Sports is woven into the fabric of American culture and no sport resonates more deeply than football. From Thursday to Monday, fans sit enraptured in front of television sets or fill large, raucous stadiums hoping to cheer their favorite team on to victory. Here’s the part that escapes the fans, before any of those games appear on television, stadiums are full, or games are won, a lot of business has to happen. Strategic business dealings and years of planning that yield desired results don’t just happen. It takes visionaries and leaders to bring it all together and make a team a success.

Today, we're joined by Kevin Demoff, COO of the Los Angeles Rams, who brings firsthand insight into building a successful NFL franchise. His journey inspires us to pursue our dreams relentlessly. Tune in and get ready to step off the sidelines and into the game of life!

In this episode

• (1:00) – Kevin discloses the unique way he learned how to read.
• (4:41) – Reality check comes for Kevin in college.
• (10:02) – The AOL Experience that opened his eyes.
• (12:06) – The leap of faith that leads to a life in football.
• (16:11) – Kevin chooses to go to business school and work for Tampa Bay.
• (20:00) – The Rams call and Kevin gets the itch to move again.
• (25:00) – Stan Kroenke purchases the Rams in 2009.
• (30:35) – The realities of why a sports franchise moves.
• (35:43) – Working hard to make the Los Angeles Rams one of the greatest sports brands in the world.
• (40:00) – The challenge of turning Los Angeles into a football market again.
• (44:44) – Your next job should scare you. If it doesn’t, it’s not worth the leap.
• (47:07) – The value of learning from your low points is discussed.

Our Guest

Kevin Demoff is the Chief Operating Officer of the NFL team Los Angeles Rams. Since joining the team in 2009, Demoff has been responsible for re-organizing the club's business efforts with a focus on delivering a better overall experience for Rams fans and increasing the club's presence in the community. His tireless dedication to community engagement will continue to set the tone for the organization as it looks to become part of the fabric of the greater Los Angeles region.

Resources and Links

Hawke Media

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/
• https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en
• https://hawkemedia.com/
• https://twitter.com/hawkemedia
• https://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/

Kevin Demoff

• https://www.therams.com/team/front-office-roster/kevin-demoff
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-demoff-02a44631
• https://twitter.com/kdemoff?lang=en

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sports is woven into the fabric of American culture and no sport resonates more deeply than football. From Thursday to Monday, fans sit enraptured in front of television sets or fill large, raucous stadiums hoping to cheer their favorite team on to victory. Here’s the part that escapes the fans … before any of those games appear on television, stadiums are full, or games are won, a lot of business has to happen. Strategic business dealings and years of planning that yield desired results don’t just happen. It takes visionaries and leaders to bring it all together and make a team a success.

Our guest today is a man who knows all about what it takes to build a successful NFL franchise. Kevin Demoff has built a career in the sport our nation loves by doing the hard work behind the scenes that makes Sundays a joy for so many. He’s the COO of the Los Angeles Rams and today, he stops by to share his incredible journey. It’s an incredible conversation that will inspire you to boldly pursue your dreams and make them … realities. Hey, if you’ve been standing on the sidelines of life, it’s time for you to get in the game. Listening to this episode will surely get you fired up and ready to give it, whatever it is, your all!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Horror, adventure, comedy, name any genre of movie or entertainment you can think of, and they’ll all take a backseat to a great spy thriller! From James Bond to Jason Bourne to Mission Impossible, on and on, there is nothing like sitting back and getting lost in a piece of work that centers on espionage and spies. The combination of storytelling, strategy, cat, and mouse and so many other elements make it a must-see for any entertainment enthusiast!

Our guest today knows a little bit, make that a lot, about spying, espionage, and real-life thrills and dangers. Over the course of his illustrious 32-year career, Darrell M. Blocker has served his country well and, in the process, walked away as one of the most respected members of our nation’s military apparatus. Today he sits down to discuss his childhood, career in the armed forces, Black Hawk Down, and the hunting of notorious drug lord Manuel Noriega. This is one incredible conversation with an equally incredible man. If espionage, counterintelligence, or spying is your thing, this interview is definitely one you won’t want to miss!

In This Episode:

• (1:00) – How being a middle child impacted Darrell.
• (2:47) – Not Black enough, not accepted by Whites.
• (4:24) – Darrell discusses how confidence played a role in his success.
• (8:13) – First experience with CIA people.
• (13:41) – Captain in USAF or moving to the CIA?
• (15:00) – Joins the CIA and reads every negative book he could find.
• (16:40) – Reveals his true identity to Peace for Kids.
• (21:30) – Manipulation is in all of us.
• (24:35) – It’s about trusting the person you bring in to be an asset.
• (29:21) – Arrives on the desk shortly before Black Hawk Down.
• (35:53) – Nigeria becomes a strong ally after 9/11.
• (39:12) – Using children as weapons was part of Al-Qaeda.
• (46:00) – Finding his path after 32 years of service.
• (48:03) – Most of his heroes are females.
• (49:20) – Business begins to gain traction.
• (52:14) – Balancing anger and ego.

Our Guest

Darrell Blocker is a 28-year veteran of the CIA’s Clandestine Service. A recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Darrell served multiple tours as a station chief, and was the most senior black Directorate of Operations officer when he retired in October 2018 with the rank equivalent to a three-star general.

Resources and Links

Hawke Media

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/
• https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en
• https://hawkemedia.com/
• https://twitter.com/hawkemedia
• https://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/

Darrell M. Blocker

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-m-blocker-3492a4b
• https://www.fpri.org/contributor/darrell-m-blocker/
• https://www.spyex.com/expert/darrell-blocker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.