Give Me A Sense With Mike Yam

FS1 studio host Mike Hill is the latest guest on the Give Me a Sense podcast. From his humbling beginnings in the Bronx cleaning up Yankee Stadium to sportscasting stardom; Hill explains his unique start in the business which includes being in the military, having top secret clearance and how that helped him earn his first on air job. He still remembers sending out 74 tapes, getting 70 rejection letters and 2 interviews. Hill relives his day’s at ESPN and some of his favorite encounters with Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Snoop.  Mike Hill:  Twitter and Instagram: @ItsMikeHill www.steptothemike.com   Mike Yam: Twitter and Instagram: @Mike_Yam

What do you get when 2 friends are on a road trip hopping from campus to campus doing college football shows? A podcast recorded in a car about being a college football analyst. Pac-12 Network analyst Yogi Roth shares his story of walk-on wide receiver at Pitt to working on Pete Carroll’s staff at USC and how he landed on tv. Roth explains what it’s like on the road as an analyst and why storytelling is vital in his job.  Yogi Roth: @YogiRoth  Instagram: YogiRoth www.yogiroth.com Mike Yam: @Mike_Yam Instagram: Mike_Yam

Arizona Football coach Rich Rodriguez has had amazing success guiding the wildcats. The former West Virginia and Michigan coach stopped by The Give Me a Sense podcast to tell some stories about how he got started in coaching, why the folks in Ann Arbor didn’t like him using “ain’t” in press conferences and one of his favorite moments recruiting. If you like to be entertained (the answer is yes) then this is the episode for you. Twitter: @Mike_Yam Facebook: Mike Yam T: @ArizonaFball T: @CoachRodAZ

American gymnast Samantha Peszek won a silver medal in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.  The world champion stops by The Give Me a Sense podcast and shares some of her unforgettable moments from competing in those games, including the time she gave Kobe Bryant (who she didn’t know at the time) an attitude on her way to an event. Peszek also explains what it was like to be hurt during the games and how that shaped her role on the U.S. team. Twitter: @Mike_Yam Facebook Page: Mike Yam Twitter: @samanthapeszek

Jeremy Bloom is the only athlete in history to ski in an Olympic Games and also be drafted into the NFL. Bloom relives his favorite Olympic moments on The Give Me a Sense podcast. He explains why his second Olympic games were night and day from the first time around. If you ever wondered what the Olympic Village is REALLY like, Bloom gives his honest take on what the athletes are doing. While competing in the Olympics would be a dream come true for any athlete, Bloom shares his NFL draft experience and gives full credit to the league in helping him become a successful businessman. Twitter: @Mike_Yam Facebook: Mike Yam Guest: @JeremyBloom11  

Sports Anchor Ducis Rodgers has had a remarkable career. Starting in Chattanooga he’s anchored in Miami, New York City, as well as at ESPN and is now currently the sports director at WPVI in Philadelphia. On The Give Me a Sense podcast he shares his path of having a small bedroom with a mattress on the floor eating ramen noodles to rising up the ranks of being in the number 1 market in the country. Rodgers has had some strange run-ins with athletes and relives a strange encounter on the set with Stephon Marbury. Ducis also recalls an unforgettable moment with OJ Simpson after the not guilty verdict was announced. If you’re an aspiring broadcaster or a sports fan this is a must listen to show.

An All American WR at USC and 12 year NFL veteran, Curtis Conway has had remarkable success on the football field. The current Pac-12 Network analyst is also married to Laila Ali. Conway shares his memories of meeting Muhammad Ali the first time after dating Laila (the World Champion asked question Curtis will never forget). You've seen the footage of Ali boxing, you've read about his social impact, but Conway offers unique perspective on what Ali was like at home with his family. 

Former big league catcher and current Blue Jays radio analyst Joe Siddall tells the story of his son passing away from cancer. The tragedy led to his current broadcasting job. Siddall remembers his first big league hit, homerun and the time he threw a baseball off Randy Johnson's head. Joe, who caught for Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Al Leiter and Kevin Brown explains the common denominator that made them great.  If you're a baseball fan this is a must listen.

One the latest episode of the Give Me a Sense podcast, Ashley Adamson of the Pac-12 Network and Sarah Kustok of the YES Network share their career paths. Ashley (Studio Host/Sideline Reporter) and Sarah (Game Analyst/Sideline Reporter) have both made it to prominent on air positions, but both achieved success with differently. Kustok and Adamson reveal the real challenges women face in the sports industry.  Male or female, if you have aspirations to be on air, this show will give you amazing insight on what it takes and how to do it.

Washington State Football coach Mike Leach is one of the most recognizable names in college football. He stops by the Give Me a Sense podcast for a discussion about his interests away from the game. He imagines what life would have been like as an attorney, reveals some of the scary objects that rest below him while he sleeps, and he explains the unfairness of not being paid by Texas Tech for the 2009 season when he coached.  Names like Donald Trump and Matthew McConaughey pop up during the show and he finishes off the conversation with an epic story.

Connecticut Sun star Chiney Ogwumike has accomplished as much as any women's basketball player in NCAA history. The WNBA's 1st overall pick in 2014 relives some of her favorite moments at Stanford, compares the pitch between UCONN's Geno Auriemma and Stanford's Tara VanDerveer, explains how she almost landed at Duke and what it was like to be selected with the top pick in the draft. Chiney's sister, Nneka, is having phenomenal success with the LA Sparks. Chiney speaks about their relationship as teammates and sisters, shares stories about how they grew up, and dishes dirt on what it was like to face her sister in the pros.  Ogwumike is one of the most dynamic analysts on television and her personality is infectious. You'll have a new favorite player after listening to this show.  

One of the biggest stars in sports television stops by the Give Me a Sense podcast. The host of ESPN's Around the Horn, Tony Reali, relives his career path. His humble beginning started at Fordham University working at WFUV radio, which led him to a research job at ESPN. From mistakes to success, writing sports trivia to becoming stat boy, and the phone call that changed his career, the tv host recalls some of the signifcant events that changed his professional life. Reali will prove why the word "yes" is the most important word any aspiring sportscaster should use.

What happens when one of the greatest shooters in the history of the game decides to take on his head coach in a shooting contest? Former Arizona basketball star Matt Muehlebach tells the story of his old teammate Steve Kerr taking on his star player Steph Curry in a free throw shooting contest. Kerr who was a fantastic shooter when he played didn't miss much against the back to back MVP. The reason why Curry won is why you want to listen. 

AAU Basketball doesn't have the best reputation. Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel goes in depth on a story he wrote called "Out of Power: How DC's Most Prominent AAU Leader Landed in Jail." Curtis Malone handled notable players like Michael Beasley and Nolan Smith. He was sentenced to 100 months in prison after being convicted of drug trafficking. Thamel goes into the story, his time visiting Malone in prison and how what people around Malone think of him. 

Former 1st round NBA pick Alaa Abdelnaby explains how a kid of Egpytian decent could fall in love with basketball. Abdelnaby shares the pitch he received from Coach K and what his emotions were like when Krzyzewski laughed at him when he told his coach he wanted to play in the NBA. Alaa explains how that fueled him in the offseason before his senior year. While with the Blazers, Abdelnaby reveals what was happening to him and his teammates as they watched Michael Jordan's Bulls win the NBA title. 

NFL QB Matt Leinart stops by and shares his Heisman experience. A finalist twice Leinart reveals why his 2nd time, when he lost, was in some ways more fun. The first round NFL pick talks about his time in the NFL and takes us inside the QB room (aka the dungeon as he describes it). Who was the Alpha in Houston when Matt Schaub, Jeff Garcia, Jake Delhomme, TJ Yates and Leinart were in the same room? 

One of the greatest football players of alll time, Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott is the first guest on the Give Me a Sense podcast. Lott, explains the importance of mentors in his life and teammates who inspired him to be great. He tells the story of the time his dad pulled him off the field as an 11 year old for being "overly" competitive. The 49er's great shares what he thinks can push people past failure and offers advice to young athletes. 

Episode 0: Legends on the field and off, here's what you can expect on Give Me A Sense.