Sports Management Podcast

Hosted by Marcus Filipsson

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267

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Aug 2026

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Conversations Shaping the Future of Sport

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August 10, 2026Episode 26336 min

#263 Why Most Athletes Make Career-Destroying Decisions | Craig Domann

Welcome to episode 263 of SPorts Management Podcast. Why do so many talented athletes make the wrong career decisions? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, veteran NFL agent and sports attorney Craig Domann shares what he's learned from negotiating more than $1 billion in professional sports contracts and advising athletes for over 35 years. We discuss why chasing the biggest NIL offer isn't always the smartest move, what separates great negotiators from average ones, the hidden clauses that can make or break a contract, and why the best career decisions aren't always the most lucrative ones. Whether you're an athlete, agent, coach, parent, or sports business professional, this conversation offers practical lessons on negotiation, leadership, decision-making, and building a long-term career in sport. In this episode, we discuss: • Why money can lead athletes to make poor career decisions • The long-term impact of NIL on player development • The hidden details that matter more than contract value • What makes a great sports agent and negotiator • Common misconceptions about athlete representation • Advice for athletes, parents, and aspiring sports professionals If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone passionate about the business of sport. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:26 How Craig Domann Became an NFL Agent 01:51 How NIL Works for Most College Athletes 02:49 Why Chasing the Biggest NIL Deal Can Hurt Your Career 04:05 The Non-Financial Factors Athletes Ignore 05:04 Has NIL Changed College Sports Forever? 06:37 The Problem With Money-Driven Advisors 07:52 Choosing the Right School vs. the Biggest Paycheck 08:58 Why Every Athlete Needs the Right Mentor 10:03 Being a Father, Coach & Agent at the Same Time 11:52 Negotiating Over $1 Billion in Sports Contracts 12:14 What Makes a Great Sports Negotiator? 15:22 The Hidden Clauses Inside Million-Dollar Contracts 17:23 The Biggest Misconceptions About Sports Agents 20:20 Why Relationships Matter More Than Aggressive Negotiation 21:55 The Pro Mindset That Separates Great Athletes 23:37 Daily Habits of Elite Performers 29:50 How Craig Developed the Pro Mindset Framework 31:40 Career Lessons From 35 Years in Sports 32:52 Craig's Advice to Anyone Wanting a Career in Sports Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

August 3, 2026Episode 26226 min

#262 From NASA to Baseball: How Mike Carney Is Reinventing Community Sports

Welcome to episode 262 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Mike Carney, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of On Deck Partners. Before building one of the most innovative ownership groups in Minor League Baseball, Mike worked as an engineer at NASA before leading business strategy for the Washington Nationals. In this episode, he shares why great sports organizations start with solving problems for fans. In this episode, we spoke about: Transitioning from NASA to professional sports Building community-first sports organizations Why fan experience drives long-term value The future of private equity in sports Episode Time Stamps 00:00 From NASA to Sports 00:17 Why Engineers Fit Sports 02:22 Joining the Washington Nationals 03:28 Business Strategy Explained 04:37 Solving Fan Problems 06:13 The Future of Fan Engagement 08:31 Building On Deck Partners 10:45 Creating Community Value 14:58 Private Equity in Sports 16:18 The Modern Fan Experience 18:33 Lessons from Sports Leadership 22:05 Why Transparency Matters 23:32 Advice for Future Sports Professionals 25:45 Inside On Deck Partners Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

July 27, 2026Episode 26131 min

#261 From 16-Year-Old Founder to Nike Partner | Brando Babini

Welcome to episode 261 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Brando Babini, founder of Youth4Youth FC, a player-led development program that is challenging traditional youth soccer in the United States. Starting the company at just 16 years old, Brando has built a thriving community, partnered with Nike, and is proving that mentorship, social media, and player-first development can transform the game. In this episode, we spoke about: Why the pay-to-play model needs to evolve Building a football company at just 16 years old Using social media to grow a sports business Why mentorship matters as much as coaching Episode Time Stamps 00:00 Meet Brando Babini 00:13 Why Youth4Youth Exists 01:15 A Gen Z-Led Football Revolution 02:25 Fixing Pay-to-Play 05:12 Building a Sustainable Model 07:49 Player-First Development 10:01 What Success Really Means 12:20 Growing Through Social Media 14:48 Partnering with Nike 16:49 Building a Startup Team 18:10 Parents & Player Motivation 19:51 Starting a Company at 16 22:41 Learning to Let Go 25:56 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

July 20, 2026Episode 26032 min

#260 Why Kids Are Quitting Sports (And How We Fix It) | Evan Dabby

Welcome to episode 260 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Evan Dabby, CEO of New Jersey Youth Soccer, one of the largest youth soccer organizations in the United States. With over 120,000 players, Evan shares how youth soccer is evolving, why player development should come before winning, and how the FIFA World Cup is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow the game across America. In this episode, we spoke about: How the FIFA World Cup is inspiring the next generation Why player development should come before winning The challenges of youth sports, parents and coaching Growing participation while making soccer more accessible Episode Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome Evan Dabby 00:29 The World Cup Impact in New Jersey 03:20 Growing 120,000 Youth Players 05:50 Technology & Participation 08:20 Player-Centered Development 10:09 Advice from Tab Ramos 11:08 Parents on the Sidelines 15:12 Girls' Soccer Growth 18:52 Should Kids Specialize? 20:41 Coaching Better Players 21:35 Evan's Career Journey 23:23 The Power of Networking 26:45 Advice for Students 30:19 The Future of Youth Soccer Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

July 13, 2026Episode 25924 min

#259 How Senda Helped Vózinha Become a World Cup Sensation

Welcome to episode 259of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Santiago Halty, Founder and CEO of Senda Athletics, one of the world's leading Fair Trade-certified football brands. From launching ethically manufactured footballs to seeing Senda products on football's biggest stage, Santiago shares the remarkable journey of building a purpose-driven sports brand while competing against industry giants. In this episode, we spoke about: Building a Fair Trade football brand from scratch Competing against Nike and adidas through niche innovation How Senda reached the FIFA World Cup Why purpose and performance can coexist in sports business The Vózinha story Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome Santiago Halty 00:19 The Vision Behind Senda 01:45 Why Fair Trade Matters 02:27 Competing Against Nike & adidas 03:42 Winning Through Futsal 04:45 Building a FIFA-Quality Ball 06:14 World Cup Success Story 08:02 Becoming the Official Match Ball 09:39 The Innovation Behind Senda Boots 12:21 The Story of Vózinha 18:14 Raising Investment for Growth 19:42 The Future of Senda 21:07 Becoming a Top 10 Football Brand 22:11 Messi's Last World Cup? 23:26 What's Next for Senda? Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

July 6, 2026Episode 25830 min

#258 How Horse Racing Can Win 200 Million New Fans | Sam Houlding

Welcome to episode 258of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Sam Houlding, Managing Director of B2B at Spotlight Sports Group. Sam has spent more than 16 years helping transform one of the world's leading sports media businesses while working at the intersection of sports media, technology, data, fan engagement and betting. In this episode, he explains why horse racing doesn't have an audience problem - it has an accessibility problem and how the sport can unlock millions of new fans. In this episode, we spoke about: Why horse racing has a potential audience of 200 million new fans How Formula One's growth offers lessons for every sport Why sports should prioritize fans before betting The importance of storytelling, data and digital experiences Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome Sam Houlding 00:15 Spotlight Sports Group Explained 01:55 The 200 Million Fan Opportunity 05:00 Why Racing Struggles to Grow 07:01 Accessibility Beats Awareness 10:24 Formula One's Winning Playbook 12:04 Betting vs Growing the Sport 14:03 Turning Data Into Fan Experiences 17:08 The Five Growth Priorities 19:07 Why Digital Comes First 21:21 The Future of Horse Racing 22:39 Sam's Career Journey 24:15 Lessons From Career Setbacks 26:06 Advice for Young Sports Professionals 27:36 Networking That Actually Works SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

June 29, 2026Episode 25733 min

#257 How Great Footballers Are Really Developed | Arturo Hoyos

Welcome to episode 257 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Arturo Hoyos, coach at Surf Soccer Club and founder of Elite IQ Football, where he specializes in developing elite youth football players through long-term athlete development and coach education. In this episode we discuss why development should always come before winning, how parents influence player success, what separates elite players from everyone else, and why mentality often matters more than talent. In this episode, we spoke about: • Why player development should always come before winning • The role parents play in youth football success • How elite football environments develop future professionals • Why mentality beats talent over the long term Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Arturo Hoyos 00:22 Inside Surf Soccer Club 01:14 Building Character Through Football 02:42 Managing Ambitious Parents 05:15 Development Before Winning 07:02 When Winning Starts to Matter 08:49 College & National Team Pathways 10:22 Following Players for Years 11:20 Private Coaching for Young Players 13:00 Can You Spot Future Stars? 16:18 The Growth of Football in America 20:25 Becoming a Licensed Coach 26:04 From Corporate Life to Football Coach 29:37 The Future of Coaching 31:11 Advice for Future Coaches SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

June 22, 2026Episode 25638 min

#256 From Olympic Swimmer to Entrepreneur: Building a Sports Tourism Business | Ioannis Drymonakos

Welcome to episode 256 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Ioannis Drymonakos, former Olympic swimmer, European record holder, World Championship finalist, and founder of Swimming Cruise. Ioannis represented Greece at three Olympic Games, competed against legends like Michael Phelps, and became one of Greece's most successful swimmers before transitioning into entrepreneurship through sports tourism and wellness experiences in Greece. In this episode, we spoke about: • Competing at three Olympic Games and against Michael Phelps • The sacrifices and realities of elite swimming • Life after professional sport and becoming an entrepreneur • Building Swimming Cruise and the future of sports tourism TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:24 Discovering Swimming 02:17 The Road to the Olympics 04:19 Learning from Legends 06:12 The Hardest Part of Elite Sport 08:29 First Olympic Memories 10:32 Breaking a European Record 14:06 Career Highlight: World Championship Final 15:33 Dealing with Setbacks 17:07 Building Swimming Cruise 19:33 Why Poros Is Perfect 24:19 Lessons from Survivor 27:18 Open Water vs Pool Swimming 30:56 Coaching Amateur Swimmers 32:10 Growing a Sports Tourism Business Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

June 15, 2026Episode 25546 min

#255 The Winning Mindset: Leadership, Resilience & Mental Performance | Sherry Levin

Welcome to episode 255 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Sherry Levin, leadership expert, speaker, author of Pregame: A Winning Mindset, former basketball coach, ESPN analyst, and resilience advocate. Over decades in sports, coaching, broadcasting, and leadership development, Sherry has helped athletes and professionals unlock the power of mindset, confidence, resilience, and personal growth. In this episode, we spoke about: • Why mindset may account for 70-80% of performance • Building resilience through failure and adversity • Leadership lessons from decades of coaching elite athletes • Practical tools for confidence, gratitude, and mental toughness TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Why Sports Teach Life Skills 06:05 Becoming a Coach 08:37 Why Mindset Matters 10:10 Training Your Mindset 12:18 The Power of Gratitude 13:50 Mental Resets & Self-Talk 15:54 Building Confidence Through Positivity 17:39 Leadership Evolution 20:20 Demanding Without Demeaning 22:54 Resilience Through Failure 26:29 Writing Pregame: A Winning Mindset 32:16 Social Media & Mental Strength 35:12 Overcoming Cancer 40:41 Advice for Future Sports Leaders 44:11 Guest Recommendation & Closing SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

June 8, 2026Episode 25432 min

#254 The Business of Volleyball: 800 Million Fans and Massive Growth Potential

Welcome to episode 254 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Ugo Valensi, CEO of Volleyball World. Ugo has held leadership roles across sports, media, and commercial strategy, including senior positions in tennis, football, and global sports marketing. In this episode, he shares how Volleyball World is transforming one of the world's largest participation sports into a global commercial powerhouse. In this episode, we spoke about: • How Volleyball World is commercializing a sport with 800 million fans • The role of CVC Capital Partners in accelerating growth • Building athlete brands and fan engagement in volleyball • Future trends in sports media, OTT platforms, and content consumption TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Volleyball World 00:15 What Volleyball World Actually Does 01:24 Commercializing an 800 Million Fan Sport 03:26 Lessons from Tennis & Football 05:05 Athlete Storytelling & Docuseries 06:12 Indoor vs Beach Volleyball 08:09 Reinventing Beach Volleyball 08:23 Road to Los Angeles 2028 09:42 Volleyball's Biggest Growth Markets 11:38 Planning Events Years Ahead 13:05 Vision for the Next Five Years 14:33 The Future of Sports Consumption 16:25 Creating One Global Fan Narrative 17:20 Ugo's Career Journey 24:10 Networking & Career Advice 28:28 The Role of Private Equity in Sports Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

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