Not Your Ordinary Sports Podcast!
Welcome to the REF TALK Podcast!
Welcome to REF TALK: an open forum for the sports official in everyone. Each episode, we dive into the real conversations behind the whistle—exploring the rules, the controversies, the split-second decisions, and the human stories that shape the games we love.
From officials, coaches, players and media to fans/family, money people and passionate armchair referees, we bring together every perspective to unpack the moments that spark debate, define competition and in-depth analysis of the games we love.
Whether you're on the court, the field, the sidelines, or on the couch critiquing every call, REF TALK invites you to see the game through the kaleidoscope of a different lens.
Join us as we break down the action, challenge the narratives
and celebrate the spirit of sport—one conversation at a time.
About Our Hosts
C.S. Talbott has spent decades preparing for REF TALK, “Not Your Ordinary Sports Podcast.” Talbott brings to the table countless years of reffing, officiating and umpiring multiple sports on multiple levels.
"There are many different perspectives when it comes to the games and sports we play. Imagine a beach ball, with the different colored panels. REF TALK will apply this concept and entertain, educate and motivate by connecting the panels between coaches, players, fans, media, money and refs," says Talbott.
Talbott and Sade Speaks met and started working together in Georgia’s Cherokee Basketball Officials' Association in 2020. They have continued working together via the Peach State Basketball Officials' Association, North Cobb Officials' Association and Atlanta Area Volleyball Association. Talbott has worked multiple high school post-season basketball for Georgia High School Association and Oregon State Activities Association.
Talbott has coached, played and parented multiple sports on multiple levels. Also as a passionate armchair referee, Talbott has been a season-ticket holder for multiple NBA/NCAA basketball, baseball and football teams. He cheers on his favorite teams (Atlanta Hawks/Braves, Oregon Ducks and Portland Trailblazers) with a PASSION!
Talbott holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon which includes training in broadcast sports news. Talbott also holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership (School Administration) from the University of Oregon which included years of experience as a high school educator/coach and athletics director.
Talbott has lived in Atlanta since 2020 where he currently works as an agent for 1Look Real Estate which is brokered by his awesome wife, Jennifer. C.S. and “Jenny” love the Atlanta Hawks and the Braves. The Talbotts also own a travel agency with more info being found at vacationtheworld.com.
C.S. Talbott
Did You Know This About
C.S. Talbott
Talbott is a true sports enthusiast who has spent decades immersed in athletics—as a referee, coach, player, parent, media member and devoted fan. His wide-ranging experiences give him a unique ability to connect with the competitive spirit and passion that lives in every sports lover.
In his spare time, Talbott has written multiple award-winning screenplays and pilot television scripts. Many of these dramas, comedies and dramedies have sports-related themes.
One of these feature film scripts is called C.O.W.S., which was awarded BEST SCREENPLAY at the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival (‘21). The C.O.W.S. Logline is as follows:
High school basketball referee battles vicious coaches, parents, players, fans and a bitter ex-fiancée on the road toward reaching his collegiate officiating dream.
Based on characters introduced in C.O.W.S., Talbott has also co-written a television pilot with Atlanta Comedian and PSBOA colleague basketball ref, LaMont Ferrell, called: THE REF. The Logline is as follows:
After being violently assaulted during a basketball game, a mild-mannered official begins striking back at fans, coaches and players who stand in the way of him achieving his dream of becoming a D1 collegiate basketball official.
Talbott is currently working on an adapted screenplay to his novel, GODDESS SEEKER, a FIVE-STAR Reader’s Favorite Award Winner. GODDESS SEEKER chronicles Nike History and protagonist Steven Jenny’s immersion in the Nike Culture.
Steven allows the spiritual experience of The Swoosh to motivate, influence and guide his thoughts and actions, shaping his way of life, while searching for his victory zephyr.
GODDESS SEEKER, the novel, published by Outskirts Press is available on Amazon.
Any and all executive producers, producers directors interested in producing any of Talbott’s work should contact Talbott at [email protected] .
Talbott’s project portfolio may be found at cstalbott.com .
.
With an endurance mindset, Talbott has participated in multiple events throughout the years including the Peach State Road Race, Atlanta, Boston, and New York Marathons, Running with the Bulls in Pamplona and many Ironman Triathlons both in the States and abroad. Talbott brings that same endurance mindset to REF TALK.
“Sade and I are excited to bring you, REF TALK ~ Not Your Ordinary Sports Podcast. With our future guests, we are excited to bring you a wide array of perspectives on the games we love. With a worldwide shortage of sports officials we are on a mission to motivate and inspire like-minded individuals to join us in giving back to kids in the sports world by sharing their knowledge and expertise of the games by becoming a ref. Because, without refs, there will be no games.”
Sade Speaks was once a savvy, competitive, passionate South Florida All-State shooting guard who hated when refs made “bad calls” against her and her teams. She didn’t hesitate to let them know when they were wrong and many times received technical fouls for her “unsporting conduct.”
“During the past decade when friends and others have heard I’m now a certified/working official, they can’t believe it,” says Sade smirking. I’m probably the last person many would expect to ref games. It’s a learning experience every time I take to the court. As a ref, we’re challenged to control are emotions and although sometimes these emotions still get the best of me, I’m not only growing every game I work, but officiating helps me grow as a person in life.”
Teachable moments. Sade, a mother of a 12-year-old travel baseball and basketball son, brings a teacher’s mentality to the games she works. With a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Ed specializing in Child Development from Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, Sade has worked as an educator, girls basketball coach and track coach at local Georgia schools and learning centers.
She’s also been “that mom in the stands” who has given a baseball umpire a piece of her mind postgame after a blown call. My son (“King’s”) team once led by three in the last inning of a 9U tournament championship game. The other team had two outs, bases loaded and a full count when their batter hit a long high blast outside the foul pole a good four or five feet. Umpire signaled home run, game over by giving the kid a grand slam walk off.”
Sade went right at the 30-something ump and let her know he blew the call. “All I remember was him saying, ‘Ma’am, Please. Calm. Down. My angle was different from yours. I had it inside the foul pole.’”
Sade and C.S. Talbott met and started working together in Georgia’s Cherokee Basketball Officials’ Association in 2020. They have continued working together via the Peach State Basketball Officials’ Association, North Cobb Officials’ Association, and Atlanta Area Volleyball Association. Sade has officiated multiple varsity post-season basketball games for the Georgia High School Association.
“I’m excited to present REF TALK with C.S. Talbott,” adds Sade. Our combined sports-loving experiences we’ll bring to the table will generate endless material for in-depth insight and discussions with the guests we’re scheduling to join us! REF TALK will be a podcast for the sports fanatics in all of us with the goal of tackling the world-wide shortage of officials and challenging you to join this family.”
Sade Speaks
Did You Know This About
Sade Speaks
Besides playing high school and college basketball, Sade was a well-rounded multi-sport athlete also playing volleyball, softball and running sprints in track.
My biggest challenge as a referee has been ignoring derogatory comments, particularly from moms. Unlike many female refs, Sade doesn’t leave her femininity in the locker room or the parking lot.
“I’ve had moms complain about my fingernails,” she says. “While working a girls’ game, I once had a mom say, ‘Maybe if you’d take them lashes off you could see something.’ As a ref, sometime you simply have to block out the noise.”
Sade also points out that refs and umpires who “try to insert themselves into the games” are many times the ones destined to make ill-advised calls to the angst of players, coaches and parents:
“The best officials are the ones nobody remembers being there,” says Sade. “Like a screenwriter friend I know once wrote:
‘The perfectly-officiated game is the one in which the refs disappear and become invisible. When the game flows freely, yes – some calls are still made – yet in the end, the game concludes as if the refs were Not. Even. There.’”
In addition to cheering on her son in his sports and academics, in her spare time, Sade enjoys attending Atlanta Braves' and Hawks' games, working out, fine wine and taking brisk walks with her two Italian Mastiffs, Zeus and Chanel.
Want To Connect With
C.S. Talbott & Sade Speaks
before your interview?
