Rob Wicall - Podcast Details

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The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJune 2025 Party in the Back PodcastIn the world of live sports entertainment, performers walk a constant tightrope—delivering humor that’s bold enough to be memorable, but safe enough to fit within brand and audience expectations. This episode dives into that balancing act with three seasoned entertainers: Longtime mascot performers Rob Wicall and Jon Cudo, plus and crowd ignitor Cameron Hughes. They unpack the concept of "benign violation" in comedy—how humor often lives in that grey area where something is just risky enough to surprise, but not so risky that it alienates. The conversation touches on how trust is a currency performers must build with a...2025-06-021h 49

Live Yes! With ArthritisResolution Do-OverMovement is medicine when it comes to arthritis, but motivation can be the biggest challenge. In this episode, an expert shares advice to help you get — and stay — motivated. *Visit the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast episode page to get show notes, additional resources and read the full transcript: https://arthr.org/LiveYes_Ep124 * We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast. Get started by emailing [podcast@arthritis.org](podcast@arthritis.org).Special Guest: Sabrena Jo.2025-03-0429 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comMarch 2025 Party in the Back PodcastWe talked with San Diego Gulls Host Kaz Egan about the Gulls Bill Walton Legacy Night. The Gulls recently hosted a night to pay tribute to this local icon. Walton was known as "Mr. San Diego" because of his deep connection to the city. He was born and raised in La Mesa, attended Helix High School, and became a legendary basketball figure while staying true to his San Diego roots. Walton was a passionate supporter of local sports teams, including the San Diego Gulls and Padres, and frequently attended community events. His larger-than-life personality, love for the city's culture, and d...2025-03-031h 14

Birds Up PodcastS4E11: Beyond the Mascot: Unmasking UTSA Alumnus, Spurs Coyote, and Entrepreneur Rob WicallIn this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Rob Wicall, UTSA alumnus, former San Antonio Spurs Coyote, entrepreneur, and author of Furlosophy. Rob takes us behind the scenes of his 20-year career as The Coyote, sharing the creativity, endurance, and marketing strategy that made the mascot an icon. He also dives into his transition into consulting, marketing, and public speaking, offering valuable insights into branding, storytelling, and leadership. As this year’s Diploma Dash Emcee, Rob is deeply connected to the UTSA community and is currently working with UTSA Alumni to develop a new program designed to help students ga...2025-02-211h 18

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJanuary 2025 Party in the Back PodcastHall of Fame* Peanut Vendor and Host of the Tri City Dust Devils and Americans, Erik the Peanut Guy joins the party this month. We chronicle his journey from Peanut Vendor to award-winning community ambassador. Erik Mertens won Honor Mention in the Gameops.com Best of 2024 for Entertainment Group/Performer. His hard-to-define role is an example of a team creating an opportunity for a talented performer and finding a place to capture his skills in way that help the team. Erik shares his passion for stadium tours and hats, before getting into some of the finer points of being a multi...2025-01-101h 43

Live Yes! With Arthritis2024 Top Episode Takeaways & MailbagIn this episode of the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast, we revisit the top takeaways from some of 2024’s most popular and intriguing podcast episodes, and answer listeners’ most pressing questions. *Visit the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast episode page to get show notes, additional resources and read the full transcript: https://arthr.org/LiveYes_Ep120 * We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast. Get started by emailing [podcast@arthritis.org](podcast@arthritis.org).Special Guests: Afton Hassett, PsyD, Alisa Vidulich Casavant, Eric Rude...2024-12-1739 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comSeptember 2024 Party in the Back PodcastThis month we Party with two great sports entertainment minds. First Zoltan Berencsi from the Harlem Globetrotters. With over 2 decades in sports performing, directing and creating memorable moments and traditions. Zoli brings a wealth of insights as a perform to his role as a producer for the Globetrotters, and all of that experience into the Party in the Back for this month's discussion. Fresh off a world-wide book signing tour for his best selling book Furlosophy, Rob Wicall joins the the podcast. Rob also uses his powerful background as a performer to guide his insightful philosophy on game operations (and li...2024-09-031h 45

Live Yes! With ArthritisCalm Your Inner CriticYou know the old trope about a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. If you’re like a lot of people, you tend to listen to the devil when you’re already feeling down or insecure. But listening to your inner critic can spiral into a vicious cycle of more negativity, anxiety and pain. In this episode, our guest host talks to a motivational speaker and former mascot living with arthritis about how to quiet that inner devil and focus on positivity. *Visit the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast episode page to get show...2024-05-2127 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comMay 2024 Party in the Back PodcastThis month we party with two podcast regulars, Ben Hill from MILB.com and Best-Selling Author of Furlosophy Rob Wicall. Ben previews his three most anticipated minor league baseball promotions of 2024, including Public Domain Night from the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. This team has an established track record of creating the most interesting and clever promotions, like this playful poke at licensing rights. They use Steamboat Willie and King Kong (intellectual property now in the public domain) and will probably use Happy Birthday in there somewhere too. That promotion is coming May 19th in Jacksonville. Ben also talks about his newfound app...2024-05-0244 min

In The BuildingEp. 57 - Rob WicallLive from the Slackers Sports Bar studios, Rudy Jay & Mike Taylor are In The Building. 2024-04-091h 00

Fuel Your Mind With: This Unforgettable Full Audiobook For Curious Minds.Furlosophy: Beyond the Mascot by Rob WicallPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/6472to listen full audiobooks. Title: Furlosophy: Beyond the Mascot Author: Rob Wicall Narrator: Rob Wicall, Brent Barry Format: mp3 Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins Release date: 03-20-24 Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars, 9 ratings Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: In the electrifying world of sports, where the spotlight often shines on star athletes and high-octane performances, Rob Wicall, an award-winning NBA mascot, carved a niche for himself that transcended the boundaries of the basketball court. "Furlosophy: Beyond the Mascot" delves deep into Rob's journey, offering listeners a unique perspective on the art of genuine human connection and...2024-03-203h 12

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comMarch 2024 Party in the Back PodcastIn the electrifying world of sports, where the spotlight often shines on star athletes and high-octane performances, Rob Wicall, an award-winning NBA mascot, carved a niche for himself that transcended the boundaries of the basketball court. "Furlosophy: Beyond the Mascot" delves deep into Rob's journey, offering readers a unique perspective on the art of genuine human connection and the power of making memorable moments that last a lifetime. Our guest is longtime friend of the Podcast Rob Wicall, who now will be referred to as "Author Rob Wicall". Rob has published his first book "Furlosophy" which chronicles his journey as a...2024-03-0137 min

Between The Fur#61 NBA Mascots. Liability or Asset?Episode #61: NBA Mascot Performers Rob Wicall and Kenn Solomon share their expertise on Pro Sports Mascots as they recount their time in the league. Sponsored by burr bottles 💦 BURR BOTTLES: https://burrbottles.com/ Follow: @superkenn1 @whycallrob 2023-10-1050 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comSeptember 2023 Party in the Back PodcastJon Cudo is joined by Rob Wicall for the September 2023 Party in the Back. With more than 50 years working in game operations and sports entertainment Cudo and Wicall have some well considered opinions and a plethora of examples to draw from. This month Rob Wicall turns the tables on Cudo and snatches the hosting reigns for most of the podcast to talk about Cudo's new article called Secret Handshakes. Secret Handshakes are not limited to literal handshakes. Cudo writes about promotions that will only work for your fans in your market, creating a bond with your fans. We look at ho...2023-09-0439 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJuly 2023 Party in the Back PodcastThe July 2023 Party in the Back Podcast features Rob Wicall and host Jon Cudo. A recent #TBT Throw Back Thursday Water Cooler post on the audition for the original Timberwolves Mascot starts a conversation about best practices for auditioning mascots, entertains and dancers. Jon and Rob reflect on important ways to find and identify performers in the audition process and tips on how performers can stand out in during the process. Plus a story about how just showing up on time can land you a dream job. Plus Rob and Jon look at a string of production elements by the WW...2023-07-0153 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comApril 2023 Party in the Back PodcastThis month's Party in the Back Podcast features three of our regulars in what can be categorized as an irregular conversation. Shine Entertainment's Amanda Greco uses a great FiveThirtyEight.com article as a launching point for a conversation about the announcing the starting lineups. We look at everything from who decides the order, fan reactions, placement of the coaches and event regulations that can shape your starting five hierarchy. Really interesting conversation on this critical piece of your team showcase. Rob Wicall joins and turns the tables on host Jon Cudo. Rob digs into the recent article by Cudo talking a...2023-04-041h 16

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comOctober 2022 Party in the Back PodcastThe October Party in the Back rages with guest Rob Wicall and Jonny Greco. We take a look at the new article by Rob Wicall on Accountability and discuss the importance of being account for your own success and shortcomings in live events (and life). Including how to set the the cultural tone with your staff so everyone take responsibility for their stake in the show. Jonny shares a powerful example of in-the-moment feedback that both noted a failure, inspired accountability and empowered a desire to improve. Plus Jonny offers a tweak to calling it Accountability and rebrand it "Producing yo...2022-10-0252 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comAugust 2022 Party in the Back PodcastThis month on Party in the Back we party with a World Champion Organist from the Atlanta Braves. Matthew Kaminski has been combining a flair on the ivory with an innovation on social media to create a 'game within the game' for Braves fans. His walk up song selections keep fans on their toes and engaged in the game (and broadcast) and he has been called 'the most notable feature at Atlanta's Truist Park'. We talk to Matthew about his fourteen year journey with the Braves including industry organists who have inspired him, how the game flows between his bumps a...2022-08-011h 01

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJune 2022 Party in the Back PodcastThis month on Party in the Back we party with Sierra Bailey the Vice President of Brand Marketing & Experience for the Saint Paul Saints. Sierra puts the FU in the FUN side of sports marketing and exposes how the Saints use FUN to draw in baseball and non-baseball fans. She shares the step the Saints use to build their industry-standard promo calendar and their secrets to making promotions great. And, of course, native Minnesotan host Jon Cudo digs into the great Duck Duck Grey Duck debate as well. Sierra then shares the background of their Ushertainers program, how they find f...2022-06-011h 06

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comFebruary 2022 Party in the Back PodcastThis month on Party in the Back we party with Rob Wicall and Kevin Shiflett. Cudo and Wicall discuss what the best game entertainment elements are and how important building your show around one. They look the various roles these performers fill and structuring your show to best utilize each.Plus a look at three Water Cooler posts including mascots skating the dugout in New Hampshire, an organic group of fans growing in Iowa, and a winning promotion for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. And they discuss how the Water Cooler and new Giveaway can help spark ideas for your own s...2022-02-0248 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comNovember 2021 Party in the Back PodcastThis month on Party in the Back we party with Rob Wicall and Sean Sullivan. Sean works with Wreaths Across America. This group honors thousands of veterans each year by placing wreaths at their graves and with a Mobile Education Exhibit that advances their Remember - Honor - Teach mission. Sean explains the value of finding the right tone for your Military Appreciation Night as well as how Wreaths Across America can help. Then Rob Wicall joins Jon Cudo to talk about the 2021 Best of Gameops.com Awards, the value of wicked big props and recent guest on Gameops.com...2021-11-011h 53

Between The Fur😵 Being Cute is DeathEpisode #49: Kenn Solomon, Robert Boudwin, Jon Absey, Rob Wicall and many other guest speakers go over the art of performing and catching the attention of large crowds while sharing some of their crazy performances from the NBA.2021-09-121h 04

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJuly 2021 Party in the Back PodcastThis month we Party in the Back with Nick Farmer from the Charlotte Knights. Nick was part of an innovative pre-game mascot bit that earned a lot of attention for Homer the Dragon. We talk about the birth of the idea, execution and the results. Then Amanda Greco is back to smarten up our host Jon Cudo with a "What Did I Miss" moment from the New York Yankees that was 60 years in the making. Jon and Amanda also look at promotions from the Washington Football Team and El Paso Chihuahuas. Cudo and Amanda also talk about the new Mighty Ga...2021-07-011h 22

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comApril 2021 Party in the Back PodcastThis month on the Party in the Back podcast Ben Hill from MILB joins the party to look at the news in minor league baseball. Big changes took place in the off-season including a realignment of team affiliations and a loss of 40 teams, Ben talks about what happened and how the landscape has changed. Host Jon Cudo and Ben Hill then hold a mock draft of MLB teams by the strength of their affiliates' promotional reputation, which was a great way to get Ben to talk about 20+ minor league teams. Then Rob Wicall joins the party to talk about what I...2021-04-051h 19

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comFebruary 2021 Party in the Back PodcastSavannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole joins the Party in the Back podcast. Jesse is the author of "Find Your Yellow Tux" and the engine behind the fun for minor league baseball's wildest show. The Bananas have sold out every game since their first season and now have a waiting list in the thousands.The sellouts and world-wide interest have been spawned by creative and outlandish ideas like Grandma Beauty pageants, dancing player breaks, players in kilts, Salute to Underwear Night, a Dad Bod Cheer team and a Banana Nanas Dance Team. Jesse talks about their "Fans First" mantra and focus...2021-02-011h 12

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comSeptember 2020 Party in the Back PodcastAndrew Isaacson from The Famous Group joins the Party to talk about Thunderdome, the latest virtual fan solution developed for WWE. We look how the pandemic forced everyone to approach audience participation in a new way. Plus how The Famous Group continues to innovate weekly with this new engaging technology, which is likely here to stay. Great talk with this industry leader. Then we party with Rob Wicall who looks at how you can/should update your mascot costume look over time. Rob also helps us pick the best of the best Water Cooler Moments from August. Rob also grew a...2020-09-0950 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comFebruary 2020 Party in the Back PodcastRob Wicall joins host Jon Cudo to talk about in-game tributes, making your fans wait and the best Water Cooler Moments of January.2020-02-041h 25

Between The FurSpurs' "COYOTE" Catches a Live Bat | Rob WicallThe Mascot world is a mad mad mad world full of excitement, danger, and criticism. Rob Wicall brings up how he got ejected from a game, after years of waiting how he ended up catching a bat on court, and how he made the best of his career. A story packed episode!2020-01-071h 14

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJune 2019 Party in the Back PodcastJune 2019 Party in the Back Podcast. We launch the rebranded podcast with Rob Wicall, Chris Grosse and Martie Cordaro.2019-06-0342 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comMay 2019 Podcast (The Final Edition)May 2019 Podcast with Jon Cudo and Rob Wicall. The duo discusses the recent article called Mascot Mechanics, plus the originality of the Riverdog's promo schedule and breaking news on about the podcast.2019-05-0641 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comDecember 2018 PodcastMILB's Benjamin Hill, former NBA Mascot and YouTube Sensation Rob Wicall and Game Ops aficionado Amanda Greco join Jon Cudo for the 2018 Best of Gameops.com Awards Roundtable. The crew dissect all seven categories looking at the winners, their picks and what makes each category interesting. This is the 8th Annual Roundtable discussion around the awards and the debut at the table for Amanda and Rob.2018-12-0140 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comSeptember 2018 PodcastCharlotte Checkers VP Paul Branecky talks about their 2018-19 promo calendar, including their playful Tribute to Buffalo, a Miracle on Ice Tribute and how their bored graphic designer started an entire promotion while playing around with their team logo. Rob Wicall is back to talk about game ops including a look at the Montgomery Biscuits’ promotion that will have Millennials up in arms (after their naps) and a mascot going the extra mile during the playoffs.2018-09-0526 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJuly 2018 PodcastSteven Bowles of SHOFLO joins to talk about the recent acquisition of TSE ScriptPro and how he built ShoFlo to help game directors manage their events. Chris Ruvo is back with an update on the Bobblehead Tax law suit in Ohio. Rob Wicall joins for a discussion centered on recent innovation we have seen from dance teams and how you can use that to improve you show and keep things interesting for fans. 2018-07-1932 min

Between The FurSpurs Former "COYOTE" | Rob WicallRob Wicall, former San Antonio Spurs Mascot, "The Coyote", shares his story of before, during, and after being one of the NBA's premier mascots, for one of the NBA's best teams. Hosted by KENN- current professional NBA mascot.2018-02-2354 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJanuary 2018 PodcastWe are off to a great start in 2018 with repeat podcast guest "Entertainer" Rob Wicall and Best Selling Author Zach Hall. Rob shares his “Dog and Pony” philosophy for taking skits and on-court moments from good to great. Easy to follow and will help you immediately make your show better. Then pro-mascot turned author Zach Hall talks about his book “Don’t Sleep on Planes”, with some great tips on building a powerful network that can change your life.2018-01-0148 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comOctober 2017 PodcastCudo is joined by the Kansas City Royals Senior Director of Event Presentation. We review some of the quotes and philosophies referenced by Rafi Kohan in last month's podcast. Don also helps us understand how the added safety nets in Kansas City effected his presentation. Benjamin Hill talks about this year's MILB Promo Seminar and then gives his thoughts on baseball safety nets as someone who sees games all across the country. Ben also touts the Dayton Tortugas great Bob Ross Promotion. Rob Wicall offers up his thoughts on several of this month's Water Cooler Moments and nominates a Best of...2017-10-0143 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comJune 2017 PodcastEntrepreneur, Mascot, Speaker and all-around great guy Rob Wicall is our guest for the June 2017 Podcast. We talk about taking the time know know you own character. Rob's initial reason for spending hours thinking on the topic was to refine the Spurs Coyote. Now Rob is painting with a broader brush and looking at how you can apply those same ideas to your game operations department and your life.This is a fun discussion intended for mascots, game operations professionals and anyone who wants to get a better focus on their big picture.2017-06-0123 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comFebruary 2017 PodcastRob Wicall fresh off his TED Talk on making moments talks about applying what he learned as a mascot and how to apply that daily. Then Cudo and Wicall look at several moments teams have been creating for fans in January. Emperor of Fun David Raymond joins the podcast to look at a skit that got some bad press in Minnesota and step to avoid the dangers of people taking your comedy the wrong way. Cudo talks about the new Water Cooler Moment section, the relaunch of the Blog, 5 years ago on the Pod highlights and nominates a team for f...2017-02-0148 min

The Party in the Back Podcast on Gameops.comNovember 2016 PodcastOur All-Star Panel discuss the seven award categories for the Best of 2016, along with news and promotions from across the country. Pat Walker returns and reviews a steakhouse’s costly game promotions in Michigan, Rob Wicall connects a great mascot and their social media work, and Scott Carter looks at how game directors build a successful program. Then Cameron Hughes and Kronke Sports Executive Director Steve Johnston talk about building entertainment teams and getting the most out of halftime acts. Looking back at our 2011 Podcast when Cudo and Walker debate if its acceptable to play off boos with your fans.2016-11-0130 min

CurrentCast#6 Former Spurs Coyote Rob WicallAfter 16 years on the job, Rob Wicall is hanging up his big, furry head. Wicall was better known as Coyote, the Spurs' mascot. He spoke with CurrentCast about his favorite bits, how he became Coyote, and what's next for him.2016-05-2500 min