Episodes

  • H.I.G.H. Ep. 39 | Ken Crites: From IT to Retiree

    H.I.G.H. Ep. 39 | Ken Crites: From IT to Retiree
    Apr 21 2026
    Episode 39 – H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) Podcast | Ken Crites Before becoming a familiar name at RotoWire, Ken Crites was simply navigating his own path, long before fantasy sports became what it is today. This episode is a full rewind of that journey. We go back to the beginning. The early stages, the environment he came up in, and the moments that gradually pulled him into the world of fantasy sports and content. This is not about where he is now. It’s about how he got there. In this episode: • Life before fantasy sports was mainstream • Early influences and interests that shaped his path • How he first got pulled into fantasy sports • The key decisions and turning points along the way • The ups and downs that don’t get talked about • What it takes to stay consistent long enough to build something lasting Ken’s story is a reminder that success in any industry is rarely immediate. It’s built over time through curiosity, consistency, and sticking with it before it’s obvious to anyone else. ⸻ About H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) Hosted by Trevis Waters, this podcast rewinds the full life journey of today’s top figures in sports, media, and betting. From childhood to present day, we focus on the real path, not just the outcome. Subscribe so you never miss an episode Like if this story resonated Comment your biggest takeaway
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • H.I.G.H. Ep. 38 | Marek Suchar: Founder of Oddin.gg

    H.I.G.H. Ep. 38 | Marek Suchar: Founder of Oddin.gg
    Apr 14 2026
    Episode 38 – H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) Podcast | Marek Suchar Before building Oddin.gg, Marek Suchar was just a kid growing up in the Czech Republic, developing an early curiosity for gaming, competition, and problem-solving. This episode is a full rewind of that journey. We go back to the beginning. The early influences, the environments he grew up in, and the moments that slowly pulled him toward esports, data, and eventually the betting world. This is not about where he is today. It’s about how he got there. In this episode: • Growing up in the Czech Republic and early interests • First exposure to gaming, competition, and data • The path into esports before it was mainstream • Early career decisions that shaped his direction • The risks, pivots, and lessons along the way • How everything compounded into the creation of Oddin.gg Marek’s story is a reminder that careers are rarely linear. They’re built through curiosity, timing, and a willingness to follow what genuinely interests you before it’s obvious to everyone else. ⸻ About H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) Hosted by Trevis Waters, this podcast rewinds the full life journey of today’s top figures in sports, media, and betting. From childhood to present day, we focus on the real path, not just the outcome. Subscribe so you never miss an episode Like if this story resonated Comment your biggest takeaway
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    46 mins
  • H.I.G.H. Ep. 37 | Mark Antal: Founder of Vokol

    H.I.G.H. Ep. 37 | Mark Antal: Founder of Vokol
    Apr 7 2026
    Mark is building something that sits right at the intersection of sports, tech, and fan engagement. In this episode, we break down his journey into entrepreneurship and what it takes to build a product in a space that’s evolving as fast as sports betting, fantasy, and media are right now. This conversation goes beyond the product. It’s about vision, timing, and understanding where attention is going. We talk about: • The origin story behind Vokol • Building in a rapidly changing sports ecosystem • The role of community and engagement in modern sports platforms • Lessons learned from launching and scaling a startup • Where the future of sports interaction is heading What stood out to me is how intentional Mark has been about positioning Vokol in a space that’s still being defined. If you’re building in sports, tech, or anything community-driven, this is worth your time.
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    57 mins
  • H.I.G.H. Ep. 36 | Bob Lung: Founder of the Fantasy Football Expo

    H.I.G.H. Ep. 36 | Bob Lung: Founder of the Fantasy Football Expo
    Mar 31 2026
    Bob has been one of the driving forces behind bringing the fantasy football industry together in real life. What started as a passion for fantasy sports turned into building one of the most recognized events in the space, connecting creators, companies, and fans from all over the country. This episode is a deep dive into how an idea turns into an industry staple. We talk about: • How the Fantasy Football Expo was built from scratch • The early days of the fantasy football community • What it takes to grow an event year after year • The importance of relationships in this industry • Where fantasy sports and sports betting continue to overlap Bob’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to reinvent an industry to make an impact. You just need to bring people together in the right way. If you’re in fantasy sports, sports betting, or building anything community-driven, this one will hit.
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • H.I.G.H. Ep. 35 | Malcolm Lemmons: Pro Baller in Japan to Sports Investor

    H.I.G.H. Ep. 35 | Malcolm Lemmons: Pro Baller in Japan to Sports Investor
    Mar 24 2026
    Most people see the final score. Malcolm Lemmons sees the deal behind it. In Episode 35 of H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here), Trevis sits down with Malcolm Lemmons — former professional basketball player, 2x author, LinkedIn Top Voice in Sports Business, and founder of Vetted Sports, one of the most respected intelligence platforms at the intersection of sports, technology, and investing. We go all the way back — from his early love of the game, to playing pro ball in Japan and the G-League, to the moment he started looking beyond the court and asking bigger questions about the business of sports, money, and what athletes do after the game ends. Malcolm's story isn't just about reinvention — it's about paying attention while everyone else was still playing. He was building something long before most people thought to look up from the scoreboard. In this episode: -Growing up and developing the mindset of a competitor -Playing professional basketball in Japan and the G-League — and what life overseas teaches you about yourself -The shift from athlete to entrepreneur — when it clicked and why -Writing Lessons from the Game and Impact Beyond the Game — what inspired both books -How Vetted Sports was born and what gap it fills in the market -Building a media and research platform from scratch with no VC backing -Becoming a LinkedIn Top 1% voice and what consistency in content creation actually looks like -Where sports investment is headed — franchise valuations, sports tech, fan engagement, and the global capital pouring into the asset class -Advice for athletes who want to build something after the uniform comes off Connect with Malcolm: vettedsports.com LinkedIn: Malcolm Lemmons Subscribe so you never miss an episode of H.I.G.H. Like if Malcolm's transition story resonated with you. Drop a comment — what's the most underrated sports investment opportunity right now? H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) traces the full life journey of today's top operators, founders, athletes, and industry builders — from the first spark of curiosity all the way to where they stand in 2026.
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    46 mins
  • H.I.G.H. Ep. 34 | Erica Renee Davis: NFL Cheerleader to FOX Bet Host

    H.I.G.H. Ep. 34 | Erica Renee Davis: NFL Cheerleader to FOX Bet Host
    Mar 17 2026
    She cheered on the sidelines for the Atlanta Falcons. She reported for CNN and FOX. And somewhere along the way, her favorite uncle taught her how to bet — and changed the trajectory of her career forever. In Episode 34 of H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here), Trevis sits down with Erica Renee Davis — journalist, sports host, actress, sports betting analyst, and one of the most versatile voices at the intersection of media and gambling. We trace her full journey from growing up a die-hard Georgia Bulldogs fan, to cheering in the NFL, to navigating one of the most competitive media markets in the world in Los Angeles, to becoming the on-air face of FOX Bet Super 6 and a trusted voice for FOX Sports, CNN, HLN, NASCAR Digital Media, and beyond. This is a story about following curiosity, owning your lane, and what it looks like to build a brand in sports media as a Black woman — without waiting for someone to hand you a seat at the table. In this episode: -Growing up in Georgia and the early love of sports -Being a UGA Journalism & Political Science grad — and what school actually taught her -Cheering for the Atlanta Falcons as an NFL cheerleader -Making the leap to Los Angeles and breaking into TV and entertainment -Working with FOX, CNN, HLN, NASCAR, and TEGNA -How her uncle introduced her to sports betting — and why it stuck -Becoming the face of FOX Bet Super 6 and the FOX Sports Gambling Team -Her "Pocket Change Picks" philosophy and responsible betting ethos -What women actually want from sports betting media -Advice for anyone trying to break into sports media from scratch Connect with Erica: ericareneedavis.com Instagram: @ericareneed Subscribe so you never miss an episode of H.I.G.H. Like if Erica's story resonated with you. Drop a comment — are you a Pocket Change Picks bettor? H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) rewinds the tape on the full life journey of today's top sports, media, and betting industry figures — from childhood all the way to now.
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    59 mins
  • H.I.G.H. Ep. 32 | Rickard Vikström: Swedish Hacker Kid to CEO of iGaming's #1 Host

    H.I.G.H. Ep. 32 | Rickard Vikström: Swedish Hacker Kid to CEO of iGaming's #1 Host
    Mar 3 2026
    He was hanging out with the founders of The Pirate Bay as a teenager. He started his first company selling a TV info system to schools that "didn't work that well." And in 2008 — right in the middle of a financial crisis he didn't even know was happening because he was too busy staring at a Linux screen — he co-founded Internet Vikings. In Episode 32 of H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here), Trevis sits down with Rickard Vikström — CEO and co-founder of Internet Vikings, the fastest-growing iGaming and sports betting hosting provider in the United States, now licensed across 25 states. We go all the way back to a 10-year-old kid in Stockholm who became obsessed with computers, through his teenage years deep in Swedish hacker culture, to building a bootstrap company for 15 years before finally taking outside funding to crack the U.S. market — and pulling it off. This is a story about what happens when a self-described tech geek refuses to stop building, even when he has no idea what he's doing. Especially then. In this episode: -Growing up in Sweden and falling in love with computers at age 10 -Being part of the early Swedish hacker culture — and rubbing shoulders with The Pirate Bay founders -His first entrepreneurial swings — from teddy bear travel sites to school TV systems -Getting his first real hosting job at 20 and learning from a mentor who ran one of Europe's largest hosting companies -How a phone call with childhood friend Victor Jerlin led to Internet Vikings in 2008 -Bootstrapping for 15 years with zero outside funding -Co-founding and selling IT-security company Stay Secure to Nasdaq-listed J2 Global in 2014 -The decision to enter the U.S. iGaming market in 2020 — and why it was the scariest and best bet he ever made -600% growth in three years, 25 states, and what's next -Being named European CEO of the Year in Hosting and Gaming's Emerging Leaders 40 Under 40 Connect with Rickard: internetvikings.com LinkedIn: Rickard Vikström Subscribe so you never miss an episode of H.I.G.H. Like if Rickard's story resonated with you. Drop a comment — did you know the infrastructure behind your favorite sportsbook was this interesting? H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) traces the full life journey of today's top operators, founders, and industry builders — from the first spark of curiosity all the way to where they stand in 2026.
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    44 mins
  • Episode 31 - H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) Podcast - Catie Di Stefano

    Episode 31 - H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) Podcast - Catie Di Stefano
    Feb 17 2026
    On this week’s How I Got Here (H.I.G.H.) Podcast, I sit down with Catie Di Stefano of Vegas Kings, one of the most respected creative and digital agencies in the global gaming industry. Catie shares her journey from discovering her passion for digital storytelling to leading high-impact creative work for some of the biggest brands in iGaming and sports. Her story is full of clarity, resilience, and lessons on growth — both personally and professionally. We dig into: How Vegas Kings built its reputation over two decades What makes great creative actually work in gaming and sports Leadership lessons learned in a fast-moving, high-pressure industry The mindset required to thrive in creative strategy today
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    1 hr