SportsEpreneur
Sports
About
Sports brought us together — now let's talk about it. Leaders, athletes, creators, and entrepreneurs in and around sports. Business, media, NIL, culture, youth sports, sports tech, and AI in sports. A SportsE Media production.
Episodes
- Why Youth Soccer Needs Player-Led Pathways | Brando Babini of Youth 4 Youth FC
Brando Babini started Youth 4 Youth FC when he was 16 after realizing his own soccer path was changing. Instead of walking away from the game, he built something for the players coming next. Eric Kasimov talks with Brando about player-led…
- NIL Is Moving From Chaos to ROI with Brent Wall of Student Athlete Score
College sports is changing fast. NIL, social media, transfer rules, donor money, brand deals, and youth sports are now connected in ways that did not exist a few years ago. Eric Kasimov talks with Brent Wall, co-founder and CEO of Student…
- Youth Sports Has Become a Full-Time Job for Parents | Dave Yoo of Onsides
Youth sports has quietly become a full-time job for parents. Between schedules, travel, apps, training, and expectations, the load has grown far beyond just showing up. Eric Kasimov talks with Dave Yoo, founder of Onsides, a platform built…
- What the NIL Gold Rush Got Wrong | Stephen Bienko of 42U
When NIL took off, most of the attention went to deals, collectives, and monetization. Much less attention went to the person behind it all: the athlete, their identity, and whether they are actually being prepared for what comes next. In…
- Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Chaos & Why NFL Fans Are All Delusional | Saviors & Sports
Quick Summary Eric and Jared try to make sense of the Cleveland Browns, front office dysfunction across the NFL, and why every fan base believes they suffer more than anyone else. Baker, Stafford, Shadur, the 49ers, Vegas lines, billionair…
- 21% of College Students Use Education Money to Bet on Sports
More than one in five college students are using financial aid to gamble on sports. This is money meant for tuition, housing, and books. In this episode, Eric Kasimov examines how this is happening, why it’s growing, and what it reveals ab…
- How Bad Calls Fuel the NFL
The NFL doesn’t need perfect refs — it needs conversation. Every bad call, missed flag, and replay controversy keeps fans talking, networks buzzing, and revenue climbing. In this episode, SportsEpreneur unpacks how the league turned chaos…
- College Athletes Can Now Bet on Pro Sports | What Could Go Wrong
The NCAA just changed its rules. College athletes and staff can now legally bet on professional sports. College games? Still off-limits. In this episode, Eric Kasimov breaks down what the NCAA’s new policy really means, why enforcement is…
- How the NBA Made the Lakers Worth $10 Billion | Audible Style
The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Luka Doncic in a deal that stunned the league — months before the franchise was sold for a record-setting $10 billion. Coincidence? Or did the NBA help engineer this moment to inflate the Lakers’ value bef…
- A Footwear Industry Pioneer Talks Entrepreneurship and Sustainability
“Sneaker” Steve Patino shares his journey from sneaker enthusiast to footwear industry innovator, discussing how his passion for shoes evolved into a mission to revolutionize sustainable manufacturing. “Sneaker” Steve is the founder of Ale…
- Gordon Hayward | NBA Stories, FORM Basketball, and Youth Sports Today
What happens when an NBA All-Star hangs up his jersey? In this episode of The Sports Backdrop, Eric connects with Gordon Hayward, a former player for the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Now an entre…
- Behind the Scenes of Iconic Sports Moments with Legendary Producer Bob Steinfeld
Featured Guest: Robert “Bob” Steinfeld, Emmy Award-Winning Sports Producer, Author of 3…2…1…We’re On the Air “The people that make it to the top respect the work of those around them.” – Bob Steinfeld “You’ve gotta dominate where you can.…
- Athlete Mindset | NBA and WNBA Mind Health with Dr. Kensa Gunter
In this episode of Athlete Mindset , host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, welcomes Dr. Kensa Gunter, a licensed psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, and Director of NBA and WNBA Mind Health. Dr. Gunter opens up about her jo…
- Athlete Mindset | Who You Are, Not What You Do with Kelsey O'Connor
In this powerful episode of Athlete Mindset, “Who You Are, Not What You Do,” host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, welcomes Kelsey O’Connor, a motivational speaker, former D1 student-athlete, and recent North Carolina State University social…
- Sports Betting Uncovered: Explosive Growth, Advertising, and Addiction
This is the Sports Betting Uncovered podcast series. Part of The Sports Backdrop podcast on SportsE Media. Welcome to the high-stakes world of sports betting as we explore its explosive growth and the shadowy underbelly of addiction. Our f…
- Athlete Mindset | Angela Lee Pucci's Fight Story | A Mental Health Revolution
In this episode of Athlete Mindset, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, shares space with Angela Lee Pucci, a retired professional MMA fighter, six-time MMA world champion, and founder of Fight Story. Angela Lee opens up about her journey f…
- Athlete Mindset | Find Your Yes with Brandi Chastain
In this episode of Athlete Mindset, Lisa Bonta Sumii sits down with soccer legend Brandi Chastain to explore her journey from youth soccer to international stardom. Brandi discusses the pivotal moments in her career, including her famous p…
- Youth Sports Mental Health | Parents, Coaches, and Resilience
In this episode of The Sports Backdrop, we discuss youth sports mental health dynamics, focusing on how youth sports parents impact their children’s mental health. We discuss the pressures placed on young athletes, the role of parents and…
- Audible Style | Soccer Will Be a Top 3 Sport in the US Thanks to the 2026 World Cup
This is an audible-style blog post on the rise of soccer in the United States. Welcome to the Sports Backdrop podcast. This episode focuses on the factors propelling soccer’s growing popularity in the US especially with the World Cup comin…
- Ohio State University Impact and Shared Passions with Altered State of Affairs Author
The Ohio State University impact — it is significant. We’re not talking about endowments or alumni, although they play a part. We’re talking about something way bigger—a shared passion. In this episode of The Sports Backdrop, Jerald Kasimo…
- TGL and The Evolution of Professional Sports
In this episode of The Sports Backdrop, we focus on the innovative world of the TGL Golf League, Tiger Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s latest venture aimed at revolutionizing how we experience golf. With high-tech simulations and fast-paced comp…
- Lisa Bonta Sumii on the Importance of Therapy
An Athlete Mindset special episode featuring Lisa Bonta Summi’s thoughts on the importance of therapy. In this episode, Lisa Bonta Sumii discusses the following topics: The importance of seeking out a mental health professional. Therapy do…
- Audible Style | The Moment Matters: Embracing the Now in Sports
This is an audible-style blog post on embracing the now in sports — on the SportsE Media platform. The original article is titled “Championship or Bust.” And it focuses on why the moment matters. Exploring the universal sentiment of sports…
- Athlete Mindset | Danita Johnson, D.C. United, President of Business Operations
In this empowering episode of Athlete Mindset, we’re honored to host Danita Johnson, a trailblazer in the world of sports. As the President of Business Operations for D.C. United, Danita brings a wealth of experience, innovation, and leade…
- Audible Style | Amazon Prime Regional Sports Streaming
This is an audible-style blog post on Amazon Prime regional sports streaming — on the SportsE Media platform. The original article is titled “Amazon Prime Saves Bally Sports and Sports Fans Everywhere.” This episode explains Amazon Prime’s…
- Saviors & Sports | When Your Team Loses
Saviors & Sports… a mashup of sorts! A special edition of The Sports Backdrop brings you the ridiculous yet super-insightful sports segments from the latest Saviors of the Metaverse podcast. This is all for your amusement and enlightenment…
- Duke University’s Approach to Athlete Mental Health with Dr. Aaron Goodson
Meet Duke University’s Dr. Aaron Goodson, the driving force behind Duke University’s Mental Health and Performance Department. In this episode of Athlete Mindset, we explore the vital significance of embedding clinical mental health and me…
- Bringing Lived Experience to Clinical Work with Derek Bylsma
This episode features Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Executive Director of Millennium Counseling Center, Derek Bylsma. This episode is about bringing lived experience to clinical work, suicide prevention and awareness, and ad…
- Allison Schmitt | 10-Time Olympic Medalist on Mental Health
Allison Schmitt, a professional swimmer and 10-time Olympic medalist shares her journey in swimming, her experiences at the Olympics, and her passion for sports and mental health. In this episode: Allison shares the profound impact her cou…
- Saviors & Sports | NFL International, QB Talk, Cleveland, and the city of Pittsburgh
Saviors & Sports… a mashup of sorts! A special edition of The Sports Backdrop brings you the ridiculous yet super-insightful sports segments from the latest Saviors of the Metaverse podcast. This is all for your amusement and enlightenment…
- Young CEO of Publicly Traded Company on RJ Barrett and Ja Morant
A short conversation with Saagar Govil, the young CEO of Cemtrex (NASDAQ: CETX). CEOs and athletes may be in the limelight, but just like everyone else, they are people. This CEO happens to be a New York Knicks fan. So naturally, we talk a…
- Why This Former Athlete Believes In Podcasts
Podcasts have become an influential medium in the sports world, bridging gaps between athletes, enthusiasts, and the media. It goes deeper than that though. Former athletes, for example, have so many stories to share. In this episode of Th…
- Simplifying Sports Science and Overcoming Adversity with Dr. Erik Korem, Founder of AIM7
In this episode of The Sports Backdrop, we’re joined by a sports scientist who is bridging the gap between data and action in the wearable tech and mHealth space, Dr. Erik Korem. With over 15 years of experience as a High Performance direc…
- Mississippi State University + Dr. James Barnes | Education, Youth Sports, and Marketing Insight
At the intersection of sports and business sits Mississippi State University’s associate extension professor of economics and online marketing coach, Dr. James Barnes. Dr. James Barnes is a Storybrand Certified Marketing Guide, the Directo…
- Hockey Goes South
In this episode of The Sports Backdrop podcast, we chat with Chris Heivly, a successful entrepreneur (co-founder of MapQuest), and an ardent lover of hockey. Chris resides in the Raleigh, North Carolina area — after spending 10 years in th…
- Sports Culture | England vs USA
TL;DR: In this episode of The Sports Backdrop , Eric Kasimov (USA) and Jim James (England) compare sports culture across the Atlantic—from promotion and relegation to college athletics, youth sports, and career paths. Using football (socce…
- Athletes to Entrepreneurs
This is a unique guest-hosted episode of the Sports Backdrop. And it’s all about life after sports… Athletes to Entrepreneurs. Recently I have had the opportunity to connect with and spend time with Rob Finkelstein, all thanks to Tim Claib…
- Saviors & Sports | NFL Sunday Ticket and Rooting for Losers
Saviors & Sports… a mashup of sorts! A special edition of The Sports Backdrop brings you the ridiculous yet super-insightful sports segments from the latest Saviors of the Metaverse podcast. This is all for your amusement and enlightenment…
- Exploring the Sports Betting Market
In this eye-opening episode, we discuss the ever-growing sports betting market, exploring its potential for growth, innovation, and profitability. We also tackle the darker aspects of the industry, such as the impact on mental health, spor…
- The Unstoppable Drive of Dre Baldwin | Basketball & Entrepreneurship
In this power-packed episode of The Sports Backdrop podcast, we explore the life and mind of Dre Baldwin, also known as Dre All Day. From his humble beginnings as a self-taught basketball player to becoming a successful entrepreneur and co…
- The Future of Sports Betting with Frontrunner’s Neil Zhang | A $231 Billion Industry!
The world of sports betting is ridiculously big. According to Statista , the global sports betting industry reached $231 Billion in 2022. And it’s growing fast! We have to talk about it… In this episode of The Sports Backdrop, we chat with…
- Coach Jim Tressel’s Legacy: A Buckeye’s Story of Life-Changing Mentorship | Nate Oliver
The Athlete Mindset podcast presents a conversation with Ohio State Buckeye, Nate Oliver. Nate was a key member of the 2007 to 2011 Ohio State Buckeye football program under legendary coach, Jim Tressel. Nate and Lisa discuss the influence…
- Coping With Emotions After Witnessing the Damar Hamlin Traumatic Event
At this point, we’ve all seen or at least heard about what happened in the Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals Monday Night Football game in early January 2023. Damar Hamlin, a 24-year-old safety for the Bills suffered cardiac arrest after…
- The Alarming Impact of Powerful Psychiatric Drugs on Mental Health
A conversation with the director and producer of the essential documentary, Medicating Normal. We talk a lot about mental health on this platform, so we have to discuss with Lynn Cunningham the medication side of mental health. It’s clear…
- We’re All A Little Crazy: #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement
If you listen to anything today, listen to this important story and message from the non-profit founder of We’re All A Little Crazy: #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement, Eric Kussin. We are all going through something. And each story i…
- How to Take Advantage of Your Amazing Network as an Elite Athlete
Helping Elite Athletes Transition to a Productive Sales Career | with Founder and CEO of Shift Group, JR Butler The greatest achievement–pulling off one of the more incredible upsets in your sport. In sports, it is so much about moments li…
- Brazilian Football + NFTs | Bruno Pessoa
Former Brazilian footballer combines Brazilian football and NFTs at the youth level. As our guest, Bruno Pessoa says, “football is like religion” in Brazil. So enabling the connection between fans and players makes so much sense with new W…
- The Sports Metaverse | SimWin Sports CMO, Tom Goedde
The sports metaverse has arrived and SimWin Sports is changing the game! It’s predicted that by the year 2030, the metaverse market size will be $824 Billion ! And with what SimWin Sports is building and who is involved, you have to pay at…
- Cybersecurity for Web3 | Conversation with Eden Data Founder, Taylor Hersom
Cybersecurity for web3 is going to be massive. Security is already a $132 Billion industry–we have to talk about it… Do you lock your car doors? Of course you do. If your car and the items in it are important enough to protect, shouldn’t t…
- Web3 | The Collectibles Market Size Is $402 Billion! | + Crypto and Cultural Assets
Per a Market Decipher report, the Collectibles market size was estimated at $402 billion in 2021! This figure is expected to go beyond $1 Tillion by 2032. The fastest-growing segment? Digital NFT Market Collectibles. These NFT collectibles…