Advertise on podcast: The Sports Business Leaders Podcast

Josh Barbieri joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to share how the Philadelphia Phillies are using AI and data to improve business decisions and the fan experience. The two-time World Series champion Phillies play at Citizens Bank Park and serve one of baseball’s most passionate fan bases. After 25 seasons with the organization, Josh now leads a seven-person analytics team working with more than 35 integrated data sources and ballpark data dating back to 2004. He explains how the Phillies are developing AI agents to help employees access insights faster, support ticket sales, and better understand fan feedback, with a goal of eventually automating 50% of the analytical workload. Josh also shares his path from accounting to analytics and what he looks for in potential technology partners, including why personal relationships carry more weight than mass outreach.

Amit Khare joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss how the NFL uses marketing technology, data, and AI to create more personalized fan experiences across the league and its 32 clubs. We explore the technology connecting stadium and digital experiences, how AI can help teams deliver relevant content at scale, and why human judgment still matters in understanding fans. Amit also shares advice for technology companies looking to work with the NFL, including why understanding the problem is the first step toward becoming a valuable partner.

David Aitken, President of Business Operations & Alternate Governor for the Worcester Railers, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to talk about growing a minor league hockey business through ticket sales, partnerships, and community involvement. Based in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Railers compete in the ECHL and play at the DCU Center. The organization has earned five Community Service Team of the Year awards and recently set franchise records in ticket sales, corporate partnerships, and merchandise. With a new NHL affiliation with the St. Louis Blues, David shares his priorities for the team’s next stage of growth. We also cover lessons from his record-setting ticket sales work with the Rochester Americans, how the Railers connect sponsors with local nonprofits, and why affordable family entertainment is central to their business. David closes with advice on building relationships with team executives, making the value of a partnership clear, and keeping conversations moving.

Travis Murphy, Founder & CEO of Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment, joins Justin Titchenell to discuss the work behind professional sports’ international growth. A former U.S. diplomat and NBA international government affairs executive, Travis shares how his firm helps roughly 160 professional teams navigate immigration, move athletes across borders, and enter new markets. We explore the planning behind international games, how sports diplomacy can create business opportunities, and why Travis believes the U.S. needs a more coordinated approach to sports policy. He also shares lessons from building Jetr Global and the relationships that have helped the business grow.

Stephen Amritraj joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss the return of World Team Tennis, the mixed-gender professional league co-founded by Billie Jean King in 1974. After five years away, WTT is preparing for a December 2026 return across New York, Toronto, and South Florida. Stephen explains how shorter matches, city-based teams, and player equity are helping reshape the league, with stars including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul. We discuss the business behind the comeback, building lasting team loyalty in an individual sport, and lessons from emerging leagues like Unrivaled and TGL. Stephen also shares his journey through professional tennis, coaching, the USTA, and UTR, along with advice for entrepreneurs on solving problems and demonstrating clear financial value to sports organizations.

Dan McInerney, Business Development Manager at AE Live, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss how graphics, real-time data, and augmented reality help broadcasters tell better stories. Dan shares his journey from NBC Sports to Riot Games, where his team’s graphics work earned a Sports Emmy, and breaks down AE Live’s work on everything from NFL score graphics to the SpongeBob Super Bowl broadcast. We also explore how player tracking could change the viewing experience and his advice for building relationships with broadcasters and sports rights holders.

Omri Dekalo, Co-Founder & CEO of Ubeya, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss the people and operations behind major sporting events. From stadium matchdays to Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix, Omri explains how Ubeya helps operators manage scheduling, staff communication, attendance, and external vendors in one place. He also shares why being on site with customers matters and his advice for building lasting relationships with teams and venues.

Dan Connerty, Founder & CEO of NTangible and former professional baseball player, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss how teams can better understand athletes’ decision-making under pressure. Dan shares how NTangible’s Clutch Factor™ and NTerpret™ assessments help coaches evaluate players and tailor their communication and development. We also discuss building a sports technology business, earning opportunities across college athletics and professional motorsport, and navigating how teams adopt new technology.

Jeff Greer, Vice President of Communications at Gotham FC, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss how the two-time NWSL champions are growing their presence in the New York and New Jersey market. Jeff shares his journey from sports journalism to team communications, how Gotham earns attention through media coverage and cultural moments, and the club’s planned move to Etihad Park in 2028. He also takes us behind the scenes of Gotham’s CarMax partnership and a community coaching initiative in Queens, offering practical advice for companies looking to work with professional teams.

For episode 200, SBL co-founders Justin Titchenell and Jake Voorhees share their vision for Sports Business Leaders. SBL connects professional teams, leagues, and venues with the companies that serve them, acting as a trust layer in the industry through relationships, warm introductions, and an understanding of what both sides need. Through live events, the podcast, SBL VIP membership, and business development services, SBL helps sports executives learn from peers and discover solutions, while helping companies build credibility, reach the right decision-makers, and win new business. What started as a meetup with three attendees has grown into 80+ events across 12 cities. Justin and Jake discuss how they found their focus in pro sports, what’s working for their business development clients, and how those relationships guide SBL’s growth. They also preview the inaugural SBL Summit, taking place July 20–21, 2027, at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. The Summit will bring together a focused room of over 300 team and league executives, venue leaders, founders, investors, and vendors to explore innovation in pro sports, with dedicated time for introductions and conversations that lead to business.

Mark Washo has spent more than 30 years helping build the business of American soccer. An original D.C. United employee during the launch of MLS, he went on to leadership roles with the MetroStars, Chicago Fire, Washington Freedom, Washington Spirit and Rochester Rhinos. Today, Mark is the founding partner of Freedom Sports and Entertainment, working with professional teams and college athletic departments on ticket sales, sponsorships, recruiting and training. He is also a co-founder and minority owner of Flower City Union and the author of Break Into Sports Through Ticket Sales. Mark joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss how investment, soccer-specific stadiums and younger fans have helped transform U.S. soccer. He explains why personal relationships still drive ticket sales, what makes a strong sales team and how companies can earn a team’s business by proving their value. He also shares advice on finding mentors, developing leaders and building a career across the many opportunities in sports.

Nick Lawson, Co-Founder and CEO of SQWAD, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss how teams can generate more sponsorship revenue and prove the value they deliver to brands. A former college football player with a background in design and sponsorship sales, Nick shares how a job interview turned into SQWAD’s first paying customer. Today, the company helps college and professional sports organizations build interactive activations that connect fans with sponsors through games, first-party data, and redeemable offers. We discuss creating new sponsorship inventory, turning fan participation into qualified leads, and helping brands follow up with the right message at the right time. Nick also shares advice for companies selling into sports, including understanding each team’s challenges and delivering results for your first customer before chasing the next.

Andy McDonald is the Founder and CEO of Gameplan Performance, a platform helping medical and performance departments plan, track, and manage athlete rehabilitation and return to play. With more than 17 years of experience as a physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach across 30+ sports, Andy saw how disconnected systems made it harder for specialists to coordinate an athlete’s recovery. He built Gameplan to bring those people, plans, and data together. Andy joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to share how he turned that problem into a business and what it takes to sell technology to professional teams. We discuss identifying the end user and the buyer, navigating IT and legal reviews, understanding teams’ buying windows, and adapting as more organizations use AI to build their own internal systems. Andy also shares lessons from co-founding the Inform Performance Podcast and why building relationships within your specific corner of sports matters.

Matt Pell is the CEO of Beyond Pulse, a wearable sports technology company helping coaches and teachers track performance, recognize progress, and give more meaningful feedback. Before Beyond Pulse, Matt helped build PureWellness, a software company acquired by Cerner in an $80M+ exit without outside capital. He later worked with early-stage companies to grow their sales operations before bringing that experience into sports. In this episode, Matt shares how Beyond Pulse is finding its place in youth sports, college athletics, and professional soccer by keeping its technology simple and easy to use. He discusses the challenges of building hardware, what makes the company difficult to replicate, and its expansion into physical education classrooms. We also explore how wearable data can help teachers recognize effort and improvement in kids who may never be the star athlete, and why that matters for building confidence and making physical activity more enjoyable.

Francis Anzalone, Chief Operating Officer of TPH Academy, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss building and growing a sports organization while keeping athlete development at its core. Since joining TPH in 2017, Francis has helped the organization expand from 10 to more than 40 cities, grow from four to over 20 academies, and increase its team from 40 to more than 225 employees. Francis shares how his hockey coaching background prepared him for business leadership and how TPH expanded its academy model to serve athletes across 18 sports and disciplines. We discuss combining academics, training, and mentorship into the school day, helping facilities make better use of daytime hours, and building partnerships that solve real problems. He also explains why retaining athletes and families is central to sustainable growth, what TPH looks for in a partner, and why preparing young people for life beyond sports remains the priority.