279: How Did the Savannah Bananas Start and Lessons From Their Success with Jesse Cole

Meet Jesse Cole, the Walt Disney of baseball.

In 2016, Jesse and his family took a chance on a struggling baseball team in Savannah. What happened next? They didn’t just revive the team—they completely reinvented the game. If you've ever wondered "How did the Savannah Bananas start?", this episode dives into the wild journey that transformed them into a global sensation.

Instead of focusing on the sport itself, Jesse became obsessed with one thing: the fan experience. By challenging traditional baseball norms and making entertainment the priority, he and his team built a phenomenon that sells out every single game.

In this episode, Erin and Jesse talk about:

1.) Lessons from their success—how the Bananas became more than just a baseball team

2.) The power of putting fans first (and why most businesses get this wrong)

3.) Why standing out isn’t about being the best—it’s about being different

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, or just someone looking for inspiration, Jesse's insights will make you rethink how you show up in your own field.

Find Your Yellow Tux

Fans First

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [e-mail] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

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DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.




Tweetable Comments


• “Every single day, I get fascinated and obsessed with new ideas and new things we can create for our fans.”

• “How you view things is how you do things.”

• “Corporate and public companies are always focused on the next quarter. I'm focused on the next quarter century.”

• “You have to be able to throw away some short-term profits to create long-term fans.”

• “It starts with you being the number one fan of what you're doing.”

• “How can you really create fans if you aren't the biggest fan of what you do?”

• “Follow your energy, not your passion.”