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

Dan Barker has one of the best career arcs in sports media. English teacher. Cruise-ship poker. And now Senior Managing Director of Content Strategy and Distribution at NASCAR. In this episode of #Storyteller, Sky Muller sits down with Dan to go behind the build of the NASCAR Channel, NASCAR's free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel that launched in January 2025. We get into why being late to FAST actually worked in their favor, why they almost didn't call it the NASCAR Channel, the fan-first content strategy driving it all, and how the live L-bar (powered by Tagboard) keeps the channel fresh 24/7. Plus Days of Thunder, the first-time Daytona 500 experience, Memory Lane, and why "if you're not winning, you're losing." Skip Ahead Guide: 01:06 Cold open: Days of Thunder 01:46 Feeling American: growing up in England 03:31 Two Truths, No Lies: English teacher to media exec 04:44 Poker, cruise ships, and testing games 07:57 Pinch-me moments and the first Daytona 500 11:42 Behind the build: launching the NASCAR Channel 12:52 Why it's called the NASCAR Channel 13:25 Getting it right: vendors, content, and hiring 15:45 Tubi, 10+ platforms, and "we're cooking now" 17:27 Who the channel is really for 18:48 Feeding a 24/7 channel + the Concord studio 22:10 The live L-bar, powered by Tagboard 26:28 The Production Playbook: what makes a great partnership 28:34 "If you're not winning, you're losing" 30:00 Time Machine: a culture of experimentation 32:43 Original content: Rising and NFL athletes in race cars 35:14 Kidney stones, Panthers, and Leicester City

In this episode of Storyteller, we sit down with Evan Schreiber to break down the grueling, addicting, and rewarding world of broadcast journalism. Evan shares what it's really like to cut your teeth in a small market like Eureka, CA, including "trauma bonding" with coworkers and working under high-stakes deadlines. 📌 What We Discuss: 00:23 – Welcome Evan Schreiber to Storyteller 01:15 – Finding the broadcasting bug at Chico State radio 04:05 – Small market survival: Scriptwriting on Microsoft Word in Eureka, CA 07:25 – The internal "nervous clock" and adapting to daily TV deadlines 08:35 – Full spectrum: Covering the 2024 Las Vegas Super Bowl 12:00 – Building the "Live Desk" from scratch & updating viewers on the fly 15:58 – Behind the scenes of a 3-hour morning broadcast (4 AM - 7 AM) 18:33 – Long-form journalism & earning trust through community reporting 22:20 – The Future of News: Why local stations must think digital-first 27:13 – Storyteller Shout-outs: Mentors, friends, and the grind of journalism

What does it actually take to broadcast over 250 live events a year, including back-to-back championship parades with thousands of fans jamming cellular towers? In this episode of Storyteller we sit down with Tim De Lay, Senior Director of Operations at Altitude Sports & Entertainment. Tim takes us behind the scenes of live sports production, sharing incredible career stories from his early days freezing as an endzone camera operator to driving a $750k satellite truck through mountain passes. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 1:36 - Cold Open: Wisconsin Rose Bowl Memories 3:55 - Two Truths, No Lies: Running Camera in a Snowstorm 6:16 - Stories from the Satellite Truck Era 9:41 - Pulling Off the Avs & Nuggets Championship Parades 14:38 - Dealing with Bonded Cellular & Tower Jamming Challenges 18:26 - The Altitude Sports Production Playbook (250+ Broadcasts a Year) 20:51 - Production Flexibility, Scaling Budgets, & Tiered Events 22:10 - The Intersection of Linear & Digital Broadcasting in 2026 25:02 - Innovating with Skycam & Altitude Plus Subscriber Growth 26:09 - The Streaming Playground: Testing, Analytics, and Learning to Fail

What does an English teacher, a $400 one-way ticket to LA, and Legends of the Hidden Temple all have in common? Stephen Brown. In this episode of Storyteller, recorded live at NAB from the SiriusXM studio, we sit down with Stephen Brown, EVP of Programming and Development at FOX First Run and FOX Television Stations, for a raw and unfiltered look at one of TV's most fascinating careers. From writing scripts on Love Connection under a notoriously brutal executive producer, to dreaming up a Mayan temple run that became a defining show for an entire generation, Stephen has lived the full arc of the entertainment industry. And he's not done yet. In this episode, we get into: - How a movie theater epiphany and a one-way ticket to Hollywood changed everything - The inside story of creating Legends of the Hidden Temple, from paper maze to pop culture icon - How 25 Words or Less became the first-ever live syndicated daytime game show - Why listening to your audience (and actually responding) is the only real playbook - The future of broadcast in a streaming world, and why Stephen still wakes up optimistic every single day If you're in media, marketing, entertainment, or just love a great story about grit and reinvention, this one's for you.

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 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.