Ballard Partners has established itself as the country’s leading public affairs firm thanks to its proven ability to deliver exceptional results for clients.
From major companies like Amazon and GM to sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB, the firm founded by Brian Ballard has drawn on its connections in the local, state, and federal government to help clients exceed their goals.
As Ballard Partners has expanded across the country and around the world, it has likewise grown its reputation in the digital space through the video podcast 13th & Park.
Hosted by acclaimed media consultant Adam Goodman, 13th & Park has quickly established itself as a premier source for entertaining and incisive interviews. Launched in 2023, it has more than 2.7 million subscribers on YouTube.
While Goodman primarily welcomes political guests, he has also invited influential figures from across the fields of media, entertainment, and sports for conversations about their lives and careers.
In keeping with Ballard Partners’ reputation for excellence, athletes who have joined the program have excelled at the highest levels of their sport. Let’s learn more about two of 13th & Park’s guest athletes.
Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench is perhaps the best catcher ever to play the game of baseball. As a member of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970s, he won two World Series championships while racking up numerous personal accolades, including two MVPs and 10 consecutive Gold Gloves.
Bench was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and raised in the small town of Binger. He learned to play catcher from his father and, after being drafted by the Reds, made his major league debut when was only 19.
He won Rookie of the Year honors in 1968, the first catcher ever to garner the award, and would go on spend the entirety of his 17-year career in Cincinnati.
As a catcher, Bench changed what it meant to play the position. A powerful throwing arm, stellar defensive, and plate-blocking skills—Bench had all of these traits and more. He even popularized the one-handed catching style that’s common among catchers today.
As great as he was behind the plate, Bench was equally adept as a hitter. He led the MLB in both RBIs and home runs in 1970, then repeated the feat in 1972.
His 129 RBIs in 1974 were also a league best, and he guided the Reds to two consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976, winning World Series MVP in the latter year.
Together with fellow stars Pete Rose and Joe Morgan, Bench helped the 1970s Reds to earn the moniker “The Big Red Machine.”
After retiring, Bench spent time as an announcer and cowrote two books. In 2024, he joined 13th & Park for a conversation about his life and Hall of Fame career, as well as the ways in which baseball has changed since his playing days.
Mel Stewart
Mel Stewart, who appeared on the 13th & Park podcast in 2024, reached the heights of swimming when he took home three medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics. A specialist in the butterfly, he is also a former world and NCAA champion.
Stewart grew up in North Carolina and was initially taught how to swim by his mother. He later trained under former NCAA champion John Trembley and made the 1988 USA Olympic swim team, finishing fifth in the 200-meter butterfly.
Subsequently, Stewart followed Trembley to the University of Tennessee. Over the course of his college career, Stewart twice won the NCAA title in the 200-yard butterfly. In fact, his time of 1:41.78 was a record that stood for 16 years.
At the 1991 World Championships, Stewart rematched against Michael Gross, the world-record holder who won gold at the 1988 Olympics.
Stewart not only prevailed in the rematch, but also became the first swimmer to break the 1:56 barrier, thereby breaking Gross’ record. He continued his excellence at the 1992 Olympics, where he won an individual gold medal in addition to both a gold and bronze in relay events.
Today, Stewart is the publisher of SwimSwam.com, a swimming news site that he cofounded. In 2024, he joined Adam Goodman to analyze the Paris Olympics.
13th & Park by Ballard Partners: Conversations with Champions Who Inspire Excellence
The firm continues to demonstrate its influence not only in the realm of public affairs but also through its expanding digital presence with 13th & Park.
By featuring legendary athletes like Johnny Bench and Mel Stewart, the podcast showcases the same commitment to excellence, insight, and authenticity that defines its work.
Through these conversations, Ballard Partners and Adam Goodman highlight the stories of individuals who, much like the firm itself, have reached the pinnacle of success in their respective fields.
