Advertise on podcast: On The Subject with Mike Vilardo

Is youth baseball developing better players—or just better highlight reels? Mike Vilardo welcomes Jason Ferber, Bobby Minor, and former Wake Forest and Penn State standout Adam Cecere for the first-ever On The Subject baseball roundtable. The group debates the business of travel baseball, recruiting myths, chasing velocity over winning games, and how social media is changing the sport. They also dive into NIL, college baseball programs they’d choose for their own kids, and where confidence crosses into showboating. From youth ball to the big leagues, expect honest advice, strong opinions, and plenty of friendly trash talk.

Should you play college baseball or go straight to the pros? Baseball creator Marc Luino, better known as Giraffe Neck Marc, joins Mike Vilardo to break down the paths to the MLB, share his picks for the best college baseball programs, and reveal which players young athletes should study. Plus, Marc shares how he turned MLB The Show videos into a full-time career in baseball media, what actually makes money on YouTube, and his favorite MLB ballparks.

What does it actually take to get recruited by Brown baseball—and is a 4.0 GPA enough? Brown head baseball coach Frank Holbrook joins Mike Vilardo on On The Subject to break down Ivy League recruiting, from grades, test scores, and course rigor to what gets a player on his recruiting board. He shares what makes a recruiting email stand out, why he prefers full-game film over highlights, and how families should prioritize spending on instruction, strength training, and showcases. Plus, they discuss the transfer portal, the biggest misconception in travel baseball, and building a program that matches Brown’s academic reputation.

Is travel baseball helping your kid or just draining your wallet? On this episode of On The Subject, Mike Vilardo sits down with Bobby Minor, the voice behind Chasing Baseball Dreams, for an honest conversation about youth baseball. Drawing on decades of experience as a player, coach, and parent, Bobby breaks down what families should actually spend money on, why chasing exposure too early can backfire, and how to navigate college recruiting without getting caught up in the D1 dream. They discuss overlooked opportunities in JUCO and NAIA, the pressure that drives kids away from the game, and why your son needs a dad—not an agent. It’s a candid look at developing better players, protecting family relationships, and keeping baseball fun.

What does it really take to play Division I hockey at an Ivy League school? Brown University head coach Thomas Upton joins Mike Vilardo to break down the path from youth hockey to juniors to college recruiting. He explains what coaches look for at the rink, which recruiting emails get a response, and why players shouldn’t panic if they aren’t being contacted early. They also unpack Ivy League admissions and financial aid, the changing college hockey landscape, and Upton’s plans to build a new culture at Brown.

Former D1 Forward Todd Goehring joins Mike Vilardo to reveal what it really costs to raise a hockey player and chase the dream of playing professionally. Todd left home at 16, lived with billet families, played more than 100 junior games, and spent five seasons at Sacred Heart before continuing his career in the ECHL and SPHL. He breaks down where the money in youth hockey actually goes, what minor-league players really earn, and what happens to a young athlete’s education along the way. Todd also shares how he graduated magna cum laude with degrees in finance and economics, built a business while playing professionally, and prepared for life after his final shift. It’s an honest look at the sacrifices behind the hockey dream—and the reality most hockey families are actually living. Hosted by Subject, a K12 curriculum company. Visit www.subject.com for more information.

Eleven months into the job he calls a homecoming, MIT men's basketball head coach BJ Dunn sits down with Subject co-founder and CEO Michael Vilardo in Cambridge to talk about building a program where the recruiting pitch isn't a scholarship — it's a career. Dunne walks through what MIT admissions actually looks for, why his staff can't offer a pre-read or a likely letter and how they build trust with families anyway, and what it means to coach players who never had a standard lowered for them. He also gets specific about the parts recruits rarely hear straight: how to write an email a coach will open, what the first clip of your film should be, when to start lifting, why camps beat skills trainers, and what parents should and shouldn't do. Along the way he tells the story behind the 2012 Final Four team where four of five starters went on to found unicorn companies, explains why he thinks that's no coincidence, and makes the case that at MIT it was never about balancing school and basketball — it's a blend.

Eric Jones Jr. is the Savannah Bananas' all-time home run leader, a former MLB bullpen catcher, and a veteran of affiliated and indy ball. He's played every version of this sport, so we asked him the question the next generation is starting to ask: if you're good enough to keep playing after college, is grinding through the minors still the obvious path, or is Banana Ball a legitimate alternative? We get into the tryouts, the eleven rules, the buses, the clubhouses, and the money — plus straight advice for the kid and the parent watching at home.

Daniel “Diamond Hands” Amesbury walked away from professional hockey at 23 and spent eight years away from the game—including years working on tugboats in British Columbia. Then, at 31, he entered the first-ever Ice Wars fighting tournament, won three fights in one night, and suddenly found himself with pro teams calling again. On this episode of On the Subject, Mike Vilardo sits down with one of hockey’s last true enforcers to talk about one of the wildest comeback stories in professional sports. Daniel breaks down the reality of life as a hockey fighter, what goes through his mind before dropping the gloves, why fighting can actually make teammates play with more confidence, and how he learned to turn toughness into a tool for moving up the professional ranks. He also opens up about returning from retirement, racking up 298 penalty minutes, building an audience through content, and receiving an indefinite suspension he still doesn’t fully understand. Now back with Adirondack and still chasing the AHL, Diamond Hands isn’t finished yet. Eight years away. More than 200 fights. One remarkable comeback—and a story about toughness, family, loyalty, and refusing to believe your window has closed.

Gary Roberts Performance is the most quietly influential address in hockey — the Toronto program where the best players in the world spend their summers, and where more than 200 NHL-drafted players have trained in the last decade alone. In this episode, Gary breaks down how that garage gym became the off-season home for NHL stars, and where fuel, training, and recovery actually rank in terms of what moves the needle. He walks us through the 12-week off-season program week by week, sets the record straight on the legendary "Gary Roberts diet" — what held up and what he's changed his mind about — and explains why cutting carbs is one of the worst things a hockey player can do. We separate real recovery from recovery theater, sorting cold plunge, sauna, and red light into what earns its place and what doesn't. Gary shares what 200-plus drafted players have in common, three things a fifteen-year-old can start this week for free, and his honest take on the combine, draft stock, and the biggest lie being sold to hockey families right now. Follow along: @mikefromsubject @onthesubjectpodcast @trysubject

In this episode of On the Subject, DSARM sits down with Mike Vilardo to talk about the decision to bet on content, how he found his lane in a crowded baseball world, and what it actually takes to turn videos into a career. Dan Sarmiento, better known as DSARM, went from a left-handed pitcher at Exeter High and Bridgton Academy to one of the most-followed independent baseball creators online. Instead of chasing a college roster spot, he picked up a camera and built an audience of hundreds of thousands across YouTube and social media. For young athletes, baseball doesn't have to end when the playing career does. DSARM's story shows just how many ways there are to build a career around the game.

This week, Mike sits down with Ariel "Tarzan" Sexton—ONE Championship veteran, The Ultimate Fighter competitor, and one of the pioneers of MMA in Costa Rica. From moving to Costa Rica with nothing but a suitcase to competing against some of the world's best, Ariel shares the highs, the setbacks, and everything people don't see behind a career in professional fighting. They talk about fighting through devastating injuries, what it's actually like getting paid as a professional fighter outside the UFC, why jiu-jitsu can change a kid's life, and the mentality it takes to keep chasing a dream long after everyone else would've quit. Whether you're a fighter, a parent thinking about martial arts for your child, or someone chasing a goal that doesn't make sense to anyone else, this episode is packed with lessons on resilience, discipline, and betting on yourself. Follow along: @mikefromsubject @onthesubjectpodcast @trysubject

Former first-round MLB Draft pick Jacob Turner joins Mike Vilardo on On the Subject to share what really happens after your name is called on draft day. From signing a multi-million dollar bonus out of high school to spending eight seasons in Major League Baseball, Jacob breaks down the realities of professional baseball that most players and families never hear about. Together they discuss the MLB Draft process, signing bonus negotiations, taxes, agents, arbitration, the minor leagues, financial mistakes athletes make, and how to prepare for life after sports. Now as the co-founder of Moment Private Wealth, Jacob helps professional athletes build lasting financial security—and shares the lessons he wishes every young player knew before turning pro.

What does it really take to make it to the NHL—and even harder, build a lasting professional career? On this episode of On the Subject, Mike Vilardo sits down with NHL player agent Dominic Boily for an inside look at the business of professional hockey. Drawing from years of representing elite players, Dom explains what NHL organizations are actually looking for beyond raw talent, how the draft and free agency process works, and what the relationship between a player and their agent really looks like. He also shares how he helps athletes navigate contracts, roster decisions, career transitions, and the challenges that come with competing at the highest level. Whether you're a young player chasing the NHL, a parent trying to understand the path to professional hockey, or a coach preparing athletes for the next level, this conversation offers practical insights into what separates the players who make it from those who don't.

Atlanta native and MLB veteran Kyle Farmer joins On the Subject for an honest conversation from his childhood home about what it really takes to last nearly 10 years in Major League Baseball. After making his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kyle has built a career spanning more than 800 MLB games, recording over 500 career hits, 60+ home runs, and earning a reputation as one of baseball's most dependable utility players. In this episode, we discuss his journey from Georgia to winning a College World Series championship and reaching the big leagues, the setbacks that nearly ended his career, what it means to return home and play for the Atlanta Braves, and how versatility has helped him stay in the majors for nearly a decade. Kyle also shares untold clubhouse stories, the realities of life in professional baseball, and his advice for parents, coaches, and young athletes chasing their dreams. Whether you're a baseball fan, aspiring athlete, or simply looking to learn what it takes to build a long, successful career, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.