Conversations with Sports Fans

Alabama photojournalist Todd Eagle from Birmingham's WVTM's Channel 13 is our guest in this episode of Conversations. A native, Todd grew up on a steady diet of the region's professional sports teams, notably the Red Wings and Lions. A family move to Hilton Head, SC, introduced him to the South, and attending St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman, AL, introduced him to Alabama. Originally a film student at the University of Alabama, he converted to broadcast media while on campus and has been in the field ever since.Along the way, there have been plenty of Crimson Tide games, trips to plenty of SEC schools, and more Iron Bowls than he can remember. One that stands out, though, was the 2013 "Kick Six" game in Auburn, where he was part of a 3-person team shooting the game for WVTM. Todd has also had the opportunity to cover the past two Olympic Games (Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026) as part of the Hearst Television team. He pulls the curtain back on what it's like to be part of a coverage team charged with feeding content to affiliate stations nationwide. Near the conclusion of our time with Todd, we deviate from sports talk to discuss a more somber topic as he shares memories of being assigned to New York City in the days after the 9/11 attacks. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

In this episode, we're joined Grand Forks (ND) Herald sportswriter Brad Schlossman.Since 2005, Brad has been the go-to source for college hockey in North Dakota and the surrounding area.A native of Fargo, Brad traces his sports fandom roots to the grandstands at Fargo South High School with his father. He later attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where his interest in sports journalism piqued. He wound up with an internship at the Herald in 2003 and then caught a break when the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships were played in Grand Forks in 2004-05, and he was asked to assist with coverage of a tournament that included future Hockey Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Alexander Ovechkin. You're able to follow Brad's work at this link (note that a Herald subscription may be necessary to see all of his work). He's also on Twitter/X at @SchlossmanGF and Facebook here.If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

As the United States moves toward its midterm elections, it seems an appropriate time to have Audrey Feldman join Conversations and discuss the recent research she and her colleagues at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government completed earlier this year.The title of the working paper Audrey co-authored with Weatherhead Professor of Public Policy, Dr. Todd Rogers, is Shared Sports Fandom Powerfully Reduces Partisan Animosity.A doctoral student in Public Policy at the Kennedy School, Audrey discusses the impetus for the research, the process, and the findings. Not to bury the lead, but in a nutshell, being a fan of the same team increases feelings of mutual warmth. And, across partisan divides, the more passionate the fan, the stronger the depolarizing effect. A fan herself, Audrey shares memories of her youth attending college football games with her father, a University of Michigan alum. Audrey spent her undergrad years at the University of Notre Dame (much to her dad's initial chagrin), so she knows a thing or two about the culture surrounding a college football Saturday. Links Referenced:Shared Sports Fandom Powerfully Reduces Partisan Animosity⁠ - 2026 Draft Paper from Harvard's Audrey Feldman & Dr. Todd Rogers⁠Fandom and Social Connection Initiative⁠ - Launched by Rogers and Feldman with an unrestricted gift from Fox Sports⁠New York Times Guest Essay⁠ - Authored by Rogers, Feldman, and Ben Valenta (Fox Sports)Impact of Muslim Soccer Players on Fans' Islamophobia - 2021 Paper from a research team from the University of Colorado, Stanford University, and Yale UniversityIf you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

Georgia's Gardy Banks loves himself some food. So much so, in fact, that he's built a social media following as @dudelovesfood, and during the 2025 NFL season, Gardy made a visit to all 30 NFL venues to sample their offerings. He admits to returning from an uber-busy Fall of 2025 a touch heavier, but fulfilled in the fact that he viewed it as a bit of an anthropology series, discovering the people, their culture, their customs, and the food that made up each franchise's fanbase. Some of his most memorable samplings:The Brookie in Denver - A 3-pound brownie/cookie sandwichThe BBQ Pit on a Stick in Kansas City - Two pounds of brisket battered and fried like a corn dogThe Battle Boat in Buffalo - It's two feet of loaded waffle fries with one half topped with traditional Buffalo toppings and the other with toppings common with the opponentBoudin Stuffed Chicken Wings in Houston - As the name suggests, boudin is piped into chicken wings and then friedGardy also dishes about the best overall stadiums for concession offerings, top tailgate spots, and where the bargain-conscious NFL fan should see a game.To find all of his NFL stops in one location, check out this YouTube channel. You're also able to follow all of Gardy's culinary pursuits as a Webby-nominated content creator on the following social media accounts: Facebook - @dudelovesfoodTikTok - @dudelovesfoodYouTube - @dudelovesfoodInstagram - @dudelovesfoodatlIf you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

Our guest this episode is Nick Lionas, the Director of Miracle League Programs and Community Engagement for the Easterseals of Michigan's Macomb-Oakland Regional Center (MORC).The Miracle League is an adaptive sports and recreation program that provides children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities the chance to play organized baseball and join other team activities.Founded in 2000 in Conyers, GA, The Miracle League's Mission is to:Provide opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball, regardless of their abilities;Promote community support and sponsorship of Miracle Leagues;Promote the construction of special facilities that meet the unique needs of Miracle League players and their families.With MORC, it's not just baseball these days. There are now programs for Bowling, On Ice, and Fun & Fitness. Nick tells us about all of those, plus he discusses his own journey as a fan and how his first-ever Detroit Tigers game featured the then-California Angels' starting pitcher, Jim Abbott, a Flint, MI native who was born without a right hand. And then, later, had the opportunity to hear from retired MLB pitcher Dave Dravecky, who lost his pitching arm to cancer, and how, perhaps, those were some inspiration for the work he's currently engaged in. Nick might also be our first guest who created student spectator traditions for a newly opened high school while a student at Rochester's Stoney Creek High School. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

In this episode, we're joined by Paul Shaheen, a freelance hockey contributor based in the Chicago area.Paul's work appears occasionally on Sirius/XM's NHL Network Radio; on "The Drive with Jack Ebling," a radio show based in Lansing, MI; CHQR 770 AM in Calgary, Alberta; and TSN Radio 690 AM in Montreal, Quebec.Paul's also a regular poster on X/Twitter at the handle @PaulShaheen. You're also able to search for his podcast using the keywords Research on Ice/ROI.Note: ROI in this instance does not stand for Return on Investment, though listening to this Conversation with Paul will be a worthwhile time investment. Unsurprisingly, there's plenty of hockey talk, but also a fair amount of venue and broadcaster talk, and even some digressions down memory lane with Paul. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

As ⁠Major League Baseball⁠'s post-season ramps up, we're joined by one of the original ⁠Australian Baseball League⁠'s all-time greats, ⁠Gary White⁠.The ABL season begins in mid-November, which likely means Gary's suburban Sydney ⁠Diamond One Baseball & Softball⁠ shop is bustling these days.That said, Gary took time out to speak with us recently about his lifetime involvement in the game. A left-handed-hitting catcher, Gary's one of the best to ever do it in Australia, where his career totals rank among the ⁠Original ABL's (1989-99) Top 5 ⁠in each major offensive category: Hits (second with 478), batting average (fifth at .319), doubles (second with 100), home runs (third with 82), and RBI (fourth with 282).He delivered what is widely viewed by many as the biggest hit in Australian baseball history when, in the bottom of the 11th of the ⁠1999 Intercontinental Cup Gold Medal Game⁠ against Cuba, he belted a pinch-hit single to score the eventual winning run.A year later, Gary found himself as the third-string catcher for the host Aussies during the ⁠2000 Sydney Summer Olympics⁠. He went 1-for-4 with a walk for Team Australia, which finished seventh with a 2-5 record.Gary was a 2009 inductee into the ⁠Baseball Australia Hall of Fame⁠.If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

As baseball's regular season comes to a close this weekend, it seemed an appropriate time to talk to someone who knows a thing or two about visiting ballparks. Erik Mertens aka "The Peanut Guy," has been a member of the Tri-City Dust Devils' staff since their introduction 25 years ago. Somewhere along the way, however, Erik decided to take his love of baseball on the road and began visiting ballparks.Earlier this summer, he completed his longstanding goal of visiting ALL the ballparks. Well, at least all of the current affiliated Minor League parks (237 total). He's also been to 39 MLB parks, 14 college wood-bat summer league parks, nine Independent League stadiums, and five historic Negro League fields. That's over 300 ballparks total!Erik shares reflections from his journey with his. From those early years attending Seattle Mariners' games as a family in the Kingdome to late July, when a visit to the Ontario Tower Buzzers ONT Field completed his quest. As Erik said in his Instagram post commemorating his accomplishment: "There is no better way to see our country (and continent) than visiting Minor League ballparks!"We could not agree more:-)If you'd like to track Erik's future travels, follow him on Instagram @erikthepeanutguy. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

In this episode, we're joined by a professional world traveler (seriously, he's a commercial pilot!) and fan of major events, James Rowlands, who shares how a resident of Leeds, England, just recently watched a game in his 30th MLB ballpark. (He was even featured by ⁠MLB.com⁠!) Oh yeah, he also shares stories of a Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup final, Rugby World Cup finals, Cricket World Cup finals, becoming a member of the ⁠92 Club⁠, attending eight F1 circuits, and witnessing all four of golf's major championships. Plus more!James is truly a remarkable individual with a knack for either being in the right place at the right time or putting himself in the right place at the right time. And he's a terrific storyteller to boot. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

We're joined in this episode by Dr. Aaron Mansfield, associate professor of sports management at Merrimack College.A native of the Buffalo, NY, area, Aaron is unsurprisingly a big fan of the Bills and Sabres. We spend a fair amount of time learning about his early years of fandom and how the Music City Miracle brought his younger self to tears of anguish.Today, Aaron lists his areas of expertise on Merrimack's website as "healthy fandom, sports consumer behavior, health and well-being, and sports marketing." He focuses much of his research on the relationship between sports fandom and well-being.That, too, is a major component of our Conversation, discussing that relationship and how Aaron hopes fans can begin engaging in healthier spectating habits: from ensuring they get movement in during their viewing to making better food and beverage choices. To keep tabs on Aaron's work and connect with him, he encourages listeners to find him here on LinkedIn. A reminder to Conversations listeners: we are giving away an author-signed copy of last week's guest Danny Funt's debut book, Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling. To enter, email [email protected] stating your interest by 11:59 p.m. ET, September 13. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.