On today’s episode, I’m joined by Drew Rauso, who leads Strategy and Operations at Playmaker HQ, a top-tier sports podcast network owned by Bettor Collective.

Playmaker’s lineup features some of the biggest names in sports, including Shaquille O'Neal, Angel Reese, and Marshawn Lynch.

Drew's role focuses on driving growth, fan engagement, and uncovering commercial opportunities, from merchandise to live events.

With a background that includes working at The Players' Tribune, Drew and I dive into the rise of athlete-driven media and the key areas involved in building a successful podcast network.

Timeline

3:00 - Drew Journey

4:00 - Athlete Driven Media

7:00 - Playmaker HQ's Distribution Network

10:00 - Landing and Navigating Commercial Deals

12:00 - Balancing Politics and Priorities

14:00 - Leveraging Bettor Collective's Relationships

17:00 - Podcast Monetisation

19:00 - Launching Physical Events

27:00 - Could Teams Launch Their Own Podcasts?

34:00 - Why Streaming Killed the Group Chat

37:00 - Expanding into International Sports

Additional Links

Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart host block party for Roommates Show in Central Park

Angel Reese Launches 'Unapologetically Angel' Podcast amid Breakout WNBA Season

'Streaming has killed the mainstream': the decade that broke popular culture

Connect with Drew on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here