After the Comma

Division winners get home playoff games--even when their records don't stack up. On this Fix it Friday episode of After the Comma, we did into the punctuation that keeps the NFL playoff system intact despite its flaws. Why are geography and tradition rewarded over performance? And what fallacies allow the league to defend it every year?

We break down the logic behind division-based seeding, expose where it falls apart, and explore whether reseeding by record would actually fix the problem--or break something else. Because when an elite team is forced on the road while a weaker division...

Strength used to be about what we could lift.

Then life added a comma.

In this episode, I reflect on how becoming a dad reshaped my definition of strength--from numbers and noise to presence, patience, and what we quietly carry for our kids. This is a conversation about fatherhood, emotional weight, and the kind of strength that doesn't show up on a scoreboard--but mattes most.

What's after your comma?

January doesn't ask how you're doing--it just expects you to keep going.

This episode explores the quiet letdown after the holidays: when the lights come down, the buffer disappears, and real life gets loud again. With a little humor and honesty, there's an emotional hangover no one names, especially for men an dads and why this season isn't about pressure--it's about anchors, awareness, and grace.

Because the pause after the holidays isn't failure. It's part of the sentence. What's after your comma?

January doesn't need more pressure--it needs a little curosity.

This episode is a reminder that a new year isn't about fixing yourself or becoming somone new. It's about courage, possibility, and taking one small step forward. Life isn't one clean sentence--it's everything that comes after the comma.

What's after yours?

What if we told you the Founding Fathers accidentally gave us the most inconvenient holiday of all time? In this episode, host Tim Romanello declares a bold new tradition: Independence Weekend—three glorious days of grilled meats, questionable fireworks, and true freedom from your inbox.

We're digging into history (did you know July 4th isn't the actual signing day?), tossing in hot facts like hot dogs on a grill, and reimagining what summer in America should really feel like. It's part cookout philosophy, part patriotic pep talk, and part reminder that what comes after your name—after your...

What if life didn't hand you all the answers at once--but instead, taught you one lesson each year? In this episode, I'm taking you on a journey through 44 years of my life--sharing one thing I've learned every single year. From the innocence of childhood to the complexity of adulthood, these lessons are a mix of hard truths, funny moments, and quiet wisdom. Whether you're just starting out or deep into your own journey, these reflections might just remind you that growth is always possible, no matter your age.

So grab your headphones, and join me for a...

June 17th is National Mascot Day--and we're going full pom-poms and chaos. In this episode, I put you into metaphorical foam suits and take you deeper into the wild world of sports mascots: the oversized, over-caffeinated, and often underappreciated legends who dance, tumble, and sometimes fight their way into our hearts.

From the sweaty grind inside the costume to mascot brawls, this episode taps the funny, high-energy tribute of the real MVPs of game day.

Warning: You may laugh causing you to spit out your stadium nachos.

We're chefs. W're chauffeurs. We're bedtime enforcers and backyard referees. We react like it's the Super Bowl when someone spills juice on the couch. And we absolutley do not know where the 'real scissors' are.

This Father's Day on After the Comma, we're celebrating the world's most confusing and rewarding job: being a dad. From overreacting to scraped knees to crushing the grill game, this episode is for every guy out there who's ever yelled, 'who touched the thermostat?!' There's plenty of dad jokes, puns and wordplay packed in this episode of light, lovable and laughably...

In this week's caffeinated commentary, I take a full-court press approach to The NBA Finals--minus the star worship. Why does basketball's biggest stage feel more like a Tuesday night rerun? The obsession with superstars and big markets needs a challenge from the return of the soul of the sport: identity, chemistry, and storylines that actually mean someting. From nostalgia-fueled takes on the 90s grit to today's Netflix-style team-building, this episode questions whether the league has traded substance for spectacle. Pour your coffee, lace up, and let's talk hoops--after the comma--because this fella doesn't need stars or big markets to...

What if your dinner didn't come from your fridge...but rolled right down yur street? In this deliciously ridiculous episode, I explore the week's idea (and revolutionary idea) of taco trucks cruising neighborhoods like ice cream trucks. Why stop at dessert when we could have sizling carne asada and fresh guac on demand?

Join me as I serve up almost 15 minutes of an attempt at humor, community spirit, and just a pinch of salsa-fueled activism. From mariachi jingles to tortilla diplomacy, I'd like to build a case for tacos as the next great American tradition.

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This Memorial Day...before the cookouts, the beach, and the three-day weekend vibes...I'm inviting you to pause. In this special episode, we'll take 12 minutes to reflect on the real meaning of Memorial Day--to honor the brave men and women who gave everything for our freedom. We'll talk about sacrific, legacy, and the power of one shared moment at 3:00 PM--a minute of silence to remember thoes we've lost. This one's about gratitude. So take a breath. Hit play. And join me in remembering why this day matters.

Current right fielder Briella Sendele joins After the Comma for a quick cup. This Hononegah, Roscoe, IL nursing enthusiast, talks God, family, and vacation.

Regarded as the "mayor" of Rockford for his six-degrees of Kevin Bacon to Rockford, Illinois, the Rockford native Darryl Watkins joins the show. We talk basketball, his purpose as head coach of Rock Valley College's women's basketball team, life as a twin dad and his daily motivation.

You don't leave jobs. You leave people. Five Memorial Day Weekends later, I want to celebrate my "Professional Posse". There's nothing average about this crew, and a good circle, they'll help you find smarter ways to work, create new value and elevate your experience.

From police officer to 7x national champion softball assistant, DJ Johnson is headed to the grand canyon of retirements.

From student ambassador to commencement speaker, Jaden Newson crosses lines. The contageous personality has helped this former student-athlete-turned-coach to keep striving for more (a degree in Education), including her main purpose of significantly impacting the people around her.

From pineapple truckdriver to podcasting, it's the origin story of After the Comma.