The Power of Sports to Inspire and Innovate: A Conversation with Michael Tollin
October 24, 2023
This week, Joe is joined by the incredible Michael Tollin, a storytelling veteran of over 30 years who’s brought us some of the most gripping sports narratives ever. As one of the masterminds behind the Emmy Award-winning documentary series “The Last Dance,” Michael took us behind the scenes of the Chicago Bulls dynasty and the iconic Michael Jordan.
But his impact doesn’t stop there; his storytelling prowess has touched numerous films and TV shows, leaving an indelible mark on pop culture.
Today, Michael continues to redefine creativity as the co-founder of SlamBall, a revolutionary sports concept blending basketball, football, and hockey with the energy of a video game. Join us for an inspiring conversation that delves into the power of sports to captivate our spirits and push the boundaries of innovation. Tune in and get ready to be inspired to reach new heights.
Mike Tollin
Story Teller
The co-founder of SlamBall with Mason Gordon, Mike Tollin most recently Executive Produced the documentary series The Last Dance (Michael Jordan & the Chicago Bulls), The Captain (Derek Jeter & the Yankees), and The Redeem Team (USA’s gold medal-winning Olympic basketball team).
Mike has produced and directed more than a dozen feature films, many award-winning documentaries, and hundreds of hours of television.
His films include Coach Carter, Radio, Dreamer, Hardball, Varsity Blues, Summer Catch, and Big Fat Liar, along with the Tollin-directed documentary Hank Aaron: Chasing The Dream, which won a Peabody Award and was nominated for an Oscar.
Mike directed and produced several other award-winning documentaries and was one of the founding producers of the “30 For 30 series”.
In television, Mike has won four Emmy Awards. He served as Executive Producer of Smallville and One Tree Hill, and he produced seven seasons of Arli$$ on HBO.
An active philanthropist, Mike is a founding board member of CommonSense Media and sits on the board of The Chasing The Dream Foundation, and PACE, a private philanthropy group he founded.