The CUSP Show

Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome George Moreira, partnerships & events executive at Capelli Sport, to discuss one of the most unexpected stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: how a New Jersey-based soccer apparel company became the kit provider for Cape Verde and found itself at the center of a global phenomenon. Moreira shares the origin of Capelli Sport and how the company landed the Cape Verde deal, then takes listeners inside what it was actually like to be embedded with the team for an entire month: managing 150 boxes of kit inventory, watching goalkeeper Vozinha’s social media following explode from 45,000 to 30 million overnight, and sitting in the technical area as Cape Verde held Spain scoreless for 90 plus minutes in their opening match. Moreira also reflects on what the Cape Verde moment has meant for Capelli Sport’s business going forward, and why relationships and personalized service remain their edge against the giants of soccer apparel.
Connect with George: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vgeorgemoreira/
Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack
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 and Sydney Cristall.


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

Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome Janet Marie Smith, EVP of Planning and Development for the Los Angeles Dodgers and co-founder of venue consulting firm Canopy Team, to discuss her remarkable career transforming some of America’s most iconic sports venues. Smith shares the origin story of her path into sports, from urban planning work at Battery Park City in New York to cold-calling Baltimore Orioles president Larry Lucchino and landing the job that produced Camden Yards (the ballpark widely credited with launching a new era of baseball stadium design). The conversation explores the philosophy behind Camden Yards and why its success came from treating the venue as an extension of the city rather than an isolated destination, a principle Smith has carried through subsequent work at Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, and beyond. She discusses the Dodgers’ ongoing 14-year renovation journey, the creation of the two-and-a-half-acre center field plaza that now draws fans through new entrances, and how the balance of high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech amenities shapes the modern fan experience. Smith also weighs in on the debate between urban and suburban stadium development, shares her perspective on the mixed-use model pioneered by the Braves and Padres, and reflects on what the best international venues get right.
Connect with Janet Marie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithjanetmarie/
Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack
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 and Sydney Cristall.


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

Joe Favorito welcomes award-winning journalist and author Liz Robbins to discuss her new book, See It to Be It: 11 Champions Leading Women’s Sports Today, written in collaboration with Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss. Robbins shares the origin story of the project, which began with a 50th anniversary piece she wrote for the International New York Times on the US Open’s milestone of achieving equal pay, and how a chance email to Kloss sparked a creative partnership that ultimately became the book. The conversation explores how Robbins and King selected the book’s eleven athletes, including Caitlin Clark, Naomi Osaka, Chelsea Gray, Mackenzie Coan, and flag football pioneer Diana Flores, balancing household names with emerging stars across a diverse range of sports, backgrounds, and identities. Robbins explains the philosophy behind the selections, emphasizing champions who are not only elite competitors but advocates driving change within and beyond their sports, and shares the stories behind some of the book’s most memorable moments, including two athletes who broke down in tears upon learning Billie Jean King wanted them involved. Robbins also reflects on her own career path from Cornell lacrosse player to New York Times reporter covering the NBA, the US Open, and immigration, and what she would tell young journalists today about storytelling, persistence, and the enduring power of knowing your subject deeply.
Connect with Liz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-robbins-493277108/
Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack
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 and Sydney Cristall.


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

Tom Richardson welcomes Michael Cohen, founder of Disruptive Play and co-founder of Creator Sports Network, and Jeff Nathenson, partner at Disruptive Play and MD of Platforms at whynow, to discuss what they believe is the most consequential shift happening in sports media today: the rise of creator-led distribution and its implications for rights holders, broadcasters, and the next generation of fans. Cohen and Nathenson share the origin story of Disruptive Play and explain why they built a platform specifically to challenge the assumptions that have governed the industry for decades. The conversation digs into their thesis on creator-led media, arguing that it represents a system and mindset rather than simply a content format, drawing comparisons between Mr. Beast, the Savannah Bananas, and Walt Disney’s original vision for building IP ecosystems. They discuss Creator Sports Network, their venture that enables creators to legally stream live sports directly from their social channels, and why they believe this model solves two major problems for rights holders at once, reaching younger fans and generating net new commercial inventory. Cohen and Nathenson also tackle the looming generational challenge facing major sports leagues, asking what happens when an entire cohort of fans grows up never watching a live game, and why the traditional advertising model is increasingly incompatible with how Gen Z and Gen Alpha consume content.
Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mccohen/
Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-nathenson-09abab3/
Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack
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 and Sydney Cristall.


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

Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson welcome back Dan Mannix, Founder and Managing Partner of Underdog & Company, to discuss how his sports marketing agency has evolved into a multi-brand platform with investments, acquisitions, and a growing roster of clients across professional sports, college athletics, and experiential marketing. Mannix shares how Underdog’s partnership with NewSpring Capital has fueled a wave of acquisitions, including collegiate consulting firm Altius Sports Partners, experiential agency BeCore, and the launch of 40Love, a venture focused on the Olympics and content creators. The conversation digs into what makes Underdog & Company’s model different from the major holding companies, including its emphasis on senior leadership involvement, solutions-agnostic thinking, and a culture built around diverse perspectives and mentorship. Mannix reflects on working with Major League Baseball, the Clippers, and emerging sports properties, and explains why he believes agencies are more valuable than ever in a sports landscape defined by media fragmentation and NIL complexity. Mannix also shares candid advice for young people breaking into the industry, making the case for smaller agencies over big leagues as the best early career training ground, and why creative persistence beats the one-page resume every time.
Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-mannix-4ab0152/’
Subscribe to the CUSP Show: Substack
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 and Sydney Cristall.


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