Scott Birnbaum (CEO & Founder of Booster) joins Shane Larson on The Gametime Guru Podcast to break down how Booster is changing sports fundraising for high school teams, booster clubs, and youth programs.

The cost of athletics keeps rising, travel, equipment, team meals, uniforms, tournament fees — and many schools don't have the budget to cover it. Scott explains why traditional fundraisers (popcorn, candy, shoot-a-thons) often fall short, and how Booster takes a different approach: fundraising through content and community, with a subscription model designed to create recurring revenue for teams.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Why fundraising has become essential for high school sports programs

• The biggest hidden costs coaches are trying to cover (especially travel + meals)

• How Booster works as a fundraising platform built around team content

• Why community-based support beats one-time product fundraisers

• How parents, athletes, and student creators can help tell the team's story

• Booster's roots in NIL and where the platform is headed next

If you're a coach, athletic director, parent, booster club leader, or sports business fan, this episode will give you a fresh look at how fundraising can actually feel exciting — and more sustainable.

Learn more about Booster: https://booster.club/

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Willie Wright is a former NFL offensive lineman and the current Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development for Bronco Life at Boise State University. In this episode, Willie breaks down what student-athlete development actually looks like behind the scenes, how the NIL era is reshaping college athletics, and why the transition to life after sports can be difficult for athletes who don't go pro.

We get into the reality of being an undrafted NFL lineman, the week-to-week pressure of roster decisions, and what it feels like to be cut while still trying to stay ready. Willie also shares the practical resources he's helping Boise State athletes use right now, including financial literacy, career exposure, networking, and professional development—so they're prepared for what's next long before the final whistle.

If you're a student-athlete, a parent of an athlete, a coach, or someone navigating that "what's next" moment after sports, this episode will give you frameworks you can apply immediately.

In this episode we cover:

• NIL and the financial reality after college sports
• Life after football and athlete identity transition
• Undrafted NFL experience, practice squads, and roster cuts
• Boise State Bronco Life: personal and professional development
• Financial literacy, networking, and career exploration for athletes

The biggest lesson from football: keep going

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David Hitz is the founder of NeuroPro, where he helps athletes and high performers strengthen mental performance through neuroscience-backed tools and training. In this episode, we talk about the turning point that changed David's life, losing his older brother, and how that experience pushed him to take his health seriously in every area.

We break down practical strategies that support the nervous system and improve performance, including breathwork, cold therapy (cold plunging), and the science of how the brain and body work together under pressure. If you are an athlete, coach, or parent of an athlete who has ever wondered why mental performance doesn't match physical ability, this episode will give you frameworks you can apply immediately.

Topics include:

• Neuroscience fundamentals for better performance
• Breathwork and nervous system regulation
• Cold exposure and mental resilience
• Performance under stress and building consistency

NeuroPro Mini-Course ($39):
https://goneuropro.com/

Related interview with David (Athlete Narrative):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btoupoRUVaI

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I've had the opportunity to follow Seth Brock since his days at Eagle High School here in the Treasure Valley. Back then, I got to watch him compete as a tight end and defensive end, and he was also getting after it on the wrestling mat. He was a high-level athlete then, and now he's a national champion at Montana State.

In this episode, Seth takes us inside what the transition to college football really looks like. Going from being "the guy" in high school to showing up at the next level where nobody cares who you were. You're back at ground zero. You're earning everything—your reps, your role, and your respect.

We talk about what his redshirt year taught him, how to stay mentally locked in when you're practicing all week but not suiting up on Saturdays, and why timing is everything when you're trying to climb the depth chart.

We also dive into the wrestling-to-football connection and why wrestling builds an edge for linemen—hand fighting, leverage, conditioning, adversity, and the mental toughness that carries over into life. Seth shares a powerful metaphor their D-line room lives by: "Water the bamboo." You don't always see growth right away… until it shoots up.

Seth also breaks down Montana State's championship standard, the physicality of Big Sky football, and what it's like being part of a team that refuses to fold—even with their backs against the wall. Plus, he shares some unforgettable moments from this season, including Gold Rush, the Super Brawl, and his welcome-to-college-football moment at Oregon.

If you're an athlete trying to make the jump to the next level—or a parent, coach, or sports fan who loves the stories behind the grind—this one is packed with lessons on preparation, patience, and maximizing opportunities when they come.

To support Seth, check out his NIL links and gear, and follow him on Instagram.

And if you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, it takes 60 seconds and helps this show grow.

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If you would like to watch the show, please feel free to follow me on YouTube and catch the video podcast from each of the guests!

Here is the link to our interview for you to watch: https://youtu.be/tyoN7PA0Fmk

Boise State football fans, this one goes way beyond the highlights.

I've followed Nick Schlekeway since his days at Eagle High School, and in this episode he shares the full story: winning at every level, playing for Boise State, and being part of the unforgettable Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma, including what it felt like inside that game that changed college football forever.

But the heart of this conversation is what happened after football ended.

Nick opens up about the identity crisis many athletes face, the emotional toll of losing the sport that shaped them, and how dark that transition can get when the cheers stop. We also talk about the reality of concussions in contact sports, how they impacted him, and what athletes and parents should understand when competing at a high level.

Today, Nick has taken the same "never quit" mindset from football and built a thriving business and team in Idaho, and his lessons on leadership, culture, and resilience apply to anyone chasing big goals.

In this episode, we cover:

• Eagle High football and the leaders who shaped Nick early
• Boise State's rise and the behind-the-scenes of the Fiesta Bowl run
• The mental battle of life after sports, identity, purpose, rebuilding
• Concussions and what athletes and parents need to know
• How Nick transitioned into entrepreneurship and built a winning culture

If you're a Boise State fan, love athlete stories, or want real insight into the grind beyond the game, follow the show and leave a review. It helps more than you know.

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If you would like to watch the show, please feel free to follow me on YouTube and catch the video podcast from each of the guests!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHG9H7vljaLwQ765GIdBQA

I had the chance to watch Layton Christian Academy compete at the Pro Image Sports Holiday Classic in Meridian, Idaho (Owyhee High School), and I was immediately intrigued by the way they carried themselves, competed, and ultimately won the tournament championship.

Even more fascinating: Layton Christian is an international school with a roster made up of 15 players from 15 different countries.

In this episode, Head Coach Casey Stanley breaks down what makes the program special and shares lessons that apply far beyond basketball, including:

• How he got into coaching at 6 years old (growing up around Iona College basketball)
• What college coaching is really like: the hours, travel, grind, and "grunt work"
• Why the best coaches and players succeed without ego (leadership takeaway)
• How international teams overcome language barriers (including stories using Google Translate)
• Why learning to "hug the win" matters for coaches, leaders, and business owners
• If you're a basketball junkie, a coach, a parent, or an athlete who loves the game — this one is for you.

Follow Layton Christian Basketball:

• Instagram: @lcambb

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Art Manteris is one of the most respected names in sports betting, an industry veteran with a four-decade career that includes time at the Fremont Hotel & Casino and running the sportsbook at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He was also inducted into the Sports Gaming Hall of Fame for his impact on the world of sports gaming.

In this convo, I sit down with Art to talk about his new book, "The Bookie: How I Bet it all on Sports Gambling and Watched an Industry Explode", and the current headlines surrounding sports gambling.

With betting scandals and integrity concerns dominating the conversation, Art shares an insider perspective on what's real, what's misunderstood, and what leagues, sportsbooks, and bettors can do to protect the integrity of the game while keeping sports betting legalized and responsibly regulated.

If you're a sports fan, a bettor, or just curious about how this industry actually works behind the scenes, this is a must-listen.

Get the book:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bookie-Inside-Betting-Billion-Dollar-Industry-ebook/dp/B0DQVC88X4

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bookie-art-manteris/1147777162
...

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Veteran sports journalist and author Harvey Araton joins me on the show for a deep conversation on how sports media has changed, what true "access" used to look like in the print era, and why great storytelling still matters in today's sports culture.

Harvey shares behind-the-scenes stories from a career covering elite athletics (including the NBA), plus his experience co-producing ESPN's 30 for 30: When the Garden Was Eden, a project tied to the legendary 1970s New York Knicks era.

A major focus of this episode is Harvey's newest project and his first-ever middle-grade children's novel, ** The Goal of the Game **, inspired by what youth sports has become in today's high-pressure, high-cost environment. If you're a parent, coach, athlete, journalist, or someone who loves sports stories with real meaning, this one will hit.

In this episode, we cover:

• What sports journalism used to be like and how access has changed
• Print media vs. today's creator-driven sports media world
• How When the Garden Was Eden became an ESPN 30 for 30
• The pressure kids face in modern youth sports and how early it starts
• The youth sports industry, travel teams, and the "future stakes" mindset
• Why Harvey wrote The Goal of the Game and what he hopes kids learn
• A powerful life lesson: don't enter a story with a preconceived conclusion, listen first

Harvey Araton's book: The Goal of the Game
Amazon: https://a.co/d/4VkH2XF

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-goal-of-the-game-harvey-araton/1148082088

Website: http://www.HarveyAraton.com

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