PODCAST · business
PodSAM
by SAM Magazine
The podcast channel of SAM (Ski Area Management) Magazine
Episodes
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Summit Series: People vs. Projects
Ski area leaders juggle two demanding roles: developing people and delivering projects. This session with the Class of 2025-26 Summit Series cohort dives into how mentors strike that balance — keeping teams motivated while hitting deadlines, shaping culture while driving results, and navigating…
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From Data to Decisions: AI in Dashboard, Reporting, and Security
In this episode, we explore how ski areas are using artificial intelligence to better understand performance, streamline reporting, and make more informed decisions across their operations. This conversation comes from SAM and Eternity’s Ski Resort AI Bootcamp session held in October 2025, where...
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After the Ice
In this episode, we head to northern Michigan, where a late-season storm left one of the Midwest’s largest ski resorts encased in ice. The Highlands, part of Boyne Resorts, took the brunt of a March 2025 weather event so severe it shattered tree limbs like matchsticks, buried trails, and left…
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The Huddle: Thinking Clearly in Uncertain Times - Part 2
Our recent SAM Huddle, Thinking Clearly in Uncertain Times, was recorded on April 21, 2025. With tensions around trade and cross-border relations rising, this conversation brought together industry and policy perspectives to delve into how these developments are reshaping the landscape for travel...
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The Huddle: Thinking Clearly in Uncertain Times - Part 1
Our recent SAM Huddle, Thinking Clearly in Uncertain Times, was recorded on April 21, 2025. The conversation brought ski industry leaders and policy experts together to unpack how current political dynamics—particularly U.S.–Canada relations and trade tensions—are affecting travel, tourism, and...
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Summit Series: Mastering Your Mindset
Feeling overwhelmed and underprepared can create self-limiting thoughts, low-performance, unmet expectations, higher stress, dissatisfaction, and even disillusionment. During this conversation from the fall with the Class of 2024-25 mentors and mentees, we dove into how to strengthen your own...
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Summit Series: Change Management
When change seems to be all we do, how do we manage it to our advantage? Listen in to a conversation from the fall with the Class of 2024-25 mentors and mentees. Looking for more? Read "Change Management" from the January 2025 issue of SAM. Mentors: Kim Jones, Vice President and General Counsel,...
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Meet Mike: Interview with the New NSAA President
SAM sat down with the new National Ski Areas Association president and CEO, Mike Reitzell. This extended cut interview expands upon the "Meet Mike" article in SAM's January 2025 issue.
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Summit Series: It's a Balancing Act
During the 6th annual Summit Series leadership development program, six of our mentors and an expert voice discuss what it takes to balance the weight of the workforce and workplace on your shoulders, while striking a balance within yourself and your team. As we welcome mentee nominations for…
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Summit Series: Leading Effective Teams
During the 6th annual Summit Series leadership development program, six of our mentors and an expert voice discuss how to build trust, communicate, and problem solve with your teams, with our group of mentees. As we welcome mentee nominations for this year's Summit Series, we will be sharing…
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Summit Series: What Makes a Good Leader
During our 6th annual Summit Series leadership development program, four of our mentors and an expert voice discuss a wide range of topics around leadership, like leadership styles, delegating, prioritizing tasks and more, with our group of mentees. As we welcome mentee nominations for this…
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Cutter's Camp: Fireside Chat with OGs
Mary Walsh, writer, announcer, and longtime Snowboarder Magazine staff editor joined Parker Bohon, host of The Blade Dive Podcast, in a discussion with industry icons looking at how far we’ve come in the last 20 years and what’s next for the freestyle terrain park world. Topics covered include: -...
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What Defines Summer Success?
Just as the menu of summer activities, programs and events varies between operations, so do the goals and metrics that measure success. Being profitable is an important metric but it creates complexities. Listen on as we learn how 10 resorts across North America define what success looks like.…
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Interview with Stix from Liquid Death
Steve Nilsen, more commonly known as Stix, is a legendary brand marketer, having worked with brands such as PBR, Red Bull, and now he serves as the VP of Cult Indoctrination at Liquid Death Mountain Water. If you're not familiar with Liquid Death, they've taken water to a whole new level with an...
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Summit Series: Reinventing Resilience, Part 2
This two-part discussion will cover how organizations move beyond setbacks to grow through challenges and how to be a place where people thrive. Let's face it, we are all a bit stressed and burnt out after a couple of years of facing serious challenges, both professionally and personally. Part 2:...
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Summit Series: Reinventing Resilience, Part 1
This two-part discussion covers how organizations move beyond setbacks to grow through challenges and how to be a place where people thrive. Part one defines resilience, what we're doing wrong, and stress triggers. Learn more about SAM's Summit Series at www.saminfo.com/the-summit-series
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Where Are We With “Sustainability?”
Sustainability encompasses so much more than going “green.” The growth of sustainability specialist positions at mountain resorts and beyond has us asking, “What does it really mean to be a sustainable business?” We’ve gathered a group of sustainability leaders to hear about how they approach...
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Summit Series: Values Driven Leadership
This PodSAM is a must-listen for any leader or future leader in the industry. Tune in to the second topic in our Summit Series Leadership forum where we gather top industry leaders and 10 emerging leaders to discuss approaches to "Values-Driven Leadership." "We can't operate without the team. We...
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Fire on the Mountain Part 3: A Learning Season
SAM sat down with Sierra-at-Tahoe GM John Rice to reflect on the remediation and reopening process after the Caldor Fire blazed through 16 months ago. While the work is far from done, Sierra-at-Tahoe’s recovery efforts offer valuable lessons in environmental and social resilience.
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Summit Series: Community Relations
This PodSAM is a must listen for any leader or future leader in the industry. Tune in to the first topic in our Summit Series Leadership forum where we gather top industry leaders and 10 emerging leaders to discuss approaches to "Community Relations and Key Stakeholder Engagement." "It's now the...
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New Small-Scale Resort Group Carves Out Own Niche
When Mountain High and Dodge Ridge owner, Karl Kapuscinski purchased China Peak Mountain Resort from owner Tim Cohee on Dec. 8, 2022, it brought together two industry innovators, each with 40 years of experience, and the promise of a new small-scale resort group eager to carve out its own niche…
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Career Choices, Choices, Choices
A ski area general manager, a mid-level manager, a ski patroller, and an industry newcomer walk into...a room full of 450 people. Origin stories unfold. SAM editor Dave Meeker leads this panel discussion at the 2022 PNSAA Mountain Works Conference with Greg Pack, Cody Howe, Hannah Besso, and…
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Solving the Climate Crisis
Molly Kawahata, a former advisor for energy and climate change at the Obama White House, chats with SAM associate editor Sarah Wojcik about the fossil fuel funded myth of the personal “carbon footprint,” the problem with climate shaming, and why it’s time to focus on systemic climate action. With…
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Selling Summer from SAM’s Summer Ops Camp
We gathered a panel of experts at our 2022 Summer Ops Camp in Tremblant to discuss best practices for attracting customers to resort summer activities. From the best mix of attractions to the right narrative, this discussion is full of important nuggets of information that will help four-season...
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The SAM Huddle: Reflections and Projections
Spring is fast approaching in many parts of the country, but before we put this winter to bed, let’s unpack this season and look ahead to the next one. On this episode we brought together industry leaders to reflect on the past year and share projections for the next one. Was the success of this...
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The SAM Huddle: Gut Check
Last winter, unified messaging and clear Covid protocols resulted in a successful season. The 2021-2022 winter season has already been a bit different. On this episode of PodSAM, we do a gut check on what we, as an industry, can do to try and get ahead of the chaos. This episode is supported by...
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Fire on the Mountain Part 2
On the night of August 29, 2021, the Caldor wildfire blazed into Sierra-at-Tahoe’s West Bowl. Listen to this two-part special as we talk with Sierra's general manager, John Rice, about what it was like to be the boots on the ground as the fire approached and how he's dealing with the aftermath.
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Fire on the Mountain Part 1
On the night of August 29, 2021, the Caldor wildfire blazed into Sierra-at-Tahoe’s West Bowl. Listen to this two-part special as we talk with Sierra's general manager, John Rice, about what it was like to be the boots on the ground as the fire approached and how he's dealing with the aftermath.
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The SAM Huddle: Small is the New Big
Small ski areas thrived last season as people stayed closer to home and new skiers and riders came out in droves. How will these areas fare this winter as Covid continues to impact travel and recreation, and more locals now have a connection to their local hill? On this episode, we huddled live…
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The SAM Huddle: Marketing in Unfamiliar Terrain
Going into the 2021-22 season, we're seeing dramatic changes in how guests interact with mountain resorts, what guests need and want from resorts, and even how guests see resorts fitting into their lives. On this episode we discuss how communication plans may need to change as a result of this...
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The SAM Huddle: Dust Off the Covid Playbook
The industry breathed a sigh of relief when last winter was in the rearview mirror. That sense of relief was all too short lived, though. While this winter won’t be the same as last, it appears that Covid will still be very much a part of it. On this episode, we will look ahead to the upcoming...
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SAM's 11 Under 30: West
Meet the next generation of snowsports leaders. In this episode we highlight SAM Magazine's annual 10 Under 30. This year's group of 20-somethings has already left their mark and they have ideas about where snowsports should head next. Wait, I thought you said 11? Yep, this year we're turning it…
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SAM's 11 Under 30: East
Meet the next generation of snowsports leaders. In this episode we highlight SAM Magazine's annual 10 Under 30. This year's group of 20-somethings has already left their mark and they have ideas about where snowsports should head next. Wait, I thought you said 11? Yep, this year we're turning it…
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The SAM Huddle: The Staffing and Affordable Housing Crisis
Labor shortages and affordable housing problems are historically cyclical and local, but this time around seems different. This episode is supported by Doppelmayr.
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The SAM Huddle: Moving Mountain Operations Forward
End-of-season burnout has been more severe this spring than usual—so how do we move our teams forward into summer ops and beyond? It will take more than a vaccine to recover from the non-stop stress of this Covid year. Listen in as mountain operations leaders share how they, and their teams, are...
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The API Huddle: Hiring & Staffing
On this episode we discuss trends in hiring, how to draw a strong applicant pool with your job description, cultivating a strong company culture, and hiring for diversity. Staffing is often one of the biggest hurdles operators face, and our panel of experts will share insight on how to turn that...
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The SAM Huddle: Post-Pandemic Planning
A year has passed since the world shut down, and we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. What lies ahead? The pandemic forced an altered perspective on how we live, work, and play. How much of this will remain once the world opens up again? And how can this inform your decision making as…
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The SAM Huddle: The Tech Transition
Covid accelerated the adoption of new technologies. On this episode, operators discuss how it impacted operations, staffing, guest behavior, and guest expectations, and what the means for the future. This episode is supported by Aspenware, Axess, and Flaik. Support this podcast by subscribing to...
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The SAM Huddle: Selling Season
Season passes are an important element of mountain resorts' business. For a second spring in a row, we are faced with figuring out how the pandemic will impact this revenue stream. On this episode, we talk with report operators about how they’re approaching their 2021-22 season pass sales, and…
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New Year, New Huddle
Welcome to 2021! It’s a new year and it’s time to ask about the state of business at this stage of the pandemic. How did COVID mitigation plans work out over the holiday week? We also welcome New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer to break down the latest COVID relief bill passed by Congress…
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Special Episode: The State of Marketing
This special episode comes from Christian Knapp, former CMO of Aspen Snowmass, as he shares the State of Marketing During the Pandemic from the November issue of SAM Magazine. We're testing these audio articles out, let us know what you think by emailing [email protected]. This article, and more,...
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The SAM Huddle: Reality Check Pt. 1
We've spent 8 months thinking, talking, and planning. Now it's November and we're putting those plans into action. It's time for a reality check. The SAM Magazine Huddles are virtual conversations where operators can share ideas, challenges, and solutions. Join the conversation at...
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The SAM Huddle: Small Areas
Smaller, local ski areas are vital to our industry. They also might be the most vulnerable this winter, with limited facilities and resources with which to address the challenges this winter will present. Support this podcast by subscribing to SAM Magazine at www.saminfo.com/subscribe Subscribe…
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The SAM Huddle: Snowsports School & Rentals
It has never been more important for close coordination between the rental department and snowsports school. Both face issues of social distancing and face covering while performing personal services, sometimes in very close proximity to guests. Nick Herrin, CEO of PSIA-AASI, co-hosts this panel...
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Summit Series: Industry Sustainability
On this episode, we talk about Industry Sustainability with mentors Amy Ohran, president and general manager, Boreal and Soda Springs, Calif.; Jeff Boliba, vice president of global resorts, Burton; and Brad Wilson, general manager, Bogus Basin, Idaho. The Summit Series is supported by...
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The API Huddle: The Good, The Bad, and What We've Learned
This year we were challenged like never before personally and professionally. We learned a lot about what we are capable of and how resilient our businesses could be. But it was hard fought. Despite the many challenges of operating during a pandemic, there have been several bright…
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The SAM Huddle: Lessons from Down Under
On this episode, we welcomed a panel of operators from Australia and New Zealand to talk about everything operations from staffing, to rental, to ski school, and capacity issues. Many of these resorts have had to pivot mid-season due to changing mandatory restrictions in response to COVID-19, but...
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The SAM Huddle: Buckle Up Pt. 2
On this episode, we talk with the Insights Collective, a volunteer group of destination travel research specialists, about travel and consumer behavior in the time of COVID-19 and how the latest trends may translate this winter season. We discuss where the consumer stands and how attitudes and...
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The SAM Huddle: Buckle Up Part 1
How will winter operations change between now and when the snow flies? While much is still unknown, the picture is clear enough to begin formulating operational plans. This Huddle, led by experts from SE Group and Bull Stockwell Allen, will provide actionable ideas and help operating teams find...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does PodSAM have?
PodSAM currently has 95 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is PodSAM about?
The podcast channel of SAM (Ski Area Management) Magazine
How often does PodSAM release new episodes?
PodSAM has 95 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to PodSAM?
You can listen to PodSAM on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts PodSAM?
PodSAM is created and hosted by SAM Magazine.
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