Cover of Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond

Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond

Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond

By: American Diamond Logistics
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Around the Diamond is where leadership meets logistics.

Hosted from their signature corner couch, Kevin Mench and Steve Wineriter sit down with entrepreneurs, athletes, operators, and industry leaders to have real conversations about what it takes to win — in business and in life.

Each episode dives into two core themes, leadership and logistics.

Whether you’re building a company, scaling operations, or chasing ambitious goals, Around the Diamond brings you inside the candid and insightful conversations.

Grab a seat on the corner couch and join the conversation.

Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The Future of Freight Is Here: Introducing Carat TMS | Jeremy Cate | Episode 17

    The Future of Freight Is Here: Introducing Carat TMS | Jeremy Cate | Episode 17
    26 Oct 2026

    What happens when a logistics company decides the technology it needs doesn't exist—and builds it themselves?

    In Episode 17 of Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics, Kevin, Steve, and Elise welcome Jeremy Cate, CEO of eTac Cloud, for an inside look at the development of Carat TMS, American Diamond's new LTL transportation management platform.

    Years in the making, Carat TMS represents a major step forward in American Diamond's mission to simplify freight management, eliminate unnecessary costs, and create a better experience for customers, carriers, and logistics professionals.

    Jeremy shares his journey from writing his first video game at just eight years old to becoming a technology leader, along with the lessons he's learned about software development, problem-solving, and building systems that actually work for the people using them.

    The conversation explores the challenges of developing technology for the complex world of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, where inconsistent carrier data, complicated integrations, and unexpected freight charges can create expensive problems.

    Steve and Jeremy explain how Carat TMS is being designed to address those challenges through smarter data management, streamlined workflows, better integrations, and safeguards that help users avoid costly mistakes before shipments are booked.

    They also discuss the team behind the technology, including the developers, logistics specialists, and quality assurance professionals whose combined expertise has helped bring the platform to life.

    And in true Around the Diamond fashion, the conversation takes a few unexpected turns—from Jeremy's experience playing competitive poker to childhood video games, golf rivalries, and the competitive mindset that drives both business and innovation.

    In This Episode:

    The official introduction of Carat TMS

    Why American Diamond decided to build its own LTL platform

    Jeremy's journey from childhood programmer to technology entrepreneur

    How curiosity and problem-solving drive innovation

    What competitive poker teaches about strategy and decision-making

    The challenges of integrating data from multiple freight carriers

    How Carat TMS aims to reduce costly LTL reclassifications and rebills

    Building software around real customer needs

    Why the right team matters more than technology alone

    Behind the scenes of developing and testing a new logistics platform

    Early customer feedback and the Carat TMS rollout

    The importance of speed, accuracy, and continuous improvement

    Why American Diamond believes its logistics-first approach gives it an advantage

    Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics explores the intersection of sports, business, leadership, logistics, and innovation through conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, and the people building what's next.

    Check out American Diamond Logistics: https://www.adldelivers.com/
    Become an Agent: https://www.adldelivers.com/become-an-agent

    Follow Around the Diamond:
    IG: https://www.instagram.com/aroundthediamondpodcast
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586346530967
    Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@around.the.diamon6?_r=1&_t=ZP-94XAyjAAYvP
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    58 min
  • Beyond the Star: From Super Bowl Champion to Business Leader | Darren Woodson | Episode 16

    Beyond the Star: From Super Bowl Champion to Business Leader | Darren Woodson | Episode 16
    12 Oct 2026
    What happens when the game ends, but the drive to win never goes away?In this episode of Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics, Kevin, Steve, and Elise sit down with Darren Woodson, three-time Super Bowl champion and former Dallas Cowboys safety, for an unforgettable conversation about football, leadership, adversity, entrepreneurship, and finding purpose beyond the game.Darren takes us behind the scenes of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty, sharing stories about the legendary NFC East rivalries, playing under Jimmy Johnson, and the locker room culture that helped build one of the most successful teams in NFL history. From unforgettable moments with Michael Irvin to the realities of player contracts, competition, and earning your place on a championship roster, Darren offers a firsthand look at what it really took to wear the star.But the conversation goes far beyond football.Darren opens up about growing up in Phoenix, the sacrifices his mother made, the challenges he faced academically and athletically, and the determination that carried him from Arizona State to the NFL. He also shares how a career-ending back injury forced him to rethink his future—and how mentorship helped guide his transition into broadcasting, commercial real estate, and business leadership.Together, Kevin, Steve, Elise, and Darren explore the similarities between professional sports and business: accountability, competition, resilience, teamwork, and learning how to respond when things don't go your way.The conversation also turns to something bigger than winning—family, faith, personal growth, and the legacy you leave through the people you impact.In This Episode:Behind the scenes of the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl dynastyThe legendary NFC East rivalries of the 1990sWhat the NFL was really like before today's massive contractsDarren's unforgettable NFL Draft storyLessons from Jimmy Johnson and Michael IrvinGrowing up with adversity and learning to earn your opportunitiesWhy accountability and competition build stronger teamsThe injury that ended Darren's playing careerTransitioning from the NFL to ESPN and commercial real estateHow mentorship shaped Darren's business careerWhy losing can teach you more than winningBuilding a culture of leadership, trust, and resilienceFinding purpose through family, faith, and giving backWhether you're a Cowboys fan, entrepreneur, business leader, or someone navigating your own next chapter, Darren's story is a reminder that championship habits don't end when you leave the field—they shape everything you build afterward.Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics explores the intersection of sports, business, leadership, and entrepreneurship through conversations with athletes, executives, founders, and the people redefining success on and off the field.ChaptersYouTube-ready timestamps from the supplied transcript00:00 – Welcome to Around the Diamond00:24 – Meet Dallas Cowboys Legend Darren Woodson02:50 – Cowboys vs. Eagles: The NFC East Rivalry04:26 – Playing on the NFL's Toughest Fields06:32 – Player Safety, Turf & the Future of Football07:38 – The NFL's International Expansion09:18 – Streaming, Fantasy Football & Changing Fans10:42 – Why Darren Grew Up Hating the Cowboys11:55 – NFL Free Agency, Contracts & Holdouts15:18 – The Business Behind NFL Player Salaries18:55 – What Darren Woodson Would Earn in Today's NFL20:37 – The Story Behind Darren's NFL Draft25:20 – From Childhood Dreams to the Dallas Cowboys27:00 – The Sacrifices That Made Darren Successful30:05 – Michael Irvin's Unforgettable Rookie Welcome31:49 – Jimmy Johnson & Building a Championship Culture34:00 – Why Great Teams Need Competition37:14 – Parenting, Pressure & Learning from Mistakes39:35 – Overcoming Adversity as a Young Athlete42:27 – Darren's Journey to Arizona State45:54 – Preparing for Life After Football47:33 – The Injury That Changed Darren's Career50:00 – Mentorship & the Transition Beyond the NFL52:00 – From ESPN to Commercial Real Estate54:46 – Why Losing Is Part of Winning56:32 – What Football Teaches About Business58:29 – Resilience, Leadership & Learning to Bounce Back60:00 – Building a Culture That Encourages People63:39 – Faith, Purpose & What Really Matters65:17 – How Steve and Darren First Connected67:00 – Final ThoughtsCheck out American Diamond Logistics: https://www.adldelivers.com/Become an Agent: https://www.adldelivers.com/become-an-agentFollow Around the Diamond: IG: https://www.instagram.com/aroundthediamondpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586346530967Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@around.the.diamon6?_r=1&_t=ZP-94XAyjAAYvP
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    1 hr and 8 min
  • AI Won’t Replace Relationships: The Future of Logistics | Ep. 15

    AI Won’t Replace Relationships: The Future of Logistics | Ep. 15
    28 Sep 2026

    AI is changing logistics fast—but can technology actually replace the relationships that keep freight moving?

    In Episode 15 of Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics, Kevin, Steve, and Elise go guest-free for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what American Diamond is building, where logistics technology is headed, and why the human element still matters no matter how advanced the tools become.

    Steve gives an update on American Diamond's push to automate more of the shipment lifecycle, including new AI-powered carrier sales capabilities, continued development inside Navigator, and internal tools designed to make the company faster, leaner, and better prepared to scale.

    They also dive into the changing relationship between people and technology. AI can analyze data, automate repetitive work, identify potential problems, and create efficiencies that weren't possible just a few years ago—but technology is only as effective as the people implementing it. For American Diamond, the goal isn't replacing people. It's giving great people better tools.

    The conversation also gets into the company's evolving LTL technology, including testing that identified a potential reclass/rebill scenario before booking that could have saved a customer roughly $100 on a $300–$400 shipment. It's a small example of a much bigger goal: finding problems before they become expensive problems.

    And because this is Around the Diamond, things eventually go completely off the rails—with parenting, getting older, tattoos, Steve's potential first tattoo, vacations, and Rob getting unexpectedly pulled onto the show to explain his Four Horsemen sleeve.

    In This Episode:

    How American Diamond is using AI in carrier sales

    Automating more of the shipment lifecycle

    What's being built inside Navigator

    Using technology to strengthen carrier relationships

    Why AI still needs the human element

    Preparing American Diamond for the next freight market shift

    New technology designed to prevent costly LTL rebills

    How automation is making teams leaner and faster

    Why relationships remain critical in logistics

    Building technology from real operational problems

    The difference between using AI and depending on AI

    Raising kids in a technology-driven generation

    Why necessity drives some of the best innovation

    The technology opening new possibilities at American Diamond

    And somehow... a very serious discussion about whether Steve needs a tattoo

    Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics explores logistics, leadership, technology, business, sports, and the conversations happening behind the scenes with the people building what's next.

    Chapters

    00:00 – Welcome Back to Around the Diamond
    01:30 – Steve's Next Vacation & Elise's Wedding Plans
    03:20 – Generational Differences, Music & Technology
    07:22 – Stolen Freight and the Risks Facing Logistics
    08:33 – American Diamond's Latest AI Developments
    10:24 – Building Smarter Carrier Sales Automation
    11:33 – What's New Inside Navigator
    12:34 – Rethinking Dedicated Freight & Carrier Relationships
    13:37 – Preparing for the Next Freight Market Shift
    15:20 – Why Technology Is Only as Good as the People Using It
    15:48 – AI Can't Replace the Human Element
    16:27 – Growing Up Before AI & Smartphones
    18:32 – What Happens When Technology Becomes a Crutch?
    20:11 – Parenting, Growing Up & Where the Time Goes
    24:09 – Being Intentional With Time With Your Kids
    25:51 – Passing the Entrepreneurial Mindset to the Next Generation
    27:12 – American Diamond's Next Generation of LTL Technology
    28:15 – Catching an LTL Rebill Before It Happens
    29:02 – Years of Ideas Finally Becoming Reality
    30:29 – Technology, Medicine & Why Humans Still Matter
    34:33 – Somehow We Started Talking About Tattoos
    38:04 – Rob Shows Off His Four Horsemen Sleeve
    41:06 – Should Steve Get an American Diamond Tattoo?
    43:46 – Inside the Culture at American Diamond
    44:30 – How Internal Automation Is Changing the Business
    45:21 – Turning Week-Long RFPs Into Days
    46:19 – Becoming Leaner Without Sacrificing Service
    47:23 – What's the Next Big Idea?
    48:14 – Technology Has Removed the Barriers to Innovation
    49:03 – Closing Thoughts

    Check out American Diamond Logistics: https://www.adldelivers.com/
    Become an Agent: https://www.adldelivers.com/become-an-agent

    Follow Around the Diamond:
    IG: https://www.instagram.com/aroundthediamondpodcast
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586346530967
    Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@around.the.diamon6?_r=1&_t=ZP-94XAyjAAYvP
    Show more Show less
    50 min
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