The CW Pod
The CW Pod
Podcast Description
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.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Explores a variety of topics including business, leadership, family dynamics, sports culture, and societal reflections, with episodes such as navigating NIL in college sports, the dynamics of Iowa basketball, motherhood and gift-giving, and discussions on UFOs, all while providing a small-town perspective and relatable insights.

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.
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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