Sports Management Podcast

Hosted by Marcus Filipsson

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276

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Oct 2026

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Conversations Shaping the Future of Sport

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October 12, 2026Episode 27221 min

#272 Inside Premier League Player Safety | Chief Medical Officer, Mark Gillett

Is modern football pushing players to their physical limits? And who is responsible for protecting them? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, host Marcus Filipsson sits down with Dr. Mark Gillett, Chief Medical Officer of the Premier League , to explore the realities of player welfare, injury prevention and medical leadership at the highest level of professional football. After seven years overseeing medical governance in the Premier League, Mark is approaching the end of his tenure. He shares insights from a career that has included Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Olympic sport and elite sports medicine. We discuss the challenges of balancing player safety with competitive advantage, the impact of an increasingly demanding football calendar, and how artificial intelligence could change injury assessment. Mark also reflects on the pressure of working in professional football, communicating difficult medical decisions, his experience during COVID-19 and the lessons he has learned throughout his career. In this episode, we discuss: Who is responsible for protecting Premier League players? Player welfare, fixture congestion and competitive pressure Why hamstring injuries remain a major challenge How AI could transform sports medicine The reality of working behind the scenes in elite football Career advice for aspiring sports medicine professionals Life after the Premier League Episode timestamps 00:00 The role of the Premier League's Chief Medical Officer 02:40 Working with Premier League clubs and Olympic teams 03:38 Fixture congestion and player welfare 04:19 Player safety versus competitive advantage 05:07 Football injuries and hamstring problems 05:43 Knee health and life after football 07:26 What's next after the Premier League? 08:19 Mark's journey into sports medicine 09:37 Cycling the Tour de France for charity 11:29 Overcoming career challenges 12:42 Breaking into professional sport 14:14 Lessons from working at Chelsea 16:08 Communicating difficult medical decisions 18:00 Artificial intelligence in sports medicine 19:57 The next chapter of Mark's career Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

October 5, 2026Episode 27138 min

#271 Do Sports Teams Really Know Their Fans? | Cole Rubin

Do sports teams actually know who their fans are? Teams and rights holders collect enormous amounts of data through ticketing, merchandise, food & beverage, CRM systems and digital platforms. But according to Cole Rubin, having the data and actually understanding the fan are two very different things. Cole is the Co-Founder of FanFeed and has spent more than 20 years building businesses across live events and ticketing. His entrepreneurial journey started in college, when he launched a business taking Baltimore Ravens fans to away games, eventually leading him into the rapidly growing secondary ticket market. In this episode, Cole shares what that journey taught him about the business of live sports and why he believes AI, fan data and hyper-personalization will reshape the fan experience. We discuss the "invisible fan," one-to-one personalization, the future of ticketing, data privacy, sponsorship, entrepreneurship and why relationships and soft skills may become even more valuable in the age of AI. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:50 Starting a business to pay for college 03:53 Discovering the ticketing business 05:41 Building Dynasty Sports & Entertainment 07:47 Why relationships matter in sports 10:04 Starting again with FanFeed 14:16 What FanFeed actually does 17:40 The future of one-to-one personalization 20:06 Are sports teams using their data effectively? 22:40 Fan data and sponsorship 25:30 Privacy and the value exchange 30:11 AI and the future of ticketing 33:48 What makes a great live event experience? 34:47 Advice for building a career in sports 36:28 Why soft skills will matter more in the AI era Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

September 28, 2026Episode 27030 min

#270 Anna Laurell Nash - From World Champion Boxer to Sports Business Leader

What happens when the sport that has defined your life suddenly ends? Anna Laurell Nash is a two-time world champion boxer, three-time European champion, two-time Olympian and PhD who today serves as Executive Director at the Center for Sports and Business at the Stockholm School of Economics. In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, Anna shares her remarkable journey from starting boxing at 17 to becoming one of the world's leading female boxers. We discuss her Olympic journey, losing to a young Claressa Shields at London 2012, battling Graves' disease during her career, and the identity crisis she experienced when she stepped away from elite sport. Anna also explains why athletes need to prepare for life beyond competition, how skills developed through elite sport translate into business, and why women's sport still represents a major untapped business opportunity. In this episode: 🥊 Starting boxing at 17 🏆 Becoming a two-time world champion 🇬🇧 Losing to Claressa Shields at London 2012 🧠 Athlete identity and retirement 🎓 Combining elite sport with a PhD 📈 The business opportunity in women's sport 💼 Building a career after professional sport 🔥 Recovering from Graves' disease TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:21 How Anna discovered boxing 03:02 Hiding her boxing competitions from her father 04:31 Starting boxing at 17 06:42 Becoming a world champion and Olympian 08:05 London 2012 & Claressa Shields 10:55 The athlete identity crisis 13:33 Combining boxing with a PhD 15:54 Finding purpose after boxing 17:19 The business opportunity in women's sport 20:14 Fairness and inclusion in boxing 22:34 Battling Graves' disease 26:30 Supporting the next generation 28:02 Advice for building a career in sports Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

September 21, 2026Episode 26952 min

#269 Terrence Burns: The Olympics, Sportswashing, Politics & the Business of the Games

Can sport ever truly be separated from politics? Terrence Burns has spent more than three decades working at the highest levels of Olympic marketing, sponsorship and bidding. In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, Terrence takes us inside the business and politics of the Olympic movement — from commercialization and sponsorship to the extraordinary process of bidding to host the Games. We also tackle some of the most difficult questions facing global sport. What does "sportswashing" actually mean? Should countries with controversial governments host major sporting events? Should Russian athletes be allowed to compete? Do Olympic boycotts achieve anything? And where should sport draw the line between universal values and geopolitical reality? Terrence also shares stories from Olympic bids involving Beijing, Sochi, PyeongChang and LA28, and explains why winning a bid is ultimately about much more than stadiums, infrastructure and hotel rooms. Finally, we explore Terrence's remarkable career journey — from working as a janitor at Delta Air Lines to becoming one of the most experienced Olympic marketing and bidding experts in the industry. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Has the Olympics become too commercial? 02:03 Why Olympic sponsors get marketing wrong 06:00 LA28 and Olympic venue naming rights 07:13 How commercialization changed the Olympics 08:56 Athletes, social media and personal brands 15:44 What actually wins an Olympic bid? 19:52 Beijing, Sochi and PyeongChang 26:09 What does "sportswashing" really mean? 29:14 Human rights and hosting major sporting events 31:54 Should Russian athletes compete? 35:46 Do Olympic boycotts actually work? 37:31 What to expect from LA28 39:52 Terrence's unusual career journey 45:38 Learning from losing Olympic bids 50:27 Who should come on the podcast next? Follow Sports Management Podcast for more conversations about the business, leadership and future of sport. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

September 14, 2026Episode 26838 min

#268 The Future of Sports Hospitality: Padel, Wellness & Community | Chris King

Could padel become the new golf for business, networking and hospitality? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast , Marcus Filipsson sits down with Chris King , Founder of Crafted and former co-founder of Sports Recruitment International. Chris is building Crafted around a different vision of modern hospitality—combining sport, wellness, nature, community, coworking and social experiences in one place. We discuss why padel has become central to that model, why Chris believes it works particularly well as a business and networking sport, and whether padel can translate its extraordinary participation growth into a successful spectator product. Chris also shares his thoughts on the modern wellness industry, why people may be over-optimizing their health, the loneliness created by remote work, what today's employees are really looking for from employers, and why hospitality increasingly needs to create a sense of belonging rather than simply provide accommodation. We also explore Chris's unconventional career journey—from studying sports science and being rejected by Nike and IMG to building an international sports recruitment business and eventually launching Crafted. In this episode: • Is padel becoming the new golf? • Why padel works so well for business networking • Can padel succeed as a spectator sport? • The future of sports hospitality • Why community and belonging matter more than ever • Has wellness culture become too obsessive? • Sport, nature and the hospitality experience • Why people increasingly choose culture over salary • How to break into the sports industry • Why curiosity and hustle still matter • Chris King's unconventional career journey • The future of Crafted ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:11 What Is Crafted? 01:41 Disconnecting From the Digital World 02:19 Building a Sustainable Hospitality Concept 04:10 Why Padel Became Part of Crafted 05:22 Wellness, Wild Swimming & Cold Therapy 06:33 Has Wellness Culture Gone Too Far? 07:48 Why Balance Matters More Than Optimization 08:28 Designing a Different Hotel Experience 09:40 Why Chris Chose Padel 11:00 Can Padel Become a Spectator Sport? 12:26 How Guests Use Crafted 13:04 Remote Work and the Loneliness Problem 14:13 Combining Work, Travel & Hospitality 15:14 How Global Brands Use Crafted 16:31 Experiences Beyond Alcohol 17:12 Sustainability & Biodiversity 19:16 Is Padel Becoming the New Golf? 21:14 Why Padel Is More Inclusive 21:51 The Future of Crafted 23:55 Could Crafted Expand Into Scandinavia? 25:29 Chris King's Career Journey 27:26 Being Rejected by Nike and IMG 28:03 Leaving Corporate Life at 26 28:33 Building Sports Recruitment International 30:42 Building the Right Company Culture 33:15 How to Break Into the Sports Industry 35:25 Why Your LinkedIn Profile Matters 36:31 Choosing the Right Career Path Follow Sports Management Podcast for more conversations about the business and future of sport. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

September 7, 2026Episode 26753 min

#267 Building a Sport From Scratch: Social Media, Sponsors & the Olympics | Greg Roe

Welcome to episode 267 of Sports Management Podcast. Can you build an entirely new sport from scratch? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast , Marcus Filipsson speaks with Greg Roe , former Team Canada trampoline athlete and Co-Founder of the Freestyle Trampoline Association. Freestyle trampoline started as an athlete-led movement fueled by backyard videos, social media and a generation that wanted to experience trampoline differently from the traditional Olympic system. Today, the association operates events around the world—but getting there meant creating everything from judging systems and equipment standards to insurance, sponsorship models, international events and an entirely new sporting culture. Greg shares what it really takes to build a sport from zero, why freestyle trampoline has been described as a sport "born on Instagram," whether Olympic recognition actually matters, and why brands are becoming less interested in follower counts and more interested in direct access to customers. We also discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, protecting a sport from investors too early, the future of action sports and Greg's remarkable journey from a Russian orphanage to Team Canada and eventually building a global sports organization. In this episode: • How a new sport gets created from scratch • Why freestyle trampoline was born through social media • Athlete-led sports vs traditional federations • Can an Instagram-born sport reach the Olympics? • What sponsors actually want in 2026 • Why follower counts are losing commercial value • Building events, rules and infrastructure from zero • Protecting the culture of a young sport • The reality of 12 years of entrepreneurship • Greg's journey from Russia to Team Canada • The future of freestyle and action sports ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:14 What Is Freestyle Trampoline? 01:29 Building an Athlete-Led Sport 03:20 How Do You Create a Sport From Scratch? 05:18 Why Athletes Wanted Something Different 07:19 Breaking Away From Traditional Trampoline 09:07 The Viral Video That Changed Everything 10:18 Finding the Right Co-Founder 10:49 Building the Sport Without Advertising 12:43 Can a Sport Born on Instagram Reach the Olympics? 14:20 The Rise of the "Flipping" Sports Industry 15:35 Competition Between New Action Sports 18:06 Building a World Championship 21:15 The Business Behind a New Sports League 24:38 Why Some Sports Never Grow 26:26 Why Taking Investors Too Early Can Be Dangerous 27:13 Working With the X Games 28:41 Why Follower Counts Matter Less to Sponsors 30:50 What Brands Actually Want 33:55 Does Freestyle Trampoline Need the Olympics? 35:29 Building a Business Beyond Competition 39:16 The Reality of Being a Sports Entrepreneur 42:46 Fighting an Established Industry 44:23 Greg's Journey From a Russian Orphanage 45:23 Becoming an Elite Trampoline Athlete 47:46 Team Canada, World Records & America's Got Talent 51:24 From Athlete to Entrepreneur 51:37 Where to Find Freestyle Trampoline Follow Sports Management Podcast for more conversations exploring the business and future of sport. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

August 31, 2026Episode 26634 min

#266 How Sport Can Transform Education & Communities | Rita Finkel

What can sport accomplish beyond competition? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast , Marcus Filipsson speaks with Rita Finkel , Co-President of the Armory Foundation and Director of Armory College Prep in New York City. The Armory may be known as one of the fastest and busiest indoor tracks in the world, but its impact stretches far beyond athletics. Rita explains how the organization uses sport as a gateway to education, opportunity and community—helping underserved young people prepare for college, placing students into meaningful paid internships, creating programs for seniors and bringing together one of New York City's most diverse communities. We also discuss whether college degrees still matter in the age of AI, why internships are so important, what sports can teach us about life, Rita's career in fencing and track & field, and the leadership lessons she's learned over more than two decades at the Armory. In this episode: • How the Armory combines sport and education • 11 years of 100% college admission for Armory College Prep seniors • Why college still matters in the age of AI • The importance of internships and career exposure • How sport can support underserved communities • Tackling isolation and inactivity among older adults • Leadership lessons from Dr. Norbert Sander • Rita's advice for building a meaningful career • The history and future of the Millrose Games Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Inside the Armory Foundation 01:47 Using Sports to Support Education 02:36 100% College Admission for 11 Years 03:04 How Armory College Prep Works 04:56 Finding Scholarships and Financial Aid 06:05 Do College Degrees Still Matter in the Age of AI? 08:31 Why College Fit Matters 09:22 The Power of Paid Internships 11:31 Why Critical Thinking Still Matters 12:27 From Fencing to Track & Field 14:43 Why Track & Field Is Different in the United States 16:59 The 2026 World Cup in New York 17:40 Rita's Journey Into Sports 18:45 Helping Seniors Through Sport 21:07 Why Community Matters 23:25 Rita's Career Advice 25:31 The Leadership Lesson That Changed Her Thinking 26:48 Why Great Leaders Change Their Minds 26:54 Career Setbacks and Resilience 30:09 The Armory's Community Impact 31:33 Inside the Millrose Games If you enjoy the episode, follow Sports Management Podcast and share it with someone who believes sport can create change beyond the playing field. Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

August 24, 2026Episode 26533 min

#265 Building the Future of Women's Sports: Overtime, NIL & Gen Z | Sascha Malas

Welcome to episode 265 of Sports Management Podcast. Women's sports are growing rapidly, but should they be built using the same playbook as men's sports? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast , Marcus Filipsson speaks with Sascha Malas , Head of OT Select and Director of Content Operations at Overtime, about the future of women's sports, Gen Z fandom, NIL, sponsorship and athlete branding. Sascha explains why Overtime deliberately chose not to copy its men's basketball model when creating OT Select, how listening to young athletes shaped the product, and why she believes women's basketball is still only at the beginning of its commercial growth. We also discuss how Overtime became one of the most influential sports brands for Gen Z, why brands like Adidas, Google, Gatorade, Target and State Farm are investing in young female athletes, how NIL is turning teenagers into businesspeople, and why women's sports need more specialized investment rather than being treated as one single category. In this episode: Why women's sports need their own business models How Overtime built an audience with Gen Z The rise of OT Select Why women's basketball is still early in its growth How NIL is changing athlete branding Why major brands are investing in teenage athletes The commercial opportunity in women's sports How Sascha built her career in sports The importance of networking, mentors and communication If you enjoy the episode, subscribe to Sports Management Podcast and share it with someone working in the business of sport. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Sascha's Role at Overtime 01:26 How Overtime Built a Gen Z Sports Brand 03:39 Why Overtime Beat Legacy Media on TikTok 05:04 Building OT Select 05:35 Why Women's Sports Need a Different Model 06:48 What Elite Female Athletes Actually Wanted 07:55 Why "Women's Sports" Is Too Broad a Category 08:50 The Caitlin Clark Effect and Athlete Fandom 09:36 Is Women's Basketball Still Just Getting Started? 11:37 How NIL Is Changing Young Athletes 13:15 Are Female Athletes Better at Personal Branding? 14:15 Why Major Brands Are Investing in Women's Basketball 16:34 The Purchasing Power of Young Female Fans 17:28 The Future of Overtime Women's Sports 18:14 Overtime's UConn Partnership 19:29 Sascha's Career Journey 21:56 How She Became "The Women's Sports Person" at Overtime 23:32 Creating Your Own Luck in Sports 26:04 Career Challenges and Building OT Select 29:05 Advice for Women Entering Sports 31:20 Why Communication Skills Matter More Than Ever 32:13 Final Thoughts Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

August 17, 2026Episode 26430 min

#264 How Technology Is Transforming Grassroots Football | Rohan Anand

Welcome to episode 264 of Sports Management Podcast. The world's biggest sport is still powered by volunteers - but why are they still relying on spreadsheets, WhatsApp groups and endless emails? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast , Marcus Filipsson sits down with Rohan Anand , Co-Founder and CEO of Center Circle, a technology platform transforming how grassroots football is organized. After experiencing the challenges firsthand as a player, coach, referee and volunteer, Rohan set out to solve one of football's biggest hidden problems: giving volunteers the tools they need to spend less time on administration and more time developing the next generation of players. We discuss why grassroots football is still built on outdated systems, how technology can reduce barriers to participation, why Center Circle has chosen a completely different business model than most sports technology companies, and the personal sacrifices required to build a startup from the ground up. In this episode, we discuss: Why grassroots football still relies on WhatsApp and spreadsheets The hidden challenges volunteers face every weekend How technology can simplify grassroots sports Building a sports tech startup with zero marketing budget Why Center Circle refuses to charge grassroots football Lessons from seven years of entrepreneurship Advice for anyone wanting to build a business in sport If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone passionate about the business of sport. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:16 What Center Circle Does 01:14 Why Grassroots Football Still Runs on Multiple Platforms 02:11 From Referee to Tech Entrepreneur 03:12 Building Center Circle From Scratch 04:42 Convincing a Non-Football Co-Founder 06:53 Can AI Improve Grassroots Football? 08:17 Building Partnerships With Football Associations 09:47 Why Center Circle Is Completely Free 11:15 Why Grassroots Football Should Never Be Monetized 12:18 What Grassroots Football Needs Next 14:50 Growing 5x Without Marketing 16:14 Building the Team 17:21 Why They Never Spent Money on Advertising 20:42 The Sacrifices of Entrepreneurship 22:29 The Vision for the Future 24:44 Rohan's Journey Into Football 26:39 Studying Business Instead of Sport 28:05 Advice for Future Sports Entrepreneurs 29:28 Where to Find Center Circle Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

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

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