Best Frank Braun Podcasts (2024)

1
Emerging Trends | Frankly Speaking with Dr. Ross Braun 45:00

6h ago45:00

45:00

Our 11th season of Frankly Speaking begins with a conversation with Professor Ross Braun, one of the great young minds in turfgrass science from Kansas State University. Director of the Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center, Ross received his MS and Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science with previous guest Professor Dale Bremer. After Kansas State Ross spent f…

1
Renovation Report: Anthony Pioppi with Paul Jamrog, Met Links 33:00

5h ago33:00

33:00

Paul Jamrog has returned "home" to oversee the transformation of the former Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, RI, into Met Links, an innovative 9-hole public golf course on a portion of the 90 acre Metacomet property. Jamrog was the golf course superintendent at Metacomet Country Club from 1994 to 2013, when he transitioned into sales. In …

1
Crisis Cast Flashback - War in Ukraine Through Italy's Eyes 23:08

4h ago23:08

23:08

Just two months into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we had a fascinating conversation with Lissa's cousin, Daniela. She's a veteran journalist on the economic beat, based in Rome. Daniela gave us an early lesson in how the war reverberates very differently across Europe. At that point, Italians were caught in the middle, particularly because 50% …

1
Rising Star of Turf: Andrew Mallick 18:00

3d ago18:00

18:00

Andy Mallick's trajectory as a Rising Star of Turf has been a long one, entailing stops at four golf courses over 14 years before landing his first head superintendent position. Now in his fifth season as superintendent (and 11th overall) at Metedeconk National Golf Club (Jackson, NJ), Mallick had interim stops at Pine Valley Golf Club, Country Clu…

1
Mitch Rosen - Scoring The Radio Game 40:25

3d ago40:25

40:25

For more than two decades, veteran radio programmer Mitch Rosen has led Audacy's WSCR. "The Score" is Chicago's leading destination for sports talk. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Thom Serafin finally gets his job interview to join "The Score" lineup of personalities. Lissa Druss stops Thom from pitching 10 hours of daily Sox talk on the C…

1
Frank Calabrese - The NEW Neighborhood Divide 21:39

10d ago21:39

21:39

While the March '24 primary revealed a disappointing truth in voter participation – it reinforced a shift in ideology within Chicago's neighborhoods and some collar suburbs. Research and public policy analyst Frank Calabrese returns to the Crisis Cast to share what his maps predict about voter trends. During this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin…

1
Crisis Cast Flashback - Youth Mental Health Crisis 26:23

17d ago26:23

26:23

In the spring of 2021, Lissa & Thom introduced us to a foursome of teens from Naperville Central High School on a mission. They saw their peers suffering through depression, and took action. Through a support group called Beyond Charity – they went on a mission to stop the stigmas associated with mental illness. During this episode of the Crisis Ca…

1
Rockbottum Radio: Tell it all, Brother, tell it all... 16:00

28d ago16:00

16:00

In this sensitive and revealing episode of Rockbottum Radio, the entire crew tells it all, aided by literary inspiration from Matt Jones and Peter McCormick... and Momma's Mushroom Truth Serum. Learn what really happened on Ludell's honeymoon and how Rockbottum plans to handle the ball rollback and Golf A.I. Buddy returns from working on Science In…

1
David Haugh - Take Me "Where" To The Ballgame 36:52

25d ago36:52

36:52

As the 2024 major league baseball season opens, Lissa & Thom take a look at the crisis facing the Chicago White Sox. We have one of the coolest heads in the room join us for a conversation about where the South Siders might call home. David Haugh has been the co-host of the morning show on WSCR since 2018. Known for his deep reporting and wise writ…

1
Craig Wall - Fighting For Trust 37:16

1M ago37:16

37:16

Once again, we dive into Lissa & Thom's roots in journalism to further explore the challenges of 21st century newsrooms. During this this episode, the Crisis Cast probes a guide to being tenacious, but fair with ABC7's political reporter Craig Wall. With more than 25 years of covering Chicago news and politics, Wall shares how the exponential numbe…

1
Ray Long - Mining The Minds of Madigan 38:28

1M ago38:28

38:28

Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long makes a return visit to the Crisis Cast to prep Lissa & Thom for the upcoming trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. During this episode we take a deeper dive into the "minds" that surrounded Madigan, and his unparalleled career in state government. Long also unpacks the recent sentencin…

1
Crisis Cast flashback: Carol Moseley Braun 26:06

2M ago26:06

26:06

We celebrate the first week of Women's History Month by revisiting a conversation with the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Carol Moseley Braun was also the first woman to represent Illinois as a U.S. senator. Three years ago, the Chicago native visited with Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin the morning after attending the inauguration of Pre…

1
Training the Next Generation | Frankly Speaking with Pam Sherratt 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

Frank sits down with Pamela Sherratt, Turfgrass Specialist in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at THE Ohio State Unniversity. She has a BSc (Honors) in Horticulture from The University of Central Lancashire in England and her MS in Turfgrass Science from The Ohio State University. In April Pam received the 2022-2023 CFAES Distinguish…

1
Ep. 53: Finding Freedom & Power in Script Analysis 1:19:39

2M ago1:19:39

1:19:39

“Script Analysis” is an often misunderstood term that can result in an actor robbing a scene of its art by reducing it to mathematical calculations. Some actors love the idea of script analysis so they can “solve” the scene and control it. Other actors abandon the idea of script analysis altogether because they are afraid of adding any structure to…

1
All Stars of Turf: Steve Ehrbar, CGCS, Panther National Golf Club 40:00

2M ago40:00

40:00

TurfNet’s latest All Star of Turf is Steve Ehrbar, CGCS at Panther National Golf Club, a private, single-owner facility in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. A graduate of the two-year program at Ohio State, Ehrbar has been a legendary fixture in South Florida for years. His career includes stops at Jupiter Hills Golf Club in Tequesta, Old Marsh Golf Clu…

1
Shamus Toomey - Defining Journalism's Future 38:10

2M ago38:10

38:10

On so many episodes, we've explored and dissected the peril of shrinking local news rooms. This conversation will feel different. Shamus Toomey is among the defining innovators in the growth of journalism. As publisher and co-founder of Block Club Chicago, Shamus has forged the unthinkable – a team of reporters that has tripled in size since Novemb…

1
Rising Star of Turf: Jeremiah Mincey 19:00

2M ago19:00

19:00

Our first Rising Star of Turf for 2024 is Jeremiah Mincey, first assistant superintendent at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Pooler, Georgia. Many might recognize Jeremiah from his activity on TurfTwitter/X and as a recent recipient of a GCI/Aquatrols Super Social Media Award. Jeremiah, 26, graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BS in …

1
David Hochberg - The Credit Utilization Crisis 28:46

2M ago28:46

28:46

In part two of our dialogue with David Hochberg, we confront the reality that is plaguing America. We are reaching 70% capacity on credit utilization. As Hochberg puts it, "We are running out of room to spend on stuff we don't need, with money we don't have." During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom continue their conversation about the…

1
Patrick H. Sisk, CGCS, All Star of Turf: Open, Honest and Humble 1:10:00

2M ago1:10:00

1:10:00

Our latest All Star of Turf is Patrick H. Sisk, CGCS, career superintendent, athlete, marathoner, inventor, entrepreneur and family man. Pat guides us through his path from a college transition to early adventures in Colorado and Arizona, then a career that took him from his native coastal Connecticut to 18 years in Milwaukee and recently back to w…

1
The Future of Herbicides | Frankly Speaking with Dr. Jim Brosnan 44:00

2M ago44:00

44:00

Frank sits down with frequent guest and Professor of Weed Science at the University of Tennessee, Jim Brosnan. Jim and Frank cover a wide range of topics that turfgrass managers must be aware of as we confront the lack of new herbicides, the pressure of increasing resistance in weeds, and finish up discussing the recent herbicide restrictions assoc…

1
Mastering the employee and member experience 44:00

2M ago44:00

44:00

Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Marcie Mills of the executive search and consulting firm of Kopplin, Kuebler & Wallace about the evolving role of golf course superintendents, matching the right candidate with the proper opportunity and how the best customer experience first depends on delivering the best employee experience. Their discussion in…

1
Rockbottum Radio: How to live a calm, peaceful life as a GCS 13:00

2M ago13:00

13:00

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, learn RW's secret for living a calm and peaceful life on the golf course, regardless of the challenges we face in the years ahead. *Note: This is not your daddy's podcast. It's more like your grandpappy's radio show from 1937.By TurfNet RADIO

1
David Hochberg - A Saver For Life 19:45

2M ago19:45

19:45

Once upon a time David Hochberg's father planted a seed. "Pay yourself first, and you'll never go broke." It led to his first passbook savings account at age seven, and a pre-teen career in scrap metal, turning trash into cash. Along the way, he developed a passion for helping home-buyers protect their financial health. During this episode of The C…

1
Frankly Speaking: World Cup 2026 with Dr. John Sorochan 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

Frank has a great conversation with old friend and repeat guest John Sorochan, Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science at the University of Tennessee. John has been involved with sports turf since his early days at Michigan State University. He was a key participant with the 1994 World Cup games held in the Pontiac Silverdome where the concept…

1
Richard Irvin - The Day That Changed Everything 34:28

3M ago34:28

34:28

As a veteran of Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Richard Irvin confronted a moment with one question, "Is this the day I'm going to die?" During this episode of the Crisis Cast, we'll learn how those seconds have defined every day that has followed. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin will also explore what drove the Mayor of Aurora to run for governor – and…

1
Renovation Report: Golf course design that is both fun and strategic 47:00

3M ago47:00

47:00

Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Illinois-based golf course architect Michael Benkusky of Michael J. Benkusky Golf Course Architecture about his start in golf course design and why some consider it the best profession in the golf industry. Benkusky also discusses how his business is one of relationships and the importance of designing golf cours…

1
Ep. 52: How to Stand Out from Hundreds of Other Actors 58:41

3M ago58:41

58:41

An actor who books work consistently is an actor who has the capacity to remain vulnerable in the face of intense rejection, to stay focused in a world full of distractions, and to stay sharp in one of the most competitive Industries around. The actor who books work consistently has found a way to stand out from hundreds of others. They have expres…

1
Venezuela to Chicago – One Migrant Family's Journey 27:28

3M ago27:28

27:28

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, we'll hear the personal account of a dangerous trek across multiple borders. We invite you to listen in on Thom Serafin's intimate conversation with a couple from Venezuela, who traveled on foot and on top of train cars in search of the American Dream. We'll hear why they left their homeland, what life in…

1
SFMA Conference Special Episode: In the Dirt/On the Turf With Evan Mascitti 57:00

3M ago57:00

57:00

Frank Speaks with Dr. Evan Mascitti of Infinite Athlete about his career, MS and Ph.D. at Penn State University, that has led him to be one of the leading thinkers in the study of baseball “dirt”. His pathway had mentors from WI, his role as Manager of Grounds for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and all fostered a keen interest -- bordering on an obsession…

1
Ben Szalinski - Springfield's Next Generation 28:22

3M ago28:22

28:22

There's a post-Madigan era emerging at Illinois' Capitol building – and beyond. During this episode, we examine which crisis in state government is top mind – and who are the dominant legislators with solutions. Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin are joined by the Daily Line's Ben Szalinski. Ben is covering the next generation of state leaders, while rep…

1
#WrongAgain | Frankly Speaking with John Reilly 46:00

3M ago46:00

46:00

A New York Wiseguy and a Philly Punk walk into a Caddyshack with “ginned-up mobsters”… Frank sits down with the inimitable John Reilly, Director of Agronomy at The Resort at Longboat Key and discusses John’s thinking on managing resort golf in an environmentally sensitive area and why he will sometimes discuss the Kreb’s Cycle. John’s pioneering wo…

1
Ilyce Glink - Best Money Moves for 2024 19:53

3M ago19:53

19:53

One download with Ilyce Glink is never enough. We dive into part two of our recent chat with Ilyce. In this episode, all eyes and ears are on the long view of the economy. 2023 was a year of acceleration, and 2024 has a whole new set of speed bumps. Is the Fed on the right path managing inflation? How do you best manage your money in an election ye…

1
Robots in the Field | Frankly Speaking with "CharlieRobots" Goode 42:00

3M ago42:00

42:00

Frank catches up with Charles Goode (@GoodeTurf), the Southeastern Sales Lead for GreenSight, a provider of digital cloud-based services for turfgrass professionals to manage all aspects of their operation, from mowing and remote sensing to soil monitoring and staff planning. Charles spent his career in the turfgrass industry from landscape and sod…

1
Ilyce Glink - A "Silent" Depression? 28:55

4M ago28:55

28:55

A host of TikTokers have coined a name for the current economy as an economic "silent depression." While the monicker continues to churn in social media, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin wanted to explore how it started. More importantly -- is it real? During this episode we get into one of our favorite pasttimes: crisis identification. Once again, The C…

1
Garry McCarthy - Public Safety's Critical Year 37:58

4M ago37:58

37:58

In 2024, all eyes will be on the streets of Chicago -- particularly in August, when the city hosts the Democratic National Convention. We open our 5th season of the Crisis Cast with a voice that's been in the trenches when public safety is on the line. Garry McCarthy has led the design and enforcement of public safety during two national political …

1
Rockbottum Radio: The Two Things You Can Do To Save Your New Year's Resolution 17:00

4M ago17:00

17:00

In this episode, RW reveals one of the key methods behind the success of Rockbottum CC: the proper use of the New Year's Resolution. Also, Buddy gets "tooken" and Ludell, Willy and Momma form a posse to rescue Buddy.By TurfNet RADIO

1
Fr. Richard Fragomeni - The Search For Christmas 25:35

4M ago25:35

25:35

As the Crisis Cast closes out our fourth season, we enter the winter solstice with an abundance of light. During this episode Lissa & Thom welcome Father Richard Fragomeni, who shares T.S. Eliot's final poem on Christmas. The Cultivation of Christmas Trees is a poem that challenges the reader to rediscover the wonder of a child. During this episode…

1
Renovation Report: Recapturing Langford and Moreau at Wakonda Club 30:00

4M ago30:00

30:00

Anthony Pioppi chats with Dane Wilson, golf course superintendent at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, IA, about the ongoing restoration of the 1922 Langford & Moreau design. Tyler Rae is the architect of the restoration.By TurfNet RADIO

1
Brian Bernardoni - An Army of Good 29:13

4M ago29:13

29:13

We are in the midst of a crisis that sends one in seven Chicago children to bed hungry. It's called post-pandemic poverty. The problem is absolutely global and national, too. In the U.S. since 2020, eight million people have fallen into poverty. The Crisis Cast went searching for hope, and action. Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin found that in Brian Be…

1
Ep. 51: 3 Powerful Lessons of 2023 58:10

4M ago58:10

58:10

2023 was a really intense year. Two strikes, wars, a contracting Industry, inflation, lingering effects of the pandemic, etc. And that intensity revealed some powerful lessons that every actor must hear and understand in order to be a working actor in 2024. Risa and Steve delve into the lessons of 2023 that point to the new reality for actors and l…

1
Rockbottum Radio: A Christmas Miracle or... How We Ended Up In Golf 19:00

4M ago19:00

19:00

In this month's Storytime, learn about the Christmas Miracle that led RW and familty to leave the nomadic military life and transition to the nomadic golf life. Also, we cover a few current news items in golf and maybe some non-golf stuff.By TurfNet RADIO

1
Meeting People Where They Are | Dr. Sara Stricker, Univ. of Guelph, GTI 43:00

5M ago43:00

43:00

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with Dr. Sara Stricker, the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Guelph Turfgrass Institute in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Sara and Frank chat about the people that support the education and research at one of the historically significant turfgrass science programs in the world. Sara expound…

1
Renovation Report with Nick Mazzella: The Mazzella Partnership 45:00

4M ago45:00

45:00

Bradley S. Klein talks with Nick Mazzella about consulting on golf course projects, including renovation projects as well as new construction jobs spurred by the resurgent golf economy. The discussion includes the increased need for a project manager as projects increase in complexity due to the many facets of each job.…

1
Dagmar Braun Celeste - Women & The Priesthood 42:31

5M ago42:31

42:31

Dagmar Braun Celeste was born in Nazi-occupied Austria, she authored her own Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies, which led her to collaborative human rights work with both Rosalyn Carter and Mother Theresa. Dagmar eventually made her home in Ohio, and fed her passion for politics as the state's First Lady. In 2002, she was secretly ordained as a …

1
Frankly Speaking: The Power of Cooperation, with Amy Fouty, The Motz Group 49:00

5M ago49:00

49:00

In this episode Franks speaks with Amy Fouty, CSFM with The Motz Group as a Natural Grass Field Consultant. She was formerly at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, but before that in the golf industry. Amy speaks with great candor and professionalism about her career path, working in very high profile situations, and dealing w…

1
Dr. Tasha Green Cruzat - Driving Emotional IQ 37:52

5M ago37:52

37:52

This year at Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the dedication of those compelled to change the lives of young people. Dr. Tasha Green Cruzat is leading solutions to our youth mental health crisis. Among the most staggering statistics is 30% of female students nationally reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past 12 months. Dr. Cr…

1
Ben Bradley - The "New" News Paradigm 24:47

5M ago24:47

24:47

Many of the television newsroom characters have moved on, but there are fresh eyes and ears still holding truth to power. One of them is Emmy Award-winning reporter Ben Bradley of WGN. During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin get Ben's take on the shifting tides of news gathering and consumption. Plus, we'll flash back to his job at the 19…

1
Ep. 50: The Strike is Over. Here’s What to Do Now. 57:30

5M ago57:30

57:30

Ok, so the Industry is back. But it won't be business as usual. It can't be. Too much has changed. And if you want to book work in this new reality, you're going to have to change too. So listen in and let us know what speaks to you! You can meet this moment, but it won't be easy. Risa and Steve discuss where the Industry is at right now and the im…

1
Crisis Whiteboard - Migration Task Force 23:49

6M ago23:49

23:49

In a span of just 14 months, more than 20-thousand migrants have arrived in Chicago. Add that to the thousands of residents who are already unhoused and tensions keep rising. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin get out our whiteboard to brainstorm solutions to this crisis. The bus loads of asylum seekers keep coming a…

1
All Star of Turf: Fred Taylor, CGCS, Mankato Golf Club 36:00

6M ago36:00

36:00

Fred Taylor, CGCS, retired in early October, 2023, after a 43-year stint working exclusively at Mankato Golf Club in his hometown of Mankato, Minnesota. Fred followed in the "bootsteps" of Boots Fuller in 1992, becoming who would wind up as only the third superintendent at MGC in almost 100 years. Fred takes credit for all that goes wrong and give …

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