The Post Game Podcast

Matt Hochberg is the founder of Hochberg Sports Marketing, a sports marketing agency specializing in women's soccer. Since launcing in 2019, he has built HSM into a boutique agency representing 20+ NWSL players both on and off the field. As a FIFA-certified agent registered with the NWSL Players Association, Matt handles everything from contract negotiations to brand partnerships for some of the top names in women's soccer.What You'll Hear About:Identifying gap in the market with women’s sportsHow he got started without official plan Deciding to focus just on women’s soccer Behind the scenes of NWSL contract Time as professional athletes just a short time of their livesOff the field storytelling by Ali Riley NIL outlook in women’s soccer Future opportunities in the business Timestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Matt Hochberg(2:05) - My First Million podcast connection(3:10) - The founding story of Hochberg Sports Media(4:30) - Launching without an official business plan(6:30) - Pitching his vision and sharing the story(7:50) - Running a primarily one-man operation(9:20) - The strategic shift from all women's sports to soccer focus(12:10) - "Doing the work" and positioning for opportunities(13:30) - The reality of NWSL player contracts and salaries(16:00) - NWSL expansion and valuation growth(18:50) - How athletes are focusing on personal brand building(21:30) - Ali Riley partnership (25:50) - Structuring brand deal durations and terms(28:15) - The positive impact of NIL on women's soccer(31:00) - Biggest day-to-day business challenges(32:45) - Growing through referrals and playing the long game(34:30) - Thoughts on the WNBA boom and FOMO(35:10) - Where to find Matt and HSMLinks:Matt Hochberg (@Hochberg) / XHSM | Women's Sports Representation & Advocacy (@hochbergsm) / XHochberg Sports Marketing - Sports Marketing, AthletesHSM | Women’s Sports Representation & Advocacy (@hochbergsm) • Instagram photos and videosThe Post Game Podcast:https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/https://x.com/JoePod24Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

David Fales is a former NFL Quarterback who played seven seasons with the Bears, Lions, Dolphins, and Jets. He was a sixth-round pick out of San Jose State in the 2014 NFL Draft and played behind NFL veterans like Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford.Since retiring from the NFL, he has worked in tech sales with Zoom and Docker and is actively involved with Pro Athlete Community, an organization that helps professional athletes navigate life after sports.What You'll Hear About:The unlikely path to quarterback: From backup right guard to NFL signal-callerThe power of visualization and mental preparation using techniques from "Mind Gym"Constant transitions: Navigating college transfers and NFL team changesWhat separates NFL players who last: Intelligence, communication, and natural giftsThe reality of NFL contracts: Living with weekly uncertainty about your jobThe decision to retireHis hardest year: Identity crisis and finding motivation without footballBuilding a career in tech salesPro Athlete Community: Resources for players transitioning out of sportsApplying football lessons to life after sports: Controlling what you can controlTimestamps:(0:00) - Introduction to David Fales(2:10) - Becoming a quarterback in 8th grade - nobody else wanted the position(7:00) - Nevada experience with Colin Kaepernick on the roster(7:50) - Transfer to junior college and the rock-bottom moment that changed everything(11:25) - Discovering "Mind Gym" and the foundation of mental training(14:40) - Visualization techniques: seeing plays before they happen(16:55) - High anxiety during the week vs. flow state on game day(21:35) - Never feeling settled in the NFL - living contract to contract(24:10) - What qualities help NFL players stick around (intelligence, communication, natural ability)(26:50) - Carson Wentz - how character shows in tough times(30:40) - The retirement decision and saying no to other leagues(33:10) - The hardest year of his life: losing football identity(36:10) - Why tech sales appeals to former athletes(38:00) - Pro Athlete Community and filling the resource gap for transitioning players(42:40) - Applying football mental tools to daily life - controlling what you can control(44:25) - Finding flow state again through golf(46:30) - Where to connect with DavidLinks:https://www.instagram.com/fales10/https://x.com/davidfalesThe Post Game Podcast:https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/https://x.com/JoePod24Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Parul Khosla is the co-founder of Arena Talent, an AI-powered recruiting platform for sports and entertainment. She has previously worked in talent acquisition at the NFL, NHL, Disney, and Madison Square Garden, specializing in diversity initiatives and connecting underrepresented groups with career opportunities. Parul holds an MBA from Rutgers and is a LinkedIn Top Voice. She helped launched Arena in November 2024 to solve the access problem in sports hiring, where qualified candidates often get lost in overwhelming application volumes.What You'll Hear About:Why Parul is passionate about connecting people to careers and her journey from NFL recruiting to entrepreneurshipWhat is an ATS system in hiring? The hidden filtering process that determines who gets seenReal challenges job seekers experience . Why 300+ applications per job creates an impossible systemBehind the scenes recruiting. How hiring actually works vs. what candidates think happensBest places to build relationships / In-person networking vs. LinkedIn realityHow Arena's AI works and the Revolutionary matching technology for sports careersTimestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Parul(2:30) - Parul's upbringing & early career in sports(9:30) - How does hiring happen behind the scenes?(11:10) - What is an ATS system and why it matters?(15:40) - How do candidates break through the noise?(18:05) - Networking & warm introductions that work(19:10) - LinkedIn Top Voice program explained(21:05) - In-person events for networking success(22:50) - LinkedIn's 8% response rate problem(25:00) - What is Arena and its mission?(27:25) - How they incorporate AI matching technology(28:40) - Is LinkedIn TOO available? The spam problem(32:40) - Building real relationships on Arena's platform(34:50) - How do you maintain community quality?(36:25) - Not a social media platform - focused networking(37:25) - Biggest entrepreneurship challenges faced(39:40) - Bootstrapping reality and raising money(43:40) - Where to find Parul and ArenaLinks:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parul-khosla/https://www.linkedin.com/company/arenatalent/https://arenatalent.com/The Post Game Podcast:https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/https://x.com/JoePod24Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Rob Thompson has had a unique career journey after playing college football at New Haven and a professionally overseas. He built and sold a high school recruiting business, helped launch the NFL Flag program, was an Arena Football League GM, and started GamePlanU which has since rolled into Walter Camp Properties. Not to mention, he is also a published author. Rob has lived at the intersection of sports, business, and innovation his entire career.We discussed:How dyslexia shaped his early years and helped him build resilienceDiscovering new purpose after transitioning from sportsThe inside story of launching NFL Flag and scaling a national programWhat it's really like being a GM in the Arena Football LeagueWhy college athletes should take more risks while they canThe two sides of NIL that most people completely missWhy solopreneurship is the new internship How "Aunt Dot" helped him master the art of networkingWhy you shouldn't be afraid to "serve the cookies" His contrarian take: skip the MBA—get a real estate license insteadTimestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Rob(2:20) - Rob's journey playing football(6:20) - Creative roles in Corporate America(8:10) - Re-discovering purpose after sports transition(11:30) - The entrepreneur dilemma: holding onto a business vs. selling(13:20) - Starting the NFL Flag program from scratch(16:05) - Being the behind-the-scenes guy(16:50) - Becoming an Arena Football League GM(18:20) - Day-to-day reality of running a professional sports team(22:05) - How college football perception affects your career(22:20) - Just get a roster spot(23:50) - The real NIL discussion nobody's having(24:50) - Why college is the perfect time to take massive risks(28:20) - Rob's podcasts over the years and lessons learned(31:50) - Aunt Dot: the ultimate connector (33:20) - Why warm leads beat cold outreach every time(35:50) - "Serve the cookies" philosophy and how it lands major deals(38:20) - Living in the moment while building for the future(41:30) - GamePlanU & Walter Camp: building the next generation(46:20) - Real estate as the path to financial freedom(48:30) - Rob's best advice for college studentsLinks:Connect with Rob on LinkedInGridiron1880.comGridIron1880 InstagramCheck out Rob's BookThe Post Game Podcast:⁠Post Game Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Buffy Filippell is a trailblazer in sports recruiting. She is one of the first women in sports executive search and founded TeamWork Online, the go-to hiring platform for the sports industry, connecting people to jobs with the biggest leagues, teams, and orgs in sports.In this episode, we cover:Why 52% of female executives were college athletesThe origin story of TeamWork OnlineThe power of persistence and risk-taking in business and lifeHow the recruiting industry has evolved over the decadesLessons from sports that translate to career successWhy telling your own story is a crucial skill Timestamps:(0:00) – Intro to Buffy(1:50) – The first woman to…(4:50) – 52% of female executives were college athletes(7:05) – The original idea for TeamWork Online(9:35) – Was anyone doing executive search in sports?(12:30) – Persistence(13:20) – Taking risks & lessons from her mom(16:20) – Scaling TeamWork(18:40) – The beginnings of online applications(19:50) – Pop Mail(24:00) – Naming TeamWork Online(25:20) – The evolution of recruiting(27:10) – Connecting with education(28:10) – Events(30:00) – Free events they offer(31:10) – Lessons from sports(32:20) – Why your story matters(35:05) – How to connect with BuffyResources & Links:#1 Way To Find Jobs In Sports & Entertainment | TeamWork OnlineInstagramBuffy Filippell | LinkedInThe Post Game Podcast:Post Game Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Andrew Petcash is a former Boston University basketball player, founder of Profluence, and host of The Petcash Pod. He has carved out a unique lane at the intersection of sports, content, community, and venture capital. In this episode we get into how it all started and has since evolved into one of the top sports communities in the world.We talk about:Spotting and capitalizing on trends earlyHow Profluence was born from consistency and experimentationThe power of content in building communityBranching into venture capital (and raising it)Investing in the next wave of sports tech and athlete-led startupsWhy showing up and adding value is still underratedHis thoughts on growing a team, bootstrapping, and deploying his own capitalWhat excites him most in youth sports, NIL, and Web3Timestamps:0:00 - Intro to Andrew2:10 - The power of persistence2:50 - Spotting trends early4:40 - From D1 dreams to business building6:40 - Playing against Javante McCoy every day8:40 - A defining year at BU10:55 - Moving to St. Pete, FL13:00 - Creating NBA content in high school15:10 - How Profluence began16:25 - Having direction, even when plans shift18:30 - What’s next?19:25 - Showing up and adding value21:30 - Signs Profluence is gaining traction24:00 - Entering the venture capital world25:40 - Why Andrew loves building27:40 - Bootstrapping vs. investing in startups30:10 - Why short, niche podcasts work32:00 - The behind-the-scenes of podcasting33:00 - Growing a team (and the cost)35:30 - Big opportunities in the sports investment landscape39:10 - Youth sports, NIL, and what’s next41:50 - Where to find AndrewLinks:Andrew's Email: apetcash@profluence.comhttps://x.com/AndrewPetcashhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/https://profluence.com/The Post Game Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Rashad Campbell is a former Cornell University football player, entrepreneur, and partner / COO of Advance NIL. He unpacks his journey from playing football in the Ivy League to private equity and athlete advocacy.We discuss how Rashad’s curiosity, relationship-building, and financial mindset helped him thrive after football, and what today’s athletes should understand about money, NIL, and long-term wellness. Whether you're an athlete, investor, or curious about the future of college sports, Rashad drops a ton of knowledge you might like to hear.Key Topics Discussed:Why your network matters more than your schoolLessons from private equity, finance, and athlete identityThe explosive rise of NIL and its real implicationsFinancial literacy 101 for student-athletesCapitalism, community, and the business of sportsHow to align your passions with your professionTimestamps:0:00 – Intro to Rashad Campbell3:25 – Ivy League’s place in the NIL era6:10 – Why Cornell?9:40 – His brother Ibrahim Campbell’s experience with financial advisors12:10 – Fascination with outliers14:40 – How to intentionally maintain relationships17:40 – Growing up in a big family19:10 – Aligning financial education with sports21:10 – $2B+ to be paid to college athletes annually23:10 – “Money makes you more of who you are”26:10 – The biggest challenge in college sports28:10 – Private Equity’s friction with college athletics30:40 – Is collective bargaining the answer?33:10 – Financial wellness tips for athletes35:10 – The truth about interest on depreciating assets36:25 – Understanding taxes as an athlete39:40 – The importance of saving for what’s next41:10 – The reverse earning curve and life after sports42:40 – How athletes can seize opportunities while still playing44:40 – Curiosity + passion = power46:40 – Where to find RashadLinks:Advance NILRashad Campbell LinkedInAthlete NSBCRashad Campbell InstagramThe Post Game Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Matt Morizio is a former professional baseball player and founder of Reconstructing Wealth. After retiring from baseball, Matt worked in the corporate world before making the jump to finance and ultimately starting his own RIA, where he now helps others align their money with their life’s purpose. We discuss the emotional side of money, the importance of mentors, and the parallels between sports and entrepreneurship. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Matt’s journey through professional baseball to retirementThe pivotal role of finding a mentorHow to take a leap of faith into something newThe deep emotions tied to money and successWhy we’re all designed to do something great in lifeShifting from making money to adding valueWhat the most successful people Matt works with have in commonMatt’s “Four Fs” framework: Faith, Family, Fitness, FinanceChanging your outlook by giving Timestamps:(0:00) – Intro to Matt(2:30) – Matt’s baseball journey(10:00) – The transition out of sports(13:45) – Value of a great mentor(15:30) – Parallels between athletes and entrepreneurship(20:30) – Beginning of his wealth management career(26:00) – Get to 7 “Why’s” to uncover the root cause(30:30) – We’re all designed to do something great(34:00) – Shifting mindset from making money to adding value(36:20) – Are you on the right bus?(40:30) – Matt’s most successful clients: doing boring well(43:40) – Accumulating wealth vs. preserving wealth(46:30) – Investing in yourself first(47:30) – The Four Fs framework: Faith, Family, Fitness, Finance(51:00) – Supporting his 7 kids & his personal relationship with money(57:50) – Opening a blessing account(59:40) – Love and fear can’t coexist(1:02:50) – Matt’s personal finance courseLinks:Reconstructing Wealth CourseMatt Morizio InstagramMatt Morizio LinkedInThe Post Game Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Former professional baseball player and founder of Reconstructing Wealth, Matt Morizio, talks about what he wishes he knew going through the process of retiring and figuring out what was next for him after the game.

Justin Papadakis is the Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer of the United Soccer League (USL), one of the fastest-growing soccer organizations in the U.S. He oversees stadium development, club expansion, and the league’s long-term strategy to reshape American soccer from the ground up. Justin breaks down how the USL is using real estate to build thriving soccer communities across the country and what it means for the future of the sport.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro to Justin Papadakis2:00 – The Papadakis family story: Soccer's impact3:40 – Stadiums as real estate catalysts: Lessons from LA Live5:05 – Breaking out of the "minor league" model8:10 – Why the USL thrives in mid-sized cities like Albuquerque & Boise10:00 – Antelope Valley success: Building hyper-local fan pride12:40 - Real market drivers: Not population, but ownership & stadium quality13:30 – Inside the USL’s in-house real estate team14:50 – Working with cities: How stadium deals take 2–10 years16:45 – Aligning community stakeholders for long-term impact19:20 – Why the USL is building stadium districts20:20 – Soccer fan behavior vs. NFL & MLB: What’s different21:35 - TIF financing: How stadiums fund themselvs23:50 – New Stadiums: Rhode Island, Louisville & next-gen builds27:10 – How does the league make money?28:45 - Taking a long term view on media30:40 – Regional rivalries + the Jägermeister Cup32:00 – USL team valuations top $100 million33:40 - Soccer as an alternative investment35:30 – Career advice for college athletes37:20 - Front office job growth in the USL38:20 – Where to find USL & how to get involvedLinks:USL WebsiteUSL LinkedInUSL InstagramJustin Papadakis LinkedInThe Post Game Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com