The Long Game with Mitch Long

Welcome to First & Long — a father-son football conversation between Mitch and Adam Long. Steelers fans, NFL obsessives, and yes, they've already argued about this.In this episode, Mitch and Adam talk about the NFL Draft, the Steelers, the Bills, and a couple of Pittsburgh trip stories that did not exactly go to plan.They also get into quarterbacks, roster building, fan frustration, and why teams still have to win up front. It is a loose football conversation, but the main point is clear: quick fixes usually are not enough.WHAT WE TALK ABOUTPittsburgh trip stories and hotel disastersWhy the draft always starts argumentsThe case for building the line before chasing a quarterbackWhy where a quarterback lands mattersWhether the Steelers should give Will Howard a shotWhy the Steelers feel stuck in the middleWhy teams still win in the trenchesWhether Buffalo is doing enough around Josh AllenCHAPTERS00:01 – Mitch sets up a talk about the draft and Pittsburgh trips00:18 – Adam’s advice on where not to stay in Pittsburgh00:43 – The hotel story that went bad fast01:50 – The legendary bar encounter in Pittsburgh02:19 – Running into the same guy again in Virginia02:45 – Mitch and Adam get into the draft03:06 – Adam on the Raiders, Fernando Mendoza, and Kirk Cousins05:30 – Mitch makes the case for trading the top pick09:30 – Why quarterback success depends on where a player lands12:37 – Mobility, protection, and what the Steelers lacked last year15:24 – Adam on play calling and helping players succeed17:25 – What the Steelers should target in the draft19:57 – Jeremiah Love, offensive line help, and winning in the trenches23:37 – Mitch on following the draft without pretending to know every prospect25:16 – The argument for seeing what Will Howard can do27:42 – Why Adam does not want Aaron Rodgers back30:31 – The cost of being scared to have a losing season35:15 – Bo Nix, the Broncos, and what could have been38:42 – Mitch turns to the Bills and Josh Allen41:52 – Why Buffalo may be at a key pointConnect with Mitch Long: LinkedIn | KazInsurance | Read: Pagers & PayphonesMore from SportsEpreneurThe Business in College SportsHow the NFL Turns Chaos into an AssetThe NFL Owns the MediaAbout This Podcast and SeriesFirst & Long with Mitch and Adam Long — a SportsEpreneur series.SportsEpreneur:X | LinkedInCredits:Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

What 50 years in insurance teaches about relationships, change, and why the basics still matter.In this episode of The Long Game, Mitch Long sits down with Wes Connor to talk about how he got into insurance, what kept him in it, and what 50 years in the business has taught him.They get into family business, remote selling, hiring challenges, commercial and personal lines, and why life insurance still stands apart from products people are required to buy. It’s a grounded look at what still matters in the business, what has changed, and why the basics still win.WHAT WE TALK ABOUTHow Wes Connor got into insurance in 1975From kitchen table sales to DocuSign and video callsWhy relationships still matter in a more digital businessWorking with family across generationsHiring challenges in today’s insurance marketCommercial versus personal lines in a changing marketWhy life insurance feels different from mandatory coverageDisability, long-term care, and planning before it’s too lateCHAPTERS00:20 – Mitch welcomes Wes Connor00:41 – How Wes got into the insurance business03:15 – Starting out and falling in love with the work05:21 – How selling insurance has changed over the years08:00 – Podcasts, technology, and the next generation in the business11:00 – Working with family and building an agency over time12:00 – Hiring challenges and the shortage of new agents16:23 – Disability insurance, income protection, and planning gaps16:52 – Wes breaks down his agency’s commercial and personal lines mix19:19 – Why selling life insurance is more satisfying21:00 – Real examples of how life insurance changes outcomes for families23:29 – Long-term care, aging, and staying healthyConnect with Mitch Long: LinkedIn | KazInsurance | Read: Pagers & PayphonesConnect with Wes Connor: LinkedIn | Website | InstagramMore from the KazSource NetworkThe Real ROI of Podcasting — KazCMWhat Happened to CFB Bowl Games — SportsEpreneurRemote Work in Today’s Financial Advisory Industry —Entrepreneur PerspectivesAbout This PodcastThe Long Game with Mitch Long. Produced by QuietLoud Studios, a KazSource brand.Credits:Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

Why stories beat pitches, why showing up still matters, and what this series is about.Eric Kasimov sits down with Mitch Long to kick off The Long Game. Mitch has been in the insurance business for over 30 years. He started with a pager and a roll of quarters. He built his book by showing up every Tuesday until people just started handing him the business. Now he's here to have conversations with business owners about how they got where they are — the real version, not the LinkedIn version.What We Talk About:Criminal justice major to insurance salesmanThe 93-year-old woman and the bell storyWhy face-to-face still matters (and why it's not enough anymore)Pagers, Blackberries, and the quarantine pivotThe buggy whip salesman problemNIL, college sports, and what it means to stay relevantChapters:00:14 – What this show is and how conversations work01:00 – Mitch's path into insurance08:27 – Podcasting as a way to connect13:00 – Old school meets new school21:30 – Adjusting how you reach people23:45 – Pagers, payphones, and quarters26:00 – Blackberry, Gateway, and what happens when you don't evolve28:00 – The buggy whip salesman30:00 – Mitch's grandfather sold matches31:30 – MC Hammer selling records out of his trunk32:01 – NIL and financial literacyConnect with Mitch LongLinkedIn | KazInsuranceMore from the KazSource NetworkAmbient Influence in Content — KazCMThe Benefits and Issues of NIL — SportsEpreneurIs College Still Worth It? — Entrepreneur PerspectivesAbout This Podcast and SeriesThe Long Game with Mitch Long. Produced by QuietLoud Studios, a KazSource brand.Get in touch with Eric Kasimov:X | LinkedInCredits:Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud