#Storyteller - An Insider's Look Behind the Scenes Across Sports, Media and Entertainment

We sit down with Alon Cohen, EVP of Innovation at TKO Group, fresh off WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. Alon pulls back the curtain on the cutting-edge (and surprisingly physical) work happening behind the scenes of WWE and UFC, from re-engineering breakable tables with industrial electromagnets, to rethinking how live sports are packaged for vertical streaming on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. If you've ever watched a WWE event and thought "that just felt better," chances are Alon's team had something to do with it. Topics covered: - Magnetic tables & WrestleMania 42 innovations - IShowSpeed's insane table spot with Logan Paul - Vertical streaming & the "one capture, many outputs" strategy - AI and IBM fight metrics: the difference between a stat and a story

In this episode of Storyteller, we sit down with Grammy-winning producer and industry legend Robert Cutarella, whose 40-year career includes over 160 platinum records. From his early days in a blue-collar Queens neighborhood where "people didn't dream" to conducting 80-piece orchestras without knowing a single note of music, Bob’s journey is a masterclass in persistence and instinct. Bob shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories, including: - The Celine Dion Gamble: How he fought for two years to release her first American hit after executives called her an "average singer". - Drumming for the Mafia: The two-year stint playing 360 gigs a year where "you didn't hear nothing". - Creative Instincts: How a dream about Sam Cooke led to a legendary collaboration with Les Paul, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. Bob also previews his upcoming book, Mentor, offering timeless advice on networking, staying humble, and carving out your own lane in any industry.

In this episode of Storyteller, we sit down with Julián Arredondo, Assistant Producer at FOX Deportes, to discuss the high-octane world of live sports production. From his "welcome to the show" moment producing his first solo soccer match to the grind of producing the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Julián shares what it takes to thrive in a fast-paced control room. In this episode, we discuss: 🔹The Power of Production "Flair": Why TV has already been invented and how adding your own unique "flavor" is the key to engaging a modern audience. 🔹"Welcome to the Show" Moments: Julián recounts the adrenaline of his first solo production and the high stakes of live television where you never want to "go to black". 🔹Producing the Super Bowl: A look at the most stressful and rewarding week of Julián's career, including blending New Orleans culture with sports storytelling. 🔹World Cup Prep: How FOX Deportes is already a year into planning their massive coverage and finding ways to integrate linear TV with digital platforms. 🔹Driving Fan Engagement: The secret to using "spicy questions" and social media polls to spark instant debate and keep viewers hooked.

In this episode of Storyteller, we head to the heart of Beverly Hills during NBA All-Star Week to sit down with Lauren Day from the Big Ten Network. Inside the Episode: - The StudentU Mission: How the Big Ten Network provides professional-grade coverage for Olympic sports while training student crews in every role from directing to replay. - Creating On-Ramps: Why making sports accessible and inclusive is the key to growing new audiences. - The Power of Mentorship: Watching students grow from nervous freshmen to senior directors who go on to land roles at major networks like the NFL and ESPN. - Tech Love: Lauren shares her irrational love for Notion and why she can't live without her Stream Deck.

In this episode of Storyteller, we sit down with Nick Zacharczuk, Producer & Content Manager at The Jim Rome Show, to break down the art of real-time storytelling in live sports media. From producing 20 hours of live content every week with a lean team to pivoting instantly when breaking news hits mid-show, Nick shares what it really takes to stay nimble in modern production. Inside this episode: ➡️ The energy (and pressure) of live production without a safety net ➡️ How a two-person streaming team powers a 4-hour daily show ➡️ The mindset behind reacting to breaking news in real time ➡️ Wearing multiple hats in the control room ➡️ Why “adapt or die” is more than a motto, it’s survival If you’re in sports media, live production, streaming, or content creation, this conversation is a masterclass in agility and execution.

How do you build one of the biggest sports shows on YouTube? On this episode of Storyteller, Tagboard’s Sky Muller sits down with Jacob Hazzard, Director of Nightcap at Shay Shay Media, to go behind the scenes of the fast-growing live sports show hosted by Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Jacob shares his unforgettable “welcome to the show” moment during a live production scare, what it really looks like to run a modern digital broadcast while wearing five hats at once, and how Nightcap has built a passionate community through instant reaction shows and live audience interaction. From chaos behind the scenes to community in the chat, this is the new blueprint for sports media on YouTube.

Super Bowl week. A LiveU backpack. Jameis Winston doing Jameis Winston things. In this episode, Tagboard CEO Nathan Peterson catches up with FOX Sports' Ric Perez-Selsky and LiveU CTO Dan Pisarski to talk about how they're pulling off real-time content from just about anywhere. They get into the Jameis Winston Super Bowl success story, soccer shows with Alexi Lalas, and why vertical content isn’t just a trend—it’s the job now.

Step into the world of elite NFL storytelling with Rob Alberino, Vice President of Content and Production at the Kansas City Chiefs. Rob shares the art of crafting compelling narratives, insights on how to connect fans with players, and why passion drives every great story. Highlights include: - Rob’s three secrets to unforgettable storytelling - The exclusive tale of tearing his ACL during a Super Bowl celebration - The iconic backstory of 65 Toss Power Trap, the Chiefs’ production powerhouse Whether you're a die-hard sports fan, an industry producer, or someone looking for creative inspiration, you won't want to miss a Storytelling masterclass from the mind of Rob Alberino.

Tagboard CEO Nathan Peterson sits down with AWS's Global Head of Sports, Julie Souza, for an unfiltered conversation on how data is redefining storytelling in sports. From cloud-powered live productions to alternate broadcasts with attitude, they dive into: How real-time data fuels emotional fan connection Why UX (not just analytics) is the real game-changer The future of AI-driven commentary, personalization, and global reach Behind-the-scenes stories from F1 sims to NHL data casts Whether you're in a control room or on your couch, this one's for the storytellers shaping the future of sports media.

What does it take to produce Emmy-winning broadcasts that fans actually care about? In this episode of Storyteller, Tagboard CEO Nathan Peterson sits down with Stefan Richardson, Director of Global Broadcast at Riot Games, to talk about the power of risky storytelling, emotional connection, and turning esports into cinematic experiences. From shark-bitten fiber cables to the “Riot Broadcast Bingo” card of production disasters, Stefan shares behind-the-scenes stories and hard-earned lessons from the edge of innovation. No risks, no story. This one’s a masterclass in making people care.

From SiriusXM Studio at NAB 2025 in Las Vegas, Storyteller host Farren Benjamin sits down with Stacy Kelleher, Director of Production at the Philadelphia Eagles, for a bird's-eye view look at what it really takes to produce content at the highest level in sports. From capturing emotional unscripted moments to managing drone chaos at the 2025 Super Bowl parade, Stacy shares what goes into great storytelling, embracing the cloud, and how the Eagles are using content to champion causes like autism awareness.

FOX Sports Digital had a record breaking week in the lead up to Super Bowl 59. The breakout star of the week, their Super Bowl correspondent, Jameis Winston. SVP of Digital, Michael Bucklin, gives us the origin story on how this perfect partnership came to light, and what it's like working with the most watched man in media.

Andrew Samson went from being the lead producer for Colin Cowherd at FOX Sports, to leading Colin Cowherd's sports media company, The Volume. Hear stories from what it's like working with Colin, how Andrew thinks about content and what's key to success with new shows. You won't want to miss Andrew share his front-row perspective to one of the biggest shows in media today. The Nightcap.

With three decades worth of experience promoting and managing live events and venues, Suzanne Richardson joins us on Storyteller to share stories from throughout her career. We discuss the importance of connections, innovations in event promotion, and the need for diverse representation across the industry.

Through AI, Adobe is empowering creatives around the world to buy back time and create new content at incredible speeds. Eliza Tan, Product Ecosystem Manger for Creative Cloud Video at Adobe, joins us on Storyteller to go in-depth on what industry pain points Adobe is looking to solve, highlight the Tagboard and Adobe collaboration, and share fun personal stories, like her dad’s fast rise to 70k+ followers on TikTok.

He's a visionary, inventor, and content creator of media technologies. The Coordinating Producer of Live Events Technology for NBC Sports Bay Area & California, Rusty West, stops by the hashtag#Storyteller stage from SiriusXM Studio at Wynn Las Vegas.

Overseeing production and operations on more than 60 shows per week at FOX Sports/FOX Deportes' 1440 Studio, Rich Briant jumps on the #Storyteller stage to share fun stories from a career in live production. From troubleshooting audio hiccups under pressure to unveiling innovative, cost-effective strategies for scaling production, Rich has seen it all. Don't miss out as he shares insights into cloud production and other game-changing tactics that have slashed production build times by an astounding 80%.

With 26 Super Bowls under his belt, and now leading the host committee for the Las Vegas Super Bowl, Sam Joffray shares fascinating stories from a career hosting the biggest events in the country. Don't miss his connection to Muhammed Ali, the launch of a fully funded SB internship program, and his two key objectives for hosting SB LVIII. It's #Storyteller with Sam Joffray, President & CEO of the Las Vegas Super Bowl LVIII Host Committee

#Storyteller sits down with Riot Games' Sr. Manager of Global Broadcast, Stefan Richardson. Stef's team took home a #SportsEmmy for their Esports Championship Coverage, and at NAB he gave us a peek at their production playbook. We dive into a BINGO card of live production chaos, how Riot leans on Tagboard for interactivity, and take a ride in the Timeline Time Machine.

Alt-streams and interactivity will be front and center during the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. Eric Rhodes, VP of Communications, joins us on #Storyteller to highlight how the only bowl game with a non-traditional broadcast partner will be the most widely available game this bowl season. They're taking risks and planning a production that's focused on keeping the audience engaged from start to finish.

🧠 Tagboard Trivia -  https://landing.tagboard.com/storyteller-trivia 

Recap blog on the episode: https://tagboard.com/resources/stories-of-community-culture-and-inclusion-with-tagboard-the-seattle-sports-commission/

🧠: Tagboard Trivia - Entourage Edition

🧠: Tagboard Trivia - College Football Playoff Edition 

🧠: Tagboard Trivia - Bowl Season edition📝: 4 Ways to win your Off-Season🗣: Episode recap with Nick Carparelli

If you're headed to NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) in Las Vegas we'd love to connect and cheers to some drinks on us.Read our episode recapParticipate in Tagboard Trivia

Link to Trivia: https://tagboard.com/storyteller/#trivia

Storyteller Trivia: https://tagboard.com/storyteller

Storyteller Trivia: https://tagboard.com/storyteller

Storyteller Trivia: https://tagboard.com/storyteller

Storyteller Trivia: https://tagboard.com/storyteller

Storyteller Trivia: https://tagboard.com/storyteller

Storyteller Trivia: https://tagboard.com/storyteller

With nearly a decade at NFL Media under her belt, Amanda Carey has covered it all, but the last two NFL Drafts provided a new perspective on producing, and the value of a strong team. Carey, Segment Producer at NFL Media, is used to being on-site for NFL Draft coverage, but now shares with us a fresh perspective on producing from home.In this episode of #Storyteller, she shares her biggest lessons learned about social storytelling (07:23), the differences between producing the NFL Draft at the beginning of the pandemic versus a year later (09:20), and following a year with teams working remote and less access to traditional control rooms, Carey gives us the keys to innovation that led to a Sports Emmy nod for NFL Media(17:55).

Morgann Mitchell has earned herself a nickname within Turner Sports: "Bubbles". Mitchell, Social Media Assistant Manager at Turner Sports, spent much of the last 12 months living and working inside the NBA Playoff, NBA All-Star, and NCAA March Madness production bubbles.In this episode of #Storyteller, she shares her unique perspective of what life was like inside the "bubbles" (06:25), the secrets of what content works best on each social network (10:45), and in a year when social injustice was front and center, how it changed perspectives on content creation around the game of basketball (19:35).

Live from the #Storyteller Experience stage,  Catherine Chan-Smith, Senior Director of Social Integration at NFL Network talks about her career at the NFL network (1:48)  what it was like putting together the NFL Draft during COVID-19 (5:41) what her team has been able to achieve in storytelling with Tagboard Graphics (8:26)  what happens if a big play happens or a player gets injured and the team has to react quickly (11:34) and breaks down what goes into the show NFL GameDay Morning.

Live from the #Storyteller Experience stage, Youyoung Lee, Senior Manager of Media Partnerships at Reddit shares what makes an Ask Me Anything (AMA) successful (0:06) What songs she's picked up on the piano during the pandemic (1:33) what media partnerships mean at Reddit (3:03) how to  engage on Reddit (4:14), how NBA on TNT integrated  Reddit during the pandemic (6:07), what makes an Ask Me Anything (AMA) successful when it comes to media partners (7:30), Reddit polls at the Super Bowl  and the hyper-engaged fans in the NFL subreddit (9:41) and how the engaged community for "the front page of the internet" is really like no other (10:50).   

As the social media manager for UFC, Eric Yee was one of a handful who lived on UFC's Fight Island to stage fights amidst the pandemic.Live from the #Storyteller Experience stage, Eric Yee, Social Media Manager for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) shares his best story about Fight Island (1:50), how he built the anticipation leading up to Fight Island on Social Media (4:10) the Facebook-only show, Quick Hits and how it's different (6:08). A full replay of the #Storyteller Experience can be found at >> bit.ly/ReplayStoryteller

Focusing on authentic content, access to players, and digital-first initiatives helped Major League Baseball (MLB) face the challenges of the pandemic and come out of it with a new connection to a younger generation of fans.Live from the #Storyteller Experience stage, Barbara McHugh, SVP of Marketing for Major League Baseball (MLB) talks about the purpose and strategy behind MLB Originals (15:18), player-focused marketing initiatives (19:02), and how to balance catering to younger and older audiences (27:59). A full replay of the #Storyteller Experience can be found at >> bit.ly/ReplayStoryteller

With quick pivots to remote production, the creation of the ThunderDome, and a focus on original content with intimate access, WWE led the way as sports returned during the COVID-19 pandemic and surpassed 50 billion views on YouTube, making WWE the fifth most-viewed YouTube channel globally this past year.Live from the #Storyteller Experience stage, Nate Loucks, VP of Production & Strategy, takes us into the ThunderDome and walks through the keys to successfully capturing and telling organic stories (4:30), supplementing the live event experience for fans at home (10:30), and growing a digital audience with engaging experiences (16:30). A full replay of the #Storyteller Experience can be found at >> https://bit.ly/Storyteller-Replay

A deliberate focus on making the audience a part of the show is one of the driving forces behind the success of programming across WarnerMedia properties TNT, TBS, and TruTV, which Dan Cho, VP of Social & Digital Marketing, has spearheaded. Live from the #Storyteller Experience stage, Cho joined us to walk through some of the most effective audience engagement strategies (3:31), keys to successfully launching a new show (7:50), and what the future of the media industry looks like (14:24). A full replay of the #Storyteller Experience can be found at >> https://bit.ly/Storyteller-Replay

Leveraging data insights and as she puts it, “a little bit of guesswork”, Karen Horn has been at the forefront of media innovation, helping strategize the creation and launch of ESPN+ and Disney+ before taking over as VP of Research & Growth at Cheddar Inc. She joins the #Storyteller Experience stage to shed light on remote production tactics (3:58), the latest growing trend coming to the industry, QR codes (6:40), and the impact of explainer videos for the younger generation (13:40). A full replay of the #Storyteller Experience with experts across sports, media, and entertainment can be found at >> https://bit.ly/Storyteller-Replay

Live from the #Storyteller Experience stage, Michael Bucklin, VP of Digital Content for FOX Sports, joins us to break down how to effectively provide an interactive second-screen experience having developed extremely successful watch parties for every major tentpole event (5:14), what goes into producing live content remotely (11:45), and the importance of fostering a strong community (21:00). You can catch full replays of every conversation like this from the #Storyteller Experience at >> http://bit.ly/Storyteller-Replay

Live on the virtual #Storyteller stage, Elijah Cone, Director of Digital Content at Crooked Media, joins us to talk best practices in audience engagement (6:21), creative production solutions when you don't have rights to an event (11:54), and what goes into promoting some of the most successful podcast shows in the nation including Pod Save America (18:17). This is the second in a series of episodes recounting the fascinating conversations with experts spanning across sports, media, and entertainment held during the #Storyteller Experience, which you can watch in its entirety at >> http://bit.ly/Storyteller-Replay

TJ Adeshola, Head of U.S. Sports Partnerships at Twitter, joins us on the #Storyteller Experience stage. We walk through stories of innovation across the sports world including the NFL #ShowtimeCam (4:20), MLB's #FreeBaseball campaign (9:02), NBA and WNBA Twitter Live (12:36), and much more! This is the first in a series of episodes recounting the fascinating conversations with experts spanning across sports, media, and entertainment held during the #Storyteller Experience, which you can watch in its entirety at >> http://bit.ly/Storyteller-Replay

Over the course of his fascinating 20-year career in news, reality TV, prank shows, documentaries, and much more, Casey has witnessed the drastic evolution of video production first-hand. Throughout this evolution, however, his strategy and approach to bring out vulnerability and allow for creative freedom has stayed true and driven his success.With behind-the-scenes stories that you can’t get anywhere else, including a prank with Michelle Obama, segments that landed on the Today Show, and directing Top Chef digital content using iPhones, Casey joins us for a captivating conversation on #Storyteller.[06:39] - The difference between large-scale productions and remote work now[11:26] - What companies are looking for these days and tactics to bring that out[16:31] - Shows or segments that resonated most with the audience[18:33] - A time when a prank show didn’t go as planned[22:53] - The story behind Sushi Size Me, nominated for Best Mobile Short by Indie Short Fest 

On this episode of #Storyteller, Herbert takes us through his entertaining path into sports, his philosophy on gameday production, and how the Kentucky Athletics department has kept Big Blue Nation engaged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.06:24  - Advice for those looking to work in sports12:30 - How Kentucky Athletics approached fan engagement amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic17:38 - The approach to gameday production with limited fans in the stadium21:00 - Tactics to incorporate sponsors within the stadium28:33 - On staying flexible throughout a game and being aware of the moment

Having worked as a producer and editor on everything from a regional sports network to a TV show he co-created with his brother, to now heading up new media production for the Detroit Lions, Dustyn lives and breathes all things video production. He wears several different hats, and in this episode of #Storyteller, Blindert walks us through his latest foray into live production amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The insights into his storytelling process and vision for the future of production offer learnings we can all take to heart.

An award-winning documentary filmmaker, Kavery Kaul pushed cultural boundaries from a very young age. She combines her diverse cultural background with an innate ability to capture raw human connections to tell meaningful stories through film. In this episode, we dive deep into the methodical processes that Kaul goes through to craft these incredibly impactful stories. Her insights and outlook on human experiences offer valuable learnings for any storyteller.

Using his diverse experience, ranging from project management in retail to marketing in the airline industry, John Colucci now oversees social media strategy for Sinclair Broadcast Group’s 193+ TV stations and digital properties across the United States. In this episode of #Storyteller, Colucci reflects on covering news amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and explains the importance of local news outlets heading into the 2020 election cycle.