179: Small Ball, Big Dreams: The Daily Habit That Builds Unshakable Trust | Joel Goldberg

Winning teams aren't built on stats alone—they're built on trust, chemistry, and stories. 

In this energizing episode, Damon sits down with Joel Goldberg, longtime Kansas City Royals broadcaster and leadership keynote speaker, to explore what business leaders can learn from championship dugouts. Joel shares what he’s seen from the frontlines of Major League Baseball—and how the same habits that create great locker rooms also build great cultures. 

From handling slumps to leading with humility, this episode is packed with real stories and actionable insights for anyone who wants to lead with more trust, clarity, and humanity. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• What baseball clubhouses can teach business leaders about team culture 
• Why trust—not titles—is the ultimate leadership currency 
• The #1 lesson from interviewing over 1,000 elite athletes 
• How to build instant credibility (without overselling yourself) 
• Why storytelling is your most underused leadership skill 
• What to do when your top performers go into a “slump” 
• The secret to great follow-up questions—on and off the mic 
• How Joel defines success (and how it’s evolved) 
• The difference between leading with people vs. at people 
• Why consistency beats charisma over the long haul 

Timestamps: 

00:00 – What Joel’s learned from 1,000+ athlete interviews  

02:30 – The link between trust and locker room chemistry  

05:00 – Why slumps happen—and how leaders should respond  

07:45 – Building connection before results  

09:20 – How Joel earns trust fast as an interviewer  

12:10 – What good follow-up questions sound like  

14:30 – How to apply clubhouse lessons to corporate teams  

17:50 – The art of storytelling: trust, emotion, relatability  

21:00 – Vulnerability and storytelling as credibility  

23:30 – Joel’s career pivot: from sports to stages  

26:00 – What sports taught him about feedback  

28:30 – Joel’s take on success: it’s not about the highlight reel  

31:00 – How to stay relevant by being human  

33:10 – Final thought: Lead with curiosity and presence 

About Joel Goldberg 

Joel Goldberg is a veteran sports broadcaster, leadership speaker, and the author of Small Ball, Big Results. For over 15 years, he’s covered the Kansas City Royals, delivering live insights from the dugout and locker room. Today, Joel speaks to business audiences across the country about trust, storytelling, and building championship cultures. His motto: relationships are everything. 

Resources & Mentions: 

• Joel’s website: https://joelgoldbergmedia.com 
• Joel’s book: Small Ball, Big Results 
• Joel on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelgoldbergkc 
• Joel on Instagram: @joelgoldbergkc 
• Joel’s podcast: Rounding the Bases (link here) 

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