Carl sits down with longtime industry friend Drew Sheinman — a man who's worked at the highest levels of Major League Baseball, Madison Square Garden, Coca-Cola, and Endeavor before co-founding Brand Velocity Group, an independent private equity sponsor with a portfolio that includes youth sports, men's jewelry, home grilling, and Eli Manning as a day-to-day partner.

Drew's episode is equal parts strategy and storytelling — from the mentors who built entire industries (not just businesses), to how a Kobe Bryant toy company led to a private equity firm, to why he believes we're in the first inning of sports investing. He also talks about the Knicks, his nephew, and why his favorite word is kindness.

If you want to understand where smart money is flowing in sports and entertainment over the next decade — this is your episode.

In this episode, Jay Samit shares his journey from tech pioneer to author, discussing how to leverage the second act of life through innovation, AI, and networking. Discover actionable insights on embracing change, overcoming fear, and creating a meaningful second act.

Founder of Women's Running Magazine and the Women's Running Series, Dawna Stone shares her inspiring journey from athlete and entrepreneur to CEO of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Discover her insights on mentorship, leadership, building successful organizations, and the power of passion in sports and fitness. Watch. Listen. Learn

Join Carl as he explores the dynamic career of Randy Bernard, from transforming PBR into a global phenomenon, leading IndyCar's revival, to managing Garth Brooks, and now a partnership with Bill Stapleton at the Laurel Group. Discover insights on media rights, innovative marketing, and the future of live entertainment. Watch. Listen. Learn

Growth. Depth. Talent. Vibe. These four attributes set the culture for AEG Global Partnerships, one of the world's most successful sponsorship sales organizations. As President and COO, Nick Baker has spent 22+ years at AEG honing his leadership skills and style. This session is outstanding. Watch. Listen. Learn.

In this engaging interview, sports executive Jeff Plush shares insights from his extensive career in sports management, including his roles in hockey, soccer, Olympic sports, and curling. Discover lessons on leadership, the evolution of women's sports, the future of soccer leagues, and the Olympic movement's challenges and opportunities.

Back in July 2025, Carl joined Joe Favorite and Tom Richardson on the Columbia University Sports Management Podcast (The CUSP Show) to talk about what success means in today's world and explore the qualities that make a good leader.

Carl Thomas sat down with Mike Mooney for an episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, a podcast that explores leadership and high performance through the lens of Excellence, Presence, Intentionality, and Curiosity. In this episode, Carl shares the leadership lessons that helped him navigate that crisis and build triathlon's Olympic format from scratch, including the answer to the question: What happens when a thunderstorm destroys your entire event course at 1 AM - and 2,500 athletes show up in 5 hours? More broadly, when the storm hits, what kind of leader will you be?Carl Thomas is a global C-suite growth strategist, pioneering sports marketing executive, and host of the Best Boss Ever podcast. He created the Olympic triathlon format and co-founded both USA Triathlon and the International Triathlon Union. His leadership journey spans Fortune 500 companies, startup ventures, and building high-performance teams across marketing, sales, and business development.

Join us as Carl explores the career journey of Jody Churich, COO of Vail Resorts' six major destination resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Whistler Blackcomb, and Park City. We delve into leadership, innovation, and the future of winter sports and Olympic planning.

In this episode of the Best Boss Ever podcast, host Carl Thomas welcomes Janet Zuccarini, founder of Gusto 54, a restaurant group with locations in Toronto and Los Angeles. Janet shares her journey in the restaurant industry, starting with her first restaurant in 1996 and the challenges she faced along the way, including difficult partnerships and the impact of COVID-19 on her business. She discusses her father's influence on her entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic, highlighting how his pioneering efforts in the restaurant industry shaped her approach to business.Janet delves into the current state of the restaurant industry, expressing concerns about the challenges restaurateurs face, particularly in California. She emphasizes the need for labor law reform and the financial pressures that have made it increasingly difficult to operate profitably. Despite the hurdles, Janet maintains a positive outlook, focusing on creating unique dining experiences and fostering a supportive work environment for her team. The conversation concludes with Janet's reflections on finding peace and balance in her life amidst the chaos of the restaurant business.