The CUSP Show

Live from Super Bowl Radio Row, Joe Favorito and Scott Rosner welcome Daniel Shi and Shivaas Gulati, co-founders of Arkero AI, for a conversation on how artificial intelligence is beginning to transform the business side of sports. Fresh off a $6.2M seed raise backed by investors including Alexis Ohanian and Roger Ehrenberg, the founders explain why sports remains one of the most under-software-ed industries, and how AI can finally move teams beyond email-and-Excel operations. The discussion explores Arkero’s philosophy of working backwards from real business problems, embedding with teams to improve productivity, decision-making, and revenue generation rather than selling AI for its own sake. Gulati shares insights from owning Southend United in England and how the club has become a live testing ground for AI-powered planning and operational efficiency. Shi reflects on scaling a fintech company from startup to IPO, why private equity sees massive upside in sports modernization, and how AI could allow smaller clubs to operate with the sophistication of top-tier organizations. The episode closes with a forward-looking look at how AI may reshape sports operations, fan experience, and club management over the next five years.
Connect with Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielshi/
Connect with Shivaas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivaas/
The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Live from Super Bowl Radio Row, Joe Favorito and Scott Rosner welcome Olympic Gold Medalist and two-division UFC Champion Henry “Triple C” Cejudo for a powerful conversation on resilience, reinvention, and what it truly means to compete at the highest level. Cejudo reflects on his journey from growing up in poverty as the son of undocumented immigrant parents to becoming the youngest American Olympic wrestling gold medalist in 2008, and later capturing UFC titles in two weight classes. He shares what it felt like standing atop the Olympic podium, why wrestling remains the purest test of competition, and how he rebounded from setbacks early in his MMA career to become a champion again. Beyond the cage, Cejudo discusses life after fighting, mentoring other athletes in business, launching One Water, and the importance of self-awareness, discipline, and surrounding yourself with the right “engineers” to maximize both heart and ability. The episode explores legacy, leadership, and how elite performers transition from sport into entrepreneurship while continuing to inspire the next generation.
Connect with Henry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-cejudo/
Follow Henry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henry_cejudo/?hl=en
Follow Henry on X: https://x.com/HenryCejudo
Henry’s Profile on ESPN: https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3023388/henry-cejudo
Henry’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@Pound4PoundwithKamaruHenry
The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Live from Super Bowl Radio Row, Joe Favorito and Scott Rosner sit down with Chris Stone, whose career spans across sports media at Sports Illustrated and the LA Times and Co-Founder of emerging platform, Off Ball, to unpack how sports storytelling is changing in real time. Stone explains Off Ball’s founding premise: making it easier to sort the “chaos” of the internet and surface the most interesting sports-and-culture stories across formats, from longform writing to YouTube shorts and social threads. He details Off Ball’s approach to human-driven curation (not aggregation), including how a small team selects dozens of pieces each day from a much larger universe and sends audiences directly to creators. The conversation also turns to the week’s major media news, Washington Post sports cuts, and what it signals about the difficulty of reinventing legacy organizations, the growing fragmentation of sports coverage, and why demand for high-quality local and cultural sports storytelling hasn’t disappeared. Stone shares what he’s learned in Off Ball’s first phase, establishing credibility and relationships with creators, and previews the platform’s next chapter: building original storytelling experiences and new formats, while helping connect the creator class with media outlets, brands, and leagues.
Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-stone-1401b31/
The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Recorded at the 2025 Columbia Sports Management Conference in October, Kati Fernandez (Chief Content Officer at Together) welcomes: Emilie Arel (President, Mitchell & Ness), April Guidone (COO, SMAC Entertainment), and Natalie White (Founder & CEO, Moolah Kicks) to talk how brands, leagues, athletes, and entrepreneurs are shaping modern fan identity through product, partnerships, and culture. Arrell breaks down what makes an authentic collaboration, and how heritage brands balance trend moments with long-term DNA. Walker explains how SMAC uses capsule collaborations to test culture and consumer demand, why women’s fan apparel has moved beyond “shrink it and pink it,” and how the tunnel walk has become the new runway. White details how Moolah Kicks designs performance footwear specifically for female basketball players by listening directly to athletes, building trust at scale, and pushing women’s basketball sneaker culture forward. The conversation also touches on trend cycles versus commercial viability, the rise of women’s sports as a commerce growth engine, and what’s next, from wearables in apparel to dream collaborations tied to major moments like the WNBA’s 30th anniversary and LA28.
Connect with Kati: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiuska-fernandez/
Connect with Emilie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilie-arel-bb4b161/
Connect with April: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilguidone/
Connect with Natalie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-white-792298127/
The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com

Live from Super Bowl Radio Row, Joe Favorito and Scott Rosner welcome Marcus Kuhn, NFL alum (Giants and Patriots) and Columbia Sports Management program alum, for a conversation on the rapid international expansion of American football. Kuhn, who was the first German-born player to ever score a touchdown in the NFL, reflects on the evolution of the NFL in Germany, from early grassroots efforts to sold-out games in Munich and Berlin, and explains why the Munich matchup remains one of the most impactful international NFL events to date. Kuhn discusses his role as a broadcaster for Germany’s primary television rights holder, where millions of viewers now tune in late at night to watch live NFL games, as well as his ongoing work with the NFL, the NFLPA, and international player development initiatives. Kuhn also breaks down the explosive growth of flag football across Europe, highlighting its inclusivity, Olympic pathway, and importance as both a participation sport and a gateway to NFL fandom. Kuhn also shares what Super Bowl Sunday looks like for German audiences and reflects on his transition from NFL player to international ambassador and media voice for the sport.
Connect with Markus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-kuhn-82730312b/
Follow Markus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarkuskuhn/?hl=en
The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com