Sports Pundit Podcast

Sports Pundit

A new multi-show platform designed for sports executives, by sports executives. The network brings together a mix of interview podcasts hosted by domain experts across innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch.

Visit our website (sportspundit.co) to dive into our newsletters and connect with other execs both online via the WhatsApp Group and IRL via our social events.

Proudly Supported by Summitly, the Conference and Community Calendar for the Global Sports Industry

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98 episodes
Updated July 24

Episodes98

Newest first

July 24 · 36 min
Isabelle Van Coevorden [#90] - Growing the Seattle Seahawks Globally
On today's episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, we're joined by Isabelle Van Coevorden, Managing Director of Global Markets at the Seattle Seahawks. Isabelle walks us through her career path, from playing semi-professional soccer and interning at UEFA in Switzerland, to brand-growth roles with Major League Soccer, FC Barcelona, and the Bundesliga, before joining the Seahawks to help translate American football to international markets from both a fan and a B2B perspective. She discusses how the Seahawks leveraged their Super Bowl win for an immediate global momentum boost, while stressing the importance of building year-round market presence beyond the NFL's Super Bowl-centric spike in attention. The conversation covers long-term ROI on international investment, community-building through events and flag football, the difference between global and regional commercial partnerships (including Accenture and Condor Airlines), cross-sport collaborations with clubs like Bayern Munich and AFL/NRL teams, the Seahawks' ambassador program with players, and the wider "halo effect" of promoting Seattle as a global city. Timestamps 01:00 - Isabelle's Career Journey 04:00 - Joining the Seahawks 05:00 - Leveraging Super Bowl Momentum 09:30 - Seahawks' Global Markets 15:00 - Activating Without a Game 17:30 - Measuring International ROI 23:30 - Global and Regional Sponsors 33:00 - Seattle World Cup Halo About The Host Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives.
July 12 · 49 min
The Pitch [#07]: Should Teams Create an Honours List to Celebrate their Greatest Fans?
On this episode of The Pitch, Andy and Drew welcome new co-host Dom, who arrives with a big opening pitch focused on an “honors system” for fans, built like a Hall of Fame for the people who actually create sports culture on the ground. Dom points to examples like San Antonio Spurs fans in France staging 2-4 a.m. playoff watch parties complete with drums, and asks why the volunteers and organisers behind these communities rarely get any formal recognition at all. That pitch opens into a wider conversation about visibility. Andy and Dom talk through what it would actually take to spotlight these grassroots communities and the tension that comes with it. From there the discussion turns to loyalty and rewards, looking at how clubs and platforms already recognise their most devoted fans and the episode shifts to a practical question of “if not everyone can or wants to go to a stadium, what’s the next best thing?” The trio debate the UK’s fan bar culture, then dig into “pub-plus” concepts like COSM and F1 Arcade as scalable alternatives to matchday attendance. They close by exploring whether cinemas could become a real venue for sport (both live broadcasts and archival footage) including formats built specifically for kids and for women’s sport. Timestamps 1:00 - Fanzo’s Dom Collingwood Joins The Pitch 07:00 - Championing Volunteers And Giving Suitable Recognition 12:30 - Commercialising Fan Recognition and Finding Sponsorship Balance 14:30 – Creating Visible Communities for Fans 20:00 - Exploring Wider Opportunities around Loyalty And Data Rewards 26:19 - Why Don’t UK Fan Bars Exist for Top Teams? 32:00 - Appreciating the COSM And F1 Arcade Formats 38:00 - Should Sports Be more present in Cinemas? About The Show The Pitch is the conversational show from the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, hosted by Andy Marston, Drew Rauso and Dom Collingwood. It’s a play on words, with each host bringing an idea, theme, or provocation that they pitch to the other. Together they react, debate, and explore what’s really happening across the sports industry, from shifting media models to the next wave of innovation. Each episode mixes perspective with practicality, with occasional appearances from other Sports Pundit hosts from across the Network. About The Hosts Drew Rauso is a versatile media operator with a proven track record of building and scaling sports media ventures at the intersection of content, commerce, and creator strategy. He currently leads Brand, Strategy, and Operations at Playmaker HQ, a leading sports podcast network owned by Better Collective, home to shows featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Angel Reese, and Marshawn Lynch. Previously at The Players’ Tribune, Drew has been instrumental in shaping athlete-driven media, overseeing partnerships, production, and growth initiatives that connect fans and talent in meaningful ways. Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 and Juventus to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Dom Collingwood is the founder of Fanzo, the world's most used sports bar finder, helping fans find the best bars and venues showing live sport near you. Alongside his business partner Leo MacLehose, he launched the company to revolutionise match viewing experiences and currently oversees operations across multiple global markets, including Australia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Austria and the USA.
June 22 · 37 min
Jada Balster [#89] - How Perk is Using Sport to Accelerate Brand Growth in a New Era of B2B Marketing 🏎️
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, I’m joined by Jada Balster, CMO at Perk. Jada is a B2B marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience across companies including Epicor, S&P Global, and Adobe. Today she leads marketing at Perk, the all-in-one travel and spend management platform formerly known as TravelPerk. In this conversation, we explore how B2B marketing has evolved from a demand generation discipline into a brand-building function, and why Perk recently embarked on its biggest ever marketing investment through a company-wide rebrand. We discuss the role sport can play in accelerating brand growth, including why Perk selected the Audi Revolut Formula One team as its first major sports partnership, and how the company plans to stand out as Formula One continues to get noisier for incoming brands. Timestamps 02:00 - Jada’s Career Journey 04:00 - TravelPerk Becomes Perk 06:00 - Rebrand Rollout and Metrics 10:00 - Why Sport and F1 Fit 15:00 - Choosing the Audi Partnership 24:00 - Integration Beyond the Logo27:00 - Activating Across Channels 34:00 - What’s Next for Perk About The Host Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives.
June 15 · 26 min
The Pitch [#06]: What if Stadia Became Co-Working Spaces? 🏟️
On this episode of The Pitch, Andy and Drew dig into two ideas that both orbit the same macro challenge: how do sports venues generate more value on the days when the stands aren't full? Andy kicks things off with Surrey County Cricket Club's move to turn the Oval into a midweek co-working destination, installing Wi-Fi and laptop-friendly desks to pull remote workers into four-day county fixtures. Drew draws the comparison to the San Diego Padres' Remote Work Wednesday experiment and the pair debate the real ROI of infrastructure investment versus a lighter-touch marketing play. The conversation quickly expands beyond simple attendance tactics. Andy pitches the idea of segmenting co-working days by industry, turning the stadium into a genuine networking event, and ultimately folding the whole concept into corporate sponsorship packages that give brands a physical home inside the venue on non-match days. Then Drew takes the mic with a pitch around legends football, asking what would happen if the one-off celebrity and former player games that clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United already run were structured into a proper secondary league, complete with tracked stats, betting markets, and miniature club contracts. Andy traces the idea back to Sky Sports' Masters Football series from the early 2000s and the pair explore how the Kings League and Baller League have already proved the appetite exists, and why a Premier League-backed version could be close to unstoppable. Finally, the duo zoom out to look at why all of this matters now, connecting stadium monetisation directly to financial fair play regulations in European football, before grounding the conversation in practical examples from Southampton FC's in-stadium pub and arcade to the Bernabeu's surprisingly affordable Starbucks. Timestamps 01:30 - The Surrey Oval Co-Working Idea 04:00 - Baseball Comparison and the ROI Question 07:00 - Networking, Industry Days, and Segmenting the Crowd 10:00 - Sponsor Suites as Co-Working Infrastructure 15:30 - The Legends League Pitch 18:30 - Kings League, Club Partnerships, and Defensive Moats 21:00 - Stadium Revenue and the Financial Fair Play Macro 24:00 - Spurs, Southampton, the Bernabeu, and What's Actually Replicable About The ShowThe Pitch is the conversational show from the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, hosted by Andy Marston and Drew Rauso. It's a play on words, with each host bringing an idea, theme, or provocation that they pitch to the other. Together they react, debate, and explore what's really happening across the sports industry, from shifting media models to the next wave of innovation. Each episode mixes perspective with practicality, with occasional appearances from other Sports Pundit hosts from across the Network. About The Hosts Drew Rauso is a versatile media operator with a proven track record of building and scaling sports media ventures at the intersection of content, commerce, and creator strategy. He currently leads Brand, Strategy, and Operations at Playmaker HQ, a leading sports podcast network owned by Better Collective, home to shows featuring Shaquille O'Neal, Angel Reese, and Marshawn Lynch. Previously at The Players' Tribune, Drew has been instrumental in shaping athlete-driven media, overseeing partnerships, production, and growth initiatives that connect fans and talent in meaningful ways. Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 and Juventus to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives.
June 5 · 38 min
Charlie Kurian [#88]: How the Spurs Are Using AI for Value Capture AND Value Creation...
On today’s episode, I’m joined by Charlie Kurian, Director of Innovation and Strategy at the San Antonio Spurs. Charlie has had a non-traditional path into professional sport, with experience spanning Big Tech, startups and venture capital. Prior to joining the Spurs, he served as Investor and Chief of Staff at Soma Capital, a $412M venture fund that was an early investor in companies including Deel, Rippling and Ramp. In this conversation, we explore how lessons from these areas, particularly venture, can be applied inside a sports organisation. We also discuss the Spurs’ AI adoption journey, their leadership guide with OpenAI, surprising internal use cases, and the launch of Spurs AI Studio, whose first activation delivered an AI-generated tunnel walk experience for Michelob Ultra. Finally, we explore how AI is changing partner expectations and where the next wave of opportunity may emerge for sports organisations. Timestamps 02:00 - Charlie’s Non-Linear Career Path 06:00 - Spurs Strategy & Innovation Role 10:00 - Translating Trends into Value 15:00 - OpenAI Partnership & Adoption Playbook 21:00 - Surprising Internal AI Use Cases 24:00 - Spurs AI Studio Revenue Creation 30:00 - Licensing and Partner Expectations Shift 33:30 - Build vs Buy and Startup Collaboration About The Host Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives.
May 17 · 44 min
Brett Johnson [#87] - Why the USL Could Offer a Strategic Opportunity for MCOs
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, host Vansa Chatikavanij is joined by Brett M. Johnson, Founder & CEO of Benevolent Capital, Chairman of Rhode Island FC and Centerville Bank Stadium, and a shareholder and director at Ipswich Town. Brett reflects on the development of the $140M Centerville Bank Stadium project in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and explains how the wider Tidewater Landing vision combines sport, real estate, hospitality, and community infrastructure into a long-term economic engine. The conversation explores partnership-driven leadership, the “Who Not How” mindset, and why Brett believes the sports industry is still in the early innings of value creation. Finally, he also breaks down why aligned incentives between clubs and venue ownership matter, how sports assets can create commercial flywheels beyond matchday revenue, and the future of United Soccer League (USL). Timestamps 05:00 - Building Benevolent Capital 12:00 - Leaning Into “Who Not How” 15:00 - The Rise & Rise of Ipswich Town 21:00 - Stadium Economics Explained 32:00 - Fans and Community Flywheel 36:00 - USL’s Role in the Multi-Club Ownership Future About The Hosts Vansa Chatikavanij is Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Present Ventures, an investment firm focused on emerging sports, media, and technology. She previously led strategy at Omise (“Stripe of Asia”) and co-founded OmiseGO Network, reaching a $1B+ market cap. Earlier in her career, she worked at the World Bank across 13 markets and has advised organisations including the World Economic Forum, GSIC powered by Microsoft, and Real Madrid NEXT Asia. About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
April 13 · 46 min
The Pitch [#05]: How National Sponsors Could Unlock Grassroots Sports at Scale 🏏
On this episode of The Pitch, Andy and Drew reimagine the team social media playbook, exploring what would happen if clubs blew up their internal social departments and handed the keys to a rotating cast of fans or creators. The conversation then shifts into the rapidly evolving world of AI content creation, from AI-generated podcast host avatars that can scale ad reads, to AI twins of athletes that could transform how clubs produce commercial content. The duo unpack the surprising upside for players, the sponsor inventory opportunities hiding inside club archives, and the creative potential of remastering iconic footage or even simulating matchups between historic teams. Finally, Andy pitches an idea born from his own cricket experience: a grassroots sponsorship fund that would let national brands extend their partnerships down to the amateur club level, giving volunteer-run clubs a ready-made commercial model and giving sponsors unmatched local affinity. Timestamps 1:00 - Creator Takeover Social Strategy 4:00 - Inside a Team Social Department 8:00 - Algorithm Volume and Club Creator Labs 14:00 - AI Tools, Editing, and Podcast Host Avatars 18:00 - AI Twins for Players and Commercial Shoots 24:00 - Unlocking Archive Footage as Sponsor Inventory 28:00 - Remastering History and Dream Team Matchups 31:00 - Grassroots Sponsorship Fund Pitch 36:00 - Exploring Feasibility in the UK vs USA Additional Links: AI Assist: How Juventus Scores Incredible Content Output ⚽️ About The Show The Pitch is the conversational show from the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, hosted by Andy Marston and Drew Rauso. It’s a play on words, with each host bringing an idea, theme, or provocation that they pitch to the other. Together they react, debate, and explore what’s really happening across the sports industry, from shifting media models to the next wave of innovation. Each episode mixes perspective with practicality, with occasional appearances from other Sports Pundit hosts from across the Network. About The Hosts Drew Rauso is a versatile media operator with a proven track record of building and scaling sports media ventures at the intersection of content, commerce, and creator strategy. He currently leads Brand, Strategy, and Operations at Playmaker HQ, a leading sports podcast network owned by Better Collective, home to shows featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Angel Reese, and Marshawn Lynch. Previously at The Players’ Tribune, Drew has been instrumental in shaping athlete-driven media, overseeing partnerships, production, and growth initiatives that connect fans and talent in meaningful ways. Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 and Juventus to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
April 8 · 41 min
Mark Shannon [#86]: How the DP World Tour is Navigating the Future of Digital Products 📱
On today's episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, I'm joined by Mark Shannon, Head of Digital Product at the DP World Tour. Mark is a product leader specialising in digital transformation and fan engagement innovation, with experience spanning sports, automotive, retail, and government. Throughout his career, he's built and launched revenue driving digital products that deliver exceptional user experiences. Most recently, he's been helping transform how fans engage with the DP world Tour through mobile's first strategies, modern technology and data-driven product development. Mark combines deep technical expertise for strategic vision, and in this episode we go somewhere to exploring that. We talk about the shift from project led to product led organisations, how AI is reshaping the sports fan experience and how Mark is personally experimenting with Frontier Technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Timestamps 2:00 - Mark’s Career Path 05:00 - From Car Rental to the Sports Industry 08:00 - Project to Product Mindset Shift 11:00 - Data and Fan Insights 16:00 - Implications of AI 21:00 - How Mark is Approaching AI 36:00 - Future of DP World Tour Additional Links: Subscribe to Mark's Newsletter, The Sports Stack. Jump's $23M Series A: Why Sports' Ticketing Monopoly Is Finally Under Attack About The Host Andy Marston⁠ is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its ⁠weekly newsletter⁠, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the ⁠Sports Pundit Podcast Network⁠, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by ⁠OH SIX⁠, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
March 24 · 42 min
Chris Sice [#85]: How ICONS Series' is Approaching Content ⛳️
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Media Podcast, Jo and Michael are joined by Chris Sice, Chief Content Officer at ICONS Series. ICONS Series is a disruptive experiential sports and entertainment brand that brings together the biggest, boldest cross-section of world class athletes and fans. This conversation, which took place off the back of their most recent event in Bangkok, explores the series’ disruptive approach to golf, both on the course and in the ways that they approach media. Timestamps 2:00 - ICONS Series Origin Story 12:30 - Broadcast and YouTube Hybrid 17:00 - Players as Media Channels 23:00 - Live Vs Edited Storytelling 30:00 - Audience Data And Surprises 34:00 - Building Cultural Resonance 37:00 - Monetising Cultural Currency About The Hosts Jo Redfern is a digital and youth media specialist who has spent the last five years at the forefront of platforms such as YouTube, Roblox, and TikTok. With a background in traditional broadcast and kids media, Jo is known for turning generational media behaviours into commercial opportunities. Through her consultancy firm, Futrhood, she helps IP owners and rights holders scale engagement and monetisation by leveraging content, platforms, community, and emerging tech. Michael Cohen has spent the last decade building at the intersection of sport, media, and the creator economy. As former CEO of Whistle, he scaled the company into a $100M multi-platform media business, driving organic growth and strategic M&A before leading its exit to Eleven Sports and later DAZN. Today, through his new venture Disruptive Play, Michael partners with companies and creators to shape the next wave of sports and media IP, challenging the status quo and architecting business models for the next era of sport. About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
March 12 · 49 min
Maria Norrman [#84]: Why Does an Education Company Own a WorldTour Cycling Team?
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, we’re joined by Maria Norrman, President of EF Pro Cycling and Global Chief of Staff at EF Education First. Maria sits at the intersection of performance, people, and strategy - helping run one of the most distinctive and commercially innovative teams in professional cycling. As EF opens its first-ever title partnership and looks to build the world’s best cycling team across both the men’s and women’s peloton, she’s the person translating ambition into reality behind the scenes. In this conversation, we get into what it really takes to operate a WorldTour team, the business model of cycling, and how culture, not just budget, can become a competitive advantage. Timestamps 02:00 - Maria's Journey and Unique Double Role 07:30 - The Unique Economics of Professional Cycling 11:00 - Why Winning Isn’t Enough 18:00 - Building the World’s Favourite Cycling Team 28:00 - The Cost of Running a WorldTour Team 39:00 - The Most Underrated Cost in Cycling 45:00 - New Inventory and Revenue Streams About The Hosts ⁠Vansa Chatikavanij⁠ is Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Present Ventures, an investment firm focused on emerging sports, media, and technology. She previously led strategy at Omise (“Stripe of Asia”) and co-founded OmiseGO Network, reaching a $1B+ market cap. Earlier in her career, she worked at the World Bank across 13 markets and has advised organisations including the World Economic Forum, GSIC powered by Microsoft, and Real Madrid NEXT Asia. Andy Marston⁠ is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its ⁠weekly newsletter⁠, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the ⁠Sports Pundit Podcast Network⁠, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by ⁠OH SIX⁠, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
March 2 · 49 min
The Pitch [#04]: Could the Next Billion Dollar Sport Start on Roblox?
On today’s episode of The Pitch, Andy is joined by Jo Redfern (stepping in for Drew) to trade sports media ideas sparked by Roblox, Netflix-style “shared universes,” and the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors. Jo opens with a pitch for DropHoop, a new hybrid sport incubated on Roblox first (parkour x tag x basketball), designed to scale through gameplay, UGC distribution, and monetisation before ever being commissioned IRL. The pair unpack why Roblox is effectively a Petri dish for sports formats, how brands could “own” emerging sports rather than sponsor existing ones, and what milestones would need to be hit before moving from a digital game to a live, ticketed experience. Andy flips the lens to traditional broadcast and proposes a new kind of rights add-on: sports should negotiate entertainment crossover as part of the deal, giving athletes access to audition for (or appear in) major reality formats to reach audiences who’d never click a sports doc. From The Traitors to Netflix’s Perfect Match flywheel, they explore how “character as referral” could become a repeatable growth lever for tier-two sports, without needing fans to already care about the sport in the first place. Timestamps 02:00 - Jo's Pitch: Roblox as a signal engine for the next generation of sports formats 06:30 - DropHoop explained 26:00 - The economics + milestones 30:00 - Andy’s Pitch: Reality TV as a rights negotiation lever for athlete-driven discovery 40:00 – Proof points: influencer-led fandom and why “character is the referral engine” 45:00 – Why this is under-leveraged? About The Hosts The Pitch is the conversational show from the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, hosted by Andy Marston and Drew Rauso (with occasional guests stepping in!) It’s a play on words, with each host bringing an idea, theme, or provocation that they pitch to the other. Together they react, debate, and explore what’s really happening across the sports industry, from shifting media models to the next wave of innovation. Each episode mixes perspective with practicality, with occasional appearances from other Sports Pundit hosts from across the Network. Jo Redfern is a digital and youth media specialist who has spent the last five years at the forefront of platforms such as YouTube, Roblox, and TikTok. With a background in traditional broadcast and kids media, Jo is known for turning generational media behaviours into commercial opportunities. Through her consultancy firm, Futrhood, she helps IP owners and rights holders scale engagement and monetisation by leveraging content, platforms, community, and emerging tech. Andy Marston⁠ is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its ⁠weekly newsletter⁠, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
January 28 · 40 min
Alfonso Díaz [#83]: Inside RCD Mallorca’s Journey to LaLiga 🏟️
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, Andy is joined by Alfonso Díaz, Chief Executive Officer of the Business Area at RCD Mallorca, a club whose transformation in the past decade has been nothing short of remarkable. Alfonso has been with the club since 2016, initially as CFO, and since 2020 as CEO of the business side. Prior to that, he held senior finance and commercial roles at global companies like LG Electronics and GE Capital, and brings a multi-industry perspective to running a modern football organisation. He’s played a key role in helping Mallorca return from Spain’s third tier to LaLiga - and in positioning the club as an international platform for sustainable sports tourism, premium experiences, and global partnerships. Backed by an ownership group that includes Andy Kohlberg, Steve Nash, Steve Kerr, and Stu Holden, the club has doubled down on long-term thinking - investing in a €30M stadium renovation and achieving strategic growth in markets like Japan, Korea, and the US. In this conversation, we explore how Mallorca has rebuilt itself structurally and commercially and what comes next for a club that’s aiming to be more than just a football team. Timestamps 02:00 - Welcome, Alfonso’s background, and early challenges at Mallorca 04:30 - Rebuilding the club: from crisis to LaLiga stability 10:30 - Ownership, culture change, and US long-term thinking 15:30 - Stadium redevelopment and reimagining the fan experience 24:00 - Tourism, local identity, and balancing visiting fans 26:30 - Premium hospitality and new matchday experiences 31:00 - International growth, new revenue streams, and global reach 40:00 - Future vision for RCD Mallorca With Thanks to the Social Football Summit ⚽️🏟️ Social Football Summit (SFS) is a event designed for innovative content, sharing, networking, and education in the Football Industry. The first event of its kind in Italy, over the years, it has become a reference point for football protagonists and stakeholders. Its inception aimed to build a dynamic and innovative ecosystem with the objective of creating opportunities for encounters between authoritative figures and key players in the Football Industry. Figures like Alfonso, who I was lucky enough to interview on stage at the latest edition back in November at Juventus’ Allianz Stadium. About The Host Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
January 21 · 38 min
Travis Black [#82]: Managing Olympic and Paralympic Partnerships at Allianz [Marketing with Jamie Corr and Charlie Copsey]
On this episode of the Sports Pundit Marketing Podcast, Charlie and Jamie are joined by Travis Black, Global Lead for Olympic & Paralympic Marketing at Allianz. Allianz is one of the world’s leading insurance and financial services brands, with a major footprint across global sport, spanning multi-sport events, clubs and teams, athletes, and stadium partnerships. Travis shares his journey into the industry, sparked by a lifelong passion for North American sport and formative experiences at the Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. He reflects on the importance of curiosity, empathy, and risk-taking in building a global sports marketing career and the cultural fluency required to lead programs across diverse markets. The conversation also explores the evolving role of athlete partnerships, the shift toward storytelling and purpose-driven sponsorship, and the ongoing balance between global scale and local relevance. Travis offers insight into the internal collaboration required to deliver meaningful partnerships, and how data and AI are shaping the next frontier of fan engagement. Timestamps 02:00 - Travis Black’s Journey into Sports Marketing 11:00 - Advice for Aspiring Sports Industry Professionals 14:00 - Future Trends in Sports Sponsorship 22:00 - Creating Effective Athlete Partnerships 28:00 - The Unique Appeal of the Olympic Games 32:00 - Balancing Global and Local Marketing Strategies 38:00 - Empowering Young Talent in Sports Marketing About The Hosts Jamie Corr is a seasoned sports marketing leader with over 15 years’ experience across partnerships, communications, and brand strategy. He has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands through roles at Burson, MKTG, H&K Strategies, and the International Olympic Committee, helping activate major global properties including the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and Tour de France. He now consults with LA-based sports content studio MILE 44 and has also served on the Board of Basketball Scotland. Connect on LinkedIn Charlie Copsey is the Founder & CEO of Underground Fan Club. Having began her career producing TV, radio, and film for major UK networks, working closely with talent behind the scenes. It was there she saw the human, unscripted side of stars, a side fans rarely get to access. Frustrated by repetitive, transactional events that kept talent at arm’s length, she set out to build Underground Fan Club, a space where talent could show up as their authentic selves and connect with fans on a deeper, more meaningful level. Connect on LinkedIn About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.”
January 14 · 39 min
Leonardo Giammarioli [#81]: Inside Napoli’s Unique Approach to Player Image Rights ⚽️
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, Andy is joined by Leonardo Giammarioli, Chief Global Business Development Officer at SSC Napoli, to unpack how one of Italy’s biggest clubs is building a smarter, more sustainable commercial model. Leonardo has worked across the sports business from multiple angles, including agency-side at SPORTFIVE, brand-side at NIVEA, and within clubs across different football cultures, giving him what he describes as a “360-degree” view of how the ecosystem works. At Napoli, that perspective matters, because the club’s ambition is clear: compete at the top level without the financial profile of Europe’s super clubs. In this conversation, we explore two of Napoli’s most distinctive advantages. First, the club’s approach to squad-wide image rights, which gives sponsors clearer access to players, reduces category conflicts, and even feeds into transfer decision-making through commercial forecasting. Second, Napoli’s end-to-end control of merchandise, which has transformed both brand perception and profitability, from premium sponsor alignment to rapid, culture-led drops tailored to specific markets. If you’re interested in how a club can build modern commercial leverage through ownership, control, and smarter infrastructure, this episode is a masterclass in commercial innovation. Timestamps 02:00 - Leonardo’s “360-degree” view of the industry 04:00 - Napoli’s unique approach to squad-wide player image rights 07:00 - The challenges (and commercial upside) of managing player rights day-to-day 11:00 - Developing premium positioning, direct relationships, and regional partners 24:00 - Taking in-house control of merchandise 33:30 - Loyalty, data, and building Napoli’s digital ecosystem 40:30 - Closing reflections: sustainability, infrastructure, and what comes next With Thanks to the Social Football Summit ⚽️🏟️ Social Football Summit (SFS) is a event designed for innovative content, sharing, networking, and education in the Football Industry. The first event of its kind in Italy, over the years, it has become a reference point for football protagonists and stakeholders. Its inception aimed to build a dynamic and innovative ecosystem with the objective of creating opportunities for encounters between authoritative figures and key players in the Football Industry. Figures like Leonardo, who I was lucky enough to interview on stage at the latest edition back in November at Juventus’ Allianz Stadium. Leanne Bats is a future of sports architect, blending creativity, technology, fandom, and purpose to shape the industry’s evolution. Having led Innovation at New Zealand Rugby, pioneering emerging technologies to deepen connections with the iconic teams in black and she is now drives transformative initiatives as Head of Digital & Innovation at Sport Waikato. She also authors the newsletter OuterSport, a commentary on the future of sport. Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives.
January 7 · 33 min
The Pitch [#03]: The Case For Opening a Premier League Museum and Scouting for Baseball's Next Star Creator...
On today’s episode of The Pitch, Andy and Drew trade bold fan engagement ideas, spanning physical experiences, creator-led storytelling, and new ways to reward participation beyond the professional game. Andy opens with a pitch for a Premier League Museum and Hall of Fame, exploring how a permanent or touring flagship experience could monetise global fandom, capture tourist demand in London, and turn the league’s history, players, and sponsors into a physical, social-first destination. From photo-ready moments to sponsor activations and legends events, the conversation examines why the Premier League’s Hall of Fame feels under-leveraged compared to US sports and global brands like Formula 1 and Guinness. Drew then flips the lens to participation, proposing a creator-driven model that connects grassroots and intramural sport to professional leagues. They explore how documenting amateur leagues, rewarding cultural impact over scale, and spotlighting everyday players could deepen fandom, unlock new creator pipelines, and give casual participants a meaningful stake in the ecosystem, without distorting competition. Timestamps 02:00 - Why a Premier League Museum could unlock a new tourist revenue stream 05:00 - Learning from the Guinness Storehouse 9:00 - The Opportunity for Expanding the Premier League’s “Hall of Fame” 15:00 - Connecting youth and intramural participation with Pro Sports Fandom 22:30 - A Grassroots Content Creator Competition Series 31:00 - Blending Technology with Physical Participation About The Hosts The Pitch is the conversational show from the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, hosted by Andy Marston and Drew Rauso. It’s a play on words, with each host bringing an idea, theme, or provocation that they pitch to the other. Together they react, debate, and explore what’s really happening across the sports industry, from shifting media models to the next wave of innovation. Each episode mixes perspective with practicality, with occasional appearances from other Sports Pundit hosts from across the Network. Drew Rauso is a versatile media operator with a proven track record of building and scaling sports media ventures at the intersection of content, commerce, and creator strategy. He currently leads Brand, Strategy, and Operations at Playmaker HQ, a leading sports podcast network owned by Better Collective, home to shows featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Angel Reese, and Marshawn Lynch. Previously at The Players’ Tribune, Drew has been instrumental in shaping athlete-driven media, overseeing partnerships, production, and growth initiatives that connect fans and talent in meaningful ways. Connect on LinkedIn Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Connect on LinkedIn About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.”
Dec 22, 2025 · 32 min
James Bower [#80]: The Resurgence of Atlassian Williams Racing is Happening On and Off The Track 🏎️ 🏁
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, Andy is joined by James Bower, Commercial Director at Atlassian Williams Racing, one of the most iconic teams in Formula 1, now in the midst of a bold commercial resurgence. James began his career at HP during its title partnership with Williams, before joining McLaren in 2007, where he worked on the Vodafone partnership and rose through senior roles in partner management, business development, and commercial strategy. Now at Williams, James leads a 35-person team across London, Grove, and New York, responsible for the acquisition and management of brand partnerships, a team that now generates more than 50% of the company’s total revenue. Since joining in 2021, James has helped secure a wave of high-profile deals with brands like Atlassian, Komatsu, Duracell, Gulf, Kraken, and Myprotein, as part of a deliberate shift toward quality over clutter. In this conversation, we explore the thinking behind Atlassian’s record-breaking title partnership, how Williams is differentiating itself commercially in an increasingly crowded space, and the success of their Fan Zones - a growing series of immersive, city-centre activations that are bringing the sport to fans in new and inclusive ways. Timestamps 02:00 - James’ journey into Formula 1: early career at HP and McLaren 05:00 - Joining Williams and navigating F1’s commercial transformation 09:00 - The strategy behind Atlassian’s title partnership 14:00 - Quality over clutter: rethinking partnership models in F1 18:30 - Fan Zones and creating physical touchpoints beyond the circuit 24:00 - Expanding in the US and managing a global commercial team 29:00 - Technology, innovation, and the future of Williams’ brand 33:00 - What’s next for Atlassian Williams Racing? About The Host Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Connect on LinkedIn About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
Dec 3, 2025 · 34 min
Rosie Spaulding [#79]: Building the "NBA of Volleyball" Through Unique Youth-to-Pro Model
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, Rich and I are joined by Rosie Spaulding, President of League One Volleyball (LOVB) Pro, the first fully-integrated youth-to-pro volleyball league in the United States. Rosie’s 20-year career has taken her behind some of the world’s biggest sporting stages, from Super Bowl 50 to the Rugby World Cup Sevens and the America’s Cup, but it’s at LOVE where she is rewriting the playbook entirely. Rather than inheriting a league, she’s building one from the ground up, designed around the whole athlete. Frustrated by the fragmented pathways and lack of infrastructure in women’s sport, LOVB have set out to create something radically different: a performance ecosystem where a 12-year-old club player can dream of turning professional without leaving the LOVB community. In this conversation, we explore how LOVB is reshaping athlete development, redefining welfare standards, and building a sustainable professional model fuelled by youth participation, not broadcast dependency. This is the future of performance, built at the intersection of community, care and competition. Timestamps 02:30 - Rosie’s Journey from Marine Biology to President of LOVB Pro 05:00 - Building a Youth-to-Pro Volleyball League 8:00 - Community Engagement and Athlete Development and The Whole Athlete Philosophy 15:00 - Challenges and Successes in Professional Volleyball in the U.S. 22:00 - Lessons on Leadership and Interdisciplinary Thinking 30:00 - Looking to Season 2 and Beyond… 🔍 Search ‘Sports Pundit Podcast’ wherever you listen, available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 🎧 Rich Buchanan is a human performance consultant with extensive experience at the highest levels of sport, including roles as Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and consultant for DC United in Major League Soccer. With a background spanning coaching, physiotherapy, and strength and conditioning, Rich specialises in building multi-disciplinary teams that deliver resilient, high-performing support systems. Passionate about holistic performance, Rich is committed to evolving best practices and helping organisations sustain long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Connect on LinkedIn About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
Nov 21, 2025 · 52 min
Beth Barrett-Wild [#78]: Bringing The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to England
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, we’re joined by Beth Barrett-Wild, Tournament Director ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 & Director of Women’s Professional Game at the England Cricket (ECB). Beth has spent her career at the forefront of cricket’s evolution, from her early years at MCC and the ECB, to now helping shape one of the most significant upcoming global moments in women’s sport. Her work spans governance, competition management, and commercial growth, giving her a unique perspective on how to build both a world-class tournament and a sustainable future for the game. In this conversation, Beth reflects on her leadership journey, the structural changes underway in women’s cricket, and how England can evolve its domestic pathways through initiatives like Project Darwin. She talks about Australia’s decade-long dominance and what it means for competitive balance, the importance of storytelling, and cultural positioning in growing fandom, as well as how the World Cup can drive lasting impact for players, fans, and the sport itself. Timestamps 02:30 - Beth’s Cricket Journey: From MCC to ECB and the ICC 10:00 - Talent Pathways and Project Darwin 17:00 - Rethinking England’s Domestic Structure 22:00 - Australia’s Dominance and the Challenge of Competitive Balance 28:00 - Building a Compelling Global Product 33:00 – Together or Separate: Positioning Women’s Cricket 38:00 - The Power of Storytelling and Player Narratives 49:00 - Moving from Social Justice to Performance and Entertainment 54:00 - Vision for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup About The Host Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Connect on LinkedIn About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
Nov 18, 2025 · 47 min
Tim Katt [#77]: The Rise of Sports-Anchored, Mixed-Use Districts [Finance with Vansa Chatikavanij]
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Finance Podcast, Vansa is joined by Tim Katt, National Director and Managing Partner of the Sports and Entertainment Practice at Transwestern. Tim brings a sharp perspective on how sports, real estate, and investment intersect, from structuring deals for high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors to developing large-scale, mixed-use districts anchored around sports facilities. He shares insights from his work with Overtime Elite and the creation of Overtime Arena, as well as his role in launching the Global Sports Venture Studio with the LA Dodgers. The conversation also outlines why real estate is becoming a strategic growth engine for sports organisations, touching on mixed-use development models, financing structures, and the next wave of innovative sports venues. Timestamps 02:00 - Tim’s Journey from Overtime Elite to Transwestern 05:00 - Lessons from Building Overtime Arena 07:00 - The Future of Sports Facility Development 13:00 - Funding and Financing Sports Projects 28:00 - The Growth of New Sports Venues 36:00 - Innovations in Stadiums and Arenas 40:00 - Balancing Public and Private Investment 43:00 -Misconceptions and Final Thoughts Additional Links WNBA’s Sparks planning to build $150M practice facility - ESPN About The Hosts Vansa Chatikavanij is Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Present Ventures, an investment firm focused on emerging sports, media, and technology. She previously led strategy at Omise (“Stripe of Asia”) and co-founded OmiseGO Network, reaching a $1B+ market cap. Earlier in her career, she worked at the World Bank across 13 markets and has advised organisations including the World Economic Forum, GSIC powered by Microsoft, and Real Madrid NEXT Asia. Connect on LinkedIn About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.
Nov 14, 2025 · 51 min
Omer Atesmen [#76]: Inside the Vision of The Snow League...
On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, Leanne is joined by Omer Atesmen, CEO of The Snow League, an emerging global sports property reimagining the future of snow sports. Omer shares his fascinating journey from Istanbul to California, spanning careers in engineering, business, and ad tech before turning his focus to building one of the most ambitious ventures in winter sport. In this conversation, Leanne and Omer explore the origins and vision behind The Snow League, which aims to unify snow sports through an entertainment-driven, globally connected league model. They discuss the operational challenges of launching a new sports property, the role of innovative partnerships, and Omer’s long-term goals around sustainability, athlete development, and global expansion (including the League’s upcoming event in China happening from the 4-6th December). Timestamps 02:00 - Omer’s Background and Journey 05:00 - Founding The Snow League 22:00 - Building a Sustainable Business Model 26:00 - Media Rights and Distribution Strategy 34:00 - Challenges and Opportunities in China 42:00 - Future Vision for The Snow League Additional Links The Snow League Raises $15 Million to Accelerate Global Expansion About The Hosts Leanne Bats is a future of sports architect, blending creativity, technology, fandom, and purpose to shape the industry’s evolution. Having led Innovation at New Zealand Rugby, pioneering emerging technologies to deepen connections with the iconic teams in black and she is now drives transformative initiatives as Head of Digital & Innovation at Sport Waikato. She also authors the newsletter OuterSport, a commentary on the future of sport. Connect on LinkedIn Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Connect on LinkedIn About Sports Pundit Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe. At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.” Produced by OH SIX The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.