In this episode, Bryan sits down with Eric Wynalda, U.S. soccer legend, broadcaster, and entrepreneur, for a candid conversation about building your brand by staying true to who you are. Eric shares his wild journey from playing in three World Cups to unexpectedly stepping into an 18-year broadcasting career and now launching his own media company. He breaks down lessons learned from navigating career pivots, leading high-performing teams, embracing imperfection, and trusting instincts in business. Eric’s stories—from live TV meltdowns to winning championships in coaching—highlight the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and surrounding yourself with the right people when building a brand and leading with impact.

Chapters

• 01:40 – Eric’s Soccer Journey: First MLS Goal to 3 World Cups
• 03:45 – How Injury Launched an Unexpected Broadcasting Career
• 05:45 – Is It Luck or Being Ready?
• 07:45 – Why Honesty Is the Heart of Great Broadcasting
• 09:40 – Starting a Media Company: Breaking Free from Censorship
• 12:00 – How a Pencil and an Ant Almost Got Him Fired on Live TV
• 14:30 – The Greatest Broadcasting Advice from Al Michaels
• 16:00 – Reinventing in Your 50s: Building a Media Empire
• 17:35 – Building the Right Team: Lessons from Elite Sports
• 19:50 – Why Knowing Your Strengths Changes Everything
• 23:45 – Live TV Disaster: When Everything Went Wrong (and Right)
• 25:45 – Why Imperfection Builds Connection with Audiences
• 27:45 – Why Passion Projects Matter (Even in Midlife)
• 30:05 – Stay Close to What You Love
• 32:50 – From Broadcast to Coaching: Building Teams and Trust
• 34:00 – How Delegating Empowered a Championship Team
• 36:30 – Final Lessons: Build Smart, Stay Authentic, Trust the Journey

Connect with Eric: 

• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wynalda/
• X: https://x.com/ericwynalda?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacLjBRQqz8GyeZpSlgBZeEOVfGDOv5nr16TZptA2-v6OrG54zskc0D-aEN9zQ_aem_3gTESrTuBi69vd8fLDCNWg
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwynalda/

Connect with Bryan:

• Check out the website www.whatsnextpodcast.com
• Connect with Bryan on Instagram @bryanfinnerty22
• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn @bryanfinnerty 

PS- Do you love this podcast?  We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show.  This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

Connect with Bryan:

Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.

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