Out of the Park: Better Together
July once again demonstrated that sports can bring people together in a way that few things can.
For nearly a month, people from around the world united in Kansas City. Fans from Algeria, Ecuador, Argentina, Colombia, the Netherlands, and more filled our streets, our restaurants, and our stadiums with culture and national pride.
My wife, Susan, and I attended two matches, and each time, Arrowhead Stadium felt like it had been transported to another country. Different languages. Different cultures. One shared experience that became better because we were together.
The World Cup was front and center for many, but the same thing has been happening here for years on a baseball field.
When a 21-year-old catcher from Venezuela made his Royals debut in 2011, no one could have known he would become one of the most beloved athletes in Kansas City. This month, Salvador Perez passed George Brett’s franchise record of 317 home runs to become the Royals’ all-time home run leader.
Over the years, I’ve conducted more postgame interviews with Salvy that included a Gatorade bath than I can count. They became appropriately known as the “Salvy Splash” and always seemed to leave everyone smiling.
But the interview after he broke the franchise home run record in Detroit felt different. As we stood in front of the cameras, his teammates and coaches quietly gathered behind their Captain to celebrate the franchise's new home run king. It was a beautiful moment, reinforcing that the greatest accomplishments are better together.
Whether it was World Cup fans, a Hall of Fame legend or a clubhouse celebrating one of its own, July was all about being better together, inside and Out of the Park.
Local flavor
I always try to experience something new on every road trip, and our final trip before the All-Star Break offered two memorable opportunities.
In New York, former podcast guest Ben Guttman invited me to explore Jackson Heights in Queens, a neighborhood I had never visited. We dined on Colombian arepas and walked around Diversity Plaza, where he told me you can hear around 180 languages spoken, more than anywhere else. It was a wonderful way to experience a city like the people who call it home.
A few days later in Baltimore, Royals pitcher Daniel Lynch IV and catcher Carter Jensen joined me to pick Maryland blue grabs for a segment we call Sunday Sights. Daniel grew up enjoying the Chesapeake Bay tradition in nearby Virginia, but it was new to Carter and me. There was plenty of laughter, some trial and error, and a lot of appreciation for something that means so much to the people of Maryland.
Whether it was Ben sharing his neighborhood or Daniel introducing us to a local favorite, both experiences were examples of the way travel is always better when someone invites you into their world.
Dugout dialogue
Royals first-round draft pick Zion Rose only began his professional career this month in Arizona at the organization’s rookie camp, but he’s already making an impression with his athleticism and leadership qualities.
After spending time with the Louisville product and Chicago kid on the day he signed, I can't say I'm surprised. In our conversation, it was clear that he values bringing people together as much as his own success, and that's a quality that has a chance to impact a clubhouse long before it shows up in the box score. You can catch the interview below.
speaking engagements
Baseball season is in full swing but I’m still accepting opportunities through the end of the year and into 2027.
In August, I look forward to two upcoming keynotes:
August 24 - Henderson Engineers Executive Retreat in Lenexa, Kansas
August 31 - Animal Health Summit at the Midland Theater in Kansas City, Missouri
If your team is looking to strengthen trust and communication, it’s time we connect. I continue offering complimentary, 15-minute virtual strategy sessions to explore how those conversations can make a difference in your organization.
To inquire about my keynote series, event moderation or custom video content, just click the link below. A member of my team will get back to you right away.
Rounding the bases rewind
Earlier this month, I was joined on my podcast Rounding the Bases by an entrepreneur who knows that winning in business takes more than a great game plan. It demands people that are willing to step up when it matters the most.
Clint Overton is the Co-Founder and Managing Director behind Boardroom Bullpen, the firm helping growth-stage companies access an all-star roster of fractional executives. With more than 20 years of experience building a deeper bench, he’s become the trusted advisor of organizations that are ready to succeed, turning big visions into even bigger victories.
This is one you don’t want to miss. Be sure to listen now.
As always, I’d like to extend another tremendous thank you to to each of the guests that rounded the bases with me in July:
Our schedule is already booked into the fall, but we are always looking for interesting guests with standout stories. Would you or someone you know make a great guest on Rounding the Bases?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email my Executive Producer Ashleigh Sterr: ashleigh@joelgoldbergmedia.com.
Keeping the score
Most nights, my job looks pretty straightforward.
I talk about baseball in front of a camera, ask players questions, and tell stories that I hope resonate with fans. Other days, I’m on a stage speaking about winning trust and building culture, or behind the mic interviewing with guests on my podcast, Rounding the Bases.
The platforms are different but the mission is always the same: showing that we are better together than we are alone.
A recent conversation drove that home in a powerful way, when I was joined by retired U.S. Army Colonel Chris Kolenda. Chris is a former ground force commander in Afghanistan, Taliban negotiator, and a trusted advisor to four-star generals and Secretaries of Defense. More recently, he added founder of Strategic Leaders Academy to his already impressive list of credentials.
On paper, his world couldn’t be more different than mine. But as we talked, themes emerged that apply just as much in a clubhouse as they do in a warzone.
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