Heavy Hitter Sports

Dick Grapenthin is the master of resilience & reinvention. Looking for inspiration to start a second career of your own?  After toiling on his family's Iowa farm, Dick pursued his dream of playing professional baseball. After a successful 10-year career, Dick coached at Clemson and then earned his MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Business. Dick then entered the sports goods world by working with host Mark Hochgesang at Easton. Impactful senior management roles at Mizuno Sports followed. Now Dick runs his own innovative ball glove company and lives near Atlanta with his lovely wife Cindy. A baseball life well-led. Indiana State Hall of Fame Tribute: https://gosycamores.com/honors/hall-of-fame/dick-grapenthin/33 Proven Brand Website: https://thepbpro.com/Dick's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-grapenthin-29648ba/Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. And share this episode with a coworker, friend or family member who it might benefit. Many thanks. 

Leadership and Executive Coach Jolynn Mitchell provides insight on building & empowering high-performance teams. She recommends showing up with daily intention & focusing on the collective WE. Advice is given re how leaders can be more curious, trusting & vulnerable at work. Jolynn and host Mark Hochgesang, fellow Nike & adidas veterans, reveal the inner workings of both companies. They also talk about reimagining business leadership, unlocking employee potential & navigating politically charged corporate waters. Jolynn's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolynnmitchell/Brave Growth Website: https://www.brave-growth.com/Recommended Books- Building Trust in Business, Politics, Relationships & Life: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strengthsfinder-20-gallup/1137658092?ean=9781595620156- Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mans-search-for-meaning-viktor-e-frankl/1116930713- StrenthsFinder 2.0: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strengthsfinder-20-gallup/1137658092?ean=9781595620156Recommended Assessment Tools - Enneagram: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions - Team Coaching International: https://teamcoachinginternational.com/Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. And share this episode with a coworker, friend or family member who it might benefit. Many thanks. 

While sports can often feel like a matter of life and death, it can also be hilariously funny at times. Professional comedian Karen Morgan brings that fact to life with host Mark Hochgesang. She shares humorous stories about being an athlete, sports mom and diehard Georgia football fan. Enjoy sports fans! Karen's Website: https://www.karenmorgan.com/Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmorgancomedy/Karen's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenmorgancomedyKaren's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@karenmorgancomedyKaren's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeIWZbW8MWTd9tOxJKTrNYQKaren's Upcoming Shows: https://www.karenmorgan.com/datesEvery Generation Explained: https://www.karenmorgan.com/videosKaren's 2nd DryBar Comedy Special (use code KARENMORGAN for a free month): https://www.drybarcomedy.com/The Purple Bike Podcast: https://thepurplebike.com/Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. And share this episode with a coworker, friend or family member who it might benefit. Many thanks. 

Renowned career transition coach Peter Paskill provides provocative advice on how to find the right job for you. This is a must-listen for those that work in the world of sports or seek to do so. Peter reveals the ten essential truths that can help you locate your dream career given your unique skills, interests & passions. The wisdom of Kevin Bacon, Chip Kelly & Steve Jobs is also shared. The time to INVEST in your career is NOW. Peter's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-e-paskill-bb08a0/Career Makers: https://www.careermakers.com/Want a New Better Fantastic Job: https://www.powells.com/book/want-a-new-better-fantastic-job-2nd-edition-9780963001214Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. And share this episode with a co-worker, friend or family member who it might benefit. Many thanks. 

Sarah shares the personal journey behind starting her successful womens luxury footwear brand Lilith NYC. As a self-confessed sneakerhead, Sara explains why she left her Nike data science job to chase her entrepreneurial dreams. The challenges faced by a young women of color in raising capital in today's angel and VC world are addressed. Undaunted, Sara diverted her home down payment funds to start her womens footwear venture. Strong Lilith sales & positive customer feedback suggest that Sara's fearless choice was the right one.  The Yankees, Queens, LL Cool J, Ray Romano and Eleanor Roosevelt also get shoutouts in the episode. Enjoy sports fans!Lilith NYC Website: https://lilith.nyc/Personal Website: https://sarahsukumaran.com/aboutLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahsukumaran/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahsuku/Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. And share this episode with a coworker, friend or family member who it might benefit. Many thanks. 

Host Mark Hochgesang heralds Arthur Ashe, tennis great & social justice warrior, with the able assistance of ChatGPT. Enjoy sports and tech fans alike. 

Former Nike designer Tim Clark shares valuable product design insights. He reveals how the Nike design process operates. Tim reinforces the importance of designing with athlete needs always in mind. Mark & Tim discuss the game-changing products that they were involved with while working for the Swoosh. Tim offers advice regarding enhancing both product storytelling and sustainability. He also addresses the likely impact of AI on product design. Tim also shares how his brilliantly simple design process philosophy guides his new product design consultancy firm, A Human Thing.  A Human Thing Website:  https://www.ahumanthing.com/Tim Clark's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-clark/Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. Many thanks. 

Host Mark Hochgesang reviews the film Air: Courting a Legend. The movie chronicles Nike's signing of Michael Jordan to an endorsement contract, thus birthing the game-changing Air Jordan line. As a 20 year Nike vet, Mark heralds the film's magical moments while pointing out a few liberties taken by director & star Ben Affleck. Enjoy sports (and movie) fans!Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. And share this episode with a coworker, friend or family member who it might benefit. Many thanks. 

Sporting goods guru Matt Powell shares his insights on today's market. We trade thoughts on the industry's biggest brands and the emergence of notable upstarts. Enjoy sports fans!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpowellanalyst/BCE Consulting: https://bceconsulting.com/Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. Many thanks. 

Mike Hass shares his incredible journey from walk-on to College Football Hall of Famer. Despite a successful high school career, Mike received no college scholarships. In turn, he walked on at Oregon State. Mike ultimately earned a scholarship and starting wide receiver berth. After a magical senior season, Mike was named first-team All-American. He also won the Biletnikoff Award given to the nation's most outstanding wide receiver. Most recently, Mike was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Not bad for a humble walk-on.  Take a listen to Mike's inspiring story of resilience and fortitude.  Mike Hass Action Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29f0D8DpBH4Mike Hass LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hass-3b081445/Listeners, please subscribe to Heavy Hitter Sports wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don't miss any future episodes. And if you are so inclined, please rate and review the show. And share this episode with a coworker, friend or family member who it might benefit. Many thanks.