As a 1984 graduate of the naval academy and a sports fanatic, Karl Darden created the Navy Sports Central Podcast where he tells amazing sports stories born out the core values of the military and illustrates why these athletes perform well not just in sports but in the game of life. This is a conversation on sports and American values that you won’t want to miss.
Key Points, Top Takeaways and Memorable Quotes -
“Well I think that first of all, to go there, you have to have some baseline level of patriotism.” 4:56
“We want top notch people just like anybody else, just like any other organization, and it’s not gonna thrive unless we have those people.” 9:25
“I mean, the Naval Academy has one of the best Glee Club and Choirs in the Country.” 21:32
“The Naval Academy is a hard place to be, but a great place to be from!” - Karl quoting Anonymous @ 23:56
“They worked just as hard as the others, right, in their respective disciplines to be as good as they can be and they are elite at that level. It’s just that nobody knows about it.” 33:51
“Stay connected to the game, even if you’re just playing with your buddies at the park or whatever.” 38:43
“Take off the blinders and see what’s going on around you a little bit more.” 48:09
Guest Bio -
Karl is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a 20 year veteran, a former helicopter pilot, and a chronic Navy Sports fan.
His enthusiasm for all Navy Sports led him to create the Navy Sports Nation blog in January 2020. One year later, Karl started Navy Sports Central, which is the Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation. Typical guests have included Navy coaches, former Navy athletes, and podcasters who cover sports for teams that Navy might happen to play during the year.
The athletes who compete at the Academy are the country's best and brightest, who will later go on to serve in the Navy or Marine Corps. They consistently perform at an elite level despite all of their other competing demands.
Karl’s goal is to shine a light on these athletes as best he can and tell their stories.
Show Notes -
0:00 - WIMTS Podcast Intro
0:32 - Introducing Karl Darden
0:53 - Welcome to Karl
1:33 - Journey to the Naval Academy
4:36 - Personality & Character Strengths for Military Academies
6:23 - Messaging for Next Generation & Naval Academy Prospects
10:30 - How Old are Your Kids?
11:13 - Participation in Sports is a Difference Maker in Life
16:35 - How is the Athlete Experience Different at the Naval Academy?
19:39 - What Kind of Support Do Cadets Receive During the First Year or Two?
22:03 - BB Commercial
22:12 - Learning How to Ask for Help
23:00 - Positives You Gain from the Challenges at the Naval Academy
25:54 - The Navy Sports Nation Blog Came Before the Podcast
29:40 - Navy Sports Central Podcast
32:55 - Pride in Untelevised Sports & Naval Academy Athletes
36:02 - Parenting Kid Athletes & Staying Connected to the Game
41:14 - Stories on the Navy Sports Scene
47:11 - One Piece of Advice to Your Younger Self
50:09 - Where Can People Connect with You?
50:48 - Favorite Naval Academy Sports Story
53:58 - Thank You
54:45 - WIMTS Podcast Closing
Links & Where to Find Karl -
Blog: The Navy Sports Nation
Podcast: Navy Sports Central
IG - @karldnavy84 ; @navysportsnation
Twitter - @naVsportsnation