Best Stepped on the Ball Productions Podcasts (2025)

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SMS - Median Driver Distance, 5, 15, 25 Index 15:02

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2h ago15:02

15:02

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. How far do golfers really hit their drives? Yes, increasing distance might help, but knowing the typical driver distance for your target index is really helpful. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how far a 5, 15, and 25 handicap golfer hits their drivers, and then …

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Replay: How Daymond John built FUBU 34:57

3d ago34:57

34:57

How do you create authentic partnerships to build scale? In this archival episode, Reid Hoffman talks with the iconic entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Daymond John about how he built FUBU from scratch. Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/subscribe See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo…

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Ryder Cup and the Rest of the World/2025 Majors/Off-Season Work 21:49

2h ago21:49

21:49

Today's episode is a grab bag of topics. Mark first asks Lou and Greg about how the rest of the world perceives the USA/European Ryder Cup. Then they each offer their favorite highlight from the 2025 major season. They conclude by previewing what each of them are working toward this off-season. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter:…

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OLIPOP’s gutsy play to dethrone Coke and Pepsi, with Ben Goodwin 30:27

1d ago30:27

30:27

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2025 Ryder Cup Recap 52:06

2d ago52:06

52:06

Now that the dust has settled a bit, Mark, Lou, and Greg gather to talk through their thoughts following the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. In this episode, they offer their takes on the course setup, the pairings, the crowd, the captains, the envelope rule, and the furious but unfinished comeback attempt in the singles matches on Sunday. Where …

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SMS - 250 Yards Left on Par 5, 5 Index, Birdie vs Bogey or Worse 17:16

8d ago17:16

17:16

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. You're a single-figure index—a good golfer. And you're 250 out, in the fairway, on a par 5. How often will you birdie this hole? And how often will you make bogey or worse? Lou, Mark, and Greg discuss this and give instruction to help you find your best scores on the lon…

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How to sell a billion dollars of snacks, with the founders of Chomps 32:10

10d ago32:10

32:10

Chomps co-founders Rashid Ali and Pete Maldonado had an unusual side hustle: selling meat sticks online. The co-founders join host Jeff Berman to reveal the phone call from Trader Joe’s that changed everything, how they used lessons from failed startups, and how they built Chomps into a snack empire. Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newslet…

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No Tees?! 27:05

10d ago27:05

27:05

A multiple major winner recently offered another suggestion to solve golf's "distance problem." In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss what would happen if tees were banned and wedge loft was limited. Mark gets a little hot here, both about the responsibilities of golf media and about the actual proposal itself. Would Tour pros be able to fig…

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Design dominance sparks a blockbuster IPO, with Figma’s Dylan Field 26:51

12d ago26:51

26:51

Figma burst into the public eye in 2022 after Adobe was blocked from buying the design startup for $20 billion. This chapter set the stage for an even bigger milestone at Figma: a splashy IPO this summer at nearly double that valuation. Dylan Field, Figma’s co-founder and CEO, joins Rapid Response to share what distinguishes Figma from competitors,…

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Streaking In Golf 29:31

10d ago29:31

29:31

A good listener question for today's episode: how do you handle the streaks of a golf round? It often feels like you get hit for several holes, and then suddenly, you are on a run of birdies. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk through mental game and on-course strategies to get off the bogey train while stringing together more of those solid…

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Pioneers of AI: The power of storytelling in VCs, with Jeffrey Katzenberg and ChenLi Wang 44:56

15d ago44:56

44:56

In this episode of Pioneers of AI, Jeffrey Katzenberg and ChenLi Wang of the venture capital firm WndrCo share why storytelling is essential for building transformative companies and how AI shapes their work. Learn more about Pioneers of AI: http://pioneersof.ai/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https…

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SMS - Three-Putt Percentage from 35 Feet, Tour, Scratch, and 10 16:09

12d ago16:09

16:09

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Three putts are frustrating. But they do happen—how often? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about 35-foot putts, and how often Tour players, scratch golfers, and 20 indexes will three putt. The answers will likely surprise you—and show a major way to shave a few s…

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Build stronger trust on your teams, with Rachel Botsman 30:04

17d ago30:04

30:04

What happens when your team doesn’t trust each other? How can you repair damaged trust at work? How has technology changed the way we decide who to trust? Author and trust researcher Rachel Botsman joins host Jeff Berman to tackle these questions and more. Her latest book is How to Trust and Be Trusted: https://www.rachelbotsman.com/work/how-to-tru…

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Golf Learning and Fun 32:29

14d ago32:29

32:29

A simple two-question podcast today from Lou, Mark, and Greg. The first question: what golf swing tip do you wish you'd learned earlier? Hindsight being 20/20, this is an opportunity to focus now on real improvement. The second question: what makes golf fun? Is the fun in keeping score and competing, or in something else? The guys offer their answe…

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After devastating aid cuts, Mercy Corps keeps fighting, with Tjada D’Oyen McKenna 31:10

19d ago31:10

31:10

For an organization built around responding to crises around the globe, Mercy Corps now finds itself at the center of its own trauma. Following the Trump administration’s aid cuts, two-thirds of Mercy Corps’ US-funded programs have been rescinded. CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna joins Rapid Response to share how she’s leading her team amid immense pressur…

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Is Team Europe Even Team Europe Anymore? 29:11

17d ago29:11

29:11

It's Ryder Cup week! In previous years, the Ryder Cup represented not just a clash of continents, but a clash of Tours: the PGA Tour and (what is now) the DP World Tour. But this year, almost no one on Team Europe plays regularly in Europe. Does this matter? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg address this question. Is it just nostalgia to want a …

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SMS - Percent Shots 90% of Target Distance, 175 Yards, Scratch, 10, and 20 14:36

22d ago14:36

14:36

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. It's a real problem: handicap golfers hit their approach shots short—a lot. But how often? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how often, from 175 yards, golfers of different abilities will manage to hit their shots at least 90% of the target distance. After sorting …

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How to find your next mentor, with Janice Omadeke 32:50

24d ago32:50

32:50

A great mentor can supercharge your career. That’s why author and entrepreneur Janice Omadeke wanted to make it easier for people to connect with the best possible mentors. She joins host Jeff Berman to reveal the insights from her book, Mentorship Unlocked, and lessons from her own journey as the founder of a tech platform for corporate mentorship…

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You're Really Not Better Than a Tour Pro 24:23

23d ago24:23

24:23

If you listen to this podcast, you probably know a number of benchmark stats. One well-known one: Tour pros make half their putts from 8 feet. But what if you're better than that? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg try to bring some perspective to the use of statistics and expectation management—one in which you have lofty goals and reasonable ex…

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Historic changes across high fashion, with WSJ. Magazine’s Sarah Ball 26:33

26d ago26:33

26:33

As the fashion world navigates an unprecedented wave of turnover from Chanel to Dior, WSJ. Magazine’s Editor in Chief, Sarah Ball joins Rapid Response to explore the most closely watched New York Fashion Week in years — what she calls "a September to remember." Ball also shares insights about how Vogue is poised to take shape post-Anna Wintour, the…

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Misunderstood Golf Stats: Total Putts 26:49

24d ago26:49

26:49

It's hard to get better if you don't know what's wrong. In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg expand on a recent tweet/post from Lou, in which he implores golfers to stop counting putts. They'll talk about the usefulness of total putts, the ways in can mislead, and a better way to measure if you're getting better on the greens. To get the best di…

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Possible: Stephen Colbert isn’t so sure about AI (with Reid Hoffman) 55:20

29d ago55:20

55:20

On the latest episode of Reid Hoffman’s Possible podcast, he and Aria talk with comedian Stephen Colbert. They discuss how J.R.R. Tolkien helps The Late Show host make sense of AI, whether technology will ever be able to replicate the ‘micronutrients’ of human interaction, and more. You can find this episode and more on the Possible podcast feed: h…

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SMS - 325 Yard Par 4 Scoring Average, Scratch, 10, and 20 16:30

26d ago16:30

16:30

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Among the sweetest words in the English language: short par 4. But does that phrase set expectations too high? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Lou what golfers of different skills average on a 325 yard par 4. From there, the guys talk about the best way to make the mo…

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How a near-death experience changed this founder’s approach to fear 30:24

1M ago30:24

30:24

Matthew Pohlson’s dreams of building a company were almost cut short by a near-death experience. The CEO and co-founder of Omaze reveals how it changed his mindset, and unlocked new ways to scale his business. Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/subscribe See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy an…

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Transitioning from Casual to Competitive Golf 26:54

1M ago26:54

26:54

You've been playing rounds with your friends just for fun, but you've improved, and now you want to try your hand at a serious round of golf. What do you need to know? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg offer their advice to a golfer planning to start playing in more serious competitions. From rules advice (both official and unwritten) to music(?…

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Music biz at a crossroads: from Taylor Swift to AI, with Sowmya Krishnamurthy 30:09

1M ago30:09

30:09

Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards shone a light on some of the biggest storylines in the music business today – from the TikTokification of newly minted stars, to the evolving relationship between artists and brands. Music journalist and author Sowmya Krishnamurthy joins Rapid Response to break down business and cultural lessons from the show and wha…

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Superstitions, Shortcuts, and Gimmicks 27:05

1M ago27:05

27:05

When the going gets tough, golfers sometimes look for a less tough option. In most episodes, Mark, Lou, and Greg try to get us to focus on things that really work to improve our golf. But in today's episode, they point out some of the things that golfers try that don't help. From unrelated superstitions to bad advice to gimmicky gadgets and clubs, …

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SMS - GIR Per Round, Scratch, 10, and 20 15:10

1M ago15:10

15:10

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. One of the simplest—but most insightful—traditional stats is Greens In Regulation. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how many greens golfers of differing skills typically hit per round. After settling the scores, the guys give tips that will help you hit more green…

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Betting on product to win in fantasy sports, with Underdog’s Jeremy Levine 35:02

1M ago35:02

35:02

As the NFL season kicks off this week, host Jeff Berman talks with a serial entrepreneur known for innovating in fantasy sports. Jeremy Levine is the founder and CEO of Underdog, a rapidly scaling unicorn. Levine reveals how a relentless focus on product helps his company break through entrenched competition. Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekl…

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Should Pros Be Able to Become Amateurs Again? 27:14

1M ago27:14

27:14

Pro golfers are really good. But what happens when a player turns professional, can't make a career of golf, and takes another path in life? Once professional, always professional? Or should there be a path back to amateur status? In this episode, Mark, Greg, and Lou discuss—and solid points are raised by both sides. To get the best discount off yo…

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Grab’s rise from rideshare to superapp in Asia, with Anthony Tan 28:35

1M ago28:35

28:35

Grab is a rideshare service-turned superapp, not available in the US but rapidly growing in Southeast Asia. It’s even outmaneuvered global players like Uber to reach a valuation north of $20 billion. Grab’s co-founder and CEO Anthony Tan joins Rapid Response to share how the platform has successfully expanded into food delivery and fintech, while a…

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Ryder Cup Team Selections 32:11

1M ago32:11

32:11

The picks for Team USA are in, and on release day for this episode, Europe will announce its team roster for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Mark, Lou, and Greg debate whether Keegan should have chosen himself (or been chosen as captain at all), how to assemble and roster and make pairings, the importance of data vs feels, and the potential for the course—and …

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SMS - 25 Yards in Bunker, Missed Green, Scratch, 10, and 20 17:04

1M ago17:04

17:04

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. This one is a doozy. Lou puts a pretty straightforward question to Greg and Mark: how often will golfers of different skill levels miss the green from a greenside bunker? The answer is likely to surprise you. But after a few tips for improving your bunker play, things go…

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Reid Hoffman & Kickstarter’s Everette Taylor take your questions 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

For our latest Strategy Session, Reid Hoffman and Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor answer questions from entrepreneurs about how to build more resilient businesses. They share frameworks for taking smarter risks, finding co-founders, and more. Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/subscribe See Privacy Polic…

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Changing Your Shot Shape 20:36

1M ago20:36

20:36

Once you get beyond "I just don't want to hit a giant slice," you might reach a point at which you want to settle on hitting one particular shape. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about changing your shot shape: factors that might influence your decision and practical steps to engrain a new pattern—and take it to the course. Where to find …

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Hollywood’s hottest AI partner, with Runway’s Cristóbal Valenzuela 33:11

2M ago33:11

33:11

AI tools are disrupting all types of creative content, and Runway AI is a pioneer making major waves in Hollywood. It’s partnering with the likes of Disney and Netflix to revolutionize production. Runway’s co-founder & CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela joins Rapid Response to dissect the company’s breakneck growth, the risks and responsibilities of AI tool …

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The Wide World of Training Aids 33:30

2M ago33:30

33:30

Bad training aids can be worse that useless. But a good training aid can really accelerate golf improvement. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk about some of their favorite tools to use and to recommend from a coaching perspective. There are tools to help deliver the club better, lots of solid home launch monitor options, and a really great tool to…

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SMS - Average Three Putts, Scratch, 10, and 20 12:31

2M ago12:31

12:31

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's question is one of the most basic for lowering scores: three-putt avoidance. How often do various handicap levels three-putt? Lou puts that question to Mark and Greg, and after sorting out the answers, the guys give their best advice for not wasting shots on the …

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How design drives successful companies, with Sarah Stein Greenberg 34:19

2M ago34:19

34:19

Whether you’re building a new product from scratch, growing your team, or trying to find product market fit, every part of scaling a business has one thing in common. It needs to be well designed. That’s why we’re headed back to school this week – and learning from Stanford d.school executive director Sarah Stein Greenberg. She reveals strategies f…

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Ryder Cup, Fleetwood, and Sponsor's Exemptions 34:20

2M ago34:20

34:20

As the end of the PGA Tour season draws near, there have been no shortage of interesting issues to discuss. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the upcoming Ryder Cup rosters, Tommy Fleetwood's failure to close out the BMW (and whether it tells us something about his ability to handle pressure), and the fact that Rickie qualified for th…

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Dating is down. So why is Hinge thriving? with CEO Justin McLeod 26:07

2M ago26:07

26:07

As young people report feeling lonelier and less connected than ever, the dating app Hinge is driving its users into real life, human experiences. CEO Justin McLeod returns to Rapid Response to share how the platform is combating digital fatigue amongst users, as well as navigating the risks and opportunities of AI in online dating. McLeod also exp…

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Gain 20 Yards Without Swinging Faster 20:59

2M ago20:59

20:59

We all know that hitting drives further is an important way to lower our scores. And while speed training and better strength make a difference, there are gains to be had at your current swing speed. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk through some of the basic adjustments you can make to your equipment, setup, and swing that gain two clubs off the …

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The bromance that rebuilt Detroit: Dan Gilbert and Mayor Mike Duggan 24:24

2M ago24:24

24:24

As we gear up for our 2025 Masters of Scale Summit, we’re revisiting one of the stellar on-stage conversations that happened at the 2024 event. Hear Rocket Companies’ Dan Gilbert and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan reveal how their unique public-private partnerships have transformed the struggling city into a growing hub for everything from tech companie…

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SMS - Tour Pros, Green Hit Percentage, 125-150, 151-175, 176-200 15:14

2M ago15:14

15:14

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Tour pros are good, for sure, but how good? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the chances that a Tour pro will hit the green from various fairway distances. These are great numbers to manage expectations for those of us who are not close to that level. Each o…

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The insights that fuel SharkNinja’s biggest innovations 35:57

2M ago35:57

35:57

From humble beginnings selling vacuums on late night informercials, SharkNinja has grown to a 6 billion dollar a year business. CEO Mark Barrocas joins host Jeff Berman to reveal how the company keeps coming up with hits like the Ninja Creami, why “educated consumers” are the backbone of their business, and how they’re navigating the shifting winds…

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Blast! A DQ 30:07

2M ago30:07

30:07

The Gregulators got a shock while scoreboard watching this past Sunday: Greg was DQ'd?! What happened? In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to explain what happened. This provokes a discussion of the rules of golf and their enforcement: should there be a larger roll for making judgment calls when there's no advantage gained? Where to find us: M…

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Is it ‘economic Halloween’ in the US? with political economist Mark Blyth 36:16

2M ago36:16

36:16

Zoom out from continuing tariff turmoil and Trump’s recent attacks on the Fed and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and you’ll see a broader new economic order is forming. Political economist and Brown University professor Mark Blyth joins Rapid Response to reveal why outdated models still underpin much of our economic understanding, and what we stil…

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Is Golf No Longer Artistic? 28:28

2M ago28:28

28:28

Nostalgia in golf often takes the form of pining for the good old days, when the ball actually curved and skilled golfers made it bend around trees, both ways, probably on the same shot. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg consider recent comments by Charley Hull, asking how much golf has changed and what effect that has on the spectator experienc…

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SMS - 75 Yards in FW, Double Bogey or Worse, Scratch, 10, and 20 Index 13:30

2M ago13:30

13:30

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, our hypothetical golfer is in a lovely position: in the fairway, hitting his second into a par 4 from 75 yards. How often will the unthinkable—double bogey or worse—happen for scratch, 10, and 20 index golfers? Greg and Mark register their guesses, Lo…

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Inside one of the world’s greatest fundraising operations 35:12

2M ago35:12

35:12

When Rick Shadyac Jr. took over as CEO of the fundraising organization responsible for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, it was bringing in about 600 million a year. The recently retired leader joins host Jeff Berman to reveal how he built a fundraising machine that is now approaching 3 billion per year, and how that money will have a global i…

Stepped On The Ball Productions Podcasts