The Post Game Podcast

Aidan Melograna is a college basketball player and founder of Melo Media, a fast-growing marketing agency helping local service businesses scale through Instagram and social media. He founded a second business recently, Ace1 Consulting, helping online creators scale through Instagram and YouTube. He shares how he went from cold-calling 100+ businesses with zero experience to generating thousands in revenue through Instagram marketing. What You’ll Hear:How Aidan came up with Melo Media after a summer internshipThe mindset shift from student-athlete to business ownerCold calling 100+ prospects and turning rejection into resultsBuilding Instagram pages optimized for sales, not vanity metricsWhy storytelling and founder-led brands dominate social mediaHow resumes are dying and portfolios are replacing themWhat it’s really like to start a business while still in collegeTimestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Aidan(2:30) - Basketball journey and path to Arcadia University(3:50) - Choosing a major in Global Media & Marketing(5:45) - Realistic outlook on D3 basketball(7:30) - From internship to entrepreneurship(10:00) - How cold calling landed his first $1,000 client(12:15) - The “value first” approach that worked(13:30) - Melo Media’s pivot to full-service Instagram marketing(15:30) - Why Instagram is the new website(16:30) - Speaking directly to your dream client(18:40) - The “best known > best” mindset shift(19:50) - Crafting the perfect Instagram bio(20:40) - The 4 essentials of a winning profile(22:30) - Why 22–40-year-olds are the ideal target audience(24:30) - TikTok vs Instagram for local service businesses(25:45) - How to win attention in a short-attention world(27:50) - Expanding into info products: Golf recruiting platform(29:30) - Why resumes are becoming obsolete(30:30) - Building digital real estate instead of interning(33:30) - Making real money and finding consistency(35:45) - The late-night grind and inconsistent income(37:30) - Handling doubt and criticism(40:30) - Power of connections and introductions(40:50) - Where to find Aidan Links:https://www.instagram.com/aidan.melograna/How I Used Storytelling to Generate 10K/mo. (USE THIS FRAMEWORK)Aidan Melograna | LinkedInThe Post Game Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JoePod24⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-post-game-podcast/⁠⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

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 transitionsWhy building your brand online matters more than everLessons from being a decathlete and state trooperThe story behind 42U’s branding kitsHis take on NIL collectives and athlete opportunityWhy confusion in college sports creates room for growthTimestamps:0:00 – Intro to Stephen2:40 – Competing as a decathlete6:10 – Life as a state trooper8:40 – Navigating transitions13:10 – What does branding really mean?15:25 – From 42G to 42U18:00 – The meaning behind 42U20:25 – Helping student-athletes discover identity25:25 – Working with individual teams27:40 – Athletes building their brand31:40 – How coaches embrace branding33:30 – Team branding strategies36:10 – NIL collectives & upholding standards39:00 – Business-minded collectives40:20 – Where money flows in college sports42:10 – Lessons from building 42U44:40 – How kids consume sports today47:00 – Where to find StephenLinks:Stephen Bienko | LinkedInStephen Bienko (@bienkostephen) • Instagram photos and videosthe42u.comThe Post Game Podcast:⁠⁠⁠https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JoePod24⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-post-game-podcast/⁠⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Jay Yang is the author of "You Can Just Do Things" and social media strategist for Alex Hormozi. He came on the podcast to discuss his unconventional path from college dropout to working with some of the biggest names in entrepreneurship, all before turning 23.In this conversation, Jay breaks down his "permissionless approach", doing the work upfront to make yourself impossible to ignore. He shares how this strategy landed him positions at fast-growing startups and eventually led to working directly with Alex Hormozi's team.What You'll Learn:How Jay built 250K followers with 1,470+ consistent posts over 5 yearsThe mindset shift from "working for" to "working with" successful peopleWhy Jay keeps a 200-page "running learning doc" from every jobHow he landed roles at Beehive, with Noah Kagan, and Alex Hormozi's teamThe psychology behind taking non-average actions for non-average resultsTimestamps:(0:00) - Introduction & Jay's Milestone(4:00) - The Psychology of Followers(6:00) - Discovering the Permissionless Approach(8:30) - The Power of Having a North Star(9:25) - Jay's Five-Dimensional North Star(11:00) - Strategic Relationship Building(12:10) - The Beehive Breakthrough Story(13:25) - "Working With" vs "Working For"(14:40) - The Learning Documentation System(15:10) - Sacrifices and Trade-offs(17:00) - Landing the Alex Hormozi Role(20:45) - Behind the Scenes with Alex Hormozi(21:30) - What Jay Would Do Differently(24:10) - Growing an Educational Brand(25:10) - The 3 C's Method for Content Creation(28:00) - The Permissionless Approach for Athletes(29:30) - Making Yourself a "No-Brainer"Links:Jay Yang InstagramJay Yang TwitterYou Can Just Do ThingsThe Post Game Podcast:⁠⁠https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JoePod24⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-post-game-podcast/⁠Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

James Grugan is the founder of Five Star Hiring, a recruiting firm specializing in helping student-athletes and former athletes transition into successful careers.After spending most of his career at JG Wentworth, James identified a gap in the recruitment space, specifically working with student-athletes and helping them translate skills learned from the field to the workforce.What You'll Hear About:Why James left corporate life to focus on recruiting student-athletesBuilding a professional network that opens doors and how to leverage itLinkedIn strategies that get recruiters' attentionHow to identify and articulate transferable skills from sportsPositioning athletic experience as equivalent to internshipsWhy sales roles can be great careers for athletes Resume essentials that separate you from 95% of applicantsThe one-minute follow-up email only 3-5% of candidates sendInterview preparation tactics borrowed from elite athletic preparationCreative outreach methods in the application processTimestamps:(0:00) - Introduction to James Grugan(3:10) - Background at JG Wentworth and career transition(4:30) - Discovering the student-athlete recruiting niche(6:20) - Starting Five Star Hiring and early business strategies(7:20) - "People want to help people" (9:00) - LinkedIn strategy (11:30) - Authentic follow-up techniques(13:15) - The "Going Pro" presentation overview(16:00) - Making skills transferable from sports(18:30) - Performing under pressure and real-world application(20:30) - Why sales is ideal for student-athletes(23:00) - Resume essentials and common mistakes(24:15) - Networking as the #1 strategy(28:30) - Small actions that can lead to big advantages(30:15) - Interview prep strategies(36:50) -Universal job search principles(38:15) - Current job market conditions and opportunities(41:30) - Company partnerships and placement approach(43:00) - Future plans for Five Star Hiring(45:30)- Specialized approach vs general career services(46:15) - Contact information and where to find James Links:Email: jamesg@fivestarhiring.nethttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-grugan-713246169/https://www.fivestarhiring.net/Social Media: @fivestarhiring (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X)The Post Game Podcast:⁠https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/⁠https://x.com/JoePod24⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-post-game-podcast/Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

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