walks us through his time with the US Basketball Academy in Oregon, his time as a coach for the Seattle Supersonics Summer League Team, and now as the head women's coach at Trinity where he has built a championship culture. Coach Hill also discusses his childhood, filled with moving not only all over the US, but also to Italy since his father, Bob, was a professional coach. He also gives us some insight into how he built a strong bond with Reggie Miller, as well as other players that his father coached as he grew up. 

Former UK guard Ravi Moss joins the podcast to discuss the racial injustices of the world and how he is using his platform as a former Wildcat to bring those front and center so we can all have healthy conversations among friends. 

Ravi also talks about some of his favorite memories as a UK player playing for Coach Tubby Smith, how he flirted with playing college football after his hoops days were over, and how he enjoys emceeing for UK homes games at Rupp Arena.

Arkansas Head Coach Mike Neighbors is welcomed to the show...Coach Nabes discusses his start in coaching, a $58,000 paycut, Mastering the art of Diet Cokes, Starting his famous newsletter thanks to a provided Wal-Mart Pegasus Email Server, Letdowns in Coaching, Heading West, Getting the Nod, & eventually heading home.

Coach Neighbors also reflects on his health setbacks and how that keeps him so humble as he treasures life events such as his daughter's recent wedding and the birth of his new son - which Neighbors shares a sleep schedule with.

Follow him on Twitter @CoachNeighbors and visit his website, CoachNeighbors.com, for more info on his newsletter, YouTube Channel, and Podcast.

Segment 1
NKU Coach Camryn Whitaker joins us to discuss the current, unprecedented times in women's college basketball as it effects her team in Highland Heights, KY. Coach Whit discusses her time as an assistant with lots of success, transitioning to a head coach, then finding the right players to fit her program while facing some adversity along the way. She also shares her excitement about her 2019-20 team's academic achievements moving forward into the next college hoops season.

Segment 2
Georgia Tech Coach Josh Pastner visits the Whistle Stop to discuss the landscape of men's college basketball as he welcomes his team back after the pandemic, how he developed as a coach under multiple Hall of Fame coaches including Lute Olson & John Calipari, as well as how his teams have used mindfulness teachings from Greg Graber (see S1;E8) to prepare themselves for their next practice/competition.

Mental Performance Coach Greg Graber visits with Drew, Petey, Josh, Steve-O & Couch to discuss how he has helped athletic programs at LSU, George Washington, Rice, Memphis, VCU, Texas, Marquette, UAB & more to success on & off the court with their mental preparation before the ball is even tipped.

Greg also talks about how his role at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis as the Director of Social & Emotional Learning. He helps the next generation prepare for life after secondary education.

Greg's book, "Slow Your Roll", can be found on Amazon & is also available from most booksellers/retail chains.

Follow Greg on Twitter @GregGraber. 

Western Kentucky Athletic Director Todd Stewart joins the show to discuss the plans to bring student-athletes back to WKU after the COVID19 pandemic, dynamic scheduling with football along with men's & women's basketball, how football guarantee games help with WKU's athletic budget, and his own Michael Jordan story on the heels of the airing of THE LAST DANCE.