July 16, 2025 • 36 mins
In this episode of The Rev Rx Podcast, Chad Potts sits down with Emmy-winning sportscaster and storyteller Joel Goldberg, the voice of the Kansas City Royals. From cold calls and 25 rejections to a career spanning over 30 years, Joel shares the real story behind the mic—what it takes to succeed, what athletes can teach us about failure, and why routines might just be your secret weapon.
You’ll hear about:
💥 How Joel hustled his way into the TV world
⚾ Why baseball mirrors real life: slumps, setbacks, and small wins
🔁 The non-negotiable routines that separate greats from the rest
❤️ The unforgettable story of Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura
🔥 How to use your own story to lead, inspire, and leave a legacy
Whether you’re a sports fan, entrepreneur, or just trying to figure life out—this conversation is packed with powerful truths, practical insights, and hope for every man trying to live on purpose.
🌐 Learn more about Joel: joelgoldbergmedia.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
Hey friends, and welcome back tothe Rev RX Podcast where we show
you how to thrive in faith, family, and health.
My name is Chad Potts and I'm your host.
If you're watching this, you cansee that today I'm wearing my
Kansas City Royal shirt. And the reason for that, I'm not
betraying my Braves. But today's guest is one that
(00:32):
Kansas City knows very well. Joel Goldberg, Emmy
award-winning broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals.
He's an author, he's a speaker. He's an all around powerhouse
storyteller. And in this episode, Joel shares
life lessons from the dugout, what decades of interviewing
athletes have taught him about resilience, identity and staying
(00:54):
true to your purpose. We talk about rejection.
You're going to love the story about how Joel first got into
broadcasting after being shot down 25 times.
We're going to talk about routines.
We're going to talk about viral moments and a legacy story
that's going to hit you right inthe heart.
Whether you're a baseball fan ornot, you're going to love this
(01:15):
episode. You're going to love what Joel
shares because it's going to inspire you to stop playing it
safe and to start living a life on purpose.
So let's jump in and introduce to you my new friend, Joel
Goldberg. Joel, brother, what a privilege
it is to have you here on the show today.
Thanks so much for joining. Us, thanks for having me
(01:36):
privileged to be here with you. Thanks, Chad.
Yeah, joining us from Beautiful Kansas City.
And man, I love what you're doing.
I've had the privilege of getting to know you a little bit
over these last few weeks, and it is really and truly just an
honor to have you here. You have so many stories to
tell, and I can't wait to get into some of that.
But before we get into that, you're an Emmy award-winning
broadcaster, you're a podcaster,you're an author.
(01:57):
But behind all that, who is Joel?
I'd love to just have you introduce yourself to our
listeners and help us to get to know you a little better.
Yeah, You know, it's a good question.
That's probably the hardest and the easiest question to answer,
right. You know, you got to dig in a
little bit. But yeah, I mean, I think most
people here in Kansas City wouldknow me as the broadcaster.
(02:20):
You know, I think the people that know me closer would know
me as the, you know, the father,a husband, friend.
I'm not sure what the right order is on those, but they're
all they're all important to me.All all hat to wear.
But I think, you know, I, I think, I think all of us, if
we're, you know, good family, people are going to say that as
we should, that that's, that's not to take away from, from the
legitimacy of that. But I think, you know, beyond
(02:43):
that. And, and I think who I am and
what I show up as, who I show upas every day as that father,
friend, Co worker, speaker, podcaster on and on is just just
an authentic person. And I say that only because I, I
think that in any profession, certainly in television, it's
hard to know what's real and, and what's not.
(03:03):
And to me, that's always mattered.
It always will matter as life speeds up and scales.
And, you know, hopefully you, you climb the ranks and whatever
it is you're doing, it's, it's easy to forget that and it's
easy to get caught up in, in expectations.
But I, I think that that being true, being authentic,
ultimately to me is, is if I'm not doing that, then I'm not
myself. And I guess that will be the
(03:27):
definition of authenticity, right, If you're not doing that.
But I, I think a lot of us get away from it.
And, and to me, I'd like to think I'm the same person now as
I was when I was young and, and all that.
And, and that's important to me.Yeah, I love that in a world
where so much is fake, we beg for authenticity, no doubt, and
that and that comes out in you. And so I appreciate you sharing
(03:48):
that because I think that's super important that we stay
true to who we are and. And I think it's doable too.
Like you can, yeah, you can be successful.
I wouldn't call it the the wholelike nice guys, good guys, you
know, can good guys win, that type of thing.
I mean, yes, good guys can win, bad guys can win and vice versa.
But I just, I think there's roomto be successful and to grow and
(04:09):
and still be authentic. Yeah, absolutely.
Well, you've had a lot of success and in the industry of
broadcasting and journalism, from what I know about your
story, nothing was handed to you, was it?
You went around banging on doorsand and trying to get your way
in. Can you tell us a little bit
about that and kind of your origins in that in that area?
Yeah, and I really, you know, you said it right away, Chad,
(04:32):
about having a million stories or, or however you said it.
And I do. And they're, they're fun.
And, you know, it's, it's one ofthe privileges of, of my job of
traveling with a baseball team, the Kansas City Royals, and
having a front row seat to, to alot of really cool stories, fun
stories, inspiring stories. But really my favorite story is,
is what got me into this business.
(04:53):
Because, you know, I think the odds are stacked against all of
us for, for being successful in our, in our industries.
I mean, it's, it's, it's hard to, to carve out a, a niche.
It's hard to, to, to carve that path.
I think television's unique in the sense that they're, they're
a finite amount of jobs and at least a perception that this
(05:16):
would be the coolest job ever. And I'm here to say it is, but
not necessarily for the reasons why people think it is.
I mean, if you're a sports fan, like if I were to tell you,
Chad, you, you know, let me signyou up here and you could, you
could travel with your Atlanta Braves and, and, and that's
going to be your living. There'd be a lot of takers for
that. But I'll take you back to 1994
(05:38):
when I graduate from the University of Wisconsin in
Madison, WI, I want to be on TV traveling with the Kansas City
Royals or any big league team for that matter.
And any sport was a what was beyond a pipe dream at that
point. I mean, it was just how can I
get into television? The very short of the story is
that I started sending out resume tapes all over the
(06:00):
country at a time where we didn't have YouTube or YouTube
links or LinkedIn or anything like that.
And, and I got rejected, I got, I got letters in the mail back
from every single 125 of them saying, you know, thanks for
replying, but we're not interested.
And it dawned to me at that point that all I was trying to
do is get into a small, small town television station
anywhere. And I was willing to go
(06:22):
anywhere, which I thought, I thought put me above others that
might not be willing to make that sacrifice.
But there were still so many. So how, how do you just, I'll
make up some numbers. How do you, if you're, if you're
1 of 10,000 people looking for ajob and there's only 25
openings, 50 openings, you know,the numbers are bigger than that
in terms of how many people wanted to do it.
(06:42):
So it's almost like winning the lottery.
And this was my dream. And so after the 25th rejection,
I just started cold calling TV stations.
And basically, and I'm not, I always like to preface this by
saying I'm not the cold calling type.
I don't like cold calling. I said that's it's very easy if
you're listening to this to say,yeah, but I would never do that,
whatever profession you're in. Yeah, I'm not comfortable doing
(07:04):
that. And, you know, beyond just
saying, well, you got to make some sacrifice and you got to
get out of your comfort zone, all those type of things.
For me, it was it was do or die.Like I don't know what else I
can do to get into this business.
So I was desperate. And if this doesn't work, I'm
probably going to go work at thelocal restaurant that I worked
at when I was home from College in Chicago or during high school
(07:27):
in Chicago. And, and ironically that that
job would have paid me more thanmy first TV job helping manage a
restaurant. But, but basically I called all
these TV stations, I would ask to speak to the news director
and I think I had a script that I was reading off of because I
was so nervous from my parents landline in, in Chicago.
And, and I would basically say, I know you don't have any
openings right now. I just graduated, blah, blah,
(07:49):
blah. I'm passing through town in two
weeks. Would you be available if I if I
stopped in on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or whatever
dates I gave them? And, and they all said yes.
And I was never going to any of these places.
But as soon as they said yes, I hopped in my car and you know,
it was always, I'm passing through town on July, blah,
blah, blah. What would, would it be possible
(08:09):
to meet with you? And then that's what I did, you
know, and I'd stay at a cheap motel and I'd bring the one suit
coat and, you know, dress pants I had.
And I'd pull into a McDonald's and go into the bathroom and put
it on and go in there and meet with someone for anywhere from 2
minutes to an hour. And then the crazy thing
happened. Within a matter of a couple
months, I got my first job offerin a small town in Wisconsin.
(08:30):
Then the next one came in, the next one in the next 1.
And so I had to open the door for myself.
And then, and this is what I tell people to do all the time,
you have to open the doors yourself or if there is someone
there that can open them for you, great.
Don't, don't walk away from that.
I don't know if I want to hand out.
I don't know. You take every opportunity that
you get, but then it's up to youto stay.
And so I'm, I, I'm most proud ofthe fact that one, I was able to
(08:54):
open a door, but then even more proud that 30 years later, I'm
still doing this. Man, that's so good.
And there's a lesson there. I think in all of us, a lot of
times, especially today, we livein this instant culture.
And, you know, we expect things overnight.
And the reality of it is that things aren't just going to fall
in our lap. We're not going to just, you
(09:15):
know, we're not going to drift into success.
It takes purposeful, intentionalaction.
And you did it. And when things didn't work out
the way that you were hoping, you had the 25 nose.
All right, You sent those letters out.
You got 25 nose back. You could have just said, well
this isn't for me or this just isn't going to turn out.
(09:38):
But I love how you shifted that perspective and you said, OK,
this isn't working, but what else can I do to make this work?
And how quick we are to give up on our dreams sometimes because
the first thing we try doesn't work.
Yeah. And, you know, I don't, I mean,
I think about this like even from a standpoint of if I hadn't
(10:00):
taken that chance and I'd playedit safe and I, I'm really more
of a play it safe kind of guy. And I'm trying to actually break
that mold. I mean, it's easy for me to say,
well, I, I, you know, I didn't play it safe and that's why I'm
where I'm at. But it was so out of my comfort
zone. Yeah.
And, you know, I think if I hadn't done that and then I'd
(10:21):
probably go and work at that restaurant and I'm probably
living in Chicago for the rest of my life, which would be
great, by the way, but hard for me to imagine now.
That's where we go back and visit a lot of family and my
parents are still there, my in laws.
But I can't imagine a life outside of Kansas City and doing
what I do. But I who knows what would have
happened? You know, I met my wife, we met
(10:44):
her, we've met once, but we met my wife when I was in town from
that that TV job in Wisconsin onvacation for a week and came
back home over the holidays and happened to bump into her.
And so who, you know, it's thosesliding doors, the movie sliding
doors where, you know, if this happens and this happens.
And so who knows where I'd be at?
What I've lived in Chicago working in the restaurant
(11:04):
industry my whole life. I didn't really have a backup
plan. And so, you know, I think it's
just a reminder to people that what's the worst that happens
when you get out of your comfortzone?
I mean, providing you're not being reckless, you know?
Yeah, it's uncomfortable, but you can't get there if you don't
try. You know, if I'd told myself
back in 1994 that 31 years lateryou'd still be doing this, I
(11:27):
would never have believed that at all.
But but now it's, you know, I don't know any other way.
Yeah. And I'm, I'm finding myself in
that same boat too. I'm trying to break out of that
play in it safe. And I've done that with the
podcast and with my coaching business and different things.
And there is that tendency, I think, to settle, you know, to
maybe have a little like lightning.
(11:47):
There we go. I don't know what happened
there, Shorten, sorry. Hopefully be on.
You're good. Well, I see what I think.
I see what happened. Yep, it just came out of the
plug a little bit. Sorry about that.
That's OK, That's why we edit. Yep, Yep.
You know all about that. I know.
But yeah, you know, every momentthat we lean into our dreams and
(12:10):
that we put ourselves in that, in that uncomfortable moment has
the potential to really change the trajectory of our life.
And, and that really happened with you.
And I appreciate you sharing that because I think that brings
a lot of people hope and encouragement that a, where you
are isn't where you have to be forever.
Yeah, sometimes it takes that uncomfortable move forward to
change things. Yeah.
And by the way, there's not likejust because that all worked out
(12:33):
doesn't mean that I'm not still facing challenges that are
similar to that, you know, taking that chance.
I've got to remind myself that that worked.
And so, you know, get out of your comfort zone.
I'm trying to continuously trying to build up my speaking
business and you know, sometimesit takes getting a little bit
uncomfortable, but it's amazing what happens when you put
yourself out there. If you believe in yourself, if
(12:55):
you've got something positive orgood to offer, I guess doesn't
have to be positive. I'm generally a pretty positive
person. But you know, it's, it's there's
a balance, I think Chad, betweenbeing patient and playing the
waiting game, which is not a badthing.
Playing the long game. I very much value the long game
versus also pushing the needle alittle bit and, and, and trying
(13:17):
to make some things happen. And I think that the the sweet
spot to use a baseball term is, is finding the balance between
those. Yeah, I love it.
You said to use a baseball term,and I kind of want to transition
a little bit. I'm a big baseball fan and
that's really one of the one of the things I love about you is
that you're able to use your experience in interviewing and
telling the stories of some of these professional athletes, but
(13:41):
you're able to take those stories and make them relatable
to everyday life. You do that with your speaking
you. You do that for corporations and
for businesses. But isn't it cool how America's
favorite pastime, baseball, is so relatable to so many
different areas of life? Wonder if you could just speak
to that a moment. What what is it about some of
(14:02):
these athletes stories that thatI think we just really gravitate
towards and that we want to hearabout?
Yeah, and I think it's it's why I tend to gravitate towards the
role players, the non superstars.
And look, don't get me wrong, the superstars and I've been
around them my whole career. They're the ones that move the
(14:23):
needle when you land that big interview.
When you get that that trust andthat one-on-one with the
superstar, you know it. It gives me credibility when
back in in early June and the Yankees are in that I could go
on the air and tell a story about a conversation I had with
Aaron Judge. Like that was no big deal.
(14:44):
And for the most part, it was wasn't a big deal.
I mean, it was a big deal because he's the greatest player
in the world and he also happensto be one of the nicest human
beings of a superstar that you can meet.
But to me, the ones that so thatthere's a credibility piece
there. But but when when I can tell the
story of the 26th man on the roster, when I could tell the
story about the guy that was on the streets that thought he had
(15:08):
no chance. And then somebody takes 1 little
chance on him just as a favor and he ends up being a big
leaguer 10 years later, you know, 8-9 ten years later.
Those are the stories that fulfill me and I think really
fulfill audiences too, because we all can relate to the
underdog. We all can relate in our own
lives. And you know, I, I guess I see a
(15:30):
little bit of me in that becauseI had no chance getting into
this business and I did. And I see, you know, I just, I
wrote a second book that came out in in February called Small
Ball, Big Dreams. And, and the part of the
inspiration for the title, SmallBall, doing the little things in
baseball, the bunts, the sacrifices that you don't always
get credit for. But the dreams part, I've never
(15:51):
interviewed an athlete after their debut or, or, you know, or
their first day in the big leagues, whatever it is where
they don't say some version of this is what I dreamt of growing
up. Yeah.
And so they all had the same dream, but the pads to get there
were different. And I think that's the beauty of
of the story. And so to have the privilege of
sharing that and then to understand as I started to build
(16:15):
the speaking business in the last 7-8 years, nothing I'd ever
done before. I mean, my speaking was, you
know, a church group, a Rotary Club, just good community
outreach. Hey, thanks for having me.
Thanks for the lunch. Here's what's going on with the
team. Does anybody have any questions?
All right. Hope to see at the stadium.
And that was great. And I'll still do a little bit
of that. But to sit there and think that
(16:36):
I could take all these lessons learned and, and leverage
stories that only I may know or that maybe we're told in a 32nd
version on the air real quickly.And to be able to leverage that
to make people's lives better orto help them find themselves is
truly one of the great gifts that I never thought existed.
And now it's really what fuels me every single day.
I mean, it's, I know that sounds, you know, a little
(16:59):
little, you know, woo woo, I guess.
But it is amazing to me as a baseball fan, just like you, to
be able to take the leverage of this sport or the leverage that
I have in the platform. And then to be able to use it in
a totally different medium. To be able to get up in front of
hundreds of people in any industry and to be able to take
(17:22):
those stories and craft them into inspiration is something I
never thought that I would do. It's it's so much deeper than
than the sport. To answer the actual question
about why baseball beyond for me, it's the sport that I'm in.
I, I would like to think I wouldhave found similar motivation if
I ended up in hockey, which I did for a little bit, or
(17:43):
football. I did some or whatever it is.
But, but I think with baseball beyond just saying it's
America's pastime because it is,but the world has changed.
There's something about baseball, Chad, that relatable
to the common everyday man and woman because we live our lives
dealing with failure, dealing with rejection.
(18:03):
And in a baseball standpoint, you have to look, you have to
know how to manage failure. If you're the best at it, you
know this. If you're the best of hitters,
you've got to manage failure 70%of the time.
And the best ones that I cover can move on right away.
Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, but they learn from it, they
grow from it, they process it, they move on to the next day.
(18:26):
So I I I am living in a world offailure every single day and
watching guys master how to handle that.
That that's a really important truth.
And you know what, I think there's a lot of parallels with
baseball in life. And I find that and watching,
you know, some of the guys that go through slumps.
Well, don't we all? You know, you know, some of the
guys they're dealing with the, the height that the, you know,
(18:48):
the top of the moment, the WorldSeries, but then there's the
crashing down afterwards, you know, and don't we all
experience that too in our world?
And so it's just very relatable.And I love how you you're you're
very unique in this. I love how you take that, like
you said, and you crafted into astory that not only tells the
story of someone else, but it gives, you know, hundreds or
(19:11):
thousands of other people hope and inspiration because of that
story. You're interested with the
stories of a few and you have a way of turning that into stories
that impact many, many more. And so I I love that you're able
to do that. And I think that's incredible.
I think. Thank you.
I mean, I think there's also a little bit more of a lesson too
(19:32):
that whatever it is we do. And I always really like to say
that, OK, I'm in this higher profile job and people see it on
TV if they're in Kansas City andthey could see it anywhere
around the world, But, but certainly at Kansas City, I
wouldn't expect an Atlanta audience to have any clue who I
am. Now, by the way, I don't expect
everybody to know who I am in Kansas City.
But you, you get the point. But it's not your normal job.
(19:56):
It's a high profile but. Whatever it is.
That we do with our jobs. There's always more there than
we realize. There's always more depth and
more opportunity to do somethingelse with it.
And so for me, it will be enoughjust to tell these stories on TV
in a different way than than a speech or even as a podcast
(20:18):
guest right now. I mean, there's only so much
room for depth in my role as a sideline reporter and a pregame
show host to really go much beyond a minute of something.
So you can't really develop it. You're you're passing on a fun
story, an anecdote, something interesting or cool or a trend
or or a streak or whatever. But there's always more to what
(20:39):
we do. And I think that when you could
find whatever it is you're doingto have a greater purpose.
And that's the challenge, one ofthe many challenges in life,
when you could find more of a purpose to what you're doing
beyond just, this is the task I have to complete.
And I want to do it at my best. But wait a minute.
What else is there? And then how can I take that and
(21:03):
share it with someone else? That doesn't have to be, by the
way, a profession. I mean, is there a lesson
learned in life or at work that you then can use to provide
inspiration to a friend that's struggling or, or a colleague or
whatever it is? I mean, it's just if you're
curious and you're paying attention enough, there's always
more than what's there. More than meets the eye, no
(21:23):
doubt. And that you know that.
That even delves into the legacycomponent of, you know, what are
we doing beyond what we're doing?
And I love that. So I'm going to put you on the
spot for just a little bit. You've been doing a lot of
stories. We've mentioned that time and
time again. Do you have a couple that are
some of your most memorable stories, some that you've you've
(21:44):
been doing this, what, 31 years are there?
Are there a couple that stand out to you?
Yeah. There, you've written about a
couple. Of them I know there.
There are a ton of them, you know, I think where do I want to
go with these? I, I think that there's one with
a picture. And I tell this in a lot of my
speeches. I'm happy to to, you know, give
(22:06):
it away a little bit here in thesense of there's a lot to the
story. But I had a picture with the
Royals back during the World Series runs 2014 and 15, young,
young pitcher by the name of Yordano Ventura and Yordano
Ventura, Dominican kid, you know, Pedro Martinez was his
(22:29):
idol. So for anyone that is not a
baseball fan, Pedro Martinez, one of the one of the great
pitchers out of the Dominican Republic of all time and, and,
and, and not a big build, but hecould throw hard.
And that was your Donald Ventura, scrawny kid that could
throw 100. Matter of fact that one time his
mom was visiting from the Dominican and I interview her
(22:52):
live in the stands with the translator because she spoke no
English. And and I asked her what it's
like to have a son playing baseball in the United States,
throwing 100 miles an hour. And the translation came back to
her in Spanish. And she starts to glare at me.
And I couldn't understand what was lost in translation that she
would be glaring at me for for asking her what it's like to
(23:13):
have a son throwing 100 and and the the the translation came
back 102 Los ciento. I'm I'm don't undercut him now.
Yeah, it couldn't. Undercut him.
But the thing about Yordano and it really, it's given me a lot
of purpose in life, is that he giant personality and like many
(23:34):
of the Latin players, and I wishI'd studied Spanish as a kid,
I'm trying now, but it's not going great.
And he he, he had studied English and he was getting
really good at it. But like a lot of the Latin
players, a little too scared to do an interview in English.
I'll tell my audiences all the time.
Imagine going overseas somewherewhere your employer or some
employer is going to pay you 10 * 20 * 100 times what you're
(23:57):
making right now and you're going to live a great life.
But oh, by the way, you got to learn a second language.
And you know, when your work dayis over, we, we'd like for you
to be interviewed by a bunch of journalists in your second
language. That would probably scare you.
But you know what? If they gave you the opportunity
to have a translator, you'd probably take that translator.
I would, and so that's oftentimes what happens.
(24:20):
And, and my role and I, I strongly believe what I, what
I'm working for every day at theballpark is, is to continue to
build the trust and earn the trust of, of all of our players.
And certainly the Latin Americanplayers that if, if I were to
interview them without a translator, will will they trust
me enough to make sure that they're going to be OK, that
they're going to be comfortable?And Jordano's English was so
(24:41):
much better than he realized. And I finally convinced him to
do to do an interview, lock the doors of the room because I
didn't want his teammates to come in and make faces and mess
with them because boys will be boys.
And that's what they do. And he was so nervous.
But but it was the first interview he'd ever done.
And and the giant personality started to show and fans fell in
love with him. And you know, a great moment
(25:03):
after they, they clinched their second straight Pennant where
I'm interviewing them alive now.I mean, this is this is not
recorded. This is not AI helped rehearse
with him when he did that first interview.
I wrote down questions and I usually don't do that.
And I made sure that he was as comfortable as can be and I was
there to to help him. I repeated everything back just
so that he knew he was being heard.
Now we're live and he goes into what's a viral moment if
(25:26):
anybody's listening and just go on to YouTube and search for
your Donald Ventura. Oh, baby.
And it'll pop up. But here he is.
And he says with his accent and and English, that was very
understandable. We are going to the world
serious again. Oh, baby.
And he's screaming and yelling and it's live TV.
(25:47):
And the moment went viral. Yeah.
And that's where I was like, wow, this is the personality
that I really want fans to see. Yeah.
Now, as is, you know, often the the case and I, I am, I'm not a
minister, so I'm not as good at this, but I am a storyteller.
That was 2015, 2017. I woke up on a on a January
(26:11):
morning in the offseason to see news pop on a rumor initially
out of the Dominican that he hadbeen killed in a car crash.
And and indeed, it was true. And you know, I, I First off, it
was the offseason. There are no players around town
in Kansas City. So I was the one getting all the
calls from the TV news stations to talk about them, which was an
incredible honor, but obviously extremely difficult.
(26:33):
And I remember going to the memorial, the team, I did not go
to the Dominican, a handful of of players did, but I remember
the team memorial here in KansasCity, I had a hotel.
And there is a story told about how he would, he was young too,
I'm 25. But he would go to the room of
(26:54):
other Latin American teammates on the hotel late at night after
a game to help them order room service because they were too
scared to make that call in in the English.
They were just learning. And so he would go to lend that
hand. And when I heard that story,
light bulb went off because in 2016, which would have been his
last spring training, in his last season, I had an interview
(27:16):
with him at spring training. We do a lot of longer form
interviews for projects and things like that at spring
training. And my task on this one from my
producer was to sit down a few pictures to talk about the
rotation for that year, and he was one of them.
Well, he comes out and he agreesto do it, which by the way, he
wouldn't always do it. He would do it with me.
I was the only one he would really do it with in English.
But oftentimes he would say in perfect English because he
(27:37):
really perfected it. I not today, I left my English
at the hotel. I'm just a mess with me and, or
maybe not wanting to do it on a given day.
And I always, I always enjoyed that.
That was so, so his sense of humor.
And on this day, he comes out todo the interview with me sitting
outside in, in Arizona and he brings a teammate with him, a
fellow Dominican. And the Dominican, fellow
Dominican sits down and then Ventura sits on his lap.
(28:02):
So he now wants to be interviewed, sitting on a
teammate's lap, which is cute and fun, but makes no sense to
do a preview of the pitching staff.
And my producer, who is not out of Kansas City but does special
projects. So she doesn't know.
The guy says to me, who's the other guy whispers it, she
didn't want to be rude. I said that's Jorge Bona Fasio.
I believe that you guys probablyhad a Jorge's brother, Emilio
(28:22):
Bona Fasio, at one point with the break and both good kids.
And I said, that's Jorge Bona Fasio.
She says, so he's a pitcher too.I said no.
She said, well, what does he play?
I said outfield, she goes, so he's outfielder on the team.
I said no. And she says, well, what do you
mean? I said he's a minor leaguer.
She goes, I can't use this. I like.
(28:42):
I can't put a story together with about the pitchers, with
the pitcher sitting on a minor league outfielder's lap.
It doesn't fit. It doesn't.
I can't tell that story. So I said, ace, can we just wait
and do the interview? Nope, come on.
Nope. And he just, and I'm like, all
right, he's just giving me griefas he always does.
He's part of our relationship. And he wouldn't move.
So I, I handed them the mic. I said, just interview each
(29:03):
other. Do it in English, practice your
English guys. And it ran its course.
And then Bony Fastio left and I got my interview with Ventura.
I didn't realize until I heard that story at the memorial that
he wasn't messing with me that day too much.
He always was some he was tryingto pave the way for Bonifacio to
understand that when you make itto the big leagues as a young
Dominican or young Spanish speaking player, this is what it
(29:24):
looks like to do an interview infront of a camera in English.
And all he was trying to do was share what he had learned to
pave the way up for the next. And so he passed away in January
of 17 and in May of 17, four months later, Boney Fasio was
called up for the first time in the big leagues.
We're in Texas, and I sit there with my broadcast partner,
former former Royals pitcher Jeff Montgomery.
(29:46):
And we interviewed Boney Fasio without a translator, very much
thinking about the legacy of your Donald Ventura.
That's probably my favorite story.
Wow. Bigger than life?
Yes, Bigger than life and it. Always is.
It is and. So that, that kind of leads me
down this path and maybe we'll, we'll kind of wrap things up
with this thought. You've been around some of the
greatest of greats, interviewed so many role players, so many
(30:11):
superstars. What's the common thread?
What is it, you know, we, we seeon TV kind of the final product,
but that you get behind the final product and you get to see
the path. What is it that you would like
to tell us? I don't know what you want to
call us on non professional athletes.
(30:32):
Me too. About professional athletes.
Yeah. What's the thing that that
you've noticed that that you think draws us to them?
And what's the common thread? I think there's.
A common thread though, too, to to expand the the net here to a
successful entrepreneur, a successful CEO, a successful
leader, hopefully a successful broadcaster, podcast host,
(30:53):
minister, pharmacist. That there's not one secret, but
I think finding the routine thatworks and and making that
routine as non negotiable as possible, whatever that is.
Because I could tell you that ifyou were to pull 26 guys in, in
(31:15):
any of the 30 big league clubhouses, they would all give
you different answers as to to what they do, but they would see
trends and learn from each other.
For instance. I asked a player the other day
about a big stretch as we're recording this, the Royals are
are at the beginning of 16 straight days and, and and and
(31:38):
they've lost a bunch at home andtrying to break out of that
played well on the road. How do you do that?
One of those type of questions and he said, player said to me
that we need no matter what's going on with the results and
that this is the secret here that that we live in a results
based world. But it's it's the foundation and
what gets you there that that you have to stay true to no
(32:00):
matter what the the what I like to call small ball, the little
things that are part of who you are.
And so it's going to be different for everyone.
What makes you successful every day?
What do you need to touch every day?
That becomes the non negotiable.And so for a lot of these
players, whether that's video prep or weight room.
But what this player said to me,he said that whatever happens
with the results, we believe we're good enough to be doing
(32:23):
this. So we have to stick even when
things aren't going right. We have to not just stick
together. We got to stick to getting that
work done in the weight room. We got to stick to getting that
work done with the good diet. We got to stick to getting all
of our prep work in and then letthe results take care of
themselves. And so to me, the common secret
is that these successful athletes have a routine that
(32:45):
works for them that they don't negotiate on that routine.
And then you constantly look when it doesn't work, is it not
working because of circumstancesout of my control?
What am I getting wrong that I can fix and what can I trust in
the process? We hear, trust the process a
lot. If the process is right, keep
sticking with it. If it's not, make your tweaks.
(33:07):
That becomes the negotiable part.
But finding that sweet spot to be able to handle the failure.
And it's going to again, be different for everyone because
our brains are all different. We're wired differently, but
what is that for me, I, I need to, I need to start my day every
single day. You know, when I wake up before
I'm scrolling and doing all thatstuff, I need to slow things
down immediately and, and get inat least five, if not ten to 15
(33:30):
minutes of a meditation. And, and if I do that, my day is
going to be better. And so I think that it's
different for everyone, but I think that that's the key for
these guys. It's not a matter of who can hit
the ball farthest or anything like that.
How do they take care of themselves?
How do they get themselves readymentally and physically every
single day? Yeah, I love that.
And that goes into a lot of whatI'm teaching, a lot of what I'm
(33:51):
coaching, and a lot of what thispodcast is about.
How do you take care of yourself, body, mind and soul,
no doubt. How do you thrive in every part
of life? And then and that comes down to,
hey, if you interview 26 guys onthe team, there are 26 different
paths that they took to get there.
And there are 26 different methods that they use every day
to maintain what they're doing. And here's the thing, fine, what
(34:11):
works for you and do it every day.
So many times we let the resultsof life, the circumstances
dictate whether or not we continue.
So what I'm hearing you say is you got to keep going.
You've got to keep going and andlearn from life.
If the results tell you to to tweak it, tweak it, but don't
ever stop. Don't ever stop.
(34:33):
And look, Chad, there are times you have to stop, right?
I mean, there are going to be times where you just need a
break. That doesn't mean quitting, by
the way. That might be taking care of
yourself as well. But but nothing ever happens
without movement. And that movement might be
resetting, that movement might be taking a breath, that
(34:54):
movement might actually be slowing things down.
Movement doesn't have to be 100 miles an hour resting.
Is not quitting. Nope.
Yeah, love it, Joel, brother, you're an inspiration and you're
doing awesome things in this world.
I appreciate you. Where can my listeners find out
more about your podcast you're speaking and just enter into
your world in in whatever ways that looks like?
(35:16):
Yeah, I mean there are 1,000,000.
Ways and well, not literally, but I I think that the one stop
shop is my website, joelgoldbergmedia.com.
And yeah, you know, I could throw out all the social media
handles and all that stuff, but it's all within there and the
podcasts are linked there and the books are linked there and
the speakings linked there and the speaking video and all that.
So Joel Goldberg media.com is the best way.
That's man, it's fun. It's fun to do all this stuff
(35:39):
and it's fun to be able to talk with you and get to know you
over the last few weeks and and much more to come as well,
likewise. I'll put all those links in the
show notes. But man, keep being great.
Keep being a leader, keep being an inspiration.
You, my friend, are doing great things, and I can't wait to see
what the future holds. But you've had such a successful
career. But here's what's Here's the
cool thing about Joel. He's not stopping.
No, I can't. Big things.
(36:00):
Are coming so thank you my friend I hope so I.
Appreciate you and thanks for having me on, Chad.
Yes, Sir. Thank you for listening to the
Rev RX Podcast. We hope you enjoyed what you
heard today and if so, we'd loveit if you would hit that
subscribe button so that you'll never miss a new episode from
us. Also, feel free to leave us
reviews and comments as we'd love to hear from you.
(36:21):
Be blessed and be the very best you.
Hey friends, and welcome back tothe Rev RX Podcast where we show
you how to thrive in faith, family, and health.
My name is Chad Potts and I'm your host.
If you're watching this, you cansee that today I'm wearing my
Kansas City Royal shirt. And the reason for that, I'm not
betraying my Braves. But today's guest is one that
(00:32):
Kansas City knows very well. Joel Goldberg, Emmy
award-winning broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals.
He's an author, he's a speaker. He's an all around powerhouse
storyteller. And in this episode, Joel shares
life lessons from the dugout, what decades of interviewing
athletes have taught him about resilience, identity and staying
(00:54):
true to your purpose. We talk about rejection.
You're going to love the story about how Joel first got into
broadcasting after being shot down 25 times.
We're going to talk about routines.
We're going to talk about viral moments and a legacy story
that's going to hit you right inthe heart.
Whether you're a baseball fan ornot, you're going to love this
(01:15):
episode. You're going to love what Joel
shares because it's going to inspire you to stop playing it
safe and to start living a life on purpose.
So let's jump in and introduce to you my new friend, Joel
Goldberg. Joel, brother, what a privilege
it is to have you here on the show today.
Thanks so much for joining. Us, thanks for having me
(01:36):
privileged to be here with you. Thanks, Chad.
Yeah, joining us from Beautiful Kansas City.
And man, I love what you're doing.
I've had the privilege of getting to know you a little bit
over these last few weeks, and it is really and truly just an
honor to have you here. You have so many stories to
tell, and I can't wait to get into some of that.
But before we get into that, you're an Emmy award-winning
broadcaster, you're a podcaster,you're an author.
(01:57):
But behind all that, who is Joel?
I'd love to just have you introduce yourself to our
listeners and help us to get to know you a little better.
Yeah, You know, it's a good question.
That's probably the hardest and the easiest question to answer,
right. You know, you got to dig in a
little bit. But yeah, I mean, I think most
people here in Kansas City wouldknow me as the broadcaster.
(02:20):
You know, I think the people that know me closer would know
me as the, you know, the father,a husband, friend.
I'm not sure what the right order is on those, but they're
all they're all important to me.All all hat to wear.
But I think, you know, I, I think, I think all of us, if
we're, you know, good family, people are going to say that as
we should, that that's, that's not to take away from, from the
legitimacy of that. But I think, you know, beyond
(02:43):
that. And, and I think who I am and
what I show up as, who I show upas every day as that father,
friend, Co worker, speaker, podcaster on and on is just just
an authentic person. And I say that only because I, I
think that in any profession, certainly in television, it's
hard to know what's real and, and what's not.
(03:03):
And to me, that's always mattered.
It always will matter as life speeds up and scales.
And, you know, hopefully you, you climb the ranks and whatever
it is you're doing, it's, it's easy to forget that and it's
easy to get caught up in, in expectations.
But I, I think that that being true, being authentic,
ultimately to me is, is if I'm not doing that, then I'm not
myself. And I guess that will be the
(03:27):
definition of authenticity, right, If you're not doing that.
But I, I think a lot of us get away from it.
And, and to me, I'd like to think I'm the same person now as
I was when I was young and, and all that.
And, and that's important to me.Yeah, I love that in a world
where so much is fake, we beg for authenticity, no doubt, and
that and that comes out in you. And so I appreciate you sharing
(03:48):
that because I think that's super important that we stay
true to who we are and. And I think it's doable too.
Like you can, yeah, you can be successful.
I wouldn't call it the the wholelike nice guys, good guys, you
know, can good guys win, that type of thing.
I mean, yes, good guys can win, bad guys can win and vice versa.
But I just, I think there's roomto be successful and to grow and
(04:09):
and still be authentic. Yeah, absolutely.
Well, you've had a lot of success and in the industry of
broadcasting and journalism, from what I know about your
story, nothing was handed to you, was it?
You went around banging on doorsand and trying to get your way
in. Can you tell us a little bit
about that and kind of your origins in that in that area?
Yeah, and I really, you know, you said it right away, Chad,
(04:32):
about having a million stories or, or however you said it.
And I do. And they're, they're fun.
And, you know, it's, it's one ofthe privileges of, of my job of
traveling with a baseball team, the Kansas City Royals, and
having a front row seat to, to alot of really cool stories, fun
stories, inspiring stories. But really my favorite story is,
is what got me into this business.
(04:53):
Because, you know, I think the odds are stacked against all of
us for, for being successful in our, in our industries.
I mean, it's, it's, it's hard to, to carve out a, a niche.
It's hard to, to, to carve that path.
I think television's unique in the sense that they're, they're
a finite amount of jobs and at least a perception that this
(05:16):
would be the coolest job ever. And I'm here to say it is, but
not necessarily for the reasons why people think it is.
I mean, if you're a sports fan, like if I were to tell you,
Chad, you, you know, let me signyou up here and you could, you
could travel with your Atlanta Braves and, and, and that's
going to be your living. There'd be a lot of takers for
that. But I'll take you back to 1994
(05:38):
when I graduate from the University of Wisconsin in
Madison, WI, I want to be on TV traveling with the Kansas City
Royals or any big league team for that matter.
And any sport was a what was beyond a pipe dream at that
point. I mean, it was just how can I
get into television? The very short of the story is
that I started sending out resume tapes all over the
(06:00):
country at a time where we didn't have YouTube or YouTube
links or LinkedIn or anything like that.
And, and I got rejected, I got, I got letters in the mail back
from every single 125 of them saying, you know, thanks for
replying, but we're not interested.
And it dawned to me at that point that all I was trying to
do is get into a small, small town television station
anywhere. And I was willing to go
(06:22):
anywhere, which I thought, I thought put me above others that
might not be willing to make that sacrifice.
But there were still so many. So how, how do you just, I'll
make up some numbers. How do you, if you're, if you're
1 of 10,000 people looking for ajob and there's only 25
openings, 50 openings, you know,the numbers are bigger than that
in terms of how many people wanted to do it.
(06:42):
So it's almost like winning the lottery.
And this was my dream. And so after the 25th rejection,
I just started cold calling TV stations.
And basically, and I'm not, I always like to preface this by
saying I'm not the cold calling type.
I don't like cold calling. I said that's it's very easy if
you're listening to this to say,yeah, but I would never do that,
whatever profession you're in. Yeah, I'm not comfortable doing
(07:04):
that. And, you know, beyond just
saying, well, you got to make some sacrifice and you got to
get out of your comfort zone, all those type of things.
For me, it was it was do or die.Like I don't know what else I
can do to get into this business.
So I was desperate. And if this doesn't work, I'm
probably going to go work at thelocal restaurant that I worked
at when I was home from College in Chicago or during high school
(07:27):
in Chicago. And, and ironically that that
job would have paid me more thanmy first TV job helping manage a
restaurant. But, but basically I called all
these TV stations, I would ask to speak to the news director
and I think I had a script that I was reading off of because I
was so nervous from my parents landline in, in Chicago.
And, and I would basically say, I know you don't have any
openings right now. I just graduated, blah, blah,
(07:49):
blah. I'm passing through town in two
weeks. Would you be available if I if I
stopped in on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or whatever
dates I gave them? And, and they all said yes.
And I was never going to any of these places.
But as soon as they said yes, I hopped in my car and you know,
it was always, I'm passing through town on July, blah,
blah, blah. What would, would it be possible
(08:09):
to meet with you? And then that's what I did, you
know, and I'd stay at a cheap motel and I'd bring the one suit
coat and, you know, dress pants I had.
And I'd pull into a McDonald's and go into the bathroom and put
it on and go in there and meet with someone for anywhere from 2
minutes to an hour. And then the crazy thing
happened. Within a matter of a couple
months, I got my first job offerin a small town in Wisconsin.
(08:30):
Then the next one came in, the next one in the next 1.
And so I had to open the door for myself.
And then, and this is what I tell people to do all the time,
you have to open the doors yourself or if there is someone
there that can open them for you, great.
Don't, don't walk away from that.
I don't know if I want to hand out.
I don't know. You take every opportunity that
you get, but then it's up to youto stay.
And so I'm, I, I'm most proud ofthe fact that one, I was able to
(08:54):
open a door, but then even more proud that 30 years later, I'm
still doing this. Man, that's so good.
And there's a lesson there. I think in all of us, a lot of
times, especially today, we livein this instant culture.
And, you know, we expect things overnight.
And the reality of it is that things aren't just going to fall
in our lap. We're not going to just, you
(09:15):
know, we're not going to drift into success.
It takes purposeful, intentionalaction.
And you did it. And when things didn't work out
the way that you were hoping, you had the 25 nose.
All right, You sent those letters out.
You got 25 nose back. You could have just said, well
this isn't for me or this just isn't going to turn out.
(09:38):
But I love how you shifted that perspective and you said, OK,
this isn't working, but what else can I do to make this work?
And how quick we are to give up on our dreams sometimes because
the first thing we try doesn't work.
Yeah. And, you know, I don't, I mean,
I think about this like even from a standpoint of if I hadn't
(10:00):
taken that chance and I'd playedit safe and I, I'm really more
of a play it safe kind of guy. And I'm trying to actually break
that mold. I mean, it's easy for me to say,
well, I, I, you know, I didn't play it safe and that's why I'm
where I'm at. But it was so out of my comfort
zone. Yeah.
And, you know, I think if I hadn't done that and then I'd
(10:21):
probably go and work at that restaurant and I'm probably
living in Chicago for the rest of my life, which would be
great, by the way, but hard for me to imagine now.
That's where we go back and visit a lot of family and my
parents are still there, my in laws.
But I can't imagine a life outside of Kansas City and doing
what I do. But I who knows what would have
happened? You know, I met my wife, we met
(10:44):
her, we've met once, but we met my wife when I was in town from
that that TV job in Wisconsin onvacation for a week and came
back home over the holidays and happened to bump into her.
And so who, you know, it's thosesliding doors, the movie sliding
doors where, you know, if this happens and this happens.
And so who knows where I'd be at?
What I've lived in Chicago working in the restaurant
(11:04):
industry my whole life. I didn't really have a backup
plan. And so, you know, I think it's
just a reminder to people that what's the worst that happens
when you get out of your comfortzone?
I mean, providing you're not being reckless, you know?
Yeah, it's uncomfortable, but you can't get there if you don't
try. You know, if I'd told myself
back in 1994 that 31 years lateryou'd still be doing this, I
(11:27):
would never have believed that at all.
But but now it's, you know, I don't know any other way.
Yeah. And I'm, I'm finding myself in
that same boat too. I'm trying to break out of that
play in it safe. And I've done that with the
podcast and with my coaching business and different things.
And there is that tendency, I think, to settle, you know, to
maybe have a little like lightning.
(11:47):
There we go. I don't know what happened
there, Shorten, sorry. Hopefully be on.
You're good. Well, I see what I think.
I see what happened. Yep, it just came out of the
plug a little bit. Sorry about that.
That's OK, That's why we edit. Yep, Yep.
You know all about that. I know.
But yeah, you know, every momentthat we lean into our dreams and
(12:10):
that we put ourselves in that, in that uncomfortable moment has
the potential to really change the trajectory of our life.
And, and that really happened with you.
And I appreciate you sharing that because I think that brings
a lot of people hope and encouragement that a, where you
are isn't where you have to be forever.
Yeah, sometimes it takes that uncomfortable move forward to
change things. Yeah.
And by the way, there's not likejust because that all worked out
(12:33):
doesn't mean that I'm not still facing challenges that are
similar to that, you know, taking that chance.
I've got to remind myself that that worked.
And so, you know, get out of your comfort zone.
I'm trying to continuously trying to build up my speaking
business and you know, sometimesit takes getting a little bit
uncomfortable, but it's amazing what happens when you put
yourself out there. If you believe in yourself, if
(12:55):
you've got something positive orgood to offer, I guess doesn't
have to be positive. I'm generally a pretty positive
person. But you know, it's, it's there's
a balance, I think Chad, betweenbeing patient and playing the
waiting game, which is not a badthing.
Playing the long game. I very much value the long game
versus also pushing the needle alittle bit and, and, and trying
(13:17):
to make some things happen. And I think that the the sweet
spot to use a baseball term is, is finding the balance between
those. Yeah, I love it.
You said to use a baseball term,and I kind of want to transition
a little bit. I'm a big baseball fan and
that's really one of the one of the things I love about you is
that you're able to use your experience in interviewing and
telling the stories of some of these professional athletes, but
(13:41):
you're able to take those stories and make them relatable
to everyday life. You do that with your speaking
you. You do that for corporations and
for businesses. But isn't it cool how America's
favorite pastime, baseball, is so relatable to so many
different areas of life? Wonder if you could just speak
to that a moment. What what is it about some of
(14:02):
these athletes stories that thatI think we just really gravitate
towards and that we want to hearabout?
Yeah, and I think it's it's why I tend to gravitate towards the
role players, the non superstars.
And look, don't get me wrong, the superstars and I've been
around them my whole career. They're the ones that move the
(14:23):
needle when you land that big interview.
When you get that that trust andthat one-on-one with the
superstar, you know it. It gives me credibility when
back in in early June and the Yankees are in that I could go
on the air and tell a story about a conversation I had with
Aaron Judge. Like that was no big deal.
(14:44):
And for the most part, it was wasn't a big deal.
I mean, it was a big deal because he's the greatest player
in the world and he also happensto be one of the nicest human
beings of a superstar that you can meet.
But to me, the ones that so thatthere's a credibility piece
there. But but when when I can tell the
story of the 26th man on the roster, when I could tell the
story about the guy that was on the streets that thought he had
(15:08):
no chance. And then somebody takes 1 little
chance on him just as a favor and he ends up being a big
leaguer 10 years later, you know, 8-9 ten years later.
Those are the stories that fulfill me and I think really
fulfill audiences too, because we all can relate to the
underdog. We all can relate in our own
lives. And you know, I, I guess I see a
(15:30):
little bit of me in that becauseI had no chance getting into
this business and I did. And I see, you know, I just, I
wrote a second book that came out in in February called Small
Ball, Big Dreams. And, and the part of the
inspiration for the title, SmallBall, doing the little things in
baseball, the bunts, the sacrifices that you don't always
get credit for. But the dreams part, I've never
(15:51):
interviewed an athlete after their debut or, or, you know, or
their first day in the big leagues, whatever it is where
they don't say some version of this is what I dreamt of growing
up. Yeah.
And so they all had the same dream, but the pads to get there
were different. And I think that's the beauty of
of the story. And so to have the privilege of
sharing that and then to understand as I started to build
(16:15):
the speaking business in the last 7-8 years, nothing I'd ever
done before. I mean, my speaking was, you
know, a church group, a Rotary Club, just good community
outreach. Hey, thanks for having me.
Thanks for the lunch. Here's what's going on with the
team. Does anybody have any questions?
All right. Hope to see at the stadium.
And that was great. And I'll still do a little bit
of that. But to sit there and think that
(16:36):
I could take all these lessons learned and, and leverage
stories that only I may know or that maybe we're told in a 32nd
version on the air real quickly.And to be able to leverage that
to make people's lives better orto help them find themselves is
truly one of the great gifts that I never thought existed.
And now it's really what fuels me every single day.
I mean, it's, I know that sounds, you know, a little
(16:59):
little, you know, woo woo, I guess.
But it is amazing to me as a baseball fan, just like you, to
be able to take the leverage of this sport or the leverage that
I have in the platform. And then to be able to use it in
a totally different medium. To be able to get up in front of
hundreds of people in any industry and to be able to take
(17:22):
those stories and craft them into inspiration is something I
never thought that I would do. It's it's so much deeper than
than the sport. To answer the actual question
about why baseball beyond for me, it's the sport that I'm in.
I, I would like to think I wouldhave found similar motivation if
I ended up in hockey, which I did for a little bit, or
(17:43):
football. I did some or whatever it is.
But, but I think with baseball beyond just saying it's
America's pastime because it is,but the world has changed.
There's something about baseball, Chad, that relatable
to the common everyday man and woman because we live our lives
dealing with failure, dealing with rejection.
(18:03):
And in a baseball standpoint, you have to look, you have to
know how to manage failure. If you're the best at it, you
know this. If you're the best of hitters,
you've got to manage failure 70%of the time.
And the best ones that I cover can move on right away.
Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, but they learn from it, they
grow from it, they process it, they move on to the next day.
(18:26):
So I I I am living in a world offailure every single day and
watching guys master how to handle that.
That that's a really important truth.
And you know what, I think there's a lot of parallels with
baseball in life. And I find that and watching,
you know, some of the guys that go through slumps.
Well, don't we all? You know, you know, some of the
guys they're dealing with the, the height that the, you know,
(18:48):
the top of the moment, the WorldSeries, but then there's the
crashing down afterwards, you know, and don't we all
experience that too in our world?
And so it's just very relatable.And I love how you you're you're
very unique in this. I love how you take that, like
you said, and you crafted into astory that not only tells the
story of someone else, but it gives, you know, hundreds or
(19:11):
thousands of other people hope and inspiration because of that
story. You're interested with the
stories of a few and you have a way of turning that into stories
that impact many, many more. And so I I love that you're able
to do that. And I think that's incredible.
I think. Thank you.
I mean, I think there's also a little bit more of a lesson too
(19:32):
that whatever it is we do. And I always really like to say
that, OK, I'm in this higher profile job and people see it on
TV if they're in Kansas City andthey could see it anywhere
around the world, But, but certainly at Kansas City, I
wouldn't expect an Atlanta audience to have any clue who I
am. Now, by the way, I don't expect
everybody to know who I am in Kansas City.
But you, you get the point. But it's not your normal job.
(19:56):
It's a high profile but. Whatever it is.
That we do with our jobs. There's always more there than
we realize. There's always more depth and
more opportunity to do somethingelse with it.
And so for me, it will be enoughjust to tell these stories on TV
in a different way than than a speech or even as a podcast
(20:18):
guest right now. I mean, there's only so much
room for depth in my role as a sideline reporter and a pregame
show host to really go much beyond a minute of something.
So you can't really develop it. You're you're passing on a fun
story, an anecdote, something interesting or cool or a trend
or or a streak or whatever. But there's always more to what
(20:39):
we do. And I think that when you could
find whatever it is you're doingto have a greater purpose.
And that's the challenge, one ofthe many challenges in life,
when you could find more of a purpose to what you're doing
beyond just, this is the task I have to complete.
And I want to do it at my best. But wait a minute.
What else is there? And then how can I take that and
(21:03):
share it with someone else? That doesn't have to be, by the
way, a profession. I mean, is there a lesson
learned in life or at work that you then can use to provide
inspiration to a friend that's struggling or, or a colleague or
whatever it is? I mean, it's just if you're
curious and you're paying attention enough, there's always
more than what's there. More than meets the eye, no
(21:23):
doubt. And that you know that.
That even delves into the legacycomponent of, you know, what are
we doing beyond what we're doing?
And I love that. So I'm going to put you on the
spot for just a little bit. You've been doing a lot of
stories. We've mentioned that time and
time again. Do you have a couple that are
some of your most memorable stories, some that you've you've
(21:44):
been doing this, what, 31 years are there?
Are there a couple that stand out to you?
Yeah. There, you've written about a
couple. Of them I know there.
There are a ton of them, you know, I think where do I want to
go with these? I, I think that there's one with
a picture. And I tell this in a lot of my
speeches. I'm happy to to, you know, give
(22:06):
it away a little bit here in thesense of there's a lot to the
story. But I had a picture with the
Royals back during the World Series runs 2014 and 15, young,
young pitcher by the name of Yordano Ventura and Yordano
Ventura, Dominican kid, you know, Pedro Martinez was his
(22:29):
idol. So for anyone that is not a
baseball fan, Pedro Martinez, one of the one of the great
pitchers out of the Dominican Republic of all time and, and,
and, and not a big build, but hecould throw hard.
And that was your Donald Ventura, scrawny kid that could
throw 100. Matter of fact that one time his
mom was visiting from the Dominican and I interview her
(22:52):
live in the stands with the translator because she spoke no
English. And and I asked her what it's
like to have a son playing baseball in the United States,
throwing 100 miles an hour. And the translation came back to
her in Spanish. And she starts to glare at me.
And I couldn't understand what was lost in translation that she
would be glaring at me for for asking her what it's like to
(23:13):
have a son throwing 100 and and the the the translation came
back 102 Los ciento. I'm I'm don't undercut him now.
Yeah, it couldn't. Undercut him.
But the thing about Yordano and it really, it's given me a lot
of purpose in life, is that he giant personality and like many
(23:34):
of the Latin players, and I wishI'd studied Spanish as a kid,
I'm trying now, but it's not going great.
And he he, he had studied English and he was getting
really good at it. But like a lot of the Latin
players, a little too scared to do an interview in English.
I'll tell my audiences all the time.
Imagine going overseas somewherewhere your employer or some
employer is going to pay you 10 * 20 * 100 times what you're
(23:57):
making right now and you're going to live a great life.
But oh, by the way, you got to learn a second language.
And you know, when your work dayis over, we, we'd like for you
to be interviewed by a bunch of journalists in your second
language. That would probably scare you.
But you know what? If they gave you the opportunity
to have a translator, you'd probably take that translator.
I would, and so that's oftentimes what happens.
(24:20):
And, and my role and I, I strongly believe what I, what
I'm working for every day at theballpark is, is to continue to
build the trust and earn the trust of, of all of our players.
And certainly the Latin Americanplayers that if, if I were to
interview them without a translator, will will they trust
me enough to make sure that they're going to be OK, that
they're going to be comfortable?And Jordano's English was so
(24:41):
much better than he realized. And I finally convinced him to
do to do an interview, lock the doors of the room because I
didn't want his teammates to come in and make faces and mess
with them because boys will be boys.
And that's what they do. And he was so nervous.
But but it was the first interview he'd ever done.
And and the giant personality started to show and fans fell in
love with him. And you know, a great moment
(25:03):
after they, they clinched their second straight Pennant where
I'm interviewing them alive now.I mean, this is this is not
recorded. This is not AI helped rehearse
with him when he did that first interview.
I wrote down questions and I usually don't do that.
And I made sure that he was as comfortable as can be and I was
there to to help him. I repeated everything back just
so that he knew he was being heard.
Now we're live and he goes into what's a viral moment if
(25:26):
anybody's listening and just go on to YouTube and search for
your Donald Ventura. Oh, baby.
And it'll pop up. But here he is.
And he says with his accent and and English, that was very
understandable. We are going to the world
serious again. Oh, baby.
And he's screaming and yelling and it's live TV.
(25:47):
And the moment went viral. Yeah.
And that's where I was like, wow, this is the personality
that I really want fans to see. Yeah.
Now, as is, you know, often the the case and I, I am, I'm not a
minister, so I'm not as good at this, but I am a storyteller.
That was 2015, 2017. I woke up on a on a January
(26:11):
morning in the offseason to see news pop on a rumor initially
out of the Dominican that he hadbeen killed in a car crash.
And and indeed, it was true. And you know, I, I First off, it
was the offseason. There are no players around town
in Kansas City. So I was the one getting all the
calls from the TV news stations to talk about them, which was an
incredible honor, but obviously extremely difficult.
(26:33):
And I remember going to the memorial, the team, I did not go
to the Dominican, a handful of of players did, but I remember
the team memorial here in KansasCity, I had a hotel.
And there is a story told about how he would, he was young too,
I'm 25. But he would go to the room of
(26:54):
other Latin American teammates on the hotel late at night after
a game to help them order room service because they were too
scared to make that call in in the English.
They were just learning. And so he would go to lend that
hand. And when I heard that story,
light bulb went off because in 2016, which would have been his
last spring training, in his last season, I had an interview
(27:16):
with him at spring training. We do a lot of longer form
interviews for projects and things like that at spring
training. And my task on this one from my
producer was to sit down a few pictures to talk about the
rotation for that year, and he was one of them.
Well, he comes out and he agreesto do it, which by the way, he
wouldn't always do it. He would do it with me.
I was the only one he would really do it with in English.
But oftentimes he would say in perfect English because he
(27:37):
really perfected it. I not today, I left my English
at the hotel. I'm just a mess with me and, or
maybe not wanting to do it on a given day.
And I always, I always enjoyed that.
That was so, so his sense of humor.
And on this day, he comes out todo the interview with me sitting
outside in, in Arizona and he brings a teammate with him, a
fellow Dominican. And the Dominican, fellow
Dominican sits down and then Ventura sits on his lap.
(28:02):
So he now wants to be interviewed, sitting on a
teammate's lap, which is cute and fun, but makes no sense to
do a preview of the pitching staff.
And my producer, who is not out of Kansas City but does special
projects. So she doesn't know.
The guy says to me, who's the other guy whispers it, she
didn't want to be rude. I said that's Jorge Bona Fasio.
I believe that you guys probablyhad a Jorge's brother, Emilio
(28:22):
Bona Fasio, at one point with the break and both good kids.
And I said, that's Jorge Bona Fasio.
She says, so he's a pitcher too.I said no.
She said, well, what does he play?
I said outfield, she goes, so he's outfielder on the team.
I said no. And she says, well, what do you
mean? I said he's a minor leaguer.
She goes, I can't use this. I like.
(28:42):
I can't put a story together with about the pitchers, with
the pitcher sitting on a minor league outfielder's lap.
It doesn't fit. It doesn't.
I can't tell that story. So I said, ace, can we just wait
and do the interview? Nope, come on.
Nope. And he just, and I'm like, all
right, he's just giving me griefas he always does.
He's part of our relationship. And he wouldn't move.
So I, I handed them the mic. I said, just interview each
(29:03):
other. Do it in English, practice your
English guys. And it ran its course.
And then Bony Fastio left and I got my interview with Ventura.
I didn't realize until I heard that story at the memorial that
he wasn't messing with me that day too much.
He always was some he was tryingto pave the way for Bonifacio to
understand that when you make itto the big leagues as a young
Dominican or young Spanish speaking player, this is what it
(29:24):
looks like to do an interview infront of a camera in English.
And all he was trying to do was share what he had learned to
pave the way up for the next. And so he passed away in January
of 17 and in May of 17, four months later, Boney Fasio was
called up for the first time in the big leagues.
We're in Texas, and I sit there with my broadcast partner,
former former Royals pitcher Jeff Montgomery.
(29:46):
And we interviewed Boney Fasio without a translator, very much
thinking about the legacy of your Donald Ventura.
That's probably my favorite story.
Wow. Bigger than life?
Yes, Bigger than life and it. Always is.
It is and. So that, that kind of leads me
down this path and maybe we'll, we'll kind of wrap things up
with this thought. You've been around some of the
greatest of greats, interviewed so many role players, so many
(30:11):
superstars. What's the common thread?
What is it, you know, we, we seeon TV kind of the final product,
but that you get behind the final product and you get to see
the path. What is it that you would like
to tell us? I don't know what you want to
call us on non professional athletes.
(30:32):
Me too. About professional athletes.
Yeah. What's the thing that that
you've noticed that that you think draws us to them?
And what's the common thread? I think there's.
A common thread though, too, to to expand the the net here to a
successful entrepreneur, a successful CEO, a successful
leader, hopefully a successful broadcaster, podcast host,
(30:53):
minister, pharmacist. That there's not one secret, but
I think finding the routine thatworks and and making that
routine as non negotiable as possible, whatever that is.
Because I could tell you that ifyou were to pull 26 guys in, in
(31:15):
any of the 30 big league clubhouses, they would all give
you different answers as to to what they do, but they would see
trends and learn from each other.
For instance. I asked a player the other day
about a big stretch as we're recording this, the Royals are
are at the beginning of 16 straight days and, and and and
(31:38):
they've lost a bunch at home andtrying to break out of that
played well on the road. How do you do that?
One of those type of questions and he said, player said to me
that we need no matter what's going on with the results and
that this is the secret here that that we live in a results
based world. But it's it's the foundation and
what gets you there that that you have to stay true to no
(32:00):
matter what the the what I like to call small ball, the little
things that are part of who you are.
And so it's going to be different for everyone.
What makes you successful every day?
What do you need to touch every day?
That becomes the non negotiable.And so for a lot of these
players, whether that's video prep or weight room.
But what this player said to me,he said that whatever happens
with the results, we believe we're good enough to be doing
(32:23):
this. So we have to stick even when
things aren't going right. We have to not just stick
together. We got to stick to getting that
work done in the weight room. We got to stick to getting that
work done with the good diet. We got to stick to getting all
of our prep work in and then letthe results take care of
themselves. And so to me, the common secret
is that these successful athletes have a routine that
(32:45):
works for them that they don't negotiate on that routine.
And then you constantly look when it doesn't work, is it not
working because of circumstancesout of my control?
What am I getting wrong that I can fix and what can I trust in
the process? We hear, trust the process a
lot. If the process is right, keep
sticking with it. If it's not, make your tweaks.
(33:07):
That becomes the negotiable part.
But finding that sweet spot to be able to handle the failure.
And it's going to again, be different for everyone because
our brains are all different. We're wired differently, but
what is that for me, I, I need to, I need to start my day every
single day. You know, when I wake up before
I'm scrolling and doing all thatstuff, I need to slow things
down immediately and, and get inat least five, if not ten to 15
(33:30):
minutes of a meditation. And, and if I do that, my day is
going to be better. And so I think that it's
different for everyone, but I think that that's the key for
these guys. It's not a matter of who can hit
the ball farthest or anything like that.
How do they take care of themselves?
How do they get themselves readymentally and physically every
single day? Yeah, I love that.
And that goes into a lot of whatI'm teaching, a lot of what I'm
(33:51):
coaching, and a lot of what thispodcast is about.
How do you take care of yourself, body, mind and soul,
no doubt. How do you thrive in every part
of life? And then and that comes down to,
hey, if you interview 26 guys onthe team, there are 26 different
paths that they took to get there.
And there are 26 different methods that they use every day
to maintain what they're doing. And here's the thing, fine, what
(34:11):
works for you and do it every day.
So many times we let the resultsof life, the circumstances
dictate whether or not we continue.
So what I'm hearing you say is you got to keep going.
You've got to keep going and andlearn from life.
If the results tell you to to tweak it, tweak it, but don't
ever stop. Don't ever stop.
(34:33):
And look, Chad, there are times you have to stop, right?
I mean, there are going to be times where you just need a
break. That doesn't mean quitting, by
the way. That might be taking care of
yourself as well. But but nothing ever happens
without movement. And that movement might be
resetting, that movement might be taking a breath, that
(34:54):
movement might actually be slowing things down.
Movement doesn't have to be 100 miles an hour resting.
Is not quitting. Nope.
Yeah, love it, Joel, brother, you're an inspiration and you're
doing awesome things in this world.
I appreciate you. Where can my listeners find out
more about your podcast you're speaking and just enter into
your world in in whatever ways that looks like?
(35:16):
Yeah, I mean there are 1,000,000.
Ways and well, not literally, but I I think that the one stop
shop is my website, joelgoldbergmedia.com.
And yeah, you know, I could throw out all the social media
handles and all that stuff, but it's all within there and the
podcasts are linked there and the books are linked there and
the speakings linked there and the speaking video and all that.
So Joel Goldberg media.com is the best way.
That's man, it's fun. It's fun to do all this stuff
(35:39):
and it's fun to be able to talk with you and get to know you
over the last few weeks and and much more to come as well,
likewise. I'll put all those links in the
show notes. But man, keep being great.
Keep being a leader, keep being an inspiration.
You, my friend, are doing great things, and I can't wait to see
what the future holds. But you've had such a successful
career. But here's what's Here's the
cool thing about Joel. He's not stopping.
No, I can't. Big things.
(36:00):
Are coming so thank you my friend I hope so I.
Appreciate you and thanks for having me on, Chad.
Yes, Sir. Thank you for listening to the
Rev RX Podcast. We hope you enjoyed what you
heard today and if so, we'd loveit if you would hit that
subscribe button so that you'll never miss a new episode from
us. Also, feel free to leave us
reviews and comments as we'd love to hear from you.
(36:21):
Be blessed and be the very best you.
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