Episodes

  • Tick Tock Tennis: Bettors gain an edge from the serve clock.

    Tick Tock Tennis: Bettors gain an edge from the serve clock.
    Jan 8 2025

    Meet Natalie Cutter, a Boston native whose love for sports started at age 4, wielding a tennis racket at a Greensboro, NC sports camp. From playing to coaching, her days were filled with tennis, cheering for Roger Federer, making NFL game picks, and catching Red Sox and Patriots games—sports has always been her world.

    Fast forward to 2023, Natalie graduated from Wake Forest (GO DEACS!) with a double major in Economics and Psychology earning High Honors for her fascinating thesis exploring how betting markets responded to the introduction of the serve clock in tennis.

    Since then, Natalie’s presented her research at the Eastern Economics Association for the North American Association of Sports Economics and working on getting her study published in the Journal of Sports Betting.

    In this episode, we chat about her journey from tennis courts to academic conferences, what sparked her interest in sports economics, and how her work could change the way we think about betting markets. Whether you’re a tennis fan, sports nerd, or just curious about the numbers behind the game, this is a conversation you’ll love.
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    52 mins
  • A Conversation with Tennis Journalist, Stephanie Myles

    A Conversation with Tennis Journalist, Stephanie Myles
    Dec 12 2024
    Join us for an insightful and entertaining conversation with the incomparable Canadian tennis journalist, Stephanie Myles. With decades of experience covering the sport, Stephanie has become a trusted voice in tennis media known for her sharp opinions, in-depth analysis, and unparalleled dedication to covering the game. In this episode, we delve into her journey from a budding baseball journalist to a prominent figure in tennis reporting. We discuss her work with Open Court and the challenges of covering a global sport in an ever-changing media landscape. Stephanie also shares anecdotes from her time appearing on television, offering expert commentary and analysis for major tennis events, and what it takes to balance print, online, and broadcast journalism.
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    55 mins
  • Sweat, Seduction & CGI: The Winning Formula of Challengers

    Sweat, Seduction & CGI: The Winning Formula of Challengers
    Nov 11 2024
    Chris introduces us to Brian Drewes, founder of ZERO VFX, a visual effects and creative studio specializing in high-quality visual effects for film. Some of their work includes “Gran Turismo,” “Black Mass,” and “The Equalizer.” Brian takes us behind the scenes of “Challengers,” a film about three star-crossed lovers told through the lens of tennis, a sport that serves as an apt metaphor for internal conflict.
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    47 mins
  • Three Stripes & the US Open

    Three Stripes & the US Open
    Aug 24 2024
    Nathan Roach, Sr. Category Manager at adidas, takes us behind the scenes of the legendary tennis brand where he’s worked for over 14 years. We learn about future predicting colorists and kit design, the logistics of athlete distribution, and the incredibly rich tennis history at adidas, including Billie Jean King’s blue suede shoes.
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    48 mins
  • Wimbledon 24: from Djokovic’s knee to piccola Paolini

    Wimbledon 24: from Djokovic’s knee to piccola Paolini
    Jul 14 2024
    In E5 we talk all things Wimbledon ahead of the final, namely Djokovic’s meniscus, the meteoric rise of Jasmine Paolini, the cons of on-court coaching and the Americans playing for Old Glory in Paris. We also welcome back prodigal podster, Chris Jennings, who leads us off with his normal non-sequitur, this time adventures in Eagle Rock.
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    44 mins
  • Stringing Confidence with Curt Stefan: Mental Mastery by Optimizing Your Gear

    Stringing Confidence with Curt Stefan: Mental Mastery by Optimizing Your Gear
    Jun 4 2024
    In this episode of “Breaking Back”, Curt Stefan, professional racquet stringer and understudy of the legendary Warren Bosworth, riffs on his first client, Ivan Lendl, Gugga, and the history of polyester string, and how the proper racquet setup can build a player’s confidence and keep them focused on the task at hand -- winning.
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    48 mins
  • Professional tennis is broken and John Butler has the solution.

    Professional tennis is broken and John Butler has the solution.
    Apr 13 2024
    John Butler has delivered unparalleled ROI for fans, sponsors, civic partners and the game of tennis via creative and interactive physical programming on-site, on-the-town and in communications to fans and brands around the world. From grassroots ATP Challenger Tour events to top-level ATP Tour spectacles like the Delray Beach Open which John ran for more than three decades, to the charm of ATP Champions Tour legends matches, John has continually innovated to cross market and grow the game’s appeal. In this episode, John talks with Peter and me about the state of tennis and the solution he drafted and shared with leaders from the ATP, Tennis Australia and WTA.
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    52 mins
  • Kyrgios & The Economics of Tennis

    Kyrgios & The Economics of Tennis
    Mar 7 2024
    In this episode, we wrap up the Australian Open and discuss how Nicky Kyrgios stole the show. Our guest, Eric Smallwood of Apex Marketing, shares how his firm performs valuations for brand sponsorships in tennis, and how the sale of Tennis Channel could further complicate an already fractured viewing experience.
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    40 mins