Veterans in Sports

Veterans in Sports

The discipline, leadership, and resilience learned in the military find a new arena. This podcast features in-depth interviews with military veterans who have channeled their unique experience into impactful careers in sports. From the front office to the sidelines, we explore the raw and honest stories of their transition, the mindset it takes to succeed, and how they found a new team and a new mission. This show is for veterans, sports industry professionals, and anyone inspired by stories of purpose and a successful second act.

Episodes

  1. 10/20/2025

    From Combat Missions to College Athletics: How Service Mindset Can Beat Experience

    After 20 years flying jets off aircraft carriers and working for NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Tesh Rao turned down airline jobs to pursue sports. The path went through Starbucks first—not as a detour, but as essential preparation. Working on government affairs and an Arizona State educational partnership, he learned to navigate corporate environments and built relationships that eventually connected him to Ray Anderson, the AD who hired him as Senior Associate AD at ASU despite zero college athletics experience. Tesh became one of the few 20-year military veterans to reach senior associate AD level at a Power 4 school. He oversaw 10 teams, launched the Veterans in Sports Law and Business program, and proved that service mindset and leadership transfer across industries. This conversation covers what works in non-linear transitions: how corporate experience prepared him for college athletics, why cultural intelligence matters more than credentials, and how answering cold emails builds real careers. What You'll Learn: How Starbucks taught navigation skills that translated directly to college athletics bureaucracyWhy an Athletic Director bet on a veteran with zero college experience for a senior leadership roleWhat being trilingual and culturally aware meant for recruiting and developing international student-athletes

    33 min

  2. 10/13/2025

    From Family Legacy to Professional Impact: Building SkillBridge Programs That Work

    What does it take to build a SkillBridge program that creates lasting impact rather than just checking boxes? Linley Fenlason, Director of Talent Acquisition for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, shares how moving deliberately helped them create one that’s already making a difference. Linley's path to human resources wasn't traditional, but a role recruiting patients for university research studies revealed her calling: helping people find where they belong and succeed once they get there. That insight now drives how she approaches hiring. What You'll Learn: -- Why slow, methodical SkillBridge programs succeed -- Common resume mistakes that create barriers for veteran candidates -- Why "I'll take anything" is the wrong answer when pursuing SkillBridge roles -- How to get leadership buy-in for meaningful veteran programs

    30 min

  3. 09/29/2025

    From Airborne Infantry to Sales: Building Authentic Relationships in Sports

    What happens when an infantry paratrooper decides at 27 to leave the military and become a full-time college student? Seth Tilton's journey from the 82nd Airborne to Detroit Pistons business development executive proves that starting over doesn't mean starting behind. Seth spent 10 years in the Army, including two combat deployments to Afghanistan where he turned 19 and 21, plus stations in Hawaii and Italy. His pivot to sports began with a Father's Day gift - tickets to Chipper Jones's last home game that turned into an unforgettable experience thanks to an Atlanta Braves executive who understood authentic community building. What You'll Learn: Why authenticity beats experience in relationship-driven sales rolesHow military leadership translates to thinking multiple steps ahead with clientsThe value of international experience as sports leagues expand globallyWhy starting a new career in your late twenties can be an advantage, not a setbackHow to leverage military background without hiding who you are Connect with Seth here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tilton-a8581420a/

    19 min

  4. 09/22/2025

    From Combat Camera to Sports Communications: Building Bridges Between Military and Sports

    What happens when a combat photographer becomes the Pentagon's bridge to professional sports? Natasha Fultz-Castro's journey from documenting special operations to managing DOD's sports partnerships shows how military communication expertise translates into high-stakes civilian roles. Key Topics: From combat camera to crisis communications: telling stories under pressureManaging DOD sports partnerships across all major leaguesWhy military veterans naturally fit in sports industry rolesThe power of authentic storytelling in building community connectionsUsing SkillBridge to transition into industry associations Resources: SkillBridge Program (Sports and Fitness Industry Association) SFIA's Vets Excel Industry association internships for behind-the-scenes learning

    40 min

  5. 09/15/2025

    From West Point to Race Cars: How Technical Skills Translate to Sports

    CJ Tobin's journey from West Point football player to Black Hawk pilot to NASCAR's Director of Vehicle Systems proves that technical military careers aren't dead ends - they're launching pads. In this episode, CJ breaks down how he transitioned from flying helicopters to designing the safety systems that protect drivers at 200+ mph. What You'll Learn: Why starting early in your transition matters more than your rank when you leaveHow to build technical portfolios using open-source resources before you even separateThe strategic value of humility in landing roles that seem "below" your military levelWhy cross-functional thinking from military leadership gives you an edge in technical rolesHow high-pressure military experience translates to high-stakes civilian careers CJ's story demonstrates that military experience isn't something you overcome in technical careers - it's something that makes you better at them. His ability to think across systems, lead under pressure, and understand how individual components affect the entire organization comes directly from his military background. Whether you're interested in engineering, data science, or any technical role in sports, this conversation offers a roadmap for making the transition successfully. About CJ Tobin: Director of Vehicle Systems at NASCAR R&D, responsible for designing chassis, suspension, brakes, and steering systems for the Cup Series. Former Black Hawk pilot and West Point graduate with a systems engineering degree. Resources Mentioned: NFL Big Data Bowl Mentorship ProgramSkillBridge ProgramOpen-source technical resources for portfolio building Listen wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe for weekly episodes featuring military-connected professionals in sports.

    34 min

  6. 09/08/2025

    From Helicopter Pilot to Sports Connector: Building Military Community in Professional Sports

    What happens when a 26-year Navy helicopter pilot becomes a Zamboni driver and uses that experience to revolutionize how sports teams connect with military communities? Russ Thompson's journey from commanding helicopter squadrons to driving ice resurfacing machines to building groundbreaking military outreach programs shows how unconventional paths can lead to extraordinary impact. After retiring from the Navy, Russ worked in special education and coached basketball before taking a part-time job at a hockey rink. It was there, watching the San Diego Gulls practice, that he saw an opportunity everyone else had missed. In this episode, Russ shares how he turned his observations into action, writing the point paper that would land him a role with San Diego Loyal FC and eventually lead to the creation of the San Diego Pro Sports Military Alliance - bringing together multiple professional teams to serve the city's massive military population of over half a million people. You'll hear about the childhood Red Sox game that still drives his work today, why authenticity matters more than recognition ceremonies, and how understanding your market through data can open doors that networking alone can't. Russ also breaks down what it really takes to break into sports from the military - including why that part-time job might be more valuable than you think. Whether you're transitioning out of the military, working in sports, or just curious about how authentic community impact gets built, this conversation offers practical insights and proof that military experience isn't something to translate - it's something that can transform entire industries. Episode Topics: Building military outreach programs that actually serve the communityWhy data and research matter when pitching sports organizationsBreaking into sports through unconventional entry pointsThe business side of professional sports teamsCreating authentic connections vs. performative recognition Reach out to Russ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-thompson-00429a5/

    33 min

  7. 08/24/2025

    Introducing: Veterans in Sports Podcast

    What happens when military experience meets the sports industry? You're about to find out. I'm Katherine, Army veteran turned sports strategy leader, and I'm launching this podcast to share the stories you haven't heard yet. Over the next few episodes, you'll meet veterans, military spouses, military children, and industry advocates who've built incredible careers in sports - each taking their own unique path from service to success. You'll hear from people who've navigated everything from front office operations to broadcasting, from analytics to marketing, from player development to business strategy. Some found their way through traditional paths, others created entirely new roles. Each guest will share how they built their career in sports, the advice they wish they'd had starting out, and where they're headed next. This isn't just about career transitions. It's about the deeper journey of finding yourself again after military service and discovering how your background becomes your superpower in unexpected places. You'll hear honest conversations about rejection, reinvention, and the moments that changed everything. Why does this matter? Because there are thousands of military-connected individuals with the leadership, adaptability, and strategic thinking that the sports industry needs - they just need to know how to get there. Whether you're a veteran looking to pivot, someone in sports curious about military talent, or anyone interested in unconventional career journeys, these conversations will show you that there's no such thing as the "wrong" background. Ready to hear these stories? New episodes drop weekly. Let's get started.

    4 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

The discipline, leadership, and resilience learned in the military find a new arena. This podcast features in-depth interviews with military veterans who have channeled their unique experience into impactful careers in sports. From the front office to the sidelines, we explore the raw and honest stories of their transition, the mindset it takes to succeed, and how they found a new team and a new mission. This show is for veterans, sports industry professionals, and anyone inspired by stories of purpose and a successful second act.

Information

  • Creator
    Veterans in Sports
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Veterans in Sports
  • Show Website
    Veterans in Sports