The Playeasy Warmup

Talent isn’t the issue; access is.In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Harvey Scruggs, CEO & President of H3 Athletics, to break down how he’s building a platform designed to create real opportunity for athletes.What started as a gap in exposure has evolved into a multi-sport ecosystem – spanning tournaments, showcases, media, and new formats – all built around one idea: athletes deserve better platforms.They get into how youth sports is evolving, what separates a good event from a truly memorable one, and why content is now a core part of the athlete experience – not an afterthought.They also dive into how destinations can better support events, where growth is happening next, and why new formats like flag football are creating major opportunities across the industry.If you’re thinking about event strategy, athlete development, or how to scale sports experiences, this episode is worth your time.

Action sports might feel niche, but the momentum is global.In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Micah Desforges, Founder of Tribu, to break down how Jackalope has grown from a backyard event into one of the most recognized action sports festivals in the world.From early grassroots beginnings to international expansion, Micah shares what it takes to build events that go beyond competition – blending sport, culture, and community into experiences people remember.They also dive into how destinations fit into that growth, what makes action sports so compelling, and why the lead-up to LA28 is creating a major opportunity for cities to get involved.If you care about experiential events, destination strategy, or where the future of sports tourism is heading, this episode is for you.00:00 – Intro to Tribu & Jackalope 02:44 – Playeasy Innovators Summit 03:46 – Micah’s Origin Story 05:45 – Backyard Event to First Festival 08:47 – Building Experiences That Feel Different 12:26 – What Tribu Actually Is 14:09 – The Growth of Jackalope 17:00 – Why Culture & Community Matter 21:17 – Expansion & RFP Strategy 25:56 – What Destinations Need to Understand 28:49 – How Events Are Built 31:28 – Virginia Beach Success Story 37:08 – Using Playeasy to Find Markets 39:02 – Why Events Stay Free 41:35 – What Experiential Marketing Looks Like 49:00 – Biggest Lesson Learned