Shows
My Podcast StoryFinding Purpose Through Podcasting After Loss and Service — Karl Darden | Ep 68If you've ever wondered what it takes to build and sustain a truly niche podcast, you’ll love this episode with Karl Darden, host of Navy Sports Central. Karl shares how he carved out a podcasting space focused on the unique world of Naval Academy athletics, and why sticking to your own “version” of consistency matters more than following trends. You’ll pick up some down-to-earth strategies for balancing a solo podcasting journey—especially if you produce, edit, and promote your episodes by yourself. Plus, Karl opens up about how audience size doesn’t matter nearly as much as who’s actual...
2025-08-1148 min
The Rock PileCleared for Takeoff: A Deep Dive into Navy SportsSend us a textIn this episode of the Beyond the Game podcast, we connect with Karl Darden, a US Naval Academy graduate, 20-year veteran, former helicopter pilot, and dedicated Navy sports podcaster.• Naval Academy graduate (Class of '84) with 9 years active duty as a helicopter pilot and 11 years in the reserves• Started Navy Sports Nation blog during COVID in 2020, followed by the Navy Sports Central podcast• Focuses on highlighting athletes across all Navy sports, not just revenue-producing programs• Navy athletes balance 17-20 credit hours per semester with military duties while competing at Divis...
2025-07-2248 min
Navy Sports CentralCountdown 2025: Knocking Out the Bully (and Much, Much More)Send us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Have you ever thought about what defines a truly unforgettable sports moment? Is it the stakes, the rivalry, the upset, or the individual brilliance that creates memories lasting a lifetime? In this special year-end edition of Navy Sports Central, we tackle this question by counting down the top 10 most memorable moments from the 2024-2025 Navy athletics season.The countdown features remarkable achievements across multiple sports, from squash and gymnastics to the ones that...
2025-06-2459 minNavy Sports CentralPlaymakers & Disruptors: An Early Look at the 2025 Navy Football TeamSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In this episode, we'll get you caught up on some of the outstanding performances of the spring sports season. • You'll hear about how the Men's Track & Field team rung up another Patriot League title, their 11th consecutive crown. • The Navy Rifle team's Marleigh Duncan and Isabella Baldwin earned All-American honors. Duncan competed in her fourth NCAA Championship and with Baldwin won USA Shooting's Junior Olympics, qualifying for the Junior Pan Am Games.•...
2025-05-061h 01Navy Sports CentralRaging Back: An Up Close and Personal Look at the Navy Heavyweight Rowing Team's 1984 IRA National ChampionshipSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In today's Deep Dive segment, we will visit with two members of the Navy Athletics Hall of Fame. You will get a first hand account on how the Heavyweight Rowing team won the national championship in 1984. We will discuss the Navy Rowing program in the early '80s, the make up of the team that eventually won it all, and some of the adversity they dealt with along the way. ...
2025-02-101h 40
Helping The Brave PodcastKarl Darden on Navy Life, Sports, and Leadership: Lessons from the Academy In this insightful episode of "Helping The Brave," join host Ed Parcaut as he sits down with Karl Darden for a comprehensive discussion on his diverse journey from the Navy to the world of podcasting. Karl shares his experiences at the Naval Academy, the challenges of balancing academics, sports, and military duties, and his impressive career trajectory from helicopter pilot to successful roles in the private sector. Listeners will be captivated by Karl's dedication to spotlighting Navy sports through his own podcast, "Navy Sports Central," where he aims to bring attention to the lesser-known yet elite athletes...
2025-01-0733 min
Helping The Brave PodcastKarl Darden on Navy Life, Sports, and Leadership: Lessons from the AcademyIn this insightful episode of "Helping The Brave," join host Ed Parcaut as he sits down with Karl Darden for a comprehensive discussion on his diverse journey from the Navy to the world of podcasting. Karl shares his experiences at the Naval Academy, the challenges of balancing academics, sports, and military duties, and his impressive career trajectory from helicopter pilot to successful roles in the private sector. Listeners will be captivated by Karl's dedication to spotlighting Navy sports through his own podcast, "Navy Sports Central," where he aims to bring attention to the lesser-known yet elite athletes and coaches within...
2025-01-0733 minNavy Sports CentralBig Picture Focus: Taking Down the Pirates and Preparing for ArmySend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!It is December, and that means Army week is right around the corner. Join me, Karl Darden and Navy Sports superfan Doug Conkey, as we break down the Mids solid win over East Carolina, and discuss the impact of the transfer portal and name, image and licensing (NIL) deals on college football. We'll also get you caught up on the Women's Basketball team. Zanai Barnett-Gay, Kate Samson and Kyah Smith have them playing at...
2024-12-0458 minNavy Sports CentralThe Navy Blitz, Volume 4: Climbing Out of the QuicksandSend us a textGet ready for another edition of the Navy Blitz!Today's installment covers the Mids' two tough losses to Notre Dame and Rice. And with their conference championship game hopes slipping away, Navy's season was definitely at a crossroads. The team bounced back in strong fashion with a commanding 28-7 win over South Florida. Blake Horvath, Eli Heidenreich and Brandon Chatman all showcased their talent with some terrific playmaking. and the defense delivers a masterclass in pressure and crucial stops.
2024-11-1513 minNavy Sports CentralComing Home: Navy Sports Central's Special Class of '84 Reunion EpisodeSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!We've got a very special episode for you today. We are back in Annapolis to celebrate the Naval Academy Class of '84's 40 Year Reunion. This episode is dedicated to my classmates. You will hear stories from of them recalling some of their most memorable Navy Sports moments. Those tales are just a small part the Navy Athletics legacy and the camaraderie it has fostered over the years. So settle in and relax. You'l...
2024-11-021h 10
Sweep The LeagueSWEEP UNPLUGGED - KARL DARDEN OF NAVY SPORTS NATIONKarl Darden, host of Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation, is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, 20-year veteran, former helicopter pilot, and passionate Navy Sports fan. His enthusiasm for Navy athletics led him to create the Navy Sports Nation blog in January 2020, and a year later, he expanded into podcasting with Navy Sports Central, giving fans a dedicated space to explore the unique world of Navy sports.Through insightful interviews with Navy coaches, former Navy athletes, and fellow sports podcasters, Karl highlights the stories and achievements of Navy’s athletic community. His guest ap...
2024-11-0228 minNavy Sports CentralReversal of Fortune: Navy Football Erases Four Years of Frustration vs. Air Force in Convincing FashionSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In this episode, we will break down how the Navy Football team dominated Air Force from the opening whistle. The Mids executed their game plan on both sides of the ball and effectively purged their memories of four years worth of nightmarish losses against the Falcons. We're going to really get into that in our Deep Dive segment. And we'll also discuss how an Air Force team that has won 29 games over the past three s...
2024-10-1224 minNavy Sports CentralThe Navy Blitz, Volume 3: The Mids Avoid the Trap; Handle UAB for First Road WinSend us a textWelcome to the third edition of The Navy Blitz! Today, we will break down the Mids’ convincing win over the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The offense put up another 40+ point performance, while the defense returned to form and managed to contain one of the conference's more talented quarterbacks. We'll also take a look at Navy's offensive resurgence by the numbers. And trust me, some of what you learn will totally blow you away. So stick around! We've got a lot of ground to cover as we take a loo...
2024-09-3016 minNavy Sports CentralThe Navy Blitz, Volume 2: The Mids Serve Notice; Take Down Conference Favorite MemphisSend us a textWelcome to the second edition of the Navy Blitz! Today, we'll break down Navy's huge upset of the Memphis Tigers. Among other things, you will hear where and when the defense came up with the key plays to seize the advantage in the first half to put the team in a position to win in the second half. And on offensive, we'll talk about the one key stat that has been directly responsible for the Mids getting off to a 3-0 start. It was a terrific win...
2024-09-2312 minNavy Sports CentralThe Navy Blitz, Volume 1: Aggressive Defense and Balanced Offense Fuel the Mids' Solid Win Over TempleSend us a textIn Today's episode, we’re launching our first installment of the Navy Blitz. Here, you’re going to get all of the insights and commentary on the most recent Navy football game. We’ll start by breaking down the Mids’ opponent, move on and talk about the keys to the game, and analyze the big plays. And finally, we’ll check out some of the stats that helped determine the outcome. This is going to be a little bit different from the usual Navy Sports Central podcast episode because the...
2024-09-0910 minNavy Sports CentralNew Football Season, New Look: The Hybrid Wing-T Era Begins at NavySend us a textCan Navy football overcome last season's scoring struggles with their new Hybrid Wing-T offense? Join me, Karl Darden, as we break down Navy's home opener against Bucknell in their first meeting in nearly a century. We’ll take an in depth look at some of the key players on both sides of the ball and check out how the Navy offense executed Coach Cronic's new scheme. The defense turned in another strong performance, looking to build on last year. You’ll get a glimpse into t...
2024-09-0123 minNavy Sports CentralNot For Self: Breaking Down the Navy Women's Tennis Team's Championship SeasonSend us a textToday on Navy Sports Central, we celebrate the Navy Women's Tennis Team's exciting run to their first Patriot League Championship! Coach Keith Puryear sits down with us to share how the team laid the groundwork in the fall to put them in the best possible position to compete for the title in the spring. He'll also take us through the thrilling moments of Kate Lee's remarkable comeback against Boston University and the unwavering spirit of senior players Samantha Johns and Stella Ribaudo, who battled through their injuries all year long, but never...
2024-07-2936 minNavy Sports CentralStart the Countdown: A Look At Navy Athletics' Top 10 Most Memorable Moments of the SeasonSend us a textIt's time to celebrate the accomplishments of Navy athletes over the last year! Join us as we take a look back at the top 10 most memorable moments in Navy sports. First, we'll get you caught up on how things are looking with the Navy Football team with the season just around the corner. You'll get an update on the defense, and the new Hybrid Winged T offense. We'll check out how things look at the quarterback position. From there, we'll get right into our Top 10 Countdown highlighting some of the be...
2024-07-1038 minNavy Sports CentralThe NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships: One Mid's ExperienceSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!The conclusion of the 2024 sports season saw the Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field teams continue their streak of Patriot League Championships. Meanwhile, the Women's Tennis team came from behind in dramatic fashion to win their first ever title. We'll do a complete run down in our sports update. In our Deep Dive segment, Maura Kent joins us to give her perspective on the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She will talk about what it...
2024-06-1342 minNavy Sports CentralMaking a Statement: Navy Women's Lacrosse Beats Army to Clinch the Star SeriesSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!The Mids continued their strong month of April by chalking up two big wins over Army and two Patriot League Championships in women's golf and women's tennis. Meanwhile the Men's Rugby team advance to the College Rugby Association National Championship game with victories over Arkansas State and Life University. But it's our Deep Dive segment that you won't want to miss. We'll be joined by Cynthia Lisa from the Class...
2024-04-2346 minNavy Sports CentralBall to Bat & Bat to Ball: A Conversation with Navy Baseball Hitting Coach Jeff KaneSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!The Army-Navy Star series looks like it could go down to the wire!. Find out how the Women's Tennis team came from behind to post a huge win in our sports update. We'll also get caught up on both track & field and lacrosse teams. And you're not going to want to miss our Deep Dive Segment. Navy Assistant Coach Jeff Kane joins us to share his insights on everything that...
2024-04-0439 min
Talking With CoachesEp. 29 - Sports in the Military AcademiesWant to get in the best shape of your life at a nationally respected univertsity ... for free? Maybe you should consider playing sports for a Military Academy. In this episode, Coach Charlie gets the inside info on military academy athletics from Karl Darden, a Naval Academy graduate and host of Navy Sports Central. Especially with the uncertainty of the portal and NIL money, military academies provide the safest bets for playing time and scholarships. Find out if it's right for you!
2024-03-1940 minNavy Sports CentralNavy Sports Central Rewind: The 2004 Navy Men's Lacrosse Team's Season to RememberSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Today, we're going to jump into the Navy Sports Central time machine and revisit the 2004 Navy Men's Lacrosse team's unforgettable season. This year marks the 20th anniversary of their magical run to the Final Four. And in our Deep Dive segment, you will learn how they bounced back from a disappointing year in 2003 to wind up on the brink of a national championship. I'll be discussing the key players and h...
2024-03-1437 min
The 40/40 Vision PodcastEpisode 96 - The Past, Present, and Future of Naval Academy Sports with Karl Darden of Navy Sports NationIn this episode of The 40/40 Vision Podcast, we welcome Karl Darden, an expert on Naval Academy sports. They discuss the passion for Naval Academy sports, the history and significance of Navy football, notable Navy football players, and the triple option offense.
They also talk about the student-athlete experience at the Naval Academy and Navy's membership in the American Athletic Conference. The episode concludes with a discussion on the history and significance of the Army-Navy game.
The conversation covers the Army-Navy game and college football rivalries, women's lacrosse at the...
2024-03-0449 minNavy Sports CentralAdaptability & Collaboration: How the Navy Women's Swimming & Diving Team Continues to Outshine Their CompetitionSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In today's episode, you'll get a complete update you on the Army-Navy Star Series, where in the month of February we saw some truly exceptional performances and record-breaking moments. On the biggest weekend of the Star Competition all year, outstanding Navy athletes stepped up when it really counted. You will hear about all their terrific efforts on the rifle range, the track and on the gymnastics floor. In our Deep Div...
2024-02-1739 minNavy Sports CentralForging a Championship Culture: Navy Men's Swimming & Diving Coach Bill Roberts Shares His ThoughtsSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!We are back with a terrific start to the new year! In our sports update, we will be checking in with the Track & Field and Wrestling teams. And you will also get an nice breakdown of men's basketball team's exciting win over Army. Then, be sure to stay with us as we welcome Coach Bill Roberts of the Navy Men's Swimming & Diving team to the podcast. We will get an insider's look at their...
2024-01-2539 minNavy Sports CentralTotal Disruption: Unveiling the Effects of Transfer Portal on College Football and Breaking Down the CFP's Latest Screw UpSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Today, we will take a look at the college transfer portal and how it has basically become college football's version of the free agent market. We will also critique the controversial final rankings of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee post-Championship Week. We compare Florida State's situation with Ohio State's 2014 scenario and examine if the committee's revenue-driven approach overlooked the resulted in them ignoring all of the Seminoles' on field accomplishments. Finally, we'll recognize the...
2023-12-1431 minNavy Sports CentralNavy's Magnificent Seven: Behind the Scenes with the Women's Triathlon TeamSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Get ready to step into the shoes of the Navy Women's Triathlon Team as they gear up for the NCAA championships in Tempe, Arizona. We promise an exciting journey that not only explores the physical and mental preparation these athletes undertake but also showcases the unique dynamics of this all-girls team. Listen as Coach Billy Edwards shares tactics for the competition, and nationally ranked triathlete, Coach Alli LaRochelle provides an inside look at what motivated her t...
2023-11-1247 minNavy Sports CentralBack on Course: My Conversation With Navy Women's Rowing Coach Joe SchlosbergSend us a textWelcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In this episode, we'll be taking a closer look at one the most quietly successful athletic programs at Annapolis, the Navy Women's Rowing team. Coach Joe Schlosberg will join us to talk about the impact that COVID had on the team and how his athletes bounced back to win another Patriot League title last spring. So you do not want to miss our Deep Dive segment. In our sports u...
2023-11-0246 min