Gil Basketball Academy co-founder Jose Gil to launch podcast series ‘Ganas — Leading from the Heart’ People from Mexico have a certain way with words, using colorful expressions to grab our attention.
Salinas, CA, August 07, 2020 — People from Mexico have a certain way with words, using colorful expressions to grab our attention. Take the word ganas. From the verb ganar, it literally translates to gain or win. But if coach Jose Gil were to urge members at his Gil Basketball Academy to “echarle ganas,” he’s pleading with them to show desire, to throw some life into it. It’s with that sentiment in mind that Gil has launched a new podcast called “Ganas — Leading from the Heart.” The longtime coach and athletic director at Alisal High School, who co-founded Gil Basketball Academy more than 10 years ago with his wife Eva Silva, will begin programming on X(date here)X. The couple formed the academy in 2009 to promote the sport of basketball in East Salinas through camps, clinics, individual sessions and elite travel teams. But more than that, GBA was designed to build confidence and character in a membership that exceeds 400 local kids ages 4 to 17. The idea for a podcast grew from Gil’s growing frustration in not being able to completely connect with his kids during the pandemic. “You have to think outside the box,” he said. “I was used to having hundreds of kids together at one time, and now I have to figure out new ways to have an impact.” During the pandemic, Gil took to jogging near his home in Salinas, listening to various podcasts along the way. “I thought, we have something here,” he said. “We have the audience, we have connections with people all around the world. We can tap into their expertise, and it becomes an easy way to connect.” Podcasting is an increasingly popular pastime in the U.S., with an estimated 88 million listeners in 2019. The pandemic has led to an amazing surge in streaming, and forecasts suggest that listener numbers will surpass 160 million in 2023. While Gil has little experience in media (and none in podcasting), he invested in the technology needed to turn his home garage into a proper studio. “Ganas” podcasts will span 30 to 45 minutes, and include topics such as sports, health, fitness, leadership, community and more.