Build It

Special guest Jimmie Martin joins hosts Nik and John to discuss the Kentucky soccer scene, various teams, fan experiences, and community outreach. They also talk about promoting the game through cross-promotion and delve into podcast building, monetization, and social media strategy.

Brad Seymour, President of the Windy City Bulls, shares insights on running a successful minor league basketball franchise. Topics discussed include Brad's career path, differences between minor league and G League teams, ticket sales strategies, tailoring promotions, partnering with arena management, and guiding younger staff.

Johnny Freeston, founder and managing director of Harpost FC, discusses the challenges of running a non-league soccer club, the club's focus on fostering community, and their goal of providing opportunities for player development. They also talk about the importance of culture and give advice for non-league soccer clubs to make an impact on and off the pitch.

John Hall, someone involved with a club, discusses highlights from the past season including record fundraising, killer attendance, and wins against rival clubs. They talk about the need to actively invite and pump people up for games, the success of corporate parties and group outings, and the importance of community impact. They want to capture institutional knowledge and improve marketing targeting and creative content. They debate turning casual fans into passionate supporters and building sustainability within the local community.

They discuss the role of Ian Blackley in refining the brand identity of San Francisco City FC and forming partnerships with local nonprofits. They talk about finding and supporting the supporter-owned soccer team and their excitement about the team's unique concept and merchandise. They discuss meeting the president of the club and pitching the idea to work with the advertising agency at their school, and talk about redesigning the club's website and creating short videos. They explore how fan ownership affects the perception of success for San Francisco City FC, and discuss the importance of sustainability for low-ability soccer clubs and building a fan base. They emphasize the importance of standing out and being different in the San Francisco soccer market, and discuss the community response to their brand.

Bruce Bode, soccer player, referee, and event producer, discusses his background and work as executive director of USASA. They also talk about issues faced at the annual meeting, challenges in the role, and the importance of respect for referees in soccer.

Javi Bautista was a college soccer player at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa. During his sophomore year, he realized that coaching was going to be what he wanted to do full-time. Nik and John welcomed him to the Buildit Podcast to discuss his brand, presentation, and why he chose to focus on certain things.  Javi explained that he has been passionate about soccer ever since he can remember and has been fortunate enough to play college soccer. He is now pursuing a career in coaching.  Javi discussed his experiences of playing for Detroit City FC in 2015 and 2016. He was part of the very first group to be offered housing by the club and was lucky enough to spend a couple of seasons with them. After completing his masters degree, Javi returned to Detroit to help start the youth program and assist with the men's team. In 2019, he was asked to become the full time assistant coach of Detroit City FC, a role he held until 2022 when he moved over to the Michigan Hawks. In 2021, he won the Midwest Premier League Conference championship with Detroit City FC's under 23s in their first season.   In this conversation, Javi discusses his experiences coaching and working with the Midwest Premier League. He was the assistant for the first team, and then they decided to do a U 23 team in the Midwest Premier League. When the club announced they were going into the USL, they ended up just doing the USL Academy instead. Javi also talks about his time on the MWPL disciplinary committee that first season, helping with how the league operates. He enjoyed the experience of coaching, but also thought it would be beneficial to get involved in something on an unpaid basis. With his friend George Chomikoff he had the idea of starting their own soccer team in Michigan. They had the knowledge of the game and the landscape needed to do it, but due to their busy schedules they never had the time or resources to do it until the move to the Michigan Hawks and had more free time. With their combined experience, they decided it was possible and began the process of building their team from the ground up. Despite the difficulty of the task, they remained determined to make it happen and were confident that, with their knowledge and experience, they could make their dream a reality.

Jonathan Rednour is the President and CEO of Crescent City Football Club and Vice President of operations for the Gulf Coast Premier League. He talks about his passion for soccer and how he got into promoting and developing the sport in the greater New Orleans area. He and John discussed the challenges they face in their local regions, and both agreed that grassroots level clubs are the best way to start building a strong foundation in the community. They highlighted the importance of investing in local clubs, emphasizing the need for strong foundations in order for clubs to be sustainable in the long-term.

John, and Nik speak with Joe about their preparations for the upcoming soccer season, discussing their progress and plans to create an amazing experience for players and fans alike. Nik, the marketing team leader, has been busy generating interest in the club through Twitter, podcasts, and photo shoots, and emphasizes the importance of community involvement. With 19 players returning and local kids in the pipeline, the coaches and technical staff at Dekalb County United are excited about the team's roster coming together. Nik and John also discuss the possibility of utilizing interns over the course of the season, encouraging anyone interested to reach out.  The energy is high and excitement is building as they look forward to the start of the season in May.

Exploring Entrepreneurial Growth Through Community Engagement Nik and John interview Troy Talaga, the owner of Realize Athletics, a sports performance facility in DeKalb, Illinois, which caters to ages six to twenty-six, and discuss the importance of injury prevention and sports performance. During the interview, John explains their partnership with Troy's organization, which was built on a shared passion for sports, and Troy discusses his background in sports and his dedication to helping kids reach their goals. Troy's plans include growing his business and getting more involved in the community, with the ultimate goal of opening a facility in Florida. He is currently focused on starting a youth flag football league.