About the Farrell Sports Business PodcastInterviews with news makers from sports business to talk leadership, entrepreneurship, industry news and their unique career paths. Hosted by Matt Farrell, President of Farrell Sports and former Golf Channel, USOPC, USA Swimming and Warner Bros. Episode SummaryEpisode 21 of the Farrell Sports Business podcast - Host Matt Farrell talks with Amitabh "AJ" Jain about the rapid growth and entrepreneurial opportunities within the sport of pickleball and...

Episode 20 of the Farrell Sports Business podcast - Host Matt Farrell talks with Ally Tucker, host of the Youth Sports podcast (known as the Youth $ports Podcast), discusses the financial and emotional challenges of youth sports. She shares her background in sports and coaching, as well as her motivation for starting the podcast. The main themes of the conversation include the high costs of youth sports, the pressure to keep up with other families, the impact on family dynamics, and the obses...

Episode 19 of the Farrell Sports Business podcast - Host Matt Farrell talks with Jeff Yocom, an executive recruiter, aka headhunter, in the sports business industry. He shares insights into his role and the changing landscape of executive recruiting especially in sports business. He discusses his background and how he got into recruiting, as well as the evolution of his career from working for a company to starting his own and eventually being acquired by Elevate Talent. Jeff also talks about...

Episode 18 of the Farrell Sports Business podcast - Host Matt Farrell talks with Steve Dittmore, Dean of the College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida. He discusses the dilemma of making the choice between starting your career immediately or getting a master's degree sports industry. He shares his own career path, from working in sports information offices to the Olympic movement, and eventually transitioning into academia and calls himself an "accidental acad...

Episode 17 - Host Matt Farrell talks with Dani Aravich, a two-time Paralympian, social media worker, Google influencer and keynote speaker. She discusses her career as an athlete and her work in social media. She talks about her sports background, including her transition from running to Paralympic track and field and cross-country skiing. Dani also shares her experiences working in social media for brands like Kodiak Cakes and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. She discusses...

Episode 16 - Host Matt Farrell talks with Marisa Wigglesworth, CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is Olympic City USA. She discusses the museum's mission to inspire visitors and celebrate the legacies of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. She highlights the unique visitor experience, the interactive exhibits, and the commitment to showcasing Paralympians alongside Olympians. Wigglesworth also talks about the fundraising environment for museums and...

Episode 15 - Host Matt Farrell talks with Chris Wilson, Executive Director of CBC Sports. He discusses his role in running the sports and Olympic business for the CBC in Canada. He highlights the importance of the Olympics for CBC and the Canadian audience, as well as the changing demographics and interests of Canadian viewers. Wilson also talks about the impact of social media on Olympic coverage and the challenge of balancing immediacy and storytelling. He emphasizes the value of building r...

Episode 14 (Bonus Olympic Episode) - Host Matt Farrell breaks down the ups and downs of watching the Olympics in Paris over the first weekend. He discusses topics such as how to view the games, alternative content sources, podcasts to listen to, and what athletes are wearing. He also mentions new voices in the coverage, integrations that felt forced, and protocol issues during the opening ceremony.Chapters00:00 Introduction: Ups and Downs of the Olympic Games00:54 How to View the Olympics01:5...

Episode 13 - Host Matt Farrell talks with Ramsey Baker in another Olympic edition of the Farrell Sports Business podcast. Ramsey Baker, SVP at Aggregate Sports, discusses the role of national governing bodies (NGBs) in the sports industry and the unique assets they offer to sponsors. He highlights the importance of NGBs in connecting with passionate fans and facilitating participation in sports. Baker provides examples of creative sponsorship deals, such as Samsonite partnering with USA Gymna...

Bonus Olympic EpisodeSummaryEpisode 12 - Host Matt Farrell talks with Mel Stewart, two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming and the founder of SwimSwam.com. He discusses his career in swimming and the state of the sport. They talk about the origins of SwimSwam and its growth as a swimming news platform. They also discuss the challenges faced by the sport and the impact of the pandemic on the sport. Stewart shares his insights on the upcoming Olympics in Paris and highlights the storylines t...