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How a Sports Broadcasting Startup Earned a Partnership with ESPN

Dalton Thieneman shares how he turned a tennis podcast into Cracked Media Ventures, landing ESPN partnerships and covering Olympic sports across the globe.

Podcast Summary

On today’s show I sat down with Dalton Thieneman, founder and CEO of Cracked Media Ventures.

Dalton shares the company's journey from its humble beginnings in 2017, focusing on podcasting about tennis, to becoming a powerhouse in sports broadcasting with coverage across multiple sports and partnerships with major networks like ESPN. They even earned a shoutout at Wimbledon, and have a unique NFL Red Zone-like product for tennis.

He also discusses turning a personal hobby into a thriving business, the importance of consistency, how they've expanded from tennis to covering all Olympic sports, and the potential of covering high school football and other sports in Indiana.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast

You are going to learn about:

  • The Idea Behind Cracked Media Ventures 

  • Cracked Media Ventures’ Expansion from Tennis Coverage to Olympic Sports

  • Strategic Partnerships that Took Cracked Media Ventures to the Next Level

Thank you to our partner:
Indy Grills

Check out these great clips from the show:
00:53 Guest Introduction: Dalton Thieneman, Cracked Media Ventures
01:34 Hoosier Humbleness
04:26 Dalton's Tennis Background
05:50 The Birth of Cracked Racquets
08:23 Early Challenges and Breakthroughs
11:49 Expanding the Media Empire
16:38 Innovative Broadcasting Solutions
25:06 Diversifying Content and Future Plans
34:28 Critique and Reflection on Podcast Hosting
35:08 From Zoom to Federer: Podcast Milestones
36:28 Audience Metrics and Social Media Success
38:02 Expanding Coverage to Olympic Sports
39:57 Dream Ventures
42:11 The Secret Sauce: Passionate Coverage
43:13 High School Football Red Zone Vision
48:02 Peak Moments and Future Aspirations
52:36 Indiana Pride and Personal Insights

Guest(s)

Dalton Thieneman

Date Published

November 22, 2025

This podcast is sponsored by

Sweetwater

Sweetwater, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a large music store and online retailer that specializes in musical instruments and pro audio equipment. It's known for its extensive inventory, expert staff, and dedication to customer service.

Sweetwater, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a large music store and online retailer that specializes in musical instruments and pro audio equipment. It's known for its extensive inventory, expert staff, and dedication to customer service.

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A person in casual attire poses with a person in a vibrant red mascot costume wearing a baseball jersey that reads "Indians," both against a blue backdrop with text promoting "Get Indiana" with Nate Spangle.
A person in casual attire poses with a person in a vibrant red mascot costume wearing a baseball jersey that reads "Indians," both against a blue backdrop with text promoting "Get Indiana" with Nate Spangle.