Tag

sports

Apr 01
Love26

Pete A Turner

By Podcast No Comments

There are people who know a little about a lot. And then there are people like Pete A. Turner.

This week on Here’s What We Know, we sit down with a former Army counterintelligence agent who turned a life of asking hard questions into something unexpected: a podcast built on curiosity, connection, and listening.

What starts as a conversation about baseball and sports turns into something much deeper. We’ll talk about what it really means to pay attention. Not just hearing words, but understanding what’s underneath them.

Pete also shares how his time as a spy shaped the way he sees the world. How he builds trust, how he gets people to open up, and why the best conversations rarely go the way you planned.

And if you’ve ever wondered why some conversations stay with you long after they’re over, this episode might give you a few answers.

This episode is sponsored by:

Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!

In This Episode:

  • Why This Conversation Goes Off Script Fast
  • Baseball, Obsession, and How Smart Minds Stay Engaged
  • Why Sports Are More Than Games
  • Why He Walked Away from Football
  • The Problem With “Greatest of All Time” Debates
  • What Makes Elite Athletes Different
  • F1, Precision, and the Psychology of High Performance
  • From Podcasting to 2,000 Episodes: How Pete Built His Show
  • “I Was a Spy”: Pete Turner’s Counterintelligence Background
  • Fear, Growth, and Why You Should Say Yes to Hard Things
  • Near-Death Experiences and What Happens at the Edge of Life
  • How a Spy Becomes a Great Podcast Host
  • The Secret to Getting People to Open Up
  • How to Ask Better Questions (And Get Better Answers)

Quotations:

“We don’t root against anybody. I love that about sport: you can just genuinely care about all 20 athletes and root for them. I think it’s neat.” – Pete A. Turner

“When you get to do these things, things that are scary to regular people are just normal for me. I don’t let fear dictate what I do. And if anything’s scary, I do it.” – Pete A. Turner

“I’m guilty of talking too much all the time, but when I get it right and I sit in the back seat, I let those guys ask each other those great questions.” – Pete A. Turner

“And I know how to be a great guest. That’s a spy thing. And so when you allow someone to be a great host, they’re a great host. And when you are a good guest, they want to be an even better host.” – Pete A. Turner

“I can always bring it because I’m the boss. I can always bring them back. I can always bring them over this way or rain them over that way. But I want to go where they’re excited to go.” – Pete A. Turner

Bio:

Pete A. Turner is a former U.S. Army counterintelligence agent turned podcast host and storyteller. As the executive producer and host of The Break It Down Show, Pete has led more than 2,000 conversations with a wide range of guests, from Nobel Prize winners to everyday people with extraordinary stories.

His background in espionage and global deployments across Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Egypt, and Germany shaped the way he listens, asks questions, and connects with people. That same approach now defines his work behind the microphone.

Whether he’s exploring geopolitics, personal resilience, or the human stories behind the headlines, Pete creates space for conversations that go deeper than most.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.breakitdownshow.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peteaturner/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakitdownshow

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/peteaturner

Mar 26
Love25

Eric Hayden

By Business, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we welcome Eric Hayden, founder and CEO of Urban Catalyst, a company that’s helped drive billions of dollars in development across Silicon Valley. He was also named the 2025 Silicon Valley Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year.

That’s the resume. But that’s not the story. Because this conversation goes beyond real estate and development. It’s about how someone goes from selling sand dollars as a kid… to helping shape an entire city.

And really, when you strip it all down, it’s about how we think, how we build, and how we show up in the world.

This episode is sponsored by:

Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!

In This Episode:

  • Why housing is so expensive, and why it’s not an easy fix
  • What it really means to “win” at school, work, and life
  • What it actually takes to build in places like Silicon Valley
  • The hidden systems behind growth, cities, and opportunity
  • How curiosity and creativity can shape a career in unexpected ways
  • And why success has a lot less to do with intelligence than people think

Quotations:

“You just have to prioritize time management and do the work and do it good, do it better than they expect. “ – Eric Hayden

“Supply and demand. The neighbors love complaining about height, density, traffic, and parking. Those are their big four anti-development things. “ – Eric Hayden

“You need people. You want to have success in retail and restaurants and all that stuff, you need people to actually go there. You need the population.“ – Eric Hayden

Bio:

Eric Hayden is the Founder and Managing Partner of Urban Catalyst. Responsible for developing more than $3.5 billion in real estate projects, including over 2,300 residential units in the California Bay Area, Mr. Hayden has experience in acquisition, contract negotiation, due diligence, risk assessment, financing, construction, and disposition of multifamily, single-family, and large mixed-use and master-planned developments. He maintains relationships with a broad network of property owners, enabling him to identify and acquire prime investments. Mr. Hayden also has expertise in navigating projects through the entitlement process by working with elected officials, community groups, and political organizations to gain support and get projects approved.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/urbancatalystfund/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhayden/

Feb 11
Love25

Jason Cole

By Author, Podcast, Sports No Comments

What really happens inside the room when Pro Football Hall of Fame decisions are made?

This week on Here’s What We Know, we sit down with longtime NFL writer and Hall of Fame voter Jason Cole to pull back the curtain on a process most fans think they understand but usually don’t.

Jason explains how Hall of Fame voting actually works, why the math matters more than people realize, and why some obvious names don’t get in right away. We talk about grit, greatness, coaching versus players, and the thin line between legacy and perception. Along the way, Jason shares old-school football stories that remind us why this game still matters so much to so many people.

If you’ve ever argued about the Hall of Fame at a bar, on the couch, or online, this conversation will give you a whole new perspective.

This episode is sponsored by:

Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!) License #: 679261

In this Episode:

  • How Pro Football Hall of Fame voting really works
  • Why first-ballot decisions are more complicated than fans think
  • Coaching impact versus player greatness
  • What separates legends from very good players
  • Stories that remind us football is still a human game

Bio:

Jason Cole has covered or written about pro football since 1992. He is one of 49 selectors for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has served as a selector since 2013. Cole has worked for publications such as Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, The Miami Herald and The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. He started his career with the Peninsula Times-Tribune in Palo Alto.

Cole has authored or co-authored eight books, including the biography of Hall of Famer John Elway (Elway: A Relentless Life), Shut Up, Your Kid is Not That Great, including a foreword by Tom Brady Sr., Giant with Plaxico Burress, Heart for the Game with Simon Keith, and Ocho Cinco with Chad Johnson. Before covering the NFL, Cole covered the NBA, Major League Baseball and high school sports in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Cole’s five-year investigation of Reggie Bush and the University of Southern California resulted in Bush becoming the only player ever to relinquish his Heisman Trophy and USC losing its 2004 national championship. Cole is a graduate of Stanford University, served as an adjunct professor in the Journalism Department at the University of Florida for 11 years, and is the father of two Eagle Scouts.

Guest Contact Info:

X: https://x.com/jasoncole62

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-cole-1330266/

Jul 16
Love22

Jeremy Wolf

By Podcast, Professional Athlete, Sports No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for an inspiring conversation with Jeremy Wolf, a former professional baseball player who grew up with a bat in his hands and a dream in his heart. From college ball to professional leagues and eventually playing for Team Israel, Jeremy’s story is full of grit and grace.

Today, he’s making an even bigger impact through More Than Baseball, working to improve the lives of minor league players. Listen now!

This episode is sponsored by:

In this Episode:

  • How Jeremy handled the pressure of professional sports
  • The story behind co-founding More Than Baseball to improve players’ lives
  • His insights on mental health and why it matters more than ever
  • Lessons on turning setbacks into stepping stones

Quotations:

“So I’ll always be grateful for just, like, all of the doors, like dominoes lined up for me to have these amazing experiences.” ~ Jeremy Wolf

“Create opportunities, work really hard, have the discipline to continue pushing forward, and good things are going to happen.” ~ Jeremy Wolf

“When your child fails, do not yell at them. Do not scream at them. Do not punish them. Don’t treat it as if it’s just a normal day, because it is.” ~ Jeremy Wolf

“​​When we create an environment where athletes don’t feel the pressure to perform but feel obligated to support each other and their teammates, you’re just creating a better culture, and that’s going to create better outcomes.” ~ Jeremy Wolf

“You can do more than you think.” ~ Jeremy Wolf

Bio:

Jeremy Wolf is a former professional baseball player who spent time in the New York Mets organization after a standout college career at Trinity University in Texas. As an outfielder and first baseman, he represented Team Israel in international competitions, including the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. After stepping away from playing professionally, Jeremy co-founded More Than Baseball, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of minor league players through better pay, housing, and mental health resources. His journey reflects a deep commitment to the game and to making it better for the next generation of athletes.

Guest Contact Info:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremywolf123/

Website: https://www.morethanbaseball.org/