The Profluence Pod 🌐

Chris Weil is the Co-Founder and CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences and one of the most influential executives in modern sports marketing. Prior to launching Horizon, Chris spent more than two decades as Chairman and CEO of Momentum Worldwide, leading the global agency through massive growth and helping redefine how brands connect with fans through live sports, entertainment, and experiential marketing.At Horizon, Chris has returned to the private sector to build a next-generation sports and experiences platform designed for a post-COVID world. The firm operates across owned and represented IP, media rights, sponsorships, and brand strategy—anchored by a belief that live sports remain the most powerful driver of engaged audiences. From pickleball and women’s basketball to emerging leagues and global events, Chris shares how Horizon evaluates risk, invests capital, and builds scalable sports properties.In this conversation, Chris offers a candid look at the evolution of live sports, the accelerating role of data and AI in decision-making, and the changing dynamics of college athletics, women’s sports, and global mega-events. His perspective reflects decades of leadership at the highest level—and a clear-eyed view of where sports, media, and brand partnerships are headed next.Podcast Chapters:01:48 The Evolution of Live Sports Post-COVID04:53 Building IP in the Live Sports Space07:26 The Rise of Women's Sports and Brand Engagement09:33 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Collegiate Sports15:25 The Future of Sports Marketing and AI Integration21:53 Consumer Habits and the New Generation of Sports Fans26:51 Capitalizing on Major Sporting Events29:26 Balancing Growth and Opportunity in a Busy Market

Ryan Petkoff has spent more than two decades operating at the highest levels of professional sports,  helping build an NFL dynasty, shaping one of the most influential brands in global sport, and advising ownership groups navigating the modern sports landscape. His career spans deep operational leadership, strategic growth planning, and long-term brand building inside one of the most sophisticated organizations in the NFL.Today, he partners with sports teams, startups, and legacy businesses to solve complex challenges spanning fan engagement, commercialization, and go-to-market execution. Petkoff works with only a select group of clients, allowing him to dive deeply into problems, build alongside founders, and operate as a hands-on strategic partner. His vantage point also includes meaningful time working with the Hunt Family — offering him rare insight into family office dynamics, sports investing, and multi-generational decision-making.In this conversation, he breaks down the evolution of the sports marketplace, the rise of alternative investments, where youth sports and fan development are heading, and how he evaluates opportunities and relationships. His experience offers a unique blend of front-office expertise, investment perspective, and builder mentality — shaped by two decades inside one of the most respected operations in professional sports.Podcast Chapters01:13 Ryan Petkoff's Journey in Professional Sports 03:30 Market Evolution and Insights from the Hunt Family 05:54 Navigating Family Offices and Investment Strategies09:28 The Rise of Alternative Investments in Sports 12:27 Opportunities in Youth Sports and Fan Engagement 15:21 Evaluating Projects and Building Relationships 18:06 Building Relationships for Future SuccessRyan Petkoff: 🏠 Website: https://www.petkoffstrategies.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-petkoff-5b0b397/Scott Garber:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Ben Von Willer and Alberto Chaia from McKinsey & Company dive into the explosive growth of Latino sports fandom and its significant impact on the U.S. sports landscape. They unveil that Latinos account for a third of sports growth, driven by unique cultural habits and higher spending. Key discussions include youth participation trends and how teams can leverage global events like the 2026 World Cup to enhance engagement. They emphasize the need for authentic representation and targeted digital strategies to connect with this vibrant demographic.

Phil Wallin, the founder of Diesel Optimization, has built one of the most respected performance ecosystems in modern sports. What started as a small training operation has evolved into a data-driven human performance engine trusted by MLB athletes, top collegiate programs, and high-performing executives. Phil’s path from the Midwest to launching Diesel in Tampa reflects a blend of discipline, experimentation, and a relentless pursuit of measurable improvement.At Diesel, Phil has developed a methodology that merges biomechanics, strength and conditioning, recovery systems, and cutting-edge wearable tech into a unified performance model. His approach emphasizes individualization at scale—helping athletes understand not just how to train, but why their bodies respond the way they do. This philosophy has shaped Diesel into a hub for innovation, attracting athletes looking for precision-based development rather than one-size-fits-all programming.In this episode, Phil breaks down the evolution of athlete data, how Diesel is expanding into youth and developmental pathways, and why performance training is shifting toward holistic, tech-enabled systems. He also shares the lessons that guided him as a founder—building trust, creating structure, and developing the “dog mentality” culture Diesel is known for.Podcast Chapters:01:13 Phil's Journey: From Coaching to Entrepreneurship04:21 The Importance of Adaptation in Business07:57 Integrating Technology in Athletic Training13:49 Capturing Young Athletes: A New Approach17:52 Scaling Diesel: Balancing Coaching and Business22:12 Lessons from Elite Athletes: Discipline and Drive25:49 Staying Sharp: Balance and Continuous Learning

Brooks Wiley is an Austin native and longtime operator in the rapid rise of pickleball as both a sport and commercial industry. After discovering the game in 2018, he immersed himself in its emerging business landscape—exploring equipment, facilities, and the early community driving the sport forward.His work alongside Steve Kuhn led to the creation of DUPR and Major League Pickleball, where he helped shape early partnerships, recruit pro talent, and build the league structure during a period of intense growth and national attention. His experience spans league operations, team ownership strategy, media ambitions, and the financial realities of scaling a challenger sports property.Wiley now leads strategic partnerships at PickleTile, focusing on the infrastructure and technology powering pickleball’s expansion. His perspective covers the full ecosystem—from sound-mitigating court solutions to the broader trends driving amateur and professional participation worldwide.Podcast Chapters: 02:37 Brooks Wiley's Journey into Pickleball05:20 The Impact of COVID-19 on Pickleball07:53 Building Major League Pickleball and Duper10:26 Navigating League Growth and Structure13:04 Media Strategy and Distribution in Pickleball15:22 Infrastructure Opportunities in Pickleball18:19 The Future of Pickleball and Padel20:56 Global Expansion of Pickleball23:33 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

Raphael Eder is the Founder & CEO of the No Limits Tour (NLT), a new global sports and media venture redefining how action sports are built, owned, and experienced. Rooted in his lifelong connection to extreme environments, Eder created NLT to bring together the world’s top cliff divers and empower them as co-owners and co-creators of a new generation of sports IP. The tour blends world-class live events with cinematic, social-first storytelling — all designed to highlight the beauty of nature, culture, and elite performance.Eder’s vision for NLT extends far beyond competition. He has architected a league model where athletes help shape governance, content, and long-term value creation, marking a shift toward athlete-driven sports properties. His approach includes identifying iconic natural locations for events, building a digital ecosystem optimized for Gen Z audiences, and structuring capital strategies to support the tour’s global ambitions. Under his leadership, NLT is emerging as one of the most innovative sports concepts of the decade.Across the conversation, Eder reflects on the lessons learned while building a league from scratch, the complexities of operating at the intersection of sport and spectacle, and the long-term vision that guides NLT’s future expansion. His story highlights a blend of creativity, operational rigor, and entrepreneurial courage — all fueling the rise of a new frontier in action sports entertainment.Podcast Chapters: 01:00 Rafael Eder's Journey to Extreme Sports02:22 The Unique Approach of No Limits Tour04:39 Building a New League in Cliff Diving08:19 Identifying Locations for Events10:51 Leveraging Digital Platforms for Growth13:22 Selecting Participants for the Tour15:22 Navigating Capital Markets for Funding17:24 Vision for the Future of No Limits Tour19:22 Unexpected Lessons in Building a League21:00 Dream Locations for Future Events22:06 Leadership and Mentorship in SportsRaphael Eder:🏠 Website: https://nolimitstour.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaeleder/ Scott Garber:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

TOCA is building the future of global soccer experiences — blending technology, training, community, and entertainment in a way the U.S. market has never seen before. In this episode, TOCA Founder Eddie Lewis and Executive Chairman Erik Anderson share how they are creating an ecosystem that develops better players, elevates fan culture, and makes high-quality soccer experiences accessible to everyone — from youth athletes to lifelong fans.What started as a training innovation has evolved into a fast-growing global platform. TOCA now includes TOCA Training centers, TOCA Social entertainment venues, and proprietary technology that enables consistent, data-driven development at scale. Eddie and Erik break down how TOCA is “completing soccer” by delivering experiences across the entire player and fan journey — and why the model mirrors the explosive, community-driven growth seen in Topgolf.With the 2026 World Cup approaching, soccer participation exploding, and experiential entertainment reshaping the landscape, TOCA is positioned at the center of a once-in-a-generation moment. Eddie and Erik reveal the strategy behind their expansion, the power of experiential IP, and how TOCA plans to become the world’s leading soccer experience company.Podcast Chapters:02:40 What TOCA Is: Training, Tech & Social Experiences05:55 The Origins: Eddie’s Vision and the First Machines08:12 How TOCA Completes Soccer Across the Full Player Journey11:28 Expanding Youth Soccer and Player Development14:05 The Role of Technology in Consistent, Scalable Training17:20 TOCA Social: Soccer’s Version of Topgolf21:48 Building Experiences That Connect Fans, Players & Families25:03 Creating IP: Why TOCA Is Betting Big on Social Venues28:42 The Global Soccer Moment Ahead of 202632:11 Strategy, Scale & Global Expansion Opportunities35:26 The Future: Making Soccer a Lifelong ExperienceEddie Lewis & Erik Anderson:🏠 Website: https://www.toca.social/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewiseddie/https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikanderson9/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

KlutchShots AI is reshaping the future of youth sports by merging advanced computer vision, machine learning, and creative storytelling into an instant-highlight engine for the modern sports ecosystem. Founded by Jeff Snyder and Irvin Garduno, KlutchShots AI set out to solve one of the biggest pain points in youth sports: capturing meaningful moments without forcing parents to film every play.What began as a powerful iPhone app that creates real-time, professional-quality highlights has expanded into a fully autonomous enterprise system capable of capturing entire tournaments — from MADE Hoops to GASO — and delivering cinematic reels at scale. Their AI doesn’t just record the game… it understands it, reframing, editing, and producing vertical social-ready clips instantly while preserving full horizontal footage for coaching and analysis.In this episode, Jeff and Irvin break down the origin of KlutchShots AI, the massive opportunity in the $69B youth sports market, and how technology is transforming athlete storytelling. They discuss the rise of autonomous video capture, how teams and clubs are using AI to enhance player development and recruiting, and why this moment represents a major shift in sports media and fan engagement.Chapters: 02:51 The Birth of KlutchShots AI05:46 Defining AI in Sports08:26 The Future of Video Capture in Sports11:15 Enhancing Value for Teams and Clubs13:57 Recruiting Applications and Market Needs16:47 Creating a Culture of Innovation19:37 The Role of Hardware in Video Capture22:19 The Pulse of Youth Sports Events25:14 Lessons Learned as Founders27:56 Looking Ahead: The Future of KlutchShots AIJeff Snyder & Irvin Garduno: 🏠 Website: https://klutchshots.ai💼 LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsnyder2891/https://www.linkedin.com/in/irvin-garduno-2a5068380/Scott Garber:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

 Overtime is one of the most disruptive forces in modern sports — building new leagues, cultural IP, and storytelling for a generation raised on highlights, creators, and connection. Led by Dan Porter, Co-Founder and CEO, Overtime has evolved from a digital media pioneer into a global sports ecosystem operating OTE and OT Select (basketball), OT7 (football), and OTX (boxing) — engaging nearly 100 million fans across platforms.Backed by top investors including Liberty Media, Andreessen Horowitz, Alexis Ohanian, Drake, and over 40 NBA and NFL players, Overtime’s mission is to reimagine how fans experience sports, how athletes grow their brands, and how culture drives community.In this episode, Dan shares Overtime’s journey from content creation to league ownership, the power of Gen Z’s passion, and how storytelling, data, and innovation shape the future of sports. From NIL to AI to global fan engagement, this conversation explores what’s next for sports media and the new generation defining it.Podcast Chapters: 01:09 The Evolution of Overtime: From Media to Elite Leagues05:43 Lessons from COVID: Adapting to Change 09:05 Navigating the Landscape of Youth Sports and Capital Raising 09:41 Understanding the Audience: Gen Z and Their Interests 12:55 Cultural Insights: K-Pop, Demon Hunters, and Youth Engagement 16:14 Building a Community: Players, Creators, and Fans 18:50 Creating an Overtime Universe: Interconnected Stories20:58 The Role of NIL in Athlete Development 23:47 Measuring ROI on Culture: Empowering Young Voices28:08 Learning from the Margins: Insights from Small Creators33:41 Kobe Bryant: A Lasting Impact and Lessons LearnedDan Porter: Website: https://itsovertime.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danporter/

 Legacy25 is a newly launched private investment initiative transforming the U.S. college sports ecosystem. Backed by family-office capital and led by an elite group of professional athletes, Legacy25’s mission is to help shape the ongoing evolution of collegiate athletics — building a new legacy in the very system that launched their careers. Managed in partnership with Chiron Sports Group, the platform provides both strategic support and financial firepower to help institutions and businesses thrive in the next era of college sports.At the helm of this new movement are Brian Hoyer, former NFL quarterback, and Leo Rifkind, founder of Chiron Sports Group. Together, they share how Legacy25 is creating a dual investment platform: “Gold Miners” — bespoke capital solutions for colleges and conferences, and “Picks & Shovels” — equity investments in the tools, technology, and services fueling college sports monetization. Their goal? To unlock synergies across the $13B+ industry and empower all stakeholders — from universities to athletes — to benefit from its transformation.In this episode, Brian and Leo dive deep into the strategy behind Legacy25, how private capital is reshaping the NCAA landscape, and what the future holds for athlete-driven investing. It’s a conversation about innovation, opportunity, and the business of building a lasting legacy in college sports.Podcast Chapters: 03:22 Brian Hoyer’s Journey from Athlete to Investor 06:18 The Strategy Behind Legacy25: Gold Miners & Picks and Shovels 10:45 How Chiron Sports Group Powers Growth in Sports Businesses 14:38 The $13B Opportunity in College Athletics 18:02 Athlete-Led Investment and NIL Evolution 22:47 Future Outlook: The Business of College Sports