On The Subject with Mike Vilardo

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101

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Mike Vilardo knows the student-athlete journey from every angle. After competing with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) and earning All-Ivy League and Academic All-Big Ten honors in baseball, he now serves as Co-founder & CEO of Subject.com, one of the nation's leading providers of accredited online education for student-athletes and schools. On On The Subject, Mike brings together professional athletes, coaches, recruiters, founders, and sports leaders for candid conversations about youth sports, college athletics, recruiting, NIL, leadership, and life after the game. Honest stories. Practical advice. New episodes every week. Follow along: @mikefromsubject • @onthesubjectpodcast • @trysubject ]]>

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60 recent

November 11, 202637 min

How to get recruited to MIT as a Lacrosse Player with MIT Head Coach

What does it take to play lacrosse at MIT? Men’s lacrosse head coach Tyler O’Keefe joins Michael Vilardo to explain what he looks for in recruits, from academics and extracurriculars to the highlight videos and emails that actually get his attention. He shares why he’d rather hear from the student athlete than a parent, how MIT’s admissions process works for recruits, and what families should know before spending another summer chasing showcases. They also discuss the appeal of playing competitive college lacrosse while earning an MIT degree.

November 4, 202623 min

The Biggest NHL Recovery Mistake Revealed by Gary Roberts’ Lead Nutritionist, Sylvie Vilaca

What are NHL players getting wrong about recovery? Mike Vilardo sits down with Sylvie Vilaca, lead nutritionist at Gary Roberts High Performance Training, to uncover how the world's top hockey players fuel their bodies, recover faster, and prepare to perform at the highest level. From what elite athletes eat before games to the biggest nutrition and recovery mistakes young players make, Sylvie breaks down why what happens off the ice can be just as important as what happens on it. The conversation explores the role of nutrition, consistency, and recovery in building stronger, healthier athletes—and what parents and young hockey players can learn from the pros. Whether you're chasing the NHL dream or simply looking to take your game to the next level, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to fuel elite performance.

October 28, 20261 hr 32 min

The Business Behind Your Kid’s NHL Dreams with Dominic Boily & Todd Goehring

Is college hockey becoming a better path to the NHL than going pro? Mike Vilardo welcomes NHL agent Dominic Boily and former professional hockey player and entrepreneur Todd Goehring for the first-ever On The Subject hockey roundtable. The group debates the changing landscape of junior hockey, the CHL vs. USHL, NCAA eligibility rules, and whether players should chase big-name programs or prioritize playing time. They also dive into NIL deals, the transfer portal, recruiting promises, and what it really takes to earn a spot on the ice. From youth hockey to the NHL, expect insider perspectives, honest advice, strong opinions, and plenty of friendly trash talk.

October 21, 20262 hr 21 min

The Truth About Youth Sports with Jason Ferber, Bobby Minor & Adam Cecere

Is youth baseball developing better players—or just better highlight reels? Mike Vilardo welcomes Jason Ferber, Bobby Minor, and former Wake Forest and Penn State standout Adam Cecere for the first-ever On The Subject baseball roundtable. The group debates the business of travel baseball, recruiting myths, chasing velocity over winning games, and how social media is changing the sport. They also dive into NIL, college baseball programs they’d choose for their own kids, and where confidence crosses into showboating. From youth ball to the big leagues, expect honest advice, strong opinions, and plenty of friendly trash talk.

October 14, 20261 hr 5 min

D1 or JUCO? Marc Luino Ranks the Best Paths to Pro Baseball

Should you play college baseball or go straight to the pros? Baseball creator Marc Luino, better known as Giraffe Neck Marc, joins Mike Vilardo to break down the paths to the MLB, share his picks for the best college baseball programs, and reveal which players young athletes should study. Plus, Marc shares how he turned MLB The Show videos into a full-time career in baseball media, what actually makes money on YouTube, and his favorite MLB ballparks.

October 7, 20261 hr 3 min

How to get recruited to Brown University as a Baseball Player with Brown Head Coach [VIDEO]

What does it actually take to get recruited by Brown baseball—and is a 4.0 GPA enough? Brown head baseball coach Frank Holbrook joins Mike Vilardo on On The Subject to break down Ivy League recruiting, from grades, test scores, and course rigor to what gets a player on his recruiting board. He shares what makes a recruiting email stand out, why he prefers full-game film over highlights, and how families should prioritize spending on instruction, strength training, and showcases. Plus, they discuss the transfer portal, the biggest misconception in travel baseball, and building a program that matches Brown’s academic reputation.

September 30, 20261 hr 19 min

The Baseball Recruiting Mistakes That Cost Families Thousands with Bobby Minor [VIDEO]

Is travel baseball helping your kid or just draining your wallet? On this episode of On The Subject, Mike Vilardo sits down with Bobby Minor, the voice behind Chasing Baseball Dreams, for an honest conversation about youth baseball. Drawing on decades of experience as a player, coach, and parent, Bobby breaks down what families should actually spend money on, why chasing exposure too early can backfire, and how to navigate college recruiting without getting caught up in the D1 dream. They discuss overlooked opportunities in JUCO and NAIA, the pressure that drives kids away from the game, and why your son needs a dad—not an agent. It’s a candid look at developing better players, protecting family relationships, and keeping baseball fun.

September 23, 20261 hr 18 min

How To Get Recruited to D1 Ivy League Hockey with Brown Head Coach [VIDEO]

What does it really take to play Division I hockey at an Ivy League school? Brown University head coach Thomas Upton joins Mike Vilardo to break down the path from youth hockey to juniors to college recruiting. He explains what coaches look for at the rink, which recruiting emails get a response, and why players shouldn’t panic if they aren’t being contacted early. They also unpack Ivy League admissions and financial aid, the changing college hockey landscape, and Upton’s plans to build a new culture at Brown.

September 16, 20261 hr 21 min

Former D1 Forward Todd Goehring Reveals the Real Cost of Youth Hockey [VIDEO]

Former D1 Forward Todd Goehring joins Mike Vilardo to reveal what it really costs to raise a hockey player and chase the dream of playing professionally. Todd left home at 16, lived with billet families, played more than 100 junior games, and spent five seasons at Sacred Heart before continuing his career in the ECHL and SPHL. He breaks down where the money in youth hockey actually goes, what minor-league players really earn, and what happens to a young athlete’s education along the way. Todd also shares how he graduated magna cum laude with degrees in finance and economics, built a business while playing professionally, and prepared for life after his final shift. It’s an honest look at the sacrifices behind the hockey dream—and the reality most hockey families are actually living. Hosted by Subject, a K12 curriculum company. Visit www.subject.com for more information.

September 9, 20261 hr 22 min

#91 - How to Get Recruited by MIT Basketball with Head Coach B.J. Dunne [VIDEO]

Eleven months into the job he calls a homecoming, MIT men's basketball head coach BJ Dunn sits down with Subject co-founder and CEO Michael Vilardo in Cambridge to talk about building a program where the recruiting pitch isn't a scholarship — it's a career. Dunne walks through what MIT admissions actually looks for, why his staff can't offer a pre-read or a likely letter and how they build trust with families anyway, and what it means to coach players who never had a standard lowered for them. He also gets specific about the parts recruits rarely hear straight: how to write an email a coach will open, what the first clip of your film should be, when to start lifting, why camps beat skills trainers, and what parents should and shouldn't do. Along the way he tells the story behind the 2012 Final Four team where four of five starters went on to found unicorn companies, explains why he thinks that's no coincidence, and makes the case that at MIT it was never about balancing school and basketball — it's a blend.