Stick to Sports Biz

Brandon Fleshman
  • 4.6 (11)
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  • Updated Weekly

While many people's first question about a job in sports business is "how?" there can often be even more learned from the "who?" and "why?" I'm your host Brandon Fleshman, and after spending the past decade working for some of the biggest sports teams and brands in the world, I'm seeking out others who have made a career in sports to get their stories. Whether you want to work in sports, are already working in sports, or you're just a sports fan, follow along as guests discuss their lives on and off the field.

  1. 11/15/2022

    David Brickley

    David Brickley (Owner and CEO, STN Digital) joins S2SB to discuss why he started a company full of GOATs, how getting in touch with his idol helped him realize he could control his own destiny, and why he’s taken chances on himself throughout his career. David and Brandon talk about protecting your peace, pivoting to a new dream when it becomes clear one isn’t going to work out the way you thought, and why you shouldn’t wait for someone else’s permission to have the career you want. This interview was originally recorded in August, 2022. 1:35 - How David built a superteam with STN Digital 3:25 - Why employees are called GOATs 4:50 - What David looks for in employees to help build the best culture 6:40 - Why failure can spark inspiration 11:35 - How David’s lack of limiting beliefs and an email to Kobe Bryant led to an epiphany 13:00 - The gamble David took on himself in pursuit of a dream 16:15 - His time as a Los Angeles Lakers Insider for FOX Sports 18:45 - How David met Kobe 22:20 - How David honed his craft working with audio and video 28:45 - A fun Florida Gulf Coast University story from the early days of social media 30:40 - How STN Digital made a name for itself 32:30 - How David manages to log off while running his own digital company 39:20 - Growing up in SoCal and playing basketball 41:40 - How David went from working in radio to starting his own podcast, Business of Social 43:45 - Width vs. depth in the content creation game 46:45 - The pain of being a Chargers fan 47:50 - Which performer David compares to Michael Jackson + more Drake talk 50:20 - The importance of getting a feature in rap right now 52:40 - The Recommender: David’s series, movie, podcast, comedian, and book 1:00:24 - Old Tweets Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Guest: David Brickley Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! For more, check out: Brad Smith on Stick to Sports Biz Connect with Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn Connect with David on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok

    1h 12m

  2. 11/08/2022

    Zack Raab

    Zack Raab (Minor League Baseball Club Services Coordinator at Major League Baseball) joins S2SB to discuss his return to the United States from Israel to pursue his dream of working in MLB, how networking was key to his success, and why you should always take a chance on yourself. Zack and Brandon talk about the first time they connected through Brandon’s work at The Athletic, how the pandemic impacted Zack’s career journey, and Mike Trout’s LinkedIn activity. 1:30 - How Brandon and Zack first connected 5:35 - Zack’s early involvement in baseball 12:30 - What baseball is like in Israel 19:15 - What prompted Zack’s move from Israel back to the U.S. 33:10 - How Zack’s family handled his career change 34:15 - The impact of the pandemic on Zack’s job search 38:35 - How a commitment to networking helped Zack land a dream job 41:15 - Zack on chasing your dreams 49:40 - More about Zack’s current role 53:05 - The Recommender: Zack’s documentary, writer, podcast 59:00 - Old Tweets Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Guest: Zack Raab Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! Connect with Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn Connect with Zack on Twitter and LinkedIn

    1h 8m

  3. 10/26/2022

    Jordan Dolbin

    Jordan Dolbin (Senior Manager, Player Social Marketing at the NFL) joins S2SB to discuss her career in sports, finding success in social media marketing, and learning about life through playing team sports. Jordan and Brandon talk about the legendary creation two popular Instagram football accounts, whether or not getting your Master’s degree is worthwhile, and their shared love for the Philadelphia Eagles. 2:05 - Jordan’s path to working in social media marketing 5:00 - The value of a Master’s degree 6:25 - Jordan’s thesis in grad school on the effects of second-screen use on the enjoyment of watching the Super Bowl (which has been cited in research!) 10:00 - How she made a career with the NFL 15:30 - How Jordan and her coworkers created The Checkdown and NFL Throwback (now NFL Legacy) 22:00 - More about her current role with the league 28:40 - Jordan’s time working with youth football 31:55 - The impact that playing team sports had on her life 35:45 - Jordan’s love for and prior experience working in pro soccer 41:10 - Top 5 Favorite Philadelphia Eagles of All Time 54:45 - The Recommender: Jordan’s TV show, music artist, and documentary series 1:02:15 - Old Tweets Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Guest: Jordan Dolbin Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! Connect with Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn Connect with Jordan on Twitter

    1h 12m

  4. 10/20/2022

    Jake Olson

    Jake Olson (President and Co-Founder, Engage LLC) joins S2SB to discuss his battle with retinoblastoma that took his sight, how he managed to become the first completely blind player in college football history as long snapper for the USC Trojans, and how he’s repeatedly conquered adversity in life. Jake and Brandon talk about Jake’s life since his story became national news, which sport he might conquer next, and how time both in the gym and with the media led to his latest career ventures. 1:35 - Jake’s story 6:40 - How Jake made his dream of playing football at USC a reality 9:45 - His favorite memories from his time with Pete Carroll 13:20 - How he became a big local story way before he made the team at USC 16:40 - Where he found his strength and resilience during challenging times 19:50 - What he remembers from the surgery just before he lost his sight 24:40 - What “Fight On” means to Jake 26:40 - More on Jake’s mindset 29:30 - Jake’s special relationship with his twin sister 31:40 - His guide dog and companion Quebec 33:10 - How Jake’s passion for fitness helped guide his career after football 38:50 - The role golf has played in his life and how it led him to play in the first US Adaptive Open 42:20 - Why Jake and his co-founders created Engage 50:55 - The Recommender: Jake’s two series, and artist 56:45 - Old Tweets Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Guest: Jake Olson Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! Connect with Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn Connect with Jake on Twitter, Instagram, and Engage

    1h 5m

  5. 10/12/2022

    5 Leadership Lessons From Fantasy Football

    Brandon starts this week's ep by recounting a funny story from a job interview that serves as the inspiration for today's topic. He then shares five leadership lessons learned from his experience as a fantasy football commissioner for more than a decade. Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! Follow Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn

    7 min

  6. 10/06/2022

    Dan Marrazza

    Dan Marrazza (Director of Digital Strategies, Pro Football Hall of Fame) joins S2SB to discuss how he broke into sports business at 16, a new community he hopes to grow, and his hobby of visiting movie filming locations. Dan and Brandon talk about how the pandemic impacted their careers and what they learned as a result, how they helped build sports brands from the ground up, and why movie scores make good pump-up music. 1:35 - Dan’s background and first internship in sports 8:55 - Dan’s early days working in minor league hockey 12:45 - How the pandemic eliminated his role, and how it led him to the Pro Football HoF 19:50 - What he learned from this experience 23:50 - What it’s like to handle digital strategy for the HoF 27:35 - Dan’s experience at this year’s HoF Game 30:10 - What it was like being the 5th employee for the expansion Golden Knights 38:15 - The biggest challenge in establishing the Golden Knights brand as unique 40:00 - The industry allies group Dan wants to bring together 47:50 - Dan’s Top 5 Favorite Movie Filming Locations You Need to Visit 1:03:20 - The Recommender: Dan’s series, artist, and magazine 1:08:50 - Old Tweets (a masterclass in creating a personal brand!) Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Guest: Dan Marrazza Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! Follow Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn Follow Dan on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

    1h 20m

  7. 09/06/2022

    Eddie Paskal

    Eddie Paskal (Sr. Producer, Audio Programming at Las Vegas Raiders) joins S2SB to discuss how he carved out a role for himself with the Raiders, what it was like moving with the team in the midst of a pandemic, and why Oregon was the perfect university for him to attend. Eddie and Brandon talk about their shared experience as PR interns with the team in Oakland, why “sad boi” Drake is the best Drake, and how to say “Honestly, Nevermind” to the haters. 1:30 - Our shared history working for the Oakland Raiders 7:35 - How Eddie built a career with the team 13:35 - The beginnings of Raiders Podcast Network and Audio 19:35 - Comparing your work to others’ and taking criticism 26:00 - On moving with the team to Las Vegas in 2020 34:00 - The 2022 Las Vegas Raiders 35:50 - Eddie’s experience as an Oregon Duck during the Chip Kelly years 39:20 - His early professional experiences in journalism 49:35 - Top 5 Favorite Drake Songs 58:30 - The Recommender: Eddie’s podcast, series, and book 1:05:50 - Old Tweets Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Guest: Eddie Paskal Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! Follow Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn Follow Eddie on Twitter and subscribe to Upon Further Review

    1h 18m

  8. 08/30/2022

    Boom or Burnout: The Other Reason to Follow Sean McVay’s Career

    Brandon dives into Seth Wickersham's story on Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay and what it says about burnout in sports, both on the field and behind the scenes. Why are so many young people leaving their jobs in sports, and how can this trend be reversed? Brandon shares his thoughts, citing his own experiences. Host & Producer: Brandon Fleshman Be sure to follow, rate, and review the show if you enjoy this episode! Follow Brandon on Twitter and LinkedIn

    8 min
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4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

While many people's first question about a job in sports business is "how?" there can often be even more learned from the "who?" and "why?" I'm your host Brandon Fleshman, and after spending the past decade working for some of the biggest sports teams and brands in the world, I'm seeking out others who have made a career in sports to get their stories. Whether you want to work in sports, are already working in sports, or you're just a sports fan, follow along as guests discuss their lives on and off the field.

Information

  • Creator
    Brandon Fleshman
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Stick to Sports Biz
  • Show Website
    Stick to Sports Biz