The strongest brands know when it’s time to reinvent themselves. And right now, baseball is in the middle of exactly that kind of transformation. Once challenged by shifting attention spans, the game is finding new life through global talent, a faster pace and a more connected, energized fanbase. On this episode of Brand Slam, hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata sit down with longtime MLB executive Dan Duquette to explore how baseball is finding its way back to our hearts and why its future may be more international–and more exciting–than ever.

Few people have witnessed baseball’s evolution up close the way Dan has. A two-time Major League Baseball Executive of the Year, he’s helped shape winning organizations across the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. Along the way, he saw early what the game could become by investing in talent across Latin America and the Caribbean, helping expand baseball’s reach far beyond U.S. borders. It’s that perspective, grounded in people and a global view of the game, that makes his take on baseball’s future so compelling.

Dan saw it before most others did: a global pipeline of talent that could elevate teams and expand the game itself. From stars like Vladimir Guerrero to today’s international icons like Shohei Ohtani, that vision has helped shape baseball into a sport that reaches far beyond its borders.

At its core, this is a story about people. Dan recognized potential early, invested in it, and built connections that stretch across continents. It’s the same instinct that drives the best brands: show up where your audience is and create something that truly connects.

It’s a conversation about evolution, global thinking and what it takes for a legacy brand to win again.

Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.

The best brands don’t just sell products. They give people something to say about themselves. ISlide built an entire company on that idea by taking a simple utility item, the slide sandal, and turning it into a platform for self-expression. Today, ISlide shows up on the feet of professional athletes, high school teams and fans across nearly every major sport. What started as a locker room staple has become a recognizable badge of personal identity. On this episode of Brand Slam, hosts Joe Kayata and Mary Sadlier talk with ISlide founder Justin Kittredge about the insight that sparked the company and the conviction it took to grow it.

Few brands sit at the crossroads of sports culture and personal expression quite like ISlide. The concept is simple. Give fans and athletes a way to represent who they support and what they stand for, right down to what they wear after the game. Justin understood that dynamic long before ISlide existed. As a former Reebok basketball executive, he spent years inside one of the world’s most influential athletic brands, watching how credibility is built with players and fans. That experience helped shape his approach to partnerships, licensing and brand growth from the very beginning.

Justin also recounts one of the company’s defining moments when he appeared on Shark Tank in 2016 alongside former NFL star Antonio Brown. After hearing the offers, he made the decision to walk away from the only deal on the table. For many contestants, the decision might have been simple. Accept the deal and take the momentum. Justin saw it differently. The offer could have compromised his vision for ISlide, and he trusted his belief in the idea and his business judgment enough to walk away and continue building on his own terms.

It’s a moment that is just one chapter in a much larger story. Justin reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to brand building. He also shares how basketball continues to influence his work today, including the global nonprofit he co-founded with his wife Lindsey, Shooting Touch.

It’s a conversation about insight, conviction and the unexpected places great brand ideas can begin. Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.

Our 50th episode marks an exciting milestone for Brand Slam, and to celebrate it we welcome back one of our favorite guests, Kathryn Tappen of NBC Sports.

This episode takes listeners inside one of the most powerful storytelling stages in sports: the Olympic Games. When the world tunes in to watch history unfold, broadcasters play a critical role in shaping how those moments are experienced, remembered and shared. Few understand that responsibility better than Kathryn. The Emmy Award–winning NBC Sports broadcaster has now covered seven Olympics, including the recent 2026 Winter Games in Milan.

With hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata, Kathryn shares stories from rinkside of Team USA’s gold medal runs in both men’s and women’s Olympic hockey. The conversation explores the sustained dominance of the U.S. women’s program and the men’s historic first Olympic gold since 1980, while offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to document those moments as they unfold. Kathryn also reflects on what it takes to conduct a defining postgame interview in one of the most emotionally charged environments in sports, with 26 million viewers watching. Her conversation with Jack Hughes moments after his overtime game-winning goal quickly became one of the signature media moments of the Games.

The episode examines the enduring power of the Olympic brand. With the 2026 Winter Games averaging 23.5 million viewers across broadcast and streaming platforms, NBCUniversal delivered the most-watched Winter Olympics of all time. The discussion highlights why the Olympics remain one of the most valuable storytelling platforms for athletes, broadcasters and brands alike.

Episode 50 celebrates both a milestone for Brand Slam and the timeless appeal of the Olympic Games. It is a reminder that the moments we remember most are not just defined by the athletes who win gold, but also by the storytellers who bring those victories to life.

Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.