Kyle Bertke: B.M.K.

Mel...Mello...Coach. Whatever you call Damel, you are blessed if you can call him a friend. You're also blessed if you can call him "Coach." In this episode, we talk about the friend thing AND the coaching thing. You'll also learn about my most humbling NYC-club-moment. Most importantly, you'll get to learn from my man, Mel.  Check out this incredible article about Damel from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6912328/2025/12/30/damel-ling-monroe-university-coach-leadership-fatal-shooting/

Gabe, Maela, and I discuss one of the great Christmas movies of all time. Hot takes galore on the Wet Bandits, Buzz, and whether or not Elvis was at the airport.

I've been friends with Sean since high school and he is the head women's soccer coach at Elms College. This is the first in a series of conversations with coaches I admire and want to learn from. Sean does not disappoint with his insights and suggestions. Plus, he leaves everyone he talks to feeling like the most important person in the world!

My starting five (me, Nick, Murph, Wheels, and McCollum) discuss our memories of "the park." Then, we induct the first-ever class of Nathan Bill Basketball Hall of Famers. Ten hoopers that fully deserve this esteemed honor!

Last night's game one wild card classic in which the Sox beat the Yanks in New York inspired me. It is time to read the essay I wrote after the Red Sox 2004 Championship: The greatest sports run of my life. 

A brief memoir of the two days before Maela left for college and her move-in day. Monumental days in my life. I needed to process...

Before You, Me, and Dupree, there was me, Della, and Baba. The original Tripod!

Brian Hetzel is back! This time, in his role as a World War II historian. Wait til you hear his research, stories, and journeys. I must be middle-aged because I have a friend who is obsessed with World War II history :) But man, what an incredible episode learning from Boo Hetz. I deeply admire his curiosity and passion.  P.S. Wu Tang.

Wheaton College. One dorm room. Home to Matty and Mirick one year. Home to me and Pete Butler the next. The walls can't talk, but we can. Pete, Mirick, and Matty join me to tell our tales of Meadows East, room 304!

We all know that Kyle is one of the best humans we've ever come across. I mean, the guy has a 100% approval rating. But what we don't all know is what his life was like before MK. In this podcast, we learn the story of Kyle Bertke: B.M.K.