What's Next! with Bryan Finnerty

Thinking about starting a brand? This episode will give you the reality most people skip.

What if the skills that made you successful as an athlete are exactly what make you valuable in business?

In this episode of What’s Next!, Bryan sits down with former professional soccer player and Pioneer Sports leader Brian Enge to talk about his own transition out of the game and why, looking back, he believes he may have walked away too soon. Brian shares the fear he felt about falling behind his peers, the pressure to start a traditional career, and what he now tells athletes facing that same decision.

The conversation also explores why Brian estimates that 90% of the people he has hired throughout his career have been athletes. From discipline and resilience to teamwork, accountability, and understanding the connection between hard work and results, he explains why athletes already possess many of the characteristics organizations are looking for, even when they don't have traditional industry experience.

Bryan and Brian also take on the larger conversation happening around youth sports, including pay-to-play, access, scholarships, and the role organizations like Pioneer Sports can play in developing not only better athletes, but better people and future leaders.

If you're wondering what's next after your playing career, this conversation is a reminder that you aren't starting from zero. You're bringing years of experience with you that can translate far beyond the field.

Chapters

00:00 – From Harvard to Professional Soccer
03:45 – Did Brian Leave the Game Too Soon?
05:30 – The Fear of Falling Behind After Sports
08:15 – Why Brian Hires Athletes
10:45 – Inside Pioneer Sports
15:30 – The Truth About Pay-to-Play Youth Sports
21:00 – Making Sports More Accessible
24:45 – What Youth Sports Really Teach Us
27:30 – The Future of Pioneer Sports
33:15 – Experience Over Opinion

Connect with Brian Enge

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianenge
• Website: https://pioneersports.com/

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

Thinking about starting a brand? This episode will give you the reality most people skip.

In this episode of What’s Next!, Bryan sits down with Rachel Erickson, founder of Unmarked Street and apparel expert who has helped scale brands from startup to $50M+ . She breaks down what actually goes into building a successful brand—and why so many founders get it wrong from the very beginning.

From the importance of fit and truly understanding your customer, to budgeting before you ever design a product, Rachel shares the behind-the-scenes truths that can make or break a business. They also dive into why launching too many products too soon can kill your brand, how to properly test your product in the real world, and what it takes to build systems that actually scale.

If you’re an entrepreneur, former athlete, or high performer thinking about building something of your own, this conversation will challenge your assumptions—and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Chapters

00:00 – The biggest mistake founders make
03:00 – Why fit matters more than anything
06:00 – Defining your ideal customer
09:00 – How long it actually takes to build a product
13:00 – Working backwards from your launch timeline
17:00 – The cost of bad timing
20:00 – Why most brands launch too many products
23:00 – Budget before you design
26:00 – Building your first product the right way
28:00 – The importance of real-world testing
31:00 – Creating systems that scale
34:00 – What separates brands that grow vs stall
37:00 – Building a brand that lasts
39:00 – Profitability vs revenue

Connect with Rachel Erickson

• Website: https://www.unmarkedstreet.com

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

What happens when you hit your financial goals… and still feel like something is missing?

In this episode, Bryan sits down with entrepreneur Landen Goodnight, who built a million-dollar insurance business from the ground up after starting with nothing—living in a low-income apartment, newly married, with a baby on the way and no money for diapers .

Landen shares the real story behind his success, from grinding through the early years to leading a team of 40+ agents and creating a business that generates income without requiring his constant presence. But what makes this conversation powerful isn’t just the growth, it’s the shift. After achieving financial success, Landen found himself asking a deeper question: Now what?

They dive into leadership, hiring the right people, building systems that scale, and the importance of aligning your business with your purpose. Landen also opens up about faith, identity, and why chasing money alone will eventually leave you stuck.

If you’re a high performer, entrepreneur, or someone thinking about starting over, this episode will challenge how you define success, and what it actually takes to build a life you don’t want to escape from.

Chapters

00:00 – From Broke to Business Owner

02:00 – Early Entrepreneurship & Challenges

05:00 – Hiring, Leadership & Building a Team

09:00 – Vision vs Execution: Finding the Right People

13:00 – Faith, Identity & Showing Up Authentically

16:00 – The Hidden Opportunity in “Boring” Industries

19:00 – Advice for Starting Over

22:00 – Building a Business That Runs Without You

25:00 – When Money Isn’t Enough

28:00 – Finding Purpose Beyond Success

31:00 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship & Relationships

33:00 – Final Thoughts & How to Connect

28:30 – Keeping Detroit’s top talent from leaving the market

Connect with Landen Goodnight

• Website: http://www.landengoodnight.com
• Link for Kolbe Test www.kolbe.com 

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

After years inside the traditional U.S. soccer system, Alex Lubyansky set out to build something radically different.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Alex, founder of Detroit Metro FC, to discuss his mission to create a new pathway for soccer players outside the pay-to-play system. From launching a club with no fees for players to creating the Merit Cup, a competition offering $10,000 with zero barriers to entry, Alex is challenging the way youth sports development works in America.

They dive into the structural differences between U.S. and European soccer, why incentives in youth sports are often misaligned, and how merit-based systems can uncover hidden talent. Alex also shares lessons from his journey as an entrepreneur, attorney, and sporting director, explaining how competition, accountability, and authentic leadership can transform both sports organizations and businesses.

Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or leader looking to rethink traditional systems, this conversation highlights the power of creating a third door when the existing paths don’t make sense.

Chapters

00:00 – Introducing Alex Lubyansky and Detroit Metro FC

01:45 – The vision behind a completely free soccer pathway

03:30 – Where Detroit Metro FC fits in the U.S. soccer pyramid

04:45 – The idea behind the $10,000 Merit Cup

07:00 – Why the U.S. soccer system struggles globally

08:45 – The financial reality of youth soccer and pay-to-play

11:30 – Why most soccer investments don’t make financial sense

13:30 – The European soccer model vs the U.S. system

16:00 – Building a sustainable club and developing real talent

18:30 – Creating a real fan experience at Detroit Metro games

21:00 – The philosophy behind open tryouts and merit selection

23:30 – Developing accountable athletes and leaders

26:00 – Why honesty matters in player development

28:30 – Keeping Detroit’s top talent from leaving the market

30:30 – What Detroit businesses can do to support the mission

32:00 – Entrepreneurship, risk, and building bold ideas

34:00 – Final thoughts and where to find Alex

Connect with Alex Lubyansky

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlubyansky/
• Website: http://acquisitionstars.com
• Pro Soccer Team:  https://detroitmetrofc.com/

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

If you’re a high-performing leader wondering why your team of A-players still isn’t winning, this episode is your wake-up call. Bryan sits down with Katrina Ghazarian, a former athlete turned HR powerhouse, to unpack why company culture often crumbles under pressure—and how to fix it before your best people walk out the door.

From simplifying culture audits to setting goals that can actually pass a stress test, Katrina shares sharp insights on leadership habits, vision clarity, and real-time feedback. She also opens up about how becoming a mom sparked her leap into entrepreneurship—and how taking control of her schedule turned into an eight-year consulting partnership.

Whether you're a corporate executive, founder, or transitioning athlete trying to lead at the next level, this conversation is packed with clarity, challenge, and practical ways to build trust, drive results, and stop playing small.

Chapters
00:00 – Cold opens & 75-degree weather gap
01:30 – Meet Katrina: Founder, athlete, culture fixer
03:00 – Culture isn’t a mystery—look at exec behavior
07:30 – Why your goals fail the pressure test
13:00 – The real reason Katrina became an entrepreneur
17:00 – Freedom > money: the power of choosing your time
21:00 – What separates ready clients from the rest
23:00 – Visionaries vs. resistant teams: what’s really going on
28:00 – Your ideas are valid—just ship them
30:30 – Want trust? Go talk to your people
34:00 – Building equity starts with teaching the business
39:00 – The truth is feedback in real time
43:30 – Final thoughts + where to find Katrina
38:10 – Like, Subscribe & Share What’s Next!

Connect with Katrina: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-ghazarian/
Website: https://gamedayhr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gamedayhr/

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

What if everything you've been told about finding your purpose after sports is wrong? In this powerful episode, Bryan sits down with Matt Granados—performance strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of Life Pulse, to talk about what it really takes to transition from high-level athlete to fulfilled human. They dive into truth-based transformation, why chasing passion is dangerous, and how to identify your purpose by looking at your past, not your future. This is a must-listen for any athlete or high performer who feels stuck, searching, or like they’ve hit a ceiling. From practical tools to personal stories, Matt delivers a masterclass on creating a life aligned with your calling—not just your old identity.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Passion Can Be Dangerous

01:18 – Meet Matt Granados & Life Pulse

02:40 – From High Performance to Optimal Performance

03:55 – Why Most Athletes Stay Stuck

06:25 – Identity, Calling & Assignment Explained

08:05 – Purpose vs Passion: A Wake-Up Call

10:00 – How to Discover Your Purpose

11:42 – A Real-Life Client Example

13:20 – Digging Deeper Than "I Just Love Soccer"

15:10 – Athletes as Products in a Business Machine

17:35 – What Bryan Learned from the MLB & NHL Orgs

19:00 – Structure + Intention = Perpetual Development

21:10 – The Triangle of Influence: Athlete, Exec, Entrepreneur

23:00 – The Power of Alignment & Community

24:20 – Realign Conference: Why It's Different

26:35 – What You Get at the Event

28:55 – Custom 90-Day Plan & Tool Access

30:00 – Integration of Faith, Business, and Life

33:20 – Obedience > Outcome

35:30 – Final Encouragements for Athletes

37:00 – One Thing Every Rookie Needs

38:10 – Like, Subscribe & Share What’s Next!

Connect with Matt: 

• Website:: https://www.lifepulseinc.com/wn
• Realign Conference: https://www.lifepulseinc.com/realign-conference
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPNc15l_7JB8-aziMAnLPsA 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifepulseinc/

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

After nearly a month on the road, from the mountains of Colorado to the beaches of The Bahamas and the soccer fields of Germany, Bryan returns with a new perspective on what freedom really means.

In this solo reflection, he breaks down the four levels of freedom taught by Dan Sullivan: time, money, relationships, and purpose and shares how aligning them with your North Star can transform the way you live, lead, and build your business.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing success but still missing meaning, this episode will help you pause, realign, and rediscover what truly drives you.

Chapters
00:00 – Freedom Isn’t Something You Chase
01:00 – What Four Weeks on the Road Taught Me
02:15 – The Four Levels of Freedom (Time, Money, Relationships, Purpose)
05:45 – Lessons from the Mountains, Beaches & Fields
07:30 – Transactional vs Transformational Relationships
09:15 – Living in Alignment with Your North Star
10:30 – A Challenge for You: Take 10 Minutes of Stillness
11:30 – Final Thoughts & Freedom Reminders

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

In this episode, Bryan sits down with U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Marcelo Balboa for a powerful conversation about life after the game. Marcelo opens up about the emotional crash after retiring from professional soccer, navigating identity loss, divorce, and personal transformation. From captaining the U.S. Men's National Team through three World Cups to rediscovering purpose through broadcasting, coaching, and fatherhood, Marcelo shares vulnerable lessons on leadership, growth, and what truly matters. This episode is a must-listen for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone facing major life transitions.

Chapters

00:00 – Let Them Do Their Job: Marcelo on trust & creativity
00:48 – Bryan introduces Marcelo and their SDSU connection
01:35 – Marcelo’s legacy: U.S. Men’s National Team, World Cups, and the mullet
03:15 – The dark side of retirement: Drinking, depression, and identity loss
05:00 – Marcelo admits: “I wasn’t a good husband or father”
06:30 – The turning point: Two soccer moms changed everything
07:30 – “You grow more from failure than success”
08:40 – Who showed up during the hard times — and who didn’t
09:50 – Advice to his younger self: Own your mistakes
10:45 – Breaking into broadcasting (and bombing at first)
12:00 – Getting his shot with Mark Cuban and Glenn Davis
13:15 – How JP Dellacamera mentored him through early TV days
14:25 – Why being bilingual became a superpower
15:30 – Transitioning from athlete to analyst to coach
16:45 – The evolution of leadership beyond the field
17:55 – What corporate leaders can learn from locker rooms
19:00 – Micromanagement kills creativity
20:15 – Marcelo on the biggest youth soccer challenge in the U.S.
21:20 – The broken “pay-for-play” system
22:30 – Advice for parents: Support without pressure
23:50 – Marcelo’s pet peeve: negative coaching
24:45 – Why sports prepare kids for life
25:40 – Marcelo’s life now: coaching, family, and peace
27:00 – “Enjoy every day you have”
28:00 – Reflections on legacy and giving back

Connect with Marcelo: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelo-balboa-4933114/
• X: https://x.com/marcelobalboa17?lang=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelobalboa17/

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

In this solo episode of What’s Next!, Bryan breaks down a powerful framework on how to build a business you don’t have to sell, but could if you wanted to. Fresh off his talk at the U.S. Indoor Sports Conference, Bryan shares real-world insights from his own experience owning and exiting multiple businesses. He walks through the five key drivers of value beyond EBITDA: growth strategy, risk reduction, team strength, market opportunity, and financial fundamentals, and how aligning those elements creates a business that runs without you and attracts buyers. Whether you're building to exit, pass it down, or turn it into a long-term cash machine, this episode gives you the roadmap to create a valuable, scalable, and sellable business on your terms.

Key Moments

• 00:00 – Build a Business You Don’t Have to Sell
• 00:30 – Intro: Lessons from the U.S. Indoor Conference
• 01:20 – Bryan’s Experience: Exits & Equity in Action
• 02:30 – The EBITDA Formula (and Why It’s Just the Start)
• 04:15 – Adjusted EBITDA: What to Add Back In
• 06:00 – How Multiples Impact Valuation
• 07:15 – What Drives Value Beyond EBITDA
• 08:45 – Warren Buffett’s Take on Real Business Value
• 09:40 – Growth Strategy: Past, Present, and Future Direction
• 11:00 – Why Staying On After the Sale Can Pay Off Big
• 12:10 – What a Good Strategy Looks Like (Not a Zigzag)
• 13:30 – Risk Factors That Kill Business Value
• 14:45 – Sacred Cows & Hidden Risks
• 15:50 – Team Competency Formula: IQ + EQ – Ego
• 17:05 – The 6 Things Buyers Look for in Your Team
• 18:20 – Market Opportunity: Are You Solving a Real Problem?
• 19:30 – Customer Acquisition Strategy = Real Power
• 20:50 – Strong Financials: What Buyers Actually Want to See
• 22:00 – The 4 Financial Fundamentals of a Sellable Business
• 23:30 – Recap: 5 Drivers of Value Beyond EBITDA
• 24:40 – The 3 Ways All Businesses Eventually Transition
• 26:10 – Avoiding the Operating Table (and the Fire Sale)
• 27:30 – Final Thoughts & How to Work with Us

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.  

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.

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.