Hangin With The AD Podcast
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker (CMAA), Cobb County School (GA) District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews (CMAA), Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Episodes
185 episodes
Episode 154: Nathan Whitaker - Author - Speaker - Gainesville, FL
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast.Today’s conversation is one we’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. Joining us is Nathan Whitaker — a New York Times bestselling author, keynote spea...
Episode 153: Kim Coleman - Executive Director - Athletes for a Better World - Atlanta, GA
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today, we’re bringing you a special conversation that goes beyond wins, losses, and championships—because as athletic leaders, we know the real impact of sports i...
Episode 152: Dr. Kellen Lee - Mental Skills Coach at Seattle Mariners - San Jose, CA
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today’s episode is one we’ve been excited about for a long time, because we’re diving into a space that’s become a true game-changer at every level of athletics: mental performance....
Episode 151: Rob Seymour - Athletic Director - Fishers High School - Fishers, IN
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. In this episode, we’re joined by Rob Seymour, an athletic director at Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana, where he has served since 2014. Rob is the past president of the Indiana Interschola...
Episode 150: Steve Throne, CMAA - 2025 NIAAA President - Activities Director & Assistant Principal - Millard South High School in Omaha, NE
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD PodcastThis is a special episode for us, because we’re joined once again by a familiar voice and a great friend of the show—Steve “Throney” Throne. Each year, we’re fortunate to ...
Episode 149: Brian Dodd - Author - Leadership Expert - Top 10 Sports Books of 2025 - Woodstock, GA
Today we have the privilege of welcoming back a familiar face — our most tenured guest — Brian Dodd. This episode has become a highlight of our year because Brian joins us annually to unveil his Top 10 Sports Books, giving us plenty of i...
Episode 148: Champ Bailey - NFL & College Football Hall of Famer - Positive Athlete Ambassador - Atlanta, GA
Today’s episode is one of those special moments for our podcast — a true honor to sit down with one of the greatest to ever play the game.Our guest is Pro Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer, and Georgia lege...
Episode 147: Bailey Miles - Host of the Building Excellence Podcast - Jenks, OK
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast!In today’s episode, we’re joined by someone who knows a thing or two about building leaders and pursuing excellence. Our guest is Bailey Miles, the founder and host ...
Episode 146: Phil Rison - Executive Director - NIAAA - Indianapolis, IN
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast. Today, we’re excited to bring you a conversation with Phil Rison, the Executive Director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Phil stepped into this ...
Episode 145: Dr. Patrick Irving - Director of Athletics - Pittsford Schools - Pittsford, NY
Welcome to this episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick Irving, Director of Athletics for Pittsford Schools in the Rochester, New York area. Patrick is the first New York athletic director we’ve had on the...
Episode 144: Chris Harris - Athletic Director - Evangelical Christian School - Fort Myers, FL
Today on the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, we’re adding a new twist to our guest lineup. We’ve talked with high school and collegiate athletic directors, authors, speakers, and performance coaches—but this is the first time we’ve welcomed a TikT...
Episode 143: Dr. Sam Ferguson - Director of Athletics - University of Texas-Tyler - Tyler, TX
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, where we sit down with leaders who are making a lasting impact in the world of athletic administration. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Sam Ferguson, the newly appointe...
Episode 142: Marcus Woods - High School & Collegiate Official - Atlanta, GA
Welcome to episode 142 of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we explore the intersection of leadership, athletics, and education through the voices of those making a real difference in the lives of student-athletes. To...
Episode 141: Alex Demczak - Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur - Columbia, MO
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we talk leadership, culture, and the journey through athletics with those who are making an impact in the world of sports and beyond. In today’s episode, we...
Episode 140: Jason Brett - Athletic Director - Houston County High School - Warner Robins, GA
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, where we sit down with athletic directors and leaders who are shaping the future of high school sports. Today, we’re excited to bring on someone who knows a thing or two about ...
Episode 139: Single Topic Series - AI - Chris Chism - Superintendent of Schools - Pearl Public School District - Pearl, MS
Today we bring you another edition of our Single Topic Series as we dive into the emerging world of AI and how it fits into the world of the athletic administrator. We head to Pearl Mississippi and speak with Chris Chism who serves as the Super...
Episode 138: Stephen Mackey - Leadership Author and Speaker - San Antonio, TX
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. This week we head west to Texas and sit down with leadership author and speaker Stephen Mackey. The episode kicks off with Mackey outlining his "6 Habits of Championship Character,"...
Episode 137: Fred Ridley - Chairman - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, GA
Welcome to a special Masters Week edition of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today we have the distinct honor of sitting down with a man who stands at the helm of one of the most revered institutions in all of sports—Fred Ridley, Chairman o...
Episode 136: Clay Scroggins - Author, Speaker - Atlanta, GA
Today we stay closer to home and sit down with author and speaker Clay Scroggins. His book “How to Lead When You're Not in Charge” is a must for anyone whether they are in a position of leadership or not. Everyone answers to someone, and Clay l...
Episode 135: Jim Peeples - Director of Athletics - Piedmont College - Demorest, GA
Today we stay a little closer to home but revisit the college ranks and sit down with Jim Peeples who serves as the Director of Athletics at Piedmont College in Demorest, GA. Jim is a product of being surrounded by some of the best in the bu...
Episode 134: Joey Struwe - Retired Athletic Director - NIAAA PDA Academy - Sioux Falls, SD
Today is the first for the podcast as we head to South Dakota and sit down with retired AD Joey Struwe. We discuss his military service and how it influenced his leadership as an AD and how, as leaders, we must continually place a focus on the ...
Episode 133: Benj Miller - Entrepreneur - Speaker - Author - Podcast Host - Co-Founder and CEO of System and Soul - Atlanta, GA
Today we sit down with Benj Miller who is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, podcast host, and the Co-Founder and CEO of System and Soul, which is a business leadership development company. We talk about the common principles between the athleti...
Episode 132: Amanda Snider - Deputy Director of Athletics - Broken Arrow High School - Broken Arrow, OK
Today we head back to the great state of Oklahoma and sit down with Amanda Snider who serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She spoke about the importance of always doing your best ...
Episode 131: Emily Barkley - Director of Athletics - Tulsa Union HS - Tulsa, OK
Welcome to season 6 of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. We kick off this season with a top tier AD in the country in Emily Barkley of Union High School or Tulsa Union in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Emily talks about the power of the team that surrounds...
Episode 130: Jean Ashen - Retired Athletic Director - North Salinas High School - Salinas, CA
We wrap up 2024 with a great conversation with retired athletic director Jean Ashen. The long-time athletic director at North Salinas High School in Salinas, California, Jean talks to us about the close friendships that are made in the athletic...
