The K.P. Wee Podcast

Pete Steinberg, a leadership consultant based in Boulder, Colorado, joins this episode and discusses his new book, Leadership Shock: Using Authenticity to Navigate the Hidden Dangers of Career Success (Advantage Books; April 16, 2024). A former Olympic rugby coach, Pete is currently the president of the business consulting firm Innovative Thought. He has extensive experience consulting with top Fortune 200 and Fortune 500 professionals, having done so for more than two decades. Some of the topics and ideas from the book include the Authentic Leadership Model as well as the Shotgun Approach, both of which Pete discusses in this episode. To get in touch with Pete, contact him through his website: https://www.petesteinberg.com/

Brett Hawn, the host of the Totally Goated podcast and a New York Mets fan, stops by to discuss the latest happenings in baseball two weeks into the 2024 season. The topics of discussion include the Mets (of course!), the new MLB/Fanatics jerseys, the rise in the number of injuries to pitchers, and betting on sports.

Stan Markotich, a former CJIV Radio news director, joins the podcast today to discuss the complex issue of sports betting. Some key issues raised by Stan include the following: Why are fans allowed to wager on sports while athletes aren't able to -- and wouldn't sports betting itself ruin sports?

Keith O'Brien joins this episode to discuss his new book Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball. Keith, who grew up in Cincinnati and currently lives in New Hampshire, discusses why he wrote the book and what he hopes readers get out of it. He also shares the process of his writing and some tidbits of what surprised him during his research for this book. To get a copy of Keith's book, click here. Follow Keith on X: https://twitter.com/KeithOB Keith's website: https://keithob.com/

Guest host Stan Markotich and regular host K.P. Wee discuss the topic of how ready students are, based on their observations as educators, to face their next step upon graduation. K.P. shares many observations from his own experiences, some of which raise Stan's eyebrows in this thought-provoking discussion.

Michael Unger (UDeck1990 on X) joins this episode to discuss the recent player cards he posted, a list which includes Lee Smith, Tom Brunansky, Storm Davis, Mark Davis, Glenn Braggs, and Jim Gott. K.P. shares some obscure trivia about Gott, brings up the broken-bat at-bats that Braggs was known for, discusses memories about the other players (including TSN showing a graphic about all the "Davises" in baseball in 1993), and talks about the 1990 Reds as well as Mike Witt's $8 million, 3-year contract with the Yankees.

Guest host Stan Markotich and regular host K.P. Wee explore the idea of whether today's high school seniors, based on their observations as educators, are ready for college or university.

Stan Markotich, a former news director at CJIV Radio, stops by to guest host this episode as he and K.P. discuss sports broadcasting. K.P. talks about his experience being a hockey play-by-play broadcaster for the Greater Vancouver Canadians, a minor hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

It's October, and it's time for postseason baseball chatter with guest Brett Hawn! K.P. laments the fact that there are too many playoff teams, which results in the top two seeds in each league having to sit around for five days prior to getting their first taste of the postseason. K.P. also gets Brett's thoughts on "mistakes" made by managers and teams during the 2023 postseason. Are the Arizona Diamondbacks that good, or is their postseason success due to mistakes made by the Brewers and Dodgers? Who does Brett see going all the way in 2023?

Guest Host Stan Markotich joins this episode to discuss sports myths and mythology. About Stan Markotich: Born and raised in Vancouver, Stan completed his undergraduate work at Simon Fraser University in 1985. From there, he went on to receive a master’s degree from the University of Victoria. In 1987, he moved to Indiana University, earning his doctoral degree in history under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Jelavich. Upon graduation, Markotich accepted an appointment with Radio Free Europe, serving as Serbian analyst and remaining in Europe for roughly a decade. He is the main author of White Paper of the Independent Media Commission: Media and Democratisation in Bosnia and Hercegovina (2000). Markotich is currently revising a memoir that deals with his years in the Balkans. Now based in Greater Vancouver, he teaches classes at a private school, lectures for Brock House Society, and offers courses on the Balkans through SFU Continuing Education. Follow Stan @LinkedIn Click here if you would like to hear previous episodes of the K.P. Wee Podcast. If you’re a fan of this podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong: Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger.

Todd Denault, who has authored four hockey books, makes a return appearance on the podcast to discuss his latest writing project. A life-long Montreal Canadiens fan, Todd is currently working on a book about the famed "Kid Line" of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the 1930s featuring Charlie Conacher, Harvey "Busher" Jackson and Joe Primeau. Todd also discusses his thoughts on Jacques Plante, the subject of his first book. To learn more about Todd and his books, check him out at https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=todd+denault Twitter: https://twitter.com/todddenault @ToddDenault Here is a list of his books: -Jacques Plante: The Man Who Changed the Face of Hockey -The Greatest Game: The Montreal Canadiens, the Red Army, and the Night That Saved Hockey -A Season in Time: Super Mario, Killer, St. Patrick, the Great One, and the Unforgettable 1992-93 NHL Season -Unbreakable: 50 Goals in 39 Games

In Part II of back-to-back episodes about all things customer service, Guest host Stan Markotich and podcast namesake K.P. Wee swap thoughts on what so many of us are experiencing in our everyday lives as consumers. Is the standard acceptable and, even if it isn’t, is that something we have any power to change? K.P. recalls his experiences as a frontlines customer service rep, including some pretty astonishing (and contradictory) training messages that you won’t want to miss. You’ll remember these customer management “tips” the next time you call one of those 1-800 numbers with a problem to report! The co-hosts bring humor to their practical (somewhat bleak) take on how things have evolved and our expectations as a buying audience have been reset. Could it be that our hands are tied? If complaining about shoddy customer service means you’re hurting someone’s feelings or whining about so-called “first world” problems, then is the only alternative to accept it and move on? We shall see how long people are willing to put up with food deliveries full of leaky containers, empty store shelves and phone reps who are trained to shine us on – and avoid giving a refund at all costs. Learn what your cohosts think on this fun, if sobering, look at the world of customer service! Click here if you would like to hear previous episodes of the K.P. Wee Podcast If you’re a fan of this podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong: Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger. KEY TOPICS: Fans Revolt! How a recently rain-delayed Cubs game demonstrates the power of sports “customers” to voice their displeasure with poor customer service: Twitter outrage at Fox Television’s programming choices. Complaints about Cubs communications’ failure to direct viewers an outlet where they could view the game when it finally took place. Lack of social media or scoreboard updates for those at Wrigley Field awaiting news on the status of the game. Customer Service Supply Chain: Stan reflects on how honoring (and understanding the concept of) demand plays a key role in delivering loyalty and consumer satisfaction. Training is Key: Based on personal experience, K.P. reflects on what he was taught about customer service and how the system fails. A couple of gems: Always treat customer interactions as a negotiation. Be genuine to the people you work with, but it’s okay to be aloof or uncaring towards customers because they’re only temporarily passing through. The “Tragic” Words Customer Service Trainees are Taught Not to Say: Hold on. Hang on. Just a second. Let me pull you up. Have to ... That’s against company policy. The truth is … To be honest … I’ll try. Hopefully … She’s not here right now. (As opposed to she’ll be back at 3p.) Calm down. Calling Out Customer Service Contradictions: Reps are taught to be both authentic and also to blow off customers. Reps are taught to be respectful and empathetic to customer complaints while also being told to treat customers as children to be managed. More From K.P.’s Training Notebook Full of Mixed Messages: Don’t cut anyone off. Don’t be robotic. Be friendly. Don’t try to impress. Don’t talk about yourself. Show that you’re relaxed and open to chat. Ask open-ended questions. Don’t use the usual conversational icebreakers. No more than three pauses or instances of dead air in the first five minutes. Don’t interrogate. See how they open up. Know a little about everything so you know what to say. Don’t control the conversation. Getting to the Truth: Is the real goal of customer service just to move things off the shelves? About the role of manipulation in inducing and managing demand. What It Means: If a customer service rep. isn’t saying anything it may be because they don’t want to agree with a complaint or open up the possibility of a demand for a refund. Two-Way Street: How K.P. negotiated the politics during his stint as a rep. and the ways in which it was a model of...

In this episode, Brett Hawn from Totally Goated podcast joins the show to discuss the latest happenings in Major League Baseball, including Brett's New York Mets. There is also some chatter about the NBA's New York Knicks and why K.P. is a fan of Julius Randle. Follow Brett on Twitter @brett_hawn, and check out his NFL coverage on the Jaguar Report and the ToroTimes.

In this first of a K.P. Wee Podcast two-parter, Guest Host Stan Markotich invites K.P. to join him in an unvarnished look at the state of customer service today – from the customer’s point of view. Avid sports fans may keep buying tickets even when their teams disappoint, but can big business employ sloppy practices and still expect that same kind of blind brand loyalty? For many of us, today’s shoddy standards and neglectful customer service are just a fact of life; part of our consumer landscape. But this conversation asks: Does it have to be that way? Do we patrons deserve (and can we demand) better? There are systemic factors that have conditioned us to expect late or no-show technicians, disengaged retail clerks or food deliveries that arrive either cold or late – or not at all. As K.P. underscores, most service workers are doing their best and often feel undermined on the job. It’s understandable at many service workers feel squeezed, angry, or tempted to express their individuality on TikTok. The question is whether we – as a society – will continue to say okay to impersonal, unprofessional, even hostile treatment. “We have as a whole accepted this kind of lack of service that we are receiving and that’s unfortunate,” says K.P., who attributes some of the deterioration to pandemic dislocations and outsourcing gaps. Together with Stan, he sees a definitive trend but there’s still hope. Why? Because at some point people might develop a nostalgic yearning for reliable, kind, personalized service. “Maybe the only way (current customer service standards) are going to change is if eventually somebody offers something in the way of a counter-programming,” says Stan. Maybe it’s time to study the kinds of total fan experiences (and player personalities) that foster diehard loyalty because (with thanks to the theme song from "Cheers") nothing compels repeat business and customer satisfaction more than that special feeling of being “where everybody knows your name – and they’re always glad you came!” Click here if you would like to hear previous episodes of the K.P. Wee Podcast If you’re a fan of this podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong: Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger. KEY TOPICS: Customer Service Nightmare: K.P. shares his recent experience with an internet service provider repeatedly disregarding his schedule, wasting his time, inaccurately tracking and billing – and miscommunicating at every step along the way! Stan Relates! Crazy tales of negligent customer service are all too common! Is There a Root Cause? Cost-cutting measures? Subcontracting rather than hiring full-time employees? Brands that don’t invest in the actual infrastructure required? Workers who are just biding time and don’t feel invested in the job? Tip, Please!? About the pitfalls of ordering food for delivery – especially if you’re trying to coordinate the timing with a break from work! Late. Lost. Even cancelled! Who’s to Blame? How outsourced systems are prone to over-complicate the basic communications and processes necessary to get the job done. TikTok Nation: About K.P.’s theory that some poor performers are intentionally rebelling as a way to seem original, individual, or worthy of social media attention. Team Play: How the prevalence of outsourced employee functions can undermine the quality of products, services and their delivery – whether in the context of a sports operation, a retail chain, or restaurant franchise. Time for a Closer Look? Why it would make sense to examine customer service operations across a range of companies to see which are benefiting from subcontracting various functions, especially outward facing interactions! The Human Side: K.P. acknowledges the challenges large and small that delivery people face (including a fender-bender that recently delayed his meal delivery). Other Examples of Poor Service: Drivers who offer no hello, instead chatting with a friend on the...

If you’re a fan of Michael Unger’s 1990 Upper Deck baseball card project, then it doesn’t get better than this episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast—which features a non-stop stream of sports history, trivia, game deconstructions, and remembrances. Enjoy this return visit from a fan favorite known to baseball card collectors through his social media handles udeck1990@Twitter or upperdeck1990@Insta. Michael and K.P. do a deep dive into some of the exciting (if sometimes forgotten or obscure) players that Michael has been posting about daily as he works his way systematically through each of his 1990 Upper Deck baseball cards. His social media posts have created a community through which he and K.P. initially connected and became friends. Today's episode includes mention of pitchers Jim Abbott, Jeff Russell, Bob Milacki, and Jack McDowell. K.P. mentions a couple of unpleasant memories with Russell (including a quote given to the press about the city of Boston) and a funny story about McDowell from the 1995 ALDS, while Michael shares his research on some fascinating tidbits related to these players. He even mentions some memories concerning Mark McGwire and hockey star Stephane Richer.

Are you a certifiable Sports Dork? If so, then you’re in for a treat with this episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast. Featuring Paul Hembekides – or “Hembo,” as he’s known around ESPN – the stats, history, and data points are coming fast and furious. A content guru whose research nuggets are showcased regularly on the ESPN morning show “Get Up!”, Hembo is giving us a peak into the new book he has written with his ESPN radio co-host Mike (#Greeny) Greenberg: "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own." Join K.P. and his special guest host, sports business consultant Jason Takefman, for a nonstop tour of the sports world’s most significant numbers from 1 to 100 – who owns which, why and from what arena? You’ll learn how working in the industry changes your fandom (which it definitely does, but not necessarily for the worse) and the “excruciating” decisions Hembo and Greeny had to work through in making tough calls sure to stir controversy. Consider numbers like #7 or #4 or #21 and the overlap in how they’ve defined careers across professional sports and teams. It’s all up for debate! Sports dorkery doesn’t get much purer than this – or more fun! Ready to see where your favorite numbers shake out? Click here to learn more about and purchase Hembo’s new book, "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own." And visit this link if you would like to check out The K.P. Wee Podcast archives and listen to previous episodes. If you’re a fan of this podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong: Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger. KEY TOPICS: Making It Happen: Hembo recalls how his co-author Mike “Greeny” Greenberg lit the fire (and the two easily netted a publisher) for their joint effort, "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own." Hembo’s Favorite Thing About the Book: There are 100 chapters but only 56 are occupied by an athlete’s jersey because the authors also pegged numbers that represent records (like Wilt Chamberlain’s 100), years (like ‘72 for the Dolphins) as well as rivalries, car numbers and an important distance (a legendary marathon winner). Keeping It Honest: While researching the book, Hembo stayed focused on compiling an objective historical record that was unbiased towards his personal favorites. In Pursuit of Joy: Why Hembo feels it’s important to keep sports in perspective as what they are – something meant to be savored and enjoyed! On the Job Learning: Being immersed in the world of sports has actually prompted Hembo to take the whole thing less – not more – seriously. He sees it for what it is! The Greatest Thing Ever: How watching the Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins bat a magical homerun took Hembo back to the “guttural glee” of childhood. Never Quite the Same: For all the dopamine rush of his experience working in sports, there is an undeniable change in Hembo’s relationship to fandom. Not better or worse. Just different. The Numbers Game: About weighing (and debating) who got to own which numbers (like #21, #4, #11) in which sports and why. Navigating the Publishing Process: The level of granularity and density of information in Hembo’s work insulates him against too much tampering on the part of copy editors. Favorite Chapters: For Jason, Chapter 8: Because it was so wrong! Cal Ripken Jr. owns that number! (There’s a backstory as to how the authors settled on Kobe Bryant.) For K.P., Chapter 26: Because it was a non-jersey-related choice that felt refreshing, surprising and interesting! For Hembo: Chapter 56: Stands out because it was the most excruciating, choosing between Joe DiMaggio and Lawrence Taylor. “It makes the book so fun!” Check out Hembo’s book, which is brand new this spring, at this link. Perfect for the sports nerd in your life! KEY QUOTES: “I really made my bones in this business as a researcher, as a numbers guy, as a stats and information person.” (Hembo) “It’s not just an athlete owning...

For Episode 77, it's a "best of" episode with a replay of a recent conversation between K.P. and guest host Stan Markotich in which the former shares tales of caution in the workplace that exemplify a lack of respect. Also included are thoughts from LA Dodger historian Mark Langill about being respectful to people around you. Finally, a story about NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal is shared by Ted Sobel, LA radio's longest tenured sports reporter. If you're interested in Ted Sobel's book Touching Greatness: Tales from the Front Row with Heroes and Legends, you can find it here: https://coacheschoice.com/touching-greatness/ or here: https://www.amazon.com/Touching-Greatness-Ted-Sobel/dp/1606795430

If you’re a fan of Michael Unger’s 1990 Upper Deck baseball card project, then it doesn’t get better than this episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast—which features a non-stop stream of sports history, trivia, game deconstructions, and remembrances. Enjoy this return visit from a fan favorite known to baseball card collectors through his social media handles udeck1990@Twitter or upperdeck1990@Insta. Michael and K.P. do a deep dive into some of the exciting (if sometimes forgotten or obscure) players that Michael has been posting about daily as he works his way systematically through each of his 1990 Upper Deck baseball cards. His social media posts have created a community through which he and K.P. initially connected and became friends. This time, the names Zane Smith, Kal Daniels, Kenny Rogers, Dave Stieb, Steve Finley, Todd Zeile, and Joey Cora are mentioned. K.P. references two old quotes attributed to Darryl Strawberry (Michael's childhood baseball hero), with the Straw Man trashing Smith (an opponent) and Daniels (a teammate in Los Angeles). Michael brings up the story about how Cora almost never made it to the major leagues and the football-tossing routine of the Texas Rangers in the 1980s and 1990s, and K.P. brings up three infamous moments in Zeile's career (the 1996 ALCS, the 2000 World Series, and a late-season game from 1997).

In this episode, New Zealand-based performance mindset coach Steven Cockram re-joins the podcast for a follow-up with co-host Stan Markotich and regular host K.P. Wee. SUMMARY: Whatever we do in life, mindset matters! And that’s why it’s the focus of Steve Cockram’s highly successful practice. As a performance coach, he helps clients stretch, grow and reach ambitious goals – both as athletes and as humans. Host K.P. Wee and his special co-host, Stan Markotich, invite their guest to share insights gleaned over his years as a high-level rugby player and trusted AthleticMindset advisor to top competitors across the gamut of sports. Based in New Zealand and part of the fitness industry since the age of 17, Steve incorporates sports psychology to help clients uncover blocks often rooted in past relationships and personal history. Working on a perceptual and empathetic level, he coaxes athletes into deeper motivation by helping them to understand motivations, challenges and barriers like Impostor Syndrome or performance anxiety. You’ll learn about the overlap between the mindsets and behaviors of aspiring athletes and burgeoning authors (more than you might imagine) and discover how Steve builds trust (and favorable outcomes) through transparency, communication and a willingness to change course when necessary. Join us to find out what zone you’re in – Comfort, Fear or Growth – and why uncovering your core beliefs (especially those that do not serve) can make all the difference when it comes to overcoming setbacks and averting disappointment out on the playing field and everywhere else in life! Click here if you would like to hear previous episodes of the K.P. Wee Podcast or here if you’d like to know more about the many books he has authored. If you’re a fan of this podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong: Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger KEY TOPICS: Steve introduces himself and explains what distinguishes his work as a mindset coach focused on relationships and personal history as a tool for athletic transformation.Different sports attract different types of personalities, but triggers for things like Impostor Syndrome and performance anxiety are universal. About the three zones in which Steve works:Comfort Zone.Fear Zone.Growth Zone.Two components of averting failures and overcoming setbacks: Bring a growth mindset (drive, desire, dedication and discipline) to the examination of mistakes.Manage expectations to enable clarity, flexibility and a reset.A closer look at divergent athletic styles: Coaches are in a unique position to understand the goals, motivations and psychology that individual players bring to their sports.Sometimes expectations align, and sometimes they don’t. And that’s okay! Steve recalls an example of an athlete with whom his style of performance coaching was not a fit.Part of Steve’s success is his transparency right out of the gate with clients in terms of his approach, style and the program’s interactive, personal elements. How common vocabulary deepens client communication and worksheet reflections.The elements that Steve emphasizes in building trust and accountability include:Honesty.Sharing.Empathy.Openness.Vulnerable.The Root of Impostor Syndrome: Steve believes it the result of going through a process multiple times in which you feel you’ve fallen short or failed to achieve. The result for many is feelings of:Pain.Isolation.Self-doubt.Exclusion from community.Steve’s prescription for overcoming Impostor Syndrome: Consistently demonstrate to yourself a base-level ability to perform in an environment where you don’t feel comfortable and, over time, deep feelings of competency and self-empowerment will naturally follow. Writers Are No Different: Like athletes, those who pursue the written word experience setbacks and self-doubt on the way to honing their craft and reaching for the peaks.Loner Athletes: Steve asks probing questions to open up a conversation about how family ties...

It’s one of those things we were all supposed to have learned in kindergarten, right? When it comes to R-E-S-P-E-C-T, we should strive to treat others as we would like to be treated! While the concept seems basic, this episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast explores the many ways in which fundamental decency is often lacking in our workplaces and society at large. Guest Host Stan Markotich invites K.P. Wee, author and educator, to share on-the-job experiences that capture the negative impacts of treating others unfairly … or worse! Sharing recollections of former colleagues who demonstrated bad form, K.P. and Stan weigh in with life lessons and perspectives you won’t soon forget! With vivid examples of co-workers and even bosses who disrespect others by making everything all about themselves, this episode highlights red flags to be on the lookout for (both on the job and in life generally). A lack of kindness, integrity and equality can turn workplaces toxic, but there are simple measures that can be implemented to build not only a healthy workplace culture but a strong sense of community. It starts with setting an honorable tone – preferably at the top – that makes treating one another with respect a baseline value and expectation. You’ll never hear Aretha Franklin’s anthem again without thinking back on these colorful insights! And definitely stay tuned for a future episode that will dive deeper into the topic of motivation – something that, much like respect, has to be cultivated and earned. Click here if you would like to hear previous episodes of the K.P. Wee Podcast or here if you’d like to know more about the many books he has authored. If you’re a fan of this podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong: Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger KEY TOPICS: A quick update on K.P., play-by-play hockey and otherwise keeping busy with teaching students the do’s and don’ts of life! A Baseline Definition of Respect: Treating everyone equally and fairly!Tales of caution that exemplify a lack of respect: #1 – K.P. and Jane Doe: Don’t Be a User! About a colleague who solicited help and then went cold once she’d gotten what she wanted in the way of support. Ignoring is a hallmark of disrespect. Passive-Aggressive behaviors communicate disrespect with a snub.#2 – Esprit de Corps: When Colleagues or Bosses are All About Themselves!About people who aren’t willing to contribute to a group dynamic unless they personally benefit.About people who demonstrate contempt (rather than professionalism) on their way out the door.About people who exploit the skills and good will of others without reciprocity.About people who ask for favors – while also giving a kick in the pants when you’re heading out the door.Tips for Employers Who Want to Communicate Respect:Be up-front and clear about setting expectations.Don’t bait-and-switch.Don’t lie and manipulate!Don’t say one thing and do another!Walk the Walk: Emphasize respect over mere consideration!Send a message and set an example of respect and inclusion from the top. Create a strong culture built on mutual respect.K.P. recalls how Dodger Team Historian Mark Langill defined respect on this episode of the K.P. Wee Podcast. It doesn’t matter who you are dealing with, you treat them with kindness and courteousness – whatever level of the organization they inhabit.Does motivation correlate with respect? If you’re not self-motivated, then you’re most likely contributing to an un-reciprocal (and toxic ) environment.Stay tuned for a future episode in which K.P. will share observations from the broadcaster’s point of view about motivation and how in itself can be a form of respect! KEY QUOTES: “What respect boils down to is trying to be helpful and kind to others – and you would think that they would reciprocate.” (K.P.) “If you’re kind to others and they don’t reciprocate, that’s where the issue begins.” (K.P.)“When I leave my door open it’s symbolic. It’s to say that my door is always open...