Telich Talks

A young figure skater from New York rose to the top of her sport while carrying a promise she made to her dying mother. After achieving Olympic gold, she brought her brilliance to Cleveland and helped shape generations of champions.Written and voiced by John Telich and produced by Aaron Calafato, this episode of Forged in Greatness reveals the remarkable story of an Olympic champion whose influence transformed Cleveland figure skating.

Wild Bill Wagner is a northeast Ohio ultra runner, race director, and advocate for various local charities. In our interview, he talks about dealing with his addictive personality and how he began drinking at a very young age. He was one of the founding organizers of the Burning River 100 mile ultramarathon 20 years ago, Canal corridor 100, and Bill’s Bad Ass 50 K. He has run Western States 100, Wasatch 100 and many ultramarathons and was a running buddy and great friend to the late , incomparable Mark Godale, perhaps Northeast Ohio‘s greatest ultramarathon runner

This podcast is the latest in our series of shows called Forged in Greatness, the real stories of the Greater Cleveland sports Hall of Fame. This focuses on a man who won four Super Bowls and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Continue to check this Telich Talks podcast feed for more episodes like this one on the great Steelers coach Chuck Noll out of Benedictine high school. For more information on the greater Cleveland sports Hall of Fame go to clevelandsportshall.com. Our brand new award winning hall is at West 47th and Lorain in Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. V Thanks to Aaron Calafato and Ken Wendt

Lance Reisland is a football analyst and former high school head football coach at Garfield Heights high. He does Browns commentary on cleveland.com , 92.3 radio and other entities. This week we examine the decision by the Cleveland Browns to start Deshaun Watson at qb and look at some of the teams strengths and weaknesses. It’s also high school football time and we dive into the 2026 trending teams. We discuss , St. Ignatius, Kirtland, Massillon, Glenville and more

Kevin Conwell is the founder and ceo of WakeHustleGrind. He has been a web developer and has done award winning work in marketing and graphic design. The charitable side to the business helps young kids become entrepreneurs , and AI is a prominent part of the business model. Kevin is on Instagram @wakehustlegrind_ceo

Sean O’Toole is the athletic director at Gilmour Academy and director of the Big Shot Basketball Academy. Coach O’Toole has won over 200 games as a head coach at Saint Ignatius, Euclid, and Garfield Heights. O’Toole played on the Saint Ignatius varsity basketball team before continuing his academic and playing career with the John Carroll Blue Streaks. He has worked as a skills instructor for Nike Basketball, the LeBron James Skills Academy, Michael Jordan Top Flight School, and the Nike Hoop Jamboree.In the last couple years he has been learning to maneuver through life after losing his right leg to an infectious disease .

Tribute to legendary climber Nirmal Purja ( NimsDai) who lost his life ( along with 9 others) during an avalanche in late July in Pakistan. Owner of multiple climbing records he always paid tribute to the Sherpas and climbers of his native Nepal . Please watch the 2021 NetFlix special 14 Peaks, Nothing is Impossible

This is episode number 250 of the Telich Talks podcast. It’s about milestones. A sports broadcasting camp featuring Cleveland’s John Fanta that was dominated, in one session by news of the great LeBron James. How I reached the milestone of 50 years of marriage. Why I keep running ultra marathons with big numbers like 50 or 100 miles. How a 500 mile radius drawn on a map allowed me to meet The Bride. And how future Sports casters were ready with their takes on LeBron James

Telich Talks presents the latest installment of Forged in Greatness, the real stories of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. This episode is about the great pole vaulter Katie Moon. This is a narrative story about one of the greatest athletes in women’s track and field history. Go to Clevelandsportshall.com for more information about the great sports legacy in Cleveland, our new Hall and stay with us every week on the Telich Talks podcast network. Thanks to Aaron Calafato & Ken Wendt.

Telich Talks presents the latest installment of Forged in Greatness, the real stories of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. This episode is about the great Jesse Owens. This is a narrative story about one of the greatest athletes in history. Go to Clevelandsportshall.com for more information about the great sports legacy in Cleveland, our new Hall and stay with us every week on the Telich Talks podcast network. Thanks to Aaron Calafato & Ken Wendt.

This is an encore presentation of podcast from 7/15/25.. Wrongfully imprisoned for 39 years. Mr. Jackson is the subject of a Matt Waldeck documentary called Lovely Jackson.

In 2023, bricklayer Tyler Hanks weighed more than 300 pounds. He was seriously overweight, a smoker and was not shy about drinking unhealthy amounts of alcohol. But in a short period of time he turned his life around. He weighs 185, and he is winning ultra marathons. Not just partaking, but getting on the podium.

This podcast details why Running has been such an important part of my life, all the way up to my taking on trail ultra marathons from distances of 50 km to 100 miles. It also tells the story of how my first DNF at the 100 mile distance, paved the way for future success and fulfillment.Shout out to Burning River 100 in NEOhio.The podcast is from my section of shows called My Pod, My Life

Lauren Grindall , mom,lawyer of Northeast Ohio was diagnosed in 2018 with genetic AFib…..or irregular heart rhythm…. An avid runner, she feared those days were over.. but thanks to a successful procedure with Abbott technology, Lauren is back to running….coaching track and cross country, and as a member of Team Abbott, spreading awareness for genetic heart conditions… she’s on pace to run all six Star marathons worldwide. Next race is New York City in November.

Catherine Herrick Levy is a producer known for her work on 60 Minutes and Face the Nation. With 60 minutes she was involved in producing many stories for Scott Pelley. Herrick Levy, a Shaker Heights, Ohio native landed the first ever interview with a Supreme Court Justice. ( Sandra Day O’Connor. She is married and mother of two children . In this episode she talks of the Scott Pelley firing, the way that 60 minutes operated. , journalism and her path to network news.

I called this week’s episode, For The Love Of Dog, and in my case it’s the loss of one and the acceptance into my heart of the other. This episode further looks into the incredible abilities of Alaskan Huskies, who lead those dog sled teams that compete in the world famous Iditarod race. Our very recent trip to Alaska brought a lot of this love home for me. This is the first episode in a new section on the Telich Talks podcast feed called “My Pod, My Life”. Experiences in my career covering sports and my life

Shari Hunter is the founder of Two Foundation. She set out to create a space where many others besides her son Derek , could achieve success in life after being born with unique abilities. Life without labels is a mantra. Derek, his brother Christian and Jack co host a podcast, Two and company based in the foundations cafe/restaurant,shop, Two and Company in Chagrin Falls, Ohio that celebrates the success of those in the Two Foundation program . I was blessed to be a guest on the podcast!!

Telich Talks presents, Forged Greatness..the real stories of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. This version will be a semi regular part of the Telich Talks podcast feed. This story centers around the life long journey taken by Hall of Fame football and track coach Ted Ginn Sr. of Glenville High in Cleveland. Ohio. He has sent dozens of talented players to the NFL, including his son, Ted Ginn Jr. Ginn is one of 540 athletes/coaches in the HOF. Ginn started the Ginn Academy in 2007 to take at risk young men and turn their lives around. This story makes the third time Ginn has been the subject of a Telich Talks episode. In his early 70’s Ginn has been battling pancreatic cancer for several years. He has no plans to retire

Jeffrey Weiss is an author of a compelling personal transformation story, that’s chronicled in the book “ Racing Against Time”. In his late forties he competed in his first 10k, which led to Ironman Triathlons, and ultramarathons, including the iconic Comrades Marathon in South Africa and the grueling 72 mile Midnight Express near Lake Tahoe into his 60’s. Radical change can take place and Jeffrey sends that message in the book. He is currently in a quest to run all of the world’s major marathons.

David Lee Morgan is the author of three books about LeBron James. His most recent book, the LeBron phenomenon is out now on Amazon ( and elsewhere) Morgan , a former sportswriter at several papers , including the Akron Beacon Journal, covered James extensively prior to and during his high school days at Akron St. Vincent St. Mary high. Morgan is an English teacher at Stow high school and an award-winning author . This is his third appearance on Telich Talks