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Skin in the Game
Saturdays at 4 pm
Hosted by John Cimperman
,
Tim O’Shei

Get ready for a front-row seat to the action with Skin in the Game! Hosted by sports marketing guru John Cimperman and seasoned sports business journalist Tim O’Shei, this podcast is your go-to source for the freshest and most fascinating business news in the world of sports. 

We don’t just stop at the headlines. Skin in the Game explains how these developments ripple through the Buffalo and Toronto sports scenes. From pro leagues to college rivalries and high school sports, we unpack how trends shape the competitiveness of your favorite teams and influence the fans who live and breathe regional sports. Each episode gives you the inside scoop on what’s making waves in your local sports world! 

New episodes air weekly on BTPM NPR Saturdays at 4pm, with rebroadcasts on Sundays at 7am and Tuesdays at 11am. You can also listen to Skin in the Game on-demand wherever you get your podcasts!

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Latest Episodes
  • Background is a turf field. At the top: SKIN IN THE GAME logo with "INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS" in green text below. Beneath that is a photo of Phil Pritchard with the Stanley Cup and his name under that in white text
    The Lord Stanley Cup with Phil Pritchard
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Phil Pritchard, vice president of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the iconic “Keeper of the Cup.”
  • Turf field in the background. At the top: SKIN IN THE GAME logo with INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS in green text underneath. Below that: Photo of Dennis Eshbaugh and his name in white text below.
    On the Slopes with Dennis Eshbaugh
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim welcome Dennis Eshbaugh, President and CEO of Holiday Valley, to discuss the evolution of the ski and winter recreation industry—and how one resort is redefining what it means to be a year-round mountain destination.
  • Background is a turf field. SKIN IN THE GAME logo at the top, photo of Michelle Seniuk in the center and her name below that in white text
    Behind the Blue Jays Fan Experience with Michelle Seniuk
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim welcome Michelle Seniuk, Senior Vice President of Fan Experience and Concessions for the Toronto Blue Jays to examine one of Major League Baseball’s most ambitious fan engagement strategies.
  • Be In Buffalo: Leveraging Sports Success with Greg Pokriki
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Greg Pokriki from Invest Buffalo Niagara to explore the powerful connection between sports, identity, and economic development in Western New York.
  • Background: turf field. Top to bottom: Skin in the Game logo, photo of Brian Higgins and his name in white text
    The Legacy of Ralph C. Wilson Jr. with Brian Higgins
    This week, John and Tim sit down with Brian Higgins, President of Shea’s Performing Arts Center and former U.S. Congressman, for a wide-ranging conversation rooted in Western New York pride. Higgins unpacks how investments in arts, culture, and sports help build stronger, more connected communities.
  • Background: a turf field. Top to bottom: SKIN IN THE GAME logo, green text reading INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS and a photo of Mike Buczkowski and his name in white text
    Buffalo Bisons and Triple-A Minor League Baseball with Mike Buczkowski
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim step up to the plate with Mike Buczkowski, President of Rich Baseball Operations, the organization behind the Buffalo Bisons.
  • The Enduring Spirit of Baseball with Will Bardenwerper
    This week on Skin in the Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei welcome Will Bardenwerper.
  • SKIN IN THE GAME logo and a headshot of Ed O'Hara
    The Branding Game with Ed O’Hara
    This week on Skin in the Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with branding legend Ed O’Hara, founder of SME Branding.
  • SKIN IN THE GAME logo at the top with headshots of Diana Dehm and Scott Jenkins from Green Sports Alliance Foundation
    Sustainability, Impact and Responsibility with Green Sports Alliance
    This week, John and Tim welcome two powerhouse voices in the sports and sustainability space: Diana Dehm, Director of Innovative, Strategic Partnerships for Good, and Scott Jenkins, Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Green Sports Alliance Foundation.
  • SKIN IN THE GAME logo with a headshot of Rob Zepp
    Hockey’s International Growth and Strategy with NHLPA’s Rob Zepp
    This week, John and Tim welcome Rob Zepp, Senior Director of International Growth and Strategy for the National Hockey League Players’ Association, for an engaging discussion on the NHLPA's global ambitions.