Sports Pundit Podcast Network

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Misha Sher, Global Head of Sport, Entertainment and Culture at WPP, and one of the most respected voices in the intersection of sport, creativity, and brand strategy.Misha has spent the last decade helping some of the world’s biggest brands, from Toyota to eBay, connect with culture through sport. He’s also worked directly with global icons like Pele and Mesut Özil, helping turn talent into brands that last far beyond the pitch.In this conversation, recorded at the Johan Cryuff ArenA in Amsterdam during Soccerex Europe, we explore what great sponsorship really looks like in 2025, why it's no longer about exposure, but experience, and how WPP works with both talent and brands.Timestamps2:00 - Misha's Career Journey4:00 - The Importance of Networking06:00 - Working with Pele: Challenges and Insights10:00 - Building a Personal Brand15:00 - Athletes Leveraging Media19:00 - Brand Partnerships and Strategies23:00 - Working with Alessia Russo27:00 Case Studies: eBay and ToyotaConnect with Misha on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠ Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

In this engaging discussion, Rob Pilgrim, Head of Sport & Primetime at YouTube EMEA, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting. He delves into YouTube's transformative role in empowering women's sports and building partnerships with traditional broadcasters. Rob also highlights how AI is revolutionizing content creation, offering personalized viewing experiences, and reshaping revenue models. With a focus on collaboration, he emphasizes the platform's potential as a digital haven for sports fans.

This is the second episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS. On today’s episode, Rich is joined by Dr. Daniel Parnell, CEO of the Association of Sporting Directors, among other roles. From university corridors to the boardrooms of football clubs, Dan has built a career at the intersection of sport, business and research. As an academic, CEO, technical expert, and consultant, he's uniquely placed to talk about what drives high performance and what hinders it in the business of football and beyond. And that's exactly what this podcast does. Through poignant examples and personal experiences, this conversation dives into the impact of meaningful relationships, strategic thinking, effective leadership as well as the importance of, and application of, network theory. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Rich on LinkedIn - Here#AdThis series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting ⁠geniussports.com/perform/⁠

Vansa Chatikavanij, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Present Ventures, shares his impressive journey from climate projects at the World Bank to investing in innovative sports ventures. They discuss the transformative impact of technology on fan engagement and the rise of women's sports, emphasizing compelling narratives. Vansa highlights the exciting potential of emerging leagues like TGL, the importance of community in commerce, and the growing popularity of golf in Asia. The conversation paints a vibrant picture of a new era in sports and entertainment.

Tareq Nazlawy, co-founder and CEO of Trace, dives into the realm of sports fandom, emphasizing the 99% of fans who experience the game from afar. With a background at BCG and Adidas, he discusses how Trace is revolutionizing the digital memorabilia landscape, allowing fans to own and share significant moments. The conversation touches on the importance of engaging remote fans, the innovative use of digital collectibles, and the potential of Web3 to deepen emotional connections with sports. Tareq's vision aims to transform passive spectators into active participants in the sporting world.

This is the first episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS. On today's episode of the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, Rich sits down with James Young, someone who has walked both sides of the line, from advising elite sports organizations at Deloitte, to living the daily pressures inside a football club like Sunderland AFC.Now shaping strategy for rights holders around the world at Genius Sports, James isn't just a leader in the performance technology space, he's someone who understands the nuance of bridging performance insight with business strategy. This conversation isn't just about tech, it's about why sports organizations sometimes get it wrong. And what the best do differently to get it right. So, whether you're a performance professional, an exec, or someone who's simply trying to understand how the future of sport is being shaped behind the scenes. This one's for you.Connect with James on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠#AdThis series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting geniussports.com/perform/

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Matthew Jafarian, Executive Vice President of Business Strategy at the Miami HEAT. Over the past eight years, Matthew has led one of the most ambitious digital transformations in American sports, overseeing the HEAT’s approach to data, technology, and strategy. But what really sets him apart is the fact that he hasn’t just transformed his own organisation, he’s also helping to reshape the entire industry.Matthew is also the co-founder of 601 Analytics, a data and analytics platform born inside the HEAT that’s now used by over 20% of the NBA, the league office, and teams across the NFL, NHL, NWSL, MLB, and (soon) MLS. From fan insights to ticketing to food and beverage optimisation, it’s become the operating system behind some of the smartest front offices in sport.In this conversation, we dig into how the role of data is evolving in sport, why teams need to start acting like the billion-dollar businesses they are, and what it means to build a company within a world-famous organisation.Timestamps01:00 - Matthew's Journey to Joining the HEAT03:00 - Digital Transformation and the Start of 601 Analytics 08:00 - Expanding to the Milwaukee Bucks14:00 - Balancing Roles and Responsibilities19:00 - Solving Industry Challenges24:00 Leveraging Consumer Profiles and Loyalty29:00 Expanding into Europe32:00 - Court Culture and Empowering Entrepreneurial Ventures35:00 - Approach to Investing and Sports Technology40:00 - Customer-Centric Growth Strategy42:00 - Closing Remarks and Future OpportunitiesAdditional LinksMiami Heat: the basketball team turned tech startupMiami Heat Tech Team Expands Data Services To NBA And BeyondMiami HEAT boosts season ticket sales by 30% and saves approximately $1 million on operationsConnect with Matthew on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Rich Buchanan, a leading voice in performance strategy and one of the most thoughtful minds working at the intersection of elite sport, data, and leadership.Rich spent nearly two decades in the trenches of professional football, first as a physio, then as Performance Director for Swansea City during their Premier League run. He’s since held roles with the Premier League, DC United, and Zone7, and now advises sports tech companies and delivers leadership masterclasses on how to embed high-performance cultures that actually work.Today’s episode is a little different. It’s not just a conversation - it’s an announcement. Rich will be hosting a brand new spin-off of this podcast, The Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, a five-episode mini-series exploring the big themes shaping elite performance today. From workload to wellbeing, technology to team culture, the aim is simple: to bridge the gap between the boardroom and the changing room. In this episode, we introduce the series, unpack Rich’s journey through performance, and talk honestly about where the industry is heading next and what needs to change.2:00 - Rich Buchanan's Journey in Performance Strategy4:00 - Innovations and Challenges in Sports Technology8:00 - The Role of Data in Sports Performance15:00 - Leadership and Communication in Sports24:00 - Launching the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast29:00 - Future of Sports Technology and Data36:00 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAdditional LinksConnect with Rich on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Sukh Sadhra, Head of Marketing at Premiership Rugby - the top tier of English club rugby union and home to some of the most iconic teams in the game.Sukh’s background spans roles at Betfair, Sky, and experience-tech company Pollen, where he led CRM and brand communications, giving him a uniquely data-driven and fan-first approach to sports marketing.In this conversation, we unpack Sukh’s marketing philosophy, how he’s repositioning Premiership Rugby for a new generation of fans, and why the Final at Twickenham has become a sell-out event two years running. We talk creativity, conversion, culture, and what it takes to turn a rugby match into an unmissable experience.Timestamps02:00 - Sukh’s Journey08:00 - Data-Driven Marketing Strategies18:00 - Collaboration with Clubs and Centralized Data24:00 - Joint Marketing Efforts with RFU28:00 - Building Player Profiles and Social Media Presence32:00 - Selling the Final as a Premier Event41:00 - Influencer Partnerships and Social Media48:00 - Future Focus: Rebranding and Player StrategyAdditional LinksThe Gallagher Premiership Final is officially SOLD-OUT!Connect with Sukh on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

This is the first episode in a series of 5 focused on #Innovation and hosted by Leanne Bats, a former All Blacks and FC Barcelona executive now leading innovation for a regional sports trust in New Zealand. On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, I’m joined by Lucy Trang Nguyen, Business Development Director for Emerging Technologies at Accedo, and one of the key voices shaping the future of immersive sports experiences.Lucy has been leading the launch of the XR Sports Alliance, a powerful new collective founded by Accedo, Qualcomm and HBS, working to bring extended reality - or XR - from proof-of-concept into real-world fan experiences. Lucy and her team are helping sports organisations rethink what’s possible when fans aren’t limited by a 2D screen.In this conversation, we unpack the promise of XR - what it actually is, how it could change both the at-home and in-venue experience, and why rights holders, broadcasters, and sponsors should start paying close attention. We also explore what makes XR storytelling different, the commercial and legal challenges of immersive content, and what needs to happen next to make it scalable.Timestamps02:00 Lucy's Career Journey and Early AR Experiences10:00 The XR Sports Alliance: Formation and Mission14:00 The Current State and Future of XR in Sports27:00 In-Venue Experiences and the Potential of XR30:00 Streaming Innovations for Euro 202434:00 Modular Viewing Experiences and Sponsorship Integration38:00 Challenges and Learnings in XR Sports Alliance50:00 Future of XR in Sports and EntertainmentAdditional LinksConnect with Lucy on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Leanne on LinkedIn - Here