On this episode of the Sports Business Leaders podcast, Justin is joined by Mark Moyer, founder of Win Again and creator of the Clubroom, a virtual community that has connected over 1,000 athletes and business professionals. Mark shares his journey from executive search and recruiting to coaching athletes, veterans, and executives through major career transitions, including the story of a retired hockey player who went from “dumb jock” to thriving on a trading desk in just a few weeks.

Justin and Mark dive into the mindset shift that athletes must navigate after their playing days are over. They break down why so many former athletes underestimate their skills in leadership, communication, resilience, and handling adversity, and how those same traits are a superpower in entrepreneurship and business. Mark explains his core framework from his book *Win Again*, and why building a thoughtful network of “givers” instead of chasing transactional networking is the key to long-term success.

Along the way, the conversation touches on identity loss after sport, the role of fitness and routine, how universities and leagues fall short in preparing athletes, and why a single genuine interaction can stick with someone for 30 years. If you are a current or former athlete, or you work with athletes who are figuring out what comes next, this episode is a playbook for turning your competitive mindset into your next elite career.

Sports Business Leaders welcomes data veteran and SBRNet president Neil Schwartz for a deep dive into how data, fandom, and storytelling are reshaping the sports industry.

Justin and Jake sit down with Neil to unpack his journey buying SBRNet in 2019, growing it to over 250 university and commercial clients, and building one of the most robust annual studies of sports fandom in the market.

Neil explains how fan behavior has shifted pre and post pandemic, why live attendance is starting to decelerate while streaming accelerates, and how that shift fuels sports gambling, fantasy, and even licensed merchandise sales. He breaks down why data literacy is now a core skill for anyone in sports, from students to executives, and why Excel, clear insights, and storytelling often matter more than fancy analytics tools.

The conversation ranges from the Green Bay Packers and Eagles to F1 and Netflix’s Drive to Survive, the rise of influencer marketing, and crossover fandom that drives sponsorship value.

Neil also shares actionable advice for young professionals on persistence, kindness, and building a career at the intersection of sports, business, and data. Throughout the episode, Neil returns to one central idea: data gives you the facts, but people and stories are what turn those facts into real decisions and long-term impact.

Visit www.sportsbusinessleaders.com for more information about how to get involved.

This episode of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast features  Ishveen Jolly, founder and CEO of OpenSponsorship, the world’s largest marketplace connecting athletes and creators with brands.

Ishveen shares her journey from Oxford University athlete and sports agent to building a platform that has completed 18,000+ deals, democratized over $50M in sponsorship value, and brought real data and transparency into a historically fragmented industry.

We go deep into:

• How her background in netball, cricket, and sports representation shaped the idea for OpenSponsorship

• Why the sponsorship industry was overdue for a “LinkedIn” or “Airbnb”–style marketplace

• How her team built a services-enabled, tech-powered platform used by 12,000+ athletes across 160 sports

• The rise of creators and the shift toward all-in-one sponsorship solutions

• What profitability really looks like in sports tech—and why it almost always takes longer than founders expect

• How AI is reshaping efficiency, operations, and the future of sports marketing

• Her lessons on fundraising, working with HNW investors, and navigating the evolving expectations of brands and agencies

We also talk about OpenSponsorship’s evolution beyond athlete deals—from NIL and influencers to unique brand activations (including a recent project featuring a Benjamin Franklin impersonator for the Philadelphia Airport).

Ishveen offers candid insights on growth, team communication, internal efficiency, and embracing change in a marketing landscape that’s moving faster than ever.

If you're a founder, investor, athlete, creator, or operator in sports, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on building a profitable platform, scaling a marketplace, and driving innovation inside a legacy industry.

On this episode of the Sports Business Leaders podcast, we’re joined by Max Rusakov and Calum Kuhn, co-founders of RevU, an AI-powered contract assistant built to help athletes finally understand what they’re signing.

Max and Calum break down how NIL deals—most worth under $2,000—often contain hidden risks that athletes, agents, and even compliance offices miss. They explain how RevU simplifies the entire process with instant contract summaries, clause-level risk scoring, NCAA/FTC compliance checks, and deliverable tracking—all integrated directly into Gmail, Google Docs, Outlook, and Word.

We cover:

• Why most athletes are unprotected in NIL
• How RevU translates legal jargon into clear, actionable terms
• What they learned from Version 1 and why Version 2 is a major leap
• The future of NIL tech and where RevU fits in

If you work with athletes, NIL deals, or sports tech, this conversation is packed with insight.

On this episode of the Sports Business Leaders podcast, Justin and Jake feature Rob Thompson, a 30-year sports industry innovator, entrepreneur, and educator. His career spans coaching, media, private equity, and grassroots sports development.

Rob shares his journey from college football coaching to launching one of the first recruiting agencies. He went on to help build NFL Flag Football and Hoop It Up 3x3 Basketball into global movements. Rob also led the University of New Haven’s transition from Division II to Division I athletics.

The conversation explores the power of storytelling, the preservation of sports history, and the mindset required to build lasting ventures. Rob discusses his current work with the Walter Camp Football Foundation, where he’s helping reimagine football’s origins through a new preseason bowl game in New Haven. The event honors the man who saved the sport in 1905.

Together, Rob and Justin highlight key lessons for entrepreneurs:

• Understanding your industry’s roots strengthens your vision for the future.

• Storytelling drives business, community, and legacy.

• Persistence, coachability, and cash management matter more than hype.

This episode is a masterclass in honoring tradition while innovating for the next generation of sports leaders.

Today's Sports Business Leaders podcast features David Ricca, CEO of Vamos Venture Group. Hear from David about how purpose, community, and capital are reshaping the global sports landscape.

David shares his journey from professional soccer to venture capital. He offers insights on youth soccer development, sports investment strategies, and the growing importance of mentorship and collaboration in the sports ecosystem.

The discussion explores the rise of community-focused clubs like those in the USL. It also highlights the role of venture capital in advancing social impact initiatives and how strategic partnerships can drive long-term growth across sports, tech, and education.

This episode provides valuable lessons for founders, investors, and leaders looking to align business success with purpose and positive impact in sports.

Episode 39 of the SBL podcast featured Zubin Teherani, the co-founder of LeagueSide, to unpack his decade-long journey building one of the most impactful companies in youth sports technology.

Zubin and his team built LeagueSide into the leading youth sports sponsorship marketplace, linking brands like Verizon, Uber, Visa, Chipotle, and Hilton with thousands of local leagues. Under his leadership, the company:
• Enabled 12 million+ kids to play youth sports
• Scaled to eight figures of ARR, nearly doubling four years in a row while remaining profitable
• Raised $4 million from funds, founders, and pro athletes
• Was ultimately acquired by TeamSnap, a PE-backed SaaS and fintech platform

Following the acquisition, Zubin led product marketing, go-to-market strategy, and sales enablement for TeamSnap’s brands business before transitioning into advising and investing.

In this conversation, he shares what it takes to scale a marketplace, build strong client relationships, and navigate the emotional and strategic challenges of selling a company. From his “land and expand” growth approach to his lessons on leadership and culture, Zubin offers a transparent look at startup growth and life after acquisition.

Tune in to hear how Zubin turned vision into execution — and what founders can learn from his journey across sports, technology, and entrepreneurship.

On episode 38 of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast, Justin Titchenell interviewed Vince Quinn, Co-Founder and Creative Director of SBX Productions, to unpack how business owners can turn podcasts into powerful marketing tools that build authority and drive growth.

Before launching SBX, Vince spent nearly a decade at 94WIP and CBS Sports Radio, where he worked alongside Angelo Cataldi on The Morning Team and hosted The Vince Quinn Show, syndicated across more than 300 stations in the U.S. and Canada. From producing comedy segments to leading national broadcasts, Vince built a career at the heart of sports talk radio before making the leap into podcasting.

Vince explains why he left traditional radio for a more stable, fulfilling path — and how the lessons he learned behind the mic now help founders and executives build podcasts that sell, not just entertain. He breaks down the biggest mistakes business owners make when starting a show, the importance of aligning content with business goals, and how to build real relationships through consistent, purposeful storytelling.

From hilarious behind-the-scenes stories about Wing Bowl and getting egged live on TV during the Eagles’ 2017 playoff run to tactical advice on production tools like Riverside, this conversation provides actionable insight.

Today, through SBX Productions, Vince helps brands develop podcast strategies that drive leads, simplify engagement, and turn content into measurable growth.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a podcast to elevate your business, this episode is the perfect place to start.

Description:
On this episode of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast, Justin sits down with Bryan Fetzer — former NCAA coach, entrepreneur, broadcaster, and co-founder of PsyOptimal Sports — to explore what it truly takes to build great teams and enduring cultures in both sports and business.

Bryan reflects on his 23-year journey coaching college track and field before transitioning into entrepreneurship. He shares how his experiences working with elite athletes and leading programs to nine NCAA Top-10 finishes shaped his approach to leadership and mental performance. Now through PsyOptimal Sports, Bryan helps athletes, coaches, and executives strengthen resilience and understand the intangibles that drive success.

The conversation dives deep into:

• The transition from college coaching to entrepreneurship and how Bryan found purpose beyond the field.

• The power of assessments in recruiting and team-building — understanding “who” someone is before focusing on “what” they do.

• Leadership lessons on culture, communication, and connecting with the next generation of athletes.

• Four principles for success that have guided Bryan’s life and career: get better every day, be grateful, treat others well, and focus on who truly matters.

From high-performance coaching to data-driven culture building, Bryan offers timeless lessons for anyone leading teams, managing people, or striving to make a lasting impact in sports and business.

This episode of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast features Joel Steele — entrepreneur, financial advisor, author of Life Switch, and part of the ownership groups for the Grand Rapids Gold (NBA G League) and Rhode Island FC (2024 USL Eastern Conference Champions).

Joel opens up about his journey from early setbacks to building a successful financial firm and investing in professional sports. He shares what he has learned from championship cultures, the role of passion and purpose in lasting success, and why resilience matters in both business and life.

It’s a conversation filled with lessons for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone chasing big goals in sports and beyond.