Morale could not be more different on each side of the podcast. Whilst Villa reach a European Semi-Final and continue their charge towards a Champions League place, yet another poor performance for Blues sees them on the brink of relegation to League One for the first time in 30 years. Callum also discusses a significant new sponsorship deal for Vi…

Is your spouse a tightwad or a spendthrift? Kelly talks to Scott Rick, marketing professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, about his new book “Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4679400/Scott_Rick_2024-04-23-004500.64kmono.mp3 “Too much dissimi…

The Second City Podcast returns in high spirits, as both Blues and Villa post some of their best results of their respective seasons as we hit the run-in. As well as previewing this week's games, Callum and Dan also discuss new stadiums, Blues Women, Lille fans and Sunjic's tears. 01:35 - What We’re Wearing (Birmingham City) 06:35 - What We’re Wear…

Kelly connects with best-selling author Emily P. Freeman to talk about her new book, “How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4640278/Emily_P_Freeman__2024-04-16-163618.64kmono.mp3 “We all walk through exits and endings throughout our lives.” “The mistake we make is to assume…

Kelly sits down at The Second City with Harvard business professor Michael Norton to discuss his new book “The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4604011/Michael_Norton_2024-04-09-032311.64kmono.mp3 “A ritual is not a habit.” “Taken to the extreme, pre-performance…

After a discussion on the Second City Podcast's trip to Wembley over the weekend, Dan and Callum react to a harrowing week for their respective teams, including Man City's demolition job on Villa and Blues' late heartbreak at Leicester & Villa's capitulation against Brentford. They then preview the upcoming double game week, including Villa's huge …

Dan and a jetlagged Callum give their takes on Gary Rowett's first two games since returning as Interim Manager at Blues, as well as Villa's welcoming of Wolves to Villa Park. They also discuss UB40, Ezri Konsa's Euros chances, a prospective new stadium and the games coming up this week. 02:39 - What We’re Wearing (Aston Villa) 04:58 - What We’re W…

Kelly talks to Elaine Lin Hering, a former managing partner of Triad Consulting Group and a lecturer at Harvard Law School, specializing in dispute resolution, mediation, and negotiation. Her new book is called “Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4587652/Elaine_Lin_Herin…

Kelly connects with Keith Boykin, a New York Times bestselling author, TV and Film producer, and former CNN political commentator. Keith served in the White House, cofounded the National Black Justice Coalition and taught at Columbia University. He is the author of seven books and his most recent is called “Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race…

Just when you thought life at Birmingham City couldn't get any crazier, Dan and Callum react to the remarkable, hot off the press news that Gary Rowett is set to return to the club as their 87th manager of the season, in a last ditch attempt to fend off relegation. On the Villa front, Callum breaks down their triumphant night against Ajax and their…

Kelly goes deep with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Daniel de Vise about his new book, “The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4506516/Daniel_de_Vise_2024-03-19-004316.64kmono.mp3 “Belushi was a violent teddy bear, a cuddly monster, lovable and vulnera…

Times are tough and morale is low at Second City Towers as Callum and Dan react to a humbling week for both Blues and Villa. Midweek draws kept things somewhat positive before a disastrous weekend in the League for both sides. The duo then look ahead to the week coming up, as Blues look to secure their Championship future and as Villa look to progr…

Kelly talks to tech entrepreneur Tobias Dengel about his new book “Sound of the Future: The Coming Age of Voice Technology.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4504334/Tobias_Dengel_2024-03-12-051934.64kmono.mp3 “Speed is the ultimate weapon in business.” “You cannot create the world’s best products if everyone in the room looks the same.” “Your firs…

Kelly welcomes Cal Newport back to the podcast. Cal is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University where he is also a founding member of the Center for Digital Ethics. He is the author of many books, including “Deep Work.” His latest book is called “Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.” https://serve.castf…

Callum and Dan return to react to two breathless games involving the Second City clubs over the weekend, before previewing the huge double game week ahead, as Blues travel to Hull before a six-pointer against Millwall, and Villa return to Europe with their highly anticipated trip to Ajax, as well as welcoming Spurs to Villa Park in the race for the…

Kelly connects with Malissa Clark, an associate professor of industrial and organizational psychology at the University of Georgia. Her new book is called “Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business – and How to Fix it.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4499933/MALISSA_CLARK_2024-02-27-064533.64kmono.mp3 “Today, almost half of…

Callum and Dan see out February by reflecting on Villa's thumping home win over Nottingham Forest, as well as Blues' trip to Ipswich, which marked the beginning of Mark Venus' time as interim manager. Callum also reacts to the news that Villa's next tie in the Europa Conference League will be a mouthwatering match-up against Ajax, and as the 23/24 …

Following a Blues club announcement this week, the Second City Podcast sends their best wishes to Tony Mowbray as he temporarily takes a step back from management for medical reasons. Following this, the duo reflect on Beirne's Austrian Alps survival story, numerous games gone-by in recent weeks for both Villa and Blues, Kevin Long's Blues exit, an…

Kelly has an insightful conversation with sociologist Corey Keyes about languishing, flourishing, and mental health. His new book is “Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4497243/Corey_Keyes_2024-02-19-015743.64kmono.mp3 “Games are a microcosm of adulthood.” “We humans often get foole…

Kelly speaks to Alison Taylor, a clinical professor at NYU Stern School of Business and the Executive Director of Ethical Systems, a research collaboration of prominent business school professors working on ethical culture founded by Jonathon Haidt. They discuss her new book, “Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World.…

Kelly bridges the world of Navy Seals training and Second City improv training with performance psychologist and retired US Navy commander Eric Potterat and executive communication expert Alan Eagle. They’ve co-written a new book: “Learned Excellence: Mental Disciplines for Leading and Winning from the World’s Top Performers.” https://serve.castfir…

Steve Bruce is a figure well-known on both sides of the Second City, having played for Birmingham City in the 90s and later managed the club from 2001 to 2007, before managing Aston Villa from 2016 to 2018. His time at Blues saw two promotions and some of the most iconic top-flight memories in the club's history, and his time in B6 saw him guide Vi…

Kelly explores The Second City’s landmark college program Comedy Studies with its Director, Anne Libera. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4486120/Anne_Libera_2024-02-01-175920.64kmono.mp3 “We learn from failing as opposed to the yes/no or risk/failure binary.” “With comedy, you have to be culturally competent, you have to be aware, you have to be o…

Kelly welcomes the great Bob Sutton back to the podcast. Professor Emeritus at Stanford, Bob has a new book out called “The Friction Project” which he co-wrote with Huggy Rao. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4485165/Bob_Sutton_2024-01-30-040305.64kmono.mp3 “Piles of studies show, to do creative work right, teams need to slow down, struggle, and de…

As well as dissecting the FA Cup Fourth Round just gone, this week on the Second City Podcast, Callum and Dan discuss transfers, a very exciting new commercial agreement announcement at Blues, and the most famous former players and managers they've met in-person. The guys also look ahead to Villa's trip to Sheffield United and Blues' upcoming derby…

Dan revels in a wonderful start to life for Tony Mowbray at Blues, giving his reaction to the FA Cup win against Hull and the victory in the Championship against Leicester. Following on from this and What We're Wearing, amidst a relatively quiet January transfer window, the duo brave the depths of footballing awfulness, the worst of the worst, and …

Kelly talks to W. Russell Neuman, a specialist in new media and digital education at New York University – whose career has also taken him to MIT and the White House – to discuss his new book “Evolutionary Intelligence: How Technology Will Make Us Smarter.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4482629/W_Russell_Neuman_2024-01-23-164529.64kmono.mp3 “We …

Kelly takes a look at leadership through the lens of history with Moshik Temkin, a professor of history and leadership at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University and a faculty affiliate at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. His new book is titled, “Warriors, Rebels & Saints: The Art of Leadership from Machiave…

The Mowbray era has officially begun as Blues faced off against Swansea on Saturday. As well as giving their reaction to this, Callum and Dan take a look at Villa's frustrating away draw at Goodison Park, along with Villa's supposed new badge and upcoming Adidas kits, and the possible departure of Jordan James and the definite departure of John O'S…

Kelly connects with psychologist and professor Dr. Mariel Buque to discuss her new book “Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4477393/Dr_Mariel_Buque__2024-01-09-202633.64kmono.mp3 “No cycle breaker will ever feel fully ready to break the cycle.” “The higher self is not a perfectly healed s…

Callum and Dan are kept on their toes with the announcement this week that former West Brom, Celtic and Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray is the man to replace Wayne Rooney in B9. As well as reacting to this big news, they also discuss Villa's questionable new club badge, and react to the FA Cup 3rd Round just gone, as well as discussing some of their p…

83 days, 15 games and just 2 wins later, Wayne Rooney has left Birmingham City. The Emergency Podcast button is hit as Dan and Callum react to the huge news bringing in the New Year, as one of England’s all-time greatest players leaves as Birmingham’s shortest ever serving manager.Autor: Second City Podcast

Kelly connects with Rajiv Shah, the President of the Rockefeller Foundation and a former government official who oversaw USAID from 2010 to 2015. His new book is called “Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4474603/4474603_2023-12-29-180103.64kmono.mp3 “For centuries, two factors determined an individua…

Dan and Callum close out 2023 in style with the first ever in-person edition of the Second City Podcast. As well as 'What We're Wearing' and a quick look back on recent results, the duo reflect on 2023 for both Blues and Villa, and discuss their hopes and dreams for 2024. 03:30 - What We're Wearing 09:00 - Villa's Recent Results 13:19 - Recent Blue…

Kelly talks to Vulture Senior Editor Jesse David Fox who also hosts the “Good One” podcast about his new book, “Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture – And the Magic That Makes it Work.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4473090/4473090_2023-12-22-184530.64kmono.mp3 “Comedy only exists when both the comedian and audience are working together to …

Welcome to episode #39 of SCS Hot Takes entitled "What The Hell? In this episode I introduce a new segment called "What the Hell is Going on Out There!?" Other topics include: ~ MLB Hot Stove ~ Dodgers Controversy ~ Cubs/White Sox Offseason ~ Bears review/preview ~ Justin Fields Bears' future ~ Blackhawks update ~ Pro Wrestling update --- Support t…

Christmas cheer is in full swing at Second City Towers. As Villa continue their formidable run, Callum looks at the very real prospect that they could be top of the table by Christmas. Meanwhile at Blues, Dan has more reason to be positive after a better week for Wayne Rooney's men. Timestamps: 03:22 - What We're Wearing 13:02 - Reaction to Blues' …

Kelly chats with author Rob Kozlowski about a movie franchise that is dear to both of them and the subject of Rob’s latest book: “Becoming Nick and Nora: The Thin Man and the Films of William Powell and Myrna Loy.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4470720/Rob_Kozlowski_2023-12-15-052020.64kmono.mp3 “The characters of Nick and Nora Charles remain th…

Things could not be more different from each side of the tracks. Whilst Callum celebrates an historic week for Aston Villa, Dan despairs and tries to understand Blues' continued horror run of form. Callum then discusses Aston Villa's stadium plans, before the pair preview the double game week coming up for both teams. 03:39 - What We're Wearing 12:…

Kelly welcomes Brad Stulberg back to the podcast, the well-being expert is on the faculty of the University of Michigan and his new book is called “Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing – Including You.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4469197/Brad_Stulberg_2023-12-11-030437.64kmono.mp3 “Our biggest personal and collective cha…

The Second City Podcast is back for Week 16, where Callum reacts to Villa's dramatic European night both on and off the pitch, whilst Dan breaks down another disappointing couple of games for Blues under Wayne Rooney. We also take a look at Villa's Premier League draw against Bournemouth, and the fallout of the first Open House Forum hosted by Blue…

Kelly has a fun conversation with longtime Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus about her experiences at the legendary comedy show as well as her current work co-leading the platform and networking community “Woman Work F’ing Hard.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4467182/LINDSAY_SHOOKUS_2023-12-04-173722.64kmono.mp3 “Expecting perfection …

Welcome to The Return episode of Second City Sam's HOT Takes! This is episode #38 in total and the first since October 12th, 2022! Specials Guest: Robert Barton Topics Include: ~What's been up since 2022? ~ College Football Playoffs ~ NFL Week 13 Action ~ Bears Bye Week ~ MLB Hot Stove ~ Cubs/Sox ~ Blackhawks Talk ~ Professional Wrestling --- Suppo…

Welcome to Episode 139 of Musings on Madison, here on the Second City Hockey podcast network, your weekly destination for a roundup of all things involving the Chicago Blackhawks. This week, it's a full lineup of Dave, Betsy, Mil and Eric, who gathered during Tuesday's game against the Seattle Kraken to discuss the Corey Perry saga, Patrick Kane si…

Kelly reminisces with Chicago-bred comedian and author Mike Bridenstine whose new book is called “The Perfect Amount of Wrong: The Rise of Alt Comedy on Chicago’s North Side.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4463789/mike_bridenstine_2023-11-28-024529.64kmono.mp3 “Chicago was an improv town and everybody knew it.” “None of it was glamorous. None of…

The vibes are good in the Second City as both sides of the tracks celebrate 2-1 wins over the weekend. Dan and Callum react to Rooney's first win as the Blues boss, whilst Callum revels in Villa's impressive away day at Spurs. Dan also discusses Blues' new upcoming Open House Forums, and Callum goes on a vicious rant about the font on the back of t…

In the latest episode of our Second City Story series, Callum and Dan reflect on the legacy in the West Midlands of former England international Emile Heskey, who played for Blues from 2004 to 2006, and for Aston Villa between 2009 and 2012. Despite arriving at Blues to much anticipation, despite going on start Cup finals for Aston Villa, and despi…

Welcome to Episode 138 of Musings on Madison, here on the Second City Hockey podcast network, your weekly destination for a roundup of all things involving the Chicago Blackhawks. This week, it's Dave, Betsy and Eric together to discuss the last handful of Blackhawks games, a big change in the power-play lineup that had the group excited and the up…

Kelly talks to best-selling author Morgan Housel whose book “The Psychology of Money” sold over 3 million copies. His new book, “Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes,” is a fascinating look at history’s most powerful lessons. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4460222/Morgan_Housel_2023-11-16-200922.64kmono.mp3 “Asking what the biggest risks a…

Welcome to Episode 137 of Musings on Madison, here on the Second City Hockey podcast network, your weekly destination for a roundup of all things involving the Chicago Blackhawks. This week, it's the full lineup of Dave, Mil, Betsy and Eric assembling to wax poetic about a few incredible performances from Connor Bedard, discuss one of the linemates…