The Gene Smith Podcast
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Welcome to the Gene Smith Podcast, presented by Encova, where we sit down each month to speak with the Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director to talk about the current state of OSU Athletics.
Smith was looking for a way to tell Ohio State’s success stories and celebrate the student-athletes, coaches and staff that make up Ohio State Athletics. To accomplish this goal, The Gene Smith Podcast was born.
Listen below for the latest episodes, and look for new episodes each month.
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Season 5 Ep. 26Â |Â Final Thoughts with Gene Smith
Season 5 Ep. 25 |Â Coaching with Brian Hartline and James Laurinaitis
Season 5 Ep. 24Â |Â Q&AD: NHL in The Shoe, player employment, and more!
Season 5 Ep. 23Â |Â Ohio State Athletics with Ross Bjork
Season 5 Ep. 22 Q&AD: Coaching transitions, summer Olympics, and more!Â
Seaon 5, Episode 21 |Â Bobby Carpenter (Football) joins Gene to discuss his experience as a student-athlete and his career journey.
Season 5, Episode 20Â |Â Q&AD: New AD, President Carter, and more!
Season 5, Episode 19 | Kelly Schoenly (Softball Head Coach) and Kevin Burch (Men's Volleyball Head Coach) join Gene to discuss their programs and experiences at OSU!
Season 5, Episode 18 | Q&AD: Commencement speech, NIL, and more!
Season 5, Episode 17 |Â Â Buckeye Alumni Spotlight
Season 5, Episode 16 | Q&AD: NCAA policy discussion, transfer impacts, and more!
Season 5, Episode 15 | Buckeye Hockey Highlight
Season 5, Episode 14 | Q&AD: NCAA legal filings, retirement plans, and more!
Season 5, Episode 13 | Buckeye Student-Athlete Experience!
Season 5, Episode 12 | Q&AD:Â Leadership, sports movies, Thanksgiving, and more!
Season 5, Episode 11 |Â Staff and Student-Athlete Spotlight
Season 5, Episode 10Â |Â Q&AD: AD hiring process, program integrity, and more!
Season 5, Episode 9Â |Â Chris Holtmann and Kevin McGuff join Gene to preview the 2023-24 basketball season.
Season 5, Episode 8 |Â Q&AD: B1G schedules, Taylor Swift, and more!
Season 5, Episode 7 | Q&AD: Gene's guilty pleasure, favorite B1G city, and more!
Season 5, Episode 6 | Journalism in college athletics with Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports Senior College Football ReporterÂ
Season 5, Episode 5Â |Â Gene welcomes Joe Castiglione to discuss his programs upcoming conference shift, creating new rivalries, and more.
Season 5, Episode 4 |Â In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about one thing he hasn't done yet that he wants to, his relationship with OSU after retirement and more.
Season 5, Episode 3 |Â Gene discusses N.I.L. conversations at the federal level with Associate Vice President, Government Affairs and Director, Federal Relations, Stan Skocki as he prepares for a trip to Washington D.C.
Season 5, Episode 2 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about his retirement, conference realignment, sports starting back up and more.
Season 5, Episode 1 | Greg Byrne, Director of Athletics for the University of Alabama, joins to discuss conference realignment and football postseason changes.
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Season 4, Episode 31Â | Gene Smith speaks to the culmination of the 2023 academic year, celebrates the 191 spring graduates and welcomes Jay Kasey from the university office of administration and planning
Season 4, Episode 30 | Q&AD Segment: Gene Smith discusses topics submitted by Buckeye Nation
Season 4, Episode 29 | In this latest edition, Gene welcomes guests Erin Dunston, from football recruiting operations, and Reed Davis, from the men’s soccer team.Â
Season 4, Episode 28 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about retaining student-athletes, how Ohio State maintains relationships after student-athletes declare for a professional league’s draft, and more.
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SUBMIT A QUESTION
Season 4, Episode 27 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Senior Associate AD Carey Hoyt, Director of Name, Image, and Likeness Logan Hittle, and women’s volleyball sophomore Sydney Taylor (4:03).
Season 4, Episode 26 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about the frequency in which Ohio State football will play original Big Ten teams, the benefit of hosting NCAA Basketball Tournament games, when the conference will announce a new commissioner, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 25 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Women’s Golf Head Coach Lisa Strom and junior women’s golfer Caley McGinty (2:56).
Season 4, Episode 24 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about the role of technology in the lives of Ohio State student-athletes, the decision to build a new ice rink at Ohio State, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 23 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Cleveland native and Ohio State alumnus, Clark Kellogg.
Season 4, Episode 22 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about reaching capacity at recent women’s ice hockey games, what it means having James Laurinaitis back at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the Spring Game’s impact, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 21 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Kenny McDonald, President & CEO of the Columbus Partnership, and Xen Riggs, Vice President for Business Advancement and COO of the Ohio State Department of Athletics.
Season 4, Episode 20 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about his favorite sports, how the Department of Athletics integrates academic & on-field success, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.Season 4, Episode 19 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Women’s Tennis Head Coach Melissa Schaub and Head Baseball Coach Bill Mosiello.
Season 4, Episode 18 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about the expanded College Football Playoff field, NCAA March Madness in Columbus, the 2022 Peach Bowl experience for Ohio State student-athletes, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 17 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Assistant Director of Strength & Conditioning, Quadrian Banks, and senior Elexis Edwards, a member of the Women’s Gymnastics team.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 15 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about athletic schedules, the process behind securing the NCAA Women’s Final Four, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 14 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by VP & General Manager of Ohio State Sports Properties, Todd Knisley, and Associate VP of Brand Engagement Services & Partnerships, Kevin Griffin (2:02).
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 13 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Manager of Facilities Operations at Ohio Stadium, Jason Browning, and senior Gustaf Westlund, a forward for the Men’s Hockey Team.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 12 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions about the implications of the Big Ten’s new media rights deal, facility updates at Ohio State’s Athletics District, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 11 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Head Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Holtmann and Head Women’s Basketball Coach Kevin McDuff to discuss their current programs, the in’s and out’s of the recruiting process, how to effectively build a team culture, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 10 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith fields listener questions about the college football coaching landscape, playing 10 Big Ten football games in a season, technology advancements in-venue, and more.
To submit your own question for the next Q&AD segment, visit ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Season 4, Episode 9 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith is joined by Asst. Strength & Conditioning coach Kim Dally-Badgeley, who enters her 26th year at Ohio State, and senior Jacey Sheldon, a Dublin, Ohio native and member of the women’s basketball team.
Season 4, Episode 8 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions, including inquiries about the Big Ten’s expansion, the cost of maintaining Ohio Stadium, growing up in Cleveland as a Buckeye fan, and more.
Season 4, Episode 7 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith joins Tamar Chute, University Archivist and Head of Archives at The Ohio State University, and Jerry Emig, Associate AD for Athletic Communications, for a fascinating dive into the history of the one and only Ohio Stadium (3:02).
Season 4, Episode 6 | The weekly Q&AD segment with Gene, where he takes questions from listeners.
Season 4, Episode 5 | Ohio State Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith speaks with Mike Bohn, the Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics at the University of Southern California.
Season 4, Episode 4 | The weekly Q&AD segment with Gene, where he takes questions from listeners.
Season 4, Episode 3 | Gene speaks with Ohio State Director of Name, Image, and Likeness, Logan Hittle.
Season 4, Episode 2 | In his Q&AD segment, Gene Smith fields listener questions. Submit your questions for the next Q & AD segment.Â
Season 4, Episode 1 | Gene speaks with Football Head Coach Ryan Day and Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg.
 Season 3 | Episode 9: Gene welcomes Senior Deputy Athletic Director & SWA, Janine Oman, Head Coach of Ohio State Women’s Ice Hockey, Nadine Muzerall, and Women’s Volleyball player Sydney Taylor to discuss the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the current state of women’s athletics at Ohio State.
Learn more about women’s athletics history at Ohio State by visiting the Title IX 50th Anniversary page and the Women’s Athletics Excellence page.
 Season 3 | Episode 8: Gene welcomes Brett Scarbrough, Senior Associate AD, Ticketing & Premium Seating, and Jordan Birkemeier, Associate AD, Annual Giving & Buckeye Club.
 Season 3 | Episode 7: Gene talks with representatives from the Buckeye Inclusion program at Ohio State and additional student organizationsÂ
 Season 3 | Episode 6: Gene welcomes former Buckeye standouts Anthony Gonzalez and Caity Matter
 Season 3 | Episode 5: Gene exchanges fond memories with longtime season ticket holders and stadium usher
 Season 3 | Episode 4: AD Chats continued
Gene welcomes former Ohio State admin and current AD at Pittsburgh Heather Lyke
 Season 3 | Episode 3: AD Chats Â
Gene welcomes back former Ohio State administrators Pat Chun, AD at Washington State, and Martin Jarmond, AD at UCLA.
 Season 3 | Episode 2: Fall sports just around the corner, 2020 Olympics wrap up in Tokyo Â
With fall sports just around the corner, Gene Smith Podcast, the Ohio State Senior VP and AD, welcomed football head coach Ryan Day to look ahead to the pending 2021 season. The Olympic Games in Tokyo also recently wrapped up and Gene takes a look back at the record number 26 competing Buckeyes.
Watch videos from Season 3 – Episode 2:
 Gene Smith reflects on performances in Tokyo Olympic Games
 Lessons learned from the 2020 football season
 Ryan Day forecasts the 2021 football season as camp begins
 Season 3 | Episode 1: Buckeyes at the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympics and Name, Image and LikenessÂ
To kick off Season 3 of the Gene Smith Podcast, the Ohio State Senior VP and AD welcomes Buckeye men’s swimmer Hunter Armstrong who recently gained a spot on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team set to compete in July in Tokyo. The group also discusses the Name, Image and Likeness rulings and Ohio State’s The Platfom initiative to assist student-athletes.
 Watch videos from Season 3 – Episode 1:
 Record 26 Buckeyes headed to 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
 Buckeye men’s swimmer Hunter Armstrong is headed to Tokyo!
 Name, Image and Likeness rulings and discussion
 Season 2 | Episode 6: Capping the 2020-21 athletics season and discussion with women’s volleyball teamÂ
In the latest episode Gene wraps up the 2020-21 athletics campaign and welcomes the women’s volleyball team who capped a successful first season under new head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg
Watch videos from Season 2 – Episode 6:
 Wrapping up the 2020-21 athletics campaign
 Celebrating another year of unprecedented academic success
 2020-21 women’s volleyball Buckeyes reach national acclaim in year one of head coach Jen Flynn OldenburgÂ
 Season 2 | Episode 5: Buckeye Club Modernization and Football Ticket Announcement and moreÂ
In the latest episode Gene welcomes Assoc. AD for Annual Giving & the Buckeye Club Jordan Birkemeier, to discuss changes to the ticketing structure for upcoming football seasons.
Watch videos from Season 2 – Episode 5:
 Background on the modernization of the Buckeye Club and new football ticket structure
 Insight on the 2021 championship competitions and venues
 Gene speaks about the impact of Jesse Owens on Black History Month
 THE GENE SMITH PODCASTÂ
 Season 2 | Episode 4: Sports return to competition, staying vigilant with protocols, virtual events and more
Ohio State VP/AD talks about numerous fall and winter sports returning to competition, converting athletics venues into COVID-19 vaccination centers and introducing virtual sporting events.
Watch videos from Season 2 – Episode 4:
 Ohio State athletics programs returning to competition
 THE GENE SMITH PODCASTÂ
 Season 2 | Episode 3: Return from the CFP, the 2020 football season, NIL, transfers and moreÂ
We visit with Gene upon his return from the 2021 College Football National Championship game and discuss the journey that was 2020 for the Buckeye football team. We also dive into recent Name, Image and Likeness, transfers and postseason tournament developments.
Watch videos from Season 2 – Episode 3:
 Reaction to 2021 CFP Championship and the journey that was the 2020 season
 Ryan Day’s tremendous work at head coach of the 2020 Buckeyes
 THE GENE SMITH PODCASTÂ
 Season 2 | Episode 2: Reaching the CFP, Flexible Scheduling and Return to Competition
In the latest episode, Smith expounds on football team reaching college football playoff, an ever-flexible athletics landscape and the return to competition for Olympic sports.
Watch videos from Season 2 – Episode 2:
 Student-athletes overcoming obstacles of the 2020 season
 Season 2 | Episode 1 : Navigating Athletics Competition during COVID-19
In the latest episode, Smith discusses the current state of OSU Athletics in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s impact on the college football landscape, and the department has dealt with the challenges it has faced.
Watch videos from Season 2 – Episode 1:
 Football game decision process
 SEASON ONE - LISTEN BELOW
 Season 1 | Episode 9: Department Operations during COVID-19
In the latest episode, Smith discusses how Ohio State Athletics has dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic to this point, the national discussions he’s had pertaining to this crisis, and what life has looked like for him and his family while staying at home.
Watch videos from Episode 9:
 College Athletics Landscape
 Season 1 | Episode 8: Buckeyes and Beyond — International Competition
Gene speaks with Kathrin Demler (Women’s Swimming) and Myles Martin (wrestling) about their preparation to represent Ohio State in international competition.
 Season 1 | Episode 7: Business Partnerships, Budgeting and Scheduling
Diana Sabau, deputy director of athletics, joins Gene to offer an inside look at the business operations side of the department as well as discuss the football scheduling process.
Video clip: a look inside football scheduling
WHY DO A PODCAST?
“TO BRING ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT IS BEING DONE FOR OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES BY DIFFERENT UNITS IN OUR DEPARTMENT." Season 1 | Episode 6: Day’s Transition and Preparation
In the latest episode, Smith begins a series that highlights the excellent work of staff members at OSU by talking with Head Football Coach, Ryan Day, about the transition to his new role and how he prepared for this opportunity throughout his career.
 Season 1 | Episode 5: Leadership and Life Skills
Smith discusses the programs OSU has developed to help prepare student-athletes for life outside of the competitive arena with Director of Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute, Maddy McIntyre and former Buckeye Men’s Ice Hockey student-athlete, Christian Lampasso.
 Season 1 | Episode 4: Name, Image and Likeness
Crossover season between the fall and winter sports has arrived. In this episode, Smith discusses student-athlete name, image and likeness regulation.
 Season 1 | Episode 3: The Ohio State Athletics District
Smith discusses the Ohio State Athletics District, facility upgrades and expansion. He is joined by Izzy Rodriguez of the Buckeye women’s soccer team and Kollin Moore of OSU wrestling to speak about the impact of facility upgrades and expansions.
 Season 1 | Episode 2: Student-Athlete Mental HealthÂ
Smith discusses student-athletes and expanded emphasis on their mental health and well-being.
 Season 1 | Episode 1: The Gene Smith Podcast Introduction
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