Sportsepreneur Podcast

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 this episode, Eric talks with Stephen Bienko, co-founder and CEO of 42U, about the gap ... Read more The post What the NIL Gold Rush Got Wrong | Stephen Bienko of 42U appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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, billionaire owners, and the eternal misery of the Vikings all make an appearance. This is a 12-minute ... Read more The post Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Chaos & Why NFL Fans Are All Delusional | Saviors & Sports appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 about college culture, mental health, and the expanding reach of sports betting. This is ... Read more The post 21% of College Students Use Education Money to Bet on Sports appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 into currency, and why the outrage over NFL “rigging” might actually be part of the plan. This is an audio ... Read more The post How Bad Calls Fuel the NFL appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 impossible, and how this decision could collide with NIL money, insider access, and college sports culture. It’s ... Read more The post College Athletes Can Now Bet on Pro Sports | What Could Go Wrong appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 before the sale? Of course they did. In this SportsE original, we breakdown the ... Read more The post How the NBA Made the Lakers Worth $10 Billion | Audible Style appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

“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 Ales Gray. Chapters: 00:00 – The future of business and creating a positive legacy 01:02 – Working for free at a sneaker ... Read more The post A Footwear Industry Pioneer Talks Entrepreneurship and Sustainability appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 entrepreneur and family man, Gordon shares his perspective on what it means to move on from ... Read more The post Gordon Hayward | NBA Stories, FORM Basketball, and Youth Sports Today appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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.” — Tim Duncan to Bob Steinfeld “Every game has a story.” – Bob Steinfeld Go behind ... Read more The post Behind the Scenes of Iconic Sports Moments with Legendary Producer Bob Steinfeld appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 journey in sports psychology, the evolution of mental health in professional sports, and her mission to promote well-being ... Read more The post NBA and WNBA Mind Health with Dr. Kensa Gunter appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 work graduate. Kelsey shares her inspiring journey of resilience and self-discovery following a career-ending head injury. Her story of ... Read more The post Who You Are, Not What You Do with Kelsey O’Connor appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 fearless podcast host, Chaz, uncovers the journey from prohibition to proliferation and the price we’re paying for ... Read more The post Sports Betting Uncovered: Explosive Growth, Advertising, and Addiction appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 from the world of combat sports to becoming a mental health advocate. She shares her personal ... Read more The post Angela Lee Pucci’s Fight Story | A Mental Health Revolution appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 penalty kick in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, overcoming injuries, and the impact of mentorship and leadership. ... Read more The post Brandi Chastain | Soccer Legend, Resilient Champion, Inspiring Leader appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 coaches, and the significance of emotional intelligence and resilience in sports. This episode features Lisa Bonta Sumii, ... Read more The post Youth Sports Mental Health | Parents, Coaches, and Resilience appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 coming to North America in 2026! Soccer will be a top 3 sport in the US ... Read more The post Audible Style | Soccer Will Be a Top 3 Sport in the US Thanks to the 2026 World Cup appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 Kasimov tells the story of his Ohio State roots and how we all have shared passions and excitement ... Read more The post Ohio State University Impact and Shared Passions with Altered State of Affairs Author appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 competition, TGL seeks to attract a new generation of fans by making the sport more entertaining and accessible. ... Read more The post TGL and The Evolution of Professional Sports appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 does not make you weak, and you don’t have to tell everything to your therapist. You can engage in preventative ... Read more The post Lisa Bonta Sumii on the Importance of Therapy appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

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 fans’ championship aspirations across various cities and sports levels. We highlight the statistical improbability of ... Read more The post Audible Style | The Moment Matters: Embracing the Now in Sports appeared first on SportsEpreneur.