If you ever wondered what it takes to become the voice behind a sports broadcast, well I have fantastic news. Game Callers with Troy Langstaff talks about just that and more!
Each episode, I’ll sit down with veteran sportscasters, rising stars, or industry insiders to explore their career journeys, unforgettable moments, and how technology is reshaping the way we experience sports.
Whether you're a die-hard fan, aspiring broadcaster, or just love a good story, this podcast gives you an all-access pass to the people who bring the game to life.
Episode #10 of Game Callers features guest Dan Shulman. Dan is the play-by-play broadcaster for Sportsnet’s coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays. In the MLB off-season he also calls games for ESPN on their coverage of NCAA basketball. Dan’s broadcast career has spanned more than 30 years and has taken him to multiple World Series, All-Star Games, Olympics and more. We talked about the early days of his broadcasting career, how to handle high-pressure moments, the evolution of research and prep, and memorable calls from his time covering baseball's biggest moments.
Chapters
(00:40) Introduction and All-Star Break
(02:42) Early Career and First Radio Job
(05:49) Transition to MLB Broadcasting
(08:14) Research and Preparation Now vs the 90's
(13:00) Baseball Statistics/Analytics and Making Sure Fans Can Understand
(16:12) Baseball Play-by-Play and Needing to Fill Time
(19:13) Importance of Sharing Player and Coach Insights During a Broadcast
(22:43) The 2025 World Series and Do You Pre-Write Lines for Big Moments
(24:56) Dan's First World Series in 2011
(27:41) Sounding Like His Son Ben
(30:11) When Did Ben's Interest in Broadcasting Start
(32:23) POV From Inside the Booth and Sportsnet Sharing on Socials During the Postseason
(35:55) Breakdown of Dan's Call on the ALCS Clinching Strikeout
(38:46) Turning Into a Fan While Calling a Game
(40:35) Unteachable Skills in Broadcasting
(45:57) Great Voices of the Game
(48:43) Favourite Calls and Influences
24 Jul 2026
Game Callers Ep #9: Carlo Jimenez
Episode #9 of Game Callers features guest Carlo Jimenez. Carlo just wrapped up his third season as the radio play-by-play voice of the NBA’s LA Clippers. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and a former winner of the Jim Nantz award, handed to the top college student broadcaster. You may have seen some of Carlo’s booth tours, arena food reviews or more on social media, he has a following of over 600,000 followers and subscribers across his social media platforms. We talked about his fast start in broadcasting, winning the Jim Nantz award, content creation, finding his voice and then we rounded it out with a game of Name That Call.
Carlo’s Socials
Instagram - carlo.jimenezz
TikTok - carlothebroadcaster
YouTube - carlothebroadcaster
(01:00) Intro and Off-Season
(03:56) The Journey into Broadcasting
(07:10) Play-by-Play for Everything Including Water Polo
(10:11) Sometimes it is Quality Over Quantity in Broadcasting
(13:34) The Jim Nantz Award Experience
(17:37) Relationship with Fellow Broadcaster Noah Eagle
(19:03) Radio vs TV Broadcasting
(24:55) Finding Your Own Voice
(27:34) Interactions with Players, Staff and Fans
(32:24) Content Creation: The Push to Engage
(36:02) Behind the Scenes: The Chaos of Live Broadcasting
(41:36) The Origin of Carlo's "NYLON" and Mike Breen's BANG!
(46:42) Name That Call
18 Jul 2026
Game Callers Ep #8: Remy Zanotto
Episode #8 of Game Callers features guest Remy Zanotto. Manager, Broadcast and Content. After graduating from Brock University in 2021, Remy continued to work with BrockTV as a broadcaster for their varsity athletics. In 2024 he moved to Victoria, British Columbia for his first season with the Victoria Royals of the WHL. We talked about school, his move to BC, life on the road, the wild west of WHL broadcast booths and their challenges and much more. Enjoy the show!
Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:31) Decision to Attend Brock University
(03:08) Logan Thompson as a Brock Badger
(05:16) Broadcast Goals after University and Finding the Royals Opportunity
(08:21) Moving to Victoria
(11:33) More Than Just Play-by-Play
(17:55) Traveling with the Team and Road Trip Dynamics
(20:10) WHL Schedule and Travel Logistics
(27:02) Broadcasting Challenges and Unique Booth Experiences
(33:05) The Importance of Broadcast Setup
(34:56) Sharing the Broadcasting Experience
(38:59) Preparation and Essential Information
(44:37) Memorable Calls and Personal Growth
(46:31) What Makes a Great Call?
(50:47) Areas of Improvement in Broadcasting
(52:25) Advice for Aspiring Broadcasters
24 Mar 2026
Game Callers Ep #7: Daniella Ponticelli
Episode #7 of Game Callers features guest Daniella Ponticelli. Daniella started her career as a journalist with the Brandon Sun in 2012 and started working in sports in 2018 with various professional leagues in Saskatchewan. She has worked with broadcasters like TSN, Sportsnet, CBC, Amazon Prime, etc. and has covered IIHF events, Olympics, PWHL, NSL and more. We talk about her early career, transition into sports, and experiences at the Olympics, preparing for big moments, dealing with technical challenges and advice for aspiring broadcasters.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(01:36) Daniella's First Job Out of Journalism School
(04:13) Transitioning from News to Sports Broadcasting
(07:40) Covering Tragic Events in Journalism
(13:20) The Shift from News to Sports
(19:16) Adjustments when Calling Different Sports
(22:13) Continuous Improvement in Broadcasting
(26:27) The Experience of Working on Olympic Games
(30:33) Differences Between an Olympic Broadcast Feed and a Home Show
(33:26) Connecting with the Audience Remotely
(35:31) Working Remote and Only Seeing What the Camera Gives You
(38:25) Leaning on Your Colour Commentator
(40:54) Planning and Preparation for Olympic Coverage
(42:30) Working on the PWHL's Inaugural Game
(46:28) Pre-Writing Lines for Big Moments
(49:55) Do You Have a Favourite Call of Your Own
(53:10) What Makes a Great Call Great?
(58:08) Working Towards Trying New Sports
(01:01:12) Daniella's Start in Hockey Broadcasting
(01:09:26) Advice for Aspiring Broadcasters: Empathy and Authenticity
26 Feb 2026
Game Callers Ep #6: Reed Duthie
Episode #6 of Game Callers features guest Reed Duthie. Reed is the director of Broadcasting and Communications for the Brantford Bulldogs. He has 17 years of play-by-play experience covering a wide range of sports including hockey, baseball, football, MMA, roller hockey and more. We talked about the importance of nerves, overcoming challenges during broadcasts, and the value of feedback from fans and colleagues. This episode also includes a few rounds of Name That Call while Reed also shared some of his favourite moments in his career.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(02:05) Auditioning for the Gig while at Mohawk College
(05:46) The Balance Between Nerves and Execution
(06:40) The Importance of Nerves in Broadcasting
(07:56) Finding the Rhythm When You're "Off"
(09:07) Strategies for Overcoming Mid-Game Challenges
(10:19) Reed's Start with Cable 14
(12:20) Reed's First Live Soccer Broadcast
(14:30) Troy's First Live Broadcast (and mistake)
(15:54) Reed's First TIme Hosting an AHL Game
(18:56) Feedback and How to Use it to Improve Your Call and the Broadcast
(24:42) Critiquing Yourself and What to Look For
(29:23) The Connection Between Wrestling and Commentary
(31:00) Do You Sit or Stand and How it Can Affect Your Call
(32:35) Bruins Broadcasting Influences
(36:16) Influences and Inspirations in Broadcasting
(38:39) Name That Call #1
(41:41) Name That Call #2
(43:29) Name That Call #3
(46:33) Reed's Favourite Days in the Booth
(51:17) Quick Fire Questions
(57:59) Understanding Your Value as a Broadcaster
3 Feb 2026
Game Callers Ep #5: Maki Jenner
Episode #5 of Game Callers features guest Maki Jenner. Maki, the communications manager for the Halifax Thunderbirds, talks about her journey from a lacrosse player to broadcaster. She discusses her early influences, the birth of her Lax Facts series, and her experience working with one of Canada’s premier sports broadcasters, TSN. She also shares insights on breaking into new sports and the significance of inspiring the next generation of female broadcasters.
(1:04) History of Lacrosse in the Jenner Family
(3:27) Maki's Uncle Teddy and his Broadcasting Influence
(6:17) What About the Shadowing Experience with Him Hooked You?
(8:49) The Birth of Lax Facts and Early On-Camera Experiences
(13:39) On-Camera Improvements Since Lax-Facts
(16:44) Opportunity with the Halifax Thunderbirds
(23:38) First Woman to do Colour Commentary on an NLL Game
(27:31) What Does a TSN Game Day Look Like
(29:44) Teamwork and Building the Production
(33:02) First Go at Hockey Broadcasting
(35:13) Interviewing Young Athletes
(38:00) Preparation for New Broadcasts
(41:31) Being Named a Finalist for the Tom Borrelli Award
(46:00) Looking Forward to First NLL PxP Game
(48:18) First Play-by-Play Experience
(54:41) What Steps do You Take to Get Better
(55:24) What's Something You Wish You Knew Before Going on TV for the First Time
(56:04) Lacrosse Trivia
11 Dec 2025
Game Callers Ep #4: Jack Moore
Episode #4 of Game Callers features guest Jack Moore. Jack is a dual threat play-by-play broadcaster who covers the OHL’s Oshawa Generals and the OUA’s Laurier Golden Hawks Football team. We talked about his experience covering football, working alongside Mark Lee, radio broadcasting vs television productions, preparing notes and more!
Chapters
(01:11) The Origin of 'Mad Jack'
(03:35) Football Jersey Numbers
(05:55) Jack's Laurier Football Background
(09:18) End of Football Season into Hockey
(10:43) Working with Mark Lee
(11:07) When Mark had to Fill in for Jack
(12:45) Working alongside Mark
(16:32) TV vs Radio Broadcasting
(17:47) Game Day Preparation and Notes
(20:45) Notes and Preparation can be Never Ending
(26:34) Navigating the Play-by-Play Challenges
(29:16) Creating Intermission Content for Radio
(32:32) Name That Call
(33:47) The Evolution of Joe Buck
(38:02) Name That Call (cont'd)
(44:45) Still Improving During COVID
(47:33) Most Electric Moment in the Booth
(49:07) Something You Wish You Knew When You First Started
(51:11) Three Must Have Items in the Booth
21 Nov 2025
Game Callers Ep #3: Dylan Baker
Episode #3 of Game Callers features guest Dylan Baker. Dylan is a young broadcaster well beyond his years when it comes to professionalism and maturity. Already making his mark on the OHL with the Guelph Storm, we talked about what it took for him to get his dream role, adjusting to radio broadcasting, the value of feedback, preparation, meeting some broadcast legends and more!
Chapters
00:00 Intro01:30 Early Broadcasting Start04:10 Challenges when first starting07:25 Committing to the Career09:30 Getting a Foot in the Door with the CHL14:26 Getting the Job with the Guelph Storm16:51 Balancing Academics and Work18:51 Getting Feedback23:33 Learning About Working in Radio27:37 Name That Call30:04 Meeting Chris Cuthbert32:33 No More Entry Interviews for TMU Sport Media34:47 Name That Call (cont'd)37:57 Dylan's Favourite Broadcasters40:47 Widening the Vocabulary46:09 Final Game with Komoka48:09 Must Have Items in the Booth51:24 How we Organize Our Notes
6 Nov 2025
Game Callers Ep #2: Mavs Gillis
Episode #2 of Game Callers features guest Mavs Gillis. Mavs and Troy worked together in Halifax at Eastlink Community TV for a couple of years as sports producers. In his own words, Mavs is the first guy to work a Nova Scotia to Tokyo to Nova Scotia schedule since Masahiro Chono in 1988. Mavs has evolved from a PA announcer with an iPod touch to being a Swiss army knife of a sports producer. We'll talk about Mavs' love for wrestling, the importance of teamwork on productions, his YouTube channel and more.
Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:32) Start of the Eastlink Sports Season
(03:06) Double Duty and Making Up For Small Crews
(07:21) Mavs' Broadcasting Journey
(11:06) The Love for Wrestling and Storytelling
(12:32) Commentating Wrestling in Japan
(22:41) Creative Freedom at Eastlink
(32:31) Mavs Career Highlights
(35:23) Going with the Flow and On-Air Mistakes
(39:44) Mavs' YouTube - Livin' the Gimmick
22 Oct 2025
Game Callers Ep #1: Dan Malta
Episode #1 of Game Callers features guest Dan Malta. Dan is a broadcast pro who has been working at YourTV Peterborough for 10 years. He is a graduate of the College of Sports Media in Toronto and has recently been named the PxP voice for the Oshawa FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League.
We’ll talk about the start to the Peterborough Petes season, his new opportunity with the FireWolves, some of his career highlights, and some challenges that we’ve faced on productions.
22 Oct 2025
Introducing Game Callers with Troy Langstaff
Host Troy Langstaff welcomes you to the podcast and gives you a rundown of what to expect each episode of Game Callers
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