Steve Strawbridge, President & CEO of Pop Warner, joins the show to discuss the legacy and future of one of America’s most iconic youth sports organizations. With a century of history behind it, Pop Warner has become the gold standard in youth football, cheerleading, and now flag football, helping millions of young athletes build character, confidence, and a lifelong love for sports.

Before leading Pop Warner, Steve spent over 20 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, building deep expertise in sponsorships, partnerships, and fan engagement. His career has been marked by growing brands, creating meaningful community connections, and expanding opportunities for athletes at every level. At Pop Warner, he’s using that experience to elevate the organization’s reach and impact, ensuring it continues to thrive in a changing sports landscape.

Fun fact: Pop Warner alumni include NFL legends like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Emmitt Smith—proof of the program’s role in shaping generations of elite athletes. Steve and his team continue to build on that tradition, blending grassroots development with a vision for the next 100 years of youth sports.

Podcast Chapters:

02:41 Steve Strawbridge's Journey in Sports Management

05:21 The Business of Football: Insights from the NFL

08:15 Assessing and Innovating at Pop Warner

11:19 The Role of Technology and Safety in Youth Sports

13:53 The Growth of Flag Football and Partnerships

16:35 Cheer and Dance: Expanding Pop Warner's Offerings

19:32 The Impact of Private Equity on Youth Sports

22:07 Future Goals for Pop Warner

Jake Deane is the Co-Founder of True Lacrosse, one of the fastest-growing youth lacrosse organizations in the country. With nearly 20 years of experience in the game, Jake has dedicated his career to developing players, building programs, and creating pathways for athletes to succeed both on and off the field.

Since its founding in 2008, True Lacrosse has expanded from grassroots clinics in Illinois to a national footprint with programs across the United States. The organization is focused on elite coaching, player development, and teaching life lessons that extend far beyond the field. With a “player-focused, family-minded” philosophy, True Lacrosse has helped thousands of athletes achieve their goal of playing at the collegiate level while instilling the values of hard work, resilience, and teamwork.

Jake shares the story of how True Lacrosse grew from a local idea into a national brand, the current challenges facing youth sports, and where he sees the future of lacrosse headed.

02:29 Growth and Evolution of True Lacrosse
07:25 Taking Risks and Scaling the Business
11:54 The Future of Youth Sports and Expansion Plans
17:22 Current State of Youth Sports and Market Trends
20:23 The Role of Private Equity in Youth Sports
21:58 Professionalization of Youth Sports
22:59 Conclusion and Future Opportunities

Jake Hoselton is the co-founder and CEO of Grass Clippings, the company behind Arizona’s only fully lighted golf course, Grass Clippings Rolling Hills. More than just a golf course, Grass Clippings is reimagining what it means to bring community, entertainment, and competition together. With its unique day-to-night transformation—playing as a par 61 during the day and a par 54 par-3 course under the lights—Grass Clippings offers golfers an entirely new way to experience the game.At Grass Clippings, the vision goes beyond the fairways. From the Top Tracer lighted driving range with lounge seating and food service, to Glenrosa, a restaurant serving Sonoran-inspired cuisine, and live music events that transform the course into a social hub, Jake and his team are building something much bigger: a new culture of golf. With the launch of Grass League, a professional golf league designed for a new generation of fans, Grass Clippings is blending tradition with innovation to create one of the most exciting evolutions in the sport.Beyond the golf and entertainment, Jake’s story is also about building for the future—developing a franchise model for Grass League, growing new talent pipelines, and redefining how golf can be presented as both competition and community. Grass Clippings isn’t just growing the game; it’s creating a movement.Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Grass League and Golf's Evolution01:09 The Origin Story of Grass Clippings and Grass League04:56 Understanding Grass League's Structure and Vision06:15 The Unique Experience of Night Golf and Entertainment12:11 Franchise Model and Growth Strategy of Grass League16:20 Talent Selection and Development in Grass League18:45 Reflecting on Milestones and Achievements23:05 Future Plans and Expansion of Grass League29:15 Mentorship and Learning in the Golf Industry

Sandeep Hingorani is the EVP and a founding team member of BallerTV, the leading live and on-demand streaming service for youth sports. Since its founding in 2016, BallerTV has grown into the go-to platform for families, athletes, and scouts, offering live streams, replays, and highlights of games that were once impossible to watch outside the gym. With a background as both an athlete and a parent, Sandeep has been at the forefront of building a company that ensures no family member ever has to miss a child’s game again.

At BallerTV, the mission goes beyond streaming—it’s about access, opportunity, and connection. By dramatically expanding the spectrum of youth sports coverage, BallerTV keeps families connected, provides athletes with valuable footage for recruiting, and creates new pathways for visibility across the youth sports ecosystem. The platform has also proven itself as a community builder, capturing the moments that matter most to families while helping athletes at every level showcase their skills to the world.

Beyond the platform, Sandeep’s story highlights the resilience required to navigate challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which reshaped the landscape of youth sports. Looking forward, BallerTV is doubling down on innovation—from advanced insights to expanded partnerships—ensuring that youth athletes have the exposure and opportunities they deserve.

Podcast Chapters:

05:03 BallerTV: Revolutionizing Youth Sports Broadcasting

10:47 Lessons from the Youth Sports Ecosystem

15:18 Navigating Challenges: The Impact of COVID-19

17:45 The Future of BallerTV: Beyond Live Streaming

21:58 The Role of Athletes in Shaping Youth Sports

29:28 Personal Connections: The Power of Community in Sports

Sandeep Hingorani:

🏠Website: https://www.ballertv.com/

Scott Garber:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/

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Scott Birnbaum is the co-founder and CEO of Booster, a platform reinventing fundraising for athletes and teams. With over 15 years of experience in PPC advertising and leadership roles at firms like System1, Demand Media, and Fullscreen, Scott brings a wealth of expertise in scaling operations, building high-performing teams, and driving digital growth. At Booster, he’s combining this background with his passion for sports to create a smarter, subscription-based fundraising model that eliminates the inefficiencies of traditional campaigns.

At Booster, the mission is clear: make fundraising effortless so athletes and coaches can focus on what really matters—development, performance, and community. Whether at the high school, junior college, or NCAA level, Booster empowers teams to generate consistent, recurring revenue without upfront costs or the constant reset of starting from zero each season. The platform also provides athletes with the tools to build their brands, connect with fans, and unlock new pathways for support as they move through different stages of their athletic careers.

Beyond the platform, Scott’s story is also one of leadership and adaptability. Having scaled System1 from 15 employees to IPO, he has firsthand experience building global teams, navigating transitions, and fostering cultures of collaboration and innovation. Now, with Booster, he’s applying those lessons to the youth and collegiate sports ecosystem—helping athletes and teams access resources that were previously out of reach.

Podcast Chapters:

02:40 The Evolution of Fundraising in High School Sports

05:37 Building Community Through Subscription Models

08:07 Navigating the High School Sports Landscape

10:52 Engagement Strategies for Sustaining Interest

13:45 Leveraging Corporate Partnerships for Growth

16:42 Market Penetration and Future Plans

19:19 The Importance of Youth Sports in Development

22:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Konstantin Sonkin is the CEO and co-founder of i-BrainTech, a company transforming how athletes train through the power of neurotechnology. With a background in neuroscience and years of research into brain-computer interfaces, Konstantin launched i-BrainTech to bring cognitive training into elite sports. The platform allows athletes to play video games using only their minds—strengthening focus, tactical decision-making, and mental resilience.At i-BrainTech, the mission goes beyond novelty—it’s about unlocking the brain as the next performance frontier. By partnering with top football clubs in LaLiga, Serie A, MLS, and the Premier League, the company has introduced brain training into professional locker rooms, proving its impact on precision, reaction speed, and recovery. This top-tier adoption has validated i-BrainTech as not just an R&D project, but as a critical tool for modern performance enhancement.Beyond sports, Konstantin’s journey highlights the challenges of building a neuroscience startup—from translating lab research into a scalable product, to navigating hardware, software, and clinical validation. i-BrainTech is now expanding into healthcare and education, opening doors for cognitive therapy, neurorehabilitation, and even mental skills training for youth athletes.With AI integration, improved accessibility, and new partnerships ahead, Konstantin and his team are proving that mental training will soon stand alongside physical training as a pillar of athletic development. And in the process, they’re redefining how the sports world thinks about the brain.Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to i-BrainTech and Konstantin Sonkin02:18 How Brain-Computer Interfaces Work in Sports05:45 Partnerships with Elite Clubs in Europe and the U.S.09:10 Training Focus, Awareness, and Decision-Making12:27 Challenges of Bringing Neurotech to Market15:52 Expanding Beyond Sports: Healthcare and Education18:34 The Role of AI in Cognitive Training21:08 Future Vision: Making Brain Training MainstreamI

Konstantin Sonkin:

🏠Website: https://www.i-brain.tech/

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konstantin-sonkin

Scott Garber: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/

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Amanda is the co-founder of Sequel, a company reimagining women’s health products with athletes in mind. Alongside her co-founder Greta Meyer, she launched Sequel while at Stanford, driven by a frustration that period products hadn’t meaningfully changed in over 80 years. As former high-level athletes, both Amanda and Greta struggled to find a tampon they could rely on in competition—so they leaned on their engineering training to build the product they wished they had on game day. The result was Sequel’s patented spiral technology, designed to offer women more reliable, comfortable, and distraction-free performance.

At Sequel, the mission goes beyond just technology—it’s about impact and visibility. By partnering with top sports organizations like Stanford Athletics, the Indiana Fever, DC United, and Audi Field, Sequel has brought period products directly into stadiums and locker rooms, making history as the first tampon partner in NCAA athletics. Their approach combines top-down credibility with bottom-up storytelling—leveraging creator partnerships, social platforms, and founder-led storytelling to build trust, awareness, and a movement for better women’s health solutions.

Beyond the partnerships and the patented spiral design, Amanda’s story is also one of resilience and persistence. From navigating the challenges of FDA approval as a medical device, to securing early grants and funding from Stanford’s ecosystem, Sequel is a case study in founder-led innovation. And with more products and activations ahead, Amanda and Greta are proving that when you combine sports, engineering, and a mission to help women win, the impact goes far beyond the field.

Podcast Chapters:

02:34 Innovative Tampon Technology: The Sequel Spiral

05:32 Partnerships in Sports: Building Brand Awareness

08:25 The Importance of Creator Partnerships

11:02 Challenges in Developing a Medical Device

13:49 Funding Journey: From Grants to Equity

16:31 Design Thinking: Identifying Real Needs

19:16 Future Aspirations and Community Engagement

Amanda Calabrese: 🏠Website: https://www.trysequel.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acalabre/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Ryan Silver, President of Attitude of Gratitude, is a trailblazer in youth sports and event operations. With a vision rooted in appreciation and impact, he has built one of the fastest-growing event platforms in the country, spanning basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf, and more. Silver’s philosophy of gratitude—shaped by personal experiences—drives his mission to transform youth sports into not just competitions, but meaningful experiences that empower athletes, families, and communities.Under Silver’s leadership, Attitude of Gratitude has rapidly expanded to become a premier operator of over 200 annual basketball tournaments, with camps and showcases across multiple states. Recently acquired by Rocket Youth Brands, the company now stands at the forefront of the evolving youth sports industry. With private equity investment, a powerful partner ecosystem, and Silver’s deep operational expertise, the organization is poised to redefine the future of youth events, blending growth with lasting community impact.Beyond his impressive business achievements, Silver has a rare distinction: he is one of the very few entrepreneurs who has successfully built and sold multiple youth sports companies, including West Coast Elite. His journey highlights both the challenges and opportunities in the commercialization of youth sports—while keeping gratitude, service, and athlete empowerment at the heart of it all.Podcast Chapters:02:44 Growth and Expansion in Youth Sports05:21 The Business of Youth Sports: Insights and Challenges07:54 Rocket Youth Brands: A New Partnership10:22 The Future of Youth Sports and Private Equity13:07 NIL and Its Impact on College Sports15:44 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Ryan Silver: 🏠Website: https://attitudeofgratitude.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-silver-ba7a63293/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Karim Kassam is the Vice President of Product at Teamworks, the leading software platform transforming high-performance operations in sports, military, and public safety sectors. He joined Teamworks through its 2024 acquisition of Zelus Analytics, a premier sports intelligence platform. At Teamworks, Karim leverages his expertise in data science and analytics to integrate Zelus’ cutting-edge solutions into collegiate football, helping organizations unlock transformative insights and achieve peak performance.At Teamworks, Karim is focused on building unified, data-driven systems that empower teams to make smarter decisions, optimize operations, and develop athletes holistically. From predictive models to streamlined workflows, Teamworks Intelligence delivers tools that help organizations evaluate talent, construct rosters, and manage performance with precision. Karim’s work ensures that athletes and staff have the right insights and resources to prepare, compete, and excel.Beyond sports, Karim’s career is defined by a unique blend of academic rigor and practical innovation. Before joining Teamworks, he led data science initiatives for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Twins, and Jacksonville Jaguars, and served as a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Fun fact: Karim earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2010, where he studied decision processes and emotion—an unusual but powerful lens for sports analytics.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to AI in Sports Analytics01:05 Karim Kassam's Background and Journey02:54 Evolution of Football Analytics04:40 Teamworks Intelligence and AI Innovations07:09 Challenges in College Football Scouting09:28 Key Metrics for Player Evaluation12:45 Comparative Analysis of Sports Analytics14:18 The Imperfection of Talent Identification16:53 The Role of Technology in Team Success18:23 Exciting Developments at Teamworks21:01 Integrating Diverse Solutions at Teamworks22:48 Future Acquisitions and Market StrategyKarim Kassam: 🏠Website: https://teamworks.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karim-kassam-a4369972/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for watching! Hit the “subscribe” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Izell Reese is the CEO of RCX Sports, a youth-sports experiences business working with professional leagues, national governing bodies, and brands to reimagine accessibility and participation in sports. Under his leadership, RCX has become the official operating partner of NFL FLAG, NBA Jr. League, MLB Pitch, Hit & Run, and other grassroots programs that introduce millions of young athletes to sports each year.With a background as a former NFL player and now as one of the most influential executives in youth sports, Izell is dedicated to expanding opportunities for kids at every level. His vision emphasizes inclusion, character development, and pathways that connect community-based programs to high school, collegiate, and even professional opportunities. By aligning leagues, brands, and governing bodies around scalable, youth-first models, he’s helping to transform the future of sports participation in America.RCX Sports is not just about leagues—it’s about access, equity, and long-term growth. With initiatives that reduce barriers to entry and connect kids with positive experiences on and off the field, Reese is driving a movement to make sports a more inclusive and sustainable part of the youth experience.

Chapters:

01:28 – Izell’s Journey from NFL Player to Sports Executive 04:45 – Building RCX Sports into a National Leader

08:56 – Partnerships with the NFL, NBA, and MLB

12:19 – Expanding Access and Equity in Youth Sports

16:42 – Creating Pathways Beyond the Game

20:11 – The Role of Brands and Governing Bodies

23:37 – Scaling Grassroots Programs Nationwide

27:50 – The Future of Youth Sports Particip

Izell Reese:

🏠Website: https://rcxsports.com/

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izell-reese-2a597b11

Scott Garber:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/

Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.