Sports Pundit Podcast Network

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Jessica Hammond Graf, President of Women’s Elite Rugby - the first professional womens rugby league in the US set to launch later this year.  Built upon the strong foundation of the Women’s Premier League and looking ahead to the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup to be hosted in the U.S., WER aims to usher in the next stage of evolution for world-class women's rugby and Jessica is the perfect fit at the helm. A former US rugby 7's player, and retired NCAA Division I Deputy Athletic Director, her career has been dedicated to creating empowered women to lead in the sporting world.  In our conversation, we discuss turning women’s rugby in the U.S. from pay-to-play to paid-to-play, selecting locations for the initial teams, securing sponsors and media distribution, the impact star players can have on a sport, and so much more.  Timestamps 2:00 - Jessica's Journey 5:00 - The Creation of Women's Elite Rugby 6:00 - Women's Rugby in the U.S. 10:00 - Women's Rugby World Cup Momentum 13:00 - Securing Sponsorship and Investment as a Startup League 17:00 - Exploring Revenue Streams 20:00 - What Will WER Look Like in 2025? 24:00 - Being Player-First 27:00 - Owning a Slot on the Calendar 30:00 - Thinking About a Broadcast Strategy 33:00 - Ilona Maher and the Impact of a Super-Star Athletes 41:00 - The Future for WER Additional Links Women’s Elite Rugby pro league plans 2025 launch ahead of US World Cups Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I have something a bit different for you as I shift from interviewer to interviewee after being invited to join David Chimbaza on his podcast, the 'Business of Football' back in October.  David is a recent graduate from UCFB who is aiming to forge a career in the world of football and I really admire his drive - which is highlighted by the fact that he has launched this podcast in the first place.  As well as hopefully providing you a little bit of insight on myself, the motivations behind starting Sports Pundit four years ago, as well as more recently my work with The Players Fund, I really hope that you also take a moment to check out what David is doing. Based on his actions to-date, he’s someone I’d expect to go far within the game over the course of his career - and I was very flattered to be invited on to have this conversation with him.  Episode Description In the episode, we talk about community building within the football industry. I shares insights from my experiences having founded Sports Pundit, which aims to connect professionals in the sports sector. We also explore the need for greater inclusivity of younger voices in the industry, drawing parallels with successful models from other sectors, such as Gucci's shadow board. Additionally, I delves into the Players Fund, an athlete-backed venture fund that empowers sports professionals to invest wisely and prepare for life after their athletic careers. Additional Links Connect with David on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Elena Mirandola, CEO of FC Como Women — the first club to be backed by Mercury13, a pioneering women’s football consortium with bold ambitions to build a global multi-club network and unlock the commercial potential of the women's game. Elena’s path to becoming a football club CEO is anything but conventional. Her career began in digital marketing, working with global powerhouse brands before moving to work directly with travel platform Expedia just as the pandemic struck. In our conversation, we explore the unique business model of FC Como Women, from its approach to branding and operating like a tech start-up to its success in attracting blue-chip sponsors like Nike. We also discuss the unique opportunities and challenges of running a women-only football club — one of only two to do so in Italy’s top flight. Time Stamps 3:00 – Elena’s Unconventional Path to CEO 7:00 – Addressing Gender Disparity 10:00 – Reframing the Women’s Football 'Product' 12:00 – Overcoming Infrastructure Challenges 14:00 – Speaking to a Global Audience 17:00 – BEYOND: Launching an Educational Program for their Players 18:00 – Understanding the Modern Female Fan 20:00 – Building Partnerships with Global Brands 21:00 – Merchandising & Nike Partnership 27:00 – Adopting a Female-First Approach 30:00 – Building a Fan Database from Scratch 32:00 – Empowering Female Athletes as Content Creators 36:00 – Avoiding the Pitfalls of the Men’s Game 40:00 – Future Ambitions & Mercury13’s Multi-Club Vision Additional Links  Como Women appoint new CEO and COO following Mercury/13 takeover, plus more Nike announces multi-year deal with FC Como Women Women's football investors Mercury/13 'ripping up blueprint' on club ownership Giorgio Chiellini makes six-figure investment in women’s soccer, inspired by watching Angel City DAZN has partnered with F.C. Como Women to bring Exclusive Content and Behind-the-Scenes Access Connect with Elena on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Susie Tomson, one of the world’s leading proponents of sustainability in sport.  Having led the UK Sport research project into environmental support for NGBs and co-chaired the UN Sport for Climate Action working group, Susie brings hands-on experience that very few could match. Currently a Senior Partner at Think Beyond, her experiences underpin much of their approach to climate action, where, she has developed and delivered sustainability programmes for the likes of SailGP, World Athletics, and Liverpool FC. We discuss some of these programs, as well as what others could do - both at a rightsholder and an individual level… Time Stamps 2:00 - Susie’s Journey 5:00 - Motivations for Becoming Sustainable  7:00 - Building a New Sports Property with a Sustainable Vision (such as SailGP) 12:00 - Developing Sustainability into the DNA of an Established Rightsholder (like Liverpool FC) 18:00 - Sporting Product vs Sustainability Promises  23:00 - Sport’s Ability to Impact Things 25:00 - Sports as an Incubator for New Technologies 28:00 - The Role and Responsibilities of Athletes 32:00 - The Importance of Purpose 38:00 - How Could the Environmental Movement Communicate Better?  43:00 - Formula 1 Case Study  45:00 - Understanding Your Supply Chain  52:00 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways  Additional Links Connect with Susie on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Ashwin Desai, Senior Vice President of Games & Experiences at OneTeam Partners. Ashwin’s career spans media, entertainment, and sports, beginning in film and TV financing before moving to the likes of NBCUniversal, Formula One, and 2K.  Joining Formula One in 2018 during its digital transformation under Liberty Media, Ashwin worked on a broad range of projects, from live streaming deals with Twitch and Facebook, to global betting partnerships, gaming deals, and fan experiences like F1 Arcade and the F1 Exhibition. Now at OneTeam Partners, which was founded as a joint venture between the NFL Players Union, the MLB Players Union and Redbird Capital, Ashwin leads their games and experiences portfolio, helping athlete collectives to explore gaming, gambling, and emerging technologies. We touch on a number of fast-evolving areas, from NIL and gambling legislations, to what opportunities are there around player data and AI. Time Stamps 2:30 - Ashwin's Journey 4:00 - Working on Formula 1 under Liberty Media 7:00 - Founding Story of OneTeam Partners 12:00 - Negotiating Players Rights for EA's College Football Game 18:00 - Athletes Balancing Individual vs Collective Power 23:00 - Dominance of Dual Licensed Video Games and Potential Growth for Single Licensed Games 27:00 - Competitive Socialisation and Fan Experiences Outside of the Stadium 29:00 - Ideas for New Venues 35:00 - Taking the NFL Combine to Other Sports 37:00 - Leveraging Athlete Data 42:00 - Utilising AI for New Commercial Opportunities 46:00 - Approaching New Areas with Caution 48:00 - Expanding into Other Markets Additional Links Connect with Ashwin on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Maurits Schön, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at OneFootball. Maurits has an intriguing career journey, having made the leap from law into the world of sports media, joining OneFootball as Senior Legal Counsel. Since then, he has risen through the ranks while navigating a period of significant transformation for the company. It is this evolution that makes today’s conversation so compelling. Once perhaps seen as just a football content aggregator, OneFootball has grown into a comprehensive platform. From expanding its OTT presence with recent landmark deals with the likes of MLS and Serie A, as well as launching a loyalty program and expanding into commerce, the company is redefining how fans connect with the beautiful game. Timestamps: 4:00 - Maurits Career Journey 6:00 - Unique Positioning of OneFootball 9:00 - Challenges with Club Apps 15:00 - Key Markets for OneFootball 16:00 - Collaborating with Apple and MLS 22:00 - Building a Loyalty Rewards Program 26:00 - Developing an OTT Offering (and PPV Access to Bundesliga 2) 30:00 - OneFootball Partnership with Serie A 34:00 - Non-Exclusive and Incremental Content and Rights Partnerships 37:00 - Differentiation from YouTube 41:00 - Having a Team in the Icon League 46:00 - Launching a Commerce Functionality Additional Links: Connect with Maurits on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Douglas Jakobi, Director of Team Development at the E1 Series, the world’s first electric powerboat racing championship. Having previously worked in commodities trading before starting his own company sourcing and producing fan engagement products for sports teams, Douglas joined E1 as one of its earliest team members and has been instrumental in shaping the championship into what it is today. In our conversation, we dive into what it takes to create an entirely new sport from scratch. What E1 has learned and borrowed from Alejandro Agag’s other sporting endeavours such as Formula E, Extreme E, and Hexagon Cup, as well as how the league has managed to attract, and aims to capitalise on, its high-profile team owners, which include the likes Tom Brady, Virat Kohli, Will Smith, and Rafa Nadal. Timestamps 3:00 - Douglas' Journey 5:00 - What is E1 Series? 7:00 - Aspiring to be 'F1 on Water' 10:00 - How E1 Differs from Powerboating 14:00 - Celebrity Team Ownership 20:00 - What does Ownership Look Like? 23:00 - Getting the Celebrities Actively Involved 26:00 - Converting Reach to Audience 28:00 - The Potential for a Behind-the-scenes Docuseries 30:00 - Sourcing and Telling the Stories of the Pilots 34:00 - What Makes a good E1 Pilot? 36:00 - Expanding Race Locations to the US 38:00 - Announcing New Team Owners... Additional Links ⁠Tom Brady team wins E1 championship Hopes 'Formula 1-style' electric boat race could come to London A celebrity’s playground: How is Saudi-backed E1 Series changing the world of water mobility? Connect with Douglas on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Paddy Carberry, Global Sports Marketing Manager at Guinness. Based out of the iconic St James’ Gate in Dublin, Paddy leads the brand's global sports activations—from Six Nations Rugby to the Premier League and everything in-between. With nearly six years at Diageo, Paddy’s career has spanned roles in sustainability, corporate relations, culture and partnerships. Now, he’s shaping Guinness' connection to fans worldwide, activating the brand across diverse markets and sports. In our conversation, we dive into how Guinness aligns with the cultural heartbeat of each market, why the timing was right for partnering with the Premier League, the role of zero-alcohol options in connecting with younger generations, and the significance of Guinness' brand homes in their broader strategy. We also explore the brand’s heritage, its long-standing ties with rugby, and some creative new campaigns—including fashion collaborations, which Paddy hints are on the horizon for football fans. Timeline 3:00 - Paddy’s Journey 8:00 - The Premier League Partnership and Global Fan Behaviours 14:00 - Guinness’ Alignment with Rugby 18:00 - Going Beyond In-Stadia Activation and ‘Pouring Rights' 23:00 - The Booming Popularity of Guinness and Their Pub and Retail Activation Strategy 27:00 - How Guinness Zero is Shaping Consumer Trends and 'Out-Innovating' the Internet 30:00 - Guinness' Brand Home at St. James's Gate and Around the World  37:00 - Future Partnership Plans and a Potential Fashion and Football Collab? Additional Links Connect with Paddy on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Drew Rauso, who leads Strategy and Operations at Playmaker HQ, a top-tier sports podcast network owned by Bettor Collective. Playmaker’s lineup features some of the biggest names in sports, including Shaquille O'Neal, Angel Reese, and Marshawn Lynch. Drew's role focuses on driving growth, fan engagement, and uncovering commercial opportunities, from merchandise to live events. With a background that includes working at The Players' Tribune, Drew and I dive into the rise of athlete-driven media and the key areas involved in building a successful podcast network. Timeline 3:00 - Drew Journey 4:00 - Athlete Driven Media 7:00 - Playmaker HQ's Distribution Network 10:00 - Landing and Navigating Commercial Deals 12:00 - Balancing Politics and Priorities 14:00 - Leveraging Bettor Collective's Relationships 17:00 - Podcast Monetisation 19:00 - Launching Physical Events 27:00 - Could Teams Launch Their Own Podcasts? 34:00 - Why Streaming Killed the Group Chat 37:00 - Expanding into International Sports Additional Links Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart host block party for Roommates Show in Central Park Angel Reese Launches 'Unapologetically Angel' Podcast amid Breakout WNBA Season 'Streaming has killed the mainstream': the decade that broke popular culture Connect with Drew on LinkedIn - Here Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Marieke Visser and Frederique De Laat from HERA United, a pioneering women’s-only football club based in Amsterdam which is  set to launch in 2025. This conversation dives deep into their ambitious goals for club, including their vision for competing in the Champions League, as well as creating long-term growth for Dutch women’s football. Marieke, who is the founder and CEO, talks about the possibilities created by building HERA United from the ground up and shares with us her lifelong fight for gender equality in sports, which is rooted in her early experiences of exclusion from the game.  Meanwhile Frederique, who heads up finance and operations, reflects on transitioning from strategy consulting to the sports industry, drawn in by the untapped potential and commercial opportunities she could see within women’s football. Together, they reveal the challenges of launching a women’s-only club in a system designed to favour men’s teams, including how they successfully lobbied the KNVB and how they acquired Telstar's women’s team license. They also discuss HERA’s innovative female-first approach to coaching, sports tech, and talent development, which they believe is essential for building a more sustainable, collaborative football ecosystem. Timestamps:3:00 - Marieke’s Early Fight for Gender Equality in Football8:00 - Frederique’s Journey from Strategy Consulting to Women’s Football11:00 - The Founding Story of HERA United16:00 - Overcoming the System: Securing a Place in the Eredivisie25:00 - Why a Female-First Approach is Key to Success30:00 - The Power of Collaboration in Dutch Football35:00 - Retaining Talent in the Netherlands: Challenges and Opportunities40:00 - Future Ambitions: Competing in the Champions League44:00 - HERA’s Vision for Long-Term Growth and Social Change Additional Links Hera United should become the first professional club for women only: "What gets attention, grows" Amsterdam could get a new all-women pro football club Connect with Marieke on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Frederique on LinkedIn - HereConnect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here