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When it comes to cars, the sticker price is just the beginning. Depreciation—the loss of value over time—can be one of the largest expenses of car ownership, and choosing a vehicle with strong resale value can save families hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Kelley Blue Book Managing Editor, Sean Tucker, explains which features and vehicle types tend to hold their value best, why resale considerations are important for smart budgeting, and how to make informed choices that pay off long after the purchase. Sean will also reveal the winners of the 2026 Best Resale Value Awards, which recognizes the cars most likely to retain their value during the first five years of ownership—helping families find vehicles that are both practical and financially smart. For more information visit: KBB.com

Rick is joined by Jay from Jaycation this week. Travel with host Jay Jay around the world on Jaycation! Explore local culture, food and drink scenes. Jay Jay will also dish out travel tips along the way! He posted his first video in the Summer of 2015, a travel guide on a trip to Santorini, Greece. After posting, he was worried about what people would think of me sharing my personal travel journeys online. But he’s been well received and has quickly been growing his brand and following. He’s visited 100s of destinations and properties and is a popular influencer. From international travel to domestic and place like Las Vegas, Jay takes his followers around the world. Rick and Jay talk sports travel, Las Vegas and trends for 2026 and beyond.  

Also known as “iCyclone” or “Hurricane Man,” Josh Morgerman has braved numerous hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones around the world in the interest of science – in fact, he holds the world record for being inside the most hurricanes on the ground – 84 to date and counting. The Harvard-educated television personality also built a special, hurricane-resistant home in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi – an especially hurricane-prone place that was devastated by Katrina. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, nine out of the 10 years with the highest number of natural disasters have occurred in the last decade. Since 1980, there have been 403 natural disasters that have caused over $2.9 trillion in damage, and in 2024 alone there were 27 events that hit that threshold including tropical cyclones or hurricanes, severe storms, major flooding, droughts, wildfires, and winter storms. There has never been a greater need to build climate resilient homes. As the world convenes in Orlando for the annual International Builders Show – the largest annual light construction trade show in the world – renowned storm chaser Josh Morgerman is showcasing the benefits of building climate resilient, durable homes.

Rick is joined by podcaster and influencer, Jordan D’Nelle, this week. She’s on Instagram at @jordannelle She’s all about inspiring women and covering topics that some would consider taboo. Give her podcast a listen.@thevvvpodcast  

If anyone knows how to plan the perfect Italian vacation, it’s Steve Perillo. As a third-generation travel expert, he has curated hundreds of Italian itineraries that perfectly balance sightseeing, cuisine, and culture. 2026 is shaping up to be a standout year to visit Italy, especially as many major sites have been revitalized following preparations for the 2025 Jubilee. Steve continually updates his travel advice and has introduced new 2026 offerings, featuring two Italian guided tour itineraries with longer stays and less unpacking allowing travelers to fully immerse themselves in a single region. In addition, Perillo Tours has introduced two new tours in Portugal and Ireland, continuing to broaden its offerings throughout Europe. Steve shares expert insights on off-season travel, and what to expect visiting Italy not only in the off-season, but in 2026. For 80 years, Perillo Tours has been perfecting the art of traveling to Italy, drawing on deep roots in the country to choreograph every detail for travelers, whether they’re joining a guided group journey or customizing their own independent adventure, so they can make the most of their precious vacation time. See more at: http://www.perillotours.com/ Steve Perillo is the president and owner of Perillo Tours, America’s leading travel company to Italy. A lifelong apprentice to his father, the legendary Mario Perillo who was also known as “Mr. Italy,” Steve represents the third generation of his family’s nearly 80-year-old business. Carrying on the legacy of his father’s famous TV commercials as spokesperson of the company, Steve personally stands behind every vacation sold. These widely recognizable commercials have grown to claim a new level of fame, most recently parodied by Adam Sandler on Saturday Night Live (SNL).

Veny is an all-in-one travel app designed to consolidate everything a user needs during the entire travel journey into one place, solving the problem of needing multiple apps when traveling. The idea originated from founder Mo Matraji, who, while traveling solo, found it frustrating to navigate through numerous apps. The app features real-time flight updates, AR and classic navigation, turbulence alerts, bag tracking, a full travel marketplace and more. Predict the Journey. Reduce Stress. Veny adapts to your travel mode Departure, In-Flight, and Arrival giving you exactly what you need, when you need it.

Rick is joined by Daren Hornig of CourtsApp. CourtsApp, the first AI-powered marketing and booking platform built to modernize court marketing and reservations across the red-hot racquet sports industry, has announced its official launch throughout the New York tri-state area. Founded by New York entrepreneur and real estate developer Daren Hornig and creative executive Kate Daggett, CourtsApp is designed to eliminate the frustration and friction that have long plagued the tennis and pickleball communities, making it now seamless and easy to reserve a court in any racquet and paddle sport. CourtsApp also helps facilities grow. By making every court discoverable and bookable, the platform turns unused inventory into real revenue and delivers a steady stream of high-intent players to clubs. With seamless integrations with existing court management systems, full control over pricing and rules, CourtsApp gives operators a simple and efficient way to fill courts and expand their reach. CourtsApp provides its software to the facilities for free and makes a commission on the courts it books. Currently live to players with more than 1,500 courts across 150+ facilities already signed on throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, CourtsApp will expand from Maine to Florida by the first quarter of 2026 before expanding market-by-market as club density increases. Additional play-in markets, including Southern California, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest, are expected to come online throughout 2026. Clubs such as the John McEnroe Academy’s flagship location at Sportime Randalls Island, Pickleball America, Padel Haus, all Sportime Pickleball locations and more are currently available for players to reserve courts. “CourtsApp was born from pure frustration,” said Hornig, Chief Executive Officer of CourtsApp and an avid tennis and pickleball player. “For years, me and my friends struggled to find open courts in real time and near where I wanted to play. We wanted a simple, reliable solution that matched how people already book restaurants, travel, or fitness. Now, with CourtsApp, they finally have one.” Hornig called CourtsApp the “OpenTable for courts. The Expedia of racquet sports,” and added, “Beyond convenience, CourtsApp connects people; helping friends meet to play, helping communities stay active, and making racquet sports more accessible to everyone. It is also a critical marketing tool for facility owners. Most operators lack the funds and expertise to market effectively in today’s complex digital environment, and CourtsApp does this for them and more. Our goal is to get players on the courts and help clubs keep their courts full. It’s really a win-win scenario for all.” Daggett, CourtsApp’s Chief Marketing Officer, resides in Connecticut and, like Hornig, is among the 25.7 million Americans who played tennis in 2024, according to the most recent statistics reported by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), which was an all-time high and a surge of 1.9 million more than 2023. Pickleball has been consistently named the fastest-growing sport in the nation with an estimated 22.7 million players, an increase of more than 45 percent over the previous year. There are more than 68,000 dedicated pickleball courts in the U.S. “Racquet sports are booming, but the technology that supports them has not kept up,” commented Daggett. “Players expect the same ease they get everywhere else, and clubs need tools that help them grow. CourtsApp brings both sides together in a modern, intuitive experience that gets more people on the court, more often.” CourtsApp is also forging integrations with the leading court-management systems nationwide, enabling instant court bookings at participating facilities. CourtsApp is continuing to roll out integrations with leading pickleball and racquet-sport technology platforms. One of the first is DUPR, the pickleball rating system used by more than 1.6 million players and 8,000 clubs. This integration will allow players to bring their verified rating directly into the CourtsApp ecosystem and for players to book courts within DUPR. A Win for Both Players and Clubs For clubs, CourtsApp functions as a free, performance-based marketing channel. Facilities can join at no cost, with CourtsApp earning a commission on court time bookings. For players, CourtsApp provides: Easy search functions across tennis, pickleball, padel facilities, as well as table tennis, squash, badminton and racquetball Real-time booking confirmations Map View Secure payment via Stripe and Apple Pay A familiar, “OpenTable-style” user experience Players and clubs can learn more or join the platform at CourtsApp.com and download CourtsApp from the Apple App Store for iOS and Google Play Store for Android. Also… A Smarter Match: CourtsApp and DUPR Form Partnership To Power Verified Pickleball Play Everywhere Local Courts to Access National-Level Ranking Infrastructure, Building a More Connected Pickleball Ecosystem Where Every Match Counts CourtsApp also announced a strategic partnership with DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), the global standard for pickleball ratings and verified match data. Together, the companies are building a more connected ecosystem for racquet sports, one where every match can count toward verified player progress and help clubs attract more engaged, repeat players. DUPR and CourtsApp share a common mission: reduce friction for players and facilities by connecting access, performance, and community in one integrated environment. “DUPR has become the gold standard for measuring skill in pickleball, and together we’re making that progress visible right where the game happens, on the court,” said Daren Hornig, CourtsApp founder and CEO. “Clubs are the engine of that growth, and as CourtsApp continues expanding from the NY Tristate area into new markets in 2026, our work with more than 150 clubs and 1,500 courts shows how verified play helps clubs boost utilization and revenue without changing how they operate.” Through this partnership, CourtsApp will integrate DUPR’s universal rating system directly into its platform, enabling players to: • Connect DUPR accounts through CourtsApp • Book courts on DUPR, powered by CourtsApp’s real-time availability engine • Record match results automatically, creating verified rating histories • Receive enhanced matchmaking and performance insights over time For racquet sport facilities, the CourtsApp-DUPR collaboration unlocks new opportunities to: • Seamlessly integrate CourtsApp’s AI-driven marketing and booking tools across 8,000-plus DUPR partner facilities nationwide • Host DUPR-eligible matches and Open Plays • Tap into DUPR’s 1.5 million engaged pickleball players to drive visibility and participation • Leverage data-driven insights to boost pickleball court utilization and player retention • Drive incremental revenue as DUPR-engaged players seek more opportunities to play and log verified matches DUPR CEO Tio Machado said that CourtsApp is building the digital infrastructure that helps the sport grow. “We’re excited to align on the shared mission of connecting players and verified play everywhere,” he said. Hornig added that when CourtsApp evaluates partnerships, the focus is on partnering with the very best companies in their respective spaces. “The alignment with DUPR is a trifecta as they work with facilities and players, which is the exact audience that CourtsApp focuses on, and within the CourtsApp platform we’re able to add DUPR’s rating to our expanding network of players,” he explained. Integration work is already underway, with new functionality expected to launch in an upcoming product release. The partnership represents a pivotal step toward a unified racquet sport ecosystem that connects access, performance, community, and technology while helping clubs grow with rising demand for verified play. DUPR announced it was partnering with USA Pickleball as the official ratings system of all USA Pickleball-owned events. CourtsApp is available for free in the northeastern United States with more than 150 facilities and 1,500 courts onboarded and accepting bookings for tennis, pickleball and padel courts. CourtsApp will extend from Maine to Florida by the first quarter of 2026 before expanding market-by-market as club density increases. Additional play-in markets, including Southern California, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest, are expected to come online throughout 2026.

Colton and Matt Christman, the father and son baseball duo from La Vegas, join Rick this week. Colton, a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher recently signed with LSU. He’s also a great student. Rick talks to father and son about youth baseball, the recruiting process and training. A fun interview and informative for anyone raising a baseball player or athlete.  

Rick is joined by: Commissioner Merle Heatwole, National Commander, The Salvation Army This holiday season, rising economic pressures are weighing heavily on families across the nation, with forty-five percent of Americans expecting national economic conditions to worsen in the coming year. In these uncertain times, The Salvation Army remains a source of hope and joy, serving nearly 28 million people each year through more than 7,400 centers nationwide. Through the annual Red Kettle Campaign, which kicks off on Thanksgiving Day, and with the help of generous contributions, The Salvation Army can continue to meet the immediate and long-term needs of millions of individuals and families this holiday season and year-round. More than two-thirds of Americans are worried about having enough money to pay for gifts this Christmas. The Salvation Army provided holiday assistance to over 2.3 million people last year. Volunteers at 24,000 kettles across the country will be ringing bells this Christmas in support of spreading joy. The average volunteer bell ringer raises enough money to provide up to 250 meals to those in need. Over 1.5 million volunteers helped The Salvation Army meet people’s needs last year. The Salvation Army serves in nearly every ZIP code across the country, and the funds raised stay in the community where they were donated. Donations can be made not only through the physical Red Kettles but also digitally with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo at any Red Kettle across the country or by visiting give.SalvationArmyUSA.org. For more information on The Salvation Army, please visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. More topics: Can you tell us about the Red Kettle Campaign and why it’s important, especially this year? How does The Salvation Army meet the needs of local communities beyond the holidays? Are there ways people can donate besides a physical Red Kettle location? Where can listeners get additional information on supporting their local Salvation Army? COMMISSIONER MERLE HEATWOLE is the national leader of The Salvation Army in the United States of America serving as the National Commander. He assumed this appointment on March 1, 2025. Heatwole most recently served as the Territorial Commander for the Latin America North Territory, overseeing Salvation Army operations in ten countries including Guatemala through Panama in Central America, Colombia and Venezuela in South America, and Cuba and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. Prior to this, he served as International Secretary for Business Administration at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London, England, where he was responsible for global financial strategy and information technology. His extensive career also includes leadership roles as Chief Secretary of the USA Central Territory and National Chief Secretary at The Salvation Army’s National Headquarters.

Rick is joined by a legend this week, in Gil Reyes Gil Reyes is an American fitness trainer who spent seventeen years as the strength and conditioning trainer for retired tennis player Andre Agassi, from 1989 until Agassi’s retirement in 2006. He was also considered one of Agassi’s closest friends and confidants. Gil Reyes was the strength and conditioning coach for the basketball program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before meeting Agassi in 1989. Reyes was their strength coach when they won the 1990 NCAA championships. Reyes’s approach transformed Agassi into a well-conditioned strong athlete. Reyes currently runs the Gil Reyes Fitness Center in Las Vegas. It was great to record this interview at Gil’s gym.

Learn How to Prepare Your Home and Finances for Wildfires; Hear Science-backed Action Steps to Help Prevent Ember Ignition and Why It’s Important to Contact Your Insurer to Make Sure You Have the Right Coverage. Joined by: Karen Collins; Vice President at American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) Anne D. Cope, PhD, P.E., Chief Engineer at Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire risk is increasing due to several factors, such as more homes and communities in wildfire-prone areas and changing environmental conditions that result in wildfires igniting more easily, spreading more rapidly, and burning more intensely. A new 2025 report by Cotality says nearly 2.6 million homes in the western U.S. face moderate or greater wildfire risk with a combined reconstruction cost value of $1.3 trillion. The massive January wildfires in Los Angeles County are the latest example of how conflagration can severely devastate communities.  The Eaton and Palisades wildfires damaged or destroyed 18,298 structures and tragically killed 30 people making it the costliest insured wildfire loss event in U.S. history.   As a result, large urban conflagration fires are occurring in more states, for example the 2020 Labor Day fires in Oregon, 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado and 2023 Lahaina Fire in Maui. These massive fires ignited and spread because these dangerous factors came together: dry conditions, high winds, along with flammable materials and vegetation near structures. Over the last five years, inflation has increased the cost of repairing and rebuilding homes. Construction labor has increased 36 percent and building materials are up 42 percent (source: APCIA Analysis of US Bureau of Labor Statistics data). It is more important than ever to call your agent or broker to complete an insurance checkup.  Make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild your home.    While wildfire has become a year-round threat, there are research-based actions to reduce the chance your home ignites during a wildfire. Taking a system of research-based actions can mitigate the most vulnerable areas of the home to meaningfully reduce the risk of ember ignition What to do: Have a noncombustible 5-foot zone around your home. The good news is that you do not have to compromise curb appeal! Top landscape pavers or river stones with ceramic flowerpots or planters that can easily be moved indoors during Red Flag Warnings for a beautiful landscape that also acts as a fire-resistant buffer. A wildfire prepared home includes: a Class A fire-rated roof, ember resistant vents, gutters free of debris and the last six inches of vertical space on exterior walls made from noncombustible material.  Call your agent to update your insurance and ensure your finances are protected. Make a home inventory to account for your property and valuables. Anne Cope, IBHS chief engineer will provide critical research-based guidance on what to do in the five feet around your home to help prevent it from catching fire during a wildfire as embers can travel miles ahead of the fire front. Karen Collins and Michael Richmond-Crum, property insurance and natural disaster experts at American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) will be available to discuss tips on preparing your finances for wildfires that you can use as well as share with friends and family. For more information please visit: www.ibhs.org/wildfireready and www.apci.org/wildfire Karen Collins serves as Vice President, Property & Environmental in the Policy, Research, and International Division for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA). APCIA is the largest property and casualty insurance trade association with over 1,200 member companies nationwide. APCIA’s members write nearly 60 percent of the property and casualty insurance in the U.S. Karen provides thought leadership on property and catastrophe issues, with emphasis on risk mitigation and resilience to natural catastrophes such as flood, hurricane, and wildfire. She provides policy expertise on legislative and regulatory issues at the state, federal and international level, on behalf of the trade association and its membership. Prior to joining APCIA, Karen acquired 20 years of insurance experience with several major insurance carriers, in varying roles and responsibilities spanning Product, Sales, I.T. Dr. Anne Cope joined IBHS in 2009 just a few months before the groundbreaking for the construction of the IBHS Research Center in Richburg, South Carolina. As the Chief Engineer, she leads the development of research programs to improve the performance of structures in hurricanes, wildfires, severe thunderstorms, and hailstorms as well as the team of engineers, scientists, and skilled craftsman who conduct research on full-scale homes and commercial buildings. She is responsible for the team’s implementation of research findings into building codes and standards. Prior to joining IBHS, Dr. Cope was a project manager and structural engineer with Reynolds, Smith & Hills, Inc., designing projects for NASA, Department of Defense, and commercial launch operations. Dr. Cope’s research encompasses topics ranging from the full-scale simulation of wind effects on buildings to detailed studies of the vulnerabilities of buildings to natural hazards and the development of damage prediction models. She is also a proud veteran of the United States Army.

LaMont Jones joins Rick to discuss this year’s rankings and the methodology used by U.S. News, offer helpful tips for prospective students, and more. Topics: 1. U.S. News just released its annual College Rankings. This is year 41! Tell us about this year’s results. 2. How does U.S. News determine the Best Colleges? You have rankings for public schools, veterans, by state and more! 3. What sets U.S. News’ rankings apart compared to other “best” school lists out there? 4. What advice do you have for prospective students and parents? How can they use U.S. News’ Best Colleges rankings during college application season? 5. Where can our listeners go for more information? For more information please visit: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges MORE ABOUT LAMONT JONES: As managing editor for education, LaMont oversees a team of reporters, editors, bloggers and other freelancer contributors who produce advice and news content on K-12 and higher education. He has more than 35 years of journalism experience as a writer and editor. LaMont came to U.S. News in September 2019 and served four years as senior editor for education before becoming managing editor for education. Prior to that, he worked as senior writer, senior editor and co-editor at Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. Earlier in his journalism career, he was a copy desk editor at the Courier-Journal in Kentucky, a suburban reporter at the Pittsburgh Press, and a higher education reporter, race relations writer, and teen page creator and coordinator at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rick is joined by Brian Farrell, Big Green Egg Sales Manager, this week. Big Green Egg is the world’s leading manufacturer of the premier ceramic outdoor cooking system, renowned for its durability, passionate customer base, and exceptional culinary results. From humble beginnings in a single store in Atlanta, it has expanded to a global live-fire cooking phenomenon in over fifty countries. Ideal for both home cooks and culinary enthusiasts, The Big Green Egg is the top choice worldwide because of its commitment to eco-friendly live-fire cooking with 100% all-natural lump charcoal.  For more information, visit www.BigGreenEgg.com. Brian talks with Rick about new accessories and where Big Green Egg is going. Notes: Experience live-fire flavor with the Big Green Egg Large Rotisserie. Compatible with your Large Egg, the Rotisserie transforms your Egg into a self-basting, hands-free roaster, delivering crispy, juicy, and evenly cooked meats with rich, live-fire flavor. Made from premium marine-grade stainless steel, this accessory ensures juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked meats every time. Experience It Lid-Open or Lid-Closed: Invite your guests to experience the joy of cooking over live-fire with the Rotisserie. When enjoying a lid-open Rotisserie experience, keep draft door & rEGGulator closed and use less charcoal.  

Great to be joined by Theresa Steven of VisitScotland this week. Direct from the VisitScotland exhibit at IMEX in Las Vegas. Scotland is a great destination for sports and outdoors enthusiasts and fans. Scotland doesn’t need much introduction. It’s a country steeped in traditions and history, yet firmly rooted in the modern age. It’s a land of majestic munroes and dramatic landscapes, often within easy reach of vibrant cities. At every turn, you’ll find myths and legends (if you know where to look) alongside centres of innovation, sustainable business practices, cutting-edge science and technology, and some of the world’s most respected academic institutions. Planning a conference, incentive trip, or business meeting? Maybe want to play historic golf courses or just explore? They had12 incredible partners on stand E1705 at IMEX, showcasing what makes Scotland a standout destination for business events: 2B UK DMC Scotland Cameron House Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) Horizons Scotland by Tour Partner Group Limitless DMC Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort Marine and Lawn Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh The Gleneagles Hotel The Hoxton, Edinburgh W Edinburgh Our team will also deliver Destination Presentations throughout the show, ideal for gaining an overview of what Scotland offers MICE groups. Alongside engaging on-stand activities, you’ll also learn how hosting your event in Scotland can create meaningful legacies and memorable experiences for both you and your delegates. Thanks to Theresa for coming on and the entire VisitScotland team.

Rick talks to Naomi J. Brown, MD, pediatric sports medicine specialist about injuries in youth sports. While playing sports can be important for both physical and mental health, injuries are bound to happen, landing millions of young athletes in the ER each year. Contact and collision sports like football, basketball, hockey and soccer often cause injuries, but so can other sports like baseball, gymnastics, bicycling and even ballet. Experts say establishing a healthy training routine is the key to preventing most injuries. This includes stretching and cooling down, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep. Experts also say it’s important to avoid comparison, as every child is different in terms of growth, muscle strength and bone density. Topics: How common are injuries in young athletes? What are the most common types of injuries you see? What can children and teens do to prevent injury? When it comes to sports injuries, what’s the best option for treatment – an ER, urgent care or pediatrician’s office? Where can we go to learn more? Naomi J. Brown, MD, is a pediatric sports medicine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) focusing on sports injury prevention, overuse injuries and pain management. Her areas of expertise are dance medicine, hypermobility, injury prevention, pediatric injuries, pediatric sports medicine, repetitive strain injuries, skiing and snowboarding injuries and sports injuries.