What Sports Can Learn from K‑Pop Fandoms

On today’s episode, Jo and Michael are joined by Alice Ma, co-founder and CEO of Mad Realities, a social-first entertainment company redefining how content is created, distributed, and owned.

Mad Realities has built viral hit shows such as Shop Cats, Hollywood IQ, Proof of Love, and Keep the Meter Running, pioneering a system that moves faster than traditional media and puts audiences at the centre of storytelling.

Alice and her team have raised $6 million to date, and she previously helped raise over $40 million in just seven days as part of ConstitutionDAO, a viral crypto crowdfunding campaign that showcased the power of internet-native communities.

In this conversation, Alice shares her perspective on the evolving media landscape, from the rise of Gen Z’s social-first viewing habits and lessons from the world of K-Pop, to the future of sports media through new fan-driven formats like Sports IQ.

Timestamps

• 02:00 – Alice Ma’s journey and early influences

• 04:00 – What ConstitutionDAO taught Alice about community and speed

• 07:00 – Founding Mad Realities and building a new model for entertainment

• 14:00 – Creating repeatable, sustainable IP in the social era

• 19:00 – Expanding digital IP into physical and experiential formats

• 25:00 – From Hollywood IQ to Sports IQ, bridging entertainment and sports

• 30:00 – What sports can learn from K-Pop fandoms

• 35:00 – The future of content creation and audience participation

Additional Links

• Crypto Crowdfunding Goes Mainstream With ConstitutionDAO Bid

• Almost Buying a Copy of the Constitution Is Easy, But Giving the Money Back Is Hard

• Mad Realities Raises $6M Seed Led by Paradigm

• They Launched a TikTok Show About Bodega Cats. It Immediately Went Viral

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. Connect on LinkedIn

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. 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.