

The Post Game Podcast
Joe Poduslenko
A podcast sharing the stories of former athletes who have successfully navigated the transition out of sports into "what's next" in business, entrepreneurship, and much more. New episodes released every Wednesday morning.
Check out The Post Game Newsletter:
https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/
Check out The Post Game Newsletter:
https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 25, 2025 • 1min
Why The Stage Feels Like Home for Matt Gorman
Matt Gorman, South Philly native, former college baseball player at Lipscomb, and current country music singer / song writer talking about how he's most comfortable and present on stage.

Jun 23, 2025 • 2min
JJ Schwarz 4 Home Runs in One Night | JJ's Historic Game
JJ Schwarz, former Florida Gator, relives the night he hit four home runs vs. Stetson his freshman year.

Jun 18, 2025 • 49min
#69 JJ Schwarz: Don't Listen to Yourself, Speak to Yourself - Confidence, Identity, and the Mental Game
JJ Schwarz is a College World Series Champion at The University of Florida, former minor leaguer with the Oakland A’s, and currently studying to obtain a sports psychology degree from Barry University.He shares the highs and lows of his baseball journey—from hitting four home runs in a single game to battling injuries and rediscovering his identity beyond stats.What You’ll Hear In This Episode:The story behind JJ’s legendary 4-HR game vs. StetsonWinning the 2017 College World SeriesHow JJ discovered the mental game and why it changed everythingWhy quitting is contagiousBlending faith, identity, and performance Mental tools every athlete should knowThe power of positive self-talk and awareness of negative thoughtsThe business side of baseball and its hidden pressuresJJ’s mission in youth baseball and sports psychologyAdvice he wishes he had when he was youngerTimestamps:(0:00) –Intro to JJ(3:50) – Lessons from his dad’s 12 years in the minors(5:50) – Final outs of the national title game(7:05) – Durability, consistency, and staying in the lineup(8:50) – Why he enjoyed fall baseball(10:30) – The story behind the 4-HR game(13:00) – Chasing that peak performance again(15:15) – Starting his mental skills journey(16:30) – 2017 CWS vs. other Omaha appearances(17:40) – Florida’s coaching culture(20:10) – The business side of pro baseball(21:10) – Playing through injury(24:20) – “Quitting is contagious”(26:50) – Pursuing sports psychology(30:50) – Confidence built on character, not stats(33:15) – Practical mental skills for athletes(35:00) – Managing negative self-talk(36:00) – One cook in the kitchen mindset(37:30) – Common barriers to seeing a sports psychologist(40:00) – Youth sports and long-term development(42:00) – NIL and the current college athletics landscape(46:30) – What he’d tell his younger self(48:45) – His mission and message moving forwardLinks:JJ's InstagramJJ Schwarz Twitter (X)The Post Game Podcast:YouTubeLinkedInInstagramX.comTik TokEmail me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.comIntro Audio Credit: Florida Gators YouTube

Jun 11, 2025 • 52min
#68: Jonathan Weislow - Curiosity, Change & Life After Sports
Jonathan Weislow is a former University of Miami baseball player, Vice President at Cumming Group, and creative musician. Jon shares his journey from college athletics to leadership in construction project management, and how embracing curiosity and an eclectic approach has shaped his career and personal growth.What You’ll Hear About:Hosting a fellow Post Game PodcastThe stories between the extremes for athletesThe importance of curiosity and eclectic interestsInterdependence and communityLetting go of the fear of perceptionWhy people resist changeHow people want to helpBalancing career, creativity, and fatherhoodTimestamps:(0:00) – Intro(2:30) – The Post Game Podcast(5:20) – Starting his podcast(9:15) – Athlete stories: extremes vs. the in-between(11:00) – Good at baseball, not in love with it(15:40) – Identity crisis after sports(18:10) – Curiosity in elite performers(21:10) – Interdependence and community(24:00) – Overcoming fear of perception(26:15) – Being good at things(29:00) – Alignment outside of professional industry(30:50) – Approaching things differently(32:30) – Having a job to support the dream(35:30) – Whose opinion do you value?(40:30) – Unfulfillment in career(42:40) – Clock on ability to do things(44:30) – Telling people you’re doing something(47:00) – Fatherhood(50:45) – Where to find JonLinks:Jon Weislow InstagramThe Post Game Podcast:YouTubeLinkedInInstagramX.comTik TokEmail me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Jun 6, 2025 • 40min
#67: Jared Doerfler - Building Hanna Golf: Entrepreneurship, Golf Business, and Perfect Putt Newsletter
Jared Doerfler, founder of Hanna Golf and the Perfect Putt newsletter, built a boutique golf putter business from scratch. In this episode, we dive into golf entrepreneurship, the realities of starting a golf business, and tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.What You’ll Hear About:-The realities of starting a golf business from scratch-Why Jared believes it’s better to fail than never try-Building a purpose-driven business vs. chasing profits-Growing a niche golf newsletter (Perfect Putt) to thousands of subscribers-The mental game of golf and its parallels to entrepreneurship-Insights into the business side of the golf industry-Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and golf business foundersTimestamps:(0:00) – Introduction to Jared Doerfler, founder of Hanna Golf and Perfect Putt(2:30) – The story behind Hanna Golf: from idea to reality(4:00) – The true challenges of starting a golf business(5:30) – Rediscovering a love for golf (10:30) – Time management(13:00) – Embracing failure as part of the entrepreneurial journey(15:15) – Building a business for purpose, not just profit(17:00) – Growing the Perfect Putt golf newsletter(21:20) – The process of designing and manufacturing a putter(24:00) – The mental game of golf and business(25:00) – Stories and feedback from Hanna Golf clients(27:30) – Collaborating with professional golfers(31:00) – Exploring the business side of golf(33:30) – The stress and rewards of entrepreneurship(36:00) – “Burning the boats”: committing fully to your vision(38:00) – Where to find Jared and Hanna Golf onlineConnect with Jared Doerfler & Hanna Golf:Jared Doerfler InstagramHanna Golf InstagramJared Doerfler XPerfect Putt NewsletterHanna Golf WebsiteThe Post Game Podcast:YouTubeLinkedInInstagramX.comTik TokEmail: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

May 22, 2025 • 39min
#66 How Veterans Succeed After Service | Alec Emmert of Service to School
What do former athletes and military veterans have in common when it comes to building a new life after sports or service?Alec Emmert—Navy veteran, Wharton MBA, and CEO of Service to School— joins the show to explore how high performing veterans can reinvent themselves, leverage their discipline and teamwork, and take advantage of opportunities like the GI Bill for college and career success.Alec shares his personal story of transitioning from the military to the business world, the unique perspective he gained from the Navy, and practical strategies for taking a shot at something different.Topics in this episode: Transitioning from sports or service to civilian lifeThe realities of the Naval Academy and military serviceHow Service to School helps veterans and why it mattersUsing your GI Bill and choosing the right education pathThe value of mentorship for athletes and veteransParallels between athletic and military mindsetsTips for nonprofit leadership and entrepreneurshipWhy athlete / military communities need honest advice and peer supportMentioned in this episode: -Service to School: Service To School-Connect with Alec Emmert on LinkedIn-Follow Service to School on LinkedInThe Post Game Podcast:The Post Game Podcast on TwitterThe Post Game Podcast on InstagramThe Post Game Podcast YouTube The Post Game Podcast LinkedInEmail Me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

May 16, 2025 • 36min
#65 From Hockey to Startup Founder: Kirsten Toth on Building Free Agent for Athletes
Kirsten Toth is a former collegiate and Team Canada hockey player and founder of Free Agent. She joins the show to talk about the evolution of her athlete-focused career platform and what it really takes to build a business that serves a niche community.Free Agent helps elite competitors transition into top-tier careers through personalized development, mentorship, and exclusive networking opportunities — empowering athletes during and after their playing days.We dive into:The early grind of entrepreneurshipFinding your niche in a crowded marketWhat makes Free Agent different from other recruiting platforms / communitiesHow Kirsten has listened to her users to refine the productThe pressure and purpose of building something that lastsTimestamps:(0:00) Intro to Kirsten(2:10) From skates to startups: Early hockey days(4:30) Starting from scratch as an entrepreneur(6:30) The power of knowing your niche(9:00) The athlete mindset in business(11:30) What sets Free Agent apart(15:30) The pressure of owning a business(19:30) Following through on bold goals(21:00) The beta test phase: feedback & iteration(24:30) Building your professional network as an athlete(27:30) Unlocking career access for athletes(30:00) Lessons from building Free Agent(32:00) Why Free Agent is more than just tech(33:20) Where to find Free Agent(34:30) The humility behind high performanceLinks:Free Agent WebsiteLinkedInFree Agent InstagramKirsten Toth InstagramThe Post Game Podcast:The Post Game Podcast on TwitterThe Post Game Podcast on InstagramThe Post Game Podcast YouTube The Post Game Podcast LinkedInEmail Me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

May 8, 2025 • 55min
#64 Blake Lawrence: Building Opendorse, NIL in College Sports, and Life After Football
Blake Lawrence is a former University of Nebraska linebacker and co-founder of Opendorse, the leading NIL marketplace.Opendorse has helped college athletes earn and maximize their Name, Image, and Likeness value through deals, endorsements, and sponsorships—making it a leader in the evolving NIL economy.Topics Covered:Blake Lawrence’s transition from football to entrepreneur How Opendorse supports NIL deals for college athletesTurning locker room lessons into business strategyNIL, the transfer portal, and the future of athlete compensationThe difference between having an idea and running a businessWhy building something great always takes longer than you expectTimestamps:(0:00) Intro to Blake(2:30) Blake’s football background(4:50) Sports and entrepreneurship overlap(9:30) Starting Opendorse(10:30) Founding Hurrdat(11:45) NIL endorsements and early Twitter marketing(15:30) Athlete branding in the social media era(18:50) Landing the first customer(21:50) The transfer portal’s effect on NIL deals(27:15) Taking big risks after sports(32:00) Will Compton(34:30) Athlete influencers and marketing trend(37:45) “Eating your own dog food” as a founder(40:45) Biggest business lessons from Opendorse(42:30) Ok with 90% market share?(44:45) NIL stories: Favorite athletes and moments(49:50) College baseball + NIL(54:30) Where to find BlakeLinks:InstagramX.comTik Tok OpendorseThe Post Game Podcast:The Post Game Podcast on TwitterThe Post Game Podcast on InstagramThe Post Game Podcast YouTube Email Me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Apr 28, 2025 • 46min
#63 Steven Davis Jr.: Life After Football and Helping Athletes Find Their Next Chapter
Steven Davis Jr. is a former college football player at Minnesota and the Founder of Strive Higher After Sports, a platform where he helps athletes design a fulfilled life after the game ends.His experience as an athlete has driven him to create bridges to help enhance people's lives while connecting them to resources. Services include Coaching, Life Design Workshops, and Public Speaking.His mission and passion is to help athletes succeed and have fulfilling lives after their sport ends.What You’ll Hear About:Playing Big10 FootballLeadership style as team captainFinding identity after footballBuilding relationships Bias towards actionAthletes building a brand Strive Higher After SportsFocusing on the small steps Timestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Steven(2:45) - Playing at Minnesota(4:20) - Highlight of career(5:30) - Running out of the tunnel(8:15) - Team captain(11:00) - Finding identity after football(16:00) - Changing major because of sports(19:00) - Isolation / Having Conversations(22:00) - Taking action (24:15) - Reinvention (26:30) - Carve out your role (28:10) - NIL and future of college sports(34:15) - Building a brand (36:50) - Strive Higher After Sports(41:00) - Process of figuring it out (42:30) - Process over Perfection(44:30) - Where to find Steve Links:InstagramStrive Higher After SportsLinkedInThe Post Game Podcast:The Post Game Podcast on TwitterThe Post Game Podcast on InstagramThe Post Game Podcast YouTube Email Me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com

Apr 7, 2025 • 40min
#62: From Pro Ball to Business: How Athletes Win After Sports with Charlie Ruiz
Charlie Ruiz is a founder, facilitator, motivational speaker, executive coach—and former professional baseball player.He was drafted in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies. Since retiring from pro ball, he has over a decade of coaching experience, including 700+ trainings and 3,000+ coaching hours working with founders, start-ups and growing companies in high-tech.What You’ll Hear About:-Former Pro Athletes talking about their story-Awareness of high performers-Multi-tasking doesn’t exist -His Four C’s method -Learning Presence -95% of CEOs are former athletes -Stagnation and taking ownership -Finding out what you don’t want Timestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Charlie (2:30) - Chabot and Long Beach State(4:15) - The mental game (7:15) - Conviction (10:45) - Pro Ball and Injury(13:15) - Now what?(18:40) - Focus on the current moment (20:50) - Staying present (23:40) - Awareness (26:00) - Willing to get uncomfortable (30:00) - Coaching and development after sports(32:30) - Reinvention (33:50) - Overcoming stagnation (35:00) - The leap to entrepreneurship (38:45) - Leaning into your powersLinks:CLR Connection WebsiteCharlie Ruiz LinkedInCharlie Ruiz InstagramThe Post Game Podcast:The Post Game Podcast on TwitterThe Post Game Podcast on InstagramThe Post Game Podcast YouTube Email Me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com


