James Oliver is the founder of Atlas, a protein bar companywhose products are sourced from real ingredients. As an undergraduate student at Tufts University, James was filled with curiosity. That curiosity extended beyond the classroom and set him on a path to learn all he could about nutrition. Throughthat journey, he recognized that the product he desired to fuel his body didn’t exist. Rather than accepting the status quo, James set out to change the industry and in turn, founded Atlas. Scaled using a unique funding strategy, today Atlas has sold millions of bars.In this episode, James discusses:How his curiosity paved the path to creating aproduct that didn’t exist;How Atlas scaled from 100 bars sold tomillions sold;The unique funding method he used to build thecompany;What he wishes he would’ve known before becominga founder; and Why considering the worst-case scenario canactually be a positive business building strategy.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Jun 3
37 min
Nick Jonsson is an internationally recognized executive coach, keynote speaker and author who ranks in the top-2% in the world in his age group in Ironman. Experiencing burnout from work and navigating a divorce,he realized that the loneliness he was experiencing professionally and personally was causing devastating effects. Rather than except loneliness as the norm, he worked to understand the root of the issue and how to act against it. This search led him to Ironman. In this episode, Nick discusses: His journey to Ironman and how training for his first competition taught him a paramount lesson aboutsuccess;The mindset critical to becoming one of the world’s top Ironman athletes;Why executive loneliness is plaguing the corporate world and how sport is the pathway to end it. Get Nick's book hereGet the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Mar 4
31 min
Jackie Fast is the Managing Partner of Sandbox Studios, a venture capital firm that isdefining the future of consumer products. By partnering with founders who arebuilding the next generation of consumer brands and talent who bringdistribution channels, credibility and cultural relevance, Sandbox Studiosstructures talent as ownership, builds modern go-to-market engines and convertsattention into sell-through, repeat purchase and durable enterprise value.Prior to founding Sandbox Studios, Jackie was the Founder and CEO of SlingshotSponsorship, a company that she sold for seven figures following a humblestart-up story.In this episode, Jackie discusses:Her early days as an entrepreneur and how a backpacking trip paved the way to career success;How her Slingshot Sponsorship founder’s story shows that anything is possible;The importance of focusing on differentiation and scale in building companies;Why she founded Sandbox Studios and how it’s disrupting the venture capital space; and How athletes can build their personal brands to facilitate successful product launchesLearn more about Sandbox Studios here.Get Jackie's books here and here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Feb 18
40 min
Dr. Jessica Bartley is the Senior Director of Psychological Services for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. A licensed psychologist, clinical social worker andCertified Mental Performance Consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, Dr. Bartley joined the USOPC in 2020.In this episode, Dr. Bartley discusses:The sport psychology and mental performance services USOPC athletes can access, and how Team USA athletes may use the services to advance their performances ahead of the Olympic Games; How performance anxiety manifests for Team USA athletes and strategies she provides them to address it;Mindset techniques she frequently shares with athletes and how they can help performance; andHow she and her team and proactively working with Team USA athletes to combat the post-Olympic blues.Learn more about the USOPC's psychological services here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Dec 10, 2025
35 min
Amy Errett is the Founder and CEO of Madison Reed, which offers award-winning hair color free from harmful ingredients and is sold online and in its Hair Color Bars. Amy’s founding of Madison Reed followed a successful career in finance and past role as a CEO.Using her career as background, Amy discusses:The role curiosity played in her success and the founding of Madison Reed;How mission factors into building winning brands; andHow to find your personal “north star” to develop a mission.Amy then discusses Madison Reed's investment in women's sports sponsorships to explore:The unique approach Madison Reed takes in partnering with athletes to foster female entrepreneurship;The impact and value Madison Reed’s women’s sports partnerships have driven for the company; The marketing surprises Madison Reed has encountered in sponsoring women's sports; andGuidance for companies, athletes and teams in curating impactful sports sponsorships. Learn about Madison Reed's sports sponsorships here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Oct 30, 2025
45 min
Maddie Gardner is one of the world's most recognized cheerleaders. As the point flyer for the Cheer Extreme Allstars, she won gold at the Cheerleading Worlds in 2010 and 2012. She was a member of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill cheerleading team and today is the Content Marketing Manager for Varsity Spirit, where she is helping launch the Pro Cheer League.In this episode, Maddie discusses:How cheerleading helped establish her identity and the loss of athletic identity cheerleaders face after their participation in the sport ends;The evolution of cheerleading talent, the growing cheerleading marketplace and how the Pro Cheer League is creating unprecedented opportunities in the sport;How she built her social media following to become the world's first "cheerlebrity";Advice for how to build lasting personal brands; andWhy she signed with an agent and the type of representation cheerleaders need.Learn more about the Pro Cheer League here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Oct 9, 2025
27 min
Dr. Haley Perlus holds a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology and workswith athletes, businesses and high achievers to embrace pressure as a performance enhancer. Her impressive client list ranges from the University of Colorado Buffaloes, Starbucks, Marriott International and more. An alpine ski racer, Dr. Perlus' youth sports career gave her firsthand experience on navigating emotional forks in the road.In this episode, Dr. Perlus discusses:The biggest issues facing college athletes and how they can navigate them;What the world’s best athletes know about unlocking potential;How to use others’ inspiring performance to drive your own results; How to overcome the blocks created by jealousy and intimidation to fuel your own success;How stress can be a performance asset; andWhat factor individuals should focus on to achieve high performance.Learn more about Dr. Perlus here.Get Dr. Perlus' book here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Sep 18, 2025
34 min
Robert Golden is an NFL veteran who spent six years competing for the Pittsburgh Steelers after an impactful college career at the University of Arizona. In 2018 he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs, but asked for his release. This move led to Robert finding a new purpose in life. Today, Robert is the founder of the Golden Charter Academy, a TK-8th grade school in Fresno, California. Through Golden Charter Academy, Robert seeks to provide children in his hometown with opportunities he didn't have.In this episode, Robert discusses:His pathway from Fresno to becoming the top-ranked high school cornerback in California and pathway to NCAA and NFL football;How to cast a vision when you aren't surrounded by hope;How he managed disappointment after going un-drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft;His six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and what the Steelers' team culture taught him;Why he asked for his release from the Kansas City Chiefs and how it led to finding his purpose;Why he founded Golden Charter Academy and its offerings;How he raised over $30 million for Golden Charter Academy;How athletes can build networks to help them achieve non-sport related goals; andWhen athletes should begin considering their legacies.Learn more about Golden Charter Academy here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Aug 28, 2025
38 min
Amanda Calabrese is the co-founder of Sequel, the first engineering re-design of the tampon in 80 years. A six-time national champion in lifesaving, Amanda met her co-founder, Greta Meyer, at Stanford University. There, the two turned a capstone project into a venture capital backed design that's revolutionizing women's sports. In this episode, Amanda discusses:How she and Greta's athletic journeys led to founding Sequel;How they maintained confidence in their idea when others questioned the marketplace need;How they financed the initial research and design of the product to go from a capstone project to established company;Advice for early-stage companies to fundraise pre-seed rounds and identify investors to work with;Why they're partnering with teams like the Indiana Fever and how sport sponsorship can grow women's sports; andWhat it will take to keep the trajectory of women's sports growth moving forward.Learn more about Sequel here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Aug 7, 2025
43 min
Jocelyn Hu is a Taiwanese American artist and designer based in New York, known for her distinctive, custom creations that draw inspiration from sports, fashion, and cultural narratives. Jocelyn uses her art as a platform for advocacy, creating pieces that foster dialogue and celebrate the richness of diverse, community-driven experiences. She has collaborated with the likes of Angel Reese, Spike Lee, the Phoenix Mercury and Google. Most recently, she partnered with Ally during WNBA All-Star to launch Ally's first public limited-edition fashion merch drop. In this episode, Jocelyn discusses:How she gained the courage to pivot out of corporate marketing to pursue her creative passions professionally; Why sport is her muse; The piece that launched her career, and whatthat experience can teach about leaning into authenticity to face fears;Her process for selecting the brands andathletes she’ll work with; Why fashion is increasing interest andviewership in women’s sports; andHow to gain the courage to pursue your truepassionLearn more about Jocelyn here.Purchase the "Walking Bucket Hat" from Ally's collaboration with Jocelyn here.Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/Follow Ruling SportsInstagram: www.Instagram.com/RulingSportsTwitter: www.Twitter.com/RulingSportsFacebook: www.Facebook.com/RulingSportsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSportsTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports
Jul 31, 2025
25 min
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