podcasts
STM Daily News Podcast Episode 2: Dreambreaker & Phoenix Women’s Expo
In Episode 2 of the STM Daily News Podcast, we explore “Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story,” a documentary highlighting pickleball’s rise, and recap the Phoenix Women’s Expo, showcasing community empowerment and collaboration among women entrepreneurs, connecting bold endeavors in sports and business.
Last Updated on November 7, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Welcome back to the STM Daily News Podcast! In Episode 2, we’re diving into two incredible stories that showcase the power of community, determination, and building something from the ground up. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/episodes/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-phoenix-womens-expo
What’s in This Episode
Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story
We’re talking about the documentary that’s got everyone buzzing. Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story premiered on truTV and Max back in April, and it’s so much more than a sports film.
Director Ashley Underwood takes us inside the explosive rise of pickleball through the lens of Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa’s journey. But here’s what makes it fascinating—it’s not just about the game. It’s about billionaire rivalries, the business of professional sports, and how a backyard pastime became a multi-billion-dollar industry practically overnight.
The documentary is raw, authentic, and pulls no punches. If you’re curious about what’s really happening behind the scenes in one of America’s fastest-growing sports, this is essential viewing.
Stream it now on Max or truTV.
Phoenix Women’s Expo 2025
We’re also recapping the Phoenix Women’s Expo from last September, and wow—what an event. Hundreds of women entrepreneurs, business owners, and aspiring leaders gathered right here in the Valley to connect, learn, and support each other.
From inspiring keynote speakers to hands-on workshops covering everything from social media strategy to financial planning, the expo was a masterclass in empowerment and collaboration. The energy in that room was electric, and the connections made will ripple through our community for years to come.
If you missed it, don’t worry—we break down the highlights and why events like this matter for Phoenix’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Common Thread
What connects a pickleball documentary and a women’s business expo? More than you’d think. Both stories are about people who didn’t wait for permission, who built their own platforms, and who understood that community is the foundation of success.
Whether it’s Mike Sleeves creating his voice in pickleball or women entrepreneurs supporting each other’s growth, the message is clear: the best stories are happening right now, in real time, in our own communities.
Listen Now
Episode 2 of the STM Daily News Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear what you think—drop us a message on social media or visit us at TNC.network.
Featured in this episode:
- Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story – A Closer Look
- Debbie Gibson Inspires at the 2025 Arizona Ultimate Women’s Expo
More from STM Daily News:
Produced by TNC Network in Phoenix, Arizona. Telling the stories that matter in our community.
STM Daily News is a multifaceted podcast that explores a wide range of topics, from life and consumer issues to the latest in food and beverage trends. Our discussions dive into the realms of science, covering everything from space and Earth to nature, artificial intelligence, and astronomy. We also celebrate the amateur sports scene, highlighting local athletes and events, including our special segment on senior Pickleball, where we report on the latest happenings in this exciting community. With our diverse content, STM Daily News aims to inform, entertain, and engage listeners, providing a comprehensive look at the issues that matter most in our daily lives. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/
Jay Mohr’s long-running podcast is expanding to FAST television through an exclusive LG Channels launch in the U.S. and Canada.
Cineverse has announced the launch of Mohr Stories, a new free ad-supported streaming television channel built around comedian Jay Mohr’s long-running podcast. Unveiled during LG Electronics and LG Ad Solutions’ 2026 IAB NewFronts presentation, the channel will be available exclusively through LG Channels on LG TVs in the United States and Canada.
The new channel will feature weekly episodes alongside more than 100 hours of library content, giving the show a larger footprint in the growing FAST market. Hosted by Mohr, the series includes conversations with guests from comedy, film, sports, music, and television, including Ron Funches, Jay Leno, Joe Mantegna, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Pollak, Andy Richter, George Wallace, Flavor Flav, Michael Eric Dyson, Seth Rollins, Gene Simmons, Billy Gibbons, Byron Scott, and Jeanie Buss.
The launch is notable not only because of the talent involved, but because it reflects a broader shift in how podcast brands are being distributed. What once lived primarily as an audio product is now being packaged as a 24/7 streaming destination, built for connected TV audiences and ad-supported discovery.
Cineverse said Mohr Stories will continue to be available as a podcast through the WITZ Podcast Network, a partnership between Cineverse and The Stand Group. The company also pointed to strong audience momentum after the show expanded into video, saying consumption hours on Spotify rose 50% month over month and downloads increased 34% quarter over quarter.
That growth aligns with wider audience behavior. In the U.S., more than 150 million people listen to podcasts every month, and an increasing share of those consumers are also watching podcast content on video platforms. As those habits continue to evolve, media companies are looking for ways to extend proven shows beyond their original format.
For LG Channels, the addition of Mohr Stories strengthens a FAST lineup built around free, accessible programming across a wide range of genres. For Cineverse, it underscores a strategy centered on expanding the reach and value of entertainment properties across multiple platforms.
The result is more than a new celebrity-led channel. It is another example of how streaming, podcasting, and digital video are converging into a more flexible content ecosystem—one where recognizable brands can move fluidly from audio feeds to connected television.
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Cineverse Partners With VA Media to Expand YouTube Monetization Strategy
Cineverse has announced a strategic partnership with VA Media to accelerate growth and digital monetization across its expanding portfolio of fandom-focused YouTube channels.
The agreement will bring a YouTube-first strategy to Cineverse’s channel network, including longform and shortform content planning, channel optimization, financial modeling, and broader monetization support. The partnership will begin with Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, which Cineverse identified as its top revenue-generating YouTube channel.
Cineverse said its owned or operated YouTube channels currently account for more than 10 million subscribers and over 200 million video views. The company’s digital portfolio spans genres including horror, anime, romance, indie film, Asian cinema, and other fandom-driven categories.
VA Media, which specializes in YouTube strategy and social video monetization, will work with Cineverse to improve discoverability, strengthen channel performance, and unlock new revenue opportunities across YouTube and adjacent platforms.
The partnership reflects the growing role of YouTube as a core distribution and monetization channel for premium entertainment content.
For more information, visit Cineverse.
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STM Daily News’ Entertainment section delivers the latest on movies, television, music, pop culture, events, and industry buzz. From breaking news and trending stories to feature coverage and community-centered entertainment reporting, it keeps readers connected to what’s happening on screen, on stage, and beyond.
Unlikely Collaborators is bringing astrophysicist Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger to Santa Monica for a conversation centered on one of science’s most enduring questions: Are we alone in the universe? The event, part of the organization’s Spark Salon series, took place on March 17 at 7:00 p.m. PT and was offered both in person and via livestream.
Kaltenegger, founding director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University and a professor of astronomy, is widely recognized for her work on habitable exoplanets and the search for detectable signs of life beyond Earth. Her talk focused not only on the science of planet hunting, but also on the assumptions people bring to questions about life, habitability, and reality itself.
According to the event announcement, the discussion examined how scientists interpret data from distant worlds and asked broader questions about what counts as life, what makes a planet habitable, and how human perspective can shape discovery. The program also highlighted how the search for life beyond Earth can challenge long-held ideas about what is normal, possible, and even alive.
The evening included a reception, the main program, and a book signing. In-person guests also received a complimentary copy of Kaltenegger’s book, Alien Earths: The New Science for Planet Hunting in the Cosmos.
Unlikely Collaborators, founded by Elizabeth R. Koch, describes itself as a nonprofit focused on helping people better understand themselves and the world through its Perception Box framework. The Spark Salon series regularly brings together researchers, artists, and thought leaders for conversations designed to challenge perspective and encourage reflection.
Related Links
- Unlikely Collaborators official website
- Event details: Are We Alone in the Universe?
- Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger’s book: Alien Earths: The New Science for Planet Hunting in the Cosmos
- Cornell profile: Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger
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Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
