Podcast
Skin in the Game
Hosted by BTPM NPR · EN
Sports are about more than what happens on the field. Skin in the Game takes you inside the deals, decisions, and trends driving today’s sports industry.Hosted by sports marketing expert John Cimperman and veteran sports business journalist Tim O’Shei, the weekly podcast features conversations with top level executives, athletes, journalists, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the sports world. From NIL and media rights to professional leagues and youth sports, Skin in the Game uncovers the stories behind the scoreboard.Listen Tuesdays and 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. on BTPM NPR or stream anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Did the World Cup Deliver? The Real Business Impact of FIFA 2026
1w ago00:54:00Tap to summarizeMillions of fans filled stadiums across North America during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but did host cities actually win? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei look at the impact of the world’s biggest sporting event from two very different perspectives. First, Columbia Business School professor Angela Lee shares what it was like to live in the midst of the tournament in New York City and New Jersey, and how mega-events drive innovation, strengthen infrastructure, reshape global perceptions, and even influence how athletes invest in their futures. Then, Toronto Star business reporter Josh Rubin digs into the numbers behind Toronto’s investment, questioning whether the economic benefits came close to the hundreds of millions of public dollars spent to host a mere six games. From civic pride and travel and tourism to venture capital and the challenge of measuring return on investment, this episode asks a question any host city should consider before bidding on the next global sporting event. Is it worth it?
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What Have We Lost? David Macfarlane on the Business of Modern Sports
2w ago00:48:16Tap to summarizeSports have never been bigger—or more profitable. But has something been lost along the way? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome acclaimed Canadian author David Macfarlane to discuss his latest book, On Sports. From the overnight explosion of sports gambling and billion-dollar revenues to a growing emphasis on entertainment over athletic excellence, Macfarlane claims that today’s sports have fundamentally changed fan experience. The conversation explores why sports continue to unite communities, the tension between tradition and commercialization, the role athletes play in today's culture, and whether it's still possible to preserve the authenticity that made people fall in love with sports in the first place. Part memoir, part cultural commentary, and part sports business discussion, this episode asks a timely question: Can sports continue to grow without losing their soul?
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The Business Behind Pickleball’s Boom with Rusty Howes
3w ago00:47:01Tap to summarizeMore than 400% growth in just five years. So how did a backyard game become one of the biggest business stories in sports? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Rusty Howes, founder of Pickleball Channel, for an inside look at the explosive growth of America's fastest-growing sport. From producing some of the sport’s earliest media coverage to documenting pickleball’s remarkable growth, Howes gives us the inside story of the game’s popularity and rapid expansion. They talk about private equity, media, professional tours, equipment manufacturers, and the role youth sports play in opening up new opportunities and growing pains for the sport. The conversation wraps with a look at the future of pickleball and what comes next for an industry centered around a multigenerational model with building community as its north star.
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Beyond the Ballcap: Bruce Popko on New Era, Global Sports Business and Building an Iconic Brand
4w ago00:54:00Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to build one of the world's most recognizable sports brands? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Popko, President of New Era Cap, the Buffalo-based company that has become a global leader in licensed sports headwear and apparel. Popko discusses New Era's remarkable growth from a fourth-generation family business into a worldwide brand with operations spanning 16 countries and partnerships across every major professional sports league. He explains how the company's acquisition of ’47, an American lifestyle brand strengthened its position in the marketplace while allowing both brands to maintain distinct identities. The conversation explores the intersection of sports, fashion and entertainment, including the evolution of licensed merchandise and celebrity collaborations, including the legendary story of Spike Lee asking for the creation of a red NY Yankees ballcap. They talk about product placement and how fans increasingly use apparel as a form of self-expression. Popko also shares insights into emerging opportunities in college athletics, NIL, global expansion, golf, entertainment licensing and the future of sports merchandising as leagues, brands and media companies continue to collaborate in new ways.
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A Runner's Journey: Bruce Kidd on Sport, Social Change and the Power of an Athlete's Voice
Jun 2700:44:20Tap to summarizeWhat responsibility do athletes have beyond competition? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Kidd, one of Canada's most celebrated distance runners, a former Olympian, scholar, author, and Officer of the Order of Canada. Kidd reflects on his remarkable journey from a teenager discovering a talent for running in Toronto to representing Canada at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Along the way, he shares how sport became much more than competition, serving as a lens through which he explored politics, economics, culture, and social change. During his decades-long efforts to challenge racism, sexism, and inequality in sport, he experienced how athletes can use their platforms to create meaningful change and why sports remain one of society's most powerful mirrors. Kidd also addresses two issues currently driving his advocacy work: the rapid expansion of sports betting and its impact on athletes and fans, and the ongoing debate surrounding sex testing and eligibility policies in international sport. The episode concludes with a discussion of Kidd's memoir, A Runner's Journey, which chronicles his athletic career, academic work, and lifelong commitment to making sport more inclusive and equitable.
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Building Sports Careers Online: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook on NIL, Networking and Sports Management Worldwide
Jun 1300:54:00Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to turn a passion for sports into a career? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, founder and president of Sports Management Worldwide, a global sports education company that has helped more than 30,000 graduates from 164 countries pursue careers throughout the sports industry. Lashbrook shares his remarkable journey from athlete, coach, and university administrator to sports agent and entrepreneur, explaining how a chance encounter with the early internet and the release of Jerry Maguire helped inspire a business that has connected aspiring sports professionals with opportunities around the world. Unlike traditional sports management programs, Sports Management Worldwide delivers its curriculum entirely online through courses taught by industry professionals in sports. Lashbrook explains how the organization's global classroom model connects students from around the world with executives, agents, scouts, broadcasters and analysts, creating opportunities that extend far beyond a traditional campus experience. Lashbrook also offers an insider's perspective on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), calling it one of the most significant transformations in modern sports. He discusses how NIL is creating new opportunities for athletes, families, advisors and aspiring sports professionals while reshaping college athletics.
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Is Dance a Sport? Tony Bellissimo Says Absolutely.
Jun 600:54:00Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a multi-sport athlete discovers that his greatest talent is on the dance floor rather than on the field or the ice? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Buffalo native Tony Bellissimo, a professional dancer, choreographer, actor and educator whose career has taken him from local sports fields and dance studios to some of the biggest stages in entertainment. Bellissimo shares how growing up playing hockey, lacrosse and soccer helped shape the discipline, competitiveness and work ethic that ultimately propelled him into the professional dance world. Along the way, he has performed alongside some of music's biggest stars, including Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Chris Brown, while building a career that has taken him around the world. The conversation explores the athletic demands of professional dance, the realities of auditioning and competing at the highest level, and why Bellissimo believes dance deserves a place alongside traditional sports when discussing performance, training and physical excellence. Bellissimo also reflects on his recent experience working on the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, where he fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing in scenes inspired by the legendary "Thriller" music video. Most importantly, he shares lessons about perseverance, mentorship, and helping young people discover the passions that can shape the course of their lives.
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A Lifetime on Ice: Bonnie Shea on Hockey, Longevity & Purpose
May 2300:54:00Tap to summarizeAt 15 years old, Bonnie Shea was told she could no longer play hockey simply because she was a girl. More than six decades later, she’s still lacing up her skates. This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman sits down with Bonnie Shea — an early pioneer of women’s hockey in Minnesota — to talk about her lifelong relationship with the sport, the barriers she faced growing up in the “State of Hockey,” and how she rediscovered the game at age 40 after decades away from organized play. Bonnie reflects on what hockey has given her physically, mentally, and socially throughout her life — from the exhilaration of skating to the friendships, camaraderie, and sense of purpose that continue to keep her active into her 80s. Cimperman goes on to explore the broader connection between sport, movement, and healthy aging with physical therapy expert Eric Herman, PT, FACS, from Buffalo Rehab Group, who joins the program to discuss why lifelong activity, mobility, and recovery are essential ingredients for long-term health and quality of life. They talk about injury risk, strength training, range of motion, and balance and coordination. Whether you still play the sports you loved as a kid — or hope to someday get back to them — this episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to keep moving.
Transcribe →The Business of Sports Cards: Inside the Explosive Growth of Collectibles with Tracy Hackler
May 1600:54:00Tap to summarizeSports cards are no longer just childhood collectibles tucked away in shoeboxes—they’ve become a global business driven by technology, culture, nostalgia, and massive fan engagement. This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Tracy Hackler, Senior Brand Manager at Panini America, to explore the evolution of the sports collectibles industry—from vintage baseball cards to modern-day “golden ticket” chase cards and blockchain collectibles. Tracy shares how the hobby transformed during the pandemic, why women’s sports collectibles are surging, and how athletes like Caitlin Clark are reshaping the marketplace. The conversation also dives into NIL deals, the rise of digital collectibles, international growth, and the emotional connection fans still have to physical cards in an increasingly digital world. Along the way, Tracy reflects on his own journey from sports journalism to one of the leading voices in the collectibles industry—and reconnects with Tim over the early days of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly. Whether you’re a lifelong collector, a casual sports fan, or someone wondering if those old cards in the basement are worth anything, this episode is a fascinating look at how sports memorabilia became both cultural currency and big business.
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Beyond the Field: Soccer, Trust, and Opportunity for Newcomer Youth
May 900:54:00Tap to summarizeSoccer is often called the world’s universal language—but what happens when it becomes the only language you share in a brand-new country? This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Jennifer Tepper, Executive Director of Soccer Without Borders, and Bruno Contreras, Program Director in Massachusetts, to explore how the organization is using sport to build trust, belonging, and opportunity for immigrant, refugee, and underserved youth. With a model that prioritizes relationships over results, Soccer Without Borders has served more than 60,000 young people from over 120 countries, helping them find community, develop life skills, and simply rediscover the joy of play. From inclusive coaching practices and culturally connected mentorship to the realities of funding nonprofit work in today’s climate, this conversation reveals what’s possible when sport is designed for connection first—and competition second.
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