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NJCS 08: Philly's #1 Fan: Going Viral and Growing a Content Creator Business All for the Love of the Game

NJ Content Studio Show

Release Date: 10/09/2025

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More Episodes

From rowdy tailgates to viral street interviews, Philly Sports Guy has become one of the loudest and proudest voices in Philadelphia sports culture.

In this energy-packed episode (the video version is broken into two parts but this audio version is all in one), hosts John and Steven sit down with the man behind the painted face to talk rivalries, rituals, and why his booming passion resonates far beyond the stadium.

You’ll hear how dressing up for one Eagles game snowballed into a full-blown persona, the behind-the-scenes grind of keeping that energy alive week after week, and what it’s really like to go toe to toe with rival fans on camera.

Along the way, Jamie Pagliei opens up about the highs of going viral, the lows of dealing with critics, and the deeper sense of community that fuels his love for Philly.

Expect laughs, wild stories from the stands, and an unfiltered look at what it means to live and breathe your city’s sports 24/7, win or lose.

 

Becoming a Professional Fan and Content Creator - Part 1

Key Topics Covered (Timestamps correspond to the video version here)

  • 00:00:00 — Intro – teaser sizzle reel on who the Philly Sports Guy is 
  • 00:04:51 — Family at the Spectrum (childhood roots)
  • 00:11:20 — Nostalgic/fan memory
  • 00:16:20 — Starting chimney & masonry company
  • 00:18:57 — Rapid-fire jobs list (Sizzler, etc.)
  • 00:19:37 — Ticketmaster line hustle
  • 00:23:19 — Production studio enters; persona begins to form
  • 00:31:37 — Shoulder pads & football pants — first full costume
  • 00:32:58 — Viral cheer; Barstool’s “most sophisticated man in Philadelphia”
  • 00:33:40 — The ‘elbow’ clip goes ultra-viral
  • 00:37:36 — Securing the ‘Philly Sports Guy’ name/handles
  • 00:41:07 — Decision to go full-time (2019)
  • 00:41:13 — Mom’s hospital moment & motivation
  • 00:44:33 — Influences: becoming a student of Gary Vee

Philly Sports Guy - Strategy, Systems & Monetization - Part 2

Key Topics Covered (timestamps correspond to the video version here)

  • 00:00:00 — Cold open: Recap on where we left off from Part 1 (on the NJCS Business channel): going full-time → COVID → testing show ideas
  • 00:00:45 — Show concept: Philly Fan Caves (man-cave series)
  • 00:06:41 — What COVID taught me (back to marketing roots)
  • 00:07:56 — Marketing rule: never assume; always introduce yourself
  • 00:09:22 — Signature sign-off: “Go Birds” (ending cadence)
  • 00:12:38 — Three rules of the Philly Sports Guy (“I don’t sit… I don’t shut up…”)
  • 00:19:27 — Terabytes of footage; needs a team
  • 00:20:43 — Viral on a mistake + mea culpa; stitched on TikTok
  • 00:31:45 — Stadium Wi-Fi throttling & in-moment posting
  • 00:33:43 — One-take posting rule
  • 00:36:03 — Security run-ins become content
  • 00:38:32 — Has an agent; brand deals pipeline (picked up ~2 years ago)
  • 00:43:49 — Monetization: Instagram pays best; TikTok policy hurts
  • 00:46:52 — “Most photographed person” story
  • 00:53:26 — Fan trips with sponsors (away games)

Get ready for big laughs, wild fan stories, and a behind the scenes look at how one man’s passion turned into a city wide phenomenon.

This episode is a must listen for die hard sports fans, content creators, and anyone who knows what it means to bleed green.

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