Best Placement Theory Podcasts (2025)

1
# 372 The Red Car Theory (Re-Cast) 34:54

18d ago34:54

34:54

1
Who’s Behind the Raids? A Mystery in Marion (Part Two) 42:03

3d ago42:03

42:03

A TV reporter from Kansas City hears about the brazen newspaper raids over in Marion. Her interest is piqued by the fact that the police chief who oversaw the raids had recently left Kansas City PD. So she heads to Marion to see what she can find out. And what she finds…is basically a Bravo reality series, small-town prairie style. Part One of this…

1
# 374 Your Business Will Never Outgrow Your Self-Image 48:47

4d ago48:47

48:47

1
How to Disaster-Proof "I Do": Kiki Astor's Best Wedding Etiquette Tips 37:39

6d ago37:39

37:39

Planning a wedding? Attending one? Praying your drunk uncle doesn’t grab the mic during the toasts? You’ve come to the right place. In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we unpack the unspoken rules and social slip-ups that can turn a dream wedding into a diamond-studded disaster. Whether you’re the blushing bride, the groom with op…

1
Who's Behind the Raids? A Mystery in Marion (Part One) 30:14

10d ago30:14

30:14

On a Friday morning in rural Kansas, the publisher of a tiny local newspaper hears a knock at the door. It’s the police—with a search warrant. Within minutes, they’re inside his home, seizing his electronics. At the same time, officers are raiding his newsroom, confiscating computers and phones. No subpoena. No warning. And, according to legal expe…

1
# 373 Why Prospects Don't Actually Want Recruitment 45:47

11d ago45:47

45:47

1
No Trust Fund, No Problem: How to summer like an Astor on any budget 35:43

13d ago35:43

35:43

In this sun-soaked episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we unpack the storied tradition of “summering” in old money circles—from Newport to Nantucket, the Hamptons to the Highlands. Kiki dives into the social history behind the season: why certain destinations became icons of understated wealth, how WASPs made “going to the country” a ritu…

1
Evals from the Gym Owner Perspective 21:05

13d ago21:05

21:05

Jill talks about how to balance priorities when doing evaluations and placing athletes on teams.By Jill Markley

1
The Fight for Your Attention with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes 1:14:22

17d ago1:14:22

1:14:22

MSNBC host Chris Hayes discusses his book The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource, and reckons with his own culpability in the corruption and commercialization of our attention. Thanks to “Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso” for sharing this interview with us. “Question Everything” is a production of KCRW and Placement T…

1
Forks, Fermented Fish, and Faux Pas: Etiquette and Table Manners for the Old Money Set 51:47

20d ago51:47

51:47

1
OCS vs United Scoring Systems 19:40

20d ago19:40

19:40

Supernatural All Stars switched from the United scoring system to the Open Championship Series(OCS) three years ago. Jill discusses the reasons why she switched and why OCS is better for her gym.By Jill Markley

1
The Hunt for a Journalist’s Killer 37:21

24d ago37:21

37:21

A group of reporters recently uncovered a closely held secret: the identity of the Israeli soldier who shot and killed renowned veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022. This is the story of how they figured it out. Sign up for our newsletter: www.kcrw.com/questioneverything You can watch the documentary "Who Killed Shireen?" on Zeteo. “Questio…

1
# 371 The #1 Thing Clients Buy: CERTAINTY 47:36

25d ago47:36

47:36

1
Monogram Etiquette, Style, Tradition, and Rules: old money preppy, or tacky? 29:59

27d ago29:59

29:59

In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we tackle the timeless, tasteful, and occasionally tacky world of monograms. From heirloom linens to luggage tags, monogramming is the original quiet luxury flex—if you know how to do it right. Kiki explores the history of monograms, their role in old money culture, and the subtle etiquette rule…

1
The Let Them Theory 19:01

27d ago19:01

19:01

Jill talks about the Let Them Theory and how it can be applied by gym owners, athletes and parents. This is a great tool to help people accept anything outside of their control and to move forward in a positive, constructive way. Link to the Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins: https://www.melrobbins.com/book/the-let-them-theory/…

1
# 370 From Transactions to Trust Building a Sustainable Recruitment Business 35:55

1M ago35:55

35:55

1
The old money photography secrets Slim Aarons knew (and you may not) 51:56

1M ago51:56

51:56

Today, we’re turning our lens—quite literally—toward the fascinating intersection of photography and old money. From the earliest daguerreotypes in stiff collars to the poolside glamour captured by Slim Aarons, photography has always been a mirror, revealing not just what we look like—but who we *think* we are. We’ll begin with a little history: ho…

1
Inside All-Star Open Houses 18:17

1M ago18:17

18:17

Jill discusses Open Houses: Why should a gym run an open house? Why should prospective cheerleaders go to one? What are the benefits from everyone's perspective.By Jill Markley

1
# 369 (Re-Cast): Start StrongThe Recruitment Business Owner's Guide to Crushing 2025 21:08

1M ago21:08

21:08

1
From the Fringe Web to Real Life: How Seriously Should We Be Taking Conspiracy Theories? 28:36

1M ago28:36

28:36

Back in December, we did an episode about Pyrra, an AI-powered software that tracks sifts through the far corners of the internet – in some places you probably haven’t even heard of – to see what narratives are emerging from the people who post there. A lot of these are conspiracy theories, and also violent threats. This week, we check back in with…

1
Table for one, please: the lost art of intentional, elegant solitude 34:17

1M ago34:17

34:17

In this elegantly introspective episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, etiquette expert and romance author Kiki explores the timeless allure and quiet power of solitude. From the romance novel heroine brooding on a windswept terrace to the old money doyenne dining solo in a tucked-away bistro, being alone is not a condition to be pitied—it’s…

1
Evals - Preparation & Placement & Crossovers 29:28

1M ago29:28

29:28

Jill talks about how athletes should decide on being Prep vs Elite, and how to prepare for evaluations.By Jill Markley

1
Rümeysa Öztürk is Locked Up for an Op-ed: An Urgent Summit with the Student Newspaper that Published It 1:19:34

2M ago1:19:34

1:19:34

Where better to huddle up and discuss what to do about Rümeysa Öztürk and the chilling effect that is happening in journalism than on campus at Tufts University with the student journalists at The Tufts Daily? This week Brian and Question Everything co-host a live event with the editor-in-chief and associate editor from The Tufts Daily – Arghya Tha…

1
Heritage or hype? The true value of luxury handbags in 2025: an old money perspective 48:27

2M ago48:27

48:27

In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we dive into the true value of luxury goods—especially designer handbags—amid a shifting global economy, social media overexposure, and growing transparency about where and how these so-called “heritage pieces” are actually made. In the age of the Wirkin, or Walmart Birkin, and in the wake of th…

1
Scholarships, Team Placements 24:09

2M ago24:09

24:09

Jill talks about her process for awarding scholarships, and then goes on to discuss how she decides on team placements.By Jill Markley

1
Pounding Beers in a Shed, and Other Dispatches from the War on Free Speech 27:49

2M ago27:49

27:49

Last episode we discussed the campaign to overturn the Supreme Court decision that protects reporters’ ability to criticize and investigate people in power. But even with that decision still in place, reporter David Enrich has discovered a shocking wave of legal attacks that is being waged on journalists in towns and cities across the country. Thes…

1
Freedom of the press is great, until you're the target 41:26

2M ago41:26

41:26

For decades, a Supreme Court decision called New York Times vs Sullivan was widely beloved by people across the political spectrum. Hailed as a decision that gives the first amendment teeth and sets our country apart, as a place that prizes free speech. But recently, right under our noses, some of the same people who once sang Times v Sullivan's pr…

1
# 368 The Invisible Anchor: Why Recruitment Businesses Stay Stuck 50:04

2M ago50:04

50:04

1
Team Naming Themes, Athlete Evals 22:07

2M ago22:07

22:07

Jill discusses themes for naming teams. Her gym chooses a different theme each season rather than having team names carry over season after season. Why does she do this? Listen to find out. Jill also talks about why she believes it is important to do annual evaluations for all athletes.By Jill Markley

1
The masterpiece Prince documentary Netflix won’t let you see. 48:42

2M ago48:42

48:42

The best documentary filmmaker in America spent nearly five years of his life making a nine-hour masterpiece for Netflix. It will never see the light of day. After a nasty estate battle, the series won't be released. No one will ever see it. In his first sit-down interview about this scandal, the filmmaker Ezra Edelman seeks catharsis – if not clos…

1
# 367 Why Vulnerability is Key to Professional Success and Making More Placements 30:21

2M ago30:21

30:21

1
The Running Game 15:10

2M ago15:10

15:10

Jill tells a story about one of her favorite team-building games and how it had a transformative effect on one of her teams, and particularly on one of her athletes, this season.By Jill Markley

1
# 366 Why Hiring Managers See Recruitment as HIGH RISK Right Now and What to Do About It 44:14

2M ago44:14

44:14

1
Social skills hacks that actually work: Etiquette vs social anxiety 33:42

2M ago33:42

33:42

If you suffer from social anxiety, you might think that the old money, high society types you see effortlessly navigayting cocktail parties were simply born with a socializing superpower, or that they learned it in boarding school, and that it's too late for you, but that's not true. In this calming yet cheeky episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki…

1
Best Day Scoring & Social Media in the Gym 16:51

2M ago16:51

16:51

Jill talks about frustrations with best-day scoring at 2 day comps. She also talks about challenges with using social media to communicate with parents and athletes, and challenges with their use of social media.By Jill Markley

1
He quit journalism to fight authoritarianism. How’s that going? 25:39

2M ago25:39

25:39

Last year, we did an episode with Barton Gellman, who talked about the war games he was running with high-level military leaders and government officials to prepare for a second Trump term. A bunch of you have been asking us to have Barton back, to find out what he’s doing, now that the second Trump term is here. So we called him up. Barton works a…

1
The rise of the Nouveau Pauvre: Status in the age of economic instability and inequity 39:27

3M ago39:27

39:27

When your host, Auntie Kiki, says she’s an “ex rich person” and espouses the label of “nouveau pauvre,” you may be left wondering whether that means she’s fabulously wealthy or delightfully destitute, or somewhere in between. In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we explore our society’s love-hate relationship with wealth, performat…

1
A Rant or a Slant: When Should Reporters Speak From the Heart? 41:15

3M ago41:15

41:15

It’s easy to get frustrated with the charade reporters are supposed to keep up, where they pretend they don’t have opinions or feelings or any kind of human thoughts about a story they’re telling. Plenty of journalists have been trying to break out of that charade. But the decision to do that: it can be a fraught one, with real implications. Dana B…

1
# 355 High Performing Leaders - Personality Traits That Separate The Best From The Rest 40:30

3M ago40:30

40:30

1
Do you want to be on Question Everything? 1:35

3M ago1:35

1:35

Do you have questions for us? If so, we want to talk to you! If you have thoughts about Question Everything, critiques of our episodes, or anything you're curious about, that we're covering, or not covering…please tell us. We want to set up some conversations between listeners and Brian and our staff for an upcoming episode. Write to us at hey@plac…

1
The ultimate guide to old money style garden parties and outdoor entertaining 50:45

3M ago50:45

50:45

Is there anything more elegant and romantic than a garden party? In this episode of Awkward Etiquette, Kiki Astor dishes on the secrets of hosting the perfect old money garden party, because it takes a bit of behind the scenes preparation to exude effortless charm. From phrasing the invitations, to selecting the right garden party dress code to mas…

1
A Teen, a Reporter, and a Grand Jury Leak (Over BBQ) 34:34

3M ago34:34

34:34

Journalists jailed for an article they published. In America. How did this happen? Brian tells the story of a reporting trip he took to Alabama, where two small-town journalists had been locked up, which led to one of the most honest - and surprising - conversations about journalism he’s had in a long time. Sign up for our newsletter to see some st…

1
# 354 Why Contingency Recruiting is Rigged Against You (And What to Do Instead) 29:06

3M ago29:06

29:06

1
Unbothered & Elegant: Let's discuss Mel Robbins' “Let Them” theory 29:45

3M ago29:45

29:45

Whether it’s at a cocktail party, on the tennis court, or around the dinner table, Mel Robbins’ Let Them theory is the pop culture, pop psychology self-help phenomenon on everybody’s lips. But what does it really mean, and how does one apply it to living an authentic, elegant life on one’s own terms? In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki A…

1
# 353 What if Satan Advised Your Competitors? 38:19

3M ago38:19

38:19

1
Welcome to the nouveau pauvre club: a glam life, on a budget 30:56

3M ago30:56

30:56

If you have always felt you have more taste than money...that you aspire to elegance and refinement, but are on a restricted budget...that you would be absolutely darling at spending oodles of cash, but for now you're making do with less...Welcome to the club! You're not poor, you're nouveau pauvre, my darling. Nouveau pauvre is an offshoot of old …

1
The News is Coming from Under the Desk… on TikTok (live from On Air Fest) 52:18

3M ago52:18

52:18

As trust in traditional journalism plummets, social media content creator V Spehar of Under the Desk News is ascendant, with over 3.4 million TikTok followers. But recently, V found themself in a public dustup with NPR over, in part, how the outlet had classified V in an interview. In this special episode of Question Everything–largely recorded liv…

1
# 352 Why the APEX Coaching Program Isn’t Working 47:43

3M ago47:43

47:43

1
Behind closed doors: the secret world of private clubs 41:44

3M ago41:44

41:44

You're either in, or you're out...and who wants to be on the outside looking in? For many people, the words "welcome to the club" are music to their ears and the fear of being blackballed looms large, because, as the advertaisement famously states, membership has its priviledges. It's a basic human evolutionary need to feel that one belongs, and be…

1
Not Like Us: How Billionaires Think 40:04

4M ago40:04

40:04

As billionaires hoard more control over our politics, it seems more important than ever to ask: What makes them tick? Four reporters gather after hours at a wine shop to discuss – over drinks – what they’ve learned from covering billionaires for years, and how it can help us hoi polloi make sense of what the ultra-rich are doing right now. Featurin…

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