Podcast

The podcast is back! The plan was to relaunch with Opening Day going this week. Obviously much has changed in the last month but am excited about the guest who will kick us off for this year’s episodes.

Former college player and owner of Athletes Brand Kyle Mauch shares the story behind how he has helped 1500 pro athletes fully maximize their platform since starting his company on Episode 29.

Here are the highlights from our conversation…

1. How a back injury ended Kyle’s playing career but sparked going all in on business

2. How an ultimatum from Kyle’s brother led to Kyle entering a contest to win $50,000 from Go Daddy which ultimately had him pitching his business idea to Danica Patrick while riding shotgun at Charlotte Motor Speedway

3. How Athletes Brand has evolved from a t-shirt company to helping athletes make a permanent impact by standing up for causes they believe in

4. Kyle’s best tips for current players on how to navigate using social media and their platform while the spotlight is on them

Kyle’s story shows that when you know your why you can go beyond where you initially imagined.

Click here to connect with Kyle on LinkedIn or go to KyleMauch.com to get his e-Book explaining his legacy formula he’s used with athletes.

To learn more about Athletes Brand, visit the website at athletesbrand.com or on Instagram at @athletesbrand.

Tune into Episode 29 by clicking here or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

By Luke Melms

In the last few months, there have been many emotions stirred within the baseball community especially among current MLB players.

The gasoline on the fire moment was the commissioner referring to the World Series trophy as “a piece of metal” in an interview with ESPN.

Seeing that the fire has only gotten larger, I’d like to use these choice of words to point out one of the keys in the wake of everything going on.

There is a massive misunderstanding of what it takes to play the game at a level most will only ever dream of. Putting on a jersey to compete at the pro and/or college level is the byproduct of making many sacrifices. This can only be fully understood by fellow players not those who have only worn suits and sat in offices.

I don’t care if it is a conference championship, national championship or World Series title…the ring that accompanies the trophy serves as a permanent reminder of the price paid to achieve these feats.

Pushing through the aches and pains of a full season, being away from family while on the road, the offseason workouts, rehabbing from a season ending injury, juggling the student-athlete demands…the list could go on and on. All these form a bond unlike anything else among a group of guys that make up a team.

I write this piece with a little extra emotion brewing within me. I am blessed to say that two weekends ago my girlfriend became my fiancée. The ring I put on her finger symbolizes this pinnacle moment which is the reward of the effort we’ve put in since we met to build a relationship and the future we are committed to build together.

For those married or engaged, imagine telling your wife or fiancée that the ring on her finger is just a piece of metal and stones with an undertone that minimizes what it symbolizes. I can’t even imagine such degrading words being said to someone that is supposedly valued.

Justin Turner summed up the commissioner’s comments perfectly when he asked, “Is he that out of touch with our game that those are his comments?…Does he not know what we put into these seasons? Does he not know how much work we dedicate to winning that piece of metal?”

In moments of chaos, an opportunity for a silver lining always eventually appears. As much as I’m disappointed in the cheating that has taken place on the field, I am glad to see how the overwhelming majority of those who have played the game the right way have not been afraid to speak their mind.

We all get one shot at this game called life which includes baseball and everything beyond it. I believe this is a unique moment for us to showcase to the world who we fully are.

While I’m in the middle of planning a wedding and meeting the high demands at work, I’m committed to getting the next episodes of the podcast published. The most rewarding part of everything we’ve done so far has been helping players’ stories with practical wisdom be shared while creating opportunities for players to connect with one another.

The timing of the new episodes will coincide with the new MLB season starting in only a few weeks. In the meantime, there are 28 episodes already published for those that more recently joined us and were not already aware. You can listen to these on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Anchor.

You have made Baseball and Business what it is today and thank you for that. It is the only platform I am aware of that has been specifically created to empower current and former players to reach their full potential on the field and in business. If you’d like to help our message spread, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts as it helps get the podcast promoted to a wider audience and create more awareness for our cause.

I look forward to what is in store for us this year!

By Luke Melms

As we come to the end of the year, it is important to pause and reflect on everything you’ve accomplished. I want to give you a simple but deep question to ponder going into 2020 as you set new goals.

The question to contemplate is, “Did it matter?”

I believe we are all called to lead in at least one area regardless of what phase of life we find ourselves in. We run the risk of missing opportunities if we don’t pause to make sure there’s clarity on where we are and where we are going with those who are counting on us.

Leadership being an intangible object is important to think about and learn from in the context of real examples versus concepts and theory. I’ll share what is most top of mind to me after going back to Milwaukee for Christmas to spend time with family.

My grandfather is a 94 year old World War II Army vet who fought in Germany. Over the years we’ve talked about his life, leadership has always been a center point in the story. When it comes to the war, he says he isn’t a hero and just served in the way that the country needed him at that time. I’ve seen him so often put the interest of others ahead of his own especially us as grandkids.

Many times leadership is more about modeling an example to follow versus giving a fiery speech. While thinking of my grandfather, I am reminded of some of the best to ever play the game that left a legacy beyond the diamond fighting in WWII themselves.

I want to thank you for your continued support behind Baseball and Business and especially thank all of those who’ve willingly shared their story between the podcast and written articles over the past three years. These have been monumental in helping others see how to successfully build a career and life beyond baseball.

Eventually, the question we are thinking about is more than just the end of a year and is the summation of our life. I’ve wrestled with what this question has meant for me but always come back to relationships being what matter most. Although I’ve been working in the investment world for almost a decade, my grandfather has taught me the most valuable investing lesson…you can’t go wrong when you invest in people. That’s what I hope the legacy of Baseball and Business will be one day when I am not here.

Getting to know many of you personally and seeing your journey unfold has been a great blessing. The feedback and different stories resulting from our mission being carried out is what drives my desire to see the impact multiply.

My biggest goal moving forward is to make it easier for relationships to be built among all of us regardless of where we are geographically located. I think of our community as one giant team. We all know from playing that being a part of a team helps goals be kept a top priority while also building in accountability to follow through. If we go at anything alone, we can easily drift out of our lane unconsciously only to wake up finding ourselves rolled over in the ditch.

In the last moments of 2019, let’s celebrate the wins, make sure we learn from the losses and are ready to charge into this new year with 100% clarity.

Happy New Year and wish you all the best in 2020! Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of help at any point.

Former college player and current medical school student Jonathan Melms shares from his journey on the field and how this has prepared him for his biggest test on Episode 28.

Here are the highlights from our conversation…

1. How juggling being a student-athlete at Macalester College prepared Jonathan for med school by being at an academically challenging school while playing baseball

2. Why having the right motives when chasing a significant goal can be the difference between success and failure

3. The importance of creating “teammates” beyond baseball

4. Why creating new dreams around the balance of passion and making the money needed to live the lifestyle you want is a key to balance

Jonathan’s story shows that life after baseball can allow us to set our sights on significant goals beyond the field.

Baseball and Business is really just another way of saying baseball and whatever life is beyond the field. This is a great example of one of many paths beyond the game. 

Tune into Episode 28 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

The transition from playing baseball to business can be one of the most challenging situations that we as baseball players face. This week former college player and Founder of Baseball and Business Luke Melms shares a few questions that have been emailed in recently and shares his thoughts and perspective on Episode 27.

Here are the questions that were discussed…

1. How do I overcome the struggle with identity and the inability to see exactly what is in store for the future now that playing baseball is done?

2. How do I re-establish myself within a new business community after moving to a new city?

3.  How do I find my passion and/or niche after baseball having several interests but unsure which one to pursue?

4. How do I know whether to be patient about the potential to get promoted internally or look for new opportunities outside my current company?

We are all at different points in this journey on the field and/or in business. The beauty of the network is the ability to grow together in both areas. Tune into Episode 27 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Former MLB player and 2006 1st Round Pick of the Padres Matt Antonielli shares from the highs and lows of his pro ball career and how this perfectly positioned him to coach after his playing career in Episode 26.

Here are the highlights from our conversation…

1. Why Matt decided to go to college versus signing after being drafted out of high school

2. How Matt’s journey going from draft pick to the big leagues in 2 years would teach him lessons that carried into coaching

3. How Matt juggled being a graduate assistant at Wake Forest, finishing his degree and starting Antonelli Baseball all at once

4. The power of building a brand through social media and specifically video

Matt’s story shows that being able to look back without regret is something we should all aspire for in baseball and business.

To learn more about Matt, visit his website at antonellibaseball.com. To connect with Matt, you can find him on Instagram @antonellibaseball or his YouTube channel by searching Antonelli Baseball.

Tune into Episode 26 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Former D1 college player and Navy SEAL Jason Kuhn shares from his time on the mound, in special ops and how both led to starting his company Stonewall Solutions on Episode 25.

Here are the highlights from our conversation…

1. How Jason went from dealing on the mound for a Top 25 team at Middle Tennessee State to losing complete control as a senior because of performance anxiety otherwise known as the yips

2. The search and struggle to find the same sense of purpose and identity baseball provided which ultimately led to going into the Navy after graduating college

3. Jason describing how he made it through hell week to become 1 of 20 guys in his class of 135 to survive training and earn the opportunity to become a Navy SEAL carrying out special ops overseas

4. How his experiences on the battlefield and baseball field led to starting his company Stonewall Solutions after serving 10 years active military to empower sports teams to be better equipped mentally to win on the field

Jason’s story shows that our biggest challenges can become our biggest victories when we reframe them and stay focused on the current moment versus tapping out.

To connect with Jason on LinkedIn, click here.

To learn more about Stonewall Solutions, visit the website at stonewall-solutions.com or on Instagram at @stonewall_solutions. 

Tune into Episode 25 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Former pro player and Red Sox draft pick Jeff Natale shares on Episode 24 from his journey in pro ball making it to AAA along with his transition to the other side where he recently took the dive into entrepreneurship.

Here are the highlights from our conversation…

1. How Jeff was able to get attention of pro scouts and ultimately get drafted by the Red Sox in 2005 as a senior out of D3 Trinity College in Connecticut

2. Jeff’s journey from starting in the Florida Gulf Coast League to playing at AAA within the Red Sox and Yankees organizations

3. Jeff’s transition after baseball into his first job working at Milton Academy in Connecticut developing high school students and baseball players

4. How Jeff’s educational experience personally having a degree, working in education and playing as a pro player has led to starting a company called BAATS, Baseball Academic Advisory Team Support

Jeff’s story shows that being the underdog and constantly playing with a chip on your shoulder can go a long ways. In baseball, this translated to nearly having a .300 career average over 6 minor league seasons. In business, he is going against the odds by starting his own company.

To connect with Jeff on LinkedIn, click here.

Tune into Episode 24 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Former D1 player Alex Tuccio shares how the idea for starting his business ScoutDay was the byproduct of his own recruiting journey as a high school player on Episode 23.

Here are the highlights from our conversation…

1. How Alex’s transition from Seton Hall to Siena after one semester was an importnat part of the journey that birthed ScoutDay

2. How the initial investor in ScoutDay falling through led Alex to become a better entrepreneur because of having less resources to work with

3. Alex’s recent sale of the business which led to his current role as Head of Growth for :betr, a company started by one of the key employees in the earlier days of Facebook

4. Alex’s advice on how to leverage social media and the window of time as a current player to get a meeting with anyone you want within business

Alex’s story shows that the problems we face today may be a solution waiting to be provided in the marketplace tomorrow.

To connect with Alex on LinkedIn, click here.

Tune into Episode 23 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Former big leaguer with the Red Sox Jonathan Van Every shares from his 8 year journey through the minors before making his big league debut on Episode 22.

Here are the highlights from our conversation…

1. His experience playing on a defending World Series championship team in Boston along with facing Araldis Chapman and Mariano Rivera

2. Going back to school at 31 to get a Bachelor’s degree after pro ball ended

3. How the 8 year journey in the minors before getting to the big leagues helped in the process of navigating finding an industry where his interests and skills best aligned in the business world after experience in several industries

4. The risk Jonathan took to get into his current role in a new industry

Jonathan’s story shows that persistence is often the key ingredient needed in order to get where we are ultimately trying to get to.

To connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn, click here.

Tune into Episode 22 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.