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On The Subject with Mike Vilardo

Subject

Mike Vilardo knows the student-athlete journey from every angle. After competing with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) and earning All-Ivy League and Academic All-Big Ten honors in baseball, he now serves as Co-founder & CEO of Subject.com, one of the nation's leading providers of accredited online education for student-athletes and schools.

On On The Subject, Mike brings together professional athletes, coaches, recruiters, founders, and sports leaders for candid conversations about youth sports, college athletics, recruiting, NIL, leadership, and life after the game. Honest stories. Practical advice. New episodes every week.

Follow along: @mikefromsubject • @onthesubjectpodcast • @trysubject

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S3 · E97
Wednesday · 2 hr 21 min
The Truth About Youth Sports with Jason Ferber, Bobby Minor & Adam Cecere
Is youth baseball developing better players—or just better highlight reels? Mike Vilardo welcomes Jason Ferber, Bobby Minor, and former Wake Forest and Penn State standout Adam Cecere for the first-ever On The Subject baseball roundtable. The group debates the business of travel baseball, recruiting myths, chasing velocity over winning games, and how social media is changing the sport. They also dive into NIL, college baseball programs they’d choose for their own kids, and where confidence crosses into showboating. From youth ball to the big leagues, expect honest advice, strong opinions, and plenty of friendly trash talk.
S3 · E96
October 14 · 1 hr 5 min
D1 or JUCO? Marc Luino Ranks the Best Paths to Pro Baseball
Should you play college baseball or go straight to the pros? Baseball creator Marc Luino, better known as Giraffe Neck Marc, joins Mike Vilardo to break down the paths to the MLB, share his picks for the best college baseball programs, and reveal which players young athletes should study. Plus, Marc shares how he turned MLB The Show videos into a full-time career in baseball media, what actually makes money on YouTube, and his favorite MLB ballparks.
S3 · E95
October 7 · 1 hr 3 min
How to get recruited to Brown University as a Baseball Player with Brown Head Coach [VIDEO]
What does it actually take to get recruited by Brown baseball—and is a 4.0 GPA enough? Brown head baseball coach Frank Holbrook joins Mike Vilardo on On The Subject to break down Ivy League recruiting, from grades, test scores, and course rigor to what gets a player on his recruiting board. He shares what makes a recruiting email stand out, why he prefers full-game film over highlights, and how families should prioritize spending on instruction, strength training, and showcases. Plus, they discuss the transfer portal, the biggest misconception in travel baseball, and building a program that matches Brown’s academic reputation.
S3 · E94
September 30 · 1 hr 19 min
The Baseball Recruiting Mistakes That Cost Families Thousands with Bobby Minor [VIDEO]
Is travel baseball helping your kid or just draining your wallet? On this episode of On The Subject, Mike Vilardo sits down with Bobby Minor, the voice behind Chasing Baseball Dreams, for an honest conversation about youth baseball. Drawing on decades of experience as a player, coach, and parent, Bobby breaks down what families should actually spend money on, why chasing exposure too early can backfire, and how to navigate college recruiting without getting caught up in the D1 dream. They discuss overlooked opportunities in JUCO and NAIA, the pressure that drives kids away from the game, and why your son needs a dad—not an agent. It’s a candid look at developing better players, protecting family relationships, and keeping baseball fun.
S3 · E93
September 23 · 1 hr 18 min
How To Get Recruited to D1 Ivy League Hockey with Brown Head Coach [VIDEO]
What does it really take to play Division I hockey at an Ivy League school? Brown University head coach Thomas Upton joins Mike Vilardo to break down the path from youth hockey to juniors to college recruiting. He explains what coaches look for at the rink, which recruiting emails get a response, and why players shouldn’t panic if they aren’t being contacted early. They also unpack Ivy League admissions and financial aid, the changing college hockey landscape, and Upton’s plans to build a new culture at Brown.
S3 · E92
September 16 · 1 hr 21 min
Former D1 Forward Todd Goehring Reveals the Real Cost of Youth Hockey [VIDEO]
Former D1 Forward Todd Goehring joins Mike Vilardo to reveal what it really costs to raise a hockey player and chase the dream of playing professionally. Todd left home at 16, lived with billet families, played more than 100 junior games, and spent five seasons at Sacred Heart before continuing his career in the ECHL and SPHL. He breaks down where the money in youth hockey actually goes, what minor-league players really earn, and what happens to a young athlete’s education along the way. Todd also shares how he graduated magna cum laude with degrees in finance and economics, built a business while playing professionally, and prepared for life after his final shift. It’s an honest look at the sacrifices behind the hockey dream—and the reality most hockey families are actually living. Hosted by Subject, a K12 curriculum company. Visit www.subject.com for more information.
September 9 · 1 hr 22 min
#91 - How to Get Recruited by MIT Basketball with Head Coach B.J. Dunne [VIDEO]
Eleven months into the job he calls a homecoming, MIT men's basketball head coach BJ Dunn sits down with Subject co-founder and CEO Michael Vilardo in Cambridge to talk about building a program where the recruiting pitch isn't a scholarship — it's a career. Dunne walks through what MIT admissions actually looks for, why his staff can't offer a pre-read or a likely letter and how they build trust with families anyway, and what it means to coach players who never had a standard lowered for them. He also gets specific about the parts recruits rarely hear straight: how to write an email a coach will open, what the first clip of your film should be, when to start lifting, why camps beat skills trainers, and what parents should and shouldn't do. Along the way he tells the story behind the 2012 Final Four team where four of five starters went on to found unicorn companies, explains why he thinks that's no coincidence, and makes the case that at MIT it was never about balancing school and basketball — it's a blend.
September 2 · 1 hr 36 min
#90 - Minor League Baseball or Savannah Bananas? Eric Jones Jr. Has Played Both [VIDEO]
Eric Jones Jr. is the Savannah Bananas' all-time home run leader, a former MLB bullpen catcher, and a veteran of affiliated and indy ball. He's played every version of this sport, so we asked him the question the next generation is starting to ask: if you're good enough to keep playing after college, is grinding through the minors still the obvious path, or is Banana Ball a legitimate alternative? We get into the tryouts, the eleven rules, the buses, the clubhouses, and the money — plus straight advice for the kid and the parent watching at home.
August 26 · 1 hr 12 min
#89 - Hockey’s Daniel Amesbury on WHY “Diamond Hands” Is Back After 8 Years [VIDEO]
Daniel “Diamond Hands” Amesbury walked away from professional hockey at 23 and spent eight years away from the game—including years working on tugboats in British Columbia. Then, at 31, he entered the first-ever Ice Wars fighting tournament, won three fights in one night, and suddenly found himself with pro teams calling again. On this episode of On the Subject, Mike Vilardo sits down with one of hockey’s last true enforcers to talk about one of the wildest comeback stories in professional sports. Daniel breaks down the reality of life as a hockey fighter, what goes through his mind before dropping the gloves, why fighting can actually make teammates play with more confidence, and how he learned to turn toughness into a tool for moving up the professional ranks. He also opens up about returning from retirement, racking up 298 penalty minutes, building an audience through content, and receiving an indefinite suspension he still doesn’t fully understand. Now back with Adirondack and still chasing the AHL, Diamond Hands isn’t finished yet. Eight years away. More than 200 fights. One remarkable comeback—and a story about toughness, family, loyalty, and refusing to believe your window has closed.
August 19 · 1 hr 9 min
#88 - A Conversation with Gary Roberts, the Man Who Trains McDavid, Stamkos, and 200+ NHL Draft Picks [VIDEO]
Gary Roberts Performance is the most quietly influential address in hockey — the Toronto program where the best players in the world spend their summers, and where more than 200 NHL-drafted players have trained in the last decade alone. In this episode, Gary breaks down how that garage gym became the off-season home for NHL stars, and where fuel, training, and recovery actually rank in terms of what moves the needle. He walks us through the 12-week off-season program week by week, sets the record straight on the legendary "Gary Roberts diet" — what held up and what he's changed his mind about — and explains why cutting carbs is one of the worst things a hockey player can do. We separate real recovery from recovery theater, sorting cold plunge, sauna, and red light into what earns its place and what doesn't. Gary shares what 200-plus drafted players have in common, three things a fifteen-year-old can start this week for free, and his honest take on the combine, draft stock, and the biggest lie being sold to hockey families right now. Follow along: @mikefromsubject @onthesubjectpodcast @trysubject
August 12 · 1 hr 30 min
#87 - How DSARM Built One of Baseball’s Biggest Creator Brands
In this episode of On the Subject, DSARM sits down with Mike Vilardo to talk about the decision to bet on content, how he found his lane in a crowded baseball world, and what it actually takes to turn videos into a career. Dan Sarmiento, better known as DSARM, went from a left-handed pitcher at Exeter High and Bridgton Academy to one of the most-followed independent baseball creators online. Instead of chasing a college roster spot, he picked up a camera and built an audience of hundreds of thousands across YouTube and social media. For young athletes, baseball doesn't have to end when the playing career does. DSARM's story shows just how many ways there are to build a career around the game.
August 5 · 1 hr 22 min
# 86 - How to Master Your Mind with Pro Fighter Ariel "Tarzan" Sexton
This week, Mike sits down with Ariel "Tarzan" Sexton—ONE Championship veteran, The Ultimate Fighter competitor, and one of the pioneers of MMA in Costa Rica. From moving to Costa Rica with nothing but a suitcase to competing against some of the world's best, Ariel shares the highs, the setbacks, and everything people don't see behind a career in professional fighting. They talk about fighting through devastating injuries, what it's actually like getting paid as a professional fighter outside the UFC, why jiu-jitsu can change a kid's life, and the mentality it takes to keep chasing a dream long after everyone else would've quit. Whether you're a fighter, a parent thinking about martial arts for your child, or someone chasing a goal that doesn't make sense to anyone else, this episode is packed with lessons on resilience, discipline, and betting on yourself. Follow along: @mikefromsubject @onthesubjectpodcast @trysubject
July 23 · 1 hr 12 min
#85 - What No One Tells You About Signing a $5.5M MLB Contract at 18 with Jacob Turner
Former first-round MLB Draft pick Jacob Turner joins Mike Vilardo on On the Subject to share what really happens after your name is called on draft day. From signing a multi-million dollar bonus out of high school to spending eight seasons in Major League Baseball, Jacob breaks down the realities of professional baseball that most players and families never hear about. Together they discuss the MLB Draft process, signing bonus negotiations, taxes, agents, arbitration, the minor leagues, financial mistakes athletes make, and how to prepare for life after sports. Now as the co-founder of Moment Private Wealth, Jacob helps professional athletes build lasting financial security—and shares the lessons he wishes every young player knew before turning pro.
July 16 · 1 hr 16 min
#84 - What It ACTUALLY Takes To Get an NHL Contract with Agent Dominic Boily [VIDEO]
What does it really take to make it to the NHL—and even harder, build a lasting professional career? On this episode of On the Subject, Mike Vilardo sits down with NHL player agent Dominic Boily for an inside look at the business of professional hockey. Drawing from years of representing elite players, Dom explains what NHL organizations are actually looking for beyond raw talent, how the draft and free agency process works, and what the relationship between a player and their agent really looks like. He also shares how he helps athletes navigate contracts, roster decisions, career transitions, and the challenges that come with competing at the highest level. Whether you're a young player chasing the NHL, a parent trying to understand the path to professional hockey, or a coach preparing athletes for the next level, this conversation offers practical insights into what separates the players who make it from those who don't.
July 1 · 1 hr 16 min
#83 - What 10 Years in the MLB Will Teach You With Kyle Farmer [VIDEO]
Atlanta native and MLB veteran Kyle Farmer joins On the Subject for an honest conversation from his childhood home about what it really takes to last nearly 10 years in Major League Baseball. After making his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kyle has built a career spanning more than 800 MLB games, recording over 500 career hits, 60+ home runs, and earning a reputation as one of baseball's most dependable utility players. In this episode, we discuss his journey from Georgia to winning a College World Series championship and reaching the big leagues, the setbacks that nearly ended his career, what it means to return home and play for the Atlanta Braves, and how versatility has helped him stay in the majors for nearly a decade. Kyle also shares untold clubhouse stories, the realities of life in professional baseball, and his advice for parents, coaches, and young athletes chasing their dreams. Whether you're a baseball fan, aspiring athlete, or simply looking to learn what it takes to build a long, successful career, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.
June 25 · 1 hr 7 min
#82 - Former D1 Captain Adam Cecere Reveals What Gets Players Recruited [VIDEO]
Podcast Description Adam Cecere joins us on On the Subject to talk about what it takes to build a successful life beyond sports. A former Division I baseball standout at Wake Forest and Penn State, Adam hit 49 career home runs, played in more than 140 collegiate games, and served as team captain. But while competing at the highest level, he was also building something bigger—founding Celo Nutrition, a sports performance company dedicated to helping athletes optimize their recovery and performance. In this episode, we dive into the recruiting process at elite academic-athletic programs, the realities of balancing Division I athletics with entrepreneurship, and whether NIL is creating more business-minded athletes or simply more distractions. Adam shares the biggest nutrition mistakes college athletes make, why athletes need an identity beyond their sport, what college coaches actually value during recruiting, and how AI, NIL, and the transfer portal are reshaping the future of athletics. Whether you're a student-athlete, parent, coach, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with insights on building success both on and off the field.
June 17 · 1 hr 15 min
#81 - The Recruiting Secret Most Parents Never Hear with Coach Ballgame [VIDEO]
Coach Ballgame, also known as James Lowe, joins us on On the Subject for an honest conversation about youth baseball, player development, and the realities of the recruiting process. As the Youth Ambassador for Major League Baseball's Play Ball Program and a Brown University graduate, James has spent more than two decades helping young athletes and their families navigate the game the right way. From running camps and clinics for kids ages 3–12 to taking his message to the White House, Cooperstown, MLB All-Star Games, and the World Series, Coach Ballgame has built a movement centered around one belief: youth sports should develop better people, not just better athletes. In this episode, we discuss the dangers of the win-at-all-costs mentality, when families should start thinking about recruiting, what college coaches are really looking for, whether showcases and travel ball are worth the investment, and how baseball can become a vehicle for academic opportunity and long-term success. If you're a parent, coach, or student-athlete trying to understand how sports can open doors beyond the field, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
June 10 · 1 hr 3 min
#80 - This Is Why You're NOT Getting Recruited In Sports with Coach Ferber [VIDEO]
Coach Ferber joins us on On the Subject to break down player development, recruiting, and what it really takes to make it in baseball - from someone who built his reputation from the ground up in Coney Island and became the most followed baseball coaching voice on social media. Coach Jason Ferber has over 225,000 Instagram followers and has developed some of the top young players in the country. His philosophy is simple: know your players, coach their strengths as much as their weaknesses, and tell them the truth - even when it's hard to hear. In this episode, we unpack the biggest challenges and misconceptions in the college recruiting process, from travel baseball and showcases to the transfer portal and choosing the right school. We also discuss what college coaches are really looking for, how learning disabilities can impact recruiting, and the common mistakes that hold athletes back. If you're a high school player, parent, or coach trying to navigate recruiting and development — this episode is a must-watch.
June 3 · 32 min
#79 - How Crazy Carl Went Viral on TikTok Through Golf [VIDEO]
Crazy Carl joins Mike Vilardo on On The Subject to talk golf, social media, college athletics, and their journey from childhood baseball teammates to content creators. Carl shares how he built a loyal following through authentic golf content, what it's really like to go viral, and the lessons he's learned from sports, business, and life along the way.
May 20 · 1 hr 6 min
#78 - MLB agent Mark Leinweaver Explains How Players Actually Make It [VIDEO]
This week on On The Subject Podcast, Michael Vilardo sits down with veteran MLB agent Mark Leinweaver, who has represented over 75 professional baseball players and worked with all 30 MLB organizations. From what it really takes to get drafted, to the biggest mistakes athletes and parents make in recruiting, Mark shares an unfiltered look at the business of baseball. The two dive into D1 vs mid-major schools, when to go pro, handling pressure and social media, life after sports, and what separates athletes who make it from those who don’t.

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