Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg

Episode 712 features a look behind the bench with the amazing Honorable Brian C. Wimes, US District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, who has served with distinction since his 2012 appointment under the Obama Administration. He’s the first to admit that the gravity of being a federal judge requires he view himself with a sense of humor, while being careful to balance the work itself with the care and seriousness that it demands. Outside of his chambers, he’s passionate about reciprocating the mentorship bestowed upon him early in his career to the next generation of legal professionals.

Sports and a championship mentality are at the forefront of Rounding the Bases. And in our latest installment, Joel Goldberg chats with a soccer pro turned coaching phenom, though maybe not in the sense you would expect. Brian Roberts is Lockton Companies’ Chief Diversity Officer, Executive Vice President and newly-appointed Chief Operating Officer of its Midwest Series. In Brian's sports career he played defender and in his new role, he continues to play defender of its culture and market position. Brian has played a first-hand role in coaching others to achieve their own potential. Not unlike a sports coach, his commitment to the team is unrelenting. He also equips each player, or in Brian’s case, Associate, with the resources and guidance they need to perform their best.

We love rounding out the month with a listen back to one of our favorite episodes of the month! This guest helped kick off season 7 with a bang. He's a Kansas City native who makes the crowds go crazy, has a reputation for being one of hip-hops most unconventional rappers, and his signature rapid-fire flow has earned notoriety around the world. With credits that include 17 studio albums, a BET Nomination and repeat appearances on the Forbes list, his accolades kick almost as hard as his bone fide beats. Stomp your feet and clap your hands for the City of Fountains’ very own platinum recording artist, Tech N9ne.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Rounding the Bases has dedicated each Thursday of January to talking about a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. Dan Nash and Alison Phillips are the co-founders of the Human Trafficking Training Center. They have created the most comprehensive and effective training to teach law enforcement, probation and parole, natural resource officers, nurses and hospital administration, victim advocates, and civilians a more effective way to save victims and eradicate traffickers. In part four, Dan and Alison talk about creating a path forward by properly training law enforcement. For more information: www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com

The latest guest on Rounding the Bases brings with her a story about change. From career pursuits that began in the medical field came a realization that her true love was actually engineering. After an emigration to the US catalyzed a successful Silicon Valley career with some of the biggest names in technology, Lola Priego has now found a way to fuse her two passions. As Founder and CEO of the at-home lab company BASE, she has created a test that identifies imbalances affecting your daily life, then employs technology to improve them. The result is a holistic, data-driven approach to better health and a better life, proving that sometimes, change is the best medicine of all.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Rounding the Bases has dedicated each Thursday of January to talking about a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. Dan Nash and Alison Phillips are the co-founders of the Human Trafficking Training Center. They have created the most comprehensive and effective training to teach law enforcement, probation and parole, natural resource officers, nurses and hospital administration, victim advocates, and civilians a more effective way to save victims and eradicate traffickers. In part three, Dan and Alison dig into the dangers of online trafficking with the help of a survivor.For more information: www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com

The only thing worse than not knowing what needs to be done is knowing what needs done, but not how to implement it. From that realization came a brand new company - and category of business - that helps people achieve more than ever before. Marc Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of Balto, which has redefined the way people and machines work together. Using the power of artificial intelligence, Balto eliminates uncertainties and improves performance for real-life professionals, providing an experience that is better than humanly possible.For more info: https://www.balto.ai/Check out Joel Goldberg's website: https://joelgoldbergmedia.com/

In hopes of spreading awareness, Rounding the Bases has dedicated each Thursday of January to talking about National Slavery and Human Trafficking, a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. In part two, Joel Goldberg and his guests, Dan Nash and Alison Phillips, dive deeper into the process of human trafficking shedding light on different types of trafficking and locations where activity is most common. For more information please visit www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com

Joel's guest in this episode brings the best of Britain to the heart of the midwest. He’s a media man who has mastered the art of contrast, whether through moderation of polarizing - if not contentious - topics with his signature brand of cheekiness or delivering real news alongside a healthy dose of personality. Nick Haines is the Executive Producer and Host of the PBS primetime program: Kansas City Week in Review. His skillful ability to navigate differences is only part of what has also made him a four-time Emmy Award Winner. By channeling the power of TV, he bridges divides and in light of our many differences, convenes citizens to foster a sense of community. Be sure to check www.joelgoldbergmedia.com for more on Nick Haines and Rounding The Bases

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Rounding the Bases is dedicating each Thursday of January to conversations about a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. Dan Nash and Alison Phillips are the co-founders of the Human Trafficking Training Center. They have created the most comprehensive and effective training to teach law enforcement, probation and parole, natural resource officers, nurses and hospital administration, victim advocates, and civilians a more effective way to save victims and eradicate traffickers. In part one, Dan and Alison with assistance from a survivor, provide an overview of human trafficking hoping to create awareness for all of us.www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.comwww.joelgoldbergmedia.com

Helping Joel Goldberg kick off season 7 is a Kansas City native who makes crowds go crazy. He has a reputation for being one of hip-hops most unconventional rappers, and his signature rapid-fire flow has earned notoriety around the world. With credits that include 17 studio albums, a BET Nomination and repeat appearances on the Forbes list, his accolades kick almost as hard as his bone fide beats. He is none other than, Tech N9ne. During this recording, Tech N9ne was on tour representing The Kingdom to fans across North America as he and Joel discuss his long outstanding career.

Season 7 of Rounding The Bases with Joel Goldberg will kickoff with a longtime rap superstar and will also include an extremely important topic during numerous episodes in January. Joel previews some of the upcoming content.

The final episode of the "Best of 2021" series features the amazing story of Montee Ball. After a successful college football career, the Broncos drafted the running back in the 2nd round. He was on the fast track to success when his fight with alcoholism, anxiety, and depression ended his football dreams. But instead of losing all hope, Montee changed his path in life and found his purpose. Listen to hear his story.

The best of 2021 continues with an immigrant to the US with an inspiring story. Rania Anderson is "driven by a deeply held conviction that the global economy will only thrive when women and all people are equally engaged in leading its prosperity." Rania is an author, international keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, gender parity and the advancement of women, and an executive business coach. Listen to this enlightening conversation that teaches the importance of compassion through empathy.

Continuing with the "Best of 2021", this episode features a familiar guest for host Joel Goldberg, who covered this Kansas City Royals legend his entire 13 year MLB career. Alex Gordon is a hero to the Kansas City community, he's a guy who always played the game the right way, respected by players and coaches alike, a fan favorite, a family-man, and an elite athlete. Joel and Alex discuss his retirement from baseball, his playing days, and what's next for the 8X Gold Glove left fielder.

2021 has been such a great year for Rounding the Bases with amazing guests each week. As the year comes to an end, we are playing great moments of 2021starting with Sam Rapoport. Sam is the Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the NFL. She has worked to shift and progress diversity hiring in football, and catalyzed a movement for women in sports by creating a new diversity platform for the NFL. Rapoport was named one of SI's most Powerful, Influential and Most Outstanding Women in Sports.

Every now and then, you meet someone who sets sky-high expectations and shatters them. Today’s guest is one such example. Peter Mallouk is the President and CEO of Creative Planning, a New York Times best-selling author, and all-around epitome of excellence. Even by his own exacting standards, he has no shortage of accomplishments. From his top-ranked wealth management firm to his passionate commitment to bettering our community, Peter sets himself apart on the regular, all with a rare sense of grace.

Healthcare will always be about people. Brian Whorley recognized the importance of people in healthcare as an opportunity to modernize the payment experience. As the Founder and CEO of Paytient, Brian’s objective is to remove cost as a barrier to care, making it more accessible and affordable than ever. Paytient now lives at the intersection of medicine and financial services, where it is making a meaningful impact on countless lives.

Dr. Michelle Robin, wellness champion, joins Joel for a full helping of gratitude and a serving of perspective on Thanksgiving for a quick holiday special.

Brian Roland is a social entrepreneur and self-proclaimed coffee guru who has unearthed the secret to a successful life. It’s a simple recipe with just one key ingredient, and that’s people. Turns out people are also the secret to a successful business, which has been the focus of his company - Abenity - since day one. Abenity’s social mission is sponsoring hundreds of impoverished children and donating more than a million dollars in humanitarian aid.

In a world that often asks how much can I make, my guest today asks how many people can I serve? Isaac Wambua, founder and CEO of Dynamo Methods, emerged from humble beginnings in a Kenyan village. With grit and determination, he learned English, immigrated to America and has built a business from the ground up that solely focuses on helping others. Isaac is a believer that in life, people can choose to run away from pain or to go after fulfillment.

A special guest joins the show as Joel Goldberg chats with his younger brother, Marc Goldberg. Marc's passion is closing educational opportunity gaps. He began his career as a member of the Peace Corps, then spent over 10 years supporting adult education in Portland, and now he is the Principal and CEO at Skills Strategy Consulting as well as host of the podcast, All In: Student Pathways Forward. Listen to hear the ways Marc changes the lives of those around him. (And who was the better son growing up...)

We my know what a brand is, but how about the concept of a "cult brand"? I’m referring to the select group of companies that have established a loyal, almost fanatical consumer base. And expertise in what makes them iconic is exactly where Chris Kneeland has found his success. As the co-founder and CEO of the Cult Collective,Chris has worked with some of the most recognizable brands on the planet empowering businesses to become remarkable.

Kenny Randle is someone who has built a career around the potential of people. As a collegiate hall of fame track star turned NFL football player, he’s no stranger to the influence a great coach can have. But it's when a coach can find a way to simultaneously harness natural talent while also tapping into latent abilities that the magic happens. As the Regional Vice-President of a leading HR firm, he has played a critical role in matching candidates to positions, putting both on the path to success.

Mental health is no laughing matter, but with our guest Frank King, the topic somehow provides a way to feel at ease together regarding a heavy subject. Frank is equal parts humorist and survivor. As a veteran comedian and Tonight Show writer, he has a strong brand of sharp witted humor. By coupling that with serious real life situations like suicide and depression, both of which Frank has suffered, he is able to boldly - yet respectfully - start discussions in ways that have never been done.

Showing support to our brothers and sisters in arms is something Joel Goldberg takes to heart. An important cause no matter the time of year, but as we move into the holidays, it’s especially vital to show appreciation to those on deployment. Operation Uplift is a local organization with the mission of sending holiday care packages to the men and women who choose service over self. VP and Director of HR from Yarco Property Management, Mickey Carlson joins Joel to share more about this incredible cause.

If you’ve ever used your cellphone to put video on the internet, Adam Fichman is the one to thank. That’s right, his first company - a garage start-up in college, called 1dawg, pioneered the entire process and introduced it to the world. He is a tech savant and sometimes-irreverent internet prodigy, who bears many claims to fame. Fast forward to the present, Adam is the President and Founder of Lifted Logic, a KC-based media company specializing in everything from graphic design to print to web.

Carol Espinosa is a firm believer that growth is made possible when shared with others. Her first priority in life is pursuing her own happiness, while helping others achieve theirs along the way. Carol Espinosa is the founder of Freedom Interiors, which specializes in workspace design. The positive influence of her work is evident in the experience of her clients as well as among her team, where freedom is more than a word, it’s a way of life.

Cam F Awesome is one of the most decorated boxers in US history. Cam reaped the benefits of being a storied boxer, but the cards weren't always stacked in his favor, which is how he learned to shuffle the deck and make necessary changes in his life. He went from being a professional boxer to living a life in a van traveling the country. Shuffling the deck helped Cam find his way to becoming a speaker keynoting for organizations on diversity and cultural awareness and living his life to the fullest.

Today on Rounding the Bases we will hear the story of the man behind the stories. By harnessing the power of public media, Kliff Kuehl - President and CEO of Kansas City PBS - has realized his goal of keeping high-quality storytelling local. With an eye towards reinvigorating tradition, his leadership can be credited with bringing radio, social and digital reading platforms into the mix.

Jeff Cloud is an expert in MRO, otherwise known as maintenance, repair and operations. Just as his company excels at customizing these solutions, he’s the type of leader to apply them at the human level. He is the President, CEO and third-generation owner of IBT Industrial Solutions, a place where culture is paramount. Jeff understands that strong culture is rooted in strong tradition. And because of it, he is determined to keep IBTs family-centric founding values at the forefront to his modern-day team.

Mike Kilkenny is President and CEO of Taylor Forge Engineered Systems in Paola, KS. He is a University of Illinois alumni and has served in many capacities during his 35+ year tenure with Taylor Forge, as well as several professional affiliations over the course of his career. He believes that small manufacturing businesses are the key to growth in our country, and is always looking for good, hard-working people to help advance that initiative.

If you’ve ever used your cellphone to put video on the internet, Adam Fichman is the one to thank. That’s right, his first company - a garage start-up in college, called 1dawg, pioneered the entire process and introduced it to the world. He is a tech savant and sometimes-irreverent internet prodigy, who bears many claims to fame. Fast forward to the present, Adam is the President and Founder of Lifted Logic, a KC-based media company specializing in everything from graphic design to print to web.

Adriana Bates is a woman who does business in style while breaking down barriers. Her reputation for being a powerhouse at the closing table is preceded only by her reputation for doing it all with impeccable fashion, both figuratively and literally. She is the Co-Founder, Partner and self-proclaimed "Leader of Awesomeness" of Clear KC LLC. She is passionate about the client experience educating and empowering each client to make decisions perfectly tailored to their lifestyle and financial goals.

Mike Swanson’s 43rd year working in Major League Baseball will be his last as he heads into well-deserved retirement. The long time media relations executive worked for the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and his hometown Kansas City Royals. In part 2 of his interview with Joel, "Swanee" discussed some of his favorite stadiums, leaving a family legacy, retirement plans and he shared insight into players like Tony Gwynn, Randy Johnson, Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez.

Renowned in his industry, Mike Swanson has spent 43 years working in Major League Baseball, the last 15 as Kansas City Royals’ Vice President-Communications & Broadcasting. Known as “Swanee” throughout the industry, he has worked for the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and his hometown Royals. In 2002, Swanee earned the prestigious Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence. Swanee was a part of two World Series winners, and is retiring following the 2021 season.

Terin Humphrey is a former olympic gymnast who won two silver medals for the U.S. team in Athens in 2004. She's a two time Hall of Fame Inductee, Missouri's first Hall of Fame Gymnast, a 2-time NCAA Individual Champion on Bars and an 11-time All American. Terin is a public speaker with the hopes of sharing her story of being a survivor of sexual assault and helping change laws to help survivors find the courage to come out and find their voice.

Greg Graves knows a thing or two about creating an amazing place to work. He is the former CEO and Chairman of 100% employee owned Burns & McDonnell Engineering & Construction Company. During his 13 years in the role, Burns & McDonnell grew employment 400% and revenue 1000%. His proudest accomplishment as CEO was the company being named one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Work 10 times. Now retired, Greg is the author of the book "Create Amazing", amongst other impressive endeavors.

Providing access...the most important aspect of Dan Smith and Charon Thompson's business, The Porter House KC, which is an inner-city based co-working community that provides entrepreneurship access and resources to underserved populations in the Kansas City Metro area. The two former college fraternity brothers have run businesses together for years and now their mission is to be a bridge for underrepresented individuals that typically don't have access to the entrepreneurial dream.

An immigrant to the US, Rania Anderson is "driven by a deeply held conviction that the global economy will only thrive when women and all people are equally engaged in leading its prosperity." Rania is an author, international keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, gender parity and the advancement of women, and an executive business coach. Listen to this enlightening conversation that teaches the importance of compassion through empathy.

There is a sleeping giant in every human. Brian Bogert's purpose in life is to awaken those giants within and turn them into legends by helping them grab what they believe is just out of their grasp. Brian is revolutionizing how individuals, leaders, and entrepreneurs deeply connect with their authentic selves to achieve the best version of themselves. Brian's story is unique and brave, but he wants all of us to embrace our own story to create a life without limits.

Mary B. Lucas is an author, speaker and people connector. Mary’s highly successful book, Lunchmeat & Life Lessons, is a motivational memoir and tribute to her father on how to bring out the best in yourself and others. She has spoken to thousands of people at hundreds of corporate audiences, commencement addresses and professional meetings with one mission: to share life lessons that help people create meaningful connections and inspire themselves.

Coming from a line of entrepreneurs, Brandy McCombs always knew she wanted to own her own business. In 2009, her dream came true when she started IBC, a Kansas City construction company, in the corner office of her master bedroom with $10,000, and a vision. In a few short years, Brandy and her team led the company to its remarkable multimillion-dollar growth. Passionate about giving back to the community, Brandy is involved in countless organizations and created IBC's purpose to "build better lives".

Paul Epstein believes there are two types of people in this world—those who play defense—and those who PLAY OFFENSE.These insights around purpose, performance, and impact weregathered over a 15-year run as a professional sports executive– where Paul successfully steered business teams that executed billion-dollar NFL campaigns, broke Super Bowl revenue records, and generated league-leading sales results for cellar dwelling NBA clubs. An entertaining conversation you don't want to miss!

As an entrepreneur, former executive, husband, and father of 3, Cory Carlson knows the pressures working parents face. 20 years in corporate America gave Cory amazing opportunities. But he also saw brokenness: work without purpose, burnout, lack of focus, strained marriages, and absentee parents. When Cory discovered coaching, it helped him become a better leader, husband, and father. So he left his corporate career to help other leaders achieve a healthier work-life balance.

Power couple Chris and Angie Long never planned to own soccer team, but the dynamic duo found themselves as co-owners of Kansas City's new women's team. The couple, along with NFL star Patrick Mahomes’ fiancée Brittany Matthews, a former college and pro soccer player, co-founded the new sports team in Dec 2020. The founders are paving the way for women sports empowering countless people along the way. Listen to hear about Chris and Angie's successful careers, and their powerful effect on women's sports.

Legendary Hall of Fame pitcher LeRoy Satchel Paige spent much of his life playing baseball and living in Kansas City. The 3700-square foot home he owned from 1950 until his death in 1982 has been uninhabited for years and suffered a fire in 2018. The city, the Royals and a local group, Pitch Perfect KC, led by architect Vincent Gauthier will be restoring the historic home. Gauthier spoke with Joel about the project and the significance of the home.

Carlos Antequera's entrepreneurial journey began at 18 years old when he immigrated to the US from Bolivia. With sights set on Miami, he ended up in Topeka for college eventually settling in the Midwest as a successful entrepreneur. He is currently the co-founder of Novel Capital, a Kansas City firm that leverages Revenue-Based Financing to provide growth capital to early-stage software companies that don’t fit the traditional venture or banking models.

"Finding Your Joy Spot" the name of Joel's guest's book and also a big topic of this conversation. Yes, we all have a "joy spot" and Leona deVinne wants to help you find it. In her book, she provides frameworks that are science based to help readers discover joy in unexpected places. Leona is an entrepreneur, a certified coach and facilitator at deVille Partners, a coach and Joy guru at leonadevinne.com and Sock Broker at joysocks.ca.

Brian McMaster is a true success story and an example of grit and resilience. As a young entrepreneur running a company in 2001, the September 11attacks affected his business and sent him into bankruptcy. He started M&M Quality Solutions, Inc. two years later as one of two employees with a first year revenue of $30,000. M&M now employs 80 people around the country and expects revenue of close to $12M in 2021.