The Profluence Pod 🌐

Brooks Schaden is the co-CEO of Tom’s Watch Bar, the fast-growing sports bar concept redefining how fans experience live games. With 14 profitable venues across major sports cities and plans to expand by 50% this year, Tom’s is becoming the go-to destination for immersive sports viewing—with 360-degree screens, elevated stadium food, and all-sports-all-the-time programming.Brooks shares how Tom’s is tapping into evolving fan demographics, the rise of sports betting, and strategic partnerships to fuel growth. From hosting 600+ watch parties to pulling in $7M AUVs, this is a masterclass on turning sports passion into business performance.Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Tom's Watch Bar and Brooks' Journey02:37 – The Evolution of Sports Engagement05:35 – Navigating the COVID Challenge08:24 – Creating a Unique Sports Experience10:56 – Engaging Diverse Fan Bases13:51 – The Impact of Sports Betting16:44 – Strategic Partnerships and Growth19:31 – Future Expansion Plans22:08 – Building a Community Around Sports24:46 – Final Thoughts and InsightsBrooks Schaden:🏠Website: https://tomswatchbar.com/ 💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooks-schaden-35564a11/Scott Garber: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/Thanks for listeining! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Chad Wilton is the Co-Founder & CEO of PEAK, a new global gathering built to unite the world of SportsTech. As the industry rapidly evolves across athlete performance, fan engagement, and stadium innovation, PEAK is positioning itself as the central hub where top founders, investors, and executives come together to shape what’s next.With a background in launching high-impact events, Chad shares the inspiration behind PEAK, how he’s creating a platform that blends networking, live demos, and visionary insights—and why 2024 is the moment to go big. From community building to global ambition, this is a deep dive into the future of SportsTech convening.Chapters04:15 – The Passion for Events and Their Impact09:04 – The Vision Behind PEAK13:25 – Building a Unique Event Experience18:08 – The Team Behind PEAK and Future GoalsChad Wilton:🏠 Website:⁠ https://peakconf.com/💼LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-wilton-67453530/?originalSubdomain=caAndrew Petcash:🏠 Website:⁠ https://profluence.com⁠🐣 Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash⁠💼 LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/⁠ Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Rob Thompson, the creator of Punch Bowl Social, is launching his next venture—Valhalla SC Arena. Designed to merge the energy of live sports with immersive technology and social experience, Valhalla marks a bold step into the future of sports entertainment.Rob brings decades of experience in hospitality and experiential spaces, now applying that playbook to a new category: sports-driven social arenas. With the first public reveal of Valhalla SC Arena happening here, Rob shares his vision, the inspiration behind the concept, and how he plans to scale it into a cultural phenomenon. From his evolution as a founder to the role of smart capital and community-building in sports, this episode captures the launch of something big.Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Rob Thompson and Valhalla SC Arena 02:33 – The Evolution of Punch Bowl Social 04:48 – Identifying Market Opportunities 07:25 – The Concept of Valhalla SC Arena 10:07 – Target Demographics and Revenue Streams 12:31 – The Future of Sports Entertainment 14:55 – Scaling and Expansion Strategies 17:13 – The Role of Smart Capital in SportsRobert Thompson💼LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/⁠Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website:⁠ https://profluence.com⁠🐣 Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash⁠💼 LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/⁠Thanks for watching! Hit the “subscribe” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Chris Hetherington is an 11-year NFL veteran turned serial CEO, now leading the charge as CEO of Fathead. With a Yale degree in psychology and executive education from Harvard and Wharton, Chris brings elite performance from the field into the boardroom—where he's known for building strong teams, scaling brands, and turning vision into action.At Fathead, Chris is reviving and evolving the iconic fan brand through strategic marketing, expanded IP, and innovative digital tools. Under his leadership, Fathead is helping fans celebrate what they love most—whether through larger-than-life graphics, personalized cutouts, or immersive app experiences.Chris shares what he’s learned from both professional sports and entrepreneurship—discussing leadership, brand engagement, marketing challenges, and what it takes to stay ahead in today’s fast-paced fan economy.Chapters:00:57 - Chris's Journey in Sports and Business03:15 - Reviving the Fathead Brand04:13 - Marketing Strategies for Brand Revival07:05 - Expanding IP and Global Reach10:18 - Building a Strong Operational Team12:29 - Integrating Digital and Physical Experiences15:28 - User-Generated Content and Brand Engagement17:28 - Challenges in Marketing and Customer Acquisition19:44 - Lessons from NFL Culture21:46 - Staying Informed and Growing as a Leader24:18 - Iconic Fathead Products and Future DirectionsChris Hetherington: 🏠Website: https://fathead.com/💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hetherington-36597a46/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.

Nic Sulsky is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Curling Group, a bold new venture on a mission to modernize and globalize the sport of curling. With a background in entrepreneurship and media, Nic is bringing fresh energy and innovation to a sport rich in tradition but ripe for reinvention.In 2024, The Curling Group acquired the Grand Slam of Curling—an elite series featuring the top men’s and women’s teams from around the world. With a focus on storytelling, athlete branding, and equal prize purses, they’re aiming to elevate curling to new heights across global markets and streaming platforms.From engaging fans beyond the Winter Olympics to building out crossover audiences, Nic shares how The Curling Group is reimagining curling as a media-forward, modern sport with massive untapped potential.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Curling and Its Potential 02:56 - Nic's Journey and Entrepreneurial Background 05:46 - Market Insights and Global Appeal of Curling08:55 - Sustaining Interest Beyond the Olympics 11:54 - Crossover Audiences and Streaming Success 15:00 - Innovating the Sport and Engaging Fans 18:07 - Building Athlete Profiles and Brand Recognition 21:07 - The Future of Curling and Upcoming Events 23:57 - Conclusion and Call to ActionNic Sulsky: 🌐Website: https://thegrandslamofcurling.com/ 💼 Nic Sulsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicsulsky/?originalSubdomain=caAndrew Petcash:🏠 Website:⁠ https://profluence.com⁠🐣 Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash⁠💼 LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/⁠Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts. 

Cory Heitz is the founder of PREP Athletics, a company dedicated to helping basketball players find the right-fitting prep schools. With over 15 years of experience coaching, scouting, and working with international and domestic athletes, Cory has placed players in over 55 prep schools across 35+ countries. His mission is to guide athletes through the complex prep school landscape, ensuring they maximize their exposure and opportunities for college recruitment.PREP Athletics specializes in bridging the gap between athletes and prep schools, offering a pathway for players seeking better competition, academics, and overall development. Unlike traditional high schools or AAU programs, prep schools provide a structured environment to help athletes refine their skills and gain critical exposure to college programs.Beyond basketball, Cory is also an entrepreneur and partner at Garrett LLC, where he focuses on brownfield redevelopment, commercial revitalization, and solar energy projects. His work in transforming contaminated industrial sites into thriving properties showcases his commitment to long-term growth—whether in sports or business.Chapters: 06:01 - Cory Heitz's Journey to Founding Prep Athletics 11:56 - Understanding Prep Schools vs. Basketball Academies 17:55 - The Impact of NIL on Prep School Choices 20:12 - Incentive Models in Sports Contracts 23:19 - Innovative Ideas in Athlete Sponsorship 26:46 - The Evolution of Prep Schools 30:38 - Navigating the Prep School Landscape 34:55 - Business Opportunities in Prep SchoolsCory Heitz: Website: https://prepathletics.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryheitz/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts. 

Dr. Jim Borchers is the President and CEO of the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH) and the Chief Medical Officer for the Big Ten Conference. With nearly two decades as a team physician for Ohio State football and seven years as head team physician for the entire athletic department, Dr. Borchers is a leading advocate for athlete health and safety.USCAH partners with 300+ universities, 20+ conferences, and numerous high schools and youth sports organizations to ensure athlete well-being remains a top priority. By providing education, policy development, and risk management strategies, USCAH is shaping the future of sports healthcare.Chapters:02:39 - The Evolution of Athletic Healthcare06:30 - Role of the Chief Medical Officer in Sports07:10 - US Council for Athletes’ Health: Mission and Impact09:03 - Health and Safety Issues in Sports11:58 - Continuity in Athletic Healthcare Across LevelsAkshat Prakash:🏠 Website: https://uscah.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-borchers-md/Andrew Petcash: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “subscribe” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

In this engaging discussion, John D’Orsay, CEO of EventConnect and a tech veteran with over two decades in innovation, dives into the evolving youth sports landscape. He shares how his platform is revolutionizing tournament management with advanced tech and AI. The conversation touches on the impact of private equity investments, challenges faced by startups in the industry, and the intersection of education and sports. John's insights on enhancing user experiences and fostering accessibility make this a must-listen for sports enthusiasts and tech aficionados alike!

Akshat Prakash is the CTO of Camb.ai, an AI-driven company revolutionizing language accessibility. With a background in AI from Carnegie Mellon and experience at Apple AI, Ack is at the forefront of innovation, helping enterprises and creators reach global audiences.Camb.ai’s proprietary models, MARS & BOLI, have been leveraged by sports leagues, filmmakers, and content creators to seamlessly adapt content across languages. Their mission is to ensure that ideas and opportunities are accessible to everyone, regardless of language barriers.With AI rapidly transforming sports, media, and education, Ack brings valuable insights into emerging trends, talent scouting in tech, and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.Chapters: 02:37 - The Evolution of AI in Sports and Education 05:26 - Scouting Young Talent in Coding 08:27 - The Business of Sports Tech and AI 11:01 - Expanding Beyond Sports: Opportunities in Media and Education 13:34 - Navigating B2B and B2C Markets 16:24 - Emerging Trends in AI and Language Models 19:20 - The Future of AI: Towards Super IntelligenceAkshat Prakash:🏠 Website: https://www.camb.ai/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshat-prakash/Andrew Petcash: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “subscribe” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Ryan Weldon, the founder of 13th Bridge Games Studio, is a life-long gamer and sports fanatic with an extensive background in marketing, sales, and management. He previously served in high-level roles at Bausch Health and Johnson & Johnson, overseeing multi-billion dollar transactions. Ryan also worked as a consultant for major brands like Nike, bringing his expertise in sports marketing and brand building to the table. His passion for both gaming and sports led him to create 13th Bridge Games Studio, a company focused on revolutionizing the sports gaming experience.13th Bridge Games Studio’s flagship product, Run The Court, is an arcade-style basketball battler designed for mobile devices. The game allows players to engage in 1v1 and 2v2 tournaments, inspired by the excitement of March Madness. With this mobile-first approach, Ryan and his team are offering a fresh and engaging experience for the next generation of gamers, blending competitive basketball with the convenience of mobile play.An interesting fact about 13th Bridge is that their game Run The Court not only captures the excitement of basketball tournaments but also includes a unique blend of real-life athletes and fictional elements, creating a dynamic experience that appeals to both sports fans and mobile gamers alike. As mobile gaming continues to rise in popularity, 13th Bridge is poised to make a significant impact in the world of sports gaming.Chapters: (1:09) - How 13th Bridge Came to Life(4:34) - Trends in Mobile Gaming and Gen Z(9:48) - The Evolution of March Madness and College Sports(13:26) - Game and Athlete Affiliation: Blending Fiction with Real Life(19:08) - Overcoming Challenges in the Gaming Industry(23:13) - Community and Fan EngagementRyan Weldon:🏠 Website: https://www.13thbridge.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanweldon/Andrew Petcash: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.