You know Chris Williams from Cyclone Fanatic and Iowa Everywhere, but in this interview-based program Chris brings your favorite sidebar content in a different light. With his guests, Chris will deep dive into his many eclectic passions, including business, leadership, family, small-town soul, sports, and more.
CW Pod: REACTION - Jared Benko Named Iowa State AD! What’s Next for the Cyclones?
Iowa State has hired Jared Benko as its next athletic director. Chris Williams is joined by Jake Brend and Levi Stevenson for an in-depth reaction to the hire, the challenges facing Cyclone Athletics, and what Benko’s leadership could mean for the next era in Ames.
The crew examines Benko’s background at Auburn and Georgia Southern, his fundraising experience, and the growing importance of NIL, revenue sharing, and financial strategy in college athletics. They also discuss the legacy of Jamie Pollard, the role of Iowa State President David Cook, and why the decisions made now could shape the program for decades.
Plus, the guys debate the proposed expansion of the College Football Playoff, including what a larger field could mean for Iowa State and other programs outside the sport’s traditional powerhouses. They also look at the Week 7 college football landscape before wrapping up with some lighter conversation.
Watch the CW Pod weekly on Iowa Everywhere.
00:00 Intro
03:40 Benko’s Fundraising Background and NIL Experience
10:10 Replacing Jamie Pollard: The Challenges Facing Iowa State
18:15 Iowa State’s Future, Leadership and Financial Priorities
26:20 What Benko Needs to Do to Connect With Cyclone Fans
35:30 Fundraising, Fan Support and Building Revenue
43:20 College Football Playoff Expansion: Who Benefits?
54:30 Week 7 Matchups and the Big 12’s Playoff Chances
1:04:10 Could a Bigger Playoff Change Iowa State’s Future?
1:12:20 Who Should Decide the Playoff Field?
1:17:30 Closing Conversation
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13 Oct 2026
CW Pod: CEO Reynolds Cramer on How Fareway Stays Different
How has Fareway built a loyal following across Iowa and the Midwest? Fareway CEO Reynolds Cramer joins Chris Williams on the CW Pod to discuss the company’s approach to grocery shopping, food prices, customer service, technology, and community.
Cramer shares the story behind Fareway’s growth, what sets the grocery chain apart from its competitors, and why relationships with customers and local communities remain so important. The conversation also covers online grocery shopping, AI, changing consumer attitudes toward food and health, and the challenges facing the grocery industry.
Plus, Cramer discusses Fareway’s involvement with NIL, the growth of the Cyclones’ athletic programs, and his outlook as a longtime Minnesota Vikings fan.
CW Pod weekly on Iowa Everywhere.
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6 Oct 2026
CW Pod: Iowa State’s NEXT 20 Years & AI Takes Over College Sports
Jamie Pollard is retiring as Iowa State’s athletic director after more than 20 years. What comes next for Iowa State Athletics? Chris Williams looks at Pollard’s legacy, the future of the Cyclones, Matt Campbell’s departure, Jimmy Rogers, NIL, revenue, and what Iowa State needs to do to compete in the next 20 years.
Then, CW tackles the growing use of AI in college athletics. Washington State Athletics is partnering with FanWord to create sports content and game recaps, raising a bigger question: how much should AI be involved in college sports journalism?
What does this mean for journalism students? Where does human storytelling fit in? And can college athletics become so focused on revenue that it loses sight of its fans, students and broader mission?
Chris Williams breaks down Iowa State’s future, the changing college sports landscape, and the complicated role AI could play in athletics on the CW Pod from Iowa Everywhere.
00:00 Intro + Jamie Pollard’s Legacy
02:12 The Next 20 Years of Iowa State Athletics
06:20 What Jamie Pollard Got RIGHT
08:00 Who Should Be Iowa State’s Next Athletic Director?
10:00 Iowa State’s Biggest Challenge: Money
13:08 What Happens to Iowa State’s Coaches?
15:00 Matt Campbell, Jimmy Rogers & Iowa State’s Future
17:00 Can Iowa State Compete in the New Era of College Sports?
19:27 Iowa State’s Moneyball Approach
21:25 Washington State Is Using AI for Sports Content
22:35 What Does AI Mean for Journalism Students?
24:20 Where Should AI Fit in College Athletics?
26:48 Who Actually Owns AI-Generated Sports Content?
28:03 Can AI Replace Human Sports Writers?
30:00 The Problem With AI-Generated Content
31:02 Why College Sports Still Needs Human Storytelling
32:36 AI, Athletics & the Future of Journalism
34:35 College Sports Can’t Be ONLY About Money
36:19 Final Thoughts
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Who has been a guest on The CW Pod
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Greg Cronin
Paul Shirley
Mackenzie Eddie
Nate Boulton
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,404,494
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
37
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
32
Contact The CW Pod
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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