CREATIV SPORTS PODCAST

In a world where "Influence" is at the forefront for creatives, Akshay Ram is no stranger to finding his place with it. Akshay shares his journey to becoming a product manager for Adobe and how he's using that same platform to help other creatives make life easier for themselves. 

Jared Kleinstein of Fresh Tape + Gondola is our guest today. From meme's to Vine's and analytics tracking, Jared has failed many times while creating valuable products for social media. There are stories, tangents, and deep conversation about work, life, and the pursuit of happyness!

Jesse Wu is the Creative Director for the University of Southern California. Growing up, Jesse didn't see much Asian influence in Pro American Sports, but didn't let that detour him from his aspirations of working in sports. As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islanders Month, as well as Mental Health Awareness Month, he describes his experiences with both. 

Karen Ramming is the Sr. Director of Digital Innovation and Communications with TrackTown USA and although she ran track in high school, she never expected to get into the sports field after college career. From bartending to PR, she has a wide ranging background that has all contributed to her success and foreshadowed her next career move. She has been intentional with her decisions to take on jo...

Gary Paczesny grew up in South Bend, and got his start early in the live streaming era. He now oversees Creative + Communications at North Carolina. We pick his brain about what it takes to get hired, and why there are such a wide range of salaries across college athletics.

Alex Herko is the Director of Content for the reigning world series champs and a former colleague of mine from our time with the Boston Celtics. Alex’s drive, and passion for the intersection of content + business has helped him thrive in his role. We’ll be diving into how to make those connections and work on getting the green light for production! Follow Alex on social: IG: herko_alexander

We've all heard the old saying "It's not how you start, but how you finish." Well, just imagine going from a collegiate basketball player, to assistant coach/SID to full time SID, to content creator. It's not how you get there, but that you actually reach the destination. 

What is it like to work on the Marketing side of a product like FanDuel? Avery shares what a typical day is like in the fast-paced world of fantasty games. He also talks about how he spends his time to clear his head and focus on something other than sports design. Give him a follow:  Behance: https://www.behance.net/AveryO?locale=en_US Twitter: aveowens_

Lauren makes it her mission to hold space for others. As one of 32 Social Media Managers in the NFL, she wants to ensure that she's leaving the door open for more women to obtain those roles after her in the future. An English major by trade, and with over 10 years of experience in pro sports, Harper is constantly reminded the value of networking across with your peers and not just upwards. 

Sarina is a tenacious self-starter and driven individual. The diverse opportunities that she has experienced have shaped her into a coachable team player who enjoys taking on new challenges. She produces content in multiple languages, and makes her family proud as she represents her ancestors on the sideline for her hometown team. Site: sarinasoriano.com

Natalie's journey to content started with many other paths and explorations before she landed an opportunity with the American Junior Golf Association. From teaching a college class she had to learn on the fly, to exploring interests in sports science, she followed her curiosity. She adapted and learned how all of those experiences shaped who she is, and what she does today as the Director of Cont...

Tessa has seen many sides of the sports industry. She got her start with the Spurs, developed connections to expand her network, and built relationships with many teams in Texas.  She has worked behind the camera, in front of the camera, and freelanced, where she has learned the value of being a multi-disciplined content creator. She now puts all of that knowledge together to coordinate content ne...

Have you ever had someone stop you because they didn't believe you were? At 6'5", Brian Gray looks like an athlete, but has always been interested in the art of design. As part of the Kansas Jayhawks Basketball program, Brian talks about challenges he's faced and not taking on the burden of others expectations by believing in who you are and what you're capable of. Social: IG: @briangray.design TW...

Zhanee Anderson, Graphic Designer for Austin FC, found herself taking an unconventional path during the pandemic as she was graduating college. With limited experience, and limitations on being around athletes to get the job done, she maximized her opportunity by gaining a lot of experience, in a short amount of time. Although some may not recommend job hopping in a short period of time, it proved...

Candace Cooper, Lead Producer for Under Armour is no stranger to waiting her turn or making the most of every opportunity. Once a student athlete with Olympic aspirations, Cooper found herself in the sports creative world after retiring from swimming. Throughout her career, no matter how life forced her to pivot, she was prepared for the moment.  Her journey has not been a straight path but she's...

One may think that a meteoric rise to success would send humbleness out the window. Not for Corey Easley. He has found a way to remain humble, hungry and constantly eager to learn every step of the way. Now a video producer for William Morris Endeavor, SPorts Division, working with some of the top athletes around the world, Corey still finds a way to humble himself and is never afraid to hone his...

Music licensing has been a hot button topic around the industry for a while now, so it's time we brought in some help to unpack music usage and licensing. MG from APM Music is our guest today. From needle drop to open videos, performance licensing to social media usage, we cover the bases to help you navigate music for your content needs.   *This is an educational conversation and not legal advice...

Tom Roche has sat in many chairs over 25 years at ESPN. He’s now the coordinating producer with CBS Sports. As many things have changed, we talk about what has remained constant. From how to get your foot in the door, to building a network, and making the most of your own highlight reel! Site: https://stormers15media.com/ Socials: TW: @Stormers_15 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-roche-pr...

Jaylynn has over ten years of experience being a graphic designer, photographer, social media manager, content creator, web designer, and marketer. She has designed for startups, sales, corporate, sports, healthcare (including Duke), and family companies. Along with she has almost a decade of extensive experience in covering professional sports, minor/junior leagues, college level, and youth. She...

Work-Life balance. It’s a term we’ve all heard. But, what happens when you’re married and work in the same Athletic Department? Today, we have Jen + Lijah Galas of the Georgia Bulldogs. Jen  is the Assistant Athletic Director of Social Media & Digital Strategy. Lijah is the Director of Creative Services & Recruiting. Although their work lives don’t always overlap, their home life does, and...

From former college athlete to leading the creative department at BYU, today’s guest Tyson Hutchins has a strong voice in the digital space in college athletics. We talk about the WHY. Why is this content being created. Why do we need to change something. Why are we creating the teams social content in a certain voice. Creating with intention all comes back to strategy.  TW: @tysonhutchins_

Dominique Nwoko started working with the University of Georgia as a student because she was looking for something to do. You will not find her watching sports outside of work, but that has allowed her to bring a fresh voice and an outside perspective to her sports work. She designed Jalen Ramsey’s signature chain, and is currently working in the agency world with VaynerSports.  Site: https://dnwok...

Nilay Shah is the SVP of Marketing and Brand Strategy for the New York Football Giants. He got his start with the team as an intern and has since helped guide the brand to becoming a digital first operation. He believes that planning, preparation, and data are essential to success on social! NY Giants YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/c/NewYorkGiants LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/n...

Kaila Pettis unleashes wisdom on us today. As someone who started out drawing on shoes, she has worked her way into a leadership role with FC Cincinnati. We talk about building a team, advocating for creative, and how to establish a culture of growth.  Lckrroom: https://lckrroom.com/ Socials: @kpology1

Matt Lange is joining us today to talk about his journey from Rustin, Louisiana to becoming a full-time freelancer. You’ve seen his work as a graphic designer, but that’s not how it started. He’s seen it all after getting out of sports, reentering, and breaking out on his own...and he has stories for it all!  Site: http://www.mattlange.com/ Twitter: @mattjlange