Happy Centennial Episode to Token CEO!

The podcast Token CEO just released its 100th episode today. These first 100 episodes have are definitely worth listening to. I personally feel like I learned something new, heard something inspirational or got an inside look at the business side of major media companies in each episode that has been released so far. Token CEO is hosted by the one and only, Erika Nardini, the CEO of Barstool Sports.

Erika started this podcast during quarantine as a short daily podcast which quickly escalated into longer episodes that dropped a few times a week, which was most definitely for the best in my opinion. Some episodes hit close to home, some episodes are inspiring, and others are just straight up entertaining. I know not everyone has the time to binge podcast at the moment, especially with many people working fo home, so I’m writing up this blog with highlights and must listen to episodes of this podcast so far. (episodes are not listed in any particular order)

Obsession with Perfection On this episode Erika chats with Yale Professor of psychology, Dr. Laurie Santos. Dr. Santos teaches a course about how to obtain happiness in today’s day in age. One of the biggest takeaways I absorbed from this episode is that it doesn’t matter what you situation is, your happiness depends on your outlook of the situation. After her first time teaching her class and having this overwhelming enrollment, Yale decided to offer her course online for free. Dr. Laurie Santos observed in her time at Yale that young people tend to sacrifice all the things that bring happiness, like socializing and sleep, to try to obtain perfection like a high paying job and the perfect life with this perfect spouse. As a 27 year old college dropout I totally agree with the fact that people in my age range seem to be chasing this idea of perfection. I don’t want to give away all the main points that are touched in this episode, but if you feel like you’re constantly chasing happiness at any age, this is a great episode to dive into. Apple podcast | Spotify

The Girl Next Door with Erin Andrews Being a girl who is passionate about sports, I always love some insight about a female successfully making a career in the sports world. Erin Andrews shares her game day prep and how even after all these years, she still gets overwhelming nerves. Not only does she get nervous before, but after she finishes her sideline reporting, she still worries about how she did. Even after 20 years, Erin worries about the haters and naysayers. She also talks about how things have changed with the development of social media and how players have their personal brands on social networks. Not only is she focusing on her career as a sideline reporter, she also has her sports clothing line for women, WEAR by Erin Andrews, that isn’t all frilly and bedazzled. Erin also touches on how she dealt with being let go of her hosting job on Dancing with the Stars. Listening to her talk about her career makes me feel like she has her whole life together as a trailblazer for women in sports. Apple podcast | Spotify

Successfully Insecure In this episode, Erika chats with Barbra Corcoran, one of the sharks on Shark Tank. Barbra is a badass business woman, no doubt. Just like Erin Andrews, Barbra talks about how much she prepares for things she knows she’s going to face. She talks about how she’s never met anyone who is successful at anything that wasn’t extremely insecure. Just hearing that made me feel better about all my doubts and how I double down on things. Fear is one of the biggest motivators in life. Everyone’s path to success is different, Barbra had 20 jobs by the time she was 23 years old. She also states that she’s so motivated by insults, constantly trying to prove people wrong. While listening to this episode the quote, “People always respond to people who are themselves,” stood out to me as well, so many people are trying to fit in nowadays, but that’s not how you get recognized. Barbra mentions that the advice she gives to people on being confident, is to keep trying things whether you win or fail. If you’re afraid of trying you won’t get anywhere. To hear more advice from someone who is successfully insecure, I definitely recommend this episode. Apple podcast | Spotify

We Only F*ck With Hall of Famers First off this episode starts with some information and quotes from the late RBG. That in itself is worth the listen. Eriks sits down and talks with Constance Schwartz, the CEO of Smac Entertainment. Honestly, this episode brought on one of my favorite quotes from this podcast, and it just so happens to be the title of the episode. There’s a shirt with the saying “we only fuck with hall of farmers” on it available on the Barstool store that I really need to pick up myself. Constance talks about her entertainment agency that was founded in 2011, the Snooperbowl and how Dion Sanders became a part of “Barstools sports,” iykyk. Another thing that rings true from this episode is when someone asked Constance how she feels when her name isn’t mentioned with the introduction of Smac entertainment and she said that didn’t matter to her because her name was still on the checks. Being a token ceo, she talks about how growing up in “mans world” being in sports and hip hop and how people bypass her and direct their attention to the males that she’s with instead. Erika has another quote from this episode that stood out during her own experiences as a token ceo, “‘would you like to carry Mr. Portnoy’s coat?’ ‘And I was like no, I’ll carry his company, thanks’” Apple podcast | Spotify

Di’s Story This episode hit close to home. Di is one of the many people diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime, but her rare cancer was found late. The reason this episode hit close to home is that my mom was diagnosed with Cancer earlier this year and is currently going through her chemotherapy treatments. Di has such inspirational quotes for someone who will be going through treatments for the rest of her life. Because of that I played it for my mom while I was driving her home from one of her very own treatments. Since then my mom has been talking about the things she said for weeks now. This episode was not only inspiring to keep going through life, but also to make the best of each day you have in life. Apple podcast | Spotify

I Have Not Lived A Boring Life (Feat. Stephanie McMahon) Of course Erika has an absolute fire episode for the 100th episode. Stephanie is the Chief Brand Officer of WWE. I, personally have never watched WWE, but I’m not surprised that a badass woman like Stephanie is a part of that franchise. The title of this episode was definitely a true statement, she talked about all the WWE superstars that were just casually in her life. “Listen, if you want to hang it’s the big dogs, you can’t piss with the pups,” is something her dad, Vince McMahn, told her. This meant that even after all the things that she did in her life, she still had to show up the next day and not complain. Stephanie explains how she came to be a part of WWE herself, starting as a performer and making her way to CBO. Like I previously said, I wasn’t familiar with WWE, but after hearing her explain the storyline of it all, I get the appeal it has to every one of their fans. Even with the adaption of production due to the pandemic, WWE’s main goal is to produce something that brings the experience home. Apple podcast | Spotify

After writing this little blog, I realized that all of the episodes I highlighted had female guest. When I thought back on the episodes that stood out to me, that common factor didn’t jump out at me. I know that seeing women be successful in a “mans world” always motivates me not to give up on my dreams and what I want in life. I’m thankful for the time Erika puts into these episodes every single week. I can’t wait to see what the next 100 episodes of Token CEO bring us. This podcast is definitely worth checking out. Just like Erika, I’m going to end this with one fucking good thing is that we have this podcast to looked forward to on Monday’s and Thursday’s as well as the Facebook group 7 days a week.