The Future of Fandom

LiveLike

In today’s digital world, engaging fans isn’t optional—it’s everything. Future of Fandom is the podcast for sports leagues, broadcasters, and digital platforms who know that the old playbook for audience engagement no longer works. Hosted by the team at LiveLike—the leading enterprise engagement and loyalty platform—this series explores how the most forward-thinking organisations are using gamification, loyalty programs, and community-driven experiences to deepen fan relationships and drive real business results. Every other week, we speak with senior decision-makers from global sports teams, media companies, and consumer brands about what it takes to turn casual spectators into loyal superfans. We dive into how enterprise organisations are rethinking digital infrastructure, leveraging first-party data, and adopting modular, API-first engagement tools to future-proof their fan strategies. Whether you're a Head of Product, Digital, Revenue or Strategy, Future of Fandom gives you the insight and inspiration you need to move beyond passive content and into interactive, monetisable, and measurable fan experiences. This isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about building the infrastructure of tomorrow’s fandom, today. Subscribe now and stay ahead of the game.

  1. How Yahoo Reimagined Fan Engagement

    NOV 6

    How Yahoo Reimagined Fan Engagement

    How can a legacy brand like Yahoo drive next-gen fan engagement while staying true to its roots? In this episode of The Future of Fandom, Miheer Walavalkar, CEO and Co-Founder of LiveLike, sits down with Ryan Spoon, President of Yahoo Media Group, to explore how Yahoo is rethinking fantasy sports, leveraging community feedback, and partnering with creators to deliver personalised, gamified experiences. Discover the balance between innovation and loyalty, and why Yahoo is betting big on community and experimentation. What You'll Learn in This Episode >> How Yahoo leverages gamification to boost fan loyalty and engagement. >> The strategy behind Daily Draw and partnerships with creators like MrBeast. >> Why community feedback shapes Yahoo's product roadmap. >> The role of AI in personalising sports experiences. >> How Yahoo balances its legacy user base with Gen Z preferences. Meet our guest Ryan Spoon is the President of Yahoo Media Group, leading Yahoo Sports, Finance, and new digital ventures. A seasoned media executive, he has previously held top roles at Sorare, BetMGM, and ESPN, driving digital transformation across the sports and gaming sectors. Meet our host Miheer Walavalkar is the CEO and co-founder of LiveLike, a fan engagement platform powering experiences for global giants like the NBA, UEFA, and FOX. He’s a recognised industry leader transforming how audiences interact with content in real time. Enjoyed the Episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who are passionate about developing community driven fandom!  Visit LiveLike to discover how you can activate your audience.  Connect with Miheer Walavalkar on LinkedIn Connect with Ryan Spoon on LinkedIn

    47 min
  2. How Recast is Redefining Digital Content Monetisation with Andy Meikle

    OCT 8

    How Recast is Redefining Digital Content Monetisation with Andy Meikle

    How can clubs, leagues, and content creators monetise digital assets without pushing away fans? In this episode of The Future of Fandom, Samuel Westberg, Co-Founder of LiveLike, sits down with Andy Meikle, Founder & CEO of Recast, to explore how fintech infrastructure is transforming fan engagement and content distribution. Discover the evolution of microtransactions, smart paywalls, and why subscription fatigue is pushing the sports media industry into a bold new era. What You'll Learn in This Episode >> How Recast evolved from a content platform to a fintech solution for rights owners. >> Why subscription fatigue is reshaping fan consumption patterns in sports media. >> The power of microtransactions and branded credits in building loyalty. >> How smart paywalls can enable seamless content access across platforms. >> What clubs and leagues must do to build a first-party data strategy around fan engagement. Meet our guest Andy Meikle is the Founder & CEO of Recast, a next-gen monetisation platform bridging media, sport, and fintech. With a background in digital innovation and entrepreneurship, Andy is leading the charge in building transparent, direct-to-consumer payment infrastructure for the global content industry. Meet our host Samuel Westberg is CRO and Co-founder of LiveLike and CEO of LaSource, blending deep sports industry experience with strategic innovation across media and technology. Enjoyed the Episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who are passionate about developing community driven fandom!  Visit LiveLike to discover how you can activate your audience.  Connect with Samuel Westberg on LinkedIn Connect with Andy Meikle on LinkedIn

    40 min
  3. What is the Future of Fan Loyalty in a World of AI?

    SEP 23

    What is the Future of Fan Loyalty in a World of AI?

    In this special edition of The Future of Fandom, the mics are turned around as hosts Miheer Walavalkar and Samuel Westberg become the guests. They dive deep into how artificial intelligence is reshaping fan engagement, from breaking down organisational silos to launching LiveLike's new AI assistant, Genie. A must-listen for sports and media professionals navigating the future of loyalty and fan data. What You'll Learn in This Episode >> Why fan engagement needs to be built brick by brick—not with one-off gimmicks. >> How AI tools like Genie help sports brands scale content and streamline workflows. >> The importance of breaking down organisational silos for a unified fan experience. >> Practical examples of how AI can save time and drive smarter decision-making. >> The mindset shift needed to adopt AI responsibly and effectively. Meet our guests Miheer Walavalkar is the CEO and Co-founder of LiveLike, a leading fan engagement tech company powering billions of interactions for major sports and media brands. Samuel Westberg is CRO and Co-founder of LiveLike and CEO of LaSource, blending deep sports industry experience with strategic innovation across media and technology. Enjoyed the Episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who are passionate about developing community driven fandom!  Visit LiveLike to discover how you can activate your audience.  Connect with Miheer Walavalkar on LinkedIn Connect with Samuel Westberg on LinkedIn

    28 min
  4. Building Loyal Fans Beyond the Broadcast with Peter Hutton

    AUG 21

    Building Loyal Fans Beyond the Broadcast with Peter Hutton

    In this special episode of The Future of Fandom, hosts Miheer Walavalkar and Samuel Westberg sit down with sports media veteran Peter Hutton to explore the evolving business case for fan engagement and gamification. They dive into how fan data, community-building, and interactive experiences are reshaping loyalty, monetisation, and broadcast strategies across the industry. What You'll Learn in This Episode  >> Why capturing first-party fan data is essential for monetisation and long-term growth >> How private equity evaluates sports properties using audience insight and engagement metrics >> The limitations of relying solely on social media platforms for fan relationships >> Practical examples of gamification driving deeper fan retention and loyalty >> Why even smaller leagues and emerging sports must prioritise direct fan engagement Meet Our Guest Peter Hutton is a seasoned sports media executive with decades of experience leading major networks including Eurosport and Meta. Now an advisor and board member to global sports organisations, he shares unique insights on the future of fan engagement and broadcasting. About the Hosts Miheer Walavalkar is the CEO and Co-founder of LiveLike, a leading fan engagement tech company powering billions of interactions for major sports and media brands. Samuel Westberg is CRO and Co-founder of LiveLike and CEO of LaSource, blending deep sports industry experience with strategic innovation across media and technology. Enjoyed the Episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who are passionate about developing community driven fandom!  Visit LiveLike to discover how you can activate your audience.  Connect with Miheer Walavalkar on LinkedIn Connect with Samuel Westberg on LinkedIn Follow Peter Hutton on LinkedIn

    42 min
  5. The Future of Fan Attention in Live Streaming with Bo Han from Transmit

    AUG 6

    The Future of Fan Attention in Live Streaming with Bo Han from Transmit

    In this episode of The Future of Fandom, Miheer Walavalkar, CEO and co-founder of LiveLike, sits down with Bo Han, Chief Commercial Officer at Transmit, to explore the evolving dynamics of live sports consumption and monetisation. Bo shares insights from his journey at Twitter, Buzzer, and now Transmit, diving deep into how real-time fan engagement, personalisation, and streaming innovation are reshaping the sports media landscape. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about future-proofing fan experiences and monetisation models. What You'll Learn in This Episode >> Why real-time attention is the most valuable currency in live sports >> How Gen Z consumes sports differently—and what that means for engagement strategies >> The shift from linear TV to streaming and its impact on monetisation >> The role of AI and personalisation in delivering fan-first ad experiences >> Why the future of sports media is about scalable, non-intrusive monetisation formats Meet Our Guest Bo Han is the Chief Commercial Officer at Transmit, leading commercial strategy for advanced in-stream advertising across digital video. Formerly founder and CEO of Buzzer and Director of Content Partnerships at Twitter, he’s a seasoned executive reshaping the future of live content monetisation. About the Host Miheer Walavalkar is the CEO and co-founder of LiveLike, a fan engagement platform powering experiences for global giants like the NBA, UEFA, and FOX. He’s a recognised industry leader transforming how audiences interact with content in real time. Enjoyed the Episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who are passionate about developing community-driven fandom!  Visit LiveLike to discover how you can activate your audience.  Connect with Miheer Walavalkar on LinkedIn Follow Bo Han on LinkedIn

    29 min
  6. How TMRW Sports is Reinventing Fan Loyalty with Kara Baker from TMRW Sports

    JUL 23

    How TMRW Sports is Reinventing Fan Loyalty with Kara Baker from TMRW Sports

    Kara Baker, Senior Director at TMRW Sports, joins Miheer Walavalkar, CEO and co-founder of LiveLike, to unpack how TGL (Tomorrow's Golf League) is redefining digital fan engagement. This new indoor golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy crafts immersive experiences to monetising user journeys, and Kara shares what it takes to build a next-gen sports league for younger audiences. Discover the strategies behind TGL's explosive debut and what's next for community-driven fandom. What You'll Learn in This Episode >> Why TGL prioritised education and user data in its launch season >> How cross-team collaboration fuels TGL’s digital success >> The framework Kara uses to filter innovation by value and impact >> How fan engagement functions as an evolving ecosystem, not just features >> TGL’s strategy for converting unknown users into loyal advocates Meet Our Guest Kara Baker is Senior Director of Digital Product and Operations at TMRW Sports. With a background spanning NBC Sports and digital strategy, Kara is pioneering tech-driven sports entertainment that meets the expectations of today’s fan. About the Host Miheer Walavalkar is the CEO and co-founder of LiveLike, a fan engagement platform powering experiences for global giants like the NBA, UEFA, and FOX. He’s a recognised industry leader transforming how audiences interact with content in real time. Enjoyed the Episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who are passionate about developing community driven fandom!  Visit LiveLike to discover how you can activate your audience.  Connect with Miheer Walavalkar on LinkedIn Follow Kara Baker on LinkedIn

    37 min
  7. Firework Chief Business Officer Jason Holland on How to Light a Fire Under Next Gen Consumers

    12/12/2022

    Firework Chief Business Officer Jason Holland on How to Light a Fire Under Next Gen Consumers

    Today on The Future of Fandom, we present the finale for our 2022 run of episodes. And hey, what good is a finale without a little Firework show? On this episode, we explore how Firework envisions the future of truly connected community-based live commerce in partnership with their Chief Business Officer, Jason Holland. Jason thinks like a modern content creator. From a long form, he builds for the short. Discarding the text and display of the past, he sees live and short-form video as the way forward, the only way forward. Since he joined two and a half years ago, the business has taken off like a rocket and exploded onto the scene, boosted by partnerships with major retailers and tech titans in their ranks, and we'll explain more about that in the interview. Today, we'll also discuss how next-gen consumers are embracing live commerce, the future of commerce in Web3, and his vision for an optimal community-driven experience where every voice has a voice. Jason will more than likely have a hand in the future of the way you shop. So, let's finish the year with a bang and predict the future with Firework and Jason Holland. Check out The Future of Fandom, a podcast by LiveLike, wherever you get your podcasts. We hope that you become a fan! Join the podcast! https://livelike.com/podcast/ Learn more about LiveLike: https://livelike.com/ Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/livelike/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiveLikeInc Hosted by Adam Conner. The Future of Fandom is powered by Authentic Avenue.

    33 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

In today’s digital world, engaging fans isn’t optional—it’s everything. Future of Fandom is the podcast for sports leagues, broadcasters, and digital platforms who know that the old playbook for audience engagement no longer works. Hosted by the team at LiveLike—the leading enterprise engagement and loyalty platform—this series explores how the most forward-thinking organisations are using gamification, loyalty programs, and community-driven experiences to deepen fan relationships and drive real business results. Every other week, we speak with senior decision-makers from global sports teams, media companies, and consumer brands about what it takes to turn casual spectators into loyal superfans. We dive into how enterprise organisations are rethinking digital infrastructure, leveraging first-party data, and adopting modular, API-first engagement tools to future-proof their fan strategies. Whether you're a Head of Product, Digital, Revenue or Strategy, Future of Fandom gives you the insight and inspiration you need to move beyond passive content and into interactive, monetisable, and measurable fan experiences. This isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about building the infrastructure of tomorrow’s fandom, today. Subscribe now and stay ahead of the game.

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