The Sports Deli

The 2026 Division I Women's Basketball National Championship Coach joined us today in The Sports Deli (as did a few other incredible guests like Annie Meyers, the most famous UCLA Bruin in HERstory, Elizabeth Galloway, former professional women's basketball player in the Original "W", the WBL, the Women's Basketball League and Jim Harrick, former Head Men's Basketball Coach at UCLA, where he won the 1995 National Title, and Natalie White, Founder and CEO of Moolah Kicks - the first ever female brand basketball shoe, made by females for females. I'm extremely humbled and grateful. Cori Close has been the Head Women's Basketball Coach at UCLA since 2011. And she gave us some incredible insight into how she became the incredible woman and coach that she is today because of a couple of bookends and a pyramid.Thank you for the support and as always, we don't make anything from the show but rather do it simply to serve in hopes that it may help, inspire, educate, motivate, or transform people in some way.

Learning to drive, better yet, learning to be in the passanger seat after driving since 1985 can be a major adjustment but one of the privileges and rights of passage as a #girldad. Join us as we navigate the hills and valleys of being a new driver from the 15.5 year olds perspective and father's perspective.

What a run by the New York Knicks. Shout out to Head Coach Mike Brown. Jalen Brunson who won two National Championships at Villanova and after falling to the second round. Dallas gave up on him (and Luka) and he not only came to New York, but took a 100,000,000 pay cut so that they could sign some other great players like Karl Anthony Townes (KAT).Shout out to Spike Lee, the city of New York and the New York fans.

Season 7 Episode 1 is in the books. Thanks for your continuous love and support everyone. The choices that some of the WNBA coaches have made to either not give the stars of the league the credit they deserve or throw certain players under the bus instead of keeping things "in-house" is mind boggling. Some coaches are coaching in the WNBA for the first time, some women for the first time and acting like they've been doing it for decades.Nike the W and USA basketball have completely botched their Tiger Woods, Caitlin Clark.And shout out to Chennedy Carter who is playing lights out and Teresa "TSpoon" Weatherspoon (her old coach in Chicago) for personally contacting her good friend and Aces Head Coach, Becky Hammon on her behalf.

New York Times Best Selling author, Jeff Pearlman joined me today in The Sports Deli for one of the most fascinating conversations that I've ever had.I can't thank Jeff enough for his time and for being so gracious. We covered a lot of ground in this episode and truly hope you enjoy it as much as I did.Jeff Pearlman breaks down Tupac’s life like a veteran sportswriter examining a dynasty. This detailed look at his life is the work of a writer who understands the ego of greatness.”—Chuck DPearlman delivers rich, engrossing, and fascinating new details about Shakur’s life and legacy—not just once or twice—but throughout each lively page...This is the type of needed journalism, reporting, and biography that finally and deservedly provides the definitive historic account on Shakur.” -Jonathan Abrams, author of The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-HopScrutinized in life, mythologized in death, Tupac Shakur remains a subject of immense cultural significance and speculation nearly thirty years after his murder. Despite a multitude of books, documentaries, and even a feature film, much about Tupac’s story remains shrouded and misunderstood. Like many icons who died tragically young, Tupac the man has long been obscured—his edges sanded down, his complexity numbed—by the competing agendas that surround his legacy.Thanks for the love and support and remember you're not alone. You can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.

Matt Mauser joined us today for an incredibly inspiring episode. Matt's wife, Christina was a coach at Kobe Bryant's Mamba Academy and was on the helicopter that Kobe, Gigi and 7 others we're unfortunately on that fateful day on 1/26/20.I first saw Matt on America's Got Talent and reached out to him to come on the show and he graciously accepted. And today you will hear the rest of this inspiring story of resilience, courage, faith, and hope. Because Christina would want him and the kids to get busy living not get busy dying - one of Matt's favorite quotes from Shawshank Redemption.I want to thank MLB (soon-to-be) Hall-of-Famer, Kenny Loften, former Kansas City Chiefs legendary kicker, Nick Lowery, MLB Hall-of-Famer, Bruce Maxwell, and Tamir Goodman for coming on the show and showing love and support for Matt and his three incredible kids. Remember, you're not alone and you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.Today's episode of The Sports Deli Podcast is brought to you by my Amazon Storefront and by my You Tube Shop. I may be compensated for this podcast episode or any teasers or highlights from this from adsense or if anyone decides they want the Snowball microphone you see me using as your host.Thanks for the love and support. I don't make any money on the show other than the aforementioned but do it to serve in the name of my 6 dads, in particular, the two that took their own lives and mental health.Just know the world is a better place with you in it even if it doesn't feel like it sometimes. And the way out of darkness is not only a bright light that shines within all of us but by asking for help...And that does not mean you are weak, it is instead a sign of strength and one of the most admirable things you can do in life.And finally, Matt, best of luck to you and the kids and Christina, this episode is dedicated to you for being a straight boss, an incredible mom, wife and coach. Rest in Paradise until Matt and the kiddos get to see you again one day.

The amazing Riley joined me today along with Rosie and Roofus on her late brothers 10th anniversary of his unfortunate death as well as her 7-month anniversary of being clean.Riley is a hairdresser (and can do feet and nails but chooses not to) and loves the beach and good vibes.Remember, help is only a call away. You can dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.This episode is sponsored by my You Tube shop. Check it out at youtube.com/@mikehootner and also check out my Amazon storefront at, amazon.com/shop/thesportsdeli for some amazing things. I may be compensated for anything you get on either platform but it's at no extra cost to you.

Dr. Michael McEnanyMichael McEnany attended Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of New Mexico. He is currently an Emergency Medicine physician at Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop, CA. His interests include connecting with the natural world and learning to play the fiddle. “The methods and goals of hospice and palliative care, to me, represent the core of medicine. Listening with patience, responding to vulnerability with compassion, addressing the origins and continuance of suffering, while openly and bravely discussing the existential nature and threat of illness are all aspects of medicine that I strive to embody.Abby is a holistic practitioner and an herbalist and although they acted like they we're just friends, I have a sneaky suspicion there's something bigger on the horizon for these two amazing humans!Thanks to Frankie and YO ROSCO! for joining us today also!Remember, you're not alone and you can always dial 988 24/7/365 and someone will be there. We truly hope you enjoyed today's episode everyone!

Teacher Tiffani & dog Peyton (Not Manning) joined the show today. Tiffany became a teacher after covid and loves it! She's inspired by her sister, a teacher of 30 years.Peyton loves balls and check out this episode to find out what Tiffany's love language is.Remember, you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.

This S1:E28 episode of The Dog Beach Diaries featured Archie (Bunker?), Lulu, Piper, Carol & Jill. Max out your 401k and go on lots of dates was the advice from Carol and Jill as we discussed a number of different topics.Thanks for watching and/or listening and remember, you are not alone. You can always dial 988 24/7/365 and someone will be there.Check out my You Tube Shop at, youtube.com/@mikehootner for some of the most amazing products. I may make a commission from that but it's at no extra cost to you.

Thank you for joining us today for S1:E27 of The Dog Beach Diaries featuring Stevie Nicks, Kelsey, Simcha & Becca. Kels is a history teacher and Becca has a Tidepool exploration company that you can find at, https://www.seatoshoreexplorers.com. Their dogs are great and we had a great conversation.Thanks for your support and remember you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365Also, check out my youtube shop at, www.youtube.com/@mikehootner which sponsors today's episode.

This episode with Matt the attorney, Neil his father and Matt's dog Phoebe was one of my favorite episodes out of the over 225 I've done since 2020.Matt has a tremendously authentic and polarizing personality and although his journey has had great success thus far, the best is yet to come.His dad is still working in his 60s on planes (not trains and automobiles) and Phoebe was celebrating her 1st birthday on this day.Matt and Neil both envy similar people that they'd love to have dinner with and legacy is very important to Matt.Remember, you are not alone and you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.Thanks for the love and support and we hope you enjoy this truly terrific episode.

Malia loves animals and plans on being in the animal field for a long time. Her and her dog Sage have a special bond. She recommends pet insurance and you don't want to miss her favorite tatoo and who she'd like to have dinner with if she could.Finally, Malia asks me some questions so stick around until the end.Remember, you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.

Kris rescued Booga and Calypso and sometimes Booga acts like a cat and Calypso acts like a dog. Kris loves to travel and is studying to be an interior designer. She loves to use her hands, all love languages, and the arts.This episode is brought to you by my you tube shop. I have nearly 1,500 items you can check out and I may make a commission if you do end up with the microphone that I used for this episode.Also, remember, you are not alone and you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.

Life is like a box of chocolates. Sometimes surprise and change gets the job done, other times it's the road less traveled and other times it's simplicity and execution.

Amelia and Sara, partners in life joined me today along with their 9-month old pup, Alfie! Alfie has taught them so much about life especially about patience.I truly enjoyed their transparency and their loving and kind spirits individually and collectively.We hope you enjoy today's episode and remember, you can always dial, 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.And finally, if you're interested in anything in my you tube shop, check it out as I have nearly 1,500 items. Just go to my channel and do a keyword search at the top and it'll let you know if I have it!I have things from 2,460 stores including but not limited to Lowes, Home Depot, Bloomingdales, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, QVC and so many others like Macy's iherb, Wyze and Eufy!I may make a commission from this podcast but I'm always authentically me and that doesn't ever impact my opinion about a product. I tell it like T.I.Z.(it is) baby like with the microphone I use from Synco!

Whitney Ginger & Georgie joined us today along with her boyfriend and his 2 kids. Whitney has chosen an interesting career path and also works part time as a server. She met her boyfriend at work but they no longer work together now.Thanks for the support and remember, if you're having a hard day, don't be afraid to ask for help like Whitney suggested and you can dial 988 24/7/365 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there to help you.Remember that you're not alone.

Dr. Russ Kennedy, author of Anxiety Rx (2nd Edition) joins me today to discuss his latest book and why men commit suicide at a higher rate than women as well as why they also have more success in his MBRX program.Dr. Kennedy is a neuroscientist from Canada and hopes to one day have dinner with Jim Carrey.And he wants the world to know especially those who are seeking traditional therapy for anxiety that you cannot out think a feeling problem Dr. Kennedy also hopes to continue to help as many people as he can through love and connectedness so that others don't have to wait 30 fucking years like he did to heal from anxiety after his bipolar and Schizophrenic father committed suicide when Dr. Kennedy was in his mid 20s.He was featured on Mel Robbins podcast who also featured Oprah so by the transient property Oprah has for all intensive purposes been on my podcast as well. you can find out more about his life altering mbrx program that were going to discuss later today on his website at theanxietymd.com or on Instagram @theanxietymd Where he now has 165,000 followers And it should be noted He had less than 20,000 followers roughly before he came on my podcast.And of course another great resource is trauma healing.org For those that are looking to get more information on somatic therapy.This episode is brought to you by my you tube shop where I have over 1500 videos for a vast variety of products.I may be compensated for this video if anyone wants to get the microphone I used for this episode but it's at no extra cost to you.And for those of you having a hard day, remember, you can always dial 988 and someone will be there 24/7/365. Remember also, you're not alone even if it feels like it sometimes and the only way out of darkness is from the light you will create as you heal from your childhood trauma and separation anxiety. Never forget...It's not how you start it's how you finish.

Lauren and her dog Lolo (short for Lauren) joined us today. It was fate according to Lauren. Lauren was incredibly transparent and I truly enjoyed her philosophy about life, relationships and her dog.We hope you enjoy this episode and thanks for your love and support. Remember, you're not alone and you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there to help you.

This episode, the fourth of Season 1 is dedicated to one of my mentors, Oscar J. Lewis, former Head Men's Basketball Coach at Frostburg State University, where I landed my first coaching job in 1992.Oscar was an incredible coach who I think could have coached D1 basketball. He played football, baseball and basketball in college and was a brilliant mind.Today, at 75 he walks roughly 35,000 steps a day and he is the neighborhood dog whisperer.His wife Linda has been teaching special needs kids for 53 years and been involved with the Special Olympics for over 50 years. His son Brian also has coached and teaches and played 4 years of college ball himself for his dad while also playing baseball.I spoke with Oscar today and he inspired me to do this episode. Thank you coach. Love you and appreciate you.

Cindy and Luna joined us today for this 20th episode of Season 1. Luna is a great dane mix and is a fun loving dog who is very accepting and loves people, especially Cindy's kids.Cindy has some great advice as a mom and shares who she'd like to have dinner with who she's fascinated by after hearing them speak in person.

Sabrina and Lyka joined us today for Season 1 Episode 19.Sabrina met Lyka where she was and is the reason she's doing so well combined with the help and support of other dog owner's and a famous dog trainer who she hopes to have dinner with one day.Thanks for listening and watching.

We hope you enjoy this Father's Day edition as I interviewed 5 amazing dads. It's not easy being a dad but it's the most important job I've ever had.Personally, I decided to give up working in person so I could be here for my daughter for the last 13 years as she continues her journey into adulthood. Every dad and every kid takes a different journey to find themselves.And here are a few of their stories. This is dedicated to all the amazing dads out there.

We are joined today by Rachel and Rocco. Rachel is on a healing journey of self-exploration and with the help of Rocco, she's in a better place.We hope you enjoy this transparent episode. Thank you for your support.Remember, you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365 to help you.

We're joined today by Nicole and Rocco. We hope you enjoy today's episode of The Dog Beach Diaries.Nicole who married her college sweetheart is a digital product manager and at one point had hoped to work for the World Health Organization.Wait until you hear who she'd like to have dinner with if she could. Remember everyone, you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day.I may make a commission if anyone likes this microphone and decides they want to purchase it. I used it for this episode.

Chat GPT if you're having a hard day? Well, Jada swears by it. I tried it and it gave me some great suggestions for acute anxiety. It's for educational purposes only of course. For this and more, check out this amazing episode with Jada, August and Riley. Jada and I have 2 things in common and you don't want to miss her interviewing me at the end. Remember everyone, you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day. Thanks for your support and we'll see you in the next episode.

Sarah is a nail tech. Her dog Dune is a puppy and loves balls and paper towels. Sarah was bullied in high school but she's now doing great on her healing journey and feels stronger than ever.Today's episode is brought to you by my You Tube Shop. We have nearly 1,500 items for you from Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and so many 1000s of other shops and stores. I may make a commission from this or any of my other videos.Thanks for the love and support and remember, you're not alone. You can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day.

Polina is from Kazakhstan and Madi from Italy. Polina played intercollegiate tennis at the University of Tennessee while Madi loves marine biology. But they met at a tennis meet up and today you will hear the rest of the story of this amazing engaged couple.

Episode 12 features KT & CW. They we're at the beach not with their dogs but with their digs - in this case their jet skis for the annual competition. KT shares her best advice for people looking to eat better and CW on how to be a great leader as a college coach. This episode is brought to you by my you tube shop. I have nearly 1,500 items you can get in my You Tube shop. Just do a keyword search on my channel to see if I have what you are looking for!I may make a commission from the products available in this episode or any other videos you may watch related to my you tube shop.

Madi and her dog Queso joined me today for season 1 episode 10.Madi is a mom of a 3 month old and her and her husband hope to have another one sooner rather than later.Madi shares what she learned from her first marriage to her then military husband and hopes to move back to Texas within the next 5 years.Thanks for joining us today everyone and remember you are not alone and you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365.You can always email me at, [email protected] if I can help in any way.

Alan served his country and then went on to do leadership training in the military as a civilian for a combined 51 years before he recently retired. He met his beautiful wife when he was 69 while overseas and he's been happily married ever since! They we're there with their dog and we had a phenomenal discussion that included some hilariously passionate pleas from Alan as a diehard basketball fan to some other great lessons during this 9th episode of season 1. Remember you're not alone and you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and someone will be there 24/7/365 to help you.Also remember, you are not alone and the world is a better place with you in it even if on some days you don't feel like it. Asking for help is a true act of courage. Darkness can not drive out darkness, only light can do that. And you are that light.

Mac and her golden retriever showed up today and I hope you all enjoy today's season 1 episode 8 discussion as much as I did.Her dog, whose name is being withheld to protect the innocent (LOLLLLLSSS - truth is I either forgot or didn't ask - my bad y'all - if I find out what his name is later I'll update the podcast), loves chasing his ball into the ocean.Mac is an English teacher and shared her strategy of how she connects with her students (without flexing) and it's why I believe she is such a phenomenal teacher.And you don't want to miss the ending where she reveals why she got her favorite tattoo and what it means. Thanks for your support and we'd love for you to subscribe and follow me on You Tube as well @mikehootner.Remember, you all are not alone and if you are ever having a hard day you can always dial 988 and someone will be there for you 24/7/365. Asking for help is truly a heroic act of courage. Don't feel like you have to take on the world by yourself.Finally, just know that it's not how you start it's how you finish. And the world is a better place with you in it.

Lauren, a beautiful spirit, loves being a lawyer. She adores her dog Candy and Candy played at dog beach like there was no tomorrow!We hope you enjoy this amazing episode 7 of season 1 where Lauren gives some great advice while giving flowers to her dad and her sports journey that taught her so much about her non-negotiables and how to get through the hard times in life.She loves yoga and working out and hopes to expand her practice in the next 5 years. And today you will hear (part) of the rest of the story. After all, there's no way we could possibly know everything about her in just 10 minutes, is there?

Jenna, Hanna and Will met in 2022 as they we're training to be EMTs and Firefighters. Jenna is now a nurse, Hanna (with no H at the end) is still on the path of doing similar work and Will is a firefighter hoping to expand his duties and responsibilities so he can do more elaborate rescue missions like on helicopters, etc. Jenna & Will are two old souls who have a different love language and Hanna prefers to give one love language versus what she likes in return. Jenna initially told me to go to hell (in a nice way) and when I saw her 90 minutes later, I exclaimed, "it was meant to be!" and she laughed and had a change of heart. She's a badass nurse who will probably predictably go back to school to get her Master's because according to Will, she loves school. Thanks for joining us today and remember, you are not alone and you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day. Much love and light everyone.

FRIIIIIDDDAAAAAY! Well, Deebo was named after Deebo from Friday and Naomi served our country for more than 7 years. We have an amazing discussion about the military and so much more.

Welcome Kara, Caroline and Beanie to The Dog Beach Diaries Podcast family! Enjoy today's episode everyone and please subscribe so you can alerts for all the latest episodes of all of our podcasts under the umbrella of The Sports Deli. This is Episode 4 of Season 1. Sit back, relax and enjoy today's episode. And thank you for the support. Don't forget you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day.

Elle, a personal trainer and her dog, Ginny joined us today on Episode 3 of The Dog Beach Diaries Podcast. If you are having a hard day remember, you are not alone and you can always dial 988 and someone will be there 24/7/365. You can always email the show at, [email protected].

Natalea, a native of Dallas, Texas, played softball growing up and is now a nurse raising two incredible boys. Her dog Bean, who loves to chase his ball and she we're kind enough to join us in this second episode of The Dog Beach Diaries Podcast. You can always email the show at, [email protected] if you have any thoughts, comments or questions. We would love for you to subscribe here and on you tube at, youtube.com/@mikehootner. Remember, you can always dial 988 if you're having a hard day and you are not alone even though it may feel like it sometimes.

Welcome to the 1st ever episode of The Dog Beach Diaries Podcast where I will randomly select someone at the dog beach to interview. I have never met any of these people and will be learning about a part of them just like you for the very first time. There are no pre-planned questions. Just me and my 3 dogs, Kya, a golden retriever who likes to fish, Daisy, a pitty who loves to be lazy but is the sweetest dog I've ever known and last but certainly not least, Jordan, who has been with me through some of the most challenging and amazing times in my life since 2016. She's a black lab and my best friend. Thank you for joining us today and if you ever need to reach out for any reason, feel free to do so at, [email protected]. Remember, you can always dial 988 if you are having a hard day and the world is a better place with you in it, even if sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

Join us in The Sports Deli for this powerful episode as we dedicate Season 1 Episode 2 (Part 2) to the Black Lives Matter Movement. Join Gordon, Jon, and myself, Mike Hootner, your host along with our unbelievable guests, Dalayna Sampton, Kevin Broadus, and The Jewish Jordan, Tamir Goodman.

Today's historic podcast features some unbelievable African-American and White leaders in society and sports. Join us for our two-part series that thoughtfully discusses the Black Lives Matter Movement. Guests include, Anita Howard, Head Women's Basketball at Georgia Southern University, Bobbie Kelsey, former Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at her alma mater, Stanford University, where she starred as a player, and an Assistant Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, Staci Gregorio, Director of Video Operations at Kansas State University, and Barb Smith, former Head Women's Basketball Coach at San Diego State University and Illinois State University, author, and founder of Find My Team. Join this passionate discussion along with Jon, Gordon and myself, Mike Hootner, your host. 

Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States has faced unparalleled public persecution as the nominee and now President. The first time around, many people in his own party we're afraid to align with Donald J. Trump because politicians had never seen anything like this ever before in Amerikkkan history. We had seen it in Nazi, Germany. But, no one knew what to make of the big lie. Just like a newly hired coach, President Trump unbeknownst to probably even himself (ironic since he's a narcissist), changed the culture in Washington. He cleaned house. He didn't care about the collateral damage. He was going to do things his way.And the second time around? The convicted felon doubled down. And tripled down. And we are seeing more and more people flock to his coattails because they we're sick of Hillary, Joe, the border, and high egg prices. The NCAA messed things up for decades. And now they are paying the price for their mistakes. Similarly, the democrats have alienated it's own base because of it's extreme views and policies and not being relatable to many Americans, namely uneducated white middle-aged men.Donald Trump and his team are implementing as many policy changes as possible at once to create confusion and exhaustion and so far it's working.History will reveal itself. But in this episode, I discuss why I think what he's doing is working and what to be wary of in the end because silence and denial will only increase the odds that history will repeat itself.

Nick Lowery, Kansas City Chiefs Hall-Of-Famer, has been on a path of servitude for 50 years and he's not looking to stop any time soon. In this episode, we discuss his early years during the civil rights while growing up in a house where his mother and father we're serving their countries. And today, you will hear the rest of the story including his work with the youth, the homeless, 3 Presidents, and how it took him 12 attempts before he finally made it in the NFL.

Caitlin Clark is a generational talent and has forever changed the face of the WNBA and women's sports. She was voted Time magazine's Athlete-of-the-Year and some of her comments rubbed some people the wrong way. I thought they we're compassionate, passionate, and spot on. Crystal Bradford has on the other hand gone flown under the radar. She is attempting another comeback, her 3rd to be exact in hopes to return to the WNBA. She is playing for Athletes Unlimited for the second year in a row and she is unquestionably one of the most skilled women's basketball players in the world. Hands down. She makes a team instantly better because of her length, ability to finish at the basket, at the mid-range level and behind the arc and defensively. She can guard any one of the five positions on the floor and is an incredible leader and communicator.

Join Jon, Gordon and Mike talking sports, Covid, and Sports Psychology for their inaugural pilot episode, The Sports Deli. Featuring guests Dr. Robert Baldwin, Dr. Jason Novetsky, and Podcast extraordinaire, Wendell Wallace!

For all of the obvious reasons, Caitlin Clark, the face of women's basketball should be on the Olympic team. But it may not necessarily be for the reasons you think.

Taylor Swift has had to endure a million times what any man has had to endure, especially white men, and in particular the privileged white quarterbacks in the @NFL like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Eli and Peyton Manning, Tony Romo and Troy Aikman. Taylor Swift has been sexually assaulted, cancelled by Kanye West, had to overcome mental health challenges, and navigate the space of being the most popular musical artist in the history or herstory of the industry. She's more popular than Madonna, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Elvis, Mariah, and Beyonce. Maybe not combined but it's close. Tom Brady won 7 rings. Taylor Swift has not only impacted but changed and saved the lives of 100s of millions. Tom has done nothing but be so self-absorbed and wrapped up in his own narcissistic personal life and failed business endeavors. He has not leveraged his platforms as a 7 time Super Bowl Champion, WNBA part-owner or NFL part-owner to do the right thing. Tom could have leveraged his platforms and still could and galvanize his white quarterback troops to give Colin Kaepernick another chance, still. But his silence is deafening. Had he kneeled with Colin, Colin would still be playing today. Had other Major League Baseball players kneeled with Bruce Maxwell, Bruce would still be playing. It is a sad commentary about all of them including Jim Nantz, Jim Harbaugh, and anyone else with platforms like Doug Gottlieb, Colin Cowherd, Dan Patrick or Jim Rome that they will not come together to put the pressure on the owners to give Colin and Bruce a shot. There will never be another Taylor Swift. But if Caitlin Clark can change a league. Tom could have done the same thing. And still could. We're waiting Tom. Aaron. Peyton. Eli, Tony. and Troy. Speaking out about mental health is phenomenal. I'm glad you all did that. But it's not enough.

Angel Reese is an amazing woman. She's a winner. A great friend. Great teammate. And a marketing genius. She loves to learn and she has "it". And she has a "why" that motivates her and she's just getting started. 2,000,000 people tuned in to watch her pre-season game on a social media feed. 2,000,000! It's unprecedented and what she's doing to quiet the haters and build her brand despite the false narratives and lies is brilliant and I love it.

Under the Umbrella of The Sports Deli Podcast we are so honored to bring you the Hashtag Girldad Podcast - Episode 3. Jeaner (my daughter) and I discuss homeschool, acne, basketball, and some other fun topics during this episode.

Dr. Russ Kennedy is helping revolutionize how people navigate anxiety after going through decades of it himself. His groundbreaking book Anxiety Rx is a how to guide on managing anxiety. Dr. Kennedy's story is incredible from how he grew up with a bi-polar, schizophrenic father to his own anxiety to his journey as a neuroscientist, stand-up comedian, yoga instructor, mindfulness and meditation guide, being a dad and husband, dog and music lover and author. And don't miss who he would love to have at his dinner table along with Freud. Here's a hint: Jim. We hope this episode bring you some sort of education, motivation, inspiration, or transformation. Because I assure you, the outtakes will absolutely bring you some comedic relief after the power went out 4 times. And to all of you out there struggling with anxiety or depression or any other mood disorder, there is help out there and just know you are not alone. Dr. Kennedy and I are your biggest fans! The only way out of the darkness is the light. You are the light even if it doesn't feel like it right now. You can also dial 988 any time from any landline or smartphone and there will be someone there 24/7/365 to help you. Much love everyone and feel free to send me an email anytime to, [email protected] or DM on instagram @mikehootner And just remember the world is a better place with you in it. Love, Dr. Kennedy and me.