Garage Logic Weekly Scramble – Guest: Olivia King

Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Chris Reuvers & Mike Frattaloni (Gamut Podcast Network)
Guest: Olivia King, Former D1 Goalie, Social Media Star, Broadcaster

Episode Overview

This lively episode of the Weekly Scramble welcomes Olivia King, a former Division 1 hockey goalie and rising broadcaster/content creator, for a wide-ranging conversation about her athletic career, her unexpected pivot to media, and the changing landscapes of women's sports, social media, and digital broadcasting. Olivia shares both her origin story and insightful takes on the power of storytelling, adapting to new media, and embracing new professional risks. Listeners get inspiration, humor, and practical insights from the trenches of sports and media.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olivia King’s Athletic & Academic Journey

• From Law Aspirations to Hockey Heroics

  • Olivia initially planned on becoming a lawyer:

    "All the way through, I was like, I'm going to be a lawyer. That's what I want to do." (03:19, Olivia)

  • She graduated from the University of Minnesota, then used her extra eligibility (due to COVID/redshirt) to play a fifth year at St. Thomas, earning a master's.

• “Retired” – and Returned

  • After her fifth year, she worked in NCAA compliance before the Gophers tried to lure her back:

    "I was like, no, I'm retired. I'm done. And then…I was like, what's two more months of playoff hockey with my best friends?" (04:08, Olivia)

2. Evolution of Women’s College Hockey & NIL

• D1 was the Pinnacle before recent professional women’s leagues:

  “Division 1 women’s hockey was as high as it got...besides...the Olympics” (04:53, Mike)

• Complexity of Early Pro Leagues:

  • Sparse opportunities and limited audiences for young female players.
  • Entry to St. Thomas came as NCAA rules evolved, allowing extra eligibility.

• NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Impacts:

  “People earn money, but they don't earn big time money. Especially in hockey. I think it's just growing.” (10:27, Olivia)

  • Social media skills and national team status bring additional opportunities, but not on the scale of big collegiate basketball programs.

3. Media & Broadcasting: The New Passion

• Handling the “Back of House” Realization:

  • Olivia tried NCAA compliance but quickly missed "connecting with people."
  • Interned with Gopher Digital Productions:

    “I really like this…telling other people's stories and learning all the behind the scenes of players...that's the true meaning of sports.” (08:40, Olivia)

• From First Broadcast Nerves to Confidence:

  • Her broadcasting break: Color commentary at Hockey Day Minnesota for Brainerd — “I absolutely loved that.”(14:58, Olivia)
  • Early critiquing from her dad after her first Gopher broadcast:

    “Give me five minutes to be happy for myself, Dad.” (17:49, Olivia)

• Learning On-Air Skills:

  • Navigating balance between personal relationships and professional critique
  • Letting moments “breathe” in broadcast:

    “Brevity and silence is OK. Let a moment breathe...that's hard when you're training yourself how to set a scene.” (17:52, Chris)

4. Building Sports Programs in Minnesota

• Minnesota’s D1 Ecosystem is Increasingly Competitive:

  • The proximity and quality of programs (UMN, St. Thomas, Mankato, etc.) raises the area’s hockey profile.
  • The benefits for players staying in-state for quality education and hockey.

• St. Thomas’s Growth:

  • New rink, promising recruits, and program-building:

    “The Tommies will win a national championship 100% in the next five, eight years.” (21:49, Olivia)

• Transfer Portal Impact:

  • More player movement creates fresh opportunities.

5. Olivia’s Podcasting/Content Creation Philosophy

• Podcast: “Talk Goalie To Me”

  • Focused on sharing unique, authentic stories from a goalie’s point of view.
  • Emphasizes storytelling, connection, and niche community:

    “Goalies are really weird and quirky...trying to bring that out of people is fun and funny.” (33:32, Olivia)

  • Designed for not just aspiring goalies, but anyone interested in hockey and the goalie mindset.

• Creative Direction & Passion:

  • Olivia sees herself as a content creator in all fields:

    “I just like to create content in any way possible. Even with my broadcasting, I’m still creating content because I’m part of a bigger team that is putting on a show.” (35:17, Olivia)

• Work Ethic as a Differentiator:

  • Her upbringing in a family business shaped persistence and creativity:

    “It never feels like work. I really do love it...I did, you know, take a big risk with choosing a profession that's different than most people.” (37:34, Olivia)

• Changing Media Landscape:

  • Social media, especially TikTok and Instagram, is the new “mainstream media” for younger generations.
  • Niche, devoted followers matter more than raw follower counts:

    “You'd rather have dedicated followers...than 400 million followers in North Panel.” (41:28, Mike)

6. The Business of Social Media

• Social as the New Marketing:

  “Social media is the new form of marketing...most people are not consuming traditional media in the way that they once were.” (39:57, Olivia)

• Advice to Older Generations:

  • Olivia explains to older relatives how her presence impacts the younger audience—and how platforms distribute relevant content even to those not following her directly.

• Discovery & Adaptation:

  “Adapting...that's a big thing...People that are on the younger side...have no problem adapting. It's getting that other audience…” (44:14, Chris)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being a D1 Goalie:

  “Goalie is the quarterback of the team. And as a goalie, maybe, like, I'm just saying that.” (33:29, Olivia)

• On Self-Critique and Family:

  “Give me five minutes to be happy for myself, Dad.” (17:49, Olivia)

• On the Appeal of St. Thomas:

  “It is a beautiful private campus now with a rink that's walkable...within a huge city...You're gonna get a great education, beautiful new rink and the coaching staff is wonderful. Like, you're going here.” (23:40, Olivia)

• On the Changing Face of Media:

  “You have five people in a car...and you see a billboard. Well, the four other people in a car are looking at their phone...That's where social media comes into play.” (40:13, Olivia)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 03:19 – Olivia’s law school ambitions and athletic career overview
• 07:20 – Work in NCAA compliance and switch to Gopher Digital Productions
• 10:27 – Discussing NIL and social media monetization in women’s college hockey
• 14:58 – First broadcasting experience (Hockey Day MN)
• 17:49 – Parental critique after first broadcast (“Give me five minutes…”)
• 21:49 – St. Thomas “will win a national championship in 5–8 years”
• 32:29 – Olivia’s podcast approach and the “goalie” mindset
• 35:17 – Content creation vs. broadcasting: not putting herself in a box
• 39:57 – Social media as the new marketing and generational media shifts
• 44:14 – Discussion on podcast analytics, discovery, and audience adaptation

Links & Plugs

Olivia King:

• Instagram & TikTok: @oliviakristenking
• Podcast: “Talk Goalie To Me” (YouTube, Spotify, Apple, plus Instagram @talkgoalietome)

Tone & Style

The conversation is upbeat and candid, mixing locker room humor with real insights. Olivia is approachable, honest, and passionate about her craft, while the hosts keep the mood light with jokes, relatable anecdotes, and supportive encouragement throughout.

Summary prepared for listeners who want a comprehensive yet engaging overview of the episode’s substance and spirit.