Shows
It's Never Just A GameWhat Is Age Anyway? & Happy New Year!NJ and Greg wish you a Happy New Year! They welcome in 2024 with a conversation about age and how old is too old? From actors to authors, surgeons to NFL quarterbacks, you would be surprised at how many people are still doing what they love well into their later years.2024-01-0139 minIt's Never Just A GameComedy & Sports, The Perfect Combination!Greg and NJ take time with Mike in Middle America to talk comedy and Sports. How comedians today can beat cancel culture if they own their own material and distribution. Shane Gillis is the perfect example of this. And then the conversation turns to the college play-offs, Zach and Brock and everything in between.2023-12-1845 minIt's Never Just A GameDr. Timothy Williams, PhD Shares His JourneyNJ and Greg have an old friend on the show, Dr. Tim Williams! Tim is a friend and colleague from way back in the P&G Ivorydale Plant days. Tim shares his career journey; the lessons he learned along the way and the best advice he can give leaders if they want to be successful leading their organizations. And there is sports to talk about too!2023-12-1150 minIt's Never Just A GameSports and the Gnome, WHY NOT?!Greg and NJ cover the latest in sports including the J-E-T-S, J-E-T-S, J-E-T-S imploding again and BYU Women’s soccer team pulling off the most unlikely comeback to make it to the final 4! And then the conversation turns to the gnome and some of the amazing possibilities with gene editing for disease prevention and cure. 2023-11-2748 minIt's Never Just A GameWeWork loses $46.5 billion in value, Going back to work and lawsuits, Incentives to come back to workGreg and NJ discuss what happens when you lose $46.5 billion in value like they have at WeWork, and who loses that money. Employees are filing lawsuits over being asked to come back to work and companies are coming up with creative ways to get people to want to come back to the office. And of course, updates and opinions on the world of sports.2023-11-0643 minIt's Never Just A GameThe Potential Impact of Fear and GreedGreg and NJ discuss some of the consequences that can follow fear and greed. Often, we are afraid to make a change and we are stuck with a less-than perfect situation. And there are moments when greed motivates people to the point where they lose what they have in the pursuit of more than they should take. And the brothers cover the Yankees, BYU, Puka Nacua and driving away with the gas line still in your car.2023-10-0236 minIt's Never Just A GameCasey Cavell, Entrepreneur, Executive Business Advisor, Host of The Dugout CEO PodcastNJ and Greg had a wonderful guest on the program, Casey Cavell. An entrepreneur, an executive business advisor and the host of his own Podcast, The Dugout CEO!Casey helps business leaders and owners focus on what is most important. He was successful in building a number of businesses and now shares how you can get out of the daily grind of your business and focus on what moves the needle for your company. 2023-08-2845 minIt's Never Just A GamePositive Mental Attitude, And That’s How You Win The British OpenGreg and NJ take time to discuss the characteristics of a positive mental attitude (PMA), what are some of things you need to do and focus on to maintain that positive approach. What are some of the things that try to take the positivity from you during your lifetime.Brian Harman won the British Open golf tournament, and PMA was one of the things that helped him win his first major and first tournament since 2017.2023-07-2438 minIt's Never Just A GameIt’s 1984 All Over AgainNJ and Greg discuss Orwell’s 1984 and some of the parallels to today’s world. And the book, The Origins of Totalitarianism and how some things never seem to change.2023-07-1035 minIt's Never Just A GameVoice of the BYU Cougars, Greg WrubellGreg and NJ take some time to catch up with one of their most frequent guests, Greg Wrubell, voice of the BYU Cougars. Greg shares his realistic thoughts on how the Cougars will do in both football and basketball as well as in all other sports when BYU enters the Big 12 next week. Shout-out to Mike in Middle America as his Iowa State Cyclones are 4-0 all time against the Cougars in football. 2023-06-2651 minIt's Never Just A GameThe LIV Tour and the PGA Make a Deal, Messi Says "NO" to the Saudis, & My Kingdom for a Private Jet!Greg and NJ discuss the shocking news of the LIV Tour and The PGA coming together to form a new tour. Greg Norman is out as CEO of LIV and players on both sides of the deal were kept in the dark. Not sure how it will all come together but money won again! Lionel Messi says no to Saudi Arabia and signs with Inter Miami and Inter Miami sales of tickets and merch goes through the roof. There may be a way to get on private jets for less!2023-06-1332 minIt's Never Just A GameCam Anderson: Owner of Blacktail StudioNJ and Greg have a guest this week. Listen in as Cam Anderson tells his story about how he went from helicopter pilot, to woodworker, to YouTube star. Cam and Blacktail studios do fantastic woodwork and the videos they make for YouTube are addicting! Cam talks about making his decision to change his profession and how it is to manage the woodworking he does while producing episodes for his 2.3 million YouTube subscribers.2023-06-0536 minIt's Never Just A GameEmotional Intelligence (EQ) & The Power It Has In OrganizationsNJ and Greg take time to talk about EQ, again! But this time the focus is on how having high EQ can positively impact an organization. High EQ can increase productivity, drive teamwork and collaboration, spur innovation and even increase revenue. The brothers then talk about never being too old, and finally, it’s Music Time again!2023-05-1552 minIt's Never Just A GameThe Start Of Season 4 From Across The Pond!The first episode of Season 4, thank you all for listening! Greg is in the UK, so INJAG had its first broadcast from an international location. The brothers cover Bud Light and Fox News taking huge hits, is Artificial Intelligence biased, and some stories of corporate raiders from the 80’s in the James B. Stewart book, “Den of Thieves,” all of that followed by a specific question……2023-05-0744 minIt's Never Just A GameThe new movie Air, and that one bad dream we all seem to have!NJ and Greg talk about the new Michael Jordan movie, Air. The discussion focuses on the business aspects of the movie. How MJ’s mother made sure her son would have a piece of the growth of the brand and how much that was worth and is still worth for him. And then the discussion shifts to the one bad dream so many of us seem to have. The dream where you missed a class for the entire semester, what does that mean? Not as positive a you would hope.2023-04-2436 minIt's Never Just A GameTaxes, The Masters, & Artificial IntelligenceGreg and NJ are glad to be back. Taxes are the main subject this week. Listen in as they share some data on who pays what, why, and how much, for US taxes, you might be surprised by the numbers. The Masters visit is covered and then Elon Musk is at it again with a new AI company. And finally, it’s Music Time!2023-04-1750 minIt's Never Just A GameLightning Round: You’re Never Too Old, Corporate Perks Are Going Away, TikTok, & The Banks!NJ and Greg have a lightning round where they discuss the fact that you are never too old. If you have the right mindset, you enjoy what you are doing, or you want to learn something new. Business topics include; Pac 12 TV deal, value of NBA teams, PGA tour purse money going up because of the LIV Golf Tour and Anthony Volpe is going to be the Yankee’s starting shortstop!2023-03-2745 minIt's Never Just A GamePureCycle CEO, Dustin OlsonGreg and NJ have a wonderful interview with PureCycle CEO, Dustin Olson.Dustin shares the innovative work PureCycle is doing in the arena of plastic recycling as well as what he did in his career along the way. It is a great story of working hard, building on successes and reaching to always do more.2023-03-2044 minIt's Never Just A GameCEO Succession Planning, Not As Easy As You Think!NJ and Greg spend the episode talking about the approach to, and the pitfalls of, CEO succession planning. An alarming number of boards get it wrong and not enough time is spent on preparing the successors. Firms will either keep the CEO too long or bring them back once the successor fails. The impact of a leadership change is felt throughout the organization, it is better to get it right the first time. 2023-03-0645 minIt's Never Just A GameFinTech Funding Is In Trouble, A.I. Might Be Watching You As You Work, And An MLS Team Breaks One Billion DollarsGreg and NJ cover the LAFC in the MLS that has a valuation of $1billion, and how it compares to other professional sports teams. Then the conversation turns to FinTech and the pressure FinTech companies are under to make money or to get funding in the market today. They cover AI brands that are competing for your attention as well as AI that is paying attention to you as you work. Finally, a double dose of Music Time!2023-02-2045 minIt's Never Just A GameThe Story Of Vuori & How It Leads The Way In Premium Performance ApparelNJ and Greg take a look at premium performance apparel, Vuori and how it dominates. Vuori’s founder Joe Kudla took a circuitous route to starting and building Vuori into a brand that has a $4 billion valuation. He was a model, then an accountant and finally a recruiter before he started Vuori. Then the brothers cover the Super Bowl.2023-02-1344 minIt's Never Just A GameThe Price of a Super Bowl QB and Bosses are Back in ChargeGreg and NJ cover the cost of having an elite QB for the play-offs and super bowl, you might be surprised at the how little some teams are paying. Then the discussion moves to the topic of the workplace. Recent WSJ article says that Bosses are back in charge. The labor market has changed, and CEOs are no longer doing everything they can to attract and retain people. Jobs are being cut, pay raises are slowing and working from home may not be as easy as it once was for some.2023-02-0639 minIt's Never Just A GameAI and ChatGPTNJ and Greg talk about Artificial Intelligence, the company Open AI and its product ChatGPT. What is ChatGPT, why does it matter, how can you access it, what can it be used for and what are some of the concerns people might have with artificial intelligence? The brothers then cover a few examples of what ChatGPT generated for them and how it will impact sports. And finally, music time with a twist!2023-01-3041 minIt's Never Just A GameBack in the studio with a lightening round!NJ and Greg get back at it this week with a lightening round that includes: The Jets missing the playoffs, Gonzaga got away, NFL playoffs are starting, Mario Andretti and Cadillac want to put an all-USA team in Formula 1, and the daughter of the richest man in the world takes over Christian Dior Couture and the stock jumps up! Formula 1, also known as F1 or Formula One, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. This high-speed, high-adrenaline sport features the latest in cutting-edge technology and engineering, with teams competing in sleek, po...2023-01-1640 minIt's Never Just A GameZach Wilson and the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets!Greg and NJ discuss Zach Wilson’s short career to date, and the long history of talent mismanagement by the NY Jets. Wilson could certainly have played better but he had no chance with the Jets, nobody does! P. S. The Jets missed the playoffs again this year making it 12 straight years without a playoff appearance, the longest current streak in the NFL!2023-01-0243 minIt's Never Just A GameForbes Top 13 Highest Earning Dead Celebrities, Layoffs Are Happening And That’s Not Good, Bowl Games Are Just Not The Same AnymoreNJ and Greg cover the Forbes list of the highest earning celebrities, who just happen to be dead. Then they cover several layoffs and some of the reactions of those involved. And finally, the fact that bowl games are no longer the same since NIL and the transfer portal is open to athletes starting on December 5th. Teams are forced to start their 4th string QB!2022-12-1951 minIt's Never Just A GameAlan Ying, Author, Tech Founder, CEO, Tech Investor and Board MemberAlan Ying is the brother’s guest for the episode. NJ and Greg talk to Alan about his new book, The Risk Paradox. They discuss the cost of taking and not taking a risk. Alan then tells the story of his career that goes from being the top intern in Duke’s thoracic surgery department, to starting up a tech company with no idea how you raise money or make a spreadsheet! Great lessons and perspective. 2022-12-0555 minIt's Never Just A GameThe College Football Playoffs with Mike in Middle AmericaGreg and NJ start with a discussion about the changes at Twitter, no free meals and you have to work “hard core.” Then Mike joins to talk about how the College Football committee doesn’t want certain teams to make it to the playoffs and how TCU is driving them crazy. The World Cup started and team USA plays its first game on Monday!2022-11-2145 minIt's Never Just A GameFemale Owners in the NFL and Diane Hendricks Forbes Top Female Self-Made EntrepreneurNJ and Greg take a look at female owners in the NFL with both majority and minority interests. Ten of the 32 NFL franchises have women as majority owners with another eight as minority owners. And then the brothers review a Forbes article about the top self-made entrepreneur in the U.S., Diane Hendricks, her net worth is $12.2 billion.2022-10-2444 minIt's Never Just A GameForbes’ Wealthiest Went To School Where?Greg and NJ discuss where the Forbes’ Wealthiest 400 went to school for their undergraduate degrees. We cover the schools in rank order and share some of the names of their alumni and the charitable gifts a number of these graduates gave back to their schools. Only a couple are West of the Mississippi River and there is but one Public School in the lot. 2022-10-1743 minIt's Never Just A GameNFL Agent Mark Henness, Founder and CEO of Leverage FootballNJ and Greg have a great time talking with Mark Henness about his work as an NFL Agent and his firm, Leverage Football. Mark has been a practicing attorney for 28 years and a licensed NFL agent for nearly a decade. Mark entered the athlete representation world because he recognized that effective representation can make an actual difference in the trajectory of an athlete’s career. 2022-10-031h 01It's Never Just A Game2021 Saw Records For Anger, Stress, Worry & SadnessNJ and Greg discuss a recent Forbes Magazine article that references a global Gallop poll where records for anger, stress, worry, and sadness were set in 2021. The trend is ten years in the making. Listen as the brothers talk about the impact these factors have on people and organizations and then some of the things you can do to combat them. The show ends with a longer than normal, “music time.”2022-09-1937 minIt's Never Just A GameCollege Football, BYU Women’s Volleyball, Baseball and Mike in Middle America!Greg and NJ have Mike in Middle America on the show from the start to discuss College Football and Conference Alignment. Then the conversation shifts to a recent event at a BYU Women’s Volleyball match that has garnered national attention. And we end with talk of rule changes in baseball including the elimination of the shift!2022-09-1246 minIt's Never Just A GameForbes Top 20 Richest Heirs in the U.S.NJ and Greg cover Forbes Magazine’s Top 20 Richest Heirs in the U.S. There are a few lessons in there on what it means to be an owner and how ownership can make all the difference in the world if you are willing to work hard and stick with it. With College Football underway the brothers cover future changes in the College Football Playoff system. The Yankees are in trouble and the show ends with Music Time!2022-09-0547 minIt's Never Just A GameGreg Wrubell, The Voice of The BYU Cougars!The Pesci brothers are back and take this week to talk all things BYU with long-time voice of the BYU Cougars, Greg Wrubell. With just a few weeks to kick-off, Greg takes the brothers through his assessment of the season, players, NIL, and super conferences. And the brothers finish with Music Time once again.2022-08-2250 minIt's Never Just A GameLightening Round and the PAC 12!Greg and NJ have a lightening round, discussing sports and then focusing in on the PAC 12 and some of the things they learned and heard from PAC 12 Media Week. PAC 12 taking shots at the college towns in the BIG 12 and having to wait on the BIG 10 before they make any media deals, just like a little brother would have to! And then, music time!2022-08-0142 minIt's Never Just A GameSummer Time, Travel Time!NJ and Greg have some tips for traveling, from where not to connect internationally, to how to pack just in case one of you loses a bag on the way. Then they tell travel stories from an encounter with the Sandinistas in Nicaragua to a special hotel experience in Shanghai. As always, sports are covered with an initial discussion about college football conferences.2022-07-1146 minIt's Never Just A GameLeadership StylesGreg and NJ are back from COVID and are sharing some research they found on different leadership styles. These are the four different styles they review: 1. Pragmatists2. Idealists3. Stewards4. Diplomats Listen for the qualities or characteristics that might describe you, or someone you know!After that, it is music time!2022-06-0641 minIt's Never Just A GameCharcuterie Artisans CEO, Chris BowlerNJ and Greg have Chris Bowler, CEO of Charcuterie Artisans on the show. Listen in as Chris talks about his journey from Stanford and the dot.com craze, to living in Italy, to becoming an artisan in the food industry. Along the way Chris shares what it takes to build something you love and can be proud of from the ground up.2022-05-161h 01It's Never Just A GameJim Morris, The Man Behind The Movie, "The Rookie"NJ and Greg interview Jim Morris the Major League Baseball player the movie The Rookie was made about. Listen to Jim cover his life story, the challenges, the perseverance and the hope. Jim goes from minor league pitcher to college punter to high school teacher to the Major Leagues. Dennis Quaid plays Jim in the movie. 2022-05-021h 04It's Never Just A GameSports Agents, Why Not Us?This week the brothers talk about sports agents, how they make their money, who are the most successful, and why not us? Each sport has a different approach and some professional leagues have caps on what an agent can make. Listen as Greg and NJ discuss their thoughts about it, consider how they might do it, and maybe even a thought about buying into a soccer team in the UK. Plus the normal back and forth on sports. 2022-04-2542 minIt's Never Just A GameEpisode 100, Can You Believe It?It’s Never Just a Game hits episode 100, and the brothers talk about what they learned, what they love and what surprised them the most after 2 years of podcast episodes. And for the first time ever, they have a live report from a sporting event as Greg was in New York for the Yankees opening day. Thanks to all of our loyal listeners, we will work as hard as we can to keep it interesting for the next 100 episodes!2022-04-1147 minIt's Never Just A GameA Good Boss or A Bad Boss, We’ve All Had Them Both!This week the Pesci Brothers discuss the characteristics and tendencies of both Good and Bad Bosses. You can learn a great deal about managing others with either a good boss or a bad boss, it’s just more fun with a good boss. NJ and Greg share some of their own experiences with both good and bad bosses and finish with some positive ways to keep learning and be more strategic. Sports will wrap the show with the NCAA Final, Baseball and the World Cup.2022-04-0448 minIt's Never Just A GameChick-fil-A’s Unique Franchise Model & StrategyGreg and NJ discuss the unique business strategy and franchising approach employed by Chick-fil-A. Spoiler alert, it works! March Madness is coming, Baseball is back and the brothers end with another music story!2022-03-1443 minIt's Never Just A GameJob Security and Football CoachesGreg and NJ discuss the concept of job security, is it a thing of the past? What are the positives that surround job security and what are some of the negatives. And then the conversation shifts to College and NFL coaches, their contracts, the turnover the football coaching profession experiences, the big money buyouts and how teams can protect themselves from paying their fired coaches. 2022-01-2458 minIt's Never Just A GameNFT’s – Non-Fungible Tokens and SportsNJ and Greg discuss NFT’s, what they are, how they work, and how they are being used in Sports, Art and as investments. A discussion about being fungible follows, by the way, are you fungible at work? Chances are, someone thinks so, don’t let them! Sports are next as the NFL playoffs have begun and finally, it’s music time again!2022-01-1742 minIt's Never Just A GameFormer Yankee Candle COO, Jim PerleyThe Pesci brothers have longtime friend and former Yankee Candle COO, Jim Perley, on the show this week. Listen in as Jim covers his career journey from law school to COO of Yankee Candle. There are great lessons along the way, like, volunteering to do new things, understanding how your work impacts the business, and ultimately, know what you want from your career and make decisions with that in mind as you go. And finally, Jim stays in the studio to talk some sports with Greg and NJ.2022-01-101h 02It's Never Just A GameManaging Stress and ChangeGreg and NJ make a public service announcement in this week’s episode about the impact stress can have on all of us. Stress can affect all aspects of your life, including your emotions, behaviors, thinking ability, and physical health. Listen as the brothers talk about the symptoms of stress and the consequences of stress over the course of your lifetime. Then they shift to talk about how you might approach change and start doing things differently. And as always, sports, sports, sports!2021-12-0657 minIt's Never Just A GameJim Zarchin - President and Founder of Z Media VenturesNJ and Greg have a great time talking with Jim Zarchin, President and Founder of Z Media Ventures. Listen in as Jim tells some great stories and explains why he started up Z Media Ventures with his son Max. It is a wonderful life perspective and reminds us all that it’s never too late to start something new, and it’s even better if you love what you are doing and doing it with people you love.2021-11-221h 02It's Never Just A GamePart 3 of a 3 Part Series on Sports and Money: The Value of Professional Sports FranchisesNJ and Greg cover the most valuable franchises in Professional Sports. Imagine investing less than $10 million dollars in a Professional Sports Franchise and it’s worth more than $4billion today! The NFL is King, and MLB is a distant second. It’s interesting to learn that even if you don’t win a championship for decades, your franchise can still be worth billions!2021-11-0139 minIt's Never Just A GamePart 2 of a 3 Part Series on Sports and Money: Salary Cap and Athletes Losing Their Fortunes. OVA is back!Greg and NJ discuss how the salary cap in Pro Sports is designed to level the playing field for small market teams. The NFL Cap has grown for 10 years and then Covid! What GMs have to do manage the cap and how the MLB manages without one. Then the conversation moves to the reasons so many athletes lose their money after earning what the average person would consider a fortune. And yes, It’s O-V-A, OVA is back! AJ has a good time with the demise of the Red Sox!2021-10-2451 minIt's Never Just A GameStartups, Raising Cash, Creating an MVP, Enterprise ValuationNJ and Greg talk about some of the things you need to do when you raise money for a startup. Having an idea and a business plan might not be enough to raise the money you need. You will need a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and some customers using your product or service first. In addition, how do you differentiate your product or service enough to convince investors to take a chance on you and your idea? After all of that, you have to put a value on your company or idea, and that requires a great deal of re...2021-08-2342 minIt's Never Just A GameGoal Setting and What Motivates Us AllListen in as the brothers talk about goal setting and the most common motivators for all of us. These are five important factors according to one famous theory on goal setting:1.Clarity.2.Challenge.3.Commitment.4.Feedback.5.Task complexity.After the discussion on goal setting, NJ and Greg talk about the three things McClelland says motivate us all and how the brothers think they apply to them. They are the:1.Need for Achievement2.Need for Affiliation3.Need for Power 2021-08-0956 minIt's Never Just A GameLooking To The Past To Try And Predict The FutureGreg and NJ share a process they have used with organizations to help them predict the future based on past events and the magnitude of change that occurs over time. The Brothers use sports as the framework for this discussion, focusing on the Olympics and Simone Biles, the Green Bay Packer’s QB Aaron Rodgers and finally, some of the commercials that are airing now on the networks covering the Olympics. How would the events of today be seen or accepted 20 years ago in sports? Twenty years ago, did you ever think you would see a commercial that...2021-08-0242 minIt's Never Just A GameBet On Yourself, Or No One Else WillNJ and Greg discuss the importance of having enough confidence in yourself to bet on yourself, in what ever you do. It’s not just about leaving your job and working for yourself. It is about knowing that, in the end, you have to live with yourself, so believe in you, and bet on yourself in all aspects of your life. People who bet on themselves do the following:1.They remove the illusion of job security2.Take calculated risks to pursue opportunities 3.Raise the performance standard in all areas of their lives2021-07-2650 minIt's Never Just A GameRisk Taking, Why Are We So Afraid Of It?NJ and Greg use the hot real estate market to illustrate risk taking and how we talk ourselves out of taking risks all the time. If you had the chance to sell your house right now for a huge profit, would you do it, or would you come up with all the reasons you can’t take that risk? Just say yes and figure out the how later. Then the brothers talk about Name, Image and Likeness and how revenue athletes are already cashing in on the deal. Finally, they cover John McEnroe, Serena Williams, cancel culture and th...2021-07-1246 minIt's Never Just A GameAuthors Richie Norton & Dr. Benjamin Hardy Share Their Positive Approach To Life and WorkNJ and Greg have two guests on this week. Richie Norton (a return guest) and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Both accomplished authors, speakers, and incredibly positive people. Listen as they talk about ways to take control of your life and your situation. You can’t wait around for things to happen; you have to see it as if you’ve already accomplished it and then make it happen. Great conversation with two people that motivate you without even trying! Then the brothers have a therapy session on why they haven’t published books yet, and how they’re getting closer. Please hit...2021-06-281h 02It's Never Just A GameCarine Clark - General Partner at Pelion Venture PartnersGreg and NJ talk with Carine Clark, General Partner at Pelion Venture Partners. Carine is a three-time president and CEO of high-growth tech companies, specializing in helping companies scale from $10 million to $100 million and more. Listen as she shares her business and life experiences that speak to focus, determination, and perseverance. Carine has excelled in both high tech and venture and has been a pioneer and example for women in both these fields. In addition, she shares her experience as a cancer survivor and shows us all how to face adversity with strength and hope. The brothers finish with some...2021-06-211h 09It's Never Just A GameThe Business of College Athletics - Part Two of a Two Part SeriesBillions of dollars in revenue are generated every year in colleges sports, with college football leading the way. In part two of this series, NJ and Greg look at how many universities actually make money on college athletics. Then, the discussion turns to paying college athletes, how would you do it? The brothers bring Mike in Middle America back into the conversation as they discuss; paying all athletes, paying the revenue generating athletes, paying just the best athletes, paying for name likeness and image and the possibility of letting agents pay the athletes before they turn pro. 2021-06-1456 minIt's Never Just A GameThe Business of College Athletics - Part One of a Two Part SeriesBillions of dollars in revenue are generated every year in college sports, with college football leading the pack. Greg and NJ look at the top earning college football programs and talk about pay for student athletes. They bring Mike in Middle America into the conversation as they discuss the value of athletic scholarships and ask if that is enough compensation or should more be done. And to make it more interesting, two bills have been introduced in Congress to allow student athletes to form a union and collectively bargain for compensation. It’s O-V-A, OVA is back! AJ talks about t...2021-06-071h 00It's Never Just A GameLogitech President and CEO Bracken DarrellNJ and Greg talk with Logitech President and CEO, Bracken Darrell, about Logitech doubling down and making some big bets at the start of the pandemic and how those big bets paid off. Bracken shares some of the great things they are doing at Logitech including a successful focus on gaming, and how they are in a strong position coming out of the pandemic. Bracken is a wonderful storyteller and his story about a meeting he was in with GE CEO Jack Welch is a classic! Listen as Bracken talks about his career journey and how the tough spots ar...2021-05-3158 minIt's Never Just A GameOverstock.com CEO Jonathan JohnsonGreg and NJ talk with Overstock.com CEO Jonathan Johnson about his company’s incredible growth during Covid, his career, and how important it is to share leadership while focusing resources against the most important priorities. Listen for great insights around clarity of purpose, developing skills and being willing to stretch and learn. Then the brothers move to sports and talk about no-hitters in baseball, how the shift contributes to the lack of offense and finally a mention of the NBA to make one of our listeners happy!2021-05-2453 minIt's Never Just A GameAlix Baudin, President, COO and CO-Founder at Will Packer MediaNJ and Greg talk with Alix Baudin about the work and mission of Will Packer media. Alix shares his career path. It is a wonderful example of building on skills and experiences that will enable you to run any business. Alix talks about the differences between working in big companies and entrepreneurial ones, how you can move from computer science to finance to media if you are willing to put in the work and be humble enough to admit what you don’t know. 2021-05-1755 minIt's Never Just A GameThe Imposter Syndrome, How Do You Know If You Have It?Greg and NJ start the show with sports, Zach is a Jet getting $35million guaranteed, the Spanish Grand Prix leads to a conversation about sustainability and farm to table. Then the brothers move to a discussion about The Imposter Syndrome and how it impacts 70% or more of high achievers. There are 5 Imposter Syndrome types. 1. The Perfectionist 2. Superwoman/Superman 3. The Natural Genius 4. The Soloist 5. The Expert. Listen for stories that might help you see if the Imposter Syndrome is impacting you. And finally, it’s music time and the brothers share a number of cover songs that were bigger hits for th...2021-05-1050 minIt's Never Just A GameAthletes and Entrepreneurs, How and Why They Keep WinningNJ and Greg cover the draft and then get into a discussion about the characteristics Professional Athletes and Entrepreneurs have in common. Zach Wilson is taken second overall and BYU has 5 players taken in this year’s draft. Then we get into the differences between being an Athlete that endorses products and one that starts a business outside of the sport he/she plays. MJ blew it all up in 1984 and the endorsement numbers continue to grow and grow. Pro Athletes and Entrepreneurs have the following things in common; success driven, not afraid to fail, count on a team to ma...2021-05-0341 minIt's Never Just A GameDid You Get That Promotion At Work? Thoughts And Advice For Anyone Hoping To Get Promoted At WorkGreg and NJ start with sports hot topics; the rise and immediate fall of The Super League, the upcoming NFL Draft, Zach Wilson, and how he is now Collin Cowherd’s new punching bag (does that mean he will finally let Baker Mayfield up?) Then we go into the heart of the episode and talk about what it’s like trying to get promoted at work. And yes, we are a little cynical about all of it. Listen for the things you need to know and do in order to get promoted. Watch out for new hoops being added to jum...2021-04-2638 minIt's Never Just A GameCBS NFL Analyst, Charles Davis, Talks the Upcoming NFL Draft, QBs & MoreSeason 2 Episode 1 opens just like last season, with CBS NFL Analyst Charles Davis sharing his incredible insights on the NFL draft. The Pesci brothers wanted to focus on QBs and BYU’S Zach Wilson in particular. Charles gives his honest opinion and shares some surprises you need to look for in the upcoming draft. Then NJ and Greg talk about the challenges young NFL QBs face trying to lead a group of veterans.2021-04-191h 03It's Never Just A GameSalary Transparency, Is That How We Get To Equity? Should You Know What Your Colleagues Are Being Paid & Should They Know What You Are Paid?Greg and NJ discuss jobs, like pro sports and government jobs where your salary is public, and then the private sector where it is kept, private. Do we all have to know what each other is making to achieve equity? Do you really believe that everyone’s contributions, while important, are equal? Free agents aren’t really free with the all powerful Franchise Tag. Tom Brady restructures his deal but he doesn’t really get paid less to do so.2021-03-1541 minIt's Never Just A GameAmmo Auto Care Founder Larry Kosilla Talks About Leaving A Sure Thing, Taking A Risk, & Succeeding At Doing What He LovesNJ and Greg talk with Ammo Auto Care Founder Larry Kosilla about his career, his company, and his success on Youtube. Larry’s Ammo NYC Youtube channel has 1.7 million subscribers which helped him build a retail business without a single distributor. Listen as Larry talks about what drives him to produce the best products he can and why he would prefer to be poor doing what he loves, rather than being rich but unhappy at work. Fortunately for Larry, he is is very successful doing what he loves, so that’s not a problem!2021-03-0854 minIt's Never Just A GameFocusing On The “Who” More Than On The “How” + Some Tips For Public SpeakingGreg and NJ may have caused a run on all things cauliflower. Focusing on the “who” may be more important at times than the “how”. There are a lot of experts out there to help you with what you don’t know how to do, let them do their thing. And tips and stories about speaking in public. Tell your story, your way. Be yourself, be vulnerable, understand your equity and relax. Go do it!2021-03-0143 minIt's Never Just A GameListen As The Pesci Brothers Talk About Jump-Starting Your Career & “Where’s the beef?” Bill Gates says no more beef!NJ and Greg have advice for jump-starting your career. Find a place you love, have a purpose for the job you are doing, it is so much more than just making money. Build the skills you can use forever. Mike in Middle America is back as we talk about Cauliflower taking over the world and who is Bill Gates to tell us to lay off the beef? Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers are worth a try!2021-02-2247 minIt's Never Just A GameWhat Do We Mean When We Say Equity?NJ and Greg discuss the Super Bowl and betting. How NCAA basketball teams like Duke can be at .500 and still be talked about as a possible bubble team. Meanwhile, teams from smaller conferences can’t lose or they’re potentially out of the Tournament! Equity in pay is debated with an emphasis on market data, not the individual, when setting pay levels. How do you negotiate your starting salary and pay raises?2021-02-0845 minIt's Never Just A GameCrypto Currency Is Here To Stay, Musical Mysteries Solved, & Don’t Forget To Renew Your TSA Pre-Check!NJ and Greg talk about the NFL Playoffs with old guys playing each other and young guys playing each other to get to the Super Bowl. Musical mysteries are solved once again, and it doesn’t sound like the same band at all! Hopefully Covid goes away one day but Crypto is here to stay. What has to be true for Crypto to gain a stronger day-to-day foothold?2021-01-2544 minIt's Never Just A GameCollege Playoffs, Dave Portnoy & Guy Fieri Working To Save Small Businesses, Innovate vs ImitateGreg and NJ cover the college playoffs one more time! Dave Portnoy and the Barstool Fund work to save a lunch spot NJ and Greg have been to near their home in Massachusetts. The Brothers discuss Innovation vs Imitation. When you start something new will you try to create something completely new, or imitate what is already out there? The pros and cons of both thoughts. 2021-01-0442 minIt's Never Just A GameHappy New Year! Make A New Year’s Resolution And Then Do It!NJ and Greg wish you a Happy New Year and remind you that you can do whatever you want. The most important thing is to find something you want to try, and try it. Don’t worry if you don’t know what to do at first. Stay positive even when others tell you that you can’t.2020-12-2826 minIt's Never Just A GameThe College Football Committee Is A Joke, Play Your Own Game In The New Year & Take Time To Enjoy What’s Important To You, Merry Christmas & Happy HanukkahGreg and NJ wish you Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. Final words for the College Football Committee and the upcoming bowl matchups. Unreal, and the word syndicate came up, just saying. Find something you love to do and make a plan to do it in the new year, play your game. Keep things in perspective and cherish what you have in your life. Stay Hopeful.2020-12-2143 minIt's Never Just A GameNJ and Greg Visit With Molio Founder & CEO Jeff DavisNJ and Greg talk with Jeff Davis about doing something completely new and different after a successful career at P&G. Jeff overcomes a health challenge and spends his time paying it forward. Live your life like this is your one time around.2020-12-071h 18It's Never Just A GameListen In As The Pesci Brothers Talk With Steve Tashjian, US Men’s National Soccer Team Head Performance SpecialistGreg and NJ talk with Steve Tashjian about his career and about the pressure to perform each week at the highest level of sport. Steve shares his story and shows how hard work, luck, and having a plan can make all the difference. And the brothers might mention Taysom Hill and BYU again!2020-11-301h 05It's Never Just A GameMedifast CEO Dan Chard & Being Fortune’s Number Two Fastest Growing Company In The WorldNJ and Greg talk with Medifast CEO Dan Chard about his career and how Medifast has been named number two in Fortune’s fastest growing 100 in the world. Thoughts on the election and a birthday shoutout to their sister Janine.2020-11-091h 15It's Never Just A GameNBA Star Aaron Gordon Joins the Pesci Brothers & It’s O-V-A For Cancer!Greg and NJ talk with Orlando Magic NBA Star Aaron Gordon about his charitable work and the new Got Milk? campaign, Mike In Middle America discusses reward systems and AJ is back after his kidney surgery and funnier than ever, It’s O-V-A, OVA!2020-11-0252 minIt's Never Just A GameCard Works CEO Don Berman Talks Hard Work & Making Your Own LuckWhat do you do when you sell your company for $2.65 Billion and Covid erases the deal? You work harder. NJ and Greg talk with Card Works CEO Don Berman about how he got his start, his mentality of hard work, and his philosophy of "you win or you learn." And, NJ and Greg want to remind you to vote!2020-10-261h 00It's Never Just A GameAuthor Alfie Kohn, Punished By Rewards & Why Incentives Don’t WorkNJ and Greg talk with author Alfie Kohn about punishment and rewards, and their paternalistic power in business and life. Later, the Brothers give their take on the playoffs and performance reviews.2020-10-1956 minIt's Never Just A GameTrump Has COVID, Baseball & The Shift, O-V-A ova Is Back, & Working Remote Is The New NormalJoin NJ and Greg as they do their first show without a guest interview. President Trump has Covid, why can't we have civil discourse? Mike in Middle America is back, should the shift be illegal in baseball? AJ and "It's OVA" are back and we couldn't be happier. And finally, is working remotely the new normal?2020-10-051h 04It's Never Just A GameP&G Sales Exec, Chris Magno, Winning The College World Series, & Always CompetingGreg and NJ learn how Chris Magno followed his instincts and did something unexpected, twice, that lead to winning the College World Series with the Miami Hurricanes, facing the tough truth and turning that into a wonderful career and life. And the PAC 12 getting some love, NOT!2020-09-281h 01It's Never Just A GameKinetic Consulting Founder Will Hogg & Living Life To The FullestNJ and Greg talk with Kinetic Consulting Managing Director and Founder Will Hogg as he tells stories about facing work and life challenges with hope and no regrets. The brothers talk about the difference between scary and dangerous, and they have two very different rock climbing stories.2020-09-211h 03It's Never Just A GameBayer VP & GM, Lisa Tecklenburg, Taking On Cancer & Ironman CompetitionsThe Pesci brothers talk with Bayer VP and GM, Lisa Tecklenburg, about how her positive and indefatigable approach to all aspects of her life has helped her with her work, her battle with cancer and qualifying for the Ironman World Championships. Finally the wait is over for football, and we can say Football Is Back! Back by popular demand the segment "It’s O-V-A, OVA" is also back and we hear AJ's thoughts on this new New England team. NJ and Greg wrap up the episode talking about HOPE and how to keep it alive. 2020-09-141h 25It's Never Just A GameHarvard Lax Star Shea Jenkins Talks About Hard Work & Overcoming ObstaclesShea tells NJ and Greg about playing Lacrosse at Harvard in the time of Covid and how she had to out-work everyone to overcome a difficult problem she had with her vision. The segment "Mike in Middle America" is back to answer the question, what is the best sports movie of all time? And finally Greg and NJ share some more thoughts on Hope.2020-09-071h 12It's Never Just A GameDr. Kat Williams of Marshall and the All American Girls Pro Baseball LeagueListen in as Greg and NJ talk with professor and author, Kat Williams, as she talks about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League and the impact of sports on women. Kat shares stories from the women who made up “A League of Their Own” and how playing professional sports opened up a larger world to all of them. Also, Liev Schreiber, Hard Knocks and the Hollies, what could they possibly have in common?2020-08-311h 01It's Never Just A GameHall Of Fame Broadcaster Barry Tompkins Tells The Best StoriesJoin the Pesci Brothers for another fantastic interview with broadcasting legend Barry Tompkins. Barry has covered everything from Olympic Boxing to PAC-12 Football to WCC Basketball and to the French Open. Listen to how Barry prepares to cover such a wide variety of sports and some interesting behind the scenes stories. 2020-08-2453 minIt's Never Just A GameInside Stories From Yankees MLB Writer Bryan Hoch & What's Happening With College FootballThe Pesci Brothers talk about the crazy state of college football today, who's in, who's out, and is spring football actually going to happen? New York Yankees writer, Bryan Hoch, joins the brothers as he shares inside stories from today and the 2009 Yankees World Series. The segment "Mike in Middle America" makes a return as Mike answers the questions; Ed Sheeran or Elvis Presley and why can't guys pitch more than 7 innings?2020-08-171h 20It's Never Just A GameKore Software Co-Founder & Former CEO, Matt Sebal, Explains How He Built The Business & Opportunities In ChinaJoin NJ and Greg this week as the brothers host Kore Software Co-Founder & Former CEO, Matt Sebal, as he tells the story about how the New York Jets helped to jumpstart their business. Matt and his business partner, Todd, weren't even sports fans when they built Kore Software, the global leader in sports and entertainment business management solutions. Matt goes on to talk about the business opportunities in China right now. Then listen to the new, It's Never Just a Game segment, "Mike in Middle America" where Mike in Iowa helps us answer the tough questions. This week we...2020-08-101h 19It's Never Just A GameBYU Basketball's Ironman TJ Haws; A Player's Perspective On COVID Stealing March MadnessSenior guard TJ Haws talks expectations, an ironman career, and the disappointment of COVID stealing March Madness from a perfectly positioned BYU Basketball team! NJ and Greg talk about real world musical chairs and being prepared for when the music stops. Join the Pesci Brothers as they talk all things life, business, and sports!2020-08-031h 02It's Never Just A GameBlind USC Trojan Jake Olson & Well-Founded HopeFormer USC Trojan, Jake Olson tells the story of how he lost his sight but never lost sight of his dreams and how he became the first totally blind athlete to play in a NCAA football game (14:15-37:34). Today he is a motivational speaker and runs Engage, a firm that puts motivational speakers and organizations together. Stick around after the interview as Greg and NJ talk about the importance of well-founded hope, and the practical building blocks that take you there (37:34-58:58). 2020-07-2758 minIt's Never Just A GameMovie Writer & Producer, Bill Mikita, Talks Both The Business Side & Creative Side Of Making A MovieThe Pesci Brothers talk to movie writer and long time friend, Bill Mikita, about his script for a movie he is calling, "Brewer's Boys." It's baseball's version of Remember the Titans and a story you've probably never heard before. It will shock you when you learn who was on Brewer's team and how they won the championship during the Watts Riots. Stick around after the interview for a special 4th of July "It's OVA" from AJ. 2020-07-2051 minIt's Never Just A GameBYU Basketball Coach Mark Pope: Med School, March Madness, NBA, & Playing Your GameListen as NJ and Greg get the real story of how Mark Pope got into coaching. How he left Columbia Medical School to start at the bottom of the coaching ranks, his love of coaching, the excitement of march madness, and why doing what you love brings you joy.2020-07-1344 minIt's Never Just A GameMiracle on Ice - Jack O'CallahanThe Pesci brothers interview 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist, member of the Miracle on Ice U.S.A hockey team, Jack O'Callahan. Reliving the U.S.A's semi-final win over the heavily favored Soviet team and defeating Finland for the Gold Medal. Listen in as the Pesci Brothers breakdown why It's Never Just A Game. 2020-07-0642 minIt's Never Just A GameFormer Chiquita CEO Fernando Aguirre Talks Life, Business, & SportsGood news, baseball is back! Former CEO of Chiquita, Fernando Aguirre joins the show and tells how coming to America to play baseball changed the course of his life. Fernando also takes the Pesci Brothers through his career and the lessons he learned as a CEO. NJ and Greg then talk about goal setting and why it is important to be open to coaching.2020-06-291h 03It's Never Just A GameJason Lezak Olympic MagicNJ and Greg tell stories about Pop for Father's Day. An interview with Olympic swimmer Jason Lezak, recounting his record breaking swim in the 4X100 Men's Free Relay in the 2008 Beijing Olympics to win gold and beat the favored French. If you're afraid, don't get in the water!2020-06-2248 minIt's Never Just A GameNo RegretsRichie Norton talks about his book, "The Power of Starting Something Stupid." How you need to start living and doing what you love while you have the chance. The Pesci brothers talk about how fear and doubt will hold you back from achieving your full potential. It's all business on this week's It's Never Just A Game. 2020-06-151h 02It's Never Just A GameBYU's Greg Wrubell, Netflix = Live Sports?, It's OVA For Gronk, and The Business Side Of The DraftThe Voice of the BYU Cougars, Greg Wrubell, joins the show and shares his thoughts on all things BYU. From Steve Young as Cosmo the Cougar, to the current QB competition, and finally to the impact of Mark Pope on the basketball program (3:47-58:17). Mailbag: In our first letter, a listener asks us, what are we watching on T.V. without live sports (58:17-64:13). It's OVA: Gronk goes to the Bucs, AJ loses his mind, maybe he's wearing green this year (64:13-68:42). We close by taking a deeper dive at the business side of the draft (68:42-74:11). 2020-04-271h 14