#206 “Why Soccer in the US Is Already Huge" - John Parker, CEO of Kickback Soccer Media
Release Date: 08/25/2025
#229 Inside the IOC: How the Olympic Games Are Built Years Before the Torch Is Lit | Christian Klaue
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 229 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest has been at the center of that work for over a decade. Christian Klaue is Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the International Olympic Committee. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of how the Olympic Games are planned, positioned, communicated, and ultimately delivered - from Milano Cortina to LA28 and beyond. If you’ve ever wondered how the biggest sporting event on earth actually comes together, this conversation is for you. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management...
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#228 Why Women’s Football Is the Best Sports Investment of the Next Decade | John P. Reynal, CEO The Women’s Cup
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 228 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is John P Reynal, the President & CEO of The Women’s Cup - one of the most ambitious global platforms in women’s football. John has spent his career building sports properties across continents and in this conversation, he makes a bold case: women’s football isn’t charity - it’s one of the most undervalued growth opportunities in sports. We spoke about: Why over-investing early matters How TV rights and valuations are lagging behind reality Why the next decade of women’s football could reshape the entire...
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#227 Ultimate Hoops: Turning Rec Basketball Into a Pro Experience, Alan Arlt
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 227 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is Alan Arlt, founder of Ultimate Hoops and co-founder of ARLT Consulting. Alan built a recreational basketball league into a highly-engaged sports product with stats, highlights, and experiences that made everyday players feel like pros and he sold it with an 18x return in under two years. In this episode, we spoke about: What makes a sports product truly ‘sticky’ How to scale without losing quality How AI is changing the future of participation sports. And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of...
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#226 How Sports Teams Should Use Data | Neil Schwartz, SBRnet
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 226 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is Neil Schwartz, President of SBRnet, one of the leading sports business data providers focused on fan behavior, monetization, and engagement. In this episode, we break down the difference between passive fans and active fans, why storytelling is the real skill behind data, and how teams can turn insights into revenue across tickets, merch, sports betting and more. Let’s get into it. SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the...
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#225 What Sports Teams Can Learn from Disney: Vance Morris on Fan Experience, Service & Pricing Power
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 225 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is Vance Morris, and in this episode we will uncover what sports teams can learn from Disney when it comes to service and fan experience. We spoke about: How Vance went from a security guard at a birth control factory to working for Disney Why he was a lousy employee Why his business charges 40% more than its competitors Taking the leap to starting his own business, and his wife getting sick 3 days later And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20%...
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#224 How Women’s Football Really Grows: Ersel Aybasti on Agents, Structures & Sustainable Investment
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 224 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is Ersel Aybasti – a licensed FIFA-agent, founder of Analysis SportAgents and the author of The Women’s Game: More Than Just a Game. Voices, Structures & Perspectives in Global Women’s Football We spoke about: Why he decided to write about the women’s game Why women’s football needs more systemic investment How he combines work as an agent, industrial engineer and book writing How agents can contribute to positive change in football And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management...
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#223 Win Monday: How Paul Epstein Built a Global Leadership Movement Around One Weekly Habit
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 223 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is Paul Epstein, a leadership coach, former sports executive and the creator of the Win Monday movement. Paul has worked with elite athletes, executives, and teams around the world, helping them build momentum through habits, identity, and purpose. In this episode, we unpack: Why Mondays matter more than any other day of the week How one simple action can change everything Which Monday changed Paul's life And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20%...
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#222 From Last-Round Pick to Pro Bowler: Blaine Bishop on Grit, Identity & Life After the NFL
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 222 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is Blaine Bishop – a former NFL player, 4-time pro bowler and a broadcasting host. We spoke about: Being drafted as an underdog Playing 10 seasons in the NFL Transitioning from the NFL to broadcasting Life lessons he learned from his mother And much more! SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to and start exploring today. Time stamps: 01:54 Drafted last & the chip on...
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#221 How Glasgow City FC Is Building the Future of Women’s Football | Stef McLoughlin
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 221 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest is Stef McLoughlin, Head of Commercial at Glasgow City FC, the most successful women’s football club in Scotland and one of the few elite clubs in Europe that is women-owned, women-led and fully independent. Get ready to learn about: Purpose-driven partnerships Building women’s sport differently Why copying the men’s game may be the biggest mistake women’s football can make And much more! Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:22 What makes Glasgow City FC different 01:27 Using football as a vehicle for social...
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#220 Olympic Power, Politics & the Future of Global Sport - Michael Payne
Sports Management Podcast
Welcome to episode 220 of Sports Management Podcast. Today’s guest helped build the Olympic business model as we know it. Michael Payne is the former marketing director of the IOC, creator of the TOP sponsorship program, and widely regarded as the architect of modern sports marketing. In this episode, we explore 50 years of global sport power, politics, money, and what the next 50 years could look like. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:34 Why he wrote the book & invented sports marketing 03:16 FIFA had four employees 07:43 Cold War & saving the Olympics 10:17 Bernie Ecclestone vs...
info_outlineWelcome to episode 206 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today’s guest is John Parker – the CEO of Kickback Soccer Media.
John is clear: Soccer in the US is not an up and coming sport anymore.
In this episode you can expect to learn:
- Why the media narrative around soccer is often wrong
- The building up to the Men’s World Cup
- The Beckham rule
- The legacy after World Cup 2026
And much more!
Time stamps:
01:36 Soccer's Current State in America
03:05 Company Overview & Mission
05:46 World Cup 2026 Concerns & Opportunities
06:56 Youth Development Evolution
19:53 Media & Fan Engagement Strategy
21:09 Player Quality & League Evolution
24:56 Future Predictions & Infrastructure
27:42 Career Journey & Industry Challenges
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