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A college choice can change everything. Martell Prayear takes us from Glenville to Baldwin Wallace, breaking down why a small-school environment—where people learn your name and invest in your growth—can become the foundation for a career, a community, and a life you actually want to live.

We dig into the real work of admissions through Martell’s lens: fit over flash, personal attention over volume. He shares how he left healthcare staffing to reclaim balance, added officiating as a flexible second lane, and built a rhythm that protects family time. A simple shared calendar becomes a secret weapon; date nights stay on the schedule; and a five-year-old’s activities slot around a purpose-driven job that still leaves room to breathe.

Then the whistle blows. Martell contrasts football’s Friday night rush with the claustrophobic thrill of a rivalry gym, walking us inside high school playoffs, semipro snaps, and the judgment calls that keep games honest. He’s firm on hecklers and crystal clear about respect: athletes deserve the spotlight, and officials enforce it. We also celebrate leadership done right with BW athletic director Steve Thompson—present, down-to-earth, forward-thinking—and highlight a major move on campus: the launch of women’s flag football, expanding opportunities for women’s varsity sports.

There’s laughter, too. We trade stories about play-by-play booths, the electricity of a hot crowd, and why comedy and officiating share the same core skill: read the room, set the tone, protect the moment. Martell leaves us with a compass we can use anywhere—find something that makes you happy and find someone who makes you happy—and a reminder that the right environment multiplies your effort.

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What if a single decision—book the ticket, join the band, raise your hand—could tilt your life toward courage and curiosity? That’s the energy running through our conversation with Stephanie Nunley, Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment Strategy at Case Western Reserve’s Weatherhead School of Management, who brings world travel, Division I band grit, and people-first admissions wisdom to the table.

We kick off with vivid travel stories that double as life lessons: a five-city sprint through India, a Celtic tour of Dublin and Edinburgh (yes, Steelers flags in Ireland), and a mind-bending Alaska summer where the sun never sets. Each trip rewired routines and sharpened resourcefulness—qualities that power real careers. From there, we dive into the discipline behind Bowling Green’s D1 band: Hell Week heat, rapid-fire halftime shows, and the camaraderie that teaches timing, resilience, and attention to detail. It’s performance training that translates seamlessly to leadership, product launches, and public speaking.

Then we open the hood on admissions strategy at Weatherhead. Stephanie shares how she blends data with empathy, recruiting locally across Ohio and Pennsylvania while engaging global talent for specialized master’s programs in finance, accountancy, supply chain management, and business analytics. The big lesson for applicants: clarity of purpose wins. Tell a real story, show your impact, and engage—because people don’t want to be talked at; they want to be part of something. We even swap notes on crowd work, from comedy clubs to Zoom rooms, and why participation turns passive listeners into invested collaborators.

There’s a dash of paranormal chills—a night in a haunted prison—and a warm, practical challenge to close: try one new thing every year

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A coach who chose roots over rungs. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Case Western Reserve University head football coach Greg Debeljak, whose uncommon path in a nomadic profession shows what happens when you build a program—and a life—around staying power.

We dig into why Division III fit his wiring, how mentors like Tony DiCarlo and Jim Tressel shaped his approach, and what “family culture” looks like when it’s lived for decades. Greg opens up about their international tours to Italy and Greece, where club teams play for love of the game, the NCAA grants extra padded practices, and players come home with stories of the Vatican, Pompeii, and island sunsets that tighten a locker room more than any lift. He breaks down the season’s chaos, from back-to-back lightning delays and a tie at Rowan to finishing a road game at a local high school because the stadium had no lights—then the gut punch of losing star QB Aaron Phillips, the rise of Sam DiTilio, and a four-game win streak that kept them in the title hunt.

Leadership and relationships sit at the center. Greg shares how AD TJ Shelton’s people-first style turns mistakes into solutions, why admissions partner Johnny “Fiddy” Falconi proved invaluable for grad recruits, and what he learned coaching All-American Cam Brown, son of NBA coach Mike Brown. You’ll hear a vivid account of Mike’s visit and his film-backed talk on rebounding from heavy losses—a masterclass in resetting a team’s mindset. We also explore Case Western Reserve’s transformation: bigger enrollment, booming international presence, and a research ecosystem that launches careers across STEM, business, and beyond. Greg’s final message for families is clear: choose your circle with care. Fit is the multiplier that shapes who you become.

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