Out of the Park: New Beginnings
January is supposed to feel like a fresh start with new calendars, clean slates and big intentions all arriving at once. But for me, this part of the year feels more like the quiet before the real reset of baseball.
Every year as February approaches, I start hearing from fans who are craving baseball and warmer days. Pitchers and catchers report in less than two weeks, meaning the cracking of bats under the Arizona and Florida sun isn’t far behind. Spring training marks the start of a long season, beginning with six weeks where every team is as good as the other. No shortcuts. No guarantees. Just fundamentals, repetitions and belief that the work will pay off.
That idea has been on my mind as I head into my 19th season covering Royals baseball, all while continuing to build my speaking business and produce meaningful conversations on the Rounding the Bases podcast. Nothing about it feels like a reinvention. It's a recommitment to the basics and trusting the process again.
I felt that same sense of purpose this week while co-hosting The Golden Scoop’s 4th Annual Trivia Night alongside Super Scooper star Hank Wolf. I’ve written many times about The Golden Scoop in the Local Flavor section of this newsletter, but for those who may be unaware or haven’t followed along, it’s a life-changing, non-profit ice cream and coffee shop that provides meaningful employment opportunities for people with unique abilities. The ice cream and coffee alone are worth the visit, but the Super Scoopers will leave you with a smile and a full heart, every time.
The event was a night of laughter and community that shattered the organization's fundraising record, bringing in $234,000. What stood out most wasn’t the number, but hearing parents talk about how their sons and daughters come home from work happy, confident, and proud of the responsibilities they’re learning to carry. For many of these young adults, The Golden Scoop represents something they were never guaranteed in the working world. It’s impact is a true new beginning built on trust, structure and belief.
A special shout out to Royals General Manager J.J. Piccolo and his wife Nicole, Royals Manager Matt Quatraro and his wife Chris, my broadcast teammate Red Hudler and his wife Jennifer and my wife Susan who works with the Super Scoopers. We didn’t win trivia that night, but we stood out wearing specially designed t-shirts representing Rex and Jennifer’s Team Up For Down Syndrome organization.
These are the things January reminds me of now. Not bold declarations or overnight change, but the power of fundamentals done well. Whether it's baseball, business or building community, real new beginnings aren’t loud. They’re built one small, intentional step at a time…inside and Out of the Park.
Local flavor
Earlier this month, Susan and I found ourselves downtown chasing one of our new hobbies: digging through crates of vinyl records. During the offseason we had an old record player refurbished with the help of my longtime broadcast partner Jeff Montgomery, who happens to be extremely talented when it comes to projects like that. Now we’re enjoying the simple ritual of slowing down, flipping albums and letting something old feel new again.
The search took us wandering through the West Bottoms, into antique shops and eventually into a place called Incline on 9th. It's a restaurant we hadn’t planned on at all, but we loved it so much the first day that we returned with friends the next afternoon before heading to the symphony.
Incline on 9th opened in September 2024 and is named after the historic 9th Street Incline, which first ran in 1885, connecting the Quality Hill neighborhood to the West Bottoms during Kansas City’s industrial rise. The original incline no longer exists, but the restaurant pays homage to its history with a space that blends the neighborhood’s past with a modern, urban feel.
The menu follows the same approach. In addition to the phenomenal cocktails, we tried the Sloppy Ralph, featuring an in-house ground beef blend with traditional sauce and fried pork belly along with the 9th Street Sammy made with sliced tri-tip beef and white cheddar. The attention to detail stood out, and the entire experience felt intentional.
There’s something fun about watching a new restaurant take root, especially in a historic part of town. Incline on 9th feels like a fresh start done the right way, and we’ll definitely be pulling for their success.
Dugout dialogue
We will get back to baseball interviews when the season returns in March. For now, the post-game following Indiana’s national football championship win over Miami captured all of the drama and emotion of one of the greatest sport resets of all time. I also wrote about the championship (and its significance in my family) in a recent Small Ball Snapshot.
speaking engagements
I recently spoke at the Mechanical Contractors Association annual dinner at the historic Midland Theater in Kansas City. It was an honor keynoting to members and their spouses.
A few days later I spoke at the Kansas City Area Development Council’s Q1 Investor Access event. It was a thrill to talk about the fundamentals of Small Ball and be included in Investor introductions with the likes of Morton Amphitheater and Charlie Hustle.
Next month, I’ll join the group again for the Team KC Training Camp Talent Lab, along with a few additional keynotes:
February 10 - Grass Pad Keynote, Kansas City
February 12 - Chief Executive Network, Tucson, Arizona
February 26 - Team KC Training Camp, Kansas City
Availability is filling for 2026, including select days during the baseball season. If you have an upcoming event, it’s time we play ball.
My Game Changer Speaking Series focuses on universal topics like trust, culture, grit and resilience that apply to every team, whether baseball fans or not.
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
This month I was joined by a trailblazer who doesn’t just challenge the status quo…he lights it on fire and hands you the match.
Joe Pulizzi is an award-winning B2B strategist who has been rewriting the rules of business for two decades and counting. Known as the Godfather of Content Marketing, Joe is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and 10-time bestselling author whose latest work, Burn the Playbook, is a blueprint for freedom on your own terms. The world the rules were written for no longer exists, and it’s time we stop playing by them.
It was an engaging discussion on content, relationships and old media becoming new again with one of the best in the business. Check it out now.
As always, I’d like to extend another big thank you to each of the guests who joined me this month on Rounding the Bases:
Charlotte de Brabandt
Our schedule is already booked into early summer, 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
Have you ever found yourself at that tension point between comfort and calling?
In baseball, that usually comes late in the game. A hitter has to decide whether to stick with the safe swing they’ve worked on, or go after the pitch that could change everything. I’ve spent my career as a broadcaster watching those moments unfold.
In a recent episode on my podcast, Rounding the Bases, that theme showed up again and again during a discussion with Staci Cross. She’s the founder and CEO of Enjoy Pure Food + Drink, a restaurant concept elevating wellness from within.
Staci doesn’t just dream big. She embodies what it means to live with intention, even if that means starting over. It took a series of hard resets, but they eventually led to a new beginning rooted in service, authenticity and trust in herself.
And just like in baseball, the biggest breakthroughs didn’t come from playing it safe, but the choice to trust your swing and help others win too.
newsletter signup
Do you want an exclusive first look and access to behind the scenes photos you can’t find anywhere else? Sign up today and get Out of the Park delivered right to your inbox.