LAKEVIEW — “The Compound,” the player-led sports activities podcast co-hosted by Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ and fellow skilled ballplayer Dakota Mekkes, was born out of boredom.
When the 2020 MLB season was placed on maintain because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Happ was in Arizona along with his spring coaching roommates Mekkes, Nico Hoerner and Zack Brief, all in search of a artistic outlet and a option to keep engaged with followers.
5 years and lots of of episodes later, the podcast they launched continues to be going robust. On Saturday, Happ, Mekkes and producer Tom Prizeman shall be stay on the Music Field Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., to file an episode of “The Compound” with particular friends, together with Cubs breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The identify of the podcast comes from the identify of the group chat the 4 gamers created after they have been residing in the identical rental home just a few blocks away from the place the Cubs practice in Arizona.
Happ had been staying within the visitor home, and after Mekkes, Hoerner and Brief came visiting for dinner one night time, they preferred the setup a lot they requested to maneuver into the principle home.
“It’s actually one of the best of a foul state of affairs, and we’re grateful the place we’re proper now,” Brief informed the Des Moines Register in 2020.
“The Compound” is a part of a rising development of athlete-first podcasts the place gamers are in a position to take possession of their tales and talk with followers extra straight.
Podcasts additionally create a means for skilled athletes to talk on their very own phrases, offering a medium the place they will have extra autonomy in an area usually dominated by speaking heads, scorching takes, aggregated information and spotlight reels.
In an age the place social media and streaming platforms have reshaped the media panorama, lively athlete-led reveals like “New Heights” with Jason and Travis Kelce, Mookie Betts’ “On Base,” and Draymond Inexperienced’s “The Draymond Inexperienced Present” have all carved out huge audiences.
Happ and his co-hosts noticed the identical alternative again in 2020.
“I believe gamers are hungry to attach with the followers,” Happ informed Forbes in 2021. “Gamers need to do a greater job of selling themselves and the game.”
Podcasting isn’t the one off-field journey Happ has explored since changing into a Cub. Over the previous few years, he launched Quarantine Espresso with Join Roasters to assist COVID-19 aid efforts, coordinated a $7,500 donation to Rush College Medical Middle and partnered with Apparent Shirts on charitable merch.
Saturday’s podcast taping couldn’t have come at a greater time because the Cubs are taking part in exceptionally good baseball with a division-leading 35-21 file.
Crow-Armstrong, Saturday’s podcast visitor, is drawing early MVP buzz and has been one of many highlights of the Cubs’ season.
For followers who need to hear straight from one of many staff’s brightest younger stars and get a behind-the-scenes have a look at the Cubs clubhouse from the gamers themselves, go to the Music Field’s web site for $25 normal admission tickets.
Doorways for the occasion open at 6:30 p.m. The podcast will begin 7 p.m.
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