1831 Media Launches The Crown, a Modern Digital Media Network Celebrating Cincinnati Sports, Business, and Culture

Adam Baum

Director of Operations

Adam Baum, The Crown's Director of Operations, is a former sportswriter for The Cincinnati Enquirer and a former co-host of The Sean Miller Podcast. He was also the Coordinating Producer on the ALL IN docuseries and the Cincinnati's Open docuseries. He enjoys clementines, dogs, and a well-struck golf ball.

Jack Crumley

Host

Jack Crumley’s been covering News in Cincinnati on the radio for the last 20 years. He grew up in Northeast Ohio, but Cincinnati has felt like home since day one. He’s seen so many things accomplished here, and now–with The Working Lunch–he gets to read, write, and talk every day all about the things that make this city great: hard working people with a drive and dream, innovative ideas that shape new industries, nationally known companies with headquarters right here, an incredible restaurant and arts scene, and more. Cincinnati is a great city, and he’s excited to tell you all about it every day.

Jacob Tissot

Host

Jacob Tissot co-hosts First Word every weekday from 7–11 a.m. ET, providing insight daily on the biggest stories in Cincinnati sports. Before joining The Crown Network, he spent four seasons working with the University of Alabama football program as a student assistant, contributing to a National Championship and three SEC titles. A graduate of the University of Alabama and St. Xavier High School, Tissot is a Cincinnati native and avid fan of the city’s teams, bringing a local perspective to coverage of the Bengals, Reds, and beyond.

James Rapien

Host

James Rapien hosts First Word every weekday from 7–11 a.m. ET, breaking down the biggest stories in sports. Before joining The Crown Network, he spent six seasons covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sports Illustrated. He’s also the creator of Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube and the author of Enter the Jungle, a book on the team’s history. A University of Cincinnati graduate, Rapien has established himself as a leading voice in sports media.

Marisa Contipelli

Host

Marisa Contipelli co-hosts First Word weekdays from 7–11 a.m. ET, where she also contributes feature storytelling and producing across the network. Contipelli joined The Crown Network after eight seasons as a Team Reporter and Senior Producer for the Cincinnati Bengals, where she became a trusted voice delivering in-depth coverage and compelling player-driven content. Prior to her time in the NFL, Contipelli worked with Spectrum Sports in Columbus, covering professional, collegiate and high school teams all across Ohio. She also serves as an in-game host for the Cincinnati Reds and Ohio State Football, showcasing her versatility across both live entertainment and studio programming. A Cleveland native and proud Ohio State graduate, Contipelli’s sports roots run deep as her energy, credibility, and passion have made her a recognizable voice throughout the area.

Natalie Jones

Host

Natalie Jones — our lifestyle and nightlife correspondent, and a proud Cincinnati native. Born and raised on the West Side, she now calls Over-the-Rhine home, having spent much of her adult life immersed in the neighborhood's vibrant culture. After earning her Communications degree from the University of Cincinnati, Natalie channeled her ambitions into stand-up comedy, discovering a deep passion for entertainment and connecting with audiences. That passion took her across the country — from North Carolina and South Carolina to Colorado and Los Angeles — before life brought her back to Cincinnati to care for her mother. She stepped off the road and almost immediately into a media career. She spent eight years behind the microphone at WKRQ 101.9 before finding her new home at The Crown, where she's thrilled to bring that same energy from the airwaves to the screen. Fueled by the same curiosity that once carried her coast to coast, Natalie is now on a mission to seek out everything worth knowing and celebrating in the Queen City. Off camera, you'll find her DJ'ing around town, hosting events, making TikToks with her nieces, and taking her mom out to dinner. An avid sports fan with a taste for adventure, she's embraced everything from snowboarding and surfing to boxing, biking, Pilates, and wakeboarding (with kitesurfing and Muay Thai next on her list). Join Natalie every day on The Crown, and follow her on our socials to see what she's up to next.

Paul Fritschner

Host

A 2019 Xavier University graduate, Paul Fritschner has extensive experience as a podcast host, broadcaster, producer, and digital content creator. In 2022, Fritschner started the "Rebound Rundown," a national college basketball podcast with a focus on Cincinnati-area teams. In addition to his coverage through the Rundown, Fritschner also broadcasts college basketball games at the national level for CBS Sports Network, ESPN+, and other outlets. Follow Paul at @PaulFritschner and follow the Rundown at @ReboundRundown.