The Post Game Podcast #84: Stephen Bienko - Athlete Branding, NIL & Life After Sports
Stephen Bienko is a former decathlete, former college football player at The Air Force Academy and Villanova, began his career as a state trooper, franchise owner, entrepreneur, and founder of 42U, helping athletes build their brands.
We discuss life after sports, athlete branding, NIL collectives, and the evolving landscape of college athletics.
Stephen shares how athletes can effectively transition beyond sports, build their personal brand while they're still playing, and navigate the opportunities that NIL has created in college sports.
What You'll Hear About:
- How Stephen approaches major life transitions
- Why building your brand online matters more than ever
- Lessons from being a decathlete and state trooper
- The story behind 42U’s branding kits
- His take on NIL collectives and athlete opportunity
- Why confusion in college sports creates room for growth
Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro to Stephen
2:40 – Competing as a decathlete
6:10 – Life as a state trooper
8:40 – Navigating transitions
13:10 – What does branding really mean?
15:25 – From 42G to 42U
18:00 – The meaning behind 42U
20:25 – Helping student-athletes discover identity
25:25 – Working with individual teams
27:40 – Athletes building their brand
31:40 – How coaches embrace branding
33:30 – Team branding strategies
36:10 – NIL collectives & upholding standards
39:00 – Business-minded collectives
40:20 – Where money flows in college sports
42:10 – Lessons from building 42U
44:40 – How kids consume sports today
47:00 – Where to find Stephen
Links:
Stephen Bienko (@bienkostephen) • Instagram photos and videos
The Post Game Podcast:
https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-post-game-podcast/
Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com