The Profluence Pod 🌐

Andrew Petcash
  • 4.6 (23)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Insightful convos with the founders, operators, and investors transforming the future of sports.

  1. #317: Bobby Basham, Inside the Chicago Cubs' Innovation Strategy

    8h ago

    #317: Bobby Basham, Inside the Chicago Cubs' Innovation Strategy

    Bobby Basham is a longtime executive with the Chicago Cubs, where he focuses on player development, innovation, and emerging technologies that help shape the future of baseball. With more than two decades of experience in the sport as both a player and front-office leader, Bobby has been at the forefront of integrating data, sports science, and technology into professional baseball operations. In addition to his work with the Cubs, Bobby is the co-founder of Union Baseball Systems, a player development organization based in San Diego that supports athletes from youth baseball through the professional ranks. He is also an active advisor and investor in sports and technology companies, helping founders build solutions that improve athlete performance, health, and development. Known for bridging the gap between sports, technology, and business, Bobby brings a unique perspective on innovation, leadership, and the future of the sports industry. Chapters: 00:55 Bobby's Background and Experience in Baseball 03:47 Evaluating Technology and Innovation in Baseball 06:31 Balancing Tradition and Professionalism in Baseball 10:05 Insights on Founders and Technology Pitches 13:01 Understanding Organizational Pain Points 15:47 The Role of Athletes in Entrepreneurship 17:47 Cubs' Approach to Early-Stage Innovations 21:12 Future Opportunities in the Sports Industry

    21 min
  2. #316: Kira Pritchard and Jon Solomon - The Future of Soccer

    2d ago

    #316: Kira Pritchard and Jon Solomon - The Future of Soccer

    Kira Pritchard and Jon Solomon are leading voices in youth sports development and access, working to create healthier, more equitable pathways for young athletes through research, philanthropy, and community impact. Together, they recently collaborated on the State of Soccer in New York City & North Jersey report, an in-depth examination of the opportunities, challenges, and future of youth soccer in one of the most influential regions in the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Kira Pritchard serves as Program Director at the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, a New York City-based philanthropic organization focused on expanding access and opportunity through arts, education, health, and youth development initiatives. She helps lead the Fund’s Play to Thrive initiative, a $10 million multi-year effort designed to leverage youth sports as a vehicle for mental health, well-being, and community connection.Through partnerships with organizations such as Gotham FC, Street Soccer USA, South Bronx United, and City Parks Foundation, Kira works to increase access to quality sports experiences and address barriers facing young athletes, particularly girls and underserved communities.Jon Solomon is the Editorial Director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program and Project Play initiative, where he helps lead national efforts to increase youth sports participation and improve the quality of sports experiences for children across the United States. Through Project Play, Jon works alongside leagues, governing bodies, brands, municipalities, and community organizations to create more accessible, affordable, and youth-centered sports systems. His work includes research on youth participation trends, coaching development, athlete well-being, and the growing challenges surrounding the commercialization of youth sports.Chapters:01:10 The Lori Tisch Illumination Fund and Youth Sports04:22 Research Insights on Youth Soccer Participation07:55 Bridging Theory to Practice in Youth Sports11:48 Commercialization and Corporate Partnerships in Youth Sports14:18 Steering the Future of Youth Sports18:25 Local Champions and Community Engagement21:10 Leveraging Digital Communities for Youth Engagement24:20 The World Cup Opportunity for Youth Soccer28:05 The Future of Youth Sports Development31:29 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

    35 min
  3. #315: Benjamin Grubbs, Managing Partner at Creator Capital - Community is the Future of Sports Business

    May 26

    #315: Benjamin Grubbs, Managing Partner at Creator Capital - Community is the Future of Sports Business

    Benjamin Grubbs is a media executive, investor, and operator focused on the intersection of the creator economy, digital media, sports, and consumer brands. As Managing Partner at Creator Capital, Ben works with founders, creators, and emerging companies shaping the future of content, commerce, and community-driven businesses. Over the past two decades, Ben has held leadership roles across some of the world’s most influential media and technology companies, including YouTube, Google, Turner Broadcasting, Yahoo, and eBay. During his time at YouTube, Ben helped drive global creator partnerships and platform growth across international markets, witnessing firsthand the evolution of creators from hobbyists into scalable media businesses and global brands. Throughout his career, Ben has worked across North America and Asia, helping scale media, commerce, and platform businesses globally while studying how communities form around content, creators, and fandom. His perspective on the future of sports media, social commerce, AI, and creator-driven businesses has made him a sought-after advisor, speaker, and investor across sports, technology, and entertainment. Ben shares insights on the rise of the creator economy, the evolution of YouTube and digital media, the growth of creator-led sports brands like Good Good Golf, and how platforms such as TikTok, Roblox, Whatnot, and YouTube are reshaping fan engagement and commerce.  Podcast Chapters:  02:50 Ben Grubb's Journey in Media and Sports 05:18 The Rise of the Creator Economy 08:11 The Evolution of Sports Content on YouTube 10:47 Good Good Golf: A Case Study in Creator-Led Brands 13:21 Investment Insights in the Creator Economy 16:20 The Future of Sports Media and Community Engagement 19:11 Leveraging New Platforms for Sports Engagement 21:40 AI's Role in Content Creation and Community Management 27:35 Engagement Trends and Brand Strategy 29:20 Staying Sharp as an Investor 30:31 Learning from the Next Generation 31:48 Advice for Non-Traditional Creators

    32 min
  4. #314: Jed Collins - How Athletes Can Build Generational Wealth

    May 26

    #314: Jed Collins - How Athletes Can Build Generational Wealth

    Jed Collins is a former NFL fullback, financial educator, and entrepreneur helping athletes build lasting success beyond the game. After being cut 13 times during his NFL career, Jed became the No. 1 rated fullback in the league through grit, resilience, and relentless consistency. Today, he is the founder of Money Vehicle, where he educates professional and collegiate athletes on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and long-term wealth creation. Over the past 15+ years, Jed has worked with athletes across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and NWSL, teaching the language of money through an education-first approach. While earning his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation during his NFL offseasons, he discovered a passion for helping athletes prepare for life beyond sports, not as clients, but as business athletes. Through Money Vehicle, he now works with thousands of players and teams, helping them navigate investing, NIL opportunities, wealth management, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, Jed has shared locker rooms and experiences with some of football’s biggest names, including Drew Brees, Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Andy Reid, and Kellen Moore. His perspective on resilience, mindset, and storytelling has made him a sought-after speaker and educator across sports and business communities. An interesting fact: Jed began journaling during his NFL career as a way to process uncertainty, setbacks, and growth while fighting to stay in the league. Years later, those journals became the foundation for Fourth & Goal—a project designed to help the next generation of athletes and entrepreneurs capture their own stories before AI replaces authentic human experiences. Podcast Chapters: 02:07 Redefining Failure and Grit 05:28 The Language of Money 06:50 Consistency in Athlete Development 10:27 Advice for Founders Working with Athletes 16:37 Navigating Chaos and Control 20:47 The Launch of Fourth and Goal 21:15 Building a Legacy Through Storytelling 22:23 Capturing Personal Experiences 24:37 The Role of Journaling in Personal Branding 25:57 Reflections on Past Experiences 27:10 The Cocktail Party Moment 28:28 Lessons from the Field 30:37 The Importance of Documenting Moments 31:21 Connecting the Dots of Experience 32:16 Identifying Patterns for Greatness 33:15 The Significance of Day 214 36:39 Creating Meaningful Human Moments 38:36 The Essence of Sport and Personal Growth

    42 min
  5. #313: Ayden Syal, MOGL - The Evolution of NIL

    May 20

    #313: Ayden Syal, MOGL - The Evolution of NIL

    Ayden Syal is the Founder & CEO of MOGL, a leading athlete influencer marketing platform helping brands connect with more than 30,000 college athletes for sponsorships, endorsements, and digital campaigns. Founded in 2019 ahead of the NIL era, MOGL quickly became one of the first platforms built to streamline athlete-brand partnerships at scale, automating everything from campaign matching and contracts to disclosures and reporting. Under Ayden’s leadership, MOGL has helped shape the evolving NIL landscape by giving brands direct access to athlete creators while helping athletes monetize their influence more efficiently. The platform now leverages AI agents, first-party athlete data, and paid social capabilities to help brands activate campaigns faster and deliver measurable ROI through athlete-driven marketing. Before launching MOGL, Ayden worked in banking and private equity after graduating from the University of Notre Dame, where he first recognized the opportunity to connect athletes and brands in a more scalable and compliant way. What began as a side project built during the uncertainty of the pandemic evolved into one of the most recognized athlete marketing platforms in the NIL ecosystem. Podcast Chapters: 01:18 Aidan's Journey and the Birth of MOGL 02:50 Navigating Chaos: Founding Mogul During Uncertainty 06:18 Raising Capital in a Blue Ocean Opportunity 09:11 Evolving the Business: Staying Ahead of Market Trends 14:00 Understanding the NIL Landscape 19:06 Expanding into High School Athletes and Future Markets 22:31 Engaging Alumni and Former Athletes 25:04 Future Trends in NIL and Private Equity 28:32 Memorable Campaigns and Insights on Non-Revenue Sports 31:24 Connecting with MOGL: Opportunities for Athletes and Brands

    33 min
  6. #312: Brett Goldberg, TickPick, and John Brennan, AC Momento - The Future of Ticketing

    May 18

    #312: Brett Goldberg, TickPick, and John Brennan, AC Momento - The Future of Ticketing

    Brett Goldberg, co-founder of TickPick, and John Brennan, founder of AC Momento, break down how ticketing and fan engagement are evolving, and why the future of live events is about more than just the transaction. Memento was acquired by TickPick in late 2025 and continues to operate as a standalone platform. Together, they’re building for millions of fans attending live events each year, combining transaction and emotional data to create a more complete fan ecosystem. More than 20 million tickets have already been transformed into Momentos. Brett shares how TickPick disrupted the ticketing industry by prioritizing transparency with all-in pricing and building a platform designed to help fans make smarter purchasing decisions. Meanwhile, John dives into the origin of AC Momento, a platform built to capture and relive live event experiences, turning ticket stubs into rich, personalized digital memories. From AI-driven ticket recommendations to post-event engagement and community-driven content, this highlights how platforms are beginning to serve fans before, during, and long after the event ends. They also unpack the strategic thinking behind TickPick’s acquisition of Memento, the power of combining transaction and emotional data, and how this unlocks a more holistic fan ecosystem. From World Cup-scale opportunities to everyday fandom, this episode dives into how technology, data, and storytelling are redefining the live event experience. Podcast Chapters: 01:01 The Founding Stories of TickPick and Momento 05:39 The Evolution of Fandom and Ticketing 09:06 The Acquisition of Memento by TickPick 10:22 Understanding the Target Audience of Memento 13:07 Leveraging Fan Data for Enhanced Experiences 15:24 Insights on the Acquisition Process 17:47 Future Vision Beyond Ticketing 19:27 Industry Trends in Ticketing 21:05 Bridging Digital and Physical Experiences 24:30 Building a Community Around Live Events 28:29 Capitalizing on the World Cup Opportunity 31:14 The Future of Fandom

    34 min
  7. #311: Jack Pfeiffer and Cole Rubin, FanFeed - How FanFeed Is Turning Data Into Personalized Live Experiences

    May 13

    #311: Jack Pfeiffer and Cole Rubin, FanFeed - How FanFeed Is Turning Data Into Personalized Live Experiences

    Jack Pfeiffer and Cole Rubin are the co-founders of FanFeed and are redefining how teams, leagues, and artists understand and engage their audiences. Jack and Cole break down the fundamental shift from ticket buyers to verified attendees, and why owning first-party fan data is becoming one of the most valuable assets in sports and live entertainment. They share how FanFeed leverages camera roll data and AI to build a more authentic picture of fandom, unlocking hyper-personalized experiences, smarter ticketing, and more effective sponsorship strategies. The conversation dives into the future of ticketing, where AI-powered recommendations replace endless browsing, and fans receive curated offers based on their behavior, preferences, and history. They also explore how emerging leagues, colleges, and smaller teams can use these tools to compete with larger organizations by building deeper, one-to-one relationships with their fans. From NIL-driven opportunities in college sports to the evolution of sponsorship sales, and the blending of digital and physical fan experiences, this episode highlights how data, personalization, and technology are reshaping the entire live event ecosystem. Podcast Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to FanFeed and Its Founders 06:21 Understanding FanFeed's Core Products 11:00 The Shift from Ticket Buying to Verified Attendance 17:31 The Impact of Verified Attendance on Brands and Sponsorships 24:46 Emerging Markets and Custom Solutions in Live Events 30:26 The Future of Fandom: Blending Digital and Physical Experiences

    34 min
  8. #310: Ricardo Briceno, GameFam - Building the Future of Sports Fandom on Roblox

    May 11

    #310: Ricardo Briceno, GameFam - Building the Future of Sports Fandom on Roblox

    Ricardo Briceno is the CEO of GameFam, a leading metaverse gaming company helping global brands and sports properties connect with younger audiences through immersive digital experiences. With a career rooted in brand building at Procter & Gamble and Mattel, Ricardo has spent years mastering how to create meaningful engagement with consumers. At GameFam, he brings that expertise into the world of gaming, specifically Roblox, where he’s helping redefine how IP, entertainment, and sports intersect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Ricardo breaks down how platforms like Roblox are reshaping fan engagement, why authenticity and scale are critical for brands entering the space, and how GameFam is working with major organizations like FIFA to build the future of sports fandom ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He shares insights into bridging digital and real-world experiences, the evolution of gaming as a social platform, and why the biggest opportunity isn’t immediate monetization, but long-term fan development. This episode is a deep dive into the next generation of sports consumption and the platforms defining it. Podcast Chapters: 01:07 Ricardo's Journey and GameFam's Mission 04:05 Understanding Roblox: The Gaming Community Platform 07:52 Authenticity in Sports Engagement on Roblox 12:04 Bridging Digital and Real-Life Experiences 15:44 Monetization vs. Fandom: The Roblox Opportunity 19:23 Media Rights and Engagement in Roblox 21:24 The Evolution of Athletes and Creators on Roblox 24:00 The Human Experience on Roblox 25:22 GameFam's Plans for the World Cup 27:43 Engagement Strategies for Leagues and Clubs 29:08 How to Collaborate with GameFam

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Insightful convos with the founders, operators, and investors transforming the future of sports.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew Petcash
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    383
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andrew Petcash
  • Show Website
    The Profluence Pod 🌐

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