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Skin in the Game

Skin in the Game

By: BTPM NPR
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About this listen

 Get ready for a front-row seat to the business of sports with Skin in the Game, the weekly sports industry podcast hosted by sports marketing expert John Cimperman and veteran sports business journalist Tim O’Shei. If you follow sports news, sports business trends, or the fast-changing world of NIL, college athletics, pro leagues, and sports media, this show is your essential listen.Each episode goes beyond the headlines to explain why these developments matter. Skin in the Game breaks down how major sports business decisions ripple through teams, athletes, fans, and communities across North America. From the NFL, NHL, PWHL, WNBA, NBA, MLB, and MLS to college rivalries, high school sports, and the expanding youth sports economy, John and Tim reveal how industry shifts affect competitiveness, revenue, fan engagement, and the future of sports.Expect in-depth analysis, insider interviews, and expert commentary on the stories driving today’s sports economy—along with new perspectives you won’t hear anywhere else.New episodes air weekly on BTPM NPR Saturdays at 4 p.m., with rebroadcasts Tuesdays at 11 a.m.Stream Skin in the Game on-demand on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Turf Wars: DeMaurice Smith on Power, Labor, and the Business of the NFL

    Turf Wars: DeMaurice Smith on Power, Labor, and the Business of the NFL
    Feb 7 2026
    Former NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith joins Skin In The Game for a candid, wide-ranging conversation with hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei about power, labor, and the true business of professional football. Drawing from his new book Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America’s Game, Smith takes listeners inside nearly 15 years of battles with the NFL — from collective bargaining and player safety to race, money, media, and the hidden forces that shape the league fans love. His unfiltered view explains why he never saw himself as a “football fan,” how that perspective shaped his leadership and why protecting players often meant challenging the very game itself. Smith reflects on concussion protocols, workers’ compensation, union leadership, and the uneasy relationship between sports entertainment and journalism. Along the way, he makes the case that the NFL is not just a sports league — it’s a mirror of American labor, politics, and accountability. This episode asks hard questions: Who really benefits from the football business and who pays the price?
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    54 mins
  • Beyond the Podium: Steve Mesler on Life After Olympic Gold and Leading With Purpose

    Beyond the Podium: Steve Mesler on Life After Olympic Gold and Leading With Purpose
    Jan 31 2026
    What happens after you achieve the dream? In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Steve Mesler, Olympic bobsled gold medalist and founder of Mesler Performance Group, for a deeply honest conversation about success, identity, and life after elite competition. Mesler reflects on his journey from Western New York to Olympic gold in 2010, the pressure and danger of competing at the highest level, and the unexpected emotional challenges that followed the peak of his athletic career. He is candid about his struggle with depression years after retiring from competition and the moment he realized that achievement alone was no longer enough. Now an executive performance coach and nonprofit founder, Mesler shares how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership, fulfillment, and sustainable performance. This conversation extends far beyond sports. Whether you’re an athlete, a business leader, or someone navigating a major life transition, Mesler offers powerful insight into what it really means to perform, and live, at your best. The following program contains mature content, including conversations about suicide, self-harm and mental health challenges.If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. In Canada, call or text 988, the Suicide Crisis Helpline.
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    54 mins
  • How Winning Teams Are Built: Craig Custance on Leadership, Culture, and Power in Sports

    How Winning Teams Are Built: Craig Custance on Leadership, Culture, and Power in Sports
    Jan 24 2026
    What does it really take to build a winning sports organization? In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Craig Custance, author of The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams and Head of Creative Development at The Athletic, for a deep dive into leadership behind the scenes of professional hockey. Custance draws on years of reporting and unprecedented access to NHL general managers, owners, and executives to explore how championship teams are actually built, far beyond what fans see on the ice. The conversation spans front-office decision-making, ownership dynamics, organizational culture, and the personal toll of leadership at the highest level of sport. While rooted in hockey, this conversation resonates far beyond sports. Custance shows how the principles that drive winning teams — trust, clarity, accountability, and long-term thinking — apply just as directly to business, media, and organizational leadership. Whether you’re a sports executive, a business leader, or simply fascinated by how high-performing teams operate, this episode offers rare insight into what happens where championships are truly won.
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    54 mins
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