Boise State football fans, this one goes way beyond the highlights.

I've followed Nick Schlekeway since his days at Eagle High School, and in this episode he shares the full story: winning at every level, playing for Boise State, and being part of the unforgettable Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma, including what it felt like inside that game that changed college football forever.

But the heart of this conversation is what happened after football ended.

Nick opens up about the identity crisis many athletes face, the emotional toll of losing the sport that shaped them, and how dark that transition can get when the cheers stop. We also talk about the reality of concussions in contact sports, how they impacted him, and what athletes and parents should understand when competing at a high level.

Today, Nick has taken the same "never quit" mindset from football and built a thriving business and team in Idaho, and his lessons on leadership, culture, and resilience apply to anyone chasing big goals.

In this episode, we cover:

• Eagle High football and the leaders who shaped Nick early
• Boise State's rise and the behind-the-scenes of the Fiesta Bowl run
• The mental battle of life after sports, identity, purpose, rebuilding
• Concussions and what athletes and parents need to know
• How Nick transitioned into entrepreneurship and built a winning culture

If you're a Boise State fan, love athlete stories, or want real insight into the grind beyond the game, follow the show and leave a review. It helps more than you know.

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If you would like to watch the show, please feel free to follow me on YouTube and catch the video podcast from each of the guests!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHG9H7vljaLwQ765GIdBQA

I had the chance to watch Layton Christian Academy compete at the Pro Image Sports Holiday Classic in Meridian, Idaho (Owyhee High School), and I was immediately intrigued by the way they carried themselves, competed, and ultimately won the tournament championship.

Even more fascinating: Layton Christian is an international school with a roster made up of 15 players from 15 different countries.

In this episode, Head Coach Casey Stanley breaks down what makes the program special and shares lessons that apply far beyond basketball, including:

• How he got into coaching at 6 years old (growing up around Iona College basketball)
• What college coaching is really like: the hours, travel, grind, and "grunt work"
• Why the best coaches and players succeed without ego (leadership takeaway)
• How international teams overcome language barriers (including stories using Google Translate)
• Why learning to "hug the win" matters for coaches, leaders, and business owners
• If you're a basketball junkie, a coach, a parent, or an athlete who loves the game — this one is for you.

Follow Layton Christian Basketball:

• Instagram: @lcambb

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Art Manteris is one of the most respected names in sports betting, an industry veteran with a four-decade career that includes time at the Fremont Hotel & Casino and running the sportsbook at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He was also inducted into the Sports Gaming Hall of Fame for his impact on the world of sports gaming.

In this convo, I sit down with Art to talk about his new book, "The Bookie: How I Bet it all on Sports Gambling and Watched an Industry Explode", and the current headlines surrounding sports gambling.

With betting scandals and integrity concerns dominating the conversation, Art shares an insider perspective on what's real, what's misunderstood, and what leagues, sportsbooks, and bettors can do to protect the integrity of the game while keeping sports betting legalized and responsibly regulated.

If you're a sports fan, a bettor, or just curious about how this industry actually works behind the scenes, this is a must-listen.

Get the book:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bookie-Inside-Betting-Billion-Dollar-Industry-ebook/dp/B0DQVC88X4

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bookie-art-manteris/1147777162
...

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Follow the show and share it with a friend who loves sports, betting, or behind-the-scenes stories.

Veteran sports journalist and author Harvey Araton joins me on the show for a deep conversation on how sports media has changed, what true "access" used to look like in the print era, and why great storytelling still matters in today's sports culture.

Harvey shares behind-the-scenes stories from a career covering elite athletics (including the NBA), plus his experience co-producing ESPN's 30 for 30: When the Garden Was Eden, a project tied to the legendary 1970s New York Knicks era.

A major focus of this episode is Harvey's newest project and his first-ever middle-grade children's novel, ** The Goal of the Game **, inspired by what youth sports has become in today's high-pressure, high-cost environment. If you're a parent, coach, athlete, journalist, or someone who loves sports stories with real meaning, this one will hit.

In this episode, we cover:

• What sports journalism used to be like and how access has changed
• Print media vs. today's creator-driven sports media world
• How When the Garden Was Eden became an ESPN 30 for 30
• The pressure kids face in modern youth sports and how early it starts
• The youth sports industry, travel teams, and the "future stakes" mindset
• Why Harvey wrote The Goal of the Game and what he hopes kids learn
• A powerful life lesson: don't enter a story with a preconceived conclusion, listen first

Harvey Araton's book: The Goal of the Game
Amazon: https://a.co/d/4VkH2XF

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-goal-of-the-game-harvey-araton/1148082088

Website: http://www.HarveyAraton.com

If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe/follow so you don't miss weekly interviews with sports figures from around the world. And if you can, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps the show a ton.

New episodes every week. Tap in today.

Lee Toldson has immense experience on a variety of levels as a basketball coach, as a mentor, and now as an author! Listen in on this interview as I get the chance to learn about his history in the sport of basketball and how he ended up over here in Idaho, all the way from good old Louisiana!!

I've admired Lee's work for quite some time and I'm grateful for the opportunity to chat with him! Lee has coached at the high school level, the professional level, international level, the club level, and he's no stranger to the game as a player as well as he competed in college basketball himself.

We get to learn about his career and the life lessons he went through. We'll chat about his high school basketball coach, the legendary Kenny Almond out of Baton Rouge!

Find out how Kenny showed up in Lee's life, 20 years later during one of the toughest parts of Kenny's life to show his love and respect to him.

I love hearing about Lee's new book: The No Excuses, Embrace the Challenge Book - https://amzn.to/48NYr0z

If you want to learn from him and hear some of his insights and wisdom, consider snagging yourself a copy of this book yourself! Everyone experiences burnout, so he's going to share how to avoid that!

Grateful for this opportunity for you guys to tune in and hear this today!

Hit that Subscribe button and follow along as each week we'll bring you more interviews from sports figures from all over the globe.

#LeeToldson #BasketballCoach #Author

Ben "The Bane" Davis has carved out one of the most unique paths in combat sports and entertainment. From calling fights across multiple promotions to stepping inside the cage himself—and even competing on MTV's The Challenge—Ben brings a rare blend of curiosity, courage, and relentless work ethic.

In this episode, Ben breaks down how he entered the world of combat sports commentary, what he learned while grinding through early media roles, and the mindset it takes to stand out on the mic. We talk about pacing, preparation, chemistry with a co-commentator, and why great play-by-play requires both discipline and personality.

Ben also shares his firsthand experience competing in BKFC and Karate Combat—not just as a commentator, but as a fighter—and what those opportunities taught him about the sport and himself.

Then we dive into his leap into reality television with MTV's The Challenge:
• What life in the house was really like
• The hardest part of adapting to cameras 24/7
• How the alliances, strategy, and politics actually work
• What he took away from the experience and whether he'd do it again

If you're someone who has ever wondered "what if?", Ben's story is a testament to saying yes, taking chances, and learning through unconventional opportunities.

Enjoy this conversation with one of the most dynamic voices—and personalities—in combat sports today.

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If you would like to watch the show, please feel free to follow me on YouTube and catch the video podcast from each of the guests!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHG9H7vljaLwQ765GIdBQA

If you'd like to listen to the show, you can catch the podcast on your favorite platforms:

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Today on The Gametime Guru, I'm joined by Dave "Redneck" Mundell — the reigning BKFC Middleweight Champion and one of the most disciplined, business-focused fighters in the sport.

We dive deep into what makes Dave such a unique force in bare-knuckle fighting:

His calm, all-business approach in a sport built on both competition and personality

His background in combat sports and the journey that led him to the BKFC title

The nerves he still feels before every fight — and the preparation strategies that help him stay composed

What it's really like to get hurt in a fight and battle back in real time

Dave also opens up about potential matchups with Mike Perry and Lorenzo Hunt — and why he sees both of them as favorable fights. His perspective on "levels to the game" is something every aspiring fighter will want to hear.

If you're an athlete, a fan of BKFC, or someone who loves hearing the mindset of elite competitors, this episode is for you.

Topics Covered:
• BKFC and the evolution of bare-knuckle fighting
• Dave Mundell's fighting style and championship mentality
• Preparing for high-pressure moments
• Mike Perry + Lorenzo Hunt matchups
• Lessons for aspiring fighters

Subscribe and follow The Gametime Guru for more conversations with top athletes and sports personalities from around the world.

We're breaking down the college football landscape right now as Mike Zanetti joins me here on the show! It's coming up on Week 13 of the season and we have a LOT to chat about!

Join us to discuss the true 'contenders' vs the 'pretenders' in the college football playoff race!

We're going to chat about the potential upsets:

- Could Alabama lose to Auburn?

- Will Ohio State come out undefeated or will Michigan or Indiana have something to say about that?

- Will Vanderbilt find a way into the playoff and would it be great to have Diego Pavia in the playoff?

- What about the Group of 5? Should Tulane actually deserve a spot or should they re-consider that whole format?

And we also discuss who the true Heisman Candidates should be!?

Has Mike become an Indiana fan since moving to the state for work?!! Join us to hear more today.

This is the Nations Best Natty Show brought to you by The NIL Marketplace Showcase (details below)

The NIL Marketplace Showcase
July 7-9th
Hyatt Regency
Indianapolis, Indiana

#CollegeFootball #Heisman #Playoffs