Sports Management Podcast

Welcome to episode 258of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Sam Houlding, Managing Director of B2B at Spotlight Sports Group. Sam has spent more than 16 years helping transform one of the world's leading sports media businesses while working at the intersection of sports media, technology, data, fan engagement and betting. In this episode, he explains why horse racing doesn't have an audience problem - it has an accessibility problem and how the sport can unlock millions of new fans.
In this episode, we spoke about:
Why horse racing has a potential audience of 200 million new fans
How Formula One's growth offers lessons for every sport
Why sports should prioritize fans before betting
The importance of storytelling, data and digital experiences
Time Stamps
00:00 Welcome Sam Houlding
00:15 Spotlight Sports Group Explained
01:55 The 200 Million Fan Opportunity
05:00 Why Racing Struggles to Grow
07:01 Accessibility Beats Awareness
10:24 Formula One's Winning Playbook
12:04 Betting vs Growing the Sport
14:03 Turning Data Into Fan Experiences
17:08 The Five Growth Priorities
19:07 Why Digital Comes First
21:21 The Future of Horse Racing
22:39 Sam's Career Journey
24:15 Lessons From Career Setbacks
26:06 Advice for Young Sports Professionals
27:36 Networking That Actually Works
SPONSOR:
Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20.
All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.
 
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Welcome to episode 257 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Arturo Hoyos, coach at Surf Soccer Club and founder of Elite IQ Football, where he specializes in developing elite youth football players through long-term athlete development and coach education.
In this episode we discuss why development should always come before winning, how parents influence player success, what separates elite players from everyone else, and why mentality often matters more than talent.
In this episode, we spoke about:
• Why player development should always come before winning
• The role parents play in youth football success
• How elite football environments develop future professionals
• Why mentality beats talent over the long term
 
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome Arturo Hoyos
00:22 Inside Surf Soccer Club
01:14 Building Character Through Football
02:42 Managing Ambitious Parents
05:15 Development Before Winning
07:02 When Winning Starts to Matter
08:49 College & National Team Pathways
10:22 Following Players for Years
11:20 Private Coaching for Young Players
13:00 Can You Spot Future Stars?
16:18 The Growth of Football in America
20:25 Becoming a Licensed Coach
26:04 From Corporate Life to Football Coach
29:37 The Future of Coaching
31:11 Advice for Future Coaches
SPONSOR:
Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20.
All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.
Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media

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www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com

Welcome to episode 256 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Ioannis Drymonakos, former Olympic swimmer, European record holder, World Championship finalist, and founder of Swimming Cruise.
Ioannis represented Greece at three Olympic Games, competed against legends like Michael Phelps, and became one of Greece's most successful swimmers before transitioning into entrepreneurship through sports tourism and wellness experiences in Greece.
In this episode, we spoke about:
• Competing at three Olympic Games and against Michael Phelps
• The sacrifices and realities of elite swimming
• Life after professional sport and becoming an entrepreneur
• Building Swimming Cruise and the future of sports tourism
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:24 Discovering Swimming
02:17 The Road to the Olympics
04:19 Learning from Legends
06:12 The Hardest Part of Elite Sport
08:29 First Olympic Memories
10:32 Breaking a European Record
14:06 Career Highlight: World Championship Final
15:33 Dealing with Setbacks
17:07 Building Swimming Cruise
19:33 Why Poros Is Perfect
24:19 Lessons from Survivor
27:18 Open Water vs Pool Swimming
30:56 Coaching Amateur Swimmers
32:10 Growing a Sports Tourism Business
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Welcome to episode 255 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Sherry Levin, leadership expert, speaker, author of Pregame: A Winning Mindset, former basketball coach, ESPN analyst, and resilience advocate.
Over decades in sports, coaching, broadcasting, and leadership development, Sherry has helped athletes and professionals unlock the power of mindset, confidence, resilience, and personal growth.
In this episode, we spoke about:
• Why mindset may account for 70-80% of performance
• Building resilience through failure and adversity
• Leadership lessons from decades of coaching elite athletes
• Practical tools for confidence, gratitude, and mental toughness
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Why Sports Teach Life Skills
06:05 Becoming a Coach
08:37 Why Mindset Matters
10:10 Training Your Mindset
12:18 The Power of Gratitude
13:50 Mental Resets & Self-Talk
15:54 Building Confidence Through Positivity
17:39 Leadership Evolution
20:20 Demanding Without Demeaning
22:54 Resilience Through Failure
26:29 Writing Pregame: A Winning Mindset
32:16 Social Media & Mental Strength
35:12 Overcoming Cancer
40:41 Advice for Future Sports Leaders
44:11 Guest Recommendation & Closing
SPONSOR:
Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20.
All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.
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Welcome to episode 254 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Ugo Valensi, CEO of Volleyball World. Ugo has held leadership roles across sports, media, and commercial strategy, including senior positions in tennis, football, and global sports marketing. In this episode, he shares how Volleyball World is transforming one of the world's largest participation sports into a global commercial powerhouse.
In this episode, we spoke about:
• How Volleyball World is commercializing a sport with 800 million fans
• The role of CVC Capital Partners in accelerating growth
• Building athlete brands and fan engagement in volleyball
• Future trends in sports media, OTT platforms, and content consumption
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Volleyball World
00:15 What Volleyball World Actually Does
01:24 Commercializing an 800 Million Fan Sport
03:26 Lessons from Tennis & Football
05:05 Athlete Storytelling & Docuseries
06:12 Indoor vs Beach Volleyball
08:09 Reinventing Beach Volleyball
08:23 Road to Los Angeles 2028
09:42 Volleyball's Biggest Growth Markets
11:38 Planning Events Years Ahead
13:05 Vision for the Next Five Years
14:33 The Future of Sports Consumption
16:25 Creating One Global Fan Narrative
17:20 Ugo's Career Journey
24:10 Networking & Career Advice
28:28 The Role of Private Equity in Sports
 
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