Sports Management Podcast

Marcus Filipsson
  • 4.6 (9)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Conversations Shaping the Future of Sport

  1. 3d ago

    #267 Building a Sport From Scratch: Social Media, Sponsors & the Olympics | Greg Roe

    Welcome to episode 267 of Sports Management Podcast. Can you build an entirely new sport from scratch? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, Marcus Filipsson speaks with Greg Roe, former Team Canada trampoline athlete and Co-Founder of the Freestyle Trampoline Association. Freestyle trampoline started as an athlete-led movement fueled by backyard videos, social media and a generation that wanted to experience trampoline differently from the traditional Olympic system. Today, the association operates events around the world—but getting there meant creating everything from judging systems and equipment standards to insurance, sponsorship models, international events and an entirely new sporting culture. Greg shares what it really takes to build a sport from zero, why freestyle trampoline has been described as a sport "born on Instagram," whether Olympic recognition actually matters, and why brands are becoming less interested in follower counts and more interested in direct access to customers. We also discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, protecting a sport from investors too early, the future of action sports and Greg's remarkable journey from a Russian orphanage to Team Canada and eventually building a global sports organization. In this episode: • How a new sport gets created from scratch • Why freestyle trampoline was born through social media • Athlete-led sports vs traditional federations • Can an Instagram-born sport reach the Olympics? • What sponsors actually want in 2026 • Why follower counts are losing commercial value • Building events, rules and infrastructure from zero • Protecting the culture of a young sport • The reality of 12 years of entrepreneurship • Greg's journey from Russia to Team Canada • The future of freestyle and action sports ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:14 What Is Freestyle Trampoline? 01:29 Building an Athlete-Led Sport 03:20 How Do You Create a Sport From Scratch? 05:18 Why Athletes Wanted Something Different 07:19 Breaking Away From Traditional Trampoline 09:07 The Viral Video That Changed Everything 10:18 Finding the Right Co-Founder 10:49 Building the Sport Without Advertising 12:43 Can a Sport Born on Instagram Reach the Olympics? 14:20 The Rise of the "Flipping" Sports Industry 15:35 Competition Between New Action Sports 18:06 Building a World Championship 21:15 The Business Behind a New Sports League 24:38 Why Some Sports Never Grow 26:26 Why Taking Investors Too Early Can Be Dangerous 27:13 Working With the X Games 28:41 Why Follower Counts Matter Less to Sponsors 30:50 What Brands Actually Want 33:55 Does Freestyle Trampoline Need the Olympics? 35:29 Building a Business Beyond Competition 39:16 The Reality of Being a Sports Entrepreneur 42:46 Fighting an Established Industry 44:23 Greg's Journey From a Russian Orphanage 45:23 Becoming an Elite Trampoline Athlete 47:46 Team Canada, World Records & America's Got Talent 51:24 From Athlete to Entrepreneur 51:37 Where to Find Freestyle Trampoline Follow Sports Management Podcast for more conversations exploring the business and future of sport.   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #267 Building a Sport From Scratch: Social Media, Sponsors & the Olympics | Greg Roe

  2. Aug 31

    #266 How Sport Can Transform Education & Communities | Rita Finkel

    What can sport accomplish beyond competition? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, Marcus Filipsson speaks with Rita Finkel, Co-President of the Armory Foundation and Director of Armory College Prep in New York City. The Armory may be known as one of the fastest and busiest indoor tracks in the world, but its impact stretches far beyond athletics. Rita explains how the organization uses sport as a gateway to education, opportunity and community—helping underserved young people prepare for college, placing students into meaningful paid internships, creating programs for seniors and bringing together one of New York City's most diverse communities. We also discuss whether college degrees still matter in the age of AI, why internships are so important, what sports can teach us about life, Rita's career in fencing and track & field, and the leadership lessons she's learned over more than two decades at the Armory. In this episode: • How the Armory combines sport and education • 11 years of 100% college admission for Armory College Prep seniors • Why college still matters in the age of AI • The importance of internships and career exposure • How sport can support underserved communities • Tackling isolation and inactivity among older adults • Leadership lessons from Dr. Norbert Sander • Rita's advice for building a meaningful career • The history and future of the Millrose Games Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Inside the Armory Foundation 01:47 Using Sports to Support Education 02:36 100% College Admission for 11 Years 03:04 How Armory College Prep Works 04:56 Finding Scholarships and Financial Aid 06:05 Do College Degrees Still Matter in the Age of AI? 08:31 Why College Fit Matters 09:22 The Power of Paid Internships 11:31 Why Critical Thinking Still Matters 12:27 From Fencing to Track & Field 14:43 Why Track & Field Is Different in the United States 16:59 The 2026 World Cup in New York 17:40 Rita's Journey Into Sports 18:45 Helping Seniors Through Sport 21:07 Why Community Matters 23:25 Rita's Career Advice 25:31 The Leadership Lesson That Changed Her Thinking 26:48 Why Great Leaders Change Their Minds 26:54 Career Setbacks and Resilience 30:09 The Armory's Community Impact 31:33 Inside the Millrose Games   If you enjoy the episode, follow Sports Management Podcast and share it with someone who believes sport can create change beyond the playing field.   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #266 How Sport Can Transform Education & Communities | Rita Finkel

  3. Aug 24

    #265 Building the Future of Women's Sports: Overtime, NIL & Gen Z | Sascha Malas

    Welcome to episode 265 of Sports Management Podcast. Women's sports are growing rapidly, but should they be built using the same playbook as men's sports? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, Marcus Filipsson speaks with Sascha Malas, Head of OT Select and Director of Content Operations at Overtime, about the future of women's sports, Gen Z fandom, NIL, sponsorship and athlete branding. Sascha explains why Overtime deliberately chose not to copy its men's basketball model when creating OT Select, how listening to young athletes shaped the product, and why she believes women's basketball is still only at the beginning of its commercial growth. We also discuss how Overtime became one of the most influential sports brands for Gen Z, why brands like Adidas, Google, Gatorade, Target and State Farm are investing in young female athletes, how NIL is turning teenagers into businesspeople, and why women's sports need more specialized investment rather than being treated as one single category. In this episode: Why women's sports need their own business models How Overtime built an audience with Gen Z The rise of OT Select Why women's basketball is still early in its growth How NIL is changing athlete branding Why major brands are investing in teenage athletes The commercial opportunity in women's sports How Sascha built her career in sports The importance of networking, mentors and communication If you enjoy the episode, subscribe to Sports Management Podcast and share it with someone working in the business of sport.   Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Sascha's Role at Overtime 01:26 How Overtime Built a Gen Z Sports Brand 03:39 Why Overtime Beat Legacy Media on TikTok 05:04 Building OT Select 05:35 Why Women's Sports Need a Different Model 06:48 What Elite Female Athletes Actually Wanted 07:55 Why "Women's Sports" Is Too Broad a Category 08:50 The Caitlin Clark Effect and Athlete Fandom 09:36 Is Women's Basketball Still Just Getting Started? 11:37 How NIL Is Changing Young Athletes 13:15 Are Female Athletes Better at Personal Branding? 14:15 Why Major Brands Are Investing in Women's Basketball 16:34 The Purchasing Power of Young Female Fans 17:28 The Future of Overtime Women's Sports 18:14 Overtime's UConn Partnership 19:29 Sascha's Career Journey 21:56 How She Became "The Women's Sports Person" at Overtime 23:32 Creating Your Own Luck in Sports 26:04 Career Challenges and Building OT Select 29:05 Advice for Women Entering Sports 31:20 Why Communication Skills Matter More Than Ever 32:13 Final Thoughts Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #265 Building the Future of Women's Sports: Overtime, NIL & Gen Z | Sascha Malas

  4. Aug 17

    #264 How Technology Is Transforming Grassroots Football | Rohan Anand

    Welcome to episode 264 of Sports Management Podcast. The world's biggest sport is still powered by volunteers - but why are they still relying on spreadsheets, WhatsApp groups and endless emails? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, Marcus Filipsson sits down with Rohan Anand, Co-Founder and CEO of Center Circle, a technology platform transforming how grassroots football is organized. After experiencing the challenges firsthand as a player, coach, referee and volunteer, Rohan set out to solve one of football's biggest hidden problems: giving volunteers the tools they need to spend less time on administration and more time developing the next generation of players. We discuss why grassroots football is still built on outdated systems, how technology can reduce barriers to participation, why Center Circle has chosen a completely different business model than most sports technology companies, and the personal sacrifices required to build a startup from the ground up. In this episode, we discuss: Why grassroots football still relies on WhatsApp and spreadsheets The hidden challenges volunteers face every weekend How technology can simplify grassroots sports Building a sports tech startup with zero marketing budget Why Center Circle refuses to charge grassroots football Lessons from seven years of entrepreneurship Advice for anyone wanting to build a business in sport If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone passionate about the business of sport.   Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:16 What Center Circle Does 01:14 Why Grassroots Football Still Runs on Multiple Platforms 02:11 From Referee to Tech Entrepreneur 03:12 Building Center Circle From Scratch 04:42 Convincing a Non-Football Co-Founder 06:53 Can AI Improve Grassroots Football? 08:17 Building Partnerships With Football Associations 09:47 Why Center Circle Is Completely Free 11:15 Why Grassroots Football Should Never Be Monetized 12:18 What Grassroots Football Needs Next 14:50 Growing 5x Without Marketing 16:14 Building the Team 17:21 Why They Never Spent Money on Advertising 20:42 The Sacrifices of Entrepreneurship 22:29 The Vision for the Future 24:44 Rohan's Journey Into Football 26:39 Studying Business Instead of Sport 28:05 Advice for Future Sports Entrepreneurs 29:28 Where to Find Center Circle Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #264 How Technology Is Transforming Grassroots Football | Rohan Anand

  5. Aug 10

    #263 Why Most Athletes Make Career-Destroying Decisions | Craig Domann

    Welcome to episode 263 of SPorts Management Podcast. Why do so many talented athletes make the wrong career decisions? In this episode of Sports Management Podcast, veteran NFL agent and sports attorney Craig Domann shares what he's learned from negotiating more than $1 billion in professional sports contracts and advising athletes for over 35 years. We discuss why chasing the biggest NIL offer isn't always the smartest move, what separates great negotiators from average ones, the hidden clauses that can make or break a contract, and why the best career decisions aren't always the most lucrative ones. Whether you're an athlete, agent, coach, parent, or sports business professional, this conversation offers practical lessons on negotiation, leadership, decision-making, and building a long-term career in sport. In this episode, we discuss: • Why money can lead athletes to make poor career decisions • The long-term impact of NIL on player development • The hidden details that matter more than contract value • What makes a great sports agent and negotiator • Common misconceptions about athlete representation • Advice for athletes, parents, and aspiring sports professionals If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone passionate about the business of sport. Time stamps:  00:00 Introduction 00:26 How Craig Domann Became an NFL Agent 01:51 How NIL Works for Most College Athletes 02:49 Why Chasing the Biggest NIL Deal Can Hurt Your Career 04:05 The Non-Financial Factors Athletes Ignore 05:04 Has NIL Changed College Sports Forever? 06:37 The Problem With Money-Driven Advisors 07:52 Choosing the Right School vs. the Biggest Paycheck 08:58 Why Every Athlete Needs the Right Mentor 10:03 Being a Father, Coach & Agent at the Same Time 11:52 Negotiating Over $1 Billion in Sports Contracts 12:14 What Makes a Great Sports Negotiator? 15:22 The Hidden Clauses Inside Million-Dollar Contracts 17:23 The Biggest Misconceptions About Sports Agents 20:20 Why Relationships Matter More Than Aggressive Negotiation 21:55 The Pro Mindset That Separates Great Athletes 23:37 Daily Habits of Elite Performers 29:50 How Craig Developed the Pro Mindset Framework 31:40 Career Lessons From 35 Years in Sports 32:52 Craig's Advice to Anyone Wanting a Career in Sports   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #263 Why Most Athletes Make Career-Destroying Decisions | Craig Domann

  6. Aug 3

    #262 From NASA to Baseball: How Mike Carney Is Reinventing Community Sports

    Welcome to episode 262 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Mike Carney, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of On Deck Partners. Before building one of the most innovative ownership groups in Minor League Baseball, Mike worked as an engineer at NASA before leading business strategy for the Washington Nationals. In this episode, he shares why great sports organizations start with solving problems for fans. In this episode, we spoke about: Transitioning from NASA to professional sports Building community-first sports organizations Why fan experience drives long-term value The future of private equity in sports Episode Time Stamps 00:00 From NASA to Sports 00:17 Why Engineers Fit Sports 02:22 Joining the Washington Nationals 03:28 Business Strategy Explained 04:37 Solving Fan Problems 06:13 The Future of Fan Engagement 08:31 Building On Deck Partners 10:45 Creating Community Value 14:58 Private Equity in Sports 16:18 The Modern Fan Experience 18:33 Lessons from Sports Leadership 22:05 Why Transparency Matters 23:32 Advice for Future Sports Professionals 25:45 Inside On Deck Partners   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #262 From NASA to Baseball: How Mike Carney Is Reinventing Community Sports

  7. Jul 27

    #261 From 16-Year-Old Founder to Nike Partner | Brando Babini

    Welcome to episode 261 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Brando Babini, founder of Youth4Youth FC, a player-led development program that is challenging traditional youth soccer in the United States. Starting the company at just 16 years old, Brando has built a thriving community, partnered with Nike, and is proving that mentorship, social media, and player-first development can transform the game. In this episode, we spoke about: Why the pay-to-play model needs to evolve Building a football company at just 16 years old Using social media to grow a sports business Why mentorship matters as much as coaching Episode Time Stamps 00:00 Meet Brando Babini 00:13 Why Youth4Youth Exists 01:15 A Gen Z-Led Football Revolution 02:25 Fixing Pay-to-Play 05:12 Building a Sustainable Model 07:49 Player-First Development 10:01 What Success Really Means 12:20 Growing Through Social Media 14:48 Partnering with Nike 16:49 Building a Startup Team 18:10 Parents & Player Motivation 19:51 Starting a Company at 16 22:41 Learning to Let Go 25:56 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #261 From 16-Year-Old Founder to Nike Partner | Brando Babini

  8. Jul 20

    #260 Why Kids Are Quitting Sports (And How We Fix It) | Evan Dabby

    Welcome to episode 260 of Sports Management Podcast. Today's guest is Evan Dabby, CEO of New Jersey Youth Soccer, one of the largest youth soccer organizations in the United States. With over 120,000 players, Evan shares how youth soccer is evolving, why player development should come before winning, and how the FIFA World Cup is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow the game across America. In this episode, we spoke about: How the FIFA World Cup is inspiring the next generation Why player development should come before winning The challenges of youth sports, parents and coaching Growing participation while making soccer more accessible Episode Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome Evan Dabby 00:29 The World Cup Impact in New Jersey 03:20 Growing 120,000 Youth Players 05:50 Technology & Participation 08:20 Player-Centered Development 10:09 Advice from Tab Ramos 11:08 Parents on the Sidelines 15:12 Girls' Soccer Growth 18:52 Should Kids Specialize? 20:41 Coaching Better Players 21:35 Evan's Career Journey 23:23 The Power of Networking 26:45 Advice for Students 30:19 The Future of Youth Soccer   Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

    #260 Why Kids Are Quitting Sports (And How We Fix It) | Evan Dabby
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About

Conversations Shaping the Future of Sport

Information

  • Creator
    Marcus Filipsson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    271
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sportius AB 2020-2026
  • Show Website
    Sports Management Podcast

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