Best Blake Bennett Podcasts (2025)

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#286: Sabyasachi (Saby) Sengupta — Meet the 2025 World Champion of Public Speaking

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15h ago

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[36:05] On the Toastmasters Podcast, it’s our annual tradition—and a true pleasure— for us to speak with the newest World Champion of Public Speaking. This year, we’re thrilled to feature Sabyasachi “Saby” Sengupta, who captured the 2025 title this past August at the Toastmasters International Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his spee…

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Philosophy and Magic: Meredith Graves on the Politics of the Occult and Thinking Magically in a Disenchanted World 1:04:36

2d ago1:04:36

1:04:36

In this Halloween episode, Meredith Graves joins Acid Horizon to explore the occulted correspondences between philosophy, ritual, and the practice of magic. Together we trace the tangled histories of witchcraft, labor, and belief—from Aleister Crowley and Sylvia Federici to Gilles Deleuze, GWF Hegel, and the haunted legacies of modern materialism. …

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Captain Rodrigo López talks retirement announcement, his career, upcoming playoffs 26:36

8d ago26:36

26:36

On this episode of The Breakaway, Rodrigo López joins Connor to discuss his recent retirement announcement and looks ahead to the club's USL Championship playoff run.By Sacramento Republic FC

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Mark Fisher Meets James Hillman: Melancholy, Manic Culture & the End of Capitalist Realism (with Emma Stamm) 1:05:20

9d ago1:05:20

1:05:20

What if depression isn’t an illness to cure but a collective mood that reveals the soul of a broken world? In this episode, Mark Fisher meets James Hillman in a conversation that bridges depth psychology and cultural theory, asking how melancholy and mania shape life under late capitalism. Joined by Emma Stamm, we explore the intersections of acid …

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Witness to the Hellfire of Genocide: Wasim Said’s Testament from Gaza 49:04

15d ago49:04

49:04

In this episode, we present the work of Wasim Said, a comrade from Gaza who has documented the atrocities they and their people have experienced during the ongoing intensification of Israel's genocidal war on Palestine in his first book "Witness to the Hellfire of Genocide". The logistics and safety of an interview being made near impossible amidst…

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Coach Neill Collins recaps USL Cup Final, looks ahead to the final stretch 28:35

16d ago28:35

28:35

On this episode of The Breakaway, Head Coach Neill Collins discusses the club's loss in the USL Cup Final, lessons the team has learned from that, and how they they plan to turn that into momentum going in to the USL Championship playoffs.By Sacramento Republic FC

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#285: Leading from Your Zone of Genius – Aligning Work with Passion — Katie Stoddart

18d ago

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[29:47] What if success wasn’t just about working harder‚Äîbut about working from your "Zone of Genius?" In this episode, Greg Gazin chats with Katie Stoddart, founder and CEO of The Focus Bee, about how to identify and lead from that sweet spot where your strengths and passions align.

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Deleuze vs Hegel: Beyond Kant and Representation with Henry Somers-Hall 53:59

21d ago53:59

53:59

What happens when Deleuze and Hegel are set in violent philosophical encounter over the ruins of Kantian representation? In this episode, we explore how both thinkers attempt to move beyond the categories of judgment and identity to recover the genesis of sense itself. Henry Somers-Hall joins us to trace Deleuze’s path through Kant, Sartre, and Ber…

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#284: Singing: A Secret Weapon for Confident Communication – Jillian Mitchell

1M ago

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[39:37] What do singing and public speaking have in common? According to Jillian Mitchell, more than you might think. In this fun and hands on episode, host Greg Gazin chats with Jill about why singing isn’t just for performers—it’s a secret weapon for confident communication. A professional singer, recording artist, and vocal coach with nearly 20 …

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The Politics of Ghosting: Dominic Pettman on Absence, Intimacy, and Digital Life 1:07:26

1M ago1:07:26

1:07:26

What does it mean to live in a world where relationships can vanish overnight, without explanation or closure? In this episode, Acid Horizon speaks with cultural theorist Dominic Pettman about his new book Ghosting: On Disappearance (Polity Press). Together we explore how ghosting unsettles intimacy, accountability, and narrative finality, reaching…

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Western Marxism vs. Stalinism: Domenico Losurdo’s Controversial Legacy with Ross Wolfe 57:51

1M ago57:51

57:51

What if the very idea of Western Marxism has less to do with geography than with defeat? In this episode of Acid Horizon, we dive into Domenico Losurdo’s controversial use of the term and ask what’s at stake in his defense of actually existing socialism against its critics. With our guest Ross Wolfe, we explore the tangled afterlives of Western Mar…

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Chibi Ukaegbu on Cup Final, national team call-up, and more 25:49

2M ago25:49

25:49

On this episode of The Breakaway, defender Chibi Ukaegbu joins Connor to preview the USL Cup Final, his favorite sports memories, and his recent call-up to the youth national team.By Sacramento Republic FC

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#283: Storytelling & Presentation Tips through Audio Book Narration – Karen Merritt

2M ago

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[30:29] What do Shakespeare, children’s stories, and medical role-playing have in common? For Karen Merritt, they’re all part of her fascinating journey as an actor, voiceover artist, audiobook narrator, and Toastmaster. In this episode, Greg Gazin chats with Karen about how the art of audio & voice narration can sharpen your storytelling, boost yo…

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Wilhelm Reich, Fascism & Work Democracy: Philip Bennett & David Silver at Orgonon 53:54

2M ago53:54

53:54

Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sbwVioWlhS0 What happens when we revisit Wilhelm Reich’s journey from Freud’s student to radical theorist of desire, politics, and repression? In this episode, we sit down with Professor Philip Bennett and David Silver, executive director of the Wilhelm Reich Museum, to explore Reich’s groundbreaking ideas on ther…

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Jack Gurr joins the podcast from Restore Hyper Wellness 30:04

2M ago30:04

30:04

On this episode of The Breakaway, Connor travels to Restore Hyper Wellness to talk with Jack Gurr about recovery, training, and stories from the season so far.By Sacramento Republic FC

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#282: Inviting Opportunity: Meet 2025-2026 International President Aletta Rochat, DTM

2M ago

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[30:44] Meet Distinguished Toastmaster Aletta Rochat, the 2025--2026 Toastmasters International President from Cape Town, South Africa. Aletta is an inner life skills wisdom partner and certified coach, an accomplished author and global speaker who has delivered training in 21 countries. She also coaches TEDx speakers to craft messages that leave a…

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From Blake to Bataille: Romanticism, Communism, and the Commons with Joseph Albernaz 1:01:07

2M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

What does Romanticism have to do with communism, enclosure, and the commons today? In this episode we speak with Joseph Albernaz, author of Common Measures: Romanticism and the Groundlessness of Community, about the radical lineage running from Blake and Hölderlin to Marx and Bataille. We explore how Romantic literature conceived “groundless commun…

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Republic Railyards Stadium architect David Kelman joins the show 31:50

2M ago31:50

31:50

On this episode of The Breakaway, Connor is joined by Manica Architecture's David Kelman who is leading the Republic railyards stadium project. Kelman talks about the planning, the design, and what fans can expect in the new venue.By Sacramento Republic FC

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LEPHT HAND - Myth, Nostalgia, and Liberation: Federico Campagna’s 'Otherworlds: Mediterranean Lessons On Escaping History' 1:08:30

2M ago1:08:30

1:08:30

Can myth itself serve as a material force in struggles for liberation? Federico Campagna joins me to discuss how myth—too often dismissed as escapism or co-opted by reaction—can instead become a practice of imagination, solidarity, and survival. We look at myth’s place in anti-capitalist politics, its tension with materialism, and its role in resis…

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Broadcasters Rob McAllister and Adam Moffat talk latest Republic news 32:26

2M ago32:26

32:26

On this episode of The Breakaway, Connor is joined by club broadcasters Rob McAllister and Adam Moffat to recap the latest USL Jagermeister Cup win, the new stadium news, and the club's form under Neill CollinsBy Sacramento Republic FC

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Identity on Credit: Ajax, Achilles, and the Modern Self with Fredrik Westerlund 1:16:23

3M ago1:16:23

1:16:23

What happens when the self we imagine drifts further from the one we actually live? In this episode, philosopher Fredrik Westerlund joins Craig and Nicholas de Warren to explore his concept of “identity on credit,” where our sense of self is built on promises yet to be realized. From Sophocles’ Ajax to Nietzsche, Deleuze, and Scheler, we trace how …

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#281: Hummingbirds, Helicopters & an Underwater Guinness World Record – Eric Pittman

3M ago

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[24:08] What do helicopters, hummingbirds, and an underwater puppet show have in common? In the world of Eric Pittman—just about everything. From bush pilot to wildlife filmmaker to Guinness World Record holder, this Toastmaster has lived a life full of bold pivots, creative stunts, and surprising impact. In this episode, Greg Gazin chats with Eric…

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From Chaos to Creation: Deleuze, Francis Bacon, 'On Painting', and 'The Logic of Sensation' with Charles J. Stivale 1:14:06

3M ago1:14:06

1:14:06

What happens when the painter’s hand breaks free from the eye, and chaos reorganizes the entire field of vision? In this episode of Acid Horizon, we join Charles Stivale, translator of On Painting and The Logic of Sense, to explore Gilles Deleuze’s rare 1981 seminar on painting. Together we trace how concepts like catastrophe, diagram, and modulati…

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#280: Communicating With Teens—How Talking & Listening Help You Both – Alice Shikina

3M ago

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[33:47] Navigating conversations with teenagers can often feel like stepping into a minefield—especially when met with shrugs, silence, or eye-rolls. In this episode, Greg Gazin chats with Alice Shikina, a seasoned mediator, negotiation coach, and author, who shares practical strategies from her recent Toastmaster Magazine article, Tips for Communi…

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New Republic players Rayan Djedje and Khori Bennett join the show 28:01

3M ago28:01

28:01

On this episode of The Breakaway, new Republic players Rayan Djedje and Khori Bennett talk joining the club, favorite places to eat in Sacramento, and playing against Sacramento with their former clubsBy Sacramento Republic FC

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How Did Analytic Philosophy Become the Ruling Class of Thought? Christoph Schuringa Explains 1:15:34

3M ago1:15:34

1:15:34

What if analytic philosophy isn't as politically neutral as it claims to be? In this episode, we explore the hidden ideological scaffolding of analytic philosophy—its deference to science, retreat to common sense, and therapeutic impulse. Christoph Schuringa, author of A Social History of Analytic Philosophy (Verso), reveals how analytic thought em…

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Blake Willey talks US Youth National Team and becoming a regular in the lineup 29:33

3M ago29:33

29:33

On this episode of The Breakaway, midfielder Blake Willey recaps his recent trip with the US Youth National Team, his journey with the club, and becoming a starter in Neill Collins' lineupBy Sacramento Republic FC

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Becoming Worthy of the Event: Deleuze, Nietzsche, and Revolutionary Ethics with Justin 58:42

4M ago58:42

58:42

What does it mean to become worthy of the event? In this episode, we’re joined by Justin, longtime collaborator and host of our current reading group on Pierre Klossowski’s Living Currency. Together, we explore Deleuze’s stoic metaphysics, Nietzsche’s ethics of affirmation, and the revolutionary stakes of releasing ourselves from resentment. Along …

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Nick Ross makes first appearance on the show this season 45:52

4M ago45:52

45:52

On this episode of The Breakaway, Connor is joined by midfielder Nick Ross. Nick talks the Scottish trend on the team, the recent win against El Paso, and the competitiveness of the current squad.By Sacramento Republic FC

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#279: The Power and Practice of True Collaboration – Monique Levesque-Pharoah

4M ago

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[29:47] What does real collaboration look like in action? In this episode, we explore how intentional listening, relationship-building, and shared leadership can transform how we work together‚Äîboth inside Toastmasters and out. You’ll hear how one leader, Past International Director Monique Levesque-Pharaoh applied these principles in her personal…

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Lewis Jamieson and AJ Edwards join the show 28:13

4M ago28:13

28:13

On this episode of The Breakaway, Lewis Jamieson and AJ Edwards recap the season so far, their latest trip to Las Vegas, and how Lewis has adjusted to California.By Sacramento Republic FC

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Fanon and Sartre: Rethinking Praxis, Race, and Revolution 39:29

4M ago39:29

39:29

What happens when the dialectic between Sartre and Fanon is not one of influence, but of mutual transformation? Today we're live at Webster’s in State College with Tyrique Mack-Georges, who returns to the podcast to discuss his research on seriality, group infusion, and the possibility of a new humanity. Together, we explore how Sartre’s Critique o…

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Lee Desmond talks European travel, Sacramento heat, and more 48:32

4M ago48:32

48:32

On this episode of The Breakaway, defender Lee Desmond talks about the club's recent form, adjusting to the US, and his recent travels across Europe.By Sacramento Republic FC

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#278: How to Take Great Photos: The Do’s, Don’ts & Tips – Bambi Cash & Blake Carver

4M ago

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[36:06] Ever wish you could retake that one photo‚Äîthe one where someone blinked, the lighting was off, or the moment passed before you were ready? In this photo-themed episode, Toastmasters International’s visual media pros Bambi Cash and Blake Carver, the creative forces behind the stunning images and videos that define the organization’s brand …

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The Roots of 'Gender-Critical' Fascism: White Supremacy, Reactionary Feminism, and the Far Right 1:07:19

4M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

What if the history of feminism wasn’t only a story of liberation—but also one of betrayal, reaction, and complicity? In this episode of Acid Horizon, we speak with Michael Richmond and Alex Charnley, authors of Fascism and the Women's Cause, about the forgotten histories of white feminist collaboration with the far right—from the suffrage movement…

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Defender Jared Timmer previews next round of USL Cup and talks team travel 33:42

4M ago33:42

33:42

On this episode of The Breakaway, defender Jared Timmer talks about team travel, the big win over Rhode Island, and looks ahead to the next Jagermeister Cup match against Orange County.By Sacramento Republic FC

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Episode 1,042: Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans 10:22

4M ago10:22

10:22

Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans once again joins "Marching to Madness" from Starkville, Miss., where he has compiled a 63-40 record and has led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons. It's the first time these Dawgs have been to March Madness for three or more consecutive seasons since 2002-2005. Jans changed his offen…

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Episode 1,041: Towson head coach Pat Skerry 14:12

4M ago14:12

14:12

Coach Skerry is one of our favorite return guests on MTM as he has 34 years of experience and has built Towson into a perennial challenger in the Coastal Athletic Association. In 2024-25, the Tigers procured the CAA regular season championship, producing a 17-2 record over their last 19 games, which magnified the best start in conference program hi…

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Episode 1,040: Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett 15:57

4M ago15:57

15:57

Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett joins "Marching to Madness." Coach Bennett won his 7th WCC Coach of the Year honor as the Gaels enjoyed their third consecutive regular season WCC title, and they cut the nets in Las Vegas in 2024 with the tournament crown. He has built SMC into a featured program in the west after the Gaels finished at 1-27 in…

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Episode 1,039: Michigan head coach Dusty May 13:47

4M ago13:47

13:47

Coach May is once again discussing his Michigan Wolverines here on MTM. In his first season in Ann Arbor, he led the Wolverines to 27 wins, the Big Ten Tournament title, and a date in the Sweet 16. Coach May holds a 153-79 record in seven seasons as head coach at Florida Atlantic and Michigan. Of course, he led the Owls to the Final Four in 2023. T…

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Georges Bataille’s 'On Nietzsche': War, Chance, and the Collapse of Meaning with Stuart Kendall 1:44:13

4M ago1:44:13

1:44:13

What does it mean to write philosophy in a time of catastrophe? In this episode, we’re joined once again by Stuart Kendall to explore Georges Bataille’s On Nietzsche, a fragmented, intimate, and disorienting text written in the final years of World War II. We examine how Nietzsche becomes not just a philosophical reference but a companion for Batai…

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Episode 1,038: UC Riverside head coach Gus Argenal 19:00

5M ago19:00

19:00

Coach Gus Argenal joins "Marching to Madness" as he undertakes the UC Riverside Highlanders, who have become a tough out in the Big West Conference. Coach Argenal assisted Eric Musselman at Nevada and Arkansas and has 19 years of collegiate coaching experience. He coached at Cal State San Bernardino the last two seasons and recorded 50 wins. During…

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Jared Mazzola returns to the show 44:37

5M ago44:37

44:37

On this episode of The Breakaway, goalkeeper Jared Mazzola returns to talk life in Sacramento, team trips, and answers questions from Ryan Spaulding.By Sacramento Republic FC

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Episode 1,037: USC head coach Eric Musselman 14:04

5M ago14:04

14:04

Coach Musselman continually brings the Muss Bus through the "Marching to Madness" neighborhood. He is currently 238-111 in ten years in college basketball as he started at Nevada, where he took the Wolf Pack to the NCAA Tournament for three of four seasons, as he brought them to the Sweet 16, where they suffered a tough 69-68 loss to Loyola Chicago…

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Hermaphrodite Logic: A History of Intersex Liberation with Juliana Gleeson 1:00:07

5M ago1:00:07

1:00:07

What does it mean to politicize sex rather than assume its politics? In this episode, we're joined once again by Juliana Gleeson to discuss her new book Hermaphrodite Logic: A History of Intersex Liberation, a sharp and sardonic retelling of intersex activism from 1990 to today. We trace the expressive politics of sex through protest, medical confr…

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#277: Envision Y(OUR) Next Move: 2025 International Convention – Dilip Abayasekara

5M ago

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[33:30] Hosting a Toastmasters International Convention is no small feat‚Äîbut when it’s the first convention of the organization’s second century and held in historic Philadelphia, the energy and symbolism are unmatched. In this episode, we chat with Dilip Abayasekara, DTM, AS, Past International President, and the 2025 Host District Chair, all ab…

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Club President Todd Dunivant joins the show following stadium vote 29:54

5M ago29:54

29:54

On this episode of The Breakaway, club president Todd Dunivant joins Connor after the Sacramento City Council unanimously voted to approve the stadium project in the Sacramento Railyards.By Sacramento Republic FC

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Episode 1,036: Campbell head coach John Andrzejek 13:49

5M ago13:49

13:49

Coach Andrzejek came aboard the Buies Creek, NC, campus after working as the defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators for Coach Todd Golden in these last two seasons. Coach Andrzejek was the team's defensive coordinator as Florida finished sixth in the nation in defensive efficiency, according to kenpom.com. His defense was clutch as it played …

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'Black Mirror', Henri Bergson, and the Death of Creative Time with Emily Herring 1:01:13

5M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Don't miss Vintagia; campaign ending soon: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acidhorizon/vintagia-i-ching-oracle-for-psychogeographers-and-creatives Is Black Mirror still speculative fiction—or just a stylized documentary of our present? In this episode, we dive into Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 1 ("Common People") with writer and philosopher …

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Episode 1,035: UNC Greensboro head coach Mike Jones 17:53

5M ago17:53

17:53

Coach Jones comes aboard again on MTM after his Spartans finished second in the Southern Conference this past season and won 20 or more games for the third consecutive season. Coach Jones is well known as a defensive strategist, and we discuss that as well as working through roster changes to develop a quality team. Topics of discussion include: De…