Advertise on podcast: Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg

Great venues do more than host unforgettable moments. They bring people together, strengthen communities, and create a lasting legacy. Today, I’m joined by someone who has spent more than 35 years bringing that vision to life. Bruce Miller is a longtime architect and leader at Populous, the world-renowned sports architecture firm behind some of the most iconic venues in sports. From Target Field in Minnesota to Allianz Field and GEODIS Park in Nashville, Bruce has helped transform the way fans experience the games they love. As Chair of the Kansas City Sports Commission, he continues to shape the future of sports and the communities they call home. Along the way, he’s learned that building something extraordinary takes more than great design. It takes vision, collaboration, and above all, trust. Website: https://populous.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearepopulous/  Twitter: https://x.com/Populous  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Populous Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y4CuSXsqdys

What does it take to create 600 episodes of meaningful conversations? A whole lot of passion, purpose, and a belief that even the smallest actions can make a big difference. In this special crossover episode, Rounding the Bases host Joel Goldberg steps behind the mic as guest host of the 600th episode of Small Changes, Big Shifts, joining Dr. Michelle Robin and Bayleigh Soza to celebrate an incredible milestone. Together, they look back on the podcast’s journey, the relationships built along the way, and the powerful lessons learned through hundreds of conversations about health, wellness, and the human connection. From the importance of getting back to the basics of well-being to the impact of gratitude, kindness, and community, the conversation goes far beyond physical health. It’s about showing up for others, learning from different generations, and recognizing that true success isn’t measured by numbers, but by the lives we touch. They also look ahead to what’s next for Small Changes, Big Shifts, including the Kindness Campaign and its mission to inspire hope, create opportunities, and strengthen communities. Because whether it’s in business, leadership, or life, lasting change often starts with something small. Website: https://yourwellnessconnection.com/about-us/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmichellerobin/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmichellerobin/ Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tfAnKDt6KvE

Some people lead. Others change the way we think about leadership itself. Today, I’m joined by an extraordinary guest who does just that. Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace is President and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Throughout her storied career, she has turned purpose into progress, expanding opportunities across the globe as a U.S. diplomat, political trailblazer, and higher education leader. Now, she’s challenging others to think bigger about what they’re capable of becoming, opening doors along the way and helping people discover not only what they’re made of, but what’s possible when they step into the life they were made to lead. Website: https://www.kauffman.org/ | https://www.drdeangela.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.deangela/  Twitter: https://x.com/KauffmanFDN  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dburnswallace Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rKgz_EC570s

Ideas are easy. Getting others to believe in one is the challenge. Today’s guest has spent her career doing just that…and making it look easy. Eileen Weir is a respected civic leader, former Mayor of Independence, and Founder of ImpressKC, the firm developing stronger, more vibrant communities. For decades the key to her success has centered on turning vision into action, from strategic redevelopment to unifying the city on a shared path forward. Because the blueprint may show you where you’re going, but it takes people to actually get you there. Website: https://www.impresskc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impress_kc/  Twitter: https://x.com/weirIndep4  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MayorWeir/ Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bBiAKqVBXCc

Some of the most important things in life are the things we never intended, and today I’m joined by a survivor who knows that better than most. She’s someone who found herself in a club she never wanted to be in…then build a better one. Julie Rudman is the Founder and Executive Director of The Breast Cancer Club, a community reshaping breast cancer support across Kansas City. It’s her answer to the question, ‘Where do I turn now?’ that too many people battling cancer have to ask. And now, what began as one woman’s journey, has become a place for connection and support, fueled by the belief that nobody should have to face this disease alone. Website: https://thebreastcancerclub.org/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreastcancerclub/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBreastCancerClub.org/ Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kgndFvFmOjQ

Today’s guest is a dominating force in Royals history, whose big-game command was a defining factor in the golden era of Kansas City baseball. I’m joined by the legendary Bret Saberhagen, and while you may know him as the 1985 World Series MVP and two-time Cy Young Winner, today he is focused on a legacy that extends beyond the ballpark. Now he is the President and Co-Founder of SabesWings, the foundation helping cancer patients cover the financial burden of the fight of their lives. It’s a powerful extension of the kind of player he has always been…one who gives his best when it matters most, on and off the field. Website: https://www.sabeswings.org/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretsaberhagen/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BretWilliamSaberhagen/ Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O4JNgSfma7Q

No one is born a legend, but anyone can become one. Today on Rounding the Bases, I’m joined by a guest who did just that. Tommy Breedlove achieved the kind of high-level success many only dream of. Then came a career crisis that forced him to rethink his priorities, sparking the transformation of a lifetime. Today, he’s a bestselling author, internationally recognized keynote speaker, and leadership coach helping high achievers break free from the stories they’ve been sold. Because prestige is one thing. Building a life you’re proud of? That’s Legendary.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommybreedlove/?hl=en  Twitter: https://x.com/TommyBreedlove  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tommy.breedlove.lake.jackson Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hwoKbSqo-QI

On this episode, Joel is joined by one of Big 12 basketball’s most dangerous scorers who took his game all the way to the top. But his competitive fire didn’t stop when the jersey came off…it simply found a new arena. Kareem Rush is a Mizzou Athletics Hall of Famer, former NBA sharpshooter and now, the Founder/CEO of University Heritage Group. From bourbon to media, hospitality and more, he’s building premium brands rooted in the tradition of collegiate athletics. And he’s playing to win, just like he did on the court. Only this time, he’s building something that lasts long after the final buzzer. Website: https://rushventures.info/#ventures https://universityheritage.club/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kareemlrush/  Twitter: https://x.com/KareemRush  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kareemlrush/ Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5cECBzkrX84

On this episode, Joel is joined by a guest who dedicated his career to proving the greatest victories are measured in the lives you change. Greg Loveless is a speaker and author who turned a lifetime of experience into a coaching philosophy that continues to shape generations. For more than three decades, he's shown that coaching is about far more than wins and losses. It’s the legacy that remains long after the final inning, that inspires athletes to become leaders…and transforms players into champions.  Website: http://www.gregloveless.net/ | https://voicewind.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.loveless.14/ Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/boeeOHLoMEs

Today I’m joined by three Kansas City leaders putting purpose into action. Erica Taylor-Murff, Alicia Logan, and Casie Murff are professionals in their own right, but together, they are the driving forces behind FORGED: The Rooted and Rising Leadership Summit. Erica brings the strategic mind and a passion for creating pathways to generational growth, while Alicia has the executive HR experience needed to help leaders scale with intention. Casie is a master of reinvention who walked away from 20 years of corporate success to pursue entrepreneurship. Now, they’ve created a space for leaders navigating seasons of change to put strategies into action and set legacies into motion. Website: https://www.ciskansascity.com/ | https://www.lihrsolution.com/ | https://thebevelkc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erica.the.visionary/ |  https://www.instagram.com/ladyfine1908/ | https://www.instagram.com/murffagram/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erica.taylor.9674 | https://www.facebook.com/alicia.mcdougal1 | https://www.facebook.com/Mr.Murff Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KVmrDIJfNA0

Today’s guest is leading one of the biggest booms in modern sports. Nate Peterson is the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Association of Pickleball Players, the world’s first and only professional pickleball tour. From elite competition to developing the next generation of stars, Nate and the APP are shaping the future of America’s fastest growing sport. Before stepping into the world of pickleball, he built a career in business development, and now he’s bringing that same strategic vision to a game exploding in popularity across every age group. The paddle space has become a movement…and Nate Peterson is helping move it forward. Website: https://www.theapp.global/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialapptour/  Twitter: https://x.com/OfficialAPPTour  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theapptour Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TjiVUHXOUqY

Today on Rounding the Bases, I’m joined by one of the most accomplished players in the history of women’s hoops. Jackie Stiles is the retired WNBA standout known for raining buckets during her years with the Portland Fire. As a Missouri State Lady Bear, the prolific shooting guard rewrote the record books, claiming the NCAA DI record for points scored…a title she held for nearly 20 years. These days, Jackie’s athletic prowess lives on as a speaker and the Owner of NextGen Fitness, where she dedicates the same enthusiasm to training others as she did to perfecting her own game. Website: https://www.jackiestiles.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiestiles10  Twitter: https://x.com/JackieStiles10  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackiestilesofficial Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U6d_BByO5R8

On this episode, Joel is joined by an inspiring man whose cancer diagnosis became his determination to live a more fruitful life. His name is Steve Garraty, a Salesforce Vice President of Sales and author of the book Greatfruit, that is equal parts memoir and motivation. After surviving Stage III Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at just 18 years old, he turned a life-altering challenge into a lesson in resilience. Because sometimes the hardest chapter in your life is actually the one that changes the entire story. Website: https://stevegarraty.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevegarratyauthor/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevegarratyauthor/ Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/a_wL3ka_fbg

Joel is joined by a people activator who is all in for enriching KC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Her name is Jessica Powell, the Founder of Social Balances and Managing Director of Back2KC. What began as a passion project has evolved into a 20-year career championing her community. In that time, she has earned a reputation for her unmatchable ability to strategically connect growing companies with tools, confidence, and connections. Empowering those who cross her path not only to thrive with a lasting economic impact. Website: https://socialbalances.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/back2kc/  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572798176224 |  https://www.facebook.com/jessicapowell1024 Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rMzi6F5Gi_Q

Today’s guest is a tech trailblazer whose data-first approach to AI discoverability is changing the modern business game. His name is Nathan Hall, Founder and Systems Builder at Lefty Media Co., a KC-based web studio engineering clarity for humans and machines…first by helping them get found, then by getting them recommended. In the era of AI-powered searches, Nathan helps clients stay ahead of the curve, with practical strategies and measurable results needed to win. Website: https://leftymediaco.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leftymediaco/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leftymediaco Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bu9I3fXOL2Y